"So, what happened?" Dal asked, leaning up against the Bank next to Win, who had just finished her shift. They were each smoking jays. Win wasn't sure someone Dal's age should have jays, but she knew not to say anything. She also didn't think she should tell a ten-year-old what had happened on the docks, despite being confident that Dal had probably seen things a thousand times worse than Win had experienced.
Win didn't believe someone like Dal could be loyal to anyone. They could and would look forward to killing anyone in their way. Win especially didn't buy that Dal had any loyalty to Mouse and thought Mouse was naive to trust them. Win inhaled their jays and blew out the smoke, her hair hanging in front of her face.
"They just pointed a gun at me, tried to, like, make me dance?" Win scrunched her face as if she couldn't remember or had already forgotten about it. She remembered it perfectly.
"Assholes," Dal said, spitting out an orange wad. Win realized Dal was chewing jurda and smoking it. No wonder Dal thinks I'm lazy; I'm not high. She thought with surprise.
"It's fine; it's not like I was hurt. And Mouse is right; it's not like I even got a good look at them."
Dal gave their usual look at Win like she was an idiot. "What? It's true."
"So, you'd do that to someone? You'd do that to a kid on the street?"
"No."
"Yeah, 'cause you're not that kind of asshole." Win had to laugh at this, flicking her jays away from her.
"What kind of asshole am I?"
"The kind who grew up hearing about princesses and is dumb enough to think that just 'cause you're good-looking, you deserve to be one."
Win had no answer, but she knew denying it didn't sit right.
"And what kind of asshole are you?"
"The kind who tells everyone that they're an asshole." Dal stared at Win and smirked, stamping out their jays.
"Funny. What's the plan for tonight? Docks, finally?"
"Before coming here, I saw and tapped Sol to head over. They're going to show you around Ketterdam." Win smiled, but it wasn't genuine. She wanted to seem grateful, but she thought her time could be better spent buttering up Alivier. She made a mental note to take a few days off when his exams ended because he would want to party for several days. Win would ensure he stayed loyal during those days and didn't stray towards West Stave. Dal gave her their usual side eye of mistrust.
"You know it's a big favour for them to take you on," Dal added, watching her as her attention was drawn to her imagination.
Dal was right; Sol was recently told she would be trained as the Widow's new spider. She was good at being unseen, but Win doubted she would be the most forthcoming in her information.
"Oh, of course, thanks, Dal," Win replied, turning to Dal and giving them a demure smile.
Dal rolled their eyes in reply.
"Stay here until she comes and gets you," Dal added dismissively. Dal must have spoken to Rudy and hypothesized what had happened at the docks. Win thought uncomfortably. She wasn't keen to be considered a victim who needed protecting.
Dal took off in a jog only a little down the street; Win watched them go. Several children, some taller than Dal, came out of nowhere. They all looked very different; some were filthy, others better kept. Dal stood, handing out Kruge to them. Win realized they were some of the other Mice she had heard about. She never saw them in a group. Only one or two could be found in the Res on the first floor, all in one or two rooms. Win had heard that sometimes lice outbreaks would happen, and all the kids would have their hair cut off. Win was sure that's why Dal just kept theirs shaved. Dal looked at the door of the Bank and saw Oscar working instead of Rudy. Win didn't like Oscar, he was older and rougher, but Win knew to stay on his good side and gave him a wide smile.
"Rudy off tonight?" She asked, taking a step or two toward him. It was a busier night. She thought Zelda would have told her to stay on and keep working, but Zelda seemed eager to get rid of her.
"Naw, workin' ov' with Cora and tha' rest" Win thought this was odd. They had a few burly men who helped them over West and East Stave, as their patrons could be even rowdier.
"Did someone call in sick over there? Why was he asked to cover?" Win asked, feeling curious. Oscar just shrugged, grabbed someone by their shoulder, and dragged them out after standing in the door for too long. Win backed off; she found Oscar too quick to aggression and enjoyed it too much. She was confident Zelda liked it, though.
Win leaned back against the building and sighed. Her face still hadn't completely healed from being hit, and she had dressed shabbier tonight than ever. She copied Pigeon's look, thinking she would fit better at the docks. She wished she had copied Sol's, who often wore tight brown and black tunics and trousers to move quickly and melt into brick, wood and the night. Sol came from around the corner and came face to face with Win. She said nothing but looked her up and down. She immediately threw her a cape with a hood.
"Hello, Win. You are dressed less badly than I expected but put this on. It's darker and will hide your face. Also, use this." She tossed Win a small piece of tied thread to tie her hair back. Sol's was already pulled back. Win obliged.
