Jack stayed in front of Sarah's grave for over two hours after David left. He wiped the warm tears off his cheeks with his right hand, left hand sweeping over the cool, granite stone that marked his fallen love's place of rest.
With a quick goodbye kiss on the granite, Jack left. It was around midnight when he finally trekked to the lodging house. He entered through the back door since the front door was locked for the night. He tried to be as quiet as he could to not disturb anyone. Crutchy was sound asleep on his bed. Jack slipped off his boots and vest, and went to sleep himself.
But the sooner he fell asleep, the sooner nightmares began…
Sarah's giggle echoed off the buildings on the empty, deserted street. "When you and Racetrack jumped on stage and did the little slapstick skit, the whole crowd was roaring with laughter!"
Jack grinned proudly, squeezing Sarah's hand snugly. "Well, let's just say we know how to work the crowd."
The glitter in Sarah's eyes could seen even in the dim lamplight. Jack loved her glittering eyes. They always reassured him of what life was really suppose to be lived for - love.
"Hey Sarah, why don't we take the back way to your building. It'll be much faster."
"Are you trying to get rid of me faster?" she asked cockily, planting her hands on her hips.
Jack laughed. He thought she was so cute when she did that. "Naw, I wanna stay with you as long as I can." He pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist, and brushing his lips against her forehead. "I never wanna let you go, but…" He pulled away. "…you're parents are probably worried and I don't want 'em to get all uptight because you're home late."
"Aww Jack. Always looking out for me." It was Sarah's turn to kiss him on his cheek. "Come on." She tugged Jack into an alleyway that she knew would take them to her tenement building. They turned into a narrow alleyway that lead behind the colossal buildings.
"Look what stumbled our way."
Jack came to a halt, stopping Sarah in the process. Two large thugs appeared in front of them with pipes. Another appeared next to them, brass knuckles on either hand.
"You made a big mistake wandering in our territory" one of the men holding a pipe spoke with an Irish accent.
"Your territory?" Jack spat at them, pushing Sarah behind him. "When did this become your territory? I never seen the likes of you in me life and I've lived here all me life."
"Well, we're new here and don't care who we take this area from" the brass knuckles snarled.
Fear and anger flashed passed Jack's eyes. He knew these men meant business. His hand grasped Sarah's tightly. In an instance, Jack throw a box in front of the attackers, only stopping them for a second though.
Jack pushed Sarah down the alleyway, screaming, "RUN!"
Sarah took off, running as fast as she could. Something behind Jack knocked him to the ground as he tried to run behind her. He raised his head groggily to see the man with brass knuckles chasing after Sarah.
Jack started to pull himself up from the ground when he was hit again. He recovered quickly though, rolling onto his back and kicking back whoever was attacking him. From that action, the one behind the first attacker stumbled back also. Jack jumped up, taking off running down the alleyway to find Sarah.
Footsteps of his attackers could be heard coming after him. Jack spotted a stairway to duck behind. He stayed quiet as a mouse as he heard the attackers run by. He peeked out a minute later making sure they were gone then proceeded to find Sarah.
Jack ran frantically in the alleyways in the remote area. She had be around there somewhere, unless the attackers caught her. He'd never forgive himself if something happen to her. He had just turned a curve when he was tripped. Jack groaned, thinking he'd been found by the attackers - but his assumption was wrong as he saw the sight laying beside him.
"Sarah?" he choked out. Jack scooted to her side. The darkness didn't help in seeing what they'd done to her. "Sarah, can you hear me. Wake up. I'm here now."
When she didn't move, Jack panicked. He raised her head only to feel heated liquid seep between his finger. His breath caught in his throat when he laid his ear to her chest, not being able to hear anything. A deep, furious scream erupted from Jack's chest. He pulled her lifeless body close to him and sobbed.
***
"Morning Jack!" Crutchy greeted cheerfully when he noticed his old friend waking.
Jack groaned listlessly, sitting up. "Heya Crutchy."
"How'd you sleep?"
"Do I have to answer that?" Jack asked, grimacing, not desiring one bit to interact with Crutchy.
