The late afternoon sun dipped lower over the Colosseum, stretching golden light across the ancient stones. Tourists moved like slow rivers through the cobblestone streets, some pausing to snap holographic pictures, others captivated by the lively street performers scattered around the square.

Dawn barely paid them any mind. She stood near the entrance, arms crossed, tapping her fingers impatiently. This whole trip was supposed to be the perfect birthday sendoff before she turned eighteen. One last school-funded vacation before the real world kicked in. But Luke, as usual, had other ideas.

Today was the one day they had total freedom to explore. The rest of the trip had been packed with structured itineraries, guided tours, and mandatory class discussions—all part of their history coursework. But today? Today, they could actually do what they wanted without a teacher breathing down their necks.

Dawn didn’t mind the structure, and Luke had no problem with school itself—he actually enjoyed learning. But there were some teachers he just couldn’t stand, particularly the ones who were more concerned with controlling students than actually teaching them. He had little patience for self-important lecturers who treated their class like a dictatorship rather than a discussion.

They were both in their final year at Westward Academy, an elite private school back in Texas. Luke, despite being two years younger than Dawn, had skipped grades early on and ended up in the same class as his sister. That meant they’d both be graduating soon, and this trip to Italy felt like their last real adventure before everything changed.

Their flight back home was tomorrow evening—6 PM straight to Austin. Just in time for Dawn’s birthday.

Luke wasn’t looking at the Colosseum’s towering ruins or the historical markers embedded in the pavement. His gaze drifted through the crowd, scanning the real show—the performers working offstage. Pickpockets. Scammers. Con artists.

A man in a bright red vest juggled flaming torches, his wide, exaggerated movements keeping eyes locked on him. But Luke wasn’t watching the fire. He was watching the hands moving through the audience.

The pickpocket brushed by him—quick, practiced fingers slipping toward his pocket.

Luke moved faster. His own fingers snapped to his pocket, brushing against the fabric just in time to block the thief’s reach. When the pickpocket’s hand came up empty, Luke’s remained exactly where it had started—his wallet still securely in place.

The pickpocket, not yet realizing he’d been made, lingered nearby, eyes flicking toward Luke’s pocket, watching for another opportunity. Luke exhaled sharply, frustration bubbling up. He’d already bested the guy—he should have moved on by now.

Luke’s fingers curled slightly as he turned, ready to confront him.

"Luke."

Dawn’s voice cut through the moment, quiet but pointed.

He exhaled, flicking the fabric of his pocket slightly as if adjusting it, but kept his hand firmly over it, sending a clear message. The pickpocket hesitated for only a second before realizing this wasn’t worth his time and melted back into the crowd.

"You really can’t help yourself, can you?" she muttered.

"Not my fault he was sloppy," Luke said with a smirk.

Stolen story; please report.

Dawn sighed, rubbing her temples. "It’s not about catching him, it’s about you confronting him. Like the time you got us kicked out of the magic show because you took the deck to prove it was loaded?"

Luke scoffed. "That guy was a hack."

Dawn ignored him. "Don’t repeat that here. I’d really like to get inside at least once before we get kicked out."

Luke sighed, finally stepping away from the performers. "Fine, fine. Let’s go see your pile of rocks."

"Pile of—" she muttered something under her breath, rolling her eyes.

They made their way through the crowd, dodging tourists and holo-sign advertisements hovering in midair.

Then a familiar voice called out.

"There you are!"

Chris jogged up, out of breath, wiping sweat from his forehead. He was Dawn’s age, but Luke’s friend—as dumb as a golden retriever with the loyalty to match. What he lacked in street smarts and book smarts, he more than made up for in sheer enthusiasm and unwavering dedication to his friends.

"Man, I’ve been looking for you everywhere," he panted, grinning like he hadn’t just sprinted through a crowd in the midday heat.

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Didn’t know we were lost."

