A/n: I am really bored and I though of this OC. She faintly resembles...someone I know. But it's not me, my hair's red!
I ran as fast as I could and pushed through the crowd.
"Hey, get back here!" Those mean looking guys were still chasing me. I had never been so scared in my whole life. I had taken some money from one of their pockets and they had caught me. Now, I was running from them through downtown London. I weaved in-between bigger people, adults, who yelled and jumped away behind me as the thugs pushed them aside.
I ran faster, a stitch in my side as I struggled to keep breathing. I turned down an alley in an attempt to lose them. I came to a stop as I stared up at a dirty brick wall. Dead end! I turned and saw the thugs enter the alley, laughing.
"Nowhere to run now, eh Missy?" My heart sped up and I turned, desperately looking for a way out. The biggest thug approached and lifted me up by the front of my shirt. I struggled, but it was no use. He was too strong. He grinned and pulled back his fist, winding up for a punch. I closed my eyes and turned my head, waiting for the blinding pain.
"Enough!" Someone yelled out. The thugs whirled around, except for the one holding me. I opened one of eyes very slowly. There was a man standing at the opening of the alley. He was wearing a top hat.
"What are you doing with my daughter?" I was surprised, to say the least. My own father had passed away over three years ago. Why was this man calling me his daughter?
"Uh, your...daughter?" The guy holding me asked. The top hat man crossed his arms and frowned.
"Yes, my daughter. I demand that let her down at once!" The big guy scratched his head and slowly lowered me to the ground.
"But she stole money right out of our pockets! We wasn't gonna do nothin' to her, honest. Just scare 'er a bit!" This guy was intimidated, I could tell. Top hat guy walked towards me.
"Keisha, you are in big trouble, do you understand? Now, give this man his money back. At once." ow I was even more confused! My name wasn't Keisha! But the man winked at me, and I figured he had a plan. So, I did what I had to. I bit my lip and shoved my hand into the pocket of my overalls. I fished around and pulled out the wad of bills. I handed them over to the biggest thug, the one I had stolen from. He took the money and counted the pounds. Honestly, did he think I would cheat him in front of my "dad"?
"Good girl." Top hat guy said, ruffling my hair. Then he turned to the group of thugs. "I hope you won't even think about coming near my daughter again. I won't hesitate to call the police next time." The thugs nodded, mumbled a "Sorry..." and ran out of the alley. I looked up at top hat guy and stared. He had brown, messy hair that fell into his eyes, which were chocolate brown colored. He smiled.
"Sorry to confuse you like that. I couldn't think of a better way. Come, I'll take you home." I bit my lip again and stared down at my shoes, shifting my feet uncomfortably.
"Well...about that. I don't really have a home. I'm an orphan." He made a sympathetic face.
"So, shall I take you to the orphanage?" I shook my head. I was trying to stall as long as possible.
"Why not? You do live there, don't you?" I sighed. It was time to come clean.
"Well...I do live in an orphanage. Just not in London. In...Hamburg." There was a rumble of thunder in the distance and little drops of rain began to fall.
"I think it would be best of we talked, while we walked. You will come home with me for tonight." I nodded. If he had saved me from the thugs, I figured I could trust him. I ran underneath his umbrella and huddled closer to him.
"I live in St. Peter's Orphanage in Hamburg. I used to, anyways. I ran away." Top hat guy looked surprised.
"In Hamburg? But did a young girl like you manage to get to London, all on your own?" I smiled.
"I'm a bit craftier than I look, sir. I waited until my nurse was asleep, and then I swiped some money from her purse. Only enough for a train ticket. Then I just...left. Climbed out the window and slept at the train station, until my train arrived. I rode it all the way to London and...here I am now." Top hat guy was the confused one now.
"And...you took money from the thugs...to?" I frowned and stared at the ground.
"That's how I pay for my food. Steal from the rich, or stupid, in their case." He laughed slightly. "I know stealing is wrong, but I did it only because I had to. I'm too young to get a job, and I can't go back to that orphanage." There was a very long moment of silence after that. I watched the cars go by, spraying water onto the curb as they passed. People walked past, carrying umbrellas of different sizes and shapes. In this dim light, however, everything looked blue, purple and gray, all dark tones of each color. It was pretty, in a special sort of way.
"If you don't mind my asking...why can't you return to the orphanage?" I sighed and stared at the cars.
"Because, no one understands me there. They all make fun of me and I want my own life. A life of adventure!" I said, thumping my chest with a flat hand. He smiled and chuckled.
"Well, then. You'll like staying here with me." I was curious. Was he an explorer?
"Are you an explorer?" I asked, eyes wide and mouth open. He gave a funny little crooked grin.
"Of sorts." I faced forward and tried to take in everything that had just happened. I was going to live with top hat guy for the night, and he was an adventurer! Of sorts. I wondered what his house would look like. I hoped it would be African styled, like all of those other adventurers you read about in magazines and on the telly. I imagined African tribal masks and spears hanging on the walls, with zebra skin couches and tall, exotic plants everywhere.
We walked a for a few more minutes until we stopped in front of a little house. It was a bit shabby and much smaller than I had imagined. He reached into his pockets and pulled out a ring of keys. Sticking the longest one into the keyhole, he unlocked the door and opened it for me.
"Welcome to my humble abode." He said, with a little laugh. I walked inside and turned on the lights. It was definitely not what I had expected. Instead of zebra skin couches, there was a cozy looking brown one, pushed into the corner. There were two armchairs, one of them a light brown color and the other a cheery yellow. I liked the yellow one. There was a big bookshelf, full to bursting. I nodded at it in approval. I loved books.
I turned the corner and walked into the kitchen. It was small and clean, with a little round table situated in the middle. There were six chairs around it. Six people in the family. I wondered if one of them was a girl my age. There was an old-fashioned gas stove and a big white refrigerator, which were clean and worn. I liked it almost at once.
When I walked back into the tiny hall, top hat guy was hanging up his jacket and placing his umbrella in the little stand beside the coat rack.
"Well, what do you think?" I smiled.
"It's wonderful!"
A/n: Important!
OC name: Meredith Stone.
Age: around 13
Gender: Female (duh)
So that's some basic information about Meredith. I will update as soon as possible, so long as people want me to. Other Layton characters will be included in the next chapter.
Review please.
MikuLover~