Karl lay still in bed, his breathing shallow as he strained his ears to listen. Julian’s breaths were soft and even, a clear sign that he was asleep. Karl sighed in relief, his heart steadying, and slowly slid out of bed. Careful not to make a sound, he tiptoed toward the door.
Just as he reached the doorway, a sleepy voice broke the silence.
"Umm... where are you going?" Julian mumbled, his voice groggy and barely audible.
Karl froze, his heart pounding in his chest. Slowly turning, he saw Julian lying on his side, his eyes half-closed in sleep.
"Bathroom," Karl muttered quickly, trying to sound casual. He waited for Julian’s response, but there was none. Julian seemed to drift back into deeper sleep, his soft breathing resuming. Karl sighed in relief and stepped out of the room as quietly as he could.
In the dimly lit living room, Karl found Adrian waiting. The two exchanged a knowing glance.
"You ready?" Adrian whispered, his voice barely above a breath.
Karl nodded silently. Without wasting any time, they both moved toward Ruby’s room. The door wasn’t locked—a detail they had noticed earlier. Moving on tiptoes, they approached the door, careful not to make a sound that might disturb anyone.
Adrian paused, his hand on the doorknob, and glanced at Karl, who gave him a slight nod. With that, they slowly pushed the door open, the hinges making a faint creak as the darkness of Ruby’s room enveloped them.
The room was dimly lit, shadows covering most of the corners. It was so dark that Karl and Adrian could barely see anything, but they knew the layout of the room by heart. Quietly, they walked on tiptoes, making sure their footsteps didn’t make any sound.
A faint light was coming through the door—a single bulb glowing in the living room. It was enough to guide them as they carefully made their way toward Ruby’s wardrobe.
They knew exactly where she kept her money. They had observed her habits long enough to plan this moment, ensuring every detail was accounted for. Adrian gestured toward the wardrobe while Karl nodded, both moving silently as they prepared to carry out their plan.
Adrian cautiously opened the wardrobe door, the hinges creaking slightly. Both he and Karl froze in place, holding their breath as they glanced toward Ruby, who remained undisturbed, her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of sleep. The two exchanged relieved glances, their fear momentarily fading.
Karl carefully slid open the drawer, revealing Ruby’s purse. His fingers trembled slightly as he picked it up, guilt flickering in his eyes. He hesitated for a moment before handing the purse to Adrian. "Hurry up," Karl whispered, his voice barely audible.
Adrian nodded, his focus shifting to the purse. As he opened it, he found an assortment of gem and coins glittering inside, along with a neatly folded note. His eyes widened at the wealth she carried. Carefully, he selected a few small gems, ones he thought she might not notice missing, and passed them to Karl.
"She probably won’t even realize," Adrian murmured, more to reassure himself than Karl, as he quickly zipped the purse back up and placed it precisely where it had been. He adjusted the drawer to its original position, making sure everything looked untouched.
Without another word, the two quietly tiptoed out of the room, the door clicking softly shut behind them. Their hearts raced as they hurried down the hallway, each trying to shake off the guilt that clung to them.
Karl’s heart raced as he took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling quickly. He glanced nervously at Adrian, who seemed calmer but still serious. Both exchanged a worried look before Adrian reached out, grabbing Karl’s trembling hand.
"Come on, don’t stand here," Adrian muttered as he gently pulled Karl toward the living room. His grip was firm but comforting, like he was trying to steady Karl’s growing panic.
Karl stumbled behind, his steps hesitant, his mind swirling with fear. "I...I don’t know," he stammered, his voice barely audible.
Adrian turned to face him, his expression stern but reassuring. "Don’t panic, Karl. Don’t let it get to you," he said in a low tone. "We’re doing this for our future, okay? You remember what happened in the past, right?"
The words struck a chord. Memories of those dark days flashed in Karl’s mind—the struggles, the debts, the helplessness. His face went pale, and his body stiffened. He swallowed hard, then nodded slowly, his shaky breath escaping his lips.
"I remember," he whispered, his voice trembling but resolute.
"Yes... we have to do it, Karl. Julian and Milo might believe in her, but I can’t forget what happened before," Adrian said, his voice firm. Karl nodded, though hesitation lingered in his eyes.
"But, Brother Adrian, where are you going to hide the money?" Karl whispered, glancing around nervously as if someone might overhear them.
Adrian gave him a reassuring look. "Don’t worry, I’ll hide it in my room. No one will find it there," he replied confidently. Karl nodded again, his shoulders relaxing slightly.
Adrian ruffled Karl’s hair with a small smirk. "Now, go to your room and get some sleep. If you stay out too long, Julian might notice you’re missing," he said. Karl hesitated for a moment but then nodded again and quietly made his way to his room.
Adrian stood alone in the dimly lit living room, his expression turning serious. His dark eyes seemed to grow even darker as thoughts swirled in his mind. Without another word, he turned and headed toward his room, his steps quiet.
Karl walked into the room, his steps slow and uncertain. His mind was restless.
Deep down, he felt guilty about plotting something behind Ruby’s back, but he tried to comfort himself, thinking, It’s for the future... it’s for emergencies.
He rubbed his temples, trying to shake off the guilt, when suddenly a familiar voice broke through his thoughts.
"You’re back... What’s wrong? What happened?"
Karl froze in place, his heart skipping a beat.
—To be continued...🪄