Two prison guards came to drag Lilah out of her cell, the girl was so weak she didn't bother put up a fight.
"LILAH!" John shouted from the other end of the corridor, two men stationed at his sides. "WHERE'S TOMMY?!" She yelled back, only to be dragged away.
The girl would never forget the moment her life flashed before her eyes. A single rope was hung in the middle of a dark and dusty room. "No- no." she pleaded the coppers, tears rolling down her face as they looped the rope around her neck- securing it tightly.
"WAIT!!!" A voice called out.
~
ONE YEAR LATER 23rd December 1925
"Are you excited for Christmas Oliver?" Lilah asked the young boy, "Yes mummy!" He smiled excitedly, climbing up onto the sofa next to her. "Will Father Christmas bring Florence presents?" He asked, stroking his baby sisters head. "Yes, my darling." She assured.
Lilah just finished putting the children to bed, when the phone rang. "Hello," she spoke through the speaker. "Hey Lilah, it's Ada. I'll be coming over tomorrow to drop the kids presents off, I'll see you then." Her sister informed, the line going dead again.
"Who was that?" Isiah asked his wife, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind. "Ada's dropping the kids presents off tomorrow." She told him, leaning back into his touch. "Are they both asleep?" Her husband asked, "Yeah." Lilah smirked, turning around to peck his lips.
~
Lilah was sorting through her post the morning after, pulling out an unusual looking envelope, and ripping it open. A black hand? The letter read;
Dear Lilah Shelby, I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas, L.C.
Shaking, she dialled Tommys number. "Hello?" He questioned from the other line. "Tom, there's a black hand in my post. What does that mean?" She asked worriedly, her brother remained silent.
"I think the whole family have received one, don't worry about it Lilah. I'll sort it, I'm scheduling a family meeting on Boxing Day- be there." He told her, "I love you Tommy."
"Love you too- be safe Lilah." He sighed, hanging up the phone.
...
Ada's car pulled up in the driveway, the elegant woman climbed out and approached the front door. "Ada!" Lilah cheered, bringing her into a warm embrace. "How are you?" Her sister asked, smiling down at her. "I'm well Ada, come and meet Florence!" She said, walking into the living room where Isiah sat with the children.
"I received this in the post today," Lilah informed, passing the black hand to Ada. "What's that?" She asked, "I don't know what it means, but Tommy said all of the family received one." The girl sighed, passing it to Isiah to look at too.
"I have a feeling something's going to go wrong Ada, I've just got that gut feeling." Lilah muttered, hugging her sister goodbye at the doorway. "It'll be okay, I promise. I'm going to speak to Tommy now, I'll keep you updated." Ada reassured her sister, getting back into her car. "See you on Boxing Day Lilah."
~
"Merry Christmas, my love." Isiah groaned from the other side of the bed. "Merry Christmas baby." Lilah giggled, turning round to face him. "I'm supprised the kids aren't awake yet." She yawned, straddling her husbands waist. "We've got some time to kill, haven't we?" Isiah grinned, flipping them over so he was now on top of her.
Lilah and Isiah sat cuddling with their newborn on the sofa, as they watched their son unwrap his Christmas presents. "Look at this Daddy!" Oliver shouted, holding up his new toy car. "Wow bud, that's pretty cool!" Isiah smiled, watching as his wife got up to answer the phone.
"Oh okay, I'll be over in a bit." She spoke into the receiver, tears forming in her eyes. "What's wrong baby?" Isiah asked, as the clearly upset woman sat back down next to him.
"Michael and John were fired on earlier this morning, I have to go over later." She sighed, brushing a hand over his cheek.
"I love you, Siah." She whispered, capturing his lips in a deep kiss. "I love you more Mrs Jesus."
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