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chapter 1 of a story im writing content is copyrighted underfederal law
Current mood:
 accomplished
Mama!!" with all the hustle and bustle around her she didn't know what to do with herself, and every second that the incident continued to spiral out of control was another minute that poor Torianna become even more terrified. The chaos of people running, screaming, clawing through the crowds scrambling to get to the nearest lifeboat. Panic ripped through Torianna's heart as her mother's hand was ripped away from her own and she was lost in the rat race of people. "MAMA" She cried louder and louder only the echoes came back in different voices. Pulling and shoving, metal grinding and screeching in an agonised moan. It was hopeless. The end was coming swift and fast. Tripping over her little feet she lost her footing and fell over the side of the dying ship, hanging, struggling to keep her tiny frame up. Screaming at the top of her lungs her fingers gave way and she hurtled downward. Torianna bolted upright, her stomach was in her mouth and her heart raced like galloping horses. 'Just a dream.....it was all just a dream' she sighed heavy with relief. She leaned back and stretched with a wide yawn. Slowly she looked around herself. This wasn't her cabin, this wasn't her home. Panic began to fill her once more and she shook her head. "No...nooooo.... It's not real.....I want my mama...." she cried and pulled her legs under her chin. Only it was real, all of it was coldly real. The ship that was sinking, the people screaming and dying around her everything came flooding back. Then she remembered where she was. She was where the R.M.S Carpathia left her, at the New York dock yard. She could see people beginning to crowd around the sign post as lists of the dead and survivors were taped in place. 'Uncle Harry will be here soon then everything will be fine' she tried to reassure herself as she rocked back and forth. She recalled that her mother was so excited when she read Uncle Harry's letter stating America was the Promised Land and that he would be waiting for their arrival. "Hey, you ok angel wings?" a soft voice spoke as he came beside her. He was around her age, 7 maybe 10 years tops. Wearing a slightly tattered waist coat and filthy black pants his black curls fighting to escape from under his flat cap. She glanced up at him and tightened her grip around her knees. "Easy im not going to hurt you .......I'm Bastien..." he grinned like a Cheshire cat and shoved out his hand in a gesture of greeting. "T..Torianna...Torianna Grace." she replied and hesitantly removed her arms from her knees to meet his hand. "Nice to meet ya." taking a seat beside her he stretched and placed his arms behind his head . "What are you doing?" Torianna tilted her head and a few stray strands of blonde hair fell over her eyes. "I'm sitting down whatcha think I'm doin?" he frowned and tilted his flat cap up slightly. "well, I can see that. But why sit here?" "and why not? Besides you look like you could do with the company." the crowd soon began to get larger, the noise becoming too much as she placed her hands over her ears. 'what an odd gal she is' thought Bastien as he watched her. "how's about we skedaddle from here, maybe get something to eat? You hungry?" Torianna was a bit sceptical, what if her uncle came and she was not there? Or if more of the rescue boats came with more survivors? Her mother had to be on one of them. "I cant I'm waiting for my uncle, he said he would be here for my arrival. Also I have to find my mother, she'll be on one of the boats coming in and she will be awfully angry with me if I were not here waiting." lowering her legs which barely touched the floor she placed her hands neatly within her lap turning her attention to the crowds again. Her stomach rumbled, she was starving. "So... what's this uncle of yours look like?" Bastien asked as he stood on the bench looking around the crowd. "I ... I don't know. I've never really met him, I mean I have met him but I was only a baby at the time." she looked up at him with a frown. "well that's no good, how d'ya even know he's gonna be here if ya don't know what he looks like?" he had a valid point there. If she didn't recognise him how on earth would he recognise her? "I will just wait for my mother" she stated stubbornly and sat back with her arms folded. Jumping to the floor Bastien eyed up a few fat pockets ripe for the picking. Torianna watched curiously and sat forward moving her hair out of her eyes. "Bastien what on ..." "shhhhhh" signalled Bastien as he got closer to a gentleman wearing a smart suit. his light fingers made easy work of lifting a crisp leather wallet that slightly hung out of the gentleman's back pocket. Torianna's eyes widened , she could not believe what he had just done. "Dinner is on me" Bastien grinned showing her the wallet. He placed it snugly inside his waistcoat, patting it gently with his hand. "So, can I escort ya to dinner?" he asked as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "and don't go tellin me ya aint hungry 'cos i can hear your stomach from here." "i admit, yes i am a tad hungry but i have to stay incase my mother should turn up." God this girl was stubborn, Bastien rolled his eyes and raised his hands to the heavens in