Picking up Our Lives

-RICHARD FROST-

The war was hard on everyone. There was no way you could get away without harm, everyone lost someone. Then there was Gilbertson...

That bastard got exactly what he deserved. His father was able to live. It wasn't fair! The Gilbertson family wasn't half as powerful as my father was! He was a respected noble as well as the leader of a crime circle spread throughout all of the UK. No one could match his influence. Yet he was drafted, and when I was 10 my family got a letter from his commanding officer. Only it didn't bear good news.

You should be proud, your husband was a good man, a role model... noble even in death... lucky to serve with him...

My mother was devastated. Yet the Gilbertson family still laughed, their ignorant child still pleased, at school. I learned the day he was coming home and decided to give him a little welcome home present. I'm not quite sure he liked it, but alas, that isn't my problem. Jack Michaels, my family's loyal butler, took over most familial affairs, but after I destroyed Gilbertson's happiness, I started taking on some. My mother found out, of course, and left. We got a death notice from the police saying she was killed by a man.

I still remember the day, sweet in my memory as the songs of old. A set of twins, beautiful girls with red hair and blue eyes knocked on the door of my home.

"Master Frost did not mention expecting anyone."

"Oh, trust us, he wants to know what we intend on saying." The eldest chimed. It was the best decision I ever made, letting the two of them in. They were master pickpockets, incredible and stealthy, manipulative as one can be, and exactly what I needed to regain the head of the crime ring my father led.

As fate would have it, the two of them strutted in, Elizabeth, with the gold flecks in her eyes complaining as usual that age doesn't matter. Then Fortuna came in, rolling her eyes. She was older, but only by a few minutes as Elizabeth constantly reminds us all.

"I don't know what you see in her Richard." Fortuna said. I sighed. My dearest Carrie Sarah Tell, my love, had left a few months ago for Tobias Gilbertson. I can still see her blue hair and midnight eyes, her laugh like a bell. She was beautiful, and she was supposed to be mine. If only this war didn't happen! Perhaps I would still have her, my beloved.

"FROST!" Elizabeth yelled, snapping her fingers in front of my face.

"You need to give up on her."

"She's a lost cause..."

"...completely satisfied with working for Gilbertson!"

"It would be best to just give up."

"WE'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION A MILLION TIMES ALREADY! When will you damn Alexander Twins listen to me?!" I lamented before standing up and pacing behind my desk.

"If it helps, she said that her maid dress makes her look attractive."

"WHY WOULD THAT HELP? THAT JUST MEANS GILBERTSON IS OUT THERE STARING AT HER!!" I yelled.

"Master," there was a faint voice outside the room accompanied by a light knock on the door, "I have your tea if you wish for it."

"Yes, yes, of course, Sam." My new maid, Samantha Lewis, entered the room, her long fiery locks following her head as chocolate eyes observed the twins. She delicately arranged the tea cups, poured, and took her leave. She was nice, but there was a hidden quality about her that, let's just say she has a mean streak a mile long.

"We'll get her back." Elizabeth said gently.

"Until then, what are you going to do?" Fortuna questioned.

"Something simple yet devastating." I replied, "Heard anything of our mutual friends?"

A laugh before the response came out, "the police raided them last week. Rabbitte nearly got caught." Elizabeth giggled. She used to work for Rabbitte, but he let her go. She constantly delights in his misadventures.

"I suppose that's your doing." The eldest twin droned, raising her eyebrows. A smirk on my face gave it away, but I nodded nonetheless.

"First the crime ring, then the Gilbertson. Believe me girls, when this is all over, you'll never need to stick your hands in other's pockets again." The three of us shared a smirk as the last of the sunrays were extinguished like a candle, the darkness enveloping all.