Everyone knew Aidan Carter. He was the craftiest person you could know. In fact, his name meant "dark". Aidan was indeed dark and cunning. However, he was just a regular boy. A regular boy with dreams, that is.
But one particular night, someone deceived him.
Aidan was in the house all alone. Chilling winds blew through the open windows on the second floor. He liked it that way. It helped him think. But that day, he wasn't thinking. He was sleeping. So it was dismal and nearly pitch-black. Nearly.
A man was waiting outside, crouched silently behind the bushes. Today was the day. Aidan's parents were off on a business trip to New York. Apparently there was an auction there, and the ending piece was a gold plated piano. The robber, if he had the chance, would have stolen it, but right now he was in California. Not close enough.
The bandit didn't care to think of the boy. Sure, he was the son of one of the richest families in the city, but he was in bed. What harm could a fourteen year old, snoring teenager do?
The thief stared up. The windows on the second floor were open. He could sneak up and get his prize: all that jewelry and cash . . . perfect.
Using his hands to hoist himself onto the first window ledge, he inched and inched until he could easily swing his legs over into the room. That was the boy's room. But he could be annihilated. The man patted the bombs lined across his belt. Yes, he could throw one at the boy. Besides, no one would notice. They were bio-bombs. They only killed living creatures. He'd snuck them from the government's weapons. Not much of a challenge really.
He crept in, ignoring Aidan, who was sprawled all over the bed. First, he would go to the parents' room. He'd heard all the valuables were in there. Then he'd throw the bomb in there, executing all life. The man decided he would do that to all the rooms, so no one would suspect.
Meanwhile Aidan was dreaming. He was fantasizing of chocolate, goodies, and . . . burglars? His ears perked up. He heard quiet footsteps and chuckling. Then he realized it. Someone had broken into the house. How had he been so careless? The windows hadn't been locked, not even closed! Aidan desperately wanted to wake up, but he knew he couldn't. If he did, he would face his death. Aidan chose to wait, and pretend he was sleeping. What could he do?
When the footsteps faded away, Aidan's eyes snapped open. He brushed his brown hair out of his eyes and started thinking. There was a dangerous man in the house. There was a fourteen year old boy. And when he summed it all up, there was only one answer: outsmart the man.
So Aidan sauntered off after the convict. The burglar didn't know it at the time, but Aidan was observing him. The robber walked with a limp. That was all he could find interesting about him.
Maybe I can talk him to death, thought Aidan. That wouldn't work. The grown-up would find out about him, and he'd be dead. But then the man strolled into the bathroom. No doubt he was going to steal something. And that's when it hit him. This person had committed many crimes in the past. That Aidan knew.
So, slowly, but quietly, Aidan formulated a plan.