mock annoyance . "right ill see if she is on any of the lists." walking away towards the crowd Torianna frowned. how stupid was he? He was looking for her mothers name on a list yet he didnt even bother to ask her exactly what her mothers name was!. Jumping quickly to her feet she swerved within the crowd trying to keep sight of where Bastien had gone. "OH SORRY....SORRY COMING THROUGH ....EXCUSE ME , OH IM REALLY SORRY!" she exclaimed as she darted in and out like a bee trying to find a flower and almost slammed into a gentleman with a stern face. women looked down at her and shunned her as if she was dirt and beneath them, so was the joys of high society. if you were not one of them then you need to be squashed like a bug and eradicated from the face of the earth. "Bastien!...Bastien ! wait up! " turning his head to her he sighed softly as he placed his arm around her shoulder and pointed to the rows of names upon the long lists of the dead, surviving and missing. She was out of breath from running after him her lungs fit to burst as she shrugged his arm from her. "what took you so long" "I'm sorry im not as fast as you, also i only have short legs." "so i've noticed... " Bastien giggled softly looking down at her legs. he was a good two foot taller than her. "why did you run off like that? i mean you said you would check the lists yet you did not even ask what my mothers name is." she stated mater of factly . "well , i knew ya would follow and ya looked like ya needed the exercise. hope ya can read as i cant" "well much help you are then! and of course i can read i do..did go to school and i was best in my class thank you very much!" "ohhhhhhhh touchy touchy i only asked no need to jump down my throat, jeeze." he could tell she was going to be a feisty gal and perhaps even a challenge. taking her hand he ducked under the arms of those in the way and led her closer to the notice board. "well? is she there?" "I... I dont know I cant see." so was the curse of her short legs and a tall boy who couldn't read . shrugging his shoulders at her he didn't know really what else to do she took a moment to think, biting her lip and smiled before nearing a man also looking through the list. She put on her best puppy eyes she could and pulled gently upon the corner of the mans coat trying to capture his attention. He glanced down at her and frowned slightly, wondering what this child could possibly want and tugged his coat back from her reach. "P..Please sir....I'm too short to read. Have you seen my mama? is she on the lists? " "Go away you little runt" and stepped away from her mingling with the rest of the crowd. She was taken aback by his response, how cruel he was and ignorant. she turned to face Bastien who waved his hands forward gesturing to go onto the next one. person after person ignored her and pushed her aside like filth as if she didn't exist. although one man had seen it all and took pity. Tall and of slim build he approached her gently and lowered to her level. she looked at him with apprehension. "Hello little one, are you lost ? you look like you are." he smiled softly at her "My name is William what's yours? " Bastien Frowned and began to close the gap between them, he didn't trust the snobs. Some of the pimps posed as the rich and preyed upon the innocents of the street. To them she was nothing but an orphan that wouldn't be missed. "Torianna.. and no I'm not lost, I was aboard the Carpathia . I'm trying to find my mother, she wasn't on the boat with me. Could you help me sir? everyone i ask just pushes me away and I'm to small to read the lists." she felt Bastiens hand tighten on hers from behind . "Of course i can. now ...you tell me what her name is and I shall do my best to find her ." he reassured her softly . "Her name is Lillian...Lillian Grace." she turned to Bastien with a wide smile of hope to which he reciprocated with a cheeky wink. The kind gentleman rose to his feet and pushed forward looking down the lists. He looked hard and stopped as a name cut through him like a knife. while searching for the name given was the name of his son Vincent in the list of the dead buried at sea, all that was left of him was a number and what mere possessions were with him. He stayed true to his word and carried on searching the rows of names. This seemed to take forever and Torianna wondered if he was looking at all. He returned and lowered to her level once more. She could see he had tears in his eyes and she though he might cry in front of her. What had made him so upset she only asked to look for her mothers name, what would be upsetting about that? "I...." he cleared his throat. "I searched. but I am sorry to say that she is not on any of the lists. she maybe upon one of the boats yet to come in , or... she is yet to be found. i am very sorry." Now it was her turn to keep the tears back, and she looked to Bastien. "Is there someone meeting you? a relative perhaps." Turning back to look at William she nodded . "i'm waiting for my Uncle he said he would meet us both here when we arrived so he should be along shortly. " she lied, she wasn't even sure if he was there already or not. "thank you for your kindness and help sir, and i hope you find who you are looking for also. god speed sir." she turned quickly and pushed Bastien in the direction away from the crowd. "God