Merry Christmas and happy new year!

This story is based off the classic holiday tale "Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens...more specifically this story barrows from the graphic novel version created by Dark horse comics.

In this fanfic Eliza Scrooge's story takes an even greater turn away from the original a Christmas Carol tale!

Warning!

This story contains dark elements and themes unrelated to the original a Christmas Carol such as-abandonment,child abuse and child marriage.


Act 1

London England

December 24th,1843

Elizabeth'Eliza' Scrooge sternly looks at her silver heart shaped pocket watch-it's hands revealing that it was half past eleven...the woman's lips curved into the mean looking scowl."oh driver if we do not make it to the sweat shop within the hour...I am afraid I will have no choice but to sack you!" The woman warned sternly,"Aye miss!"was all the driver said In transparently visible Irish accent before quickly cracking his whip signal for the two horses to increase their pace.

Scrooge soon opened a golden heart shaped locket with the initials:FS- the woman opened it to reveal the pictures of two people,the one picture on the left a man about his mid to late thirties with a cheerful smile on his lips-short cut strawberry blonde hair, high cheekbones and strong jawline,gentle blue eyes-wearing a luxurious looking three piece suit...the other was of a rather grime looking child wearing a proper schoolboy's uniform with similar facial features to the man in the other but with a small pointy nose that was more akin to Eliza's than the man's more pug like nose...his eyes were the same emerald green and hair the same raven black color;Eliza sighed thinking of happier times-and some not so cheerful ones as well.

The carriage stopped abruptly-the carriage driver alerting the woman that they had arrived at their intended destination...a massive factory like sweat shop;the main entrance was imposing and yet also awe inspiring gates opening as the woman casually walks through the gates-Eliza soon entered the building where her group of assistants and secretaries immediately greeted her...the loud bong like ring of Big Ben sounded three times signal that the time was now 12pm-the woman's head assistant Caroline immediately read Eliza's appointments for the day.

"...First your nephew has come to see miss!"the woman said casually looking at list like parchment.

Scrooge groaned faintly but otherwise resend to at least indulge him."...the second?"Eliza asked flatly giving prickly side glance.

Caroline quickly cleared her throat and replied:"two gentlemen from the countryside...a clerk named Frederick Scrooge and his young charged!" The woman tells her employer,who scowled at the name'Fredrick Scrooge'-still she maintained her composure as she plainly replied with a slightly shaky:"v-very well then!"

Soon enough...

"Merry Christmas to you Auntie Scrooge!"A rather cheerful sounding young man says greeting the woman-who was still rather young being only in her middle thirties,Eliza's eyes rolled halfway and casually folded her arms."Bah humbug!" The woman replied bitterly to her nephew's declaration of'merry Christmas'.

"What right do you have to merry?"Eliza asked her nephew."what right I say...you're poor enough!" Scrooge's words spat out like venom from in between her lips.

Fred was taken slightly a back by his Aunt's question-he seemingly gave the notion some thought before answering with:" what reason have you to be so grime on Christmas...after all...you're rich enough!"

Scrooge huffed then asked:"...why did you get married?" The words came out a thick breath of air from in between the woman's lips.

"What?"Fred said back confused-the young man quickly pondering his aunt's quarry.

"Because... I fell in love!"Fred answers plainly with a light shrug of the shoulders.

"*Humph* 'because I fell'!"scrooge echoed mockingly with a disgusted face.

Fred soon gave a saddened smile." Oh Auntie you'll never guess who I ran into on my way to come see you?"Fred said to Eliza who merely replied:" I could not be made to care!" The woman said coldly to her nephew-Fred continued on as if not hearing his aunt:"why bless the old man...it was good old uncle Fredrick with a boy, he all but out right claimed was dear cousin Jake!"Fred laughed dryly.

"That's quite enough Fredrick!"Eliza said coldly as she abruptly rosed from her seat with the woman placing both hands down on her desk."Good afternoon!" She said dismissively to the young man.

"Auntie!"Fredrick said

"Good afternoon!" The woman repleated but this time with less veiled venom.

Fred eventually quiesces to his aunt wishes for him."...But at least come dine with us tomorrow!" The man offers but rebukes the invited."Merry Christmas Bob Cratchit!"Fred wishes the middle aged man dressed in a rather shabby looking business suit."Merry Christmas as well sir!"Cratchit replied back with a rather meekly smile on his lips.

It wasn't long after that Scrooge's secretary Caroline walked into the room with the two visitors from the country;Eliza's already grime expression instantly grew darker upon seeing the familiar face of a certain figure from her past."Frederick!" The woman says with clear vile in her voice.

