[edit] fixed Grell's pronouns, msg me if I missed any!

When Merianna awoke on the cold stone floor of the alleyway, the first thing she did was reach over and under her head for the beret containing her cards. She had used them as a pillow to rest her head on after giving up on her shelter. It stank of urine, and the area only reminded her of the painful memories of yesterday. She rubbed her swollen red wrists, grimacing at how much it had chaffed her skin. She was very hungry now, perhaps she should have kept the money instead of hastily letting her anger blind her judgement.

It was early morning, although Merianna wasn't sure if the sun was out or not. A heavy mist blanketed the town and the only things she could see were outlines of buildings and the light from the street lamps. How would she be able to eat today? There were several options: stealing, begging, persuasive skills, threatening or somehow finding money. She didn't see any of those as possible venues to obtain food.

She sighed and remembered the advice Meirin had given her, digging the paper out. It held a location inscribed in ink, it was an old church that had beautiful stained glass windows. Merianna had once thought that building was where rainbows were created and butterflies grew in. Only now it was abandoned after a scandal of heresy and was only visited by little children on dares.

The building was always stern, high and mighty, much like the stuffy nobility Merianna had met. She supposed there was no other choice.

Cuffs picked up the few belongings of Stikes the bulldog. In the rush to pick up all thei belongings to move to the new boarding house, everyone had forgotten about their cutest member. The hideout was now deserted; even the table was chopped up and moved as firewood. Only a young man and a nosy little dog stood in the emptiness, recollecting all the memories one last time. Cuffs had picked up various leather-wrapped knuckle bones and plopped them into the cushioned wicker basket. He shooed the dog to the entrance way and had to push the dog upwards and out before tossing the basket up as well..

He looked around the hideout, in case he missed anything that might turn out to be useful later…like kitchen knives or perhaps rope! There was a secret entrance to the abandoned butcher shop, as the hideout was built right underneath the storage and led to butchering room and the front, although it was boarded up. There were some stone steps that led to a loose floorboard, and he lifted them up before hoisting his body up to the storage.

Seeing nothing interesting in the storage, he opened the door leading to the butchering room. Cuffs remembered the custom of initiation they once had, where aspiring thieves would spend a night in the butcher room while the others played tricks and scared them. The meat had all rotten away, but the hooks were still dangling from the ceiling, rusted and caked in blood long gone rotten.

There was something there, two hooks holding it up, although it seemed like they were about to rip it in two. Cuffs swore when he recognized the shape of a torso with nothing below the knees, the hooks digging into what were the handless arms of the body. A groaned escaped the body, and Cuffs stepped forward.

"Who…What the hell…" he muttered.

"Cuffs…git…here…" a familiar voice groaned.

He turned to face the body hung on two meat hooks as Step-Strings looked to him past his rust-coloured hair. From afar, Cuffs had mistaken his hair for blood, but now he could see that there was no blood on him whatsoever, not even where the meat hooks pierced him. Cuffs had to keep himself from vomiting, clenching his stomach with a tightened grasp.

"What happened here, Step-Strings?" Cuffs asked, "Who did this to you?!"

Step-Strings was conscious, staring down at his friend, but he looked tired, worn. Only his head was able to move at all, and it did very slowly. Cuffs reached up to try to take hold of the metal hook.

"Don't!" He barked. "Leave them! They ain't…normal…whatever the man did…"

He coughed, grimacing when his lungs collapsed.

"I tried…to talk to the man in the white suit…he dids this t'me…" He continued. "Listen closely, Cuffs, I ain't gonn' repeat twice 'nd I'm…I'm countin' on ya…"

Cuffs straightened up, attentive to anything he could do for his dying friend.

"They're mad, Cuffs! Straight-up murderers! They're gonn'…They're gonn' take all 'em to that church…y'know whut fer? Sacrifice." He hissed.

"S-Sacrifice? Sacrifice for what?!" Cuffs demanded. "This man…in the white suit…"

"I 'unno fer sure…I heards they were gonn' revive an angel…fuckin' lost it, man. The look in 'is eyes when he says that…You gotta go stop 'em, Cuffs. It's upta you."

He said this with a calmness that seemed to make the whole room grow still. He dropped his head, unable to meet eyes with Cuffs as he told him his will.

