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He fumbled with the lock in the darkness of night.

Cloaked in black, Josh stood at the front door of a small two-story house.

He guessed the bottom floor was being rented--the landlord lived upstairs.

All lights were off as the lock clicked and he turned the handle...

Free reign.

He went around the three rooms quietly, his flashlight beam grazing over everything.

Sifting through all he could touch, he grabbed CDs, loose coins, and... jewlery?

His eyes alighted on a framed photo of a smiling young woman.

He swore.

'Not a girl's appartment?!'

He thought with aggravated annoyance.

'Augh!'

The whole reason he's chosen to hit this place was because he thought it belonged to a guy!

His light roved again and caught something on the wall...

A silver cross made of nails.

"Crap."

He just stood for a moment, looking at his half-filled pillow case.

'...Might as well.'

Digging through the rest of what cluttered the short cabinets in the front room, he moved on to the bedroom in back, trying not to make much noise.

Rummaging on the night stand, he flinched as a large Bible fell to the floor.

Trying to ignore it, he moved to her dressers, not paying attention to what was happening outside...

Alisha had just pulled up in front of the house after an early night out with friends.

She was in a good mood as she stepped out of the car and walked to the door.

Getting out her key, she tried the handle...

And the door swung open.

Surprised, she went inside anyway, thinking

'I must have left the door unlocked.'



It was all over when she flicked on the light.



In the same instant, Alisha saw the mess and Josh turned into the light, cringing guiltily.

Her face was a mask of pain as she looked at him.

The only reason his identity was obscured was a small black paper mask over his eyes.

She stepped out of his path and into the room as he paused.

Staring into his brown eyes with her blue ones, she asked quietly

"Do you really want to take things from me?"

That seemed to break the spell.

He didn't wait another second...

And she didn't stop him.

Hurrying out the front door, he couldn't get her face so etched with hurt out of his mind.



As he made his getaway, she started to piece back together the memories that littered the room.