Chapter 4: Eye Catching
Nancy couldn't remember the last time her dreams had been so calm, no blood, no screaming, no stench of death just a dark figure cradling her in his arms, warmth the smell of whisky and pipe smoke surrounding her with security, she just wished she could remember him or his face. She was fully alert seconds after waking up by shouting that she instantly recognised as Mrs Hudson and she assumed the inventor/freelance tenant was bearing the brunt of it,
' I wonder what he's done now?' she thought to herself and couldn't help smiling.
She'd been back in London a week, she was yet to see Lenore, and she'd spent most of her time unpacking her things, talking to Mrs Hudson and the occasional other tenant who all seemed to be over 80, she wondered if the previous tenant in her room really had moved out or had they been carried out, but today she was going out. Nancy got up and looked in the mirror, she looked properly for the first time in a long time, her eyes were no longer blood shot they were blue and sparkling, her creamy, honey coloured hair had life it didn't hang limp anymore in fact she felt completely brand new, she couldn't think why though, maybe it was Mrs Hudson's cooking.
As she walked downstairs she heard more noises coming from the flat below she heard a few more muffled bangs coming from inside and picked up the pace walking past the door not wanting to be shot by random gunfire. As she walked down the cobblestone streets she felt as though she'd never left London it seemed mostly the same, she stared at the buildings letting her feet take her wherever they chose. She'd been walking for a while when she stopped in front of a small town house, it's doors and windows were boarded up and it looked completely dilapidated, no one had lived here for a long time, no one since she herself had called this place home. She walked up the steps to the boarded up doorway and her hand shaking she placed it on a piece of wood, this wasn't her home anymore, this could never be anyone's home,
' You don't wanna go in there my lovely' Nancy turned to see a middle aged woman with a small child in her arms standing on the steps of the next house, she looked vaguely familiar, but Nancy couldn't place her,
' Terrible what happened there, that poor family'
' I know' Nancy uttered still staring at the doorway,
' Oh some of the locals been spinning you stories about it, it's no joke I wish they'd see that, making up stories for the tourists'
' I didn't hear anything from anyone, I don't need too, I know exactly what happened here' Nancy looked the woman in the eye, and watched as realisation dawned on her face, than a look of pity followed, Nancy didn't need that, she walked down the steps and went back up the street.
As she walked she wasn't sure what to feel, there was anger, but that was mostly directed at the people making up grizzly stories for the locals, she was so lost in her thoughts she bumped into a woman on the street,
'I'm so sorry, I was in a world of my own' Nancy exclaimed apologetically
' Oh don't worry about it no harm done' the woman then continued down the street, just as Nancy neared the door to Mrs Hudson's house she heard a shrill shriek
' Nancyyyyy' she turned to see Lenore running in a most un-lady like fashion down the street and she couldn't help laughing, as a very flustered looking Lenore stopped in front of her,
' Come on Nancy I was coming to get you I want you to meet William, and we'll have a catch up on the way' Lenore managed to rush the sentence out despite being breathless, as a carriage pulled up.
'Lenore where are we going, exactly?' they'd been in the carriage for a while and now seemed to have entered a darker part of London,
'Williams indulging in one of his little hobbies but I just can't wait for you to meet him' Lenore was obviously quite taken with this man, they spent the carriage ride catching up which meant Nancy could sit back and listen to Lenore talk about William and her new dresses and the latest operas. The coach stopped outside a small building the cobblestones around it were muddy and they could hear shouting and music,
' In here, I told you William has his little hobbies'
'What is this hobby Lenore'?
'William likes bare knuckle boxing'
'Watching it?'
'No he likes to join in the fighting silly, he's very good'
With that they entered the room the air was nothing but smoke, noise and Irish music, Nancy couldn't help feeling a tad vulnerable here it wasn't exactly packed with women, but no one paid them any attention all the men were to occupied with the fight,
' Which ones William?'
' He's the blonde one fighting, look how strong he is, he'll easily beat the man, he's much bigger'
Lenore was giddy with excitement as she watched William, though from what Nancy could see he wasn't a brilliant fighter, the dark haired man fighting him appeared to dodge every punch William threw. Nancy and Lenore continued to watch, Lenore shouting cheers for William, the two men broke apart briefly for a short break, Lenore instantly ran to William and began fussing over him, the dark haired man looked up and caught Nancy's eye she looked away quickly, when she looked back he was still watching her as he wiped blood and sweat from his face. As the fight resumed Nancy couldn't help but notice the change in expression on the dark haired mans face he seemed more focused and determined, rather than the joking, cocky behaviour he had been displaying moments ago. He no longer opted to dodge Williams punches, in fact William didn't get a chance to punch the mans actions and reflexes were so quick the fight was over in seconds ending in William being kicked in the chest and unable to get up. Lenore squealed and ran to William, Nancy stood and watched as the man, they locked eyes again before he confidently walked over to the bar picked up a bottle and his winnings and went up some stairs to a room slamming the door behind him.