So, I was thinking that Patch needed a little redemption. Show a little of his soft side.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Past- 1930's New York
It was dark, and I was in a shadier section of town, but I wasn't fearful. In fact, I was humming to myself as I walked down the street. I wore simple yet refined clothes; black slacks with a black shirt, and I dared anyone to rob me. Looking at my surrounding only reminded me of how things were before the depression.
Chauncey and Barnabas (who finally healed from the "terrible fire") were still having their machinations with the Nephilim of the underworld of New York. We decided to let them; there was nothing they could hide from us, nor anything they could do to break the oath. Instead, Rixon and I, looking for fun, immersed ourselves in organized crime. When we were in New York, we were mafia hit men. When that got dull, we went down south to run moonshine. We definitely enjoyed working with the moonshiners more. They used cars to run the moonshine to other places, but the rundown car wasn't as it seemed. In fact, it would speed past any cops who tried to catch up. At first, it was just getting away from the cops that made Rixon and I drive our cars with such passion, but then it became fun. Along with some of the other runners, men and women alike, we would make bets as to who would get to the trading place first. Kicking the car into high gear, we would race one another through the dusty streets and fields, outrunning the police, hurling playful insults at the person that you would pass up. It was some of the most fun in my life, and I missed it whenever I drank a glass of alcohol at some boring New York collection of people.
I laughed quietly as I walked. Today had been a lazy day; there were no mafias that required my presence; no one needed me to kill anyone at the moment. Prohibition was over; even the government decided they needed alcohol to get through the Depression. I decided to just walk; get my energy out. As I was walking, a little girl, only about thirteen or fourteen, snuck out under the street light. She had on a cloak, so that no one would see her, but I'd already seen her earlier today. She had been trying to take a bottle of medicine off of a shelf without being seen. She was quick but an amateur, and the shop keeper was very observant. He also had a reputation for shooting without thinking. Before he could turn around to see her, I pushed over a glass jar very nonchalantly. What can I say; like calls to like, and I was feeling mischievous. As he cursed me out and threatened me with his gun, I smiled back when the girl smiled, quickly grabbed the bottle and ran. His face was priceless when I responded to his threats with "I'd like to see you do it."
"Stop running, you bastard little thief!" a cop called. Panicking, and without a place in the shadows to hide in, she ran, and tripped over some upturned cobblestones. She dropped her basket, which the chasing cop leaned over and grabbed from her.
"Give it back, you rotten cop!" she yelled, getting up and reaching for the basket. He pushed her onto the ground, and leafed through her things.
"Newspaper, some coins, a bottle of medicine, bread…there's no way that you bought these things with your measly amount of money!" he sneered and hit her again. "There's a place for little thieves like you, and it's called prison."
"But…I need it, my friend, she's sick…" the girl plead. Quickly, she pulled out a knife and swung at the officer, but he grabbed her hand and twisted it until the knife fell. In her rush, her hood fell down, and I saw her features. Caramel skin, with thick black hair placed into a plait, and brown eyes that sparked as she tried to hide her failure with pride.
"And assault on an officer? You're really going to prison now! Although first," he said, licking his lips, "I might enjoy you first. Pretty for a black girl, aren't you?" As he reached for her, she kicked him hard in between his legs. He caught her leg as he fell to the ground, and when he rose, quickly got out his baton.
"Stupid little brat! You'll deserve every second of this!" She flinched as he raised the baton.
I caught it before it even fell.
"Now, sir, I'm going to give you three seconds to forget all about this, and go home." I said, smiling darkly.
"Who…who the hell are you? Get out of my way or I'll—"
"Three." I punched him in the mouth, knocking him to the ground. The little girl gasped with delight as she picked up her basket. I lifted him by his shirt.
"Forget this, and go home, before things get any worse for you." I commanded. Dazed, and clutching his jaw, he ran the opposite direction. I turned to look at the girl, who was still watching me.
"Come on, let me walk you home." I offered. She lifted her chin.
"I thank you for helpin' me, but I can walk home on my own!" she said in a high voice. I smiled slightly at her spirit.
