The sound of the rain was like a whisper passing through the darkness. The cold had penetrated to my very bones, but did it matter? No. That mansion... that cursed pile of stone where the rich lived would bring me bread today, perhaps even a new life.
''Right, Kinyel... be quiet, be quick. It's that simple.''
I whispered to myself, slipping my fingers between the cold metal frame. The lock was old, rusty. A tiny click... and it opened.
Inside was dark. The floorboards creaked slightly with every step, but I glided silently. Years of thieving experience had taught me to take each breath carefully. I breathed through my nose, not my mouth, so my breath wouldn't echo.
In the dim light of the candle, I saw a pouch on the table. Shiny. Small. Perfect for my pocket.
''This is it...'' I said to myself and reached out my hand.
The sweet "clink" of gold filled my ears. My God, was there any music more beautiful than this?
I took a couple more pieces. A small piece of jewellery that looked like a ring, a silver chain... easy to carry, easy to sell.
I was careful, as always; too much weight meant too much noise.
But for a moment... for a moment, when the brightness of the chain in my hand struck my eyes, an old image appeared inside me.
It wasn't raining, it was snowing then. The stone walls of the orphanage, the muddy courtyard. I was 14 years old. A group of children had surrounded me; one was pulling my hair, another was pushing my face.
''Filthy thief! Even your mother and father didn't want you!''
I ran away that day. Into the cold streets, at the mercy of the wind. And there, no matter how awful it was, I tasted freedom.
I blinked my eyes. ''Enough... it's not time to think about the past.''
A cold breath escaped my lips.
''Forget it... forget it all.''
The knife was in my pocket. I headed for the exit.
But then... I heard a sound.
In the distance, a high-pitched bark.
One, two... three dogs.
''Fuck.''
I sank to my knees, my heart racing.
The sound of the dogs' chains was getting closer. The owners of the mansion must have increased security.
I jumped into the back garden. My feet sank into the mud, I slipped. I tried to hold onto the wall with my hands, but the stones were slippery. The rain was now pouring down, each drop stinging my face like a knife.
''Damn it, damn it! Did they have to come at such a shitty time?!''
The barking was now very close.
I got up, held my breath, and started running.
Mud was splashing, my boots were slipping, but turning back was impossible.
''Run, Kinyel! Run! If they catch you again, they won't forgive you this time!''
I yelled at myself.
I reached the garden gate. Beyond the metal bars lay a dark road. The only way out of the city.
But then...
One of the dogs jumped. It grabbed my trouser leg.
''Ahh— let go, damn thing!'' I yelled, swinging my knee, kicking frantically.
The dog pulled back for a moment, and I seized the chance to dash away.
My breath was burning. My heart felt like it would burst out of my chest.
As I ran down the muddy path towards the main road, I had only one thought:
''If I escape this once more... this time I'll really leave.''
But fate had a shitty sense of humour.
A headlight flashed in the distance.
A blinding, white light.
The sound of wheels.
And a horn.
''What—?!''
It all happened in an instant. The mud slipped from under my feet. My eyes widened.
A crash, then a hot pain.
The wind was knocked out of me.
I fell to the ground. Mud mixed with rain covered my face.
My world fell silent.
All I could hear was the sound of those dogs still barking in the distance and a muffled laugh coming from within me.
''Ha... ha... so I've finally been caught.''
A drop of blood trickled from my lip.
Darkness.
But within that darkness... a light.
Not cold, warm.
A voice echoed in my ears — distant, deep, in a language I didn't understand.
And when I opened my eyes again... my breath had returned.
But my surroundings were different.
The earth was redder, the sky clearer...
And my body... was different.
''What... what the hell is going on?'' I whispered.
Then I noticed something.
My hands were the same, yet different.
I heard my name — someone was calling me.
''Kinyel Thorn!!! Wake up!''
And in that moment, my old life dissolved like a dream.
I was no longer the thief of that world, but the lost soul of another.