" She's going to become just like you."
Thick, fresh snow was piling up outside the doorway to the house, blocking the narrow pathway till Nancy insisted the boys shovelled it aside. London had been hit by one of the hardest blizzards ever recorded, as the English welcomed the new year.
Dash had already eased herself into her new surroudings in another arduous two weeks, beginning to feel like part of the new extended family. The gang settled down for breakfast, which was another meal of stale bread, which was as cold and hard as decaying wood. The weather was unbearably cold for pickpocketing in the streets during the chill, hence forcing the gang to survive on what little stolen food they kept.
However, amidst the gloom of never-ending hunger, there was laughter in the atmosphere. Charley had began telling his usual jokes as Jerry performed his antics on the table. All the boys had burst into another round of laughter when a loud, impatient knock rattled against the door.
Laughter ceased immediately as the strength of the pounding fist meant only one person- Bill Sikes. Tom rose from his stool and ran over to the door to let their uninvited guest in, " Pass-word?"
" Shut yer mouth and open up!" He growled, " It's bloody freezing out here."
" Yessir!" Tom jumped up and un-latched the doorlock.
Bill's voice had a vibrating effect to it as he chattered his way in when Tom open the door. As he stormed in, wet boot marks were imprinted on the wooden floor just as clumps of snow fell off his trench coat. He threw towards the fireplace a metal rod and fished out from his large pockets several valuable items such as pearl necklaces and bulging wallets. The clanging sound of the rod reverberated through the quiet diningroom, sending a shudder down Dash's spine as she recalled torture she had to endure.
" How's business today, Bill?" Fagin greeted Bill drily.
" Awful, as usual. Just missed the Traps by an inch." He spat, advancing towards Gibbs, sending him vacating his seat for Bill.
" Bill, why yer always got to be so mean to the boys?" Nancy nagged at him, walking over to place her hands firmly on his shoulders before massaging him gently.
" Tis my seat. Since I smaller than 'im." Bill argued.
The other boys remained as silent as possible, some retreating to the livingroom to escape the glare of Bill Sikes. Dodger too gave Dash a reaffirming glance and signalled for her to follow after him and brought her away from the intimidating man.
Fagin sighed as he pointed at a sketch of Bill in the newspaper, " How many times must I warn yer to be careful?"
" Fagin, it was once! Just once! I wasn't caught!" He justified his appearance in the news.
" But yer were seen! Looting some man's house!"
" For Pete'ssake! It's just one blinkin' sketch! No one's gonna notice!"
" One sketch? ONE SKETCH! Yer want the whole of London to come knockin' at our door lookin' for me!" Fagin stood up and yelled, his veins pulsing out of his skin as he fumed.
" Yer selfish ole prig!" Bill stormed and slammed his fist on the table, his voice booming through the house, causing the gang to jerk up frightened. He took out a tobacco pipe and inhaled deeply, thoroughly savouring the aroma.
" INGRATE!" Fagin wheezed as he choked on his own anger.
" Bill... please..." Nancy pleaded meekly as she massaged him harder. Bill knitted his eyebrows tightly and forcedly brought his fists down gently.
" I would pursue this if not for Nance!" He turned his face away in disgust and demanded Gibbs to prepare a mug of tea for him, to keep him warm in the chilly winter. However, the heated argument was more than enough to warm Bill up. He propped his feet up on the table and snatched the newspapers before burrying himself in the news. It was evident though, that he did not fully understand what he was reading from his knitted eyebrows.
Knock.
Everyone in the solemn house was startled by the unexpected knock on the door. The boys jerked up at the sound and all heads were turned towards the door. The Artful one was absent-mindedly twirling his tophat on his lap, with one hand leaning at the back of the couch, staring at the door. Dash, who was residing by the corner of the room was silently reading when she glanced up at the others upon the sudden pause of inactivity. Her prized gold pocket watch hung loosely from the pocket of her dress, falling neatly on her lap, gleaming in the light.
Knock.
No one moved an inch and no voices were heard. Jerry and Gibbs looked at each other, one motioning the other to open the door before the former gave in to the bigger boy.
" Pass-word?" Jerry whispered.
" It's Monks." A ridiculously high voice replied, confirming his identity, before Jerry allowed him in. He entered and proceeded to make his way over to the fireplace before removing his trench coat and tophat, revealing a head of eccentric orange hair, " Greetings all. I see we have quite a crowd present." He sniggered at Bill, who was obviously not a good friend of his.
" Yer not very welcomed yerself." Bill snorted in reply to his comment.
" What brings yer here, today?" Fagin asked nonchalantly.
" I had no initial intention of dropping by had I known Sikes was here. Your name's been splashed all over the newspapers these days, you just can't get more famous." Monks mocked with sarcasm.
" Hey! Hey! Watch yer tongue or I'll shoot yer damn thing!" Bill was enraged. Nancy tried to appease Bill before giving up, dispirited.
" Real reason why I stopped was because," his voice dropped to an almost inaudible level, " I think I might have been stalked!"
" Stalked!" Bill roared with laughter, " In this blizzard?"
" By who exactly?" Fagin asked sceptically, leaning towards Monks.
" I know not." Monks replied, " The blizzard reduced visibility range. But there were two of them- one short and stout, the other was rather tall."
" It seems rather likely that yer were imagining, as usual." Bill teased him.
Another knock on the door was the final straw for Bill, " Who in the name's here this time!"
The boys, rather used to the intrusions did not bother to look up this time.
" We sure are a popular place during winter, " Fagin ordered, " Get the door, Gibbs."
Annoyed, Gibbs arose and made for the door, " Password."
The man at the door cleared his throat and spoke crisply, " Errr...you are now under the order of the London Station police. You will do exactly as I say, understand?"
