"Grab anything that looks valuable"
Despite his amazement Angel didn't let it cloud his mind, His voice barely above a whisper.
Kade who already seemed giddy at the prospect of looting, Didn't need to be told twice. He moved toward the metal desk cluttered with strange tools and pieces of machinery. Scooping up items indiscriminately stuffing them into the bag slung over his shoulder.
"Don't know what half this stuff does" He muttered beneath his breath turning a small cylindrical device over in his hands.
Before tossing it into the bag, Where it clinked against the others.
"But I bet Milo would lose his mind over it" Kade laughed slightly while looking across the dark room.
Sable meanwhile, Walked toward the massive bookshelf that had caught Angel's eye eailer. Her sharp eyes scanned the titles while trailing her fingers lightly over the spines.
Some books were bound in cracked leather, Their edges frayed, While others were sleek and metallic. She picked one that was small and thin scanning through its pages before slipping it into her coat.aw
Angel moved toward the far end of the room, His attention drawn to a series of blueprints sprawled on a metal table.
"Mods?" His fingers traced the intricate designs of what seemed to be different body modifications.
The first blueprint he saw was a mechanical arm with sharp ridges across the knuckle.
The second seemed to be some kind of eye, It's design bristlising with tiny wires and messy notes that he couldn't understand. The handwriting was truly bad to the point Angel could only read one of the words that was underlined three times.
'Neural link?'
"These aren't street level mods" Angel muttered under his breath.
The quality and detail were leagues above anything he'd seen from the passing thugs in the market. It only served to make him feel even more uncomfortable and to grow his wariness, Angel's thoughts were interrupted when Kades voice broke the silence.
"Now, I wonder where something hidden could be…" He turned to see Kade standing before a large painting on the wall.
A rare image of what seemed to be the sun rendered in warm hues, Surrounded by beams of light that faded into a blackened background.
Kade glanced at Angel and Sable reaching up to grab the edges, With a firm tug he lifted it off the wall, Reavling a steel safe embedded in the concrete behind.
'He's useful after all' Angel's lips curled into a small smile.
"Move" He said spoke stepping forward.
Kade obediently moved aside, Allowing Angel to stand in front of the safe. He placed his ear against the cool metal as his boney fingers deftly worked the lock.
The clicks were faint but…
"…There" Angel murmured as the final click echoed softly in the room.
The safe door slowly creaked open revealing its contents.
Inside, It was just as cluttered as the rest of the room. Rolled up pieces of paper were stuffed haphazardly into one corner, And a tied sack rested near the back.
Angel reached for the sack first, Pulling it out and untying the knot.
'….' The three turned silent as gold Cogcoins spilled into view with their metallic gleam catching the faint light.
"We're rich!" Kade exclaimed clenching his fists and barley keeping his voice down.
Even Sable who was usually stoic, Allowed a small smile to tug at the corner of her lips as she peered into the sack over Angels shoulder.
The white haired boy found it quite uncomfortable how she didn't even need to stand on her toes to see over him, But that wasn't a thought for right now.
Angel couldn't help but smile as well, But his attention was quickly drawn to something else.
"What's that" He muttered seeing a faint glimmer from the back of the safe.
Pushing aside one of the rolled papers, He uncovered a jagged shard. It was no larger then the Cogcoins in his other hand and glowed faintly with a deep, Majestic purple hue.
It was Sable's voice that broke through the stunned silence.
"Eclipsium" She whispered but her soft tone carried an inexplicable weight.
'No way' The name made Angel's chest tighten and his pulse quicken.
The three of them stood frozen staring at the shard. It wasn't even larger than two inches and yet its presence was almost overwhelming. After all, This single peice could probably power half a city, Or at least that's what everyone was told.
Angel slowly picked it up but was surprised as it felt completely normal, He was expecting to feel some type of energy or something but it was no different from the metal pick he had used to open the window.
"I've never seen a real piece before" Kade muttered his usual bravado replaced with quiet reverence.
"How did they get it down here?" Sable spoke a full sentence.
Her sharp eyes flicking to Angel, Searching for answers he didn't have.
Angel's nerves twisted like a coiled spring at her words. His eyes darted around the room as he moved to put the shard back inside the cluttered safe.
"We have to leave" He said firmly with no hesitation but was stopped as Kade grabbed his wrist.
"What?" The larger boy's expression was filled with disbelief.
"We can't just leave it behind! Do you have any idea how much that tiny shard is worth?" Kade spoke with greed while looking at Sable for support.
Angel, Despite his instincts pushing against him became hesitant.
Kade wasn't wrong, Something this valuable could change their lives. But the danger that came with it was undeniable, Even touching the shard felt like inviting an iron storm was brewing before his eyes.
Before he could make up his mind and respond, A sound reached his ears.
The soft creak of footsteps outside the door.
"Shit!" Angel cursed under his breath with his gaze snapping toward the entrance.
"Run" Sable's voice was calm but urgent spurring them into action.
Kade quickly closed the bag around his shoulder, Secuering the items and tools while Sable darted toward the window.
Angel stuffed the bag of coins into his pocket before lingering for a split second, His eyes locked on the shard.
'Do I take it?' His instincts screamed at him to leave it behind.
Yet something deeper, A mixture of greed and curiosity overpowered his better judgment. Angel quickly grabbed the shard tucking it carefully into his pocket before closing the safe.
He turned and sprinted toward the window, his heart pounding. Sable was already outside pulling her self up as her agile frame disappeared into the shadows.
Kade clambered through next, His bulk making the narrow ledge groan under his weight.
Angel followed last, Casting one final glance at the room before swinging himself onto the roof.