"The little 'uns, probably don't got a clue what's gonn' happen to 'em. They wants the lives of 100 souls…I heard they're desperate enuff to even talk 'bout lyuring Merian's over to the place…crazy bastards…they probably already gots the majority chained in a dunge-eon under that place…"

"You're crazy, Steps! I can't just barge in'ere and demand thems to let them go!" Cuffs retorted.

Step-Strings wheezed painfully. "I heard…them…ahhh…Phantomhives…"

He gasped for air, causing Cuffs to step back in alarm.

"H-Hold on there, I'll get yous off!"

"Git going'! I ain't gonn' fuckin' make it….Go!" He roared. "He says the only thin' interferin' were 'em Phantomhive house…I don't know whuts goin' on…but maybe you can…that house…I know Chippers brought Stikes over there…for whatever errands he had been runnin'…"

"What about yous? You're dying!" Cuffs shot.

"I already know that! And I know that there ain't nothin' that can save me now. Look at how much I ain't bleedin', inhumane magicks…I ain't even gots any of my legs let 'nd look at my arms, fer god sake's, Cuffs, git a move on!"

Although he didn't want to admit it, the metal hooks embedded into Step-String's triceps and poked out the other side, and Cuffs wasn't sure how he would go about rescuing him, or if there was even a way to put him out of his misery.

Step-Strings coughed heavily, and his breath was getting shallower and sweat dropped from his face. Seeing Cuffs again and passing on the information had given his heart a jump start back into life, but his body couldn't handle it anymore. He looked down on his friend, into his panicking eyes.

Perhaps courage was infectious, because Cuffs breathed hot air into his hands, said good-bye to Step-Strings and went back out to the hideout, calling for Stikes.

"Hiya~ Sebastian!" Grell greeting, dropping in and attempting to grab him in a hug.

After Sebastian let go of the death drip he had on the red-clad shinigami, he watched as she drew out a basket of red apples from behind a bust in the library room.

"Yaa~ When you asked me for a Hesperi apple, I was worried you were going to kill some human with that, but since you liked them so much..." She gushed, offering the basket like a kohai trying to get their senpai to notice them.

"Your offer is kind, but I cannot do anymore with those poisonous apples...one failed attempt would not work twice."

Suddenly, he turned his head to the left, as if he heard something.

"Perhaps another time, a stranger has arrived."

Grell Sutcliff followed him, using a shinigami spell to set fire to the accursed apples before any innocent human ingested them and died, making more work for her.

Ciel Phantomhive was reading a letter sent from Lady Midford claiming that she had created a new fashion trend, as many others were not wearing ruby-studded rings, although she had broken hers in a fit and it shattered upon hitting the concrete floor. The letter once again thanked him for his attendance to Elizabeth's ball and for his support for their daughter. Ciel was about to put the letter away in his filing cabinet when he heard a thump at the windowed door. Something must have hit it.

He grumbled and opened the window, expecting to see an unconscious bird lying at the threshold. Instead, there was a ruffled black-haired boy in a large brown coat that was too big on him. On the balcony above Ciel, Bardroy, Meirin, Finnian and Tanaka had rushed out to listen to this stranger. Bardroy stroked his chin in thought, as if he had seen this man before.

Ciel looked this stranger up and down; not daring to let him enter with his shoddy appearance. The boy stood higher than him, looking down curiously.

"Ehm...is the Phantomhives at home?" He asked.

"You're speaking to the Earl of Phantomhive." Ciel said. "State your name and business."

The young man hid his hands back into the sleeves of the coat, moved them to the pockets, and back inside the sleeves. He was obviously skeptical about Ciel, mostly because of his young face.

"I needs your help." He said.

"Hey! You're the little brat who tried to kill Snowy before!" Bardroy suddenly yelled from above.

Tanaka and Meirin found themselves clinging onto the chef and trying to calm him to prevent him from jumping off the balcony and hurting himself, as well as the boy.

"I didns't try to kill 'her!" He snapped back. "What's a brute like you doing in a place like this anyways? Burning up all the meals, ay?"

"Why you litt-!"

Ciel was losing interest and started to close the door on him. It was stopped when the boy held the door open.

