I limped about like a beggar from store to bakery, shop to textile store. It was late afternoon and I was running on yesterdays leftovers. My old boss didn't want unreliable workers, I was doomed for the south if I didn't find something soon. I decided to take a break on a bench. The humidity was bearing down on the city and my body felt hot and sticky. To top it all my curls were spoofing up like cotton candy.

Since our argument in the run-down building I hadn't seen Spot. It was always the same, we would spend days together and not see each other for weeks. We were due to see each other by Monday and I couldn't wait. I needed his advice on finding a job. Aunt Rita was pushing south, she already had money for a cheap ticket and my grandparents needed someone to help out with the farm. It was perfect timing, perfect opportunity. It was everything I needed but none of which I wanted. I had to find something I had no choice. With a reawakened but weak wave of energy I sighed and stood up.

I only had so many options left. I wanted to avoid factory work as much as possible but if everything kept rolling down hill like it had been I might not have a choice.

The newspaper in my hand told me nannies and maids were wanted left and right but I didn't have the training for it and even if I did no one would hire me. I didn't have the clothes for a nanny or the experience for a maid. In a city as big as New York work should be found by the multiples.

I wandered about looking for empty positions. There was a maybe from a fruit guy but that was about it. Exhausted and out of money, I started the long walk back home. It was getting darker and darker but people still drifted. I wasn't worried.

I should have been.

This time I was glad to say I had nothing to do with it. Nothing I had done could have led to this outcome. Knowing Spot was a factor but for once I couldn't be directly blamed.

A factory worker brushed by me as a I walked. His shoulder harshly bumped into me and my bum leg couldn't handle the hit. I wavered for a bit before my leg gave out. I went down like a house of cards. My butt hit the ground and I let out a light huff of frustration.

While I attempted to get up a hand passed through my line of Vision.

"Need some help doll?"

It felt rude not to take the strangers hand.

When I took it I realized something was wrong. The grip was tight and controlling.

"Thank you" I said, trying to pull my hand away. The man was taller than me and his brown eyes burnt themselves into my skin.

"Not so fast. A pretty girl like you shouldn't be walking around by yourself at night. Let me walk you home"

"No thank you. I'm almost home and my boyfriend wouldn't like it."

"No surprise there."

"What?" I tried pulling my hand away again but he only held on tighter.

"Your boyfriend he'd be pretty mad if he knew someone else touched ya." He grabbed my hip and pulled me to his body.

I pushed him away and pulled on my hand. "Let me go or I'll scream until my lungs burst."

"Go ahead. No one's here and the police is to busy after the weirdo from the papes. Make it easy and just come with."

"I'd rather not."

"I thought you might say that."

He took a gun from his right pocket and tapped it gently against my stomach.

I let out a sigh and tilted my head to the side.

"How long is this going to take?" I asked.

"Your not scared? I thought you'd be crying."
"Well after a while it gets old."

The stranger smiled "I'm Jimmy by the way"

"Violet. Can we get this over with? I was really hoping to get home tonight before my Aunt"

"This is going to take a while. Maybe you should stop by and leave a note."

"Out of all my kidnappers you're my favorite."

"Yeah just remember that in a couple of hours."

I didn't get to leave a note. Jimmy took me to a closed off warehouse. It was near the docks, the smell wasn't as strong as in the day but it was still pretty pungent.

"Just sit here and look pretty. The boss will see you soon and word of advice don't even think about running out the door. We just got two guard dogs."

Of course. This was just bloody great. Instead of actually working I should just let people point guns at me, it happens so often I should start charging.

I looked around the room. It was full of crates and there was a desk in the middle. Cigar smoke hung in the air.

Whoever this 'Boss' was didn't take to long. He was a greying man the size of a train, his stomach hung very low and past his belt. His beard was yellow around the mouth but his clothes were ironed and clean.

"Smoke miss?"

"No thank you."

He put the small silver box away. "Would you like anything? Whiskey? A beer perhaps?"

"To go home sir."

"You'll get to... eventually" He adjusted himself on the chair behind the desk. "First I need you to do something for me."

"I'll assume you know Spot Conlon?"

I made sure my shoulders didn't stiffen. "I've heard of him."

He looked at me and chuckled "I think you've more than heard of him."

"Might of seen him around town."

"You're particularly calm miss. Am I not scary enough?"

"This isn't my first time."

He hmpped and leaned back on his chair "Well Spot does have terrible reputation for being careless. I told him to be more careful but he just likes to do what he wants."

"I wouldn't know."

I hoped my demeanor was a cool as my responses.

"That's enough. I know you run around him from place to place. You see I had him followed it took a while but one of my men saw him going into your home twice in a week and we decided to check it out."

He intertwined his hands together and scanned my face "I was surprised to learn he was settling down but then again he was always the most mature of my protégée's"

"Sir as much as I would love to sit here and chat with you. My Aunt will be really worried-" I started to stand.

"Sit! Sit! Sit!" He waved his hands anxiously at me. I followed his instructions.

"You'll go home when I get what I want. Now tell me, how does my boy treat you?"

Fighting and arguing with captors always dragged everything out.

"He's caring, impulsive but caring."

"Oh but I knew that. I want to know does he love you?"

I shifted and started to squirm in my chair "H-he says so but you-"

"Perfect. Jimmy get in here!"

I silently watched as Jimmy came back in. His coat was gone and he held a shot glass in his hand.

