London, 1870
The rain picked up, thundering against the cobble stone as I lifted the hood of my cloak, ducking out of the restaurant, head bowed and feet picking up speed. As I was about to round a corner, I heard the door open from far behind, someone shouting words I only caught part of.
"-Thief! Stop her! Thief!"
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a police man in blue begin to chase after me, anger clear on his face.
I ran.
Fast.
The police man called after me, but he was already falling behind, "Oi! You there! Stop!"
I dove into a crowd of people, slowing my pace until it matched theirs, becoming all but invisible in the mass of bodies. The cop rounded the corner, not sparing me a second glace as he sprinted down the road, causing me to let out a sigh of relief. I had food. They hadn't caught me. I fingered the necklace in my pocket. I hadn't failed my mother yet. Wes was still safe.
I turned into an alleyway covered in at least three inches of dirt. The buildings had long ago been closed, doors locked and windows boarded. To the untrained eye, the place looked deserted. But I knew better.
I walked until I came across a door, its paint faded and old. The door looked like every other, except for the J and W carved into the surface, so small you'd miss it. Unless of course you were looking for it.
I rapped my knuckles three times on the door, loud and clear. I paused, waiting for a response. For a moment, there was only silence, but then…
"Jade?" It was whispered softly, muffled by the door so I almost didn't hear it.
"Hurry up and open the door, this food is starting to get heavy!" I called.
"Food?!" A boy with the same blue eyes and brown hair as mine opened the door wide, a hopeful expression lighting his face up, in a way I hadn't seen in awhile. My heart broke as I realized how long it really had been. Mother would never let this happen to Wes. She would have done everything in her power to make sure his life, no, our lives were filled with happiness. Joy. Hope. But me? I got him food once in awhile. I got him hope even less.
I swooped down and picked up Wes, spinning him around and around, making him laugh. How long since I'd heard him laugh? I pushed the thought away.
Placing him down, I slung the pack off my shoulder, then dumped its contents out onto the table, a genuine smile on my face. "Food."
Apples, bread, cheese, you name it, spilled out onto the wood, shining like treasure, and making both our stomachs growl. I picked up the reddest apple I could find, tossing it into the air and catching it before handing it to Wes. He bit into the fruit, juice dribbling down his chin as devoured it.
Jumping onto a chair, I announced, as if speaking to a large crowd instead of one person," Tonight, we dine like kings!" A cheer arose from the imaginary crowd. Wes laughed.
That night we went to bed, are stomachs full and our hearts light. Wes curled into my side on the small bed we shared, a thin blanket tucked around us. He fell asleep in a matter of moments, his soft breathing making me smile. But then a thought made it falter.
The food I got today would keep us happy and full, but for how long? Soon, it would run out, and we would again starve, not knowing when our next meal would be. It was a big game of risk, and I didn't know how long I could keep playing. Keep playing without losing. Without failing.
I kissed Wes's head, and tried my best not to cry.
I woke from a dreamless sleep to find that the room was still dark. And to find Wes wasn't next to me. Or in the bed at all.
I was just about to let out a scream, when I saw him. And the air seemed instead to choke me. He was standing by the window. Holding the hand of a monster with glowing eyes. For a moment, I just sat there, watching, not believing, until Wes's feet were no longer touching the ground.
I jumped out of bed, racing towards Wes as the monster began to lift him into the air.
"Wes!" I cried out, my voice cracking.
His eyes blinked sleepily at me. "Jade?"
"Wes run!" I screamed, running towards him. He only looked at me, as if not quite understanding me. As if my words were coming from somewhere far away.
That only made my panic level raise.
I reached out to grab his leg, to bring him down, but I missed him.
Missed him by inches.
Wes's eyes opened wide in realization, as if waking from a dream.
"Jade!" he screeched, reaching his hand out to me.
"Jade help!" He looked panicked. Scared. And there was nothing I could do.
I reached out.
Again.
But this time he was long gone.
I woke with a start, my heart racing. A dream.
It had all been a dream.
I reached out to brush my hand through Wes's hair.
Wes was not next to me.
Wes was not next to me.