Hello all! I recently got bumped up in hours at work, so chapters might take longer. But never fear good citizens! All is well! I shall be continuing to update!
"Well that should do it!" Jim Dear said, finally managing to force the suitcase closed. "We've got enough here to take us halfway to China!" He looked in the door of his bedroom "Darling, Darling?" he said to his wife, who looked up from the crib reluctantly. "We haven't much time."
"Jim, I just can't leave him. He's so small and helpless."
"He'll be alright." He reassured "Now come on. If he wakes up we'll never get away."
She followed with an air of defeat. "I feel guilty deserting him like this.."
"Nonsense. Oh, Matthew, is something the matter?" The blond shifted slightly, well aware that he was blocking the stairs.
"I-is it really alright for you to go?" He asked, staring at the ground nervously.
"Oh, don't worry old boy. We'll only be gone a few days." Jim Dear said. Matthew looked unconvinced.
"Aunt Sarah will be here." Darling put in. the boy smiled slightly at that.
"And with you here to help her-"he was cut off by the shrill ring of the doorbell. "Well that'll be the old girl now. Coming Aunt Sarah, Coming!" he called down, hurrying towards the front door. Opening it a tall skinny woman stood there, clad with a ridiculous bonnet. Behind her stood two boys, about Matthew's age, also dressed up.
"Sorry I'm late dears. Hope I haven't kept you waiting." Jim shook his head politely, reaching for her bags.
"Here let me take your things."
"No, no, no fussing!" The woman ordered. "I know my way around Mustn't miss your train! Have a good time and don't worry about a thing. Goodbye dear. Goodbye, Goodbye!" She said in rapid succession, hurrying the couple out the door, Matthew followed, waving goodbye on the porch. When they were out of sight he turned to see that the door had been closed with him still outside. And locked. Sighing he went around the back, quickly hurrying up the stairs where he could hear Aunt Sarah cooing over the baby. Walking into the room he stood across from her, looking into the crib as well.
"Coochie, coochie, coochie coo. Oh you adorable little-" She was cut off by a gasp that startled Matthew, making him jump. "Goodness gracious! What are you doing here! Go on now shoo, shoo! Scat! Get out of here!" She all but chased Matthew out and he was left standing staring at the slammed door in shock. On the other side the baby started to cry. "There, there. Aunt Sarah won't let that big boy scare you anymore. Oh no, no, no, no." Off tune singing started floating through the door, and Matthew felt it was his cue to give up and walk down the stairs looking, and feeling dejected. When the got to the bottom he was greeted by two grinning, but not wholly pleasant, faces.
"Got yourself kicked out pretty fast, huh? Kesesesese…" The first said. He was a boy with short spiky white hair and striking red eyes. The other had black hair, with a stray hair not unlike Matthew's, with one difference. It seemed to have a face.
"Yeah, Gilbert, tell him how he's not going to be a princess now!"
"You're not going to be a princess now! You can't stand up to my awesome." The albino said with a smug smirk.
"Our awesome." His companion corrected.
"Right."
"I-I'm not sure what you mean…" Matthew said, highly concerned.
"Yeah, yeah well the point is this is going to be OUR house for now! Kesese.."
"That's right Da ze! We can do whatever we want!"
"I really don't think-"
"So help me find something awesome in this house Yong Soo!" Gilbert said, completely ignoring the spectacled boy who was getting more and more confused and unhappy.
"Over here!" the dark haired boy called, pointing to the families yellow canary.
"That. Is. Awesome!" Gilbert yelled, instantly lunging for the cage. The canary found this rather unpleasant, and in fact seemed to be under the impression that it was going to be killed and eaten.
"Leave him alone!" Matthew gasped, running over. The other boys, however, had already moved on.
"Look at this fish." Yong Soo said "I want to touch it!"
"We should catch it with our awesome fishing skills!"
"No!" Matthew yelled running over. He was sure that plan would result in the end of the poor fish's short existence. The other boys just laughed, running away and managing to dump a vase of flowers all over the grand piano. Matthew started frantically trying to clean it up when a sharp cry snapped them all to attention.
"Oh yeah, Da ze, the baby!"
"Kesesese, it must be fun to mess with them! Plus we can mooch off all the awesome stuff he gets?"
"Like what?"
"Like…I don't know! But we can awesomely steal from him." He said defensively as they started for the stairs.
"That'll be easy!" Suddenly their path was blocked by a very angry looking Matthew.
"Don't. You. Dare." He growled, normally soft purple eyes flashing. The two boys exchanged looks before turning and bolting, the angry blond in tow. Sprinting through the living room Gilbert grabbed the curtain, ripping it down and chucking it on Matthew who instantly tripped, crashing into an easel that had been holding up a recently acquired painting.
