The Devil's Child. The words loomed over their heads as she was pulled into the tent by her friend. The Gypsy fair was not something she wanted to go to. It was only at the persuasion of an eager Pier that she was here in the first place. Everything here was unnatural and cruel. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage them with her own coin.

The inside of the tent was dark. People were pressed in all around and calling out cruelly at whatever was going on in the middle. The stench of cheap ale and mould assaulted her and she was almost gagging within the first minute. The filthy crowd parted slightly and she was able to glance at the main attraction in the centre. A large iron cage greeted her and as she glanced at the creature inside and her heart froze. A young child, no more than eleven, was cowering, filthy, with an old sack over his head and a rag doll as his only comfort. His back was laced with cruel scars, some looking very raw and angry, as if he only received them earlier this very day. The crowed continued its jeering as a large, bearded Gypsy entered the cage. The mystery of his scars were soon revealed as the woman saw the Gypsy kick the child to the side and raise a large, knobbed stick above his head. With his other hand, the brute tore off the sack covering the child's head. Yet the woman saw nothing. She had turned away as the sickening thud sounded and the pained cries of the poor boy was drowned by the thrill of the audience. She turned to her friend who wore a look of absolute horror on his face as his hands curled into fists. The woman placed a hand on his shoulder and he looked to her with anguish. The crowed continued to yell as the onslaught continued and dropped coins for the disgusting man to collect. Pier tugged on his friend's arm to leave but she refused to go. Her mind was made up and she was driven by determination. Soon, one by one, everyone left, until Pier and the woman were the only spectators left. She turned to her friend

"Wait in the carriage, I shall be there shortly"

Pier looked at her strangely before he nodded and made his way out. She turned back to the cage. The man was on his knees counting his coin and licking his lips in a revolting display as the child remained cowering in the corner.

"Sir.' The man jolted upright and stowed the coin into his purse as the woman's voice carried over to him. His gaze swooped around the tent to find the source and his glare finally landed on the lone woman. He sneered and called out in a rough, thick voice;

"Clear off sweetheart, viewing is over. Come back tomorrow if you want a look at the freak again."

She felt her stomach clench in fury at the man's statement. She squared her shoulders and marched forward, extending five coins.

"I request a private viewing"

The man glared at her hand, but his yellowing eyes glinted greedily at the money. He snatched the gold and jerked his thumb behind him at the still shuddering, bruised boy.

"You got ten minutes lady,' he slurred before walking out of the tent, leaving her alone with the child.

As soon as he left she rushed forward and fell to her knees before the bars so she was near level with the boy. The filthy sack was on the other side of the cage where the owner had tossed it in his rampage, but his head was low, hiding everything in shadows. He was shaking uncontrollably from the silent sobs wracking his body and her heart ached once more as her eyes caught every mark on his back glaring in the dim light.

"You poor child. What kind of life have you known?" she kept her voice quiet so to not startle him. The child stiffened but remained silent.

"What is your name?" There was a brief pause before he looked up at her with surprise. She felt a course of shock as his face became exposed to her. His skin was paper thin and stretched over his whole face showing blue veins near his temple. His nose was missing, only a black hole sat where a nose should have grown. His eyes were slightly sunken in and seemed to glow gold. The woman's shock must have shown as he whimpered and slung his rake thin arms over his face. She took a deep breath and extend her hand to him. He flinched away from her touch as he felt her hand graze his over his cheek. The woman lowers her hand and frowns. Of course.

"Please. I would never hurt you."

His arms lowered slightly as he peeked at the woman.

"Do you have a name child?" She asked again. He lowered his skeletal arms slightly more again. His mouth opened several times before a slight whisper of a voice responded.

"E…Erik."

The woman felt a warm smile grow on her face as he spoke. His voice was melodious, soothing and sweet. A stark and beautifully welcome change to the horrors around them. She was struck wondering, just how anyone could harm him? Such a shy, fragile child.

"That is a wonderful name. Erik." His lips twitched in a small smile as she tested his name and she wondered how long it had been since anyone has said something like that to him.

"I am Amelia." She offered. Erik offered that small smile again.

"Would you let me clean your wounds?" she offered to him. Erik nodded slightly, somewhat cautiously, in response. Amelia beckoned him closer and he warily nudged nearer to her. She took her silk handkerchief from her bag and put it under a nearby tap before gently placing it on one of his multiple wounds. He flinched away and Amelia immediately apologised. After a moment he nodded, allowing her to continue. As she wiped away the layer of dirt from around the angry scratches, she hummed softly to him, and slowly began to feel him relax more and more.

"How often does this happen to you?" She eventually asked him, gently, making sure to keep eye contact to show him she was not afraid of his face.

"Every day" he mumbled "Javert makes sure there are at least four viewings each day."

Anger coursed through Amelia at his words that were spoken with such resignation and sorrow. How dare that man. Erik was as sweet and as innocent as any child she had met and it was clear he was absolutely terrified of this life. The cruelty that she had just witnessed with her own two eyes and, to her revulsion, had offered her own money for, was the true abomination, not the child. Amelia discarded the handkerchief and, once more, slipped her hand into her bag to pull out a large roll she had bought from one of the stalls earlier. She held it out to Erik and watched as his eyes grew large at the sight of the food. He gingerly took the bread from her but did not eat it.

"Thank you" he murmured. Amelia placed her hand on his shoulder and gave it a small squeeze. She could sense her time was running out and she told him gently. His panic was instant and he collapsed into a tremor at her words.

"No! Please don't leave me here!" he cried, clinging onto Amelia's arm through the cage. She reached through the bars and pulled him into a hug. He buried his face into her chest as best as he could and cried while her fingers ran through his stray, dirty hair in an attempt to soothe him.

"You have been so brave my dear." She whispered to him as his tears soaked into her clothes. "All I ask it that you are brave for a little while longer." His shoulders shuddered at her words. "I will come back for you as soon as I can. I promise you." He wailed even harder into her dress at her words and Amelia held him tighter, tears threatening to spill down her face. Eventually, she pulled back to stare into his glowing eyes. She desperately needed him to understand.
"I will not abandon you Erik." She whispered to him, watching as his face opened in hopeful wonder.

"One day more. That is all I ask of you." He nodded shakily and Amelia placed her hands on either side of his face. "I promise." She repeats. She pulled him into one final hug and rocked him gently, humming as she did. Eventually, she heard the man- Javert's- footsteps as he re-entered the tent and she pulled away. Erik slinked back to the corner of his cage and retrieved his sack, the sight making her long to comfort him once more. Before he pulled it over his head, his golden eyes glanced at Amelia. Uncertainty and fear was shining. She placed her hand over her heart and mouthed, once more, 'I promise you.'

She then turned and left with a heavy heart and her mind ablaze with fury and determination.