06 A Crazy Idea

~Winter~

Summer and I remained at the window, drinking and staring at the moon. I wondered what the moon had in store for us next. Would we ever get a break? Will my heart mend? I couldn't tell, and I hated being in the dark.

"Right now, I need time to be still to plan our migration," I finally spoke, and Summer was silent.

It would have been easier just to leave if the children weren’t involved, but we owed a duty to keep them. Walking away wasn’t an option if we wouldn't be doing it together.

That is when an idea clicked in my head. I could not tell if it was the alcohol or something spontaneous, but the idea was vivid, and I was willing to share it.

"Are you squirmish about crime?" I asked Summer, and she looked at me wide-eyed as if I were crazy. I knew I needed to calm her down, which I did.

"Please just answer," I said, and she relaxed.

"No, tell me, Sparkle, I am listening," She said, and I nodded.

"I say we rob a jewellery store, sell the loot, head to Greenville and set things up," I said, and she was stunned. The look in her eyes said it all. I was crazy.

"What the fuck, Winter?" She exclaimed, and I nodded.

"Once Brandon pulls his funding, it is over," I say, clarifying our situation. It was an inevitable outcome. Lesley owned the funds; The support was bound to stop eventually. Brandon was trying, but I wasn’t a fool anymore. I knew his limits, and I was aware of who was in charge.

Summer was uneasy, but we were at Lesley's mercy. Our bakery only made enough to feed. We could not rent a house, let alone afford to move from Hayland to Greenville. It was quite a distance, and we will need funding when we get to Greenville: funding we did not have.

I have no intention of seeking assistance from the residents of Greenville upon our arrival. I am determined not to replicate my past errors. We should be capable of providing for the children without relying on donations. The elite class only prioritises their own interests, and this is common knowledge. There's a chance they might simply overlook us. Therefore, it's crucial to approach this with adequate funds. This time, I won't engage with individuals in positions of power or anyone who might compel us to relocate when faced with challenges. People typically align with their own, but our aim is to become settlers there. It would be prudent to proceed with caution.

I realise my proposal might sound unconventional, but I couldn't see any alternative. In our effort to avoid causing harm to anyone, targeting a jewellery store seemed like a viable option. We will execute our plan at night when the premises are empty, and we won't face confrontation or resistance. The aim is to discreetly and peacefully garb some valuable things and leave. This approach appeared simpler and less risky than robbing a bank or individuals. Given our time constraints, honest means seemed impractical for obtaining what we needed.

"So, what's your plan?" Summer finally inquired, her scepticism evident.

"It's a one-time thing. I'm thinking of a jewellery store at night. We grab some valuables, sell them, and then relocate," I clarified, observing her contemplating my words. I could see the surprise in her eyes, but I was serious, and she knew it.

"Just so you know, we can't steal and sell in the same region. Whatever we take has to be offloaded elsewhere," she pointed out, and I nodded in understanding.

We never imagined that we would resort to crime, but our backs were against the wall. We had twelve children in our care, and we dared not let them become homeless and go hungry.

We needed to do something. And if it meant committing a crime just once. Then it is okay.

“So, where do you have in mind?” Summer asked.

"We will go to Mountain. They have lots of jewellery stores there, and the residents are rich. The crime rate is low, so they wouldn't be prepared. I heard the Alphas are very passive, too; nothing serious to be concerned about in Mountain," I said, and she widened her eyes.

"There is a reason for that, Winter. Mountain in Royal territory. We shouldn't fuck with that place. That is the territory of Lord Leonardo Albert, the Head alpha of the east, the head of the council and the Lord of the east. That is too dangerous. If we get caught, we are fucked," Summer said, and I shrugged.

"We have to give it a shot, Summer. If not, we'll end up on the streets. Waiting around for Brandon's bitch to throw us out will be stupid; baking won't fix our problems right now. Mountain isn't too far from here. We just need to go there, keep a low profile, scout the area, choose our targets, hit the shops, and make a clean exit. They won't catch us. All we need to do is lay low for a while. I'll talk to Pamela to help us with money and donations so we can relocate. With what we get from her, well-wishers, and the bakery, we can head north, sell the loot, and then return to move to Greenville. No one will suspect a thing. They'll assume it's thanks to the support we received. I'm convinced our plan is foolproof," I stated, and she nodded slowly. Despite the lingering concern in her eyes, we had no alternative. My primary concern now was finding a place for us to live. Despite projecting confidence to Summer, I couldn't shake the worry and fear that we might get caught.

"So, who will be in charge of the children while we are away?" she asked.

"Chelsea, of course, she is sixteen. We will just be gone for a night and be back before morning," I said, and she was still uneasy about it.

“I guess adding robbery to our belts for a good cause isn't as bad as it seems. Hopefully, we don't get caught, or it's over, Winter. We can’t do much for the children from behind bars," She says to me, and I smile at her.

I am nervous, but I still smile. I knew deep down it was worth trying.

"Let's wait and see. This will be our last resort if everything fails," She says, and I agree. At least we had a plan. Though dangerous, it was a plan.