The Phantom Thief   von Lluvia
                         (The story of a strange love)
================================================================================
                                  Chapter two
                                  -----------


Oh yes, sometimes I hate the world. Sure, it wasn’t stupid to disguise myself,
but why did I have such a girlish face? Normally, one wouldn’t notice it that
much, but with long hair, fake eyelashes and a dress - the worst thing actually
- I really looked suspiciously like a girl... Even my voice was high enough to
not stand out much if I was careful. Like I said, sometimes I really hate it.
Though it had some advantages. I was really surprised the first time I had to do
it,  but men could be really friendly when they saw a good looking ‘girl’.
So they opened doors for me and did funny stuff like that. But oh well, I
shouldn’t enjoy that stuff, better concentrate on my work.
So I went into the next supermarket in the mall near our house and started
looking around for the stuff we needed. I didn’t take anything, I just wanted
to locate it. Thankfully, there weren’t that many people here, which would
make stealing easier, as soon as the cameras were taken care of. Because really,
trying to take things in a monitored market was just stupid. 
But then I felt a light vibration in my pocket (I had short, tight trousers
under the dress) and smiled. That thing was Lucys interfering transmitter, which
confused every camera near me. Meaning every single camera in the whole
supermarket showed grey stuff right now. It was time for me to strike.
No one noticed anything as other people went on buying stuff as usual, but I
myself took the needed stuff off the shelves and into my pocket whenever I was
sure no one was looking. Soon enough, I was finished and went out of the market,
Lucys toy confused even these things they have at the exits to prevent stealing.
After that, I reset it and went to the store for mechanical devices, where I
pulled the same stunt again. It was harder there, because the store was so much
smaller than the supermarket, but it wasn’t impossible. 
Afterwards I left the store, smiling at the clerk behind the counter - who
didn’t see a thing - and went away, turning Lucys toy off now. I was just on
my way around a corner, when someone suddenly ran into me with quite some force,
which made me lose balance. The person was quick though and caught me before I
could fall, but as I saw the man - a not very muscular looking guy, maybe
slightly younger than me with short, black hair and reddish eyes behind
frameless glasses - I wondered, how fast he must’ve went to bring me off
balance.
But he just apologized shortly, before saying something about not having much
time and hurrying past me. I frowned and turned to look at his back, as he went
into the same store I just came out. But inside was a guy who suspiciously
looked around in every direction. He probably tried stealing something, just
like me, but he was being so obvious... no wonder that that guy from just now
saw him.
But I must say I was surprised as just that guy marched up to the wannabe-thief
and pulled out something what suspiciously looked like some kind of police
badge. Interesting, I’ve never seen that guy with the police. And I already
saw many policeman. Oh well, let’s see how  good he is with thieves.
He said something to the thief, probably like ‘Stop stealing, come with me’
and blah, but of course, instead of listening (really, who would listen to a cop
in that situation?) the guy pushed him away and ran. Directly in my direction.
Oh great. But I normally don’t interfere with other people’s business,
especially if it’s not exactly legal. So I stepped out of that guys way, but
no, he seemed to have other plans.
Instead of simply using his legs like I would’ve done (not that I would let
myself get caught while stealing in such a store, really) he suddenly grabbed my
arm, pulling me to him and turning back to the police guy, while holding a knife
- wherever that thing came from - to my throat. Thank you very much, asshole. 
“Don’t come near me or that girl is dead!”, he growled at that black
haired policeman and slowly went backwards, pulling me with him.
But if there’s one thing I don’t like, I mean, except for people assuming
I’m weak - or a girl- it’s if thieves start to hurt people. That’s not
thievery, that’s robbery and I’m very proud to say that I’m NO robber as I
don’t hurt people in the process of stealing. That’s a big difference.
Anyway, that guy didn’t seem to care. 
“Why the hell are you doing that? I mean, not the stealing, I don’t care
about that, but that whole hostage thing?”, I mumbled, still walking backwards
with that guy, probably toward an exit.
“Who cares?” he grumbled. “As long as I get what I want and now shut up or
I’ll use that knife!” With these words he pressed the knife even closer to
my throat.
Did I tell you that I also really don’t like being threatened? By someone who
clearly isn’t worth being called a thief no less? Thanks but no thanks.
And so I stopped following that idiot. Which of course leaded to a string of
curses from the wannabe-thief. And a knife which slightly cut my skin. “What
do you think you’re doing?” he growled.
I rolled my eyes. “Well, I think I’m tired of being your hostage. I don’t
like people who confuse thievery with robbery, you know?” “So what?”
I sighed. “So... that.” With a quick move I grabbed the arm with the knife
and turned it so that he had to let go of his weapon. And that moment of shock
was enough for me to get him down. I did mention that I mastered several martial
arts, right? So you can imagine that it wasn’t that hard.
The guy went down like a rock and I placed one of my feet at him, took the knife
from the floor and waited that the policeman approached. It took a while (that
guy probably waited a while to not risk the life of innocent people - aka me,
though I wasn’t sure about that innocent part) but as he finally came around
the corner I had to grin at the stunned look at his face as he saw me. 
“Hey there. I think you wanted him, right?” Smiling I gave him the knife and
took my foot off the guy, who tried to escape but the police guy was already
there and cuffed his hands, which was followed by another string of curses. I
just smiled. People like him deserve what they get I guess.
“Thanks for your help Miss. You didn’t have to do that, it was
dangerous!”, the black haired guy told me and I shrugged. 
“Yeah, but I really don’t like being taken as a hostage. And that guy
thankfully wasn’t that skillful. But thanks for your worry Mister
policeman.” I smiled at the guy and I could swear his cheeks turned pink. Ah,
the fun of being a ‘woman’. Oh, and if someone wonders why I don’t freak
out that guys think I’m good looking and even flirt with me sometimes: I’m
bi. I don’t have a problem with any gender, love is love, right?
But then, the guy saw the cut at my throat and frowned. “Did that guy hurt
you?”, he asked, narrowing his eyes. 
“Well, yes, but it doesn’t really hurt, don’t worry.”, I answered, but
he didn’t look very convinced.
“At least take that.” He gave me a tissue and I took it, hoping he’d leave
the matter alone after that.
“Thanks.” I pressed it on the cut and waited, looking at the policeman for a
while. Why exactly was he still here? “Don’t you have a criminal to take
care of?”, I asked, looking at the wannabe-thief and he blinked, before
nodding. 
“Of course, I’m sorry. It must not be nice to see a guy who threatened you
still here, right? I’ll take care of him. Thank you very much again for your
help, though I think it would be better for your health to not do those reckless
things again, okay?”
I sighed, but nodded, hoping that that would be enough.
And finally, the officer went away, taking the robber with him and disappearing
into the crowd. Gosh, I thought he’d never go.
Sure, he was nice and everything, but my bag was full of stolen stuff and I
really didn’t want someone to notice it. Even though most people would
probably think I bought it.
So just like that, I made my way home again, trying not to think about the
events of the mall again but instead hoping that Lily would make a nice dinner.

Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)