"W-Wait! Y-You gotta stop the sacrifice! They're gonna kill all me friends at the church!" Cuffs cried. "They says only the Phantomhives'd have a way!"

"And why should I care if your friends live or die? I have no part in this." Ciel cruelly replied. "If you're trying to beg me more some money, I will alert the authorities of you...Jake Hawkins."

He looked up to the balcony above. "And you all get back to work!"

Sebastian had arrived at the windowed door, next to his master. Grell took the other side, pushing to see the commotion. The boy bristled, tightening his fists and clenching his teeth. He suddenly shot his arms out and grabbed Ciel by the collar. Although he didn't lift him off the ground, he pulled his face close.

"Listen here, you little piece of sh-"

Before he could continue his threat, a strong hit knocked his stomach and chest and threw him crashing into the wall inside the house. His head was slammed there and when he opened his dizzying eyes, the black clad butler stood defensively in front of the Earl of Phantomhive. His things clattered on the floor in front of him, but he was too disoriented to reach for them.

"What's this?" the butler asked, picking up one of his belongings.

It was a silvery white, oval-shaped container, a band of pearl-like decorations on the side and a purple bow on the lid. The butler turned it over, but the lid did not fall. Cuffs slowly got to his feet, grabbing the two metal handcuffs and wearing them over his fists.

"Dons't you touch that!" He roared.

He suddenly felt dizzy, dropping to his knees again. He must have underestimated how hard he was hit. He repeated his warning, a bit with a more weakened voice. The butler frowned and tried to pry the lid off, but it held still. The red-clad woman behind him jumped up against the butler's back.

"That thing's alive, Sebastian. You wouldn't be able to open it unless you had a death scythe!" She explained.

"Both of you, stop playing around." The noble commanded.

"Please…" Cuffs voice croaked. "You has to save me friends…maybes you dons't understand 'cuz you never had a family like that…even Merianna…they'll all die if you dons't do anythin…"

"What's that?" the Earl asked. "Merianna is in this?"

The boy stepped closer, pushing aside the butler and the woman with crimson long hair.

"Why would I care if she lived or died? She stole from one of my closest associates…and if I ever see her again, I'll kill her without fail." He hissed in a low voice.

"What if I told yous that it wasn't her that stole it?" He bartered.

"Speak." He demanded.

He took out a golden band with red stones around it.

"This is the real thing." He huffed. "I slipped it off the lady's hand when I shook hands with her…delivering what flowers she ordered for the party."

The black butler suddenly snatched the ring, analysing it in detail.

"We dropped fake rings around…with fool's gold and painted minerals in 'em…That's where everyone elses got theirs, thinking it was a littl' treasure hunt organized by the house."

"Young Master, this is the real ring." The butler said. "What will we do now?"

By now Cuffs had gotten to his feet, winded, but still standing. He panted heavily and watched the Earl of Phantomhive contemplate the situation. The crimson haired woman was squirming to see the white chest, which she seized from the butler. She suddenly had a strange tool in her hands. It looked like a flattened fan with teeth around it.

"Give that back." Cuffs growled. "GIVE IT BACK!"

While the young man and Grell were having a comedic brawl in a dust of cloud and various fists and legs, Ciel took the ring from Sebastian, examining it as well.

"Well?" Sebastian asked in a whisper.

"We go." He replied confidently. "Grell!"

Suddenly, a large crash was heard outside. In the heat of the moment, Cuffs pried the chest away from Grell, holding it close. Bardroy, Finnian and Meirin were toppled over each other, fallen over the balcony. They were all groaning in pain and confusion, and Ciel ignored that. They would live.

"And you, Mr. Hawkins," He addressed. "Your friends will be saved. But you will be arrested for theft from aristocracy once I return. If you so much as move 50 centimetres away from one of the servants supervising you or try anything suspicious, I won't hesitate to giving you an early execution. Have I made myself clear?"

It was like listening to a much more mature Step-Strings, except this time the boy was snobby and bossy. In a cold sweat, he asked him a question.

"And what if you dons't save them? All you've gots is that butler and that…freak going with yous. Shouldn't I come along too?"

"I assure you that one Phantomhive servant will be enough to stop this…genocide…" Sebastian assured. "It's only a church after all."