speed....Torianna." getting to his feet he watched as the two children moved through the crowd and out of sight. Everything was falling apart at the seams, her whole world concaving in oni tself. Bastien followed on in silence, his hands in his pockets ashe kicked the dust on the ground. What could he possibly say to make things better, he never knew his mother so he couldn't say he knew how she felt. "You can't stay here, if the cops find ya and find out your alone they'll put ya in the orphanage and trust me ya don't want to go there. I have a place not far from here; it's not much but its home, come on." Bastien urged her softly and placed his arm around her slender shoulders. Torianna remained silent with only thefaintest sound of sobbing escaping her lips. She could not get over how busy the streets of New York were. Building just seem to grow and grow, she felt like an ant in the world of giants. Paper boys stood on the corners crying out the headlines pulling her into a deeper depression of what she had lost. "Come on, we're almost there it's just round the next corner." Lined in dark rows were buildings that looked like they would fall down or swallow them if they stepped foot into them. Some had minor crack to the fa�ade others were tilting and larger cracks or holes which you could see right into the derelict structure. There was a small shop which surprisingly remained open against the run down boarded windows of the dead and uninhabitable buildings. "Through here, mind your head." Bastien ducked beneath a few timber beams and led her down some damp and dusty corridors. She clung to him as she heard the scratching and scurrying of what she thought must have been mice. "Don't worry, you leave them alone and they will do like wise, in fact they are like our intruder alarm. Ok just in here." opening the door she peered slightly in to see all different faces staring back at her. Clothes hung on ropes above them and the strong smell of tobacco made her cough. "Well, Boss who have we here?" a small chubby child smiled and got up to greet them. He took the cigarette out of his mouth and quenched it with his fingers before placing it behind his ear. Wiping his greasy and slightly grubby hands on his trousers then held one out. "Welcome,I'm midge." she could feel all the others watching her with their beady eyes and whispering making her more uncomfortable. "Ok....do you speak English? Can ya speak at all?" He spoke slowly and looked to Bastien. She came out from behind Bastien and cleared her throat shoving her hand into his as she gripped the courage to speak. "Hello,Mr. Midge, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance." she shook his hand firmly and looked to Bastien for help. "Was that too much?" she whispered to Bastien who winked and laughed as he walked over to take a seat. Midge and the others joined in on the laughter and waved her over to join them. "This is Torianna, she's going to be staying with us a while so I want ya'll to look after her and make her feel welcome. That goes for you too Maggie!" Bastien glared at a girl who slugged down what looked like ale. They must have ranged from seven to fifteen years of age, yet many of them were smoking and drinking alcohol. Well, not that she hadn't had the odd tipple of gin on the rare and special occasions. Maggie turned to face her with a tight jaw. Her hands were cut and the remnants of what looked like a black eye seemed to remain. It seemed she was the scrapper of the group, and she sort of frightened Torianna somewhat. "It's ok she's a pussy cat really." Bastien mocked as he handed the leather wallet over to one of the older boys and whispered something in his ear. With a nod he rushed out the door. So this was to be her new home, no white lace curtains and white washed walls, no pretty oak dressers to show of the best china, and certainly no warm fireplace so snuggle up against at night. She found a quiet little corner and watched through the slightly open boards at the rushing people oblivious to her existence only feet away from them. Placing her dainty hands in her lap she sighed and rested her head against the wall. "Cheer up it aint all that bad ya know" Bastien said as he watched her. "We have no rules here ...well... except don't get caught but other than that we have free run of this place. No adults to tell us what to do, when to go to bed or what we can or can't do." Turning her head to look at him she frowned and shook her head trying to understand his words. "And you like that do you? I mean I would rather have the feel of my mothers kiss on my forehead as she tucked me in at night, the loving arms around me in the morning as she hugged me good morning. Do you not miss your mothers? Any of you?" she asked as she looked around the room at the faces now watching her. "We have each other we don't need parents for that." Maggie called out. Torianna's words had seemed to have struck a cord with Maggie and she seemed bitter about it. "Many of us Tori have no parents so we have no idea what your describing feels like. I don't even remember what my mother looked like , but I know that when my father would rather spend his money on drink than look after me I decided I weren't gonna stick around long. Its either stay here or go to the orphanage where they make you work all day just to have a