"Well, I lost you when lecture broke. The crowd was ridiculous." Chris waved vaguely toward the opposite side of the square. "I knew there were only two places you could be—here, or the Pantheon. I guessed wrong."

"So you guessed wrong and still ended up here?" Dawn asked.

"Well, yeah," Chris grinned. "Once I realized my mistake, I figured you hadn’t left yet. So here I am."

Luke shook his head. Chris had a bizarre talent for being both wrong and right at the same time.

As they moved toward the Colosseum entrance, Luke’s eyes caught something else—a coin game nestled between the street vendors. A man flipped a large silver coin, flashing a too-easy smile as another tourist lost.

Luke clicked his tongue. "Classic move."

Chris followed his gaze. "What?"

"The scam. The game looks fair—fifty-fifty odds. But it’s not. The dealer controls the flip. The house always wins."

Chris squinted at the table. "I dunno, looks pretty simple to me. You just call heads or tails, right?"

Luke sighed. "You really don’t get it?"

"Get what?"

"The trick. See how he flips it the same way every time? That’s because he’s palming it. He doesn’t actually let the coin spin in the air—he guides it so it lands exactly how he wants."

Chris nodded slowly, thinking hard. "So I just bet tails then, right?"

"No, it’s not that simp—"

Dawn yawned and stretched. "You realize you’re wasting your breath, right?"

"I’m just saying," Luke muttered. "Just watch for a few rounds. No one will win."

Chris, for once, said nothing. He was actually watching, just as Luke had told him to.

Then a woman stepped forward. She had been standing just a few feet from them only moments ago, blending in so well that Luke hadn’t even noticed her.

She glanced at Chris, smiled, then turned toward the table.

"Tails," she said, placing her bet.

Luke barely registered it at first. His mind was still on Chris, on explaining the scam, on the fact that he had finally gotten him to listen.

Then the coin flipped.

Tails.

A cheer rose from the small crowd. The woman grinned, scooping up a stack of credits.

Chris lit up. "See, Luke? You were right! You just bet tails!"

Before Luke could stop him, Chris stepped forward, billfold in hand.

"Fifty credits on tails!"

Luke’s stomach twisted. Chris didn’t realize it yet. But this was how they got you.

The dealer barely reacted, offering the same friendly nod as he flipped the coin into the air.

Heads.

Chris froze.

The dealer smirked, sliding the credits into his pouch. "Luck comes and goes, my friend."

Chris stared at the table. "Wait—but—"

Luke grabbed his shoulder, pulling him away before he could do something stupid. "Tough break, man. You gave it a shot."

Chris sighed, rubbing his face. "Yeah, I guess…"

Luke barely heard him. Because now it was his turn.

He stepped up to the table. The dealer raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment. "New player, same game?"

Luke placed a single bill down. "Tails."

The dealer flipped the coin.

Heads.

Luke sighed. "Figures."

As the dealer reached for the bill, Luke’s hand moved. A slight shift in weight, his knuckles brushing against the dealer’s coat. A casual motion—a flick of his fingers, lifting every credit in the man’s belt pouch before he even realized it.

By the time Luke stepped away, his hands were empty.

Chris patted his shoulder. "Man, you lost too? Guess that’s just how it goes, huh?"

Luke nodded. "Yeah. Just how it goes."

Dawn, however, wasn’t buying it. She caught his sleeve. "Luke. Tell me you didn’t—"

Luke pulled the stack of stolen credits from his sleeve, twirling them between his fingers.

Chris’ eyes went wide. "Wait—what?! How did—when did—"

Luke smirked. "Took back what was ours."

Dawn groaned, rubbing her temples. "And everyone else’s?"

Luke shrugged. "Figured the guy owed more than just Chris."

Chris grinned. "Dude, you are my hero."

Luke only laughed. Then, out of the corner of his eye, he

saw her.

The woman from the game.

She wasn’t looking at the dealer.

She was watching him.

Luke’s stomach twisted again. Yeah. This wasn’t over.