By SaL
Chapter Four: Undone
David remained frozen on the ground unsure of whether to accept the offered hand or run as far away as possible. Finally he pushed himself off the ground and brushed his clothes off. As he reached for his remaining papes they were suddenly pushed sown by a foot causing then to tear.
"That'll be a quarter sir." The man responded by pulling him into a deserted alley, shoving him against a wall. "Where is she you little twit?!" he growled. (A/N: Hey remember The Twits by Roald Dahl?)
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Now about that quarter… *ouff* the man punched him in the stomach knocking the wind out of him. Now, THAT was totally uncalled for." David cockily retorted while squirming out of the death grim holding him against the wall. "Oh, no you don't. I'm not doe with you yet." Suddenly David found himself being dragged down the fire escape back into the alley. "Hey! What's the big idea!" David managed to dodge the first couple of blows but the bombardment was too much for him. "You know," Dave huffed, "I'm way out of practice. Can we re- schedule?" *ouff* "That's what I thought."
David narrowly missed a blow to his head as he started an assault of his own. A half hour later the man dropped an unconscious David Jacobs to the cold asphalt of the alley. "I'll see you at home David, and believe me when you find out what's in store for you, you will tell me where she is." He hissed and stalked off.
~ ~ ~
"Ugh…" I groaned, my head was pounding, though I don't recall ever getting hit in the head. This was the worst hang over ever! (But I hadn't touched a drop of alcohol) No matter, I still felt wasted. Groggily I sat up, forcing myself to remember what had happened. Then it hit me, "I passed out! I can't believe I passed out!" It must have been some fight! If only my memory weren't so damned fuzzy I'd be able to remember the details. Slowly I stood up and through my dizziness attempted to walk. Stumbling a bit I concentrated all of my thoughts on each step, I had to make it to the lodging house because if my memory serves correctly I had been fighting Liam.
~ ~ ~
On my return from the mansion I heard a strange yell from one of the alleys that sounded oddly like David. But it couldn't possibly be David he could rarely be found in an alley. I continued walking then, remembering what Sarah had told me, David had at one time been the type of person to hang around the alleys. I quickened my pace hoping to find Davy.
However, when I did spot him he was slowly making his way down the street. David didn't look too bad, just dazed. I knew something was up though as I neared him and saw his clothes were all askew and his face contorted in pain. I approached him slowly before confronting him. "Hey Davy!" He didn't respond. It was like he never heard me. So I slipped my arm under his placing a hand on his shoulder. Flinching he stopped to look at me. "Jack" He said wearily. "I thought you could use some help" I explained and received a half smile. "What uh, what happened to you?" At this he appeared to sincerely think about what I said. "When I remember I'll get back to you. Uh… is there still an extra bunk in the lodging house?"
"Yup, why?"
"I can't go home tonight Jack." he sighed, "I just, well sometimes you gotta do stuff even if you don't want to or you know you'll get in trouble, just because you know it's right. Well I just need a place to stay till things blow over." I didn't know what to say to this. What was he talking about? What did he do? Oh well, now I can at least keep a close eye on him.
We walked in silence the remainder of the way to the lodging house, signed in and trudged upstairs. Surprisingly we were the first ones in. I helped David to his bed and watched him lay down. He fell asleep instantly yet he still managed look like he was in pain.
As I stared at David, I thought of when we first met. He was not my best friend David, he wasn't even the David Sarah had described earlier to me. The teenager in that bunk was only the shell of what once was the reliable, brave, adventurous boy who journeyed to America with his mother to escape her family. I realized that the reason Les took such a liking to me was because I seemed so much like that kid Hans in the stories David used to tell. If only he knew the truth. Sighing I sat on my bunk and prepared for bed. I wonder why David really quit the gang; his family didn't suspect anything except for Sarah, but she wouldn't tell. Then I remembered what David had said to me on the street, 'Sometimes you gotta do stuff, even if you don't want to or you know you'll get in trouble, just because you know it's right.'