"What's going on down there?"
Exchanging a look both of the boys immediately fell down fening injury. Gilbert clutched his arm, moaning in fake pain, while Yong Soo actually managed to have tears spring up in his eyes.
"Merciful heavens!" Aunt Sarah exclaimed, having run down the stairs. "My darlings! My precious pets!" She ran over to the boys, cooing and coddling them as Matthew struggled to get up from his fall, fighting actually pain. "Oh that wicked boy! Attacking my poor, innocent little angels!" The two boys nodded, doing there best to look pitiful, throwing grins of victory back at Matthew as soon as her back was turned.
Aunt Sarah pulled harder on his arm, leading him into a very intimidating looking store. Taking him up to the counter she snapped at him to stay put before turning to the clerk who was standing there smiling.
"Good afternoon ma'am, what can I do for you?"
"I need hand restraints. Good strong ones." Aunt Sarah said, making Matthew's heart sink. Hand restraints?
"Yes ma'am. Here's our latest and strongest." He said, pulling out a pair of metal hoops connected by a chain. "And you can attach a "leash" as well." He said proudly. Grabbing Matthew's hands suddenly he had one of the metal loops around his wrist at once, causing him to begin to panic. "We just slip it on like this…" the store clerk said, grabbing Matthew's now struggling other wrist. He was scared out of his wits now, trying very hard to get away. "Don't wiggle now! Careful you little-!"
"Matthew!" Aunt Sarah yelled, but the boy was already on his way out, having broken free from the store clerk's grasp after his second wrist had been clasped in metal. Running out of the store he could still hear Aunt Sarah yelling.
"Come back! Come back here I say! Come back here!" Matthew ignored her completely, running in a hurt panic. There was a screech as a car swirved to avoid him, managing to scare him even more. He ran into and alley, tripping slightly because of the poor balance caused by the handcuffs. He kept going, tears stinging at his eyes, not sure where he was going or even if he could find his way back. He fell with a thud finally, struggling to stand make up, knocking over several trashcans and making a significant amount of noise. When he finally started up again he had the feeling like he was being followed. Propelled by fear and panic he kept running until he finally hit a dead end. Turning he could see large shapes heading towards him and cowered, not knowing what else to do. A group of large dirty looking men came out of the shadows, cornering the boy even more.
"Well, well look what we found." One of them sneered.
"Whatcha doing out here, pretty boy?" Another asked, with a harsh laugh. Matthew did nothing but recoil more as he spotted a switchblade in the hand of the first man.
"Won't talk hm? Well, since we have you we might as well have a little fun." The latter said, advancing on the trembling boy. In a flash another shape had leapt over the fence Matthew's back was pressed against, landing with a soft thud. The new man stood tall, blocking Matthew from the gang.
"I think it would be advisable for you to leave this fine young man alone." He said sounding smooth, but with a very dangerous edge to his voice. Some of the men exchanged looks with each other, but the leader seemed determined and frustrated.
"Just back off or we'll just have to mess you up along with the kid!" He snarled, raising his switchblade. In return the blond's blue eyes flashed as he brought out his own blade. For a short moment they simply stared at each other, and then suddenly in a flash of movement the two men clashed. The man who had come to Matthew's rescue was fast, and although the attacker slashed and stabbed wildly, he got nowhere near him. With a swift kick the gang leader was on his face, and then all bets were off. Several of the members jumped the outsider at once, and Matthew found he could no longer watch. Shutting his eyes tight he turned away from the frantic scuffling, trying to all but disappear into the wood behind him. There were several loud noises before a deafening crash rang out through the alley, followed by the sound of running and then silence. Matthew's eyes opened ever so slightly, as he heard footsteps approach. To his great relief a calming and slightly familiar voice began to speak.
"Pige, what are you doing on this side of the tracks? I thought you..Wha..?" Matthew finally opened his eyes all the way to see his rescuer staring at his handcuffs looking quite stricken. "Oh you poor garcon. We must get these off." He continued, gently taking Matthew's wrists and examining the metal around them. Matthew let him, blushing ever so slightly.
"T-thank you, for saving me." He said quietly. The man responded by looking back up at him and giving a dazzling smile. Matthew could just see a little bit of stubble.
"But of course. Who could leave a little pigeon like you unprotected?"
"M-my name is Matthew." He responded, thinking he should at least give his name to his rescuer.
"Francis."
"I-It's nice to formally meet you Francis." Matthew said, not to forget his manners.
"Oui, Matheiu. Now come with me, I think I know just the place to rid you of these cuffs."