The Silver Moon Heist

I look at Domino, my mentor, and our group leader, of the Silver Moon, as he discusses the plan. We're about to pull off our biggest heist to steal the crown straight from under the King's nose. The heist will be to get back at the King for putting a bounty on our heads.

"We will enter through the tunnels under the city. They should lead us to the cellars in the basement."

Ajax and Austin nod, looking at the rough drawing of the castle layout we've sketched together from drunken nobles bragging about the palace and of guards we could get to spill some secrets before silencing them.

"The cellars should come out around the kitchens. From there, we can go into the dining hall and explore the rest of the palace. Since no one knows where the King's chambers are, we must figure that out when we get there."

I look at all the figures on the map, but only four of them: Domino, Ajax, Austin, and Neo. Money isn't there. He moves the figures to the second floor, where we have less sketched out, and not much is known about the higher floors.

"The second floor would be where to start the search. Once we get up the grand staircase, Ajax and Austin will go left, and Neo and I will go right to start the search."

"But wait, where am I?"

Domino looks over at me with a smile, something in his eyes I can't make out even after years of knowing him.

"That's because you aren't coming. This is a dangerous mission, and I'm not letting you come."

"I always come for missions! You can't leave me out of the best one we will ever have!"

Domino looks at me like he is about to yell, but Ajax and Neo speak up for me first.

"Come on, boss, just let the kid go."

"Yeah, there may never be another time to show him how to be the best."

Domino finally adds a small figure on the board, letting me into the fight. He continues talking and planning for the mission, but with less detail than any other mission has been planned before. He is upset with us all but says nothing more about it as he dismisses us.

I head up to the roof, watching the last hours of sunlight before we go through the plan. Tomorrow, we will be rich beyond our imagination with that crown. Nothing can stop us. I hear footsteps behind me. I look to see Domino with two bowls. I already know this is his way of making up.

"I brought you some cookies and cream. I almost had to fight Austin for the last bit, but it's yours."

He sits beside me, handing me a bowl and one bowl for him as we sit there, eating silently.

"I'm sorry I didn't add you to the plans. It would be better to stay home tomorrow just in case anything happens."

I look at him. He's never sounded so unhopeful about a mission.

"If something does, I want to be there with you all. I do not want to be left alone out here." My words hang in the air, a plea against the looming sense of abandonment.

He sighs, and I lean on his shoulder, returning to the relaxing silence as we eat our ice cream.

"I love you like you were my own son. Remember that for tomorrow, Carter, okay? Nothing will ever change that."

I nod. He thinks we aren't making it out of the castle, but I have my hopes up, knowing we will be in and out of there in no time.

~~~~~~~~~~

We go through the cellar door right at 2 am when the guard shifts are changing, sneaking through the eerily empty cells; looking in them, most of them look like they were occupied at least a day or two ago. Maybe the King had done more executions today that I hadn't seen.

We go through the kitchen, which is also empty. We had expected some late-night cooks getting prepped for the morning rush. There were still dishes in the sink and scraps of food on the ground. They may have taken a break. I'm the one who breaks the silence first as Domino leads us to the darkening dining hall.

"I don't like this."

"Well, I had told you to stay home. You wouldn't be scared now if you had listened to me."

He sounds snippy at me, but I know he wants to protect me if things go bad, but this isn't how to do it. Neo and Ajax share a glace while each notes the same thing I did, and Austin falls into step with me. He opens his mouth to speak to me or tell off Domino before the dining room door creaks and palace guards fill the chambers surrounding us.

They shouldn't know we're here. No one has seen us; we've been quiet the whole time. This isn't right. More guards than I can count surround us in the chamber, all armed to the teeth, ready for a fight. Ajax, Neo, and Austin arm themselves, putting me behind to shield me as the king strides in. With the commotion, I lose track of Domino; he's always been quick to see.

"Well, look what we have here: four tiny mice huddled together just where the cat dragged them."

We all look at the King before Domino steps out from behind the King's shadow, calm and calm. The man I trusted the most in this life. This had to be a trick. Some double-bluff. Domino would never... He looks less tense but looks straight at me with guilt on his face.

"I'm sorry I told you not to come. We could have left this life behind us and fled if you would have only listened to me."

The King drops a coin pouch into his hand, and Domino doesn't flinch… I know it's real now. They clink as they land in his hand. Ajax throws his knife at Domino. The knife only cuts his face enough that'll leave a scar and he’ll remember what we did to us. Domino hisses, putting a hand on the cut. When Neo and Austin are about to move, the guards push them down.

"We trusted you. How could you do this!" Ajax's voice echoes with the weight of betrayal, and the others join in, their voices a chorus of disbelief and hurt.

"We could have helped you leave. Why do this to us now?" Neo's voice is filled with a sense of being used, and Austin's words echo the sentiment, their voices a mix of anger and hurt.

"We were your way out!? A means to an end!?"

Domino looks at the men as if they were dirt soiling his floor. "The King offered me something I couldn't refuse: my freedom. I couldn't see a future with you all dragging me down. And with that coin, I could have hidden Carter.

I look at the man. I thought I knew he turned the others in for us to have an everyday life, and it would have worked if I hadn't come with him. I would have never known what had happened to the men I grew up with who were like my brothers. I see Domino give me one last look at a man who looks so broken, knowing he couldn't save me now. He turns his back to us to walk out of the castle, and I feel a guard shove me down with the others.