"What is it pops?" He asked taking a swig from his glass.

"This young lady told me Spot loved her. What do you think?"

Jimmy took a moment to stare at me. "I don't know. Her breasts are too small for my liking."

I felt my cheeks burn and all I wanted to do was cross my arms over my chest.

"Nevermind that."

"Other wise I think he might. I mean she's not a hysterical ninny."

"Very well. Take her upstairs."

"Upstairs? I n-need to go home y-"

"Yes soon but first go with dear Jimmy."

I let out a sigh but reluctantly followed.

"How far is upstairs? I'm really tired."

"Not that far. I think you'll rather like it."

As we walked, I tried to memorize everything we passed. The place looked like an actual business. We passed doors with names and titles before reaching a thin stair case. I made sure the door didn't have a lock before starting up the stairs.

"Violet... Jimmy what the hell is going on?"

Spot was smoking on a velvet settee. A bar was on the far end of the room. The icing on the cake was the girl in a black thin robe.

"Well the boss wanted to meet your famous lady. I was surprised she doesn't look like your type."

"What is she doing here?" Spot pointed the cigar at me.

Jimmy walked over the bar and poured himself something clear. "How you doing doll? He treating you right?"

"I'd be lucky if he even looked at me."

Jimmy gasped and grabbed the girls knee "I'll take care of you. You forget about him, he has a stick up his -"

"Shut up Jimmy." A glare full of disdain was thrown Jimmy's way. Spot turned to me.

"Are you all right? How'd you get here?" Spot stood from the couch and hurried to my side. His eyes scanned me for any signs of trouble.

"I'm fine, he brought me here." I looked at Jimmy who was now stroking the girls thigh.

"Spot what's going on?"

"I don't know but I'll find out soon enough. Come sit, you look tired."

"Don't change the subject." I complained but I still sat down. "What do they want?"

"Violet I don't know" He took another drag of the cigar and blew it out. The smell revolted my lungs.

"Put that out before I suffocate." I said waving the smoke away.

"Its not that bad, try it." He held the thing out to me and I pushed it back.

"No th123333333qank you. Spot who are they?"

"I'll tell you if you try it just once. After that you won't have to do it again."

"Spot."

He ignored my tone and held the thing out to me.

"No."

"Your loss." He said stretching his arm over the back of the couch.

Oh God. He was doing it again.

I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him close to my face.

"I don't have the patience for your ego. So don't even start, tell me who, what, when and why. Now."

Spot glanced back at the other duo and sighed.

"Look I don't know why were here but what I do know is that we need to be on our best behavior. Don't take anything they give you. I don't care if you're starving. If I'm not in the room I don't want you taking it. You got that?"

I nodded my head.

"Ok. They'll let us go around midnight. Just do what they tell you and don't wait for me. Do you know where my lodging house is?"

I nodded my head again.

"Make sure your not followed and take this to a guy named Dagger" He handed me a white piece of paper. "If you open it he'll know and you won't be able to leave until I get there. No matter what you do don't open it. After that go to your Aunt pack your bags and go South -"

"Spot No I-"

"You don't have a choice. These men will use you in ways you can't even imagine. You'll be a mule or a host if they're not happy with me. Go south. I won't be able to live with myself if something happens to you."

"I don't care. I'm not running. Whatever this is, we'll do it together"

"No Violet. I can't have you getting hurt because of me."

"I love you Spot. I don't want you to be less or more than what you are. If this is part of the package I'll take it."

Spot's features relaxed and he took my hand and kissed it.

"You make it so hard to do sensible thing. Go south Violet."

"No, you can't tell me what to do. I'm staying and that's the end of it."

"Violet would you please just go. I don't want you getting hurt." Spot pleaded and scooted closer on to my side.

"And I don't want to leave. Just tell me what's going on."

"I don't know what they want but there's a small chance its a good chance so please just do as your told for once."

"I'll do what I please and I want to stay here with you. I'm not deserting you." I intertwined my fingers with his.

He sighed and slumped against the couch "I'd be easier if I only had to worry about myself."

"Well we can worry together."

"Or you could go south...Violet I'd go get you when the time was right. When I had money for the both of us."

"Don't talk about it like that. I'm not helpless, I can earn money too."

"This isn't the place to argue." Spot said, sending another glare at Jimmy.

"Your right but please at least tell me who they are."

"Violet I really don't want to talk about it here. Afterwards okay?"

"All right. What can we do now?"

"Right now we just wait and hope Ralph is in a good mood come midnight."

I shifted my position on the couch "About that...I don't think I can go back home."

Spot furrowed his brow. "Why?"

"This is the third time its happened and I don't think it will be the last. I want to be out my Aunts hair. I have some savings I only touch when things get really bad and I was thinking I could leave her a letter and half of the money and then find myself a lodging place and go to a factory-"

"When did you come up with all of this?"

"When he brought me here. I don't want to hurt her anymore Spot."

He stayed quiet and watched me for a while before talking "Ok...I'll help you find a place."

"Thanks. "

The air felt heavy with the prospect of the future. I didn't want midnight to come, I wanted time to be frozen. I wasn't ready to leave home, I didn't want to but I couldn't keep hurting my family.

GODDD I HATE MY ENDINGS.

So while I wrote this I felt like listening to country music and then I clicked on this song and it was so sad, I cried for like ten whole seconds. So yeah. I use the word so too much. Anywhoo, let me know in the reviews what you want. (You don't have to but it would appreciated).