June 13th,2023
Even though it's not rare, today the Vespera Art Museum seemed to be full of visitors, going forward with the line. The shiny floors of the place seemed even shinier today, combined with the diverse sounds, created a modern day life museum tale.
Sounds such as the crowd, the rotations of the security cameras, occasional phones of the staff. On the right side of the museum were those staff, such as the managers and workers.
Children were glazing at the fine paintings, asking their mothers about it. As they went forward, a picture of a spirit scared them. The youngest of them, possibly 3 years old, went behind his mother, just by having a view of the painting.
Amidst these, another phone call came to the working manager of today, Victor Everhart. He seemed to be a young man, with a white suit on. Even though he was busy, going through phone calls repeatedly, he still noticed, this time he saw something different.
Most, if not all of his contacts are saved with a name, but this time it was a new number calling him.
"Hello? Who is it?", Victor asked, with his confused voice as he was closing his notepad with his other hand.
"Oh yeah I forgot. This is Mr.Vanholt. You'll have to do an important task, that's what I called you for.", A soft voice came from the phone, which rushed through its words.
"Sir, is this your new number then?", Victor asked with curiosity.
"Yes it is. I can't find my phone for some reason, that's why I called you with my second one. Now listen, tell the workers to deliver the 14th Old Piece to the car waiting outside!", Mr.Vanholt's voice slowed down.
"I understand Sir. I'm asking them for the delivery asap!", Victor said with an assuring manner, trying to cut the call, to call the workers.
The clock was running towards 5 pm, and the museum was gradually emptying.
"There's a reason I told you instead of the other manager, you know. You have been working here for around 6 years, and you have always been a hard worker.", Mr.Vanholt said, with a sparkle of excitement that could be felt from the phone.
"I'm glad, Sir.", Victor said, in the same way.
He quickly went through his contacts, and dialed a call for a worker, named Magnus Cole.
"Take the 14th Old Piece from the museum and transfer to the car waiting outside the museum, it's an order from Mr.Blackwood.", Victor ordered while seeing the visitors leaving in front of his eyes.
"Understood.", Magnus answered.
Victor Everhart stretched himself a little and whispered to himself, "I went with the flow, just as he said. Now let's see what happens."
This museum was indeed the home of a lot of great paintings, consisting of historical arts. Its popularity increased as the news of its owner's fortune spread. Elias Blackwood, the owner of this museum, became a multimillionaire just at the age of 25, currently standing at 28.
It was around 5:20 pm, when the last session of visitors ended and the place became full of silence, except the occasional chats of the staff, both from the offices and the galleries.
Two workers were seen carrying a painting covered with a tough package. As they left the museum, they witnessed a small but luxurious looking black car. The coldness of the wind made their limbs move slowly.
"Oh man, this one is heavy! Do you know why this is getting transferred anyways?", one of the workers asked the other.
"No idea at all. Maybe some kind of business plan. I mean who cares anyway.", the worker said as he successfully put the art in the car.
"Here, it's done!", he said to the driver, releasing a breath.
A calm but excited voice came from the car pilot. "Good Job and thank you! By the way, do you know any restaurants nearby? I'm a little hungry".
Magnus and Arthur, the two workers looked at the car's pilot from the back of the car, an assuring but mystic man was sitting there.
"I'm actually hungry too, well the working time is ending soon.", Arthur whispered to Magnus, "And yes, there is a restaurant nearby, just go straight and then left.", Arthur continued, this time saying it loud enough for the driver to hear.
"Oh yeah I remember now, thanks pal, Mr. Blackwood is waiting, I'll have to go faster!", the driver accelerated the car and went forward the almost empty road, disappearing into the fog.
"Is this a new driver? I couldn't recognize his voice at all!", Magnus asked, preparing to go inside.
Arthur turned towards the door, saying "Maybe. I mean who cares. Let's go for lunch."
The evening was dark enough, but as the night fell, it became darker.
