Clarissa Jenkins is an 18-year old high school dropout, but she isn't just a dropout. She's a spy recruited to work for the Ethereal Code Agency (EC). The Agency saw her skills and she was professionally trained and became the #1 field agent at th...
I glanced back to see Edmund still standing there, looking a little bit lost. With a slight feeling of regret that I'd probably never see him again, I reluctantly kept walking.
Stopping at a nearby inn, I read the sign,"Hmm England's Country Inn. Seems promising."
I slowly opened the door and a little bell rang at my entrance. I looked around the room and saw that it was neatly furnished with antique furniture. A warm fireplace was located in a corner, casting the room with a warm glow. "Aye who's there? Come to the counter!" yelled a shrilly female voice.
"Uh hello miss, I would like to rent a room here please for the next 2 days," I said looking over the counter to see a woman crouched down, busy organizing pots and pans. She stood up, dusting her fingers on her apron. She was a large woman with bushy blonde hair and a pig-like face. I grimaced. She did not look friendly.
She screamed when she saw me. Startled, I backed up and stumbled a little. Oh no I forgot to wear my hood!! This is going to end very badly. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!" the woman stared at me frightfully. I realized that people of different color did not have a good image on the English people back then. For the first time since I was hired as an agent, I was scared and worried about what was going to happen to me.
Desperate, I pleaded, "Please miss I don't mean any trouble. I would just like to rent a room." She stood, frozen there and looking very angry with her face turning beet red. "GET OUT you street rat! I will not have someone like YOU stay here!!! HELP SOMEONE GET THIS CREATURE OUT!" She shouted and screamed. I could already hear footsteps running down the stairs.
Panicking, I ran out of the inn, but a hand clamped around my mouth and pulled me in a corner of an alley. Using my reflexes, I kicked my kidnapper from behind and twisted his arm so he was pressed against the wall. "Ouch Clarissa it's me!" groaned a familiar voice.
"Edmund?!" I gasped, surprised. What the heck was he doing here? Did he follow me?!
I released him and turned him around to look him straight in the eye. He rubbed his neck and looked at the ground, "You're probably wondering why I'm here. I was worried about you and decided to follow you to make sure you were okay." I softened, feeling happy that he cared. Wait why should I be happy that he was worried? It's not like it means anything, I thought bitterly.
"Look after what happened to you in there. I think it's best if you come home with me. You can sleep in one of the rooms. It's safer for you," Edmund suggested.
I raised an eyebrow,"Thank you, but why? I didn't do anything to deserve your help." He looked surprised as if he wasn't used to someone rejecting his offer of help. "It's getting darker out and it's cold. I know you wouldn't want to be out here by yourself after the inn incident. I also happen to be the only Englishman who wouldn't scream at your appearance although I've never seen anyone like you before," he said matter of factly. I knew that he was right and it was smart to accept his offer.
I sighed and nodded. He smiled beautifully, happy with my answer. I smiled at him and let him lead me to his home. From the time that I spent with him, I had a feeling that carriages were too expensive to afford so most people walked, including Edmund. I could feel the warmness of his hand through his glove as he lead me by the hand. The streetlights were dim, giving the city of London a quiet atmosphere and vibe.
We finally stopped in front of a small gray apartment style building with a dark roof. The place looked worn down and rusty, but this was 1890 London, who am I to judge? "It's a little small so watch your step," Edmund smiled teasingly at me in the dark. We entered the doorway and made our way upstairs. As an agent, I learned not to be clumsy, thank god.
I must have jinxed it because, I stumbled on a loose step and fell onto Edmund. He caught me, with his strong arms holding me up. I felt my heart sky-rocket and my whole body was blushing. Oh my god why is this happening, I thought. "O-oh thanks," I laughed nervously and untangled myself from him. He let go and I felt immediately cold without his warm arms after that.
We continued walking upstairs in silence and we reached a door down the end of the hallway. He unlocked it with a small silver key and pushed it open. A small figure jumped on Edmund and I was about to defend Edmund from the creature, before I realized it was a boy. "Edmund!! We missed you!!!" squealed the boy and I heard numerous voices from inside yelling excitedly. I followed him inside and I noticed the room was very small and had a few furniture. There were dolls scattered everywhere and the only light sources were candles and oil lamps.
Many children surrounded Edmund and he was laughing, hugging each of them and ruffling their hair. I smiled at the image and surrounded by children, Edmund looked even more handsome. I stood there awkwardly.
Finally