"I'm sure, but can you avoid any more punks like that? You are out pretty late; no one to stop somebody hurting you."
"Why should I trust you?"
"I could have let that corrupt officer rape and beat you. I didn't, and I rarely show this much concern. Now- it's much safer, and I sense you have a long walk." I answered. She flinched at my frankness, and thought about it. Nodding, she began walking. I followed next to her.
"So, kid- what's your name, and what are you doing out so late?" I asked.
"Ella. And I'm no kid, I've been around for eleven years! And I work this late sewing clothes at the factory. I had to take a detour home tryin' to avoid that cop."
Talking to Ella had a strangely calming effect on me. Just a child, she was savvy, talkative and her confidence in the face of life was adorable. A factory worker, she'd snuck off from work during the middle of the day to buy some bread and find a newspaper. When I'd spotted her, she was taking some medicine for an older woman that lived in a tenement next to hers. The cop following her had been leering at her for some time; when he got the police report from the store owner, he'd used it as an excuse to follow her.
"I hate that mean old store owner. Not only is he a bastard, but he's a cheat as well! I could never have afforded that medicine after even months of work! I don't know who he thinks he is, selling at prices like that around where poor people live…" she exclaimed.
She was so innocent, despite her thievery today. In her childish confidence, she seemed so unshakeable. Life, miserable as it must have been for her, didn't seem to get to her. She also seemed very mischievous. She reminded me of myself, almost, when I had dreams and ideas.
"What's your name, and what are you doing out here? Your clothes suggest that you definitely didn't belong in that neighborhood!" she asked. I felt no harm in telling her.
"Patch. And what I do is nothing you need worry about." I told her. She scoffed at my answer.
"What? And what kind of name is that?"
"My name." Rolling her eyes at my response, she didn't ask anymore.
"Why did you help me tonight?" Her tone had changed, and she was quieter, serious.
It made me pause. Why did I help her?
"I don't know. I wanted to do something…good, I suppose. Something right."
I hadn't been very good to anyone around me. The only person that I'd ever really let in since I was banished was Rixon. Besides that, I was a bad person. In the moment that I saw Ella fighting back, I saw something different. I saw innocence trying to fight back. What I saw was an angel getting her wings torn out. I'd reacted. I wanted to help; be the good person. I suppose I didn't want to see another woman die because of me.
My answer perplexed her, but she didn't say anything else. I looked back down.
"Pretty girl like you; you have to have a boyfriend or something. He should have come to get you." I teased. She laughed.
"I don't have time for those boys! Little urchins; always bringin' me flowers and candies! I have my family to take care of. Besides, I like being on my own. Gives me space, you know?" She blushed as she said it, so I had a feeling she liked the attention more than she let on.
Still, I nodded. I understood. She explained that her real family was dead, and that the people living in the tenements helped to take care of her. Her "village", she explained. When we approached the edge of the neighborhood, she held out her hand to stop me. Reaching into her basket, she ripped a piece of paper, quickly scribbled on it with a lead stub, and handed it to me.
"Come to that address. Saturday night. I'll tell everybody what you did; you'll be welcome. Everybody knows Ella." She said, proudly.
"What is it?"
She didn't answer me, just started to dash forward. She stopped, then turned to face me with a weirdly triumphant look.
"I know what you did to that cop tonight. The person that I want you to meet, he does stuff like that too. I have a feelin' you'll get along fine. Wear something like what you have on!" With that, she ran into the night, vanishing. If I was shocked by her proclamation, I didn't show it.
Eventually I found my way home, spending half of the night walking back. Opening the ornate door, I walked up the stairs to the sitting room. Rixon greeted me there.
"Get lost?" he asked, confused.
"No, just thinking." I looked back at the scribble on the newspaper piece.
"Are you busy this weekend?"
Sexy, strong, and good with kids? Pssht he's a keeper! Look at Patch, finally doing something good! And I love Ella's character, she's just so spunky! :3 Read, love, and review! Thank you ever so!