"Elizabeth my dear wife-"Frederick said removing his gray colored top hat...Elizabeth's face immediately went red.

The woman raises A hand,"...please spare me the sweet words Frederick...just say your piece and be on your way!"Eliza said sharply before looking to the child beside her estranged husband."... and who is this?"Eliza asked briefly eyeing the child over-I've was young boy about ten years old,he was of average build and height of a boy his age with almost Maroon colored hair and light emerald green eyes-the boy's right cheek was badly as k ll if struck by a red hot poker.

"You there boy... what is your name?"Eliza asked with her right brow raised.

Frederick gently placed a hand on the lad's right shoulder and urged encouragingly,"well go on Lad!" The man said warmly nodding for his apprentice to continue.

The boy audibly gulped as he answered:"...J-Jacob...Jacob Scrooge miss!"

Eliza's emerald green eyes widened almost to the size of dish plates;the woman regains her composure...though she was still somewhat visibly shaken."yes well *ahem* just say your piece and be on your away!"Eliza says plainly bitter.

"Well Elizabeth I will not doddle around around the matter...it is at this most festive season of the year,it is more than usually desirable that we should make some slight provision for the poor and destitute, who are in so dire need of it!"Frederick said leaning over the desk.

Elizabeth snared at this with the woman right eyebrow skeptically."the poor and destitute?"she quickly eyed the two."...Are there no prisons?" Eliza asked bluntly.

"Oh Yes plenty of prisons miss!" The boy-Jacob answered.

The businesswoman then asked:"And the union workhouses?"she paused noting the boy's now worried face."They are still in operation?"she asked

Jacob awkwardly replied:"they are ma'am-"he paused briefly."...still I wish I could say they were not."she says glumly.

The woman smiled pleased:"Ah the treadmill and the poor law are in full vigor then?"

"Yes...and both really busy-"Frederick said briefly pausing."Elizabeth please-"the man began to plead but Eliza immediately cut him off.

"Ah I'm very glad to hear it." The woman said with a quick pause." I was afraid from what you said at first...that something horrible might have occurred to stop them in their useful course." The woman said faking a smile.

Frederick frowned letting out a faint sigh:" I afraid as much...anyways A few of us are endeavoring to raise a fund to buy the poor some meat and drink and warmth." The man says hopefully."...we choose this time of all others,when poverty and want is most keenly felt, and abundance rejoiced." The man said urging Eliza to show better nature."...what shall we put you down for!"

The woman gave an almost emotionless facial expression."nothing."she says sharply-her emerald colored eyes narrowing.

"Ah you wish to be anonymous?"Frederick asked still faintly hoping for the woman's good nature would bubble to the surface.

The woman immediately pointed towards the door with a rather heated tone kindling:" I wish be left alone." The man soon felt his charge begin to tug on his left."uh sir... I think it might be best if we leave!" The boy urged his employer."the boy appears the student has more sense...I don't make merry myself on Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry either-"the woman pauses."...I help to support the establishments I have mentioned." Those who are badly off must Go there." Eliza said coldly.

"Many can't Go there miss...and many would rather die." Jacob replied

Elizabeth scuffs:"...if so they would rather die...they had better do it and decrease the surplus population." The woman answered coldly.

The two give no further rebuttal-though Frederick giving a rather grime."Merry Christmas Elizabeth!"before leaving alongside young Jacob, who somewhat nervously looked over at Eliza-who was staring at the young boy at the boy suspiciously.

Soon enough...

Scrooge sadly looks at her prized locket...more specifically the photo of her long lost son-the door to the woman's office creaks open and Scrooge immediately closes her locket."Hm...You'll want all tomorrow off I suppose?" The woman asked sarcastically.

Bob cratchit smiled weakly with uneasy look on his face."yes ma'am if convenient!"the man said to his employer.

Scrooge sighed-she immediately looked at cratchit and replied:" absolutely not...the spring shipments are due by earlier may and we're behind as is!" The woman stated sharply shutting down the man's hopes-she then added:"be here by seven tomorrow and not a second later!" Eliza said with an evil in her eyes as she stood eye to eye with the man.

"Y-yes miss...understood!"Bob said before quickly returning to his desk.

As the man leaves the door to the room lightly slam closed with a light click.

Elizabeth sighed as sat back down behind her desk with her whole body seeming to slump back into the rough leather cushions of her chair-the woman once again looked at the two in her locket...her drifting to presumably happier days.


Hi there everyone!

I hope you enjoyed reading this first chapter... and if so please share with friends, family or anyone you know that might enjoy this type of story.