The Hunt for Jack the Ripper (The Phantomhive Diaries #1)

15. Mey-Rin Dai

Chapter 2 will be opening up with Mey-Rin's segment and as you can see, her introduction to the story is quite different from both the anime and the manga  but I do hope you enjoy it all the same.

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It was nine in the morning when Mey decided to sneak out of Limehouse District and find herself something good to eat. After her little comment from last night, Haku punished her by denying her food. And she was certain she would be denied breakfast in the morning. It happened before. It could happen again. For this reason alone, she wandered the streets wearing a pageboy hat and kept her head low so she could pickpocket without her face being seen. She didn't need much. Just a bit of money so she could get a decent breakfast. Some warm bread (not moldy ones like Haku would give her), some meat and cheese even. If she could even manage to snatch a pocket watch, they were valuable enough to pawn.

Especially if they were made of pure gold or silver.

Each person she walked past or "accidentally" bumped into, she would sneak her hand into their coat pockets and take whatever she could get her hands on. She'd then run into hiding before the blokes realized they were robbed.

There was an instance where she was almost caught.

She snatched a pocket watch from a nobleman and he just happened to need to check the time of the day. When he looked into his pocket, he found the watch gone. He then saw Mey walk away with it.

"Oi! You get back here with that!" the bloke shouted as he chased after Mey. "Thief! Thief!"

Mey dashed towards an alleyway. She heard the rattling sound of the police whistle blowing. Fuck, he's got the police involved.

She unfortunately reached a dead-end in the form of a brick wall at the end of the alley. She glanced over her shoulder. She didn't see the nobleman or the police coming her way. But she could hear them getting closer. There was only one way of escaping this. And it was to climb onto the roof. However, there was no ladder. But Mey didn't need a ladder to climb. She looked around and eventually spotted a water spout. Yes.

Acting fast, she climbed up the water spout. Due to it being wet, Mey had to be careful not to slip. If she fell, she could break a limb. Or worse, get caught by the police. If that happened, Haku would be notified immediately. Just like Vanel, Haku wouldn't be so forgiving. In fact, he would be furious at Mey's recklessness. And would beat her bloody, among other things. So, imagine her relief when she finally made it to the roof before Scotland Yard could catch her.

"There's no one here... He must have gotten away."

Mey stayed hidden, laid flat on the rooftop, until they eventually left and she groaned in exhaustion.

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She only managed to get away with six shillings and the pocket watch. Or at least, she hoped they were shillings since she couldn't see quite well while inspecting it up close. Six shillings could help her get a small meal, a slice of bread and some cheese. But if she could pawn the pocket watch, she could have an entire banquet all to herself. Just the thought of it made her stomach growl. But should she risk pawning the watch when she was almost caught by Scotland Yard?

Mey could almost hear Jan's mischievous and cocky voice ringing in her head as she sat cross-legged, thinking about her decisions.

"You should. You deserve a proper meal, don't ya? That bastard probably has ten watches just like this one. While you're sitting here starving and constantly fearing Haku. So, I say do it. Do it."