My breath comes in short, heavy puffs as I urge my legs to move faster. With the weight of the gadgets in my backpack and all the daggers I'm equipped with, it's not exactly easy. But with the guards on to us, it's keep running or risk execution.  
With the manor doors in sight, Valerie and I pick up the pace. The marble floor makes for a slippery get away path but it hardly mattered. We were almost there. So close to the promise of never going hungry again. 
Reaching the door, Val turned to me, "Quick! Do your thing Amara!"  
She didn't need to tell me twice. I swing my backpack around and find what I'm looking for — A metal crowbar with pincers made for opening this very door. The huge doors to the Administrator's estate are notorious for needing at least 20 people to open them. But we don't have 20 people. We have technology. I kneel next to the doors, flip a switch on the body of the crowbar, and watch in anticipation as the gadget whirrs to life. Praying it works as well as it did when we came in, I hold it tight as the claw extends and clamps onto the doors edge. The two foot long gadget was water powered and was engineered to work in the most dire conditions. In seconds, the doors creak open. 
I grin and look at Valerie, only to see the color drained from her face. Immediately I know why. Behind us, dozens of guards stand meters away. All pointing guns at me and Val. Panic surged up inside me. We're done for. Once they see Val's sack filled with gold it's game over. The only way we could escape is from running out the doors but with the amount of armed guards, it's barely a possibility. I take a shaky step back and am suddenly aware of the gadget in my hands and the one idly waiting in my pocket. A gasp spills out of my lips. That's it. That's me and Val's way out. 
Ever so slowly, I put my hands up, feigning innocence. Without turning to Valerie, I whisper, "Follow my lead." She gives me the slightest nod of her head, telling me she's got it. The guards don't make a move, but the man at the front that seems to be the commander starts to advance. It's go time. 
I raised the crowbar and threw it on the ground as hard as I could. Watching the water seep out of something I spent blood, sweat, and tears making definitely is a hard watch. But I don't have time to dwell. Pulling my favorite get-away gadget out of my pocket, I throw that on the ground as well. This, however, causes much more commotion.  
The smokescreen works well, spreading like wildfire and clouding every corner of the ground floor. Bullets rang out with the sudden obstruction of everyone's view. With that, I sprint out the door, Val trailing behind me. Hopefully the combination of water and slippery marble floor also manages to slow the guards. I decide to head to a city that is bound to have crowded markets. 
Val catches up to me, "AMARA! THAT WAS INCREDIBLE!"  
Despite what just happened, I found myself smiling, "Thanks Val. I'm just glad we made it out of there." 
Valerie huffs an agreement, both of us still running, "You got that right. With that amount of guards, it's a surprise we're alive and standing." 
Slowing to a stop, I looked around, suddenly glad Me and Val decided to wear fancy clothes. The city we are in is clearly littered with the houses of nobles. Homes made of white marble with the owners wearing intricately embroidered tunics and blouses. If we wore our classic black combat uniform, we would stick out like a sore thumb. But it's not like we fit right in. There's also the sack Val is carrying. Anyone would think we looted the king with how big it is — though that wouldn't be far from the truth.  
Looking around, I find what I'm looking for — the markets. More specifically the one packed with people. The citizens wouldn't care to look at the sack Val's holding or the old leather backpack I carry on my back. The streets suddenly turn more dusty as the amount of stalls and shops increase. The amount of people drastically increased too, taking me gripping Valerie's sleeve to avoid getting separated. Eventually, after walking quickly through the crowd, we reached the end of the market, where the only other person in sight was a little girl. 
The girl looked around seven years old and based on her clothes she was rich and possibly nobility. Val stepped around her but the girl moved to block her. 
The girl tilted her ice blue eyes up at Val, "What's your name?" 
Val startled but said after a moment of confusion, "Valerie." 
She looked at me, "And what's yours?" 
I debate lying but decide against it. She's just a curious little girl. What's the worst that could happen? 
"Amara. What's yours?" This whole conversation unnerved me. This is only wasting time. Maybe I should deal with the girl and Val could go on without me.  
"My name is Lily. What's in that sack?" Before Val could answer, I but in. 
"Val! You go on ahead. I'll stay back." Val gave me a questioning look but decided to go along with it. 
"O...k. I'll see you at base?" I give her a nod and turn to Lily. I can't risk her going and telling her parents about us since there might already be news about me and Val. My safest bet is making sure she has no suspicions. 
Ignoring Lily's last inquiry, I ask what I hope is a normal and unsuspecting question, "So... how old are you?" 
Following my suit, Lily completely ignored my question, "Why did Valerie have a sack that made it look like you robbed the bank? Why do you have a backpack that looks like that? And why do you have dirt and grime all over your face and clothes?"  
 "Uhh–" 
Lily gasps, "Did you really rob a bank? Or did you rob the king? Or maybe the Administrator?!" 
I think my heart stops beating. My entire future is done for. So is Val's. Maybe we can be inmates together. At least I'll have my bestie with me in prison. 
She gasps again, "YOU DID?!?!" 
Well, there goes the possible grand kids. I have to make my case. Anything to get this kid off my back. 
"Even if I did, what do you care? I'm a stranger to you!" 
A strange look creeps over Lily's face, "No one is a stranger to me. And I care. Very much."  
She continued, "Why'd you do it?" 
"You wouldn't understand. You're a kid." But I'm not sure I believe what I'm saying. There's something not very seven-year-old-ish about this girl.  
"But I do. Was it for revenge? Were you on the streets? Or did you just want the thrill?" 
"Look, I did what I had to. If you were in my position, you would too. We were barely able to pay rent. We went hungry for days on end. This was the only way." 
As I say this, I feel odd. It felt like I was trying to convince more than just Lily. 
"There were other things you could have done. Rally a crowd, grab a pen and paper and take to news or make signs for protests. Use your voice. None of this would have to result in you and your friend taking something that isn't rightfully yours. You can't say you need it because thousands of people need money too and work for it." 
I didn't say anything to that. I couldn't. All of what Lily said struck me deep in my heart. As a kid, my family had next to no money — and all of the money we got we had to work for. And now, I steal. Rob. Take. Without working for it. 
 
I sit up with a gasp. Looking around me with a headache and an urge to vomit, I realize it was all a dream.  It's just a dream, I remind myself. It's just a dream. With a glance at the calendar, I'm reminded it's the day of the heist. So, as I'm getting my dagger, I decide against it. Instead, I head upstairs and get a pen and paper.