Margarita sat around a round table in a pub. There were several other people who were eating and talking aloud. None of them paid any heed to Margarita as she sipped on her tea and ate a little bit of the food.

  A waiter came over and spoke with one of them. It seemed like it was time to pay... Margarita sat silently. However, suddenly all eyes turned to her. She felt a shiver running down her spine.

  "Margarita. Come on~ You can pay for it right?" A loud, obnoxious sounding voice resounded as the owner of the voice wrapped an arm around Margarita's neck.

  Margarita shrunk slightly. "I-I... B-but you said you would cover it this time..." She shrunk back even more at the many stares directed at her, she pointed at one of the people present, it was a woman.

  The woman shrugged, an annoyed look crossing her face. "Listen, I forgot my purse okay? If I brought it with me I would've paid." She fixed Margarita with a glare, almost cursing her out for bringing her into the conversation.

  "Well, Anna didn't bring her wallet with her, so we don't really have anyone to pay~ I don't have any money with me... And Masha is also a little short on money... So Margarita~ Are you going to cover the bill or not?"

  "I-I..." Margarita felt cornered, the heavy weight of the stares boring down on her causing her to lower her gaze. "I don't know-"

  "Eh~ What do you mean you don't know? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." The same woman slightly tightened her grip around Margarita's neck. "We're colleagues, you should just cover it now. We'll get it next time~" She spoke in a faux sweet tone.

  "You're an engineer, you get paid more than any of us in here. You should just cover the bill, we'll get it next time we go out! Jeeze, why are you so stingy with money when you have stuffed pockets?" Another voice spoke up, it was Masha. Her harsh tone caused Margarita to trembled slightly, avoiding eye-contact.

  "Masha~ Don't be too hard on Margarita. I'm sure she'll cover it. Margarita is such a nice person that she'll do it this once." The other woman spoke up, turning her gaze towards Masha before shifting her gaze back. "Right, Margarita?" She grinned.

  "I-I'll cover it... D-don't worry..." Margarita relented as her shoulders slumped in defeat.

  "I can't believe they made me pay again... I shouldn't let this continue. Or else they'll walk all over me!" Margarita clenched her fists. She was on her way home. Currently, she was walking home after a long day at work in the defense plant. She was exhausted.

  She was currently living in Murmansk as it was the closest place to the defense plant and Margarita refused to live in the defense plant accomodations just as the other workers did. She wouldn't want to wake up smelling metal, oil and other stuff. Even though the accomodation area was far from the manufacturing area the polution carried through the air was still really bad.

  So the workers would just get accomodations in Murmansk and pay for them with their own money. "God damn it... I ended paying for them again. I didn't even want to go out with them... They pressured me..." Margarita sighed.

  Margarita was a person who easily collapsed under the pressure. "Ugh! It's like I'm a damn wallet for them!" She walked, stomping her feet in anger, garnering a few looks from other pedestrians. The sound of her heals clicking softly against the cobblestone pavement resounding through out the air.

  She closed her eyes for a few moments. Suddenly, Margarita heard a subtle rustle and a little wind hit her face. She opened her eyes again and she frowned. "What was that?" She threw her gaze around, finding nothing.

  She walked for a few moments before she noticed a tools store a few blocks away. Her face lit up as she practically ran towards it. Finally, I can get a new wrench! Her old wrench was broken and she wanted a new one. While the defense plant provided them with tools they were strictly used in the defense plant itself.

  Margarita couldn't just take the tools home. So for her own enjoyment, Margarita started buying tools for herself. She reached a hand into the inside of her coats, rummaging on the inside of the coat for a few moments before. "H-huh? Where is my..." She searched her whole body but she still didn't find it. "M-my purse... Where did my purse go?!" She yelled out loud, garnering a few stares again.

  But, she didn't care. She wanted to find her purse. Did... Did she get pickpocketed? Her face paled. She clenched her fists. Damn it!

  Margarita found herself slumping against a bench as she slowly banged her head back against the bench. "I can't believe I got pickpocketed like an idiot..." She spoke aloud with a groan. "Is this seat occupied?" A voice resounded, popping Margarita's bubble as she turned her gaze towards the source of the voice.

