Bird Heist? Bird Heist.
A heist in 200 words.
You duck into an alleyway, check behind you. Sirens shriek through London, but none of them are nearby enough to make you worry. It took them twelve minutes to catch on; a little less time than you were hoping for, but still enough. You set your squirming backpack down, peel off your thick hoodie, the baggy cargo pants you wore over your normal pants, chuck them into a sewer grate.
“Bit sad, innit?” says a muffled voice from inside your dollar-store backpack. You feel bad keeping Georgie in there, but you can’t afford to free him yet. Your phone chimes; Carly’s clear with three of them. No word from Jake with the other two. You step out from the alleyway, dodge a policeman doing bag checks on tourists.
-----
A week ago, you, Carly, and Jake took a tour of the Tower of London. A tour guide said in thick accent, “Legend has it that if the six ravens leave the Tower, then the monarchy will fall.” Fascinating.
With the conviction of Princip fixing to assassinate Archduke Ferdinand, you look into your friends’ eyes and mouth, “Bird heist.”
-----
Phone chimes. It’s Mom. “You see the news about King Charles?”
-----
This story was written for the Heist in 200 Words microfiction challenge. If you liked this story, leave a comment. If you commented this story, leave a like. If you want to give me money, leave a tip. If you definitely wouldn't cause the downfall of the British monarchy by stealing some birds from a historic site, then you and I are very different people.
About the Creator
Steven Christopher McKnight
Disillusioned twenty-something, future ghost of a drowned hobo, cryptid prowling abandoned operahouses, theatre scholar, prosewright, playwright, aiming to never work again.
Venmo me @MickTheKnight
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Keep reading
More stories from Steven Christopher McKnight and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Stringalong
In his study, James Nightingale wondered what there was to live for. Sex was out; he wasn’t very good at it. Love, too, was not the answer, because James Nightingale was very much the kind of man who conflated it with sex. It was probably the reason why he wasn’t very good at either. Finding nothing to live for in these precious few seconds of thought, James Nightingale resolved to live only as long as it took him to die, and not a moment longer. He shuffled through the papers on his desk, unaware which one he was looking for, but believing somewhere deep inside himself that one sheet had to be the right one.
By Steven Christopher McKnight12 months ago in Fiction
Forced Compliance Not Necessary
Some people knew this would happen. The chips in our heads, I mean. Everyone laughed. Isn't that funny? The crazy part: even the conspiracy nuts had a mobile phone. Everyone walked around with the "chip" glued to their hand, eyes glued to chip.
By L.C. Schäfer6 days ago in Fiction
Moon Reading Astrology: Unlocking the Mysteries of Your Inner Self
Introduction to Moon Reading Astrology Have you ever felt a mysterious pull towards the moon or noticed how its phases influence your emotions? Welcome to Moon Reading Astrology, a fascinating branch of astrology that delves into the lunar aspects of your astrological profile. Unlike traditional astrology that focuses primarily on sun signs, Moon Reading Astrology offers a deeper understanding of your inner self, emotions, and subconscious mind.
By Jessica Millera day ago in Fiction
Comments (4)
You certainly echoed my thoughts of the monarchy in this one! And clever use of the raven motif. This might be my favorite heist yet. 🐦⬛💜
BIRD HEIST
I like this a lot. Very well written. 🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🦅🦉🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛🐦⬛
Lol, this was so clever! Loved your take on this challenge!