We arrived at the mattress store and, as Fortune said, the small flashing red light on the security camera was missing. He said that these stores are just money laundering, so their security isn't great. We were outside for at least fifteen minutes. I did nothing but watch as Fortune picked the lock. I was supposed to be watching out for anyone coming near, but I really wanted to learn how to pick locks. Although he wasn't even picking it, he had a screwdriver and was shoving it between the door and the other side to push the lock in.
Fortune grunted one last time before the door swung open, no alarm went off. I thought we would have to quietly walk in, but apparently not. He walked inside the place as if it was his home.
"So, we're looking for a," he paused, "red and white carpet, correct?"
I nodded and walked right beside Fortune before he moved at least three feet away from me on purpose, "You check the left side of the store I'll check the right, and then we'll switch in case the other person didn't look correctly."
"What if someone comes in or the police come?" I stuttered.
He shrugged, "Dog whistle."
I sighed in disapproval, by the time I opened my eyes again he was gone. I can't hear a dog whistle. Not only that, but I started to break into a sweat. I was going to be caught by the police while Fortune ran free because my hearing was terrible. I just have to heighten my senses. My ear twitched from how hard I was focusing. I began to walk around the left side of the store, going through each aisle, but more focusing to listen for a whistle. I hadn't seen a red and white rug, there actually were no red and white rugs here the more I looked. The side Fortune searched was where the mattresses and lamps were. I met with Fortune and patted his shoulder while we switched sides to search again. Once we met in the middle, he shrugged once more.
"It was never here," he murmured.
"Huh?" I questioned.
He laughed, "I bought it earlier for my room, the last one to be precise."
"So why... are we even here? You lied," I declared.
"I never, per se, lied, I just didn't tell the truth, "He slapped his hand across my back. "This was a test, but right now you have an 80 percent."
He blew the dog whistle as hard as possible, and it hurt my ears. I could hear the high frequency. My eyes widened, and I smiled, I wish Fortune could see this. I gave a thumbs up, and he clapped, "It's," he looked at his watch, "one fifty, we have to go now."
That next morning, I woke up on my couch. Fortune had slept on the opposite couch, but he was already gone. It was only eight a.m. Only eight a.m. School started at seven a.m. I cursed to myself and ran to my room to get dressed and washed up. As I was leaving through the door, my mom came in.
"Ah, mom," I remembered the rug, "ah... Your rug."
"My rug? Your sweet friend told me what happened, you're such a nice son, Treasure," she hugged me tightly as I hugged back as confused as ever.
"Weren't you just at work?" I asked.
"Yes, he told me that you told him where I worked, so he could thank me," she smiled and kissed my cheek. "Have a
good day at school, honey."
As I walked to school, I kept thinking of the whole situation. How did he know where she worked? What had he told her? He's stalking me. Something in my brain clicked. He was a stalker. Fortune was indeed a stalker. A registered stalker. Looking up his name terrified me. A couple of months ago, a group of girls reported him to the police because he was stalking them. He would hide just around the corner. Wait outside your home early in the morning just to speak to you or your parents. I am just overthinking, after all, those girls dropped the court case only after a few hours. Now that I think about it more, my bike was missing from my garage. The moment I thought of it, I could see my bike parked at the school and blinked slowly. This guy stole my bike. I shook my head and walked into the school building. Something in my stomach shifted, I'm going to New York tonight to commit a felony tomorrow.
What if I die?
It's stupid to think of that. I don't know why, but I thought of what Fortune would probably say to me if I told him that, "I thought you said cats had nine lives."
Nine lives. I have nine lives.
Fortune lied again. We were taking a train to New York and not a bus. A train? I've never been on one in all my seventeen years of living, yet Fortune stated he's been on one more than fifty. It's so loud and noisy, but eventually the sound drowns into the background of your own thoughts. It would take three days to get to New York, meaning we would miss school and I would concern my mother. No, I wouldn't, she probably wouldn't even notice I was gone. We would arrive in New York on Monday morning; Fortune said the weekend is the best time to do it, so we have to stay in this unknown state for a week.
"May I get another cup of tea?" Fortune asked one of the train assistants, Flora.
This was his tenth cup of tea, since Fortune paid for the first class, we got all our food and beverages free. I hadn't eaten or drank a single thing yet, my stomach hurts so bad thinking of getting caught. That was my main fear. Twenty minutes into the train ride, Fortune fell asleep. His mouth was wide open, and his head leaned back against my lap while he slept. I felt myself nodding off before a young man, he looked only fifteen, sat directly in front of us. It was his booked seat, but it still threw me off for a moment.
"Treasure," he said quietly, and I looked directly over at him.
"Yes?" My heart leapt; I was scared of this young man for some reason.
He stared into my eyes and gave a similar grin to that of Fortune's, "Have you watched CD #4?"
I pretended not to know, remembering the contract I had signed a couple of months ago, "What?"
"I am Agnus Johan Heinrich and I work with the FBI, will you be willing to work with me? I know your friend will not, but I am hoping you will," he introduced himself and showed his badge.
FBI? This guy looks like a high schooler. Borderline middle schooler. I can't work with the FBI. They won't help me find my brother. Therefore, I just smiled.
"I don't understand, I came with my friend to just take a nice trip to New York I hadn't planned on meeting an FBI agent plus I don't know what type of trouble he is in, but I suggest you leave us alone, or I'll complain that you're disturbing us and have them move your seat," I was feeling confident.
Agnus laughed, "You wanna play donkey, huh? Okay, I'll be the tail."
"Play donkey?" I questioned.
He sighed, "I can help you, Treasure. I can seriously help, that guy isn't good. He isn't someone you want to be around, he is dangerous. We just cannot make an arrest because of how dangerous he is, right now you are in the arms of one of our secrets most wanted. You have perfect grades and a full ride to a wonderful university, why waste all that by putting yourself in peril situations? Fortune unironically is the most misfortune man you'll meet, I can promise you that."
I ignored his cold words and blinked slowly. I mustn't react negatively. What was Fortune? The FBI clearly wanted information out of me because of the CDs, but not Fortune. They evidently do not like Fortune. They called him dangerous.
After that, Agnus simply stared out of the window and I looked down at Fortune's face. What sort of trouble are you stirring up, hm? Yes, you were vile and vicious. You knew where the prey was before you even used your five senses. I stared at his closed eyes. His soft face looked as smooth as pure silk from China. His eyebrows trimmed to perfection. His hair gave a beautiful cherry blonde tint which reached to his shoulders. I kept falling into the darkness of his soul. His face was ideal. That man was runway worthy. Fortune was not misfortune. Fortune was pure.
As pure as the mind of a sleepless man.
Pristine.
Refined.
Beauty.
Each of those described the man who will soon terrorize an art museum and break one of the world's most prized enchantments.