  "N-no..." Margarita said, shaking her head as she slumped back against the bench. It was an old man wearing a coat and a striped hat. He had a bundle of newspapers in his hand as he nodded gratefully and sat down.

  "Ugh..." She groaned. "I should report that pickpocket!" She clenched her fists, anger welling up in her chest. "But... I don't even know who stole from me..." She sighed, feeling defeated.

  "You sound like you're in quite the predicament." The old man suddenly spoke up, giving her a small smile. "Care to share with me? I might be of help."

  Margarita turned towards the old man, her breath catching in her throat at his sudden will to speak. "Ah... W-well, I got pickpocketed. My purse got stolen..." She said avoiding eyecontact, feeling embarrassed at her situation.

  "Ah... That tends to happen a lot in Murmansk. You must not be from around here are you?" The old man nodded in understanding before tilting his head to the side in curiosity.

  "No. I'm only here because of my job..." She nodded, fixing her gaze to the ground before shifting it back to the old man.

  "Did you see who stole from you?" He asked, letting his cane rest on the side of the bench.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  "Well... No. I didn't." She scratched her cheek. "I didn't even know I got pickpocketed. But it's so weird. I literally felt nothing. There is no way someone is that skilled..." She frowned.

  "Oh..." The old man's lips curled up into a smile. "Looks like you were the unfortunate target of the rustle today..." He shook his head, a sympathetic look crossing his face.

  "The... ruslte? Do you know something?" She asked, furrowing her brows in confusion.

  "Well, did you hear any suspicious sound before your wallet was gone? Like a rustle perhaps?" He asked with a smile on his face.

  "Uhm... Yeah? I did... But I thought that was just the wind..." Margaritta admitted, a worried look crossing her face. "But, what does that mean?"

  The old man nodded slowly. "You got targetted by the rustle. They're a notorious pickpocket, so skilled that when they steal from you, you'll only hear a rustle before your belongings are gone. Hahahahah!" The old man released a belly laugh. Margarita's face contorted in slight irritation. Is my situation something to laugh at?

  "I was actually once a victim of the rustle. I didn't even realize it and my wallet was gone." He said, wiping a tear off his face. "The rustle is notorious around Murmansk's locals. Ask any local and they'll know the rustle."

  "So I was a victim of a really notorious pickpocket..." Margarita sighed. Just my luck... She thought inwardly.

  "Don't blame yourself too much. If you're targetted by the rustle. There isn't much you can do." The old man shrugged. "The rustle is actually known by other names as well. Like, ghosthand for example. Nobody's even seen the rustle before, it's almost like they aren't real." The old man spoke.

  "Oh really?" Margarita's interest was peeked. "Can you tell me more about this rustle?" She wanted to know more about this person who stole from her. Perhaps she could catch them and get her purse back... "I'm really interested in what they do..."

  "Ahahaha!" The old man released another belly laugh. "Well, there isn't much known about them. But some people claim they've seen the rustle. And they're saying it's a little girl. No one believes that though." He shrugged.

  "Ahuh..." Margarita nodded attentively.

  "If you're planning on looking for the rustle don't bother." The old man waved a hand. "Not even the officers could catch the rustle. They claim that they are just too agile and quick for their hands to catch. They even gave the rustle another name and it is the most popular of their names."

  Margarita's shoulders slumped. So if the authoroties can't catch this rustle. How am I supposed to catch them? I should just give up... "What's that name?" She asked, turning her gaze towards the old man. She was still curious about this pickpocket's other title.

  "The moth." The old man grinned.

  "..." Margarita stared at him for a few moments before she nodded. "Fitting." She remarked. "Slips through the hands of the officers like a moth that you want to swat away." She slumped back against the bench.

  "Well... Isn't that pretty bad... I'm probably not getting my purse back right?" She gave the old man a small glance and the old man just responded with a smile. "Well, it was nice talking to you. But I need to go back home... It's getting late." She said as she stood up abruptly.

  "It was nice talking to you too. Have a nice afternoon." The old man gave her a parting smile. Margarita smiled back at him before she turned around and resumed walking.

  "I'm still feeling bad about my purse getting stolen..." She sighed as she walked. She stopped for a moment, turning her gaze over to one of the stores, it had several children toys lined up. "Hey, aren't those teddy bears?" She raised an eyebrow as she saw the large selection of toys. It had several stuffed animals on display, but the bear was the most common.

  Several children were looking up at the window, tugging at their parent's clothes, trying to urge them into buying the toys for them. Margarita had a neutral expression before she spotted an odd one out among the children. There was a lone girl standing opposite the window of the store, her eyes practically sparkling at the toys.

  The girl wore a green pistachio jacket and a British hat on her head. She had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes. The girl stood on her own, staring at the toys. She looked to be 14 years old. The girl's expression was eager, she really wanted one of those toys it seemed.

  Margarita regarded her for a few moments. Isn't she a little too old for those toys? She thought before turning away, shifting her gaze over the spacious shopping district.

  The sight was beautiful. The nightlights gently alluminating the night snowy streets of Murmansk. The cobbled pavement carrying piles of snow atop it as a cleaner sweeped the front of the store. The lights of the stores were bright and shining despite the late hour. It's quite nice isn't it... She smiled.

  Children ran around, parents chatted and fortunate kids carried toys, excited expressions on their faces as they ran around, clutching their stuffed animals to their chests. The blonde haired 14 year old girl seemed to hold an argument with a group of children. "The bear is so much better than the tiger." She said.

  "What are you talking about? The crocodile is waaaay better."

  "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. So unoriginal. The elephant is better than both of your stupid animals."

  The blonde girl seemed to argue with them like a child. Margarita shrugged. It's not good to stare at children. She sighed. Women my age have children... Meanwhile I'm here fixing trucks and tanks... Margarita sighed. It doesn't matter. It's what I love doing! She smiled as she turned away hearing the laughter of children behind her as she walked.

  Time to head home!

  "Ah! Erika. It's nice to see you here!" Margarita smiled, greeting the familiar face that she encountered by coincidence on the street.

  Erika, the beautiful, young black haired woman that worked in management. She was one of the few people who were actually nice to her. "Hello Margarita." She nodded respectfully as she smiled. "Heading home?"

  "Yeah." Margarita smiled. Actually talking with some one who didn't want to use her was pretty nice every once in a while... "What about you?"

  "I'm going to Dimitri's house." Erika said, a small blush creeping onto her cheek. "He invited me over for dinner.

  "... Dimitri? Are you actually in a relationship with that cold guy?" Margarita asked, tilting her head to the side, sounding genuinely surprised.

  Erika nodded slowly. "I know he may seem cold. But he's actually really nice and soft on the inside once you get to know him. And besides, he's dependable." She giggled softly, stifling her giggle with a hand to her lips. She looked really delicate doing that.

  Margarita's expression dimmed slightly as she shifted her gaze down to her own hands. She stared at the palms of her hands, calluses all over her hands giving them a rough look. Alas, work roughed up her hands... Meanwhile mine don't even look like they belong to a woman. She sighed. I'm already in my 30s... Margarita did not look the least bit 31. She looked like she was only in her 20s.

  Margaret sighed. "Well I'll leave you to that..." She held up a hand.

  "It's been nice talking to you Margarita. Do you want to meet up sometime to eat?" Erika offered, tilting her head to the side.

  "Ah... I can't pay-"

  "I'll pay." Erika smiled. Margarita's eyes widened slightly. For some reason Margarita felt that Erika was actually genuine unlike a lot of those pretentious women from her team. "You don't have to worry."

  "... Thank you. I'll be sure to meet up with you later when I can..." Margarita couldn't stop herself from smiling at the enthusiastic newbie, Erika. "Tomorrow?"

  "Tomorrow." Erika nodded with a small giggle. "I'll go now though. Bye~ Rita." She grinned.

  "... Rita?"

  "Can I call you that?" Erika tilted her head to the side. "I just thought that it's a pretty good shortcut to your name. 'Cause you know~ Margarita. That takes pretty long to say but just Rita. It's faster and easier on the tongue." She chuckled softly.

  "O-oh, it's fine actually... I kinda' like the sound of that. Rita... It rolls off the tongue pretty easily right?" Margarita giggled. It's been a while since she had laughed with someone like this. "Well then, bye Erika." She waved goodbye to Erika.

  "Bye Rita~" Erika waved at Margarita simultaneously running down the snowing streets.