"What's the plan tonight?" Win didn't know Sol well, except that she didn't care for politeness and appreciated brevity.
"You'll follow me; you ask no questions but remember everything you see. Make no noise. Understand?" Win nodded in understanding. She felt nervous, she was young and had an athletic build, but she didn't love the idea of climbing buildings. She knew that is what primarily consisted of the work of spiders. Sol turned and ran towards one of the canals and jumped into a nearby gondel when they arrived. Win, keeping up, jumped in as well, trying to seem just as confident in her jump. They waited in silence; Win was about to ask if she should be the one to get the gondel going when Rudy emerged from the street and climbed in. Win beamed.
"Rudy!" She exclaimed, and Sol stared at her with a look that made Win want to drown herself in embarrassment. Rudy grinned his innocent grin and pushed the gondel away from the canal's edge. Win wasn't yet an expert on Ketterdam, but after some time, she realized it was a neighbourhood of merchant homes. She recognized the change in class immediately. Rudy pulled the small boat to the edge, and Sol quickly exited. Win followed her. She quickly looked back at Rudy, who gave an encouraging smile and nodded to her. Win gave an unsure look back, shrugged, and turned to try to keep up with Sol.
Win was immediately impressed by Sol's silence. She could move her feet in a way that made no sound on the stones. Win tried to imitate her, glad she had changed out of her heels. Sol approached a house with no lights on and began climbing up the side of it. An attachment on the side had allowed vines to weave and grow on them, making climbing relatively easy. Win assumed Sol was taking her the easy way.
Slightly out of breath and with visible cuts on her hands, Win pulled herself onto the roof. Sol continued, walking along the top of the house comfortably. Win couldn't resist looking down and shuddered. She suddenly felt dizzy. Steadying herself by staring straight ahead while keeping an eye on Sol. Sol did not look back to see how she was doing. They walked along several roofs until they finally dropped down on a balcony.
"Can you open a lock?" Sol whispered. Win had a set of lock picks on her, but she wasn't yet proficient with them. Win didn't want to seem completely useless and nodded. She crouched down and began trying to manipulate the lock. Despite being a simple lock, Win couldn't feel the click to unlock it. She made a second attempt without success. I must be forgetting something. Win thought desperately, her mind spinning.
Sol stared at her, waiting. Win wasn't too proud to ask for help but thought she should at least appear determined and pulled out the lock pick to try fresh again. Sol gave no reaction while turning the knob and opening the door.
It had been unlocked the whole. Win's mouth fell open a little, and she realized Sol might have a sense of humour that she didn't expect.
She followed Sol and closed the door gently behind her. They were in a luxurious bedroom. It had a four-poster bed with curtains all around. The room was about the size of the Bank bar. Win hadn't realized how big the houses were on the inside; she tried not to gape. Sol opened the door to the bedroom, peeked in and then walked down the hall. The lights were off everywhere, but Win still felt the fear and adrenaline of entering a home that wasn't yours. She was a little excited but was moreover terrified of being caught. No other job felt so exposed as being found in one's house.
Sol opened a window and motioned for Win to come and look out. Win peered through it and saw the house next door had lights on. Sal pointed at it, and Win could not work out what Sol wanted her to do, but she knew she had to first. Win shrugged to her, and Sol began to use Hand, which Win had never bothered to learn. Sol looked frustrated, and then Win heard a noise from downstairs. Her eyes widened in alarm. She grabbed Sol's arm in panic, and Sol nodded and began shoving her towards the window. Win shoved half her body out and looked around. There was a pipe to her right but otherwise could not fathom what Sol expected of her except to jump out and fall three stories to her death. Sol had begun pushing at her legs to hurry. Win stayed half hanging out the window. If I don't move, Sol is going to move me. Win leaned over and wrapped her hands around the pipe. It wasn't flat against the wall, and she could wrap her hands around it and enclose them; they were already sweating.
I'm going to die, and no one will know, and I didn't join, so there will be no funeral. I didn't even wear a good outfit; I look like no one. Her mind shouted to her.
Win considered that going back in and facing Sol would be safer when she felt a painful prick in her leg. Sol was using a blade to try and move her. It worked. Hanging on solely by the strength of her arms, Win tried to slide herself down slowly. She slid down the pipe several feet but wrapped her knees around the pipe as soon as she could. She was heaving now and making more noise than all the girls in West Stave.
