Price of Freedom

It stood in the shadows of a nearby building. The night was calm and cloudy, the moon hidden from the world, making the night darker than normal for this time of the year. The Silhouette scanned the street and then darted towards the Cincinnati Art Museum. Once across it plunged itself into the shadows.

It put climbing spikes on its hands and feet. It scaled up the wall quickly and quietly like a cat. When it reached the roof, it removed the spikes and put them away. It ran across the roof toward the nearby group of windows. Looking through and seeing the best way in, the Silhouette slid a bag off its shoulder and pulled out an instrument for cutting glass. It took the Silhouette only a few seconds to safely and quietly remove a piece of glass big enough for it to fit through. It laid the glass flat against the roof to prevent it from falling over and making noise, and put the bag back on.

The Silhouette laid flat, scanning the area. Satisfied, it dropped to the floor rolling as it landed, and darted into the shadows. The Silhouette weaved its way through the Museum, sticking to the shadows. It had visited the museum everyday for two months, learning the location of the cameras and how many guards were on duty at any given time. It picked this time knowing the museum only had around four guards during the night. It knew were its prize was: in the ancient art section on the first floor. It could have entered the Museum closer to it but that was a rookie mistake and the Silhouette was no rookie.

It stopped suddenly hearing footsteps it slid into the shadows. A medium sized guard was walking by he yawned loudly. Suddenly the crackle of his radio stopped him.

"Dave, where you at? I would like to get this game started sometime before dawn!" The voice on the other end said.

"I'm walking through the European Art Hall now, so keep your pantyhose on!" laughed Dave. He walked right by the Silhouette and never saw it.

He headed down the escalator. A rookie would have taken out the guard; that would have been the worst thing possibly alerting the guards and putting a time crunch on the job. The Silhouette couldn't afford that. Completing this job earned its freedom out of the family forever.

It headed for the elevator, reaching it in no time. It forced open the door. It shut the door behind it, grabbing the cable and sliding down to the first level. It landed on top of the elevator itself. Opening the top hatch, it dropped in. The Silhouette opened the set of inner doors, then, it slowly opened the outer doors just a crack, using a camera to check for any guards. It didn't see or hear any, so it slipped out of the elevator. The Silhouette was now in the Asian & Islamic Art hall. It darted through the hall into the American Art hall.

Of course this would be the biggest hall, it thought in disgust. The Silhouette stayed to the shadows, moving slowly but with purpose. It finally reached the East Asian Art.

The Silhouette found its prize with ease. The Silhouette walked up to the case that contained the sword of its ancestor, Genghis Khan. It was a thing of beauty. The Turko-Mongol saber still shined even after all these years.

The Silhouette examined the case, being careful not to touch it. Satisfied, it took out the same tool it used on the glass on the roof. The saber was worth a lot, but not enough to have good security in place. It opened a hole on top of the case using a nearby bench to get above it. The Silhouette easily pulled the saber out. It looked around, and the Silhouette stowed it in its bag. It headed for the same elevator.

Suddenly, it heard footsteps. It dashed into the shadows as another guard walked by. The Silhouette moved with grace and speed once the guard passed. It reached the elevator and leaving the same way it entered. The Silhouette reached The Mary R. Schiff Library crawling through the hole once again. It climbed down the side of the Museum and disappeared into the night.

The Silhouette ran about a half mile or so until it reached a parked motorcycle. The bike was jet black and very sleek. The Silhouette climbed on and started it up. Its sped off into the night as the sounds of an alarm echoed in the distance behind it. The Silhouette drove for many miles, stopping at certain points to refuel with hidden gas cans that were placed there yesterday on its way into Cincinnati. After about a days worth of driving, the Silhouette pulled up to a large mansion with a ten foot tall wall around it.

There were two massive iron gates. On the gates the two met as one a "K" with two sabers crossing behind it. The Silhouette rolled up to a monitor, pushing a button.

"How can I help you?" A voice on the other end.

The Silhouette lifted its visor not saying a word. Suddenly the gates opened without another word. The Silhouette pulled in, and the gates shut behind it. The Silhouette pulled to the front of the mansion. It climbed off and headed inside. The Silhouette walked up a large double staircase and went down the left hallway to a set of double doors. The Silhouette pushed the doors open, not even knocking.

"Come on in." Replied a man, sitting at a massive oak desk.

He was fairly built with high cheekbones and a chiseled face that many women could fall in love with. The Silhouette pulled its helmet off and tossed it on a large leather couch. She shook her hair out letting it fall to the middle of her back.

"Cut the crap, Zio! Here!" She snapped, tossing the bag onto the desk. It landed with a loud clanging sound. Zio shot to his feet.

"How dare you treat our ancestors like that!" Zio spat, coming around the desk, swinging at the woman. She grabbed his hand in mid swing. Shock, anger, and rage crossed his face.

"I got it for you! I'm out! You agreed, Zio," She spat letting his arm go.

"You're right. Leave, and if you ever enter this house or any business I own I'll personally send you to the netherworld!" Zio hissed.

She turned on her heel and walked out of the office. It only took her a minute to get outside. She climbed onto her bike, looking up at the stars in the night sky. She smiled as she sped off, free for the first time in her life.