Unspeakable

Chapter 19: Lost

Along The Way by Ashley Parker Angel

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He had messed up. He had ruined everything.

How could he have been so stupid? So impulsive?

After hiding it for so long... he had given into the possibility of it being a reality. But Love had been wrong. That was clear. Sebastian's reaction had told him everything he needed to know.

The smog in the air hung thick, and he didn't know where he was. He couldn't even take his wand out here. He was truly lost, truly blind. He'd found a private place in a back alley, sitting behind what felt like a stack of boxes to try and keep away from prying eyes as he sat against the wooden fence behind him.

He felt so broken. Truly broken. How could he ever face Sebastian again after this? He knew Diane was probably worried sick about him, but he just couldn't stand to be there right now. He was terrified. He had no idea what to do next...

"Oh, Tommy, stop it." A woman's voice teased from nearby. It sounded familiar somehow.

"Mmm and if I don't want to stop it?" A man said eagerly.

"Then you'll have to pay the price." The woman purred seductively. "Five pence."

"Five?!" The man scoffed.

"Times are tough, Tommy. You understand, right?" She said softly, followed by the sound of clothes rustling.

Ominis cringed, really not wanting to hear this right now. He shifted against the boxes, purposefully making a noise that hopefully would disrupt them.

"What was that?" The man said gruffly.

"Nevermind that, handsome. Come on... five pence." She said urgently.

"No... something is definitely there."

Ominis heard rustling, followed by quick footsteps.

"Ugh. Great." The woman scoffed in frustration.

The boxes around him suddenly collapsed onto him, making him shout in alarm as he stood up from his hiding spot. He looked a mess, his hands covered in dirt and grime from where he'd frantically felt his way along the walls to find the alley, his hair and clothes still a mess from being soaked during the duel.

"Nun's tits! There IS someone there!" The woman shouted in alarm, followed by a short silence. "Wait..."

He heard her approach, making him tense before he felt a hand against his chin. He wrestled out of the grip, gritting his teeth angrily at being touched by someone he didn't know.

"You're Diane's man!"

He stopped short, shocked that someone had recognized him. "Who are you?" He asked urgently.

"Oh, you probably don't recognize my voice. I'm Alice, sugar."

"Alice... Alice! Oh thank God..." he sagged against the fence behind him in relief. "Please... I need your help. I don't know where I am."

"I would say you do! Look at the state of you. Come on, sugar. Let's get you inside and out of those wet clothes before you catch your death out here. It's starting to get cold, you know, autumn will be coming soon." She grabbed his hand and led him out of the alley, relief washing over him as he was at least able to get inside somewhere.

But why had he apparated to whitechapel of all places?

Curly soft hair, a tiny hand holding his finger.

His heart clenched with pain. That's why. He'd thought of the vision and what he'd hoped would be his future. Did he even have that anymore? His dream of a family felt like it was crumbling at his feet. Playing with the kids had cemented that dream in his head... and so he'd thought of here.