Sol poked her head out and pulled it back in; her legs came out, and she slid herself out by the rest of her body. Her hands hanging onto the edge of the window, she pulled the entire weight of her body up and pulled the window back down with one hand. She hung on the edge of the window with both hands and placed both her feet against the wall of the house. Win watched in awe, unsure of what Sol was going to do. Sol pushed off the side of the house and landed hard on the ground, and rolled. Win wasn't sure how, but she barely heard her. Sol waved Win down, who slid slowly and awkwardly along the pipe. She hit the ground hard on both feet and could feel her legs absorb the pain. She winced. Sol turned and walked through the small back area of the house to a walled fence. Sol felt along it and found a tiny hole she slid through.
Win followed and did the same, only just scraping through. Sol crawled on all fours towards the house, and Win was scared she would need to climb again, but she went right up to the side of the house and leaned against it flat. Win did the same next to her. Sol took one hand and very slowly opened the window a crack. Win wondered if Sol planned her routes and undid locks before the night began. Sol began listening, and Win tried to follow suit. There was only silence at first, and then Win heard a door open. She could perceive several male voices begin to fill the room.
"How much did those girls from West Stave set you back?"
"Oh, a friend of a friend knew the manager of a few places and provided for free. Should I report back a good review?"
"I think many of them will be leaving in a good mood. But, on the other hand, they might not have the best review for some of us." Win could barely make out any difference in their voices; she also couldn't understand why they were listening in on this conversation for any purpose to the Widows.
"Ascaht got too rough again. He needs to learn how to keep his business more private. It's not a good look for the other boys to know how his taste runs." Win recognized the name. Her mind began racing as she tried to understand the context. She had never met Alivier's father, but she knew how much he revered him. When Win came to him and suggested marrying, his biggest fear was his father. She wondered what he would say about his father getting too rough with girls from West Stave, publicly, at a party. Win remembered she was supposed to be paying attention. Win only caught the tail end of the conversation and only been able to hear
"Well, we don't want a repeat of three years ago."
"It won't be the same. We know ahead of time when and how this version will be released, and we will be the ones to buy up jurda beforehand." A knock was heard at the door, and Win understood that chairs were being pushed as people got up. Sol took the opportunity to close the window quickly but quietly.
Three weeks had passed since Win's night out with Sol, and had joined her thrice since then. She continued working with Dal and even shadowed Fara and Sara. She could feel her perception shifting as she envisioned looking at the world through their eyes. She could sense a shift, her perception getting more astute, but also aware of how woefully unskilled she was at this lifestyle. She thought money would be made, but she was less skilled than she had expected in everything she had tried. Zelda, unusually sympathetic, had sensed Win's mood shift and suggested she take a few days off. Zelda even snuck her a few Kruge to have some fun. Win had laid it on a little thicker than usual, as she had been aiming to take some time away to spend with Alivier, but she didn't expect it to work.
Before leaving the Bank, Win examined her physical appearance in the mirror, tamed her hard and added makeup. She was wearing one of her best dresses. It was before dark, which suited her. Her ability to sleep had been affected since the night at the docks. Something she was struggling to admit. At least I'm travelling before it's dark. Win thought.
Win left the Bank, waving to Rudy, who was walking up for his shift.
"You done already, Win?" He asked as Win stopped to chat. She noticed Rudy was dressed a bit more flashy than usual. Checkered jacket fitting snugly over his vast frame, short brown hair combed to one side. She thought he had new shoes.
"Yes, got off early. Heading to the University and having a drink there for once."
Rudy looked a little disappointed. But, Win warmed. She had been feeling low about herself lately, and Rudy's crush had always helped ease it a little.
"Hey, Rudy, let me ask before you start your shift. Would you ever join the Widows? The work would be rougher, but you would get paid better." Rudy looked away; at first, she thought he was considering the question, but then she realized he looked a little ashamed.
"I wanted to, but my mom won't let me." Win was shocked by his response.
"Your mom? She knows what's going on?"
"Yes, I live with her; she works at one of the warehouses, making nearly nothing." Win couldn't help but smile.
"I didn't realize you'd be the type to listen to what your mom said."
Rudy looked affronted.
"She's got four kids and has worked hard for every one of us. She begged me not to join the Barrel gangs, and I couldn't afford school or to own a shop. I worked as a runner for years, but I started getting too big and slow."
Win considered this. Rudy was like a mountain. He had to be at least 6'2, and his arms were larger than Win's head. Several gangs would be interested in him, especially those who leaned heavily on being more muscle than the mind.
"Is that why you chose to bounce here? You like strong women?" Win playfully punched his arm, teasing him.
