The Delanceys hated Annabelle. Oscar and Morris hated her because she reminded them of their mother and Mr. Weasel hated her because she reminded them of his sister. And when she got fired from her job at the factory they had the perfect reason to get rid of her.

"Get outta here ya no good lazy girl!" said her Uncle Weasel as he pushed her out the door.

"Bye, Sis." Morris smirked as Oscar threw the small bag of her few belongings on the ground.

Annabelle picked up her bag and stomped down the steps. She slammed the circulation building door loudly as she left.

It was a cold winter night outside. A light snow was beginning to fall. Annabelle walked a few blocks in the dark.

It all hit Annabelle at once. Where was she going to go? She had no other relatives besides her horrible uncle and delinquent brothers. She had no job and no money besides the quarter she had been saving up for her birthday. Somehow she had snuck it past her uncle's notice. He and her brothers usually spent her hard-earned money on gambling and alcohol.

Annabelle stood in the middle of the dim street and screamed. She hadn't cried since her mother passed away nearly nine years ago. She screamed instead. She didn't even know whether she even could cry anymore.

It was a loud, powerful scream that echoed through the quiet street, the sound magnified by the quiet of the snow.

"Whoa!" said a voice from behind her. A male voice. It startled her. She reared back and punched blindly into the darkness. She had the satisfaction of making contact.

"Ah!" said the boy. He rubbed his jaw where she had hit him. "Was that really necessary?"

"You startled me." Annabelle said simply. She got a closer look at the boy. He didn't seem like much of a threat, he was about her height, 'maybe' an inch taller, and not particularly built. He was maybe a year or two older than her. Oscar's age, probably. Annabelle continued glaring at him.

"That was quite a scream," he said.

Annabelle rolled her eyes and turned on her heel and kept walking down the street. "What of it?" she had no intent to keep talking. He would probably make fun of her.

"Hey," he jogged a bit to catch up with her. "Ya hear a lady screamin' in the middle a' the street at night and ya need to see if she's ok. Any gentleman would-"

He bumped into her as Annabelle stopped abruptly.

"I'm ok, see? " She paused just long enough for him to glance at her. "Now leave me alone."

This time the boy reached for her wrist. "What are you doin' out here so late? Don't you know there's a curfew. If the bulls catch you they'll put you in the Refuge."

Annabelle cursed out loud. She forgot about that small detail.

She had no desire to have her name added to the Refuge's roster. Not before her brothers.

Annabelle had only just found out about her brothers' trial. According to the newspapers they had allegedly assisted in the kidnapping of two newsgirls. The boys that worked in the factory said it was over a turf war or something like that. She had also heard rumors that the were involved in an attempted murder. Annabelle knew her brothers were crooks by she didn't think they would ever go that far. If they had, money was probably involved.

"You should be home," the boy said as he tried to hide his bemused smile at her colorful language. "Are ya lost? I can help you find your way back."

Annabelle looked at him for a moment. "I don't have a home," she said flatly. "They kicked me out."

"Oh... "

A cold wind howled down the street. Annabelle pulled her coat tighter.

"So ya got no place to sleep?"

"Yeah," she snapped. He was stating the obvious. She kept walking and this time he made no move to follow her. 'Makes sense,' she thought, 'A homeless girl wouldn't have anything worth stealing.' But she shook her head. If he did want to rob her he would have done it already. Why would he take the chance to talk to her?

"Why don't you come back to my place," the boy called. "Even if it's just to get warm for a little while."

Annabelle turned back around and looked at the boy. He seemed kind and sincere. It's not like she had any options. Maybe she could trust him. What did she have to lose?

"Fine," she sighed.

The boy smiled and offered his arm. Normally Annabelle would have ignored this gesture but the roads were so icy tonight. She didn't want to add a broken bone to her stroke of bad luck. Besides, it was freezing tonight. Any extra warmth was welcome.

"It's not too far from here. We'll get you inside in no time."

"Hey," Annabelle said suddenly. "Why are you out out so late?"

"Comin' home from work."

"At this hour? Aren't you worried about the 'bulls' too?"

"Nah," he said, smirking. "The coppers wouldn't know what to do without me."

Annabelle scoffed and rolled her eyes. "And why is that?" How would a regular boy like him be of any value to the police officers?

"Who would bet for them at the races while they're workin' on the beat?"

Annabelle stiffened, but before she could say anything the boy said, "We're here."