meal and bed, sorry but I won't be anyone's slave.If you don't want to stay here that's fine but if you think you will do better out there on your own I wish you every luck in the world." Torianna wished she never opened her mouth now. She felt sorry for them not knowing the warmth of a mother loving arms,loving arms she too would never feel again. It wasn't long before the elder boys came back with their arms loaded with bread and cheese and a few more pieces of meat and the odd bar of chocolate. The sight of the food being placed on the table made Torianna's all the more than it had done previously. She pulled her legs under her chin returning her gaze back out to the people passing by.It wasn't that she wasn't hungry, as she was but she was Bastiens guest and this was their home, so she would stay where she was until she was invited to eat. Everyone began to scramble to reach for what they wanted. Bread torn in chunks as they fought over who gets the bigger piece of cheese as if they didn't know when their next meal would come from like a pack of scrapping wolves. They seemed happy beneath the arguing and shoving,laughter filled the room. "Hey guys take it easy, tomorrow might not be so easy pickings we gotta make this last." Bastien shouted as he took his place at the table and began to eat with the rest of them. He noticed that Toriannna stayed in the corner and frowned. "You gonna join us or are you on hunger strike now? There's plenty to go around, well ...there wont be if you don't hurry and take your share" taking a bite out of his bread he continued to watch her before giving her a friendly wink. Her stomach could last no longer, it wanted food and it was right there for the eating, she didn't want to disappoint her host and didn't have to be told twice. Moving quickly toward the table she accidentally bumped into Maggie as she reached her hand over to claim a chunk of bread and a few slices ofham. The smell of the fresh bread was wetting her appetite even more,and she raised the bread to her mouth ready to take a nice bite outof it she found herself pushed to the floor, her meal rolling away as the ham landed in the dust and dirt. She was ready to cry, what had she done to deserve such treatment when she had been invited to eat with them? Maggie loomed over her as Torianna pulled her knees under her chin once more and she looked to Bastien for help. He frowned watching carefully but didn't intervene. "you think you can come in here and expect to eat like the rest of us?,your not even one of us, you never will be one of us , so go back and cower in the corner you came from , tread on my toes again and i'll make sure you wont do it again , I'm head girl here get it?" Torianna could smell the gin on her breath and turned her face away.Bastien was ready to scold Maggie and drag her away when the next words that shot out from Torianna shocked all of them. She stood up and shook the dust from her dress and straightened herself. She was a good few feet shorter than Maggie but she was not going to let her get the better of her. Her mother had always told her 'no matter how hard your trials don't let anyone walk all over you' she took a step forward now confronting her and poked her in the chest with her small fingers. "I pity you, Maggie. The only girl here and still you have no other friends maybe if you stopped being so mean and rude they may actually like you and respect you more! And as for not being one of you, yes I know I'm not one of you I don't expect to be accepted by any of you but if you treat me like this then you are no better than those out there looking on us,the ones who have nothing, and think we are all animals and should be locked away in some institution like the orphanage." looking to the food that was left in a heap on the floor she sighed softly. "Bastien...thank you for the hospitality and for all your help but ... I know when I'm not wanted, but thank you anyway." she turned and left following the path she had come when she arrived. Her eyes adjusted to the light once more and she began to run. Where was she going she didn't know? Her chest heaved and her heart felt heavy. "Tori...Wait!" Bastien got to his feet and tripped over his feet. As he got up she was already gone. Turning to Maggie he pushed her lightly. "Good going Mag's what you do that for!? You know what she's right if we fight among ourselves we're no better than them" he felt embarrassed by them, how could they treat her like that? It made him lose his appetite and he pushed passed them as he went to his room. "ANIMALS THE BLOODY LOT OF YA!" He shouted down the staircase. Slamming the creaky door, plaster dust falling onto those below. The gang found an awkward silence as they too began to pack up their meals and followed to their rooms leaving Maggie alone. "GO AHEAD AND BUGGER OFF THEN, DON'T CHANGE NOTHIN' SHE AINT AND WONT EVER BE ONE OF US!" she gulped down a large portion of gin and wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve. Bastien looked around his room, it wasn't much. A small bed with a few springs poking out of the sagging mattress, floral paper on the walls now faded and torn in places and a window that didn't open and caked with dust. This wasn't what he wanted in life, but for now it had to make do.
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