"Yes." Was all he replied. Win's smile faded a little as the compliment dawned on her. She blushed.
"Get to your shift before you are late. Zelda's good mood won't last." Rudy nodded and walked off as Win headed towards one of the canals to try and get to the University faster. Sometimes you could count on paying someone a little to be able to jump in a boat with them. Win couldn't bring any weapon with her, not on her way to seeing Alivier, and felt a little exposed. She thought of Rudy. She needed to become more considerate of his crush. She liked flirting, but usually, once she thought there were real feelings on their side that she couldn't return, she would ignore them to let them down more easily. Rudy was a good friend, but a bouncer for the Bank was not in her future.
Win got lucky and found a group of university students heading back to campus in a boat, who agreed to take her to campus with them.
"Thanks; how much do I owe you?" Win asked after getting into the boat and stepping over a few people to squish in a seat.
"No charge. You study?" Asked a pretty girl with straight teeth and an enigmatic smile. Win hadn't sat and chatted with students under the guise of an average person in several weeks. She missed it.
"Taking a year off. My family thought I should finish school as fast as possible; my form of rebellion was trying a job for a year." The group tittered at her response.
"You were coming from pretty close to West Stave; what kind of job did you get?" One of the boys asked. He looked older than the rest, and they all cheered at the implication.
Win smirked.
"I applied, but your mother already took up all the business." She responded sardonically.
Everyone whooped at her retort, and some burst out laughing. The boy's mouth dropped, but then he laughed. I have more charm than I remembered. Win thought in comfort.
"Well, you might be tough enough to bounce at one of those clubs, at least." The boy added, giving her his full attention. Win had missed positive attention.
"I'm a professional card counter and rule the gambling dens of East Stave."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, I'll tell you the trick; always bet on a winning hand." Win winked at him, and he grinned back.
"Where are you heading once you get to the campus?"
"I have some friends I haven't seen in a while. They have their last exam today. So, I wanted to join them in celebration."
"We finished ours two days ago; we're just returning from our celebration." Win's eyes grew in admiration. She pulled out a jays and a pack of matches that Meg had recently manufactured and delivered to everyone. She had to use several matches to light the jays; the boat was windy. The boy finally cupped his hands around her mouth to shield her from the wind. She was able to light it and breathe it in.
"What is that?" The first girl asked.
"Jurda stick, it doesn't stain your teeth and won't keep you up as long, but it'll help stave off being completely drunk off your ass if you want the night to keep you going."
"Oh yeah? Where'd ya buy 'em?"
"Got a pack from a girl selling them at the Study Hall when I danced there a few nights ago. I love 'em, and they're cheap as hell." The Widows don't know what they're missing, I'm a brilliant salesperson, and they're lucky to have me. Win thought. "I hear some shops are gonna sell 'em." She added.
"Can I try?" The girl asked. Win nodded and handed it to her. She inhaled and began coughing. Win laughed and nodded in encouragement. The girl took another try and was able to blow out some smoke.
"Yeah, that'll wake you up." She said, handing it back to Win.
The boat continued, and before long, they reached the University district. Win told them where she would likely be hanging for the next few days if they felt like going out again. They wished her luck, as they were probably returning home over the summer, and most were not from Ketterdam. Win searched her heart to see if she missed her family and past home. She felt nothing.
Alivier was in his dorm room, and several friends were there. He was already drinking and celebrating their freedom. He smiled when he saw her and put both his arms out.
"Win! I'm free!" Taking a seat on his lap, Win grinned and embraced him.
"Congratulations, I'm so glad and will be very proud once you've passed." She stated happily.
"Hey, of course, I passed." He replied with mock offence.
"Then I'm very proud," and Win kissed him, putting a lot of force behind it. He hasn't seen me in weeks; I need him to remember how much he missed me. She reminded herself. Win pulled back, and she noticed most of his friends began whooping and clapping. She laughed but remembered what she had overheard about Alivier's father, wondering if he suspected or knew. She searched his features and only saw a sweet, innocent young man who was happy to see her and had never been aggressive. Win was suddenly filled with regret. Why have I been betting any of my future with the Widows? I'll be Zelda's age before I make any money; they never have anything to show.
Win laughed when everyone else did and gently squeezed the back of Alivier's neck. He looked at her and held her gaze; he seemed enthralled.
Over the next few days, Win would follow Alivier all over Ketterdam. Once or twice, she could have sworn she spotted Dal around a corner or even Sol. But she wouldn't give them a second thought; she kept her eyes only on him.