"Meirin, Bard, Finny, make sure you keep an eye on this man."

"And I am one hell of a butler."

Cuffs kept quiet while he waited in the library. The three other servants were sitting on their chairs, watching him with suspicious eyes. They hadn't even introduced themselves and were in a glaring contest with him. A smaller, but older man came along with a tray of tea and a plate of cookies, setting it on the table next to Cuffs. Cuffs pointed to himself, a silent answer if they were for him. The old man nodded and left the room with a small laugh.

Cuffs had been starving for a while, and he stuffed the cookies into his mouth without looking too guilty. The three servants stared at him judgementally.

"This was Merianna's favourite room, you know." The gardener said.

Of course he would bring that up; they were clearly suspicious of him because they worked with Merianna. They were obviously trying to bring her up for conversation.

"Y-Yeah?" Cuffs replied. "So wh-what?"

"And she can't even come back here." He continued. "She liked the library."

He could feel the angry gaze on him and Cuff's palms started to get sweaty. He was feeling a little guilty, but at the same time, he didn't realize that Merianna would get pulled into this situation. The gardener in front of him grumbled at him. Cuffs looked away, feeling the heat crawl through him.

"I know." He replied curtly.

"How would you know?" the chef snapped.

The heat was definitely in his face and he could feel it radiate off his cheeks. It was very much like an interrogation in the room and he knew they wanted answers.

"W-Well…I grew up with her of course…" he muttered quietly.

'Bad Influence' was written all over their faces.

"Tell us what you know about her." The chef demanded.

They all had dark auras around their faces. Cuffs sat still, stubbornly shaking his head.

"Why'd yous wanna know? I ain't gonna peach on her." He grumbled.

"Not going to tattle, not going to give away anything on her." The chef mumbled, translating his words.

"Because we care!" The maid blurted out. "It feels like we never sat down to talk about Merianna, her past, her details…and now because of this…"

Cuffs breathed out heavily and clasped his hands together, leaning forward. Only he would know the most about her. He understood how worried they were, because he was too. If the Earl didn't succeed, and he was arrested, who would be the one to carry on her story?

Jake rounded the corner, money pouch in his hands. Earlier he was pretending to have a broken leg, begging for a ride to the hospital. One lady stopped her carriage and gushed over how poor and pitiful he was wailing. Once he snatched the money pouch lying at her feet, he launched himself over the side door and onto the streets he set off running. He only stopped near the old well when the angry sounds disappeared. Panting heavily, he leaned back against the well, taking a breath.

He couldn't wait until he could count the money. Judging from the size of the carriage for just one person, she was very rich. And gullible. He hoped there was enough for a warm loaf of bread at least. He hadn't eaten for three days already, and he was getting weaker. He heard a splash behind him, looking back to secure his…

Oh…it fell in.

He stood, mouth wide open at the dark opening, watching the last ripples. His mind was unable to comprehend the traumatic event and he just stood there, as if frozen in time. The well was not deep, but he wouldn't know how to get out of the well. He leaned further, trying to find the pouch in the waters. A second shadow suddenly appeared next to him.

He gasped and heaved himself upward, startled. He stepped backwards and yelled out a surprised 'hey!' There was a girl there in a small sky-blue dress. Her eyes were deep brown and she clutched a hardcover book in her delicate hands. The thing that caught his eye most was her hair, the colour of creamy milk, tied into two long braids behind her.

"I thoughts somebody was there!" He snapped. "Dons't creep around me like that! I almost fell in from the fright you gaves me!"

Her face seemed unreadable, but there was an aura of worry around her.

"B-Bad! Not s-sssafee…euhh…" she mumbled, pointing to the well.

"Dons't worry, I ain't that stupid." He replied. "Dons't bother me, I'm busy!"

She had an accent, heavy on her words and unsure of them too. She didn't seem to understand him. Oh well, he shook his head and turned back to the well. He couldn't remember if gold floated or not. He was sure it didn't, maybe that was just the light that made it seem like it was floating upwards an-

"What iz…what iz…"

She came beside him and pointed into the dark waters, obviously asking him what he was doing.

