" Don't do this...to me..."

" Lu, bring her to the room and show her the bunk. Yer gonna show her around here." Angela, the woman whom managed to strike the deal instructed Lucy.

" Awww Angie, can't I do it later? Sue and the girls were going for supper." Lucy whined as she gave Angela a pleading look.

" Lu, yer can meet Susan later. Yer have work to do later." Angela said sharply before pushing the girls up the stairs.

" We never get out, Angie." Lucy complained.

" Not until yer prove yer worth in Pounds, yer don't." Angela shut Lucy off.

Dash was bewildered by the contents of their conversation. For one moment, they almost sounded like bickering sisters. However, the bluntness and crude nature of Angela spoke otherwise, filling Dash with awe and fascination.

Lucy rushed Dash up the stair, occasionally asking her some questions.

" What's yer name, lass? Yer look way to green to be worth 14."

" Das- I mean, Sarah." Sarah gulped, " I'm not 14, I'm 15 this year."

Lucy sighed at her reply, " Way too green and clean." The older girl threw her some lacy clothes and a netted corset.

" What're these for?" asked Sarah.

" Just take them. Angela will explain tomorrow." Lucy retreated to the door, " I'm out for supper. Yer better rest tight for tomorrow."

" Wait!" Sarah callled before Lucy poked her head through the door frame, looking exasperated, " Where do I sleep?" Sarah asked, looking at all the bunks.

Lucy scanned the room before her eyes settled on the last bunk, " There, " she pointed her finger at the last bed by the window.

" That one by the window?" Sarah confirmed.

" That's the only one." Lucy grumbled, " If there's nothing else important, I'm going out for supper. Don't breathe a word to Angela."

" Err... thanks, Lucy."

Lucy smiled, " No problem, kiddo."

Sarah stared hard at her new clothes, trying to make out what the corset was before folding them neatly and stowing it under her bed. With only memories of her mother and the boy to ease her feelings, she soon fell asleep as the London skies darkened quickly in winter. Exhausted from all that had happened, Sarah huddled herself on the bed and cried herself to sleep where no one could see her.

It seemed like a second before a faint scratching noise had awoken her from her fiesta. Sarah dusted her eyes and swung her legs from her bed and walked to the window. To her surprise, the streets were much emptier than when she had arrived, night had fallen.

Sarah saw little rocks pelted at the window, and to her amusement, she saw a familiar face waiting eagerly for her. Sarah mustered her energy and slid open the rusty window.

" Dodger?" she said bewildered, " What're yer doing here?"

" I promised I'd be back." Dodger said gallantly. "C'mon, yer can leave now. No one will notice."

" Leave? With you?" She said as she leaned out of the window.

" Yeah. Hurry, they'll be out soon."

" No... I can't go back there. I'm not going back there."

" Dash! Stop bein' stubborn. Yer don't wanna stay at a workhouse." He emphasised the last word with disgust.

" No. It's where people like me should be. People with ruined lives..." She trailed off bitterly with resentment sprinkled in her voice.

" Dash! I said I was sorry. What more do yer want?" Dodger pleaded.

" I want yer to leave me alone!" Anger pulsed through Dash, but she witnessed the hurt in Dodger's eyes, " Why can't yer just be happy for me? Just this once..." Dash broke down in sobs before backing into the room, shutting the window.

" Dash? Dash!" he yelled, " Don't do this to yerself! Dash! Don't do this... to me..." His voice cracked to an inaudible level.

Dodger walked away, feeling more dejected than ever.

It was the next morning and by the time Sarah had awoken, the sky was light and everyone was out of bed. Angela rushed into the room and pulled the girl out of bed.

" Where are yer clothes?" She demanded but Sarah looked back at her a little blur, " the one Lucy gave you."

Sarah stumbled and handed her the corset and the dress. With rough hands, Angela undid her her present clothes and helped her into the corset. Angela pulled the strings extremely tightly, causing Sarah to cough and sputter, running out of breath.

" Too... tight..." Sarah gasped for breath.

" Suck yer breath in." Sarah did as instructed and proceeded to slip on her dress. To her disgust, it had a plunging neckline which revealed her cleavage. She began to suspect that the workhouse was one of a different kind, but had kept her worries to herself.

After freshening up, Sarah was taken by Angela to a secluded room, with nothing more than a bunk and a lamp on the bedside table.

" Alright, kid. Just sit here and wait. Someone will come soon and just do as he says. " Sarah nodded suspiciously, " It'll be over quickly." Angela finished her last words, carressed Sarah's cheek and left the room, bolting the door tight behind her.

While in the room, Sarah looked around worriedly and wondered what she had got herself into. This did not seem a bit like a workshouse. She pressed her ear to the door and heard voices.

A manly voice spoke," Yer sure she's clean?"

" I'm positive. Help her along. She hasn't a clue."

" She'd better be worth the money."

" Don't worry. We'll refund yer if she isn't." She said seductively.

Suddenly, a boyish looking man, appearing no older than the Angela opened the door and shut it behind him. He gave Sarah a flirtatious smile, " Get on the bed."

" Why?" Sarah asked as she folded her arms defiantly across her chest.

The teenage boy pushed Sarah onto the bed and with one hand, he began to undo the ribbons onn her dress.

" Stop!" Alarmed by his gestures, she pushed him off her and retreated quickly to the opposite corner of the room, " Don't touch me!"

" Get on the bed, now." He spat.

I hated writing this chapter.

Once the reviews hit 68, I'll post the next chapter.

I want to thank all those who have reviewed

Red-Cherry-Flowers

Broken Amethyst

Blackfishy

Charlene Bates

Elaine Dawkins

Cheero