This is Hornet's side of the story, ok? Well the first part is. Oh and sorry the last part was so cheesey!
Disclaimer: I do not, will not, and have not ever owned Thief Lord. Unfortunately.
Almost three months, she had been gone. Two months of beatings and harassment, from men who were addicted to alcohol and drugs. Two months of in-and-out unconsciousness, with beatings so bad she had been dead to the world for days.
When Hornet woke up, the men had all gone, leaving her in a small flat which stunk of dry alcohol and sweat. There was a single light bulb in hanging from the centre of the ceiling, eerily illuminating the room she was in. There was a large, old sofa plonked in the middle of the room and an ancient TV set but that was just about it. Then Hornet realised she was tied to a chair.
However, after a few moments fumbling with the knot, she discovered it was loose and tugged herself free. Rubbing her wrists which were painfully sore, she hesitantly stood up, hoping the floor boards weren't creaky; the gang could be downstairs.
The door was unlocked, but no sooner had she opened it when one of the gang members appeared in front of it.
"Not so fast, little missy!" He growled, spraying her with speckles of spittle. (speckles of spittle, speckles of spittle, speckles of…I'll stop now…)
"Get off me!" She cried through angry tears. The man merely sneered at her, dragging her back over to the chair she had originally been tied to. But before he had managed to pick up the discarded rope, Hornet kicked him hard in the stomach. Letting out a gasp of pain, the man doubled up and Hornet took her chance.
Leaping up she ran round him and through the door in a flash. Hard sunlight hit her in the face and an awful realisation hit her: she was in Venice – but where in Venice she had no idea.
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
Hornet didn't know how many times she fell while wandering around Venice in a lost confusion. She did know that one of the times she fell she hurt her arm, feeling it crack underneath her.
The pain brought fresh, hot tears to her eyes, but she forced them down, cradling her arm. A sweet smell wafted towards her, and her eyes were drawn to a baker's shop near to where she was stood.
Her stomach twisted into a big ugly knot; she hadn't eaten in days. No money, no food. Even through her tiredness she could work that out.
It seemed like there was only one thing keeping her going: The look on Prosper's face the night before she had disappeared, where they had talked, no problems, just two friends…maybe more than two friends, thinking and just being there.
But even that wouldn't last.
Suddenly recognising were she was, Hornet tried to run and stopped, wincing at the pain that shot up her stiff legs. Maybe she should sleep…sleeping felt good right now.
Silently, she crept into an alley, and helplessly fainted, not knowing she wouldn't wake up for a while…
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
"And…that's basically it," Hornet concluded. The policeman jotted a few notes onto his pad and flipped back to the cover.
"We will have a full search of Italy for this…'gang' you have described for us," He said, tucking the book into his jacket before leaving with a nod to Ida.
Ida wrapped an arm around Hornets shoulders. "I am so sorry," She whispered.
"For what?" Hornet asked. "You didn't do anything wrong!"
"I know, it's just…we never thought to look in all the places you went to," Ida explained, looking at Prosper for back-up. He nodded.
"So what?" Hornet grinned at the two of them who were sat in the police station with her. Mosca, Riccio and Scipio hovered outside the door. "I'm here now!" She smiled softly at Prosper. "And I couldn't be happier,"
XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX
That night the Casa Spavento was host to a party. Streamers were hung all over the hall, balloons were blown up and Lucia outdid herself with an amazing meal. Music was played and dancing was done, all in favour of Hornet's miraculous recovery. Bo went to everyone at least twice, boasting: "I woke her up!"
As the night grew on, Prosper noticed Hornet slipping out of the large glass doors that led to Ida's garden. Checking everybody was busy with dancing (Ida), playing the music (Scipio) and eating (Riccio), he silently followed her.
Prosper found Hornet by the rose bush, near the bottom of the garden. Ida prided her garden almost as much as her cameras, planting all sorts of exotic plants everywhere. He watched Hornet pluck a rose from the bush; sniff it, slowly peeling away the layers of petals.
"Are you alright?" He asked when he reached her. She gave a start and dropped the stem of the rose.
"Prosper!" Hornet gasped. "Gosh, you gave me a shock!"
He laughed. "Sorry," He said, smiling. "I just wanted to check you were ok…"
"Oh, I'm fine," Hornet assured him. Prosper nodded and turned, starting to make his way to the house. "But I'd be better if you stayed!" She called out hurriedly.
Prosper turned back around, an odd look on his face. "Did I hear you right?" He asked.
Hornet shrugged. "Depends…" She reasoned. "If you heard me say 'I'd be better if you stayed!' you'd have heard me right,"
A bench was placed by the bush, as Ida liked to sit there in the summer. Hornet sat down and motioned Prosper to join her. He hesitantly sat down; he felt suddenly nervous.
"Its really beautiful," Hornet breathed, looking down the garden.
"Yeah…Yeah, it is," Prosper agreed, but his eyes weren't on the garden; they were on the girl sat next to him. Hornet turned to look at him and blushed when their eyes met.
She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.
"You know what Prop?" She muttered. "I think we would make a pretty good couple."
"You know what, Hornet?" Prosper replied, lifting Hornet's head so they were facing each other. "I know we would," He smiled. "In fact…I know we will,"
"Eurgh!" Riccio's voice came from behind them. The two turned to see him half hidden behind a large leafy bush-like plant. He went scarlet when he saw them glaring at him. "Pay no attention to the boy behind the bush!"
"Riccio? Have you been spying on us?" Hornet asked menacingly. "Well, if you thought that was disgusting…" She gently kissed Prosper, making sure Riccio was in full sight of it.
"Aw, c'mon guys!" Riccio squealed. "I don't wanna have nightmares!"
Prosper grinned. "I suggest you run away then!" He said and kissed Hornet back.
So, as usual, our story ends with a kiss. But, not as usual, it ends with a squealing boy running away to find Ida and complain Prosper and Hornet are being icky down by the rose bush.
THE END