I'm going to keep posting for my one reviewer. But please, if you even remotely likeit, or if you hate it, don't be afraid to tell me!
Charley woke up the next morning to the sound of Gideon being sick next to her. She rushed to his side and helped clean him up before he fell back into a lull. After cleaning up what she could with the rags lying about the alcove, she walked into the main room and woke her siblings.
"Ben, wake up! We've got to go find someone to help with De."
Ben's dark eyes fluttered open behind his mangy hair. Shaking his head, he rose slowly and tossed his ratty jumper over his small frame. Mattie was already up and taking care of the youngest. As everyone was bustling about, preparing for the outing, Ben poked his head out of the front tarp into the filthy alley they called their yard. The sky was overcast and still a fuzzy purple from the previous night. The longer he stayed there, the darker the sky became, filling with ominous rain clouds. He scurried back inside to tell Charley of the problematic storm heading their way.
When he saw her carrying shaking form wrapped in Mother's old afghan blanket, his eyes watered slightly. Everyone who knew the Dempsey's knew that Charlotte looked like the spitting image of her mother right down to the sharp tawny eyes. Seeing his sister carrying his brother in such a way brought back one of his last memories of his mother.
Mary Dempsey died almost five years ago when Maggie was just a baby. She was such an elegant and graceful person, full of love and kindness to every soul. It was her kindness which would be her downfall in the end. Walking home from the factory one December evening she saw a old man being kicked around by a couple of thugs. When she went to step in and help the man, one of the attackers pulled out a knife and stabbed her just below her right collar-bone. Falling to the ground in shock, she lay in the snow and bled to death before anyone could hope to save her.
Her death shook the whole family. She was they're rock, their lamppost without which they fell apart. Sean Dempsey, their father, was affected the worst and took to alcohol to drown out his pain, but every one of the children agreed to never speak of the effects again. To put it shortly, Mr. Dempsey followed his wife within the next year.
Within minutes of everyone's waking, the Dempsey's were off and roaming the streets, going from doctor's office to doctor's office trying to get service for their brother. Most people took one look at their appearance and quickly ushered them out of the lobby. After walking all morning and being turned away from five consultations, the family headed for the last doctor on their side of the Thames.
"Charley, I'm hungry," whined Maggie. Charley ruffled the girl's hair and reached into her rucksack, searching for anything leftover for Maggie to nibble on. Finding nothing, she turned to her sister and gave her an apologetic smile. Maggie buried her face into Mattie's jumper and clung closer to her carrier. Gideon had passed out once again and Ben was getting worried about the weather.
"If he gets wet, he'll end up a whole lot worse than we could've ever imagined. We've got to move quicker or there are going to be some issues." As always, Ben was the voice of reason, telling people the truth, even if they didn't want to hear it. Charley nodded and picked up the pace, subconsciously rubbing Gideon's back through the blanket.
By the time they made it Dr. Franklin Rowan's office, it was a little past five and getting progressively colder. Matilda jiggled the handle and knocked on the door. No answer. Ben stepped up to see if the door was just sticky, but alas, their only hope of helping their brother was locked away behind the door. In aggravation, he pounded on the door until a deep, booming voice echoed through the heavy air.
"HEY YOU! GET AWAY FROM THERE!"
A burly copper came forward, charging at the siblings. In a blink of an eye, the five children were flying down the streets, bobbing in and around waste baskets and such in attempts to throw off their pursuer. The longer they ran the farther the distance between them and danger grew. Charley lost track of their position, and unknowingly, lead her siblings into a dead ended lane.
Eyes open, searching wildly for a place to hide; Charley saw a run down antiquities shop. The officer right on their heels, Charley grabbed he siblings and shoved them into the store. Luckily, the door was open and she ushered everyone inside the shop. At the very back of the dark room was a large, hand-carved armoire big enough to fit all of them. Throwing back the door, the children dashed in one by one. Charley peeked out the door and backed up into her siblings. They tumbled backwards, landing atop of one another. Charley opened her amber eyes. The sight that met them blew her mind away.
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