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

44. S-012

The young boy found himself at a loss for what to do next. Exhausted, shivering from the cold, and with a gnawing hunger in his belly, he had only managed to take a few bites from the lifeless rabbit before his encounter with the menacing butcher. The butcher's pursuit had forced him to flee the market in a hurry. Deep down, a twinge of guilt tugged at his conscience for injuring the man's shoulder, even though it had been an unintended consequence. Fear had driven him to defend himself, fearing the butcher's wrath for daring to eat the rabbit. Thankfully, intervention came in the form of the peculiar stranger with long hair and an eccentric hat. This mysterious man had come to his aid, enabling him to escape capture. The boy shuddered to think of the dire consequences that awaited him if he had been apprehended. It was likely that he would have been sent back to Germany, where the relentless doctors would resume their search for him.

S-012 roamed the bustling streets of London, completely disoriented and indifferent to his surroundings. All he desired was to stumble upon a place where he could finally lay his head to rest. The fatigue in his feet was unbearable, aching from the endless wandering with no purpose in sight. His body felt like a lead weight, on the verge of giving out if he didn't find respite soon.

As S-012 strolled through the now-empty streets, he happened upon a cluster of women engaged in lively conversation within an alleyway. These ladies stood out from the rest he had encountered earlier. Their attire lacked the whimsical hats adorned with flowers and ribbons, and their dresses appeared worn and devoid of vibrant colors. Their hair, too, seemed unkempt and lackluster. Their flushed faces betrayed their mirth as they chatted and giggled, each clutching a brown glass bottle in hand. S-012 couldn't decipher the topic of their animated discussion, and truth be told, he didn't feel particularly inclined to delve into it either.

One of them spotted the boy as he strolled by. A mischievous grin spread across her face.

"Oh wait, I just saw a fella," she told her friends as she strolled past them with giddiness and mischievous intent. "I'll be right back."

Letting out a soft giggle, she strutted over towards S-012's direction; her pace quickened to catch up with him.

"'Allo, mista," She ran up to his side. "You look quite lonely this evenin'. Why don't you come and meet some of my friends? We might help keep ya company." Without warning, her arm instantly locked around S-012's.

Startled by this unexpected contact, the boy was quick to jerk his arm away from the woman's grasp. In his haste, unintentionally tugged her arm, almost causing her to fall forward. Wide-eyed, the woman stared at the boy; her face contorting into a mixture of indignation and abhor.

"Who the bloody hell do you think you are?" she said.

S-012 stood there, completely taken aback, his jaw dropping in astonishment. He was at a loss for words, unsure of how to respond to her outrage. Deep down, he realized she wouldn't comprehend his language, and based on past encounters, he feared it might upset her. He knew it wasn't worth trying. So with a heavy heart, he resolved to leave, oblivious to the fact that this choice would only further infuriate the woman.

"Oi, you think I ain't pretty enough for ya, ya little brat?" She trotted after him. "At least apologize and offer me some compensation, eh?"

She made another attempt to catch hold of the boy, but S-012 swiftly evaded her grasp by leaping backward. He could tell that the woman was not entirely conscious of her actions. She had a quaint smell coming out of her mouth. It was a similar smell he caught from one of the doctors in Germany. He remembered seeing the doctor holding a large bottle in his hand; his eyes were bloodshot, his face was flushed and his legs gave way with each step he took. S-012 wasn't sure what was in that bottle that made those people act so funny, but he also knew they were dangerous to be around, after having observed the doctor toss the glass bottle at one of his patients. This woman was exhibiting similar behaviour and he knew that if she got his hands on him, she might cause him harm. Or worse, S-012 could accidentally hurt her in self-defense. And he couldn't bear the thought of causing harm to anyone else, as he had done to the butcher.