"Didns't I say to leave me alone?" He snapped. "I dropped my money down this stupid well…Yous breakin' my concentration!"

It was already late in the day, any more time wasted talking to a girl and he'd be in trouble with whoever was keeping this nosy child. She tapped his shoulder and when he looked, she pointed to the inside of her book. Jake guess she didn't understand 'leave me alone' in English.

"I cans't read. Cannot. Read. Unable." He grumbled. "No reading."

The girl's cheek puffed up as she frowned.

"Burrrd…Burrrd…black. Fell eenside…in book." She tried. "Swim. Sweeming."

He was getting very frustrated with trying to decipher her. "Yeah, yeah. I cans swim, but this is a well, dummy. I'll break my neck tryin'a swim in this!"

And there was no bird that fell inside either. She puffed her cheek again and pointed to the metal bucket next to the well. Jake guess she wasn't aware of how things were run in England. The well used to have a bucket and line to fetch water, but the pulley had long broken and it stood uselessy. He growled like a dog and ignored her, looking back into the well for another plan.

She said something in another language, picked up the bucket and headed somewhere else. Just as Jake was dreaming up a plan about tossing someone else in and claiming they stole his money, water was dumped in front of him. The girl was the one pouring water into the well from the bucket, panting heavily. She was sweating and her hair was strewn around. She pointed again to the dark water, halfway to the top of the well.

"Sweem. Sweem zhere." She said.

Her thinking suddenly hit Jake. If there was enough water in the well, maybe he could dive down, get the pouch and swim back up. The well wasn't that deep, and three more buckets of water might be enough.

He stuck his palm out towards the girl, repeating what he saw the grown-ups do when they meet or thank someone. She looked at him with a questioning gaze, then to his hand. She reached her hand out, mimicking his gesture. He sighed, grabbed her hand and shook it.

"My name is Jake." He introduced.

"My…name isss…Jake." She repeated.

"No, girl. Your name…your naaaaame. What yous call yousself."

He pointed to himself, saying his name, then pointed to her. After repeating the gesture a few more times, she suddenly brightened.

"My…naaaaame…is…Jake." She repeated.

He facepalmed, giving up.

The girl clapped her hands when they brought in the last bucket. It was so heavy it took two of them to fetch the water from the river and drag it to the well. It must have taken the girl hours to fetch the first bucketful. The water was now at the well's edge, some spilling over. Jake had gone swimming, teaching himself how to move his way around the water, but he was scared now of the well. What would happen if there was not enough space and he got stuck trying to turn around? Then again, no one would care about one street-brat drowning in a well.

It was late evening now. He took off his thread-bare cotton shirt and his wooden shoes. He heard a squeal behind him. The girl was covering her face with the book she had with her.

"What?!" He snapped.

She didn't answer, only shaking her head as her tiny body trembled. He ignored it and took off his short trousers too. There was no point in getting all of his clothes wet. It was easier to dry skin than cotton. The water was cold, but he clambered into the well. He treaded water for a minute, getting use to the temperature as his teeth chattered noisily. He took a deep breath and dove.

Using one hand against the side of the stone well and the other to plug his nose together, he slowly felt his way to towards the bottom. He couldn't open his eyes, but he felt the bottom of the well and groped around. There were slimy things, round things, stony things. Just when he was going to head back for more air, his hand landed on something that felt like…no that was just another rock.

No, he found it after reaching beside it. He tugged it out and it was around the same weight and texture as above surface. Something slid against his elbow, something sharp. He didn't let go, and he turned around to head back up. The circular space was small, and he had to squirm and do a somersault in the water to right himself up. It was hard swimming back up the well; he couldn't hold his nose anymore as the water rushed in.

When he made the surface, it was like he had never tasted air before. His mouth ejected any water that entered and he slammed the pouch on the side on the well. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to clamber out until he felt hands take his wrist and help pull him out.

The girl had her eyes squashed shut, yet she was still pulling his arm. He clambered over the side and dropped onto the floor of the land outside the well. Shivering, he shook his head and wiped his body with his hands, trying to get the water out. He dressed, although he was still cold. There was a gash on his arm from his adventure, and it was bleeding now. The girl was sitting on the floor, reading her book while he dressed and checked himself.

