wishing wells - michael gray

six

"You alright?" Isiah asked Elsie who was rubbing her temples.

"No, I still have a migraine," she groaned. Isiah laughed at her before handing her another stack of cash to put into her knapsack.

"Alcohol will do that to ya. I bet you slept like a lump of coal, though."

"That I did, Siah."

The pair continued walking along the street to the next set of apartments they were to collect rent from.

"Hey, I just want to say you shouldn't mess around with Angel," Isiah said gently.

"Why not? He seemed nice enough. What's the problem?"

Isiah snickered. "He's a Changretta. Us Peaky Blinders can't fuck with Italians."

Elsie rolled her eyes. "Well it's a good thing that I'm not a Peaky Blinder then, innit?"

Isiah raised his eyebrow and pulled her to a stop. He patted the sack filled with cash she had. "You are working for Thomas Shelby. You're carrying Tommy's money. That means you are an honorary Peaky Girl. Tommy never lets girls handle the cash but you made quite the impression on 'im the first day you came in demanding for a job after slapping his cousin across the face. Tommy likes Michael for his ambition. I reckon he likes you for the same reasons."

Elsie nodded, and stood back while Isiah collected the rent from the front desk. She looked on with unease as a man crept on Isiah.

"Isiah!" she called out, glaring at the man. Isiah quickly turned around to face the man.

"You lot are the reason my cousin got killed," the man sneered.

Isiah stood protectively between Elsie and the man. "I'm sure your cousin got killed on his own accord. I'll be off then."

The man stopped Isiah from leaving. "Peaky bastard!" Elsie flinched when the man caught Isiah with a right hook, causing his hat to fly off his head. They began wrestling around on the floor, throwing punches.

"My cap, Elsie!" Isiah yelled, trying to hold off the man who was choking him now. Elsie's brows furrowed and she picked up his cap in confusion. "Swing it at the bastard!"

This order sounded ridiculous to Elsie. Swing a cap at a man? What the hell would that do? She winced when she felt blood trickle on her fingertip. She looked down and realized there was a blade sewn in the cap. So that's what Isiah meant.

She hesitated for a moment, but was pulled out of it when she heard the sound of Isiah struggling to breath. She held her breath as she extended her arm back, before uppercutting the man with his cap. Her body stumbled back when the sounds of agonizing screams erupted from the man. Isiah quickly stood up, kicking the man in his stomach. He grabbed the cash from the front desk and sprinted towards her.

"Elsie! Let's go!"

* * *

Isiah and Elsie bursted through the doors of the Betting Den, both panting heavily.

"What the hell happened to you two?" John laughed, staring at the exhausted younger kids.

"A man tried to choke me, but Elsie cut the big bastard," Isiah responded, laughing. Elsie stood next to him clutching her knapsack with an unreadable expression.

"You alright, El?" John asked with concern. Elsie nodded slowly and walked away. She stood in front of Michael's office door, before slowly pushing it open. Michael looked up with a startled face, and dropped his pen.

"Elsie? What's happened?" he asked, standing up slowly.

"A man said the Peaky Blinders were responsible for killing his cousin and picked a fight with Siah," Elsie said blankly.

"Okay...and then what?" Michael asked as he stroked her hair.

"Isiah told me to cut him. And I did."

Elsie still didn't show any emotion as Michael tried to read her. He didn't know how to comfort her because he didn't know how she felt about it.

"How do you feel?" he said, exhaling slowly. He didn't want Elsie to be corrupted by his family, but when she had shown up yesterday he knew it was inevitable.

"I feel...a little bad for the man. But I'm not sorry I cut him for Isiah. He was choking him to death."

Michael smiled at her. "Yeah...Isiah's like family to me. So are you. I'd cut anybody for you guys, too."

"Have you cut someone before?" she asked, sitting down in one of Michael's office chairs.

Michael stared at her for a moment. "No, actually. I've gotten in scraps before, obviously, but never had to cut anyone yet. You're not supposed to be involved in cuttings either, you're supposed to be legitimate like I am."

Elsie opened her mouth to ask a question, but was interrupted by Tommy walking into the office.

"Isiah says you cut a man today, Elsie?" Tommy said, taking a seat next to her.

Elsie looked at Michael and then back at Tommy. "Yes. He was chokin' Isiah and Isiah told me to cut him with his cap."

Tommy nodded and leaned forward. "When I say you're to be on the legal side of business, I mean it. You were just taking orders from Isiah, so I'm not upset with you. The world is a scary place, Elsie. You're just a girl and I don't want to see anything happen to you."

Elsie nodded. "I'm sorry, Tommy."

Tommy ruffled her hair and took the sack of money, before turning around to leave. "And Michael? You're to go with John tonight. I'll take Elsie home."