" That ain't the password!" Gibbs mouthed to Fagin, alarmed by the prospect of unwanted visitors.
All in the room was bewildered by the order and Monks, being the most educated in the gang, answered the door, " Who may this be?"
A rough 'bang' against the wooden door was heard before a sharp voice spoke, " Open up, now. We know you've got the girl."
Dodger's eyes flew open at the statement and he glanced at Dash to notice that she too, was visibly frightened. Everyone else trembled upon the voice and stared at Dash as they awaited the following order with abated breath.
" Pardon me, but who might this gentleman be?" Monks repeated his question, frowning slightly.
" Cut to the chase. We're not tolerant people. Give us the girl, and we'll leave." The police said harshly, " Don't force us to tear this house down." Henry Stewart made his order crystal clear as his voice reverberated through the silent tense atmosphere within. Gert and Henry were having problems of their own, blackmailed by the brothel girl, Angela to source out the girl before their corruption was revealed before the magistrate.
He ruffled his orange hair and replied, his voice coarser than before, " Unless you give us your identity, we have no reason whatsoever to compromise."
" We want Sarah Henderson, Orangeman. Now." Henry seethed through his teeth.
Dash was shivering uncontrollaby at the corner, Dodger with his reassuring arm around her, comforting her. " Yer be alright. Nothin'll happen to yer. I promise."
Bill, was surprisingly silent throughout the course of the conversation. But he looked deep in thought. " Give him the girl." He suddenly rose from his seat over to the corner. The words of the wise old Jew had forced him into a painful realisation that he would be detained should the police raid the house.
" No! Are yer outta yer mind!" Dodger yelled protectively over Dash. She clenched her fist in fright as she clutched at Dodger's trench coat. Unable to stomach the commotion as well as the immense guilt, Charley hid ran up the stairs and shut himself in a room.
" Give them the girl! Damn it boy! They'll rip the place down!" Bill kicked the chair forcefully, before grabbing Dash by the collar of her dress.
" NO! Please! NO! Don't do this! PLEASE!" Dash pleaded as she held onto Dodger's arm. The boys, Fagin and Monks watched on with fear for the duo's fate.
" Nancy! Please! Help her... please..." Dodger cried as he crawled over to the woman he was sure could provide assurance, " Don't let Bill do it..."
He tugged at Nancy's sleeve, but she refused to dodge and wore a blank look on her face, somewhat afraid to speak up against her beloved, " I'm sorry, Dodge. I can't let it be Bill."
" No! Nancy! Please! Remember what yer told me? I can't let this happen to her! Please! Help me!" Dodger cried desperately.
" I'm sorry. I really am. I guess I'm just practicin' what I preach." Nancy dropped her gaze from Dodger and turned away, as he picked up the pieces and understood the implications of the issue.
Nancy's support injected confidence into Bill's actions, encouraging him to drag the distraught girl towards the door, leaving her clawing at the floorboards to escape the clutches that awaited her. Upon Nancy's totally unexpected reply, Dodger dropped his grip on Nancy's clothes and pleaded wholeheartedly, " NO! PLEASE NANCY! PLEASE!"
Without Nancy's support, Dodger clung on fearfully onto Dash, and while she cried hysterically, screamed and struggled against Bill's grasp, " NO! PLEASE! DON'T DO THIS!"
Just before Bill shoved the girl out of the door, she sank her fingernails into Dodger's skin, and with tears spilling out of her eyes, she looked at him anxiously, hanging on to the mere seconds before their fateful departure.
" I'm sorry, Dash..." Dodger apologised as they lost grip of each other's hands, their fingertips leaving one another's. Dash was thrown out into the Traps, Bill shutting the door without letting the police catch a glimpse of his face.
As soon as Dash was surrendered over, the screamings ceased immediately. Relieved and yet angered by Dodger's opposed behaviour, he approached him menacingly before kicking at him forcefully, not stopping till Nancy rushed over to stop him. Dodger, on the other hand, had not done anything to protect himself. He was covered with bruises all over his jaw and limbs, his clothes looking rather dishevelled.
" Bill! Stop! They's gone! Stop!" She interceded, while helping Dodger up onto the couch.
" Lil' runt gettin' worse by the day!" Bill yelled and retreated into another room.
" Dodger, yer alright?" She asked concerned as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
He shrugged it off and replied dejected, " Yer made her do it." He distanced himself from her by shifting his seat down the couch.
" I'm sorry, Dodge. He would have to face the hangman's noose. I couldn't let it happen." She tried in vain to explain to the shaken boy.
An awkward pause ensued.
He slowly turned to her and staring at her straight in the eye, he spoke slowly, enunciating every syllable, " She's going to become just like you." With that concluding statement of their close friendship, he jerked up and walked away. The woman he had respected and admired most had turned her back on him, shattering the perfect image of herself as a noble woman. She stared after his back and in a moment, covered her face in her hands and cried heavily.
Hello! I really wanna thank you guys for being such awesome reviewers! You have no idea how the reviews just keep me going!
Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews and support! You deserve it! This story is dedicated to all of you!
SweetyPie50
Blackfishy
SilentMorning's Voice
Sir-Not-Appearing-In-This-Show
Charlene Bates
Elaine Dawkins
Broken Amethyst
Red-Cherry-Flowers
The Sugarfaerie
Slytherin's Gryffindor
BlackCatDahlia
Twilight Kumorichu
Richochet
zakurochan
Well... that's about it. Tell me if I missed out anyone!
I promise that you guys will like the final instalment to this story. (which I promise you all will be a BIG surprise)
You'll get the ending once the reviews hit number 95! It's the final chapter!
Cheero