When he was finished, he held the money pouch in his hands and watched the gas lamps being lit. It suddenly occurred to him how dark it was.

"Well, thanks, girl. Now I gotta go." He said, waving.

"Haaaah! Haaah!"

He turned back. It seemed like she was going to say something to him.

"Haaah-choo!"

She wiped her nose on her sleeve. He guessed that was a 'your welcome' in some other language, but managed a 'bless you' reply anyways.

"Cannot go." She squeaked. "Cannot go…how-hou-se."

He looked her up and down. Was she street-ridden like him? Her clothes certainly didn't fool him, and the fact that she could read was a sign of a warm dinner awaiting her and a bed to be tucked into. He didn't realize how neatly her hair was plaited or how stain-free her clothes were until now. Snobby rich kid…

Oh, she was crying now.

"H-Hey! What'smatter?!" He yelled.

He had the comforting skills of a rock.

"Cannot go h-house…! Finding…way go back!" she cried.

So she was lost. At least she wasn't demanding for her share of the money. He thought something was off when she appeared. There was no adult with her and she was even helping him late into the day. He grumbled, not used to having to care for another.

"G-Get up. I'll help you." He muttered, taking her wrists and pulling her up to her feet.

The girl tightly held Jake's hand, and as the night came closer, she grew more onto him…literally. She was now clinging to his whole right arm, squeezing close. His arm was getting numb, but he was too nervous to say anything. Thankfully it was not his left arm. Although she fussed over it in her language, neither of them knew how to treat it. She seemed to recognize some shops, fountains and parks along the way, but they had been wandering around for a while now.

He finally learned her name, and she repeated most of the things he said. She didn't have anything valuable on her either (he checked her pockets) except the hardcover book she clutched in her hands. From their fragmented conversations, he guessed that it must have been fairy tales. She was a quick learner, and her accent was lighter as she adapted to Jake's, although she still did not have the vocabulary down. Even Jake was learning some French words.

It was already late night and the air was chilly. Jake didn't have much clothing and he was still cold from the dip into the well. At least Merianna was keeping him warm. At least her hair stood out of the darkness.

"Hey, Merianna. Your hair is as glowy as the moon y'know?"

She stopped walking, so suddenly it jerked him back. She looked downwards, her hair completely shielding her face.

"Colours…iz rrotten egg…not…good."

"…Ithinksthey'salright"

They continued walking.

"Jake…house?" She questioned.

"I don't have one."

"Non?"

"…non."

He looked up and noticed a woman standing on the streets, her wavy long white hair down and she was in a dark green evening gown. She had a faint glow around her, or maybe that was the light from the house behind her. Merianna shifted from clinging to his arm to just holding his hands. She had quite a resemblance to this woman.

"Mamma!" She shouted happily.

The woman's stern face broke into a soft smile. Next to her elegant grace, Jake felt shabby and meagre.

"Thank you for bringing my daughter home." She said in perfect English with a perfect accent.

"I-I-I ju-j-ust I..err..." he couldn't form the words properly.

Merianna started talking and swinging Jake's hand back and forth, as if recalling to her mother the adventures they had. The smile suddenly disappeared when Merianna's mother's gaze changed from Merianna to Jake and back again. Merianna turned to Jake.

"Eenside. Jake viens in-side."

As much as he liked his new friend, he didn't want to have to come in and explain himself to her and her mother, who understood English perfectly. He pulled at his un-kept hair anxiously, mumbled good-night and ran off into the night.

"So what happened after? I mean…you both were friends right?" The red-haired maid asked.

"Er…I came by every few days t'say 'hello' and sometimes Merianna and I'd talk and learn how to read a littl'. Her mother wuz a governess for some others and sorta just…allowed my presence. It wuz…strange when her mother died."

"Did she ever talk about her father?" the chef asked.

Cuffs shook his head. "Said he was left behind when the ship left."

"So…how did her mother die?" the gardener asked.

"…I dons't know…all I knows is that she had weird rules and looked really pale when she passed." He replied.

"Weird rules?" the maid asked.

"Yeah, strange things like…well…Merianna wasn't allowed to eat apples, y'see? Except I kinda broke that whens I gaves her one once and turns out she liked them. She wasn't allowed to go near churches neither."