But suddenly, the cameras rotate and focus on me. A shrill sound fills the air, making the walls vibrate. The security alarm has been triggered.
"Intruder detected!"
"Intruder detected!"
"Intruder detected!"
The lights suddenly turn on, flooding the entire room with a pulsing red light, almost infernal. The piercing sound of the alarm echoes in my ears, as time seems to slow down around me.
Every fiber of my being screams for action, and I know I can't afford to hesitate. The red lights beat like a frenzied heart, intermittently illuminating the museum, now turned into a maze of threats.
My breathing is steady, and in this situation, my mind is calm, perhaps thanks to the Calculator trait. I crouch down and, with a quick and fluid movement, slip down from the display case, the precious sapphire clutched in my hand.
As I dash toward the exit from which I entered, I feel the tension rising. Every fiber of my body is taut, ready to react to the slightest danger.
The museum, which just a few minutes ago was a peaceful sanctuary of history and art, has turned into a trap. As I approach the exit, I see the security doors slowly beginning to close with a menacing hum.
There's no time to waste. With feline agility, I throw myself into the remaining space, feeling the metallic wind of the doors closing just inches from my back. I barely made it.
Once outside, I take a deep breath, seeking some relief. But the calm doesn't last long. In the distance, I hear the sound of police sirens rapidly approaching, breaking the silence of the night. I knew they would come, but not this quickly.
No matter. I got what I wanted.
I quickly slip into a dark alley, carefully tucking the sapphire into the inner pocket of my jacket.
As I move away, I catch a glimpse of the flashing blue and red lights reflecting on the building walls. The museum is surrounded, officers are shouting orders, desperately trying to figure out what happened, but I am already far from their sight.
My escape has succeeded, and no one has realized it yet.
---
Meanwhile, a police patrol arrives in front of the museum, tires screeching on the wet asphalt.
Samuel steps out of the vehicle with a determined stride and a furrowed brow. At his side is the young assistant Liam, visibly nervous, his voice trembling as he tries to speak.
"Boss, there's something strange... very strange," says Liam, stammering.
"Where?" Samuel asks, continuing to walk without stopping.
"In the main hall, but... it would be better to check the camera recordings. Something doesn't add up."
Wasting no time, they enter the surveillance room. A series of screens display footage from various areas of the museum.
But it's the time of the robbery that catches their attention. Liam begins to rewind the footage, and the frames rush backward until they stop at the digital clock showing 11:59 PM.
Samuel watches the screen intently. The image is clear: the museum is deserted, as one would expect at that hour. The display case with the sapphire is still intact, gleaming on its velvet cushion.
But there's something strange, almost imperceptible in the air, a palpable tension. Then, the clock strikes midnight.
And there it is: a blurry figure, wrapped in an elegant black suit. The face is partially hidden by a dark mask, while a red tie, vivid like a wound, stands out in the darkness with a captivating and mysterious smile
A refined black cape barely grazes the floor as the figure approaches the display case with unsettling calm.
"What is this?" Samuel murmurs, stepping closer to the screen with narrowed eyes.
Liam gulps nervously. "We don't know, sir. There wasn't any alarm signal until that moment... it's as if..."
The words catch in his throat as the figure on the screen reaches out and, with a precise gesture, grabs the sapphire.
The alarm goes off just a second later, but it's already too late. The figure vanishes into the shadows, leaving only an empty space on the velvet surface where the precious jewel once lay.
Samuel remains silent, staring at the screen. His face is impassive, but his eyes gleam with steely determination.
"Find me that person," he orders in a cold tone. "And do it quickly."