Crutchy shook his head, dismayed. "Naw, you don't. I can read it on your face."
With a quick goodbye kiss on the granite, Jack left. It was around midnight when he finally trekked to the lodging house. He entered through the back door since the front door was locked for the night. He tried to be as quiet as he could to not disturb anyone. Crutchy was sound asleep on his bed. Jack slipped off his boots and vest, and went to sleep himself.
But the sooner he fell asleep, the sooner nightmares began…
Sarah's giggle echoed off the buildings on the empty, deserted street. "When you and Racetrack jumped on stage and did the little slapstick skit, the whole crowd was roaring with laughter!"
Jack grinned proudly, squeezing Sarah's hand snugly. "Well, let's just say we know how to work the crowd."
The glitter in Sarah's eyes could seen even in the dim lamplight. Jack loved her glittering eyes. They always reassured him of what life was really suppose to be lived for - love.
"Hey Sarah, why don't we take the back way to your building. It'll be much faster."
"Are you trying to get rid of me faster?" she asked cockily, planting her hands on her hips.
Jack laughed. He thought she was so cute when she did that. "Naw, I wanna stay with you as long as I can." He pulled her toward him, wrapping an arm around her waist, and brushing his lips against her forehead. "I never wanna let you go, but…" He pulled away. "…you're parents are probably worried and I don't want 'em to get all uptight because you're home late."
"Aww Jack. Always looking out for me." It was Sarah's turn to kiss him on his cheek. "Come on." She tugged Jack into an alleyway that she knew would take them to her tenement building. They turned into a narrow alleyway that lead behind the colossal buildings.
"Look what stumbled our way."
Jack came to a halt, stopping Sarah in the process. Two large thugs appeared in front of them with pipes. Another appeared next to them, brass knuckles on either hand.
"You made a big mistake wandering in our territory" one of the men holding a pipe spoke with an Irish accent.
"Your territory?" Jack spat at them, pushing Sarah behind him. "When did this become your territory? I never seen the likes of you in me life and I've lived here all me life."
"Well, we're new here and don't care who we take this area from" the brass knuckles snarled.
Fear and anger flashed passed Jack's eyes. He knew these men meant business. His hand grasped Sarah's tightly. In an instance, Jack throw a box in front of the attackers, only stopping them for a second though.
Jack pushed Sarah down the alleyway, screaming, "RUN!"
Sarah took off, running as fast as she could. Something behind Jack knocked him to the ground as he tried to run behind her. He raised his head groggily to see the man with brass knuckles chasing after Sarah.
Jack started to pull himself up from the ground when he was hit again. He recovered quickly though, rolling onto his back and kicking back whoever was attacking him. From that action, the one behind the first attacker stumbled back also. Jack jumped up, taking off running down the alleyway to find Sarah.
Footsteps of his attackers could be heard coming after him. Jack spotted a stairway to duck behind. He stayed quiet as a mouse as he heard the attackers run by. He peeked out a minute later making sure they were gone then proceeded to find Sarah.
Jack ran frantically in the alleyways in the remote area. She had be around there somewhere, unless the attackers caught her. He'd never forgive himself if something happen to her. He had just turned a curve when he was tripped. Jack groaned, thinking he'd been found by the attackers - but his assumption was wrong as he saw the sight laying beside him.
"Sarah?" he choked out. Jack scooted to her side. The darkness didn't help in seeing what they'd done to her. "Sarah, can you hear me. Wake up. I'm here now."
When she didn't move, Jack panicked. He raised her head only to feel heated liquid seep between his finger. His breath caught in his throat when he laid his ear to her chest, not being able to hear anything. A deep, furious scream erupted from Jack's chest. He pulled her lifeless body close to him and sobbed.
***
"Morning Jack!" Crutchy greeted cheerfully when he noticed his old friend waking.
Jack groaned listlessly, sitting up. "Heya Crutchy."
"How'd you sleep?"
"Do I have to answer that?" Jack asked, grimacing, not desiring one bit to interact with Crutchy.
Crutchy shook his head, dismayed. "Naw, you don't. I can read it on your face."
