I apologize for making everyone wait so long for the next chapter of this I'll try to post it more frequently now. I'd been busy with the show and everything. Well enough of my rambling back to the story.
-Recap-
"Welcome to the family." Jack said. I immediately devoured my sausage and took a sip of the liquor.
"Thanks Jack…You two Fagin."
"Please, Tracey everyone calls me the Artful Dodger." I drank a bit more and began to feel a little dizzy.
"'Artful Dodger'?" I questioned my word slurring a bit. He nodded
"Yes well you can call me 'Dodge' or 'Dodger' for short."
"Yes Dodger here is the best thief I have. You should really make him your mentor. You can learn a lot from him." I finished my drink and fainted. Luckily Jack was right behind me and caught me. He dragged me to the couch where I spent the night.
Chapter 2: A Not So Friendly Visit
I sat up the next morning with my head pounding. I squinted my eyes shut sensitive to the light outside and stretched. When I got used to the brightness of the room I looked around and saw the house was completely empty. I stood up and walked into the other room.
"Good morning." I heard. I jumped up and turned around to see Fagin. I placed my hand on my chest calming myself down.
"Good morning, Sir." I said. He laughed and sat at the table.
"I suppose you don't take to liquor to well then, ehh Tracey my dear." I sat down across from him and looked to the floor embarrassed.
"I suppose not…" I nibbled at the extra slice of bread on the table a bit uncomfortable by the old man watching me. I felt so foolish passing out like I had yesterday. I hated that I had burdened Jack and Fagin. When I was finished eating I sat still looking at the ground until Fagin broke the long silence.
"Why don't you go in the other room and 'ave yourself a wash." He said looking at me. My eyes lit up by the idea.
"Really you'll let me have a Wash.!" I was ecstatic by the fact of this. Back in the workhouse I only had gotten a wash once when I was 5. And I wasn't planning on having my next on for another 6 years.
"Course I will. No jus' go and 'ave a nice long wash. You surely can use it." He said pushing me into the wash room. I shut the door behind me and got undressed. I filled a basin up with water and took a nice long wash. Using the time to reflect on what had happened the past few days. Like how I ran away from my workhouse when my friend starve to death. Or the countless times on my way to London I had almost been ran over by a carriage. I was so tired and hungry yesterday. When I was running in the countryside all I could eat was the berries or roots I found. And since I was on the run there was hardly anytime to stop and rest I was completely worn out when I tried to steal from the man yesterday. I was so thankful when Dodger took me to this house and accepted me. And today Fagin was letting me have a wash.
I felt so nice and clean and relaxed. I sighed and her the front door open and people trudge into the room outside. I quickly pulled the top of my dress back on and heard Jack yell.
"'Ey Fagin where's the gurl run off to?"
"She's jus' 'avin' a nice wash." I heard someone bang on the door.
"'Ey Tracey! You decent?!" He asked I rushed to do the Back of my dress up.
"Ehh good enough!" I yelled. He opened the door. "Could you….." I said turning my back to him. He laced it up for me. "Thank you…" I said shyly
"Not a problem." He said smiling a bit. "Come on I'll take you out and show you our trade for a bit." He said leading my out into the streets. I followed him close behind. He reached into an old mans coat pocket and pulled out his wallet. We walked a few Yards away fro the man "that."
We spent a few more hours out. Dodger was teaching me all different techniques in stealing and spotting good victims.
"You certainly are talented Jack." I stopped and corrected myself. "I mean Dodger. Its no wonder you 'ave a nickname like that." I said walking up the stairs to Fagin's den with him.
"You know if you want…I'll let you call me Jack."
"Really." I said stopping at the doorway with him.
"Yeah jus' not around the other boys. They'd never let me forget that I'm lettin' a gurl call me my real name…" I blushed and opened the door. Once I walked in I jumped upon seeing a tall Broad shouldered man. He didn't look to friendly.
"That the new kid." He grunted.
"Yeah, that's Tracey. Ain't she a pretty thing Bill?" He asked the man.
"Trace why don' we jus' go in the other room and leave 'em alone."
"No stay." He growled. "It'd be a shame not to get to know 'Trace'". I narrowed my eyes getting annoyed with him but sat across from him. "So you're from a work'ouse then?" He asked.
"Yes sir."
"What'd your parent's die of?"
"They didn't die. They jus' left me at the church and left." He snorted a bit and looked at me still.
"You wish you died where they left you?" He asked bitterly.
"Tracey's tired. Come on lets go to bed." Dodger said pulling me up. When we walked into the other room.
"Thank you." I whispered.
"Anytime." He said. I laid down on the couch thinking'
'Maybe this wouldn't all be as pleasant as I thought."
