I stood out on the deck waving to everyone until they were just tiny specks. The sun was beginning to set. A pang of loneliness hit me and I began to wish I hadn't come.
"Long time no see kitten."
Urgh, Billy! I'd forgotten he was on the boat. I supposed since we were going to be together on the voyage it would be best to try and get along but that is always hard with Billy. Something bad or complicated always happens when we're thrown together. I turned to face him.
"Hello Billy"
"Here was I, looked forward to a boring and uneventful passage to France and who shows up, but my little kitten to keep me entertained."
This made me annoyed and I told him so. "I'm not your kitten Billy Boil!" I say using my childhood nickname for him.
"No, I suppose you're not." He says thoughtfully, just this scares me, a thoughtfully Billy was never good. "Whose kitten are you though? Syd's? Or your rich friend the Duke of Avon's or even J-F the Paris theif?"
Yep, I'm definitely scared now, I just can't place that look in Billy's eyes, It wasn't amusement and it certainly wasn't the hatred that had burned there in some of our past encounters. It was almost like how Syd used to look at me, how he still looks at me when he thinks neither Bridget nor I am looking. But that was impossible! Billy couldn't possibly be in love me! Could he?
"I'm nobody's kitten Billy, not Syd's not Frank's, not J-F's and especially not yours!" I try hard to keep the quiver out of my voice. "Now if you don't mind, it's impolite to badger a lady."
This made him laugh, annoying me further. I turned to walk away but he reached out and grabbed me, pulling me close, earning us disapproving glares from the rest of the passengers.
"Remember this Cat, whatever happens, no matter who your friends are, you'll never be a lady. You and I are just London scum and its time you accepted it," he hissed in my ear.
Angrily I pull away, glaring at him. "You maybe scum Billy, but I'm most definitely not!" I hissed, venom dripping from my words. Without another word I turn and stalk away to my cabin.
~ • ~
I stand on the ship's deck, staring into the distance at the tiny speck on the horizon that was growing closer and closer, France. With a sigh I turn away and head back to my cabin to grab my meagre collection of luggage. Returning to the deck, I find that during my absence France had grown bigger. More and more passengers join me on deck with their bags but none of them bother me.
I hear footsteps behind me and an all to familiar voice saying, "hello kitten,"… Billy.
"Yes Billy?" I ask, barely keeping the disgust out of my voice.
"Hey, don't be like that kitten, I was only going to give you my address during my stay in Paris for when you get in trouble and need by help." He says handing me a slip of paper.
I growl at this, why does everybody see the chance of me getting into trouble as a certainty? I wait for Billy to walk away before reading the paper.
"I know you'll need my help kitten."
67 Perndae Street
Paris
-Ring three times and then knock twice so I know it's you.
Typical Billy, I think fuming. Luckily before I'm able to give him a piece of my mind we dock and I get caught up in the whirlwind of departing passengers, losing him in the confusion. When my turn comes I grab my battered suitcase and head down the gangplank, eyes roving the crowd for any sign of J-F. I plant my feet on stable ground, disappointed. He must be late I decided. It was at that point a man appeared at my elbow. I recoiled in horror, he stank to high heaven.
"Are you Cat?" He asked.
"Yes." I say hesitantly.
"Good come with me then, I'll take you to your friend." And with that we grabbed my arm in a vice like grip and pulled me away.
"Hey! Where are we going?" I cried to no use, he didn't answer. Finally we reached a dark alley way and he let me go.
"Are you sure you're taking me to J-F?" I asked.
"No." He replied before stuffing a rag over my face and the world went black.