The working hour for most staff ended at 5:45 pm. That included the two people going back home walking, Magnus and Arthur, who were chatting about something that happened not so long ago, but left a huge impact.
"Have you heard about 'The Ghost' ?", Magnus asked Arthur.
Arthur laughed a little and said, "Dude of course, what kind of museum employee would I be if I didn't know about that".
"I wonder if he has any plans to steal from Vespera", Arthur's laugh didn't affect Magnus at all, he remained curious.
"After stealing that 100 million dollar art, his standards must be high, you know. Would he come after this one?", Arthur asked, being confident.
"I mean he can, right? Who knows. And he might stop doing big thefts to avoid getting caught now!", Magnus said, raising his voice a little bit.
"You care way too much about this stuff, Magnus. I mean who car-", Magnus interrupted Arthur and expressed, "Ofcourse Arthur, we have to care! It's not only about Vespera, It's also about our jobs!"
The only reaction that came from Arthur was a giggle.
That was too easy. Too easy to be exact. I wonder if Aria is done now. I told her to come here at exactly 5:45 pm. She is late as always.
A man was standing in front of an apartment at Barlow Street, which was around 6 kms from Vespera. He had a weird but charming appearance. He had a black hat on his head, a sunglass on his eyes even though its night. He had informal clothing on his body, but everything he wore was black. Seemed like he was waiting for someone, while having his car by his side.
As the man was looking around, his eyes tracked a girl coming towards him, "Oh, there she is! Finally, Without her, I can't even proceed.", he whispered to himself.
The girl had almost the same appearance as the man, the exception was her expression. Unlike the man, she was smiling with excitement.
"Hi! My first work is done, now what is the next thing I'll have to do?", she asked.
The man also sparked a little excitement in himself and said, "Nice job! So...",. Just as he was about to start, Aria interrupted and asked in a soft voice, "You didn't tell me much about the project this time, what is it?".
He looked at her and said with a casual manner, "Nothing much. That's why I didn't tell you. I just had to steal one from Vespera."
"From Vespera? I heard that it has a good amount of security systems. How did it go?", She became curious.
"Hmm nothing much. Who cares about the security when you don't even have to go through it.", he said, with a neutral expression on his face.
"I won't even question how you did it, I mean you did something impossible some weeks ago, so this shouldn't be that much. Well, obviously with my help!", Aria went from a praising voice to a teasing voice.
"Yes, thank you. That's why I asked you to come here at 5:10 instead of even earlier." , he said with a smile and continued, "Now listen to what you'll have to do...."
They exchanged their words in the cold night, winds making their informal clothes float.
I don't know if what I anticipated is correct or not. But I can see two paths in front of me, and in both of those paths, I am seeing my absolute victory!
They were standing in front of the apartment that had a very irresistible silent aura around it, seemed like only a few people lived in it. Maybe even just one person.
Aria looked back at the road she came from, making her think of the Museum, which just closed, and its manager Mr.Everhart was preparing himself to go home.
He left a cold breath into the air, and checked his mobile phone. Looking at some old news, he went deep into his thoughts while waiting for the bus at the nearest bus stop, just beside the museum.
"I wonder where this 'Ghost' is now. Is our museum safe from him? A lot of security was installed so I doubt that it isn't. But it is insanely impressive to actually steal something that valuable!", Victor made some not-so-noticeable expressions on his face.
Almost every staff member of every museum was aware and conscious of this 'Ghost'. That's how popular and impactful this theft was. This news spread in the whole country, everyone, especially the one's handling museums and artworks became super careful of this New Legend.
Well, people did name him 'The Ghost' for many reasons. He was actually seen in many cameras, but every time, he was seen in different clothes. Sometimes fully white, sometimes fully black. Even though it has been around 5-6 weeks since this happened, no one has been able to catch this 'Ghost', nor the artwork he stole.
The man in front of the apartment was also drowning in thoughts.
I don't know why, but I feel some kind of omen is there. But why do I feel it?
He came out of his thoughts as he heard a voice from behind, "Lucian?"