" That boy is going to hate yer for eternity."
" Where yer think yer going, Dodge-?" Bill seethed through his teeth, the familiar glint sparkling in his eyes.
" Lemme go! Bill! Lemme go! What d'ya doin'? Bill!"
" We'll let Bullseye handle that lil' runt," he said breathlessly, Dodger's struggle sapping him of his energy.
" No! He'll rip 'er up! Bill! No!" Dodger tried in vain to reason with Bill, but to no avail. Bill merely wrestled Dodger down before dragging him towards their hideout. The boy kicked and tried to wriggle out of Bill's grip, he too, feeling a drain on his energy.
" Get him! That pickpocket! Where'd he go?" A stout policeman ran through the maze of alleys, running out of breath. Not far away, the grunts of a savagely dog was audible, and drew the policemen towards it.
" Where's the dog?" He stiffened in the bitter wind before the pants of the dog revived him, "Over there! Gert! Over there!"
The plethora of policemen traced the dog, and saw it gnawing viciously on a boy, who looked small in comparison with the mighty dog. Dash tried to pull away from the dog, but afraid of another of the dog's lethal bite, she could do nothing but huddle up as the dog feasted on her leg.
The policemen gathered cautiously around the dog, careful to set the dog upon themselves, fearing its deadly bite. Monks soon arrived at the scene, and wriggled his way through the sea of brown uniforms. Staring curiously at Dash, who was now sobbing profusely from the immense pain, he cackled wildly and ridiculed her.
" Sir, is this your… dog?" Gert spoke politely, the term 'dog' seemingly unfit for a creature equivalent to a beast.
" This unworthy savage? Certainly no-" Monks withdrew his statement, " I mean, yes. Certainly."
" Could you…erm…" Gert began uneasily, hoping not to offend Monks, motioning for Monks to order Bullseye to release Dash.
" Why, of course" Getting the hint from the policemen, Monks stared repulsively at Bullseye before taking his gold-plated stick and tapped the dog awkwardly. " Bullseye… Bullseye…" He cackled nervously as the dog finally growled and unwillingly released Dash from his grip.
" Thank you very much, sir. Your cooperation has enabled us to capture this elusive pickpocket at last." Another policemen by the name of Henry Stewart peered at Dash, who had frozen stiff under the unwanted attention.
The revolting sight of the savaged leg forced him to turn away from the gory scene. The right side of Dash's trousers had been ripped, revealing her pale skin and flesh smeared with blood. Four holes looked engraved in her flesh, but were actually tooth marks.
Monks smiled arrogantly, " Make sure you put that prig safely behind bars."
" Affirmative. Thank you, once again." Henry said as Monks turned his back and walked away with Bullseye trailing behind him. " You're coming with us, lad. To the police station."
Dash felt her stomach clam up at the sound of 'police station'. It was at that moment that the full light of the events hit her and she realised that Dodger was no longer with her. She hoped that he too had not landed in the same boat as she was.
Gert pulled Dash to her feet by her arm as she struggled to get to her feet. Her leg muscles torn from the encounter with the beast. She had not a choice but to submit and be apprehended by the officers. Her double identity however, did not seem compensation enough for her savaged leg.
Just before they had returned to the hideout, Dodger bit Bill's finger forcefully, causing a stream of blood to ooze into his mouth. Bill yelled and writhed in pain as he shoved Dodger into the house.
" What have yer done!" bellowed Dodger as he stumbled to his feet.
Fagin grinned and replied calmly, "Dodge- we were helping yer."
Unsatisfied with the answer, he yelled, " Yer peached on 'er!"
Fagin's patience had been put to the test, " And I don't feel sorry about nothin'! Master Bates helped us and yer should thank 'im for saving yer skin."
Dodger looked at Charley with murder in his eyes, " Oh I'll thank 'im alright."
He advanced threateningly towards Charley before sinking his fist into Charley teeth and digging his elbow into his stomach. Caught by surprise, Charley was knocked squarely in the jaw and fell back against the wall, livid with pain.
Incensed by Dodger's moves, Bill grabbed Dodger by his collar and threw him into the cellar, bolting it tightly before retreating out to his seat, seemingly unconcerned about Charley. " I'd shoot that boy if I were yer." Bill said cold-heartedly.
" Lemme out! Fagin! Lemme out! She don't deserve this! Fagin! Lemme out!" Dodger hollered.
" Yer ungrateful boy! Stay in there and repent!" Fagin sniggered unsympathetically.
Not long after, the door flung open and Nancy barged in. " Did yer hear?" Her hair was plastered all over her flushed face, her hair frazzled and in a complete mess. " Dash has been caught!"
" Where's Dodger? Fagin, Bill, where's the boy?" Everyone ignored her, even Charley who was preoccupied with his bruised jaw.
" Charley, why're yer all beaten up? Where's Dodger? I'm askin' yer all where's Dodge-. What in the name is in that cellar? Yer trapped a drunken ape or somethin'?" Dodger continued to bang against the cellar door, arousing Nancy's suspicion.
"Oh my, yer put the boy in there!" Charley kept mum and motioned Nancy towards the bolted cellar.
The woman rushed towards the cellar before Fagin finally acknowledged her presence, " Leave 'im be, Nancy."
" Fagin! He's a boy! Not some dog! Have yer lost all yer senses?" Nancy cried beseechingly.
" No can do, Nance. He'll go after that prig again." Fagin said without the faintest warmth in his voice.
" Oh, for the love of theivin', he's just a boy! What's wrong with making new friends?" Nancy reasoned on Dodger's behalf.
Fagin said flabbergasted, " Ain't he got enough friends in 'ere! He did it without my prior consent! That bloke don't half know who his friends are! Dash is an enemy! I was jus' helpin' 'im!" Fagin's manner of speech became erratical.
" Helpin' 'im? Yer mean ruinin' him! Do yer know what yer just done? Yer just turned in 'is only true friend, Fagin! Someone who actually cared about him, someone he cared for!" She panted from her sudden outburst.
Bill absorbed in the contents of her speech before rising to take control of the situation, " Now that's about enough, Nancy. Yer better stop it this instance, or yer know what awaits yer."
" You've changed, Nancy." Fagin stared at the women, his voice dropped to an almost inaudible level, disappointment hung in his face.
" Yes, I 'ave. For the better. And yer should too."
" What does Bill see in yer?"
" That boy is going to hate yer for eternity." Nancy said boldly as she unbolted the cellar and out tumbled a a soot-stained Dodger, all worn out from struggling.
Hey everyone. Sorry for the short chapter before. I tried to make this chapter long. Hope you guys think that it is okay.
Thanks to Broken Amethyst and Charlene Bates and all others as well for your encouraging reviews. Please continue reading! The really intense part is about to come. Also, please give me feedback on what you guys would want in the next few chapters. Hopefully, you guys would enjoy it even more. Anyone wants more fluff and other stuff? (:
Cheero