[ WP ] In the past , thieves , fictional or otherwise , stole from the rich and greedy to punish them . You are the next evolution , a thief that can literally steal the evil intentions from peoples hearts

I ’ m walking down the street when I hear the shriek ring out over the din of traffic. It comes from the dim alley just ahead. I smile inwardly as I pull the dark hood of my overcoat over my head and pull the dark purple clasp across to secure it at the neck. Then I calmly stride into the darkness. 
 
 As my eyes quickly adjust I see a scrawny man brandishing a gun. The woman he ’ s yelling at is cowering against the brick composing the wall of the building behind. I ’ m not sure what his intent is, whether he ’ s after money or… something darker, but it doesn ’ t matter. 
 
 As I approach his voice fades. I stop a few paces from him, and he looks me up and down before realizing who I am. Word has begun to spread of what I do, as much as I have tried to keep under the radar. If it were up to me, no one would ever give me a second thought. After all, it ’ s not about the fame. 
 
 The man overcomes his surprise and the gun swings my direction, though the hand holding it quivers a little. Undeterred, I resume my progress forward. He croaks out a warning, but I know he won ’ t actually do it. They never do. Men like him aren ’ t used to being met with anything but fear. My hand reaches out and rests on his forearm. 
 
 He stiffens, and his eyes cloud over, then clear. He shakes his head from side to side as his mind follows suit. He looks at me with an expression I have come to know well, but I know that the fear he exudes is more about what he had been about to do than my presence and power. I look him in the eyes and nod once, sending him rushing to help his almost-victim to her feet. I ’ m sure tears shine in both their eyes as they connect as people for the first time, but I am already exiting back onto the street. I never stay for their thanks. After all, it ’ s not about the praise. 
 
 I tuck the hood back into my coat and unhook its clasp. As I do I watch the gem transition from purple to black. No one seems to realize that the evil I remove from their hearts doesn ’ t just disappear. It has to go somewhere, and that is what the gem is for. It acts as a reservoir for their dark energy, gathering the evil within its depths. And now it is full. 
 
 I remove my phone from a pocket and punch in a series of numbers. The conversation that ensues is brief, but as the voice on the other end becomes tinged with giddiness and desire my own heart begins to swell. He is a powerful man from a powerful country, and when he receives the gem he will transfer a large sum into my account. There ’ s a market for everything, these days. 
 
 I won ’ t keep a cent, of course. I think I ’ ll drop by a local charity and make a sizable donation. After all, it ’ s not about the money. 
 
 When it really comes down to it, at the end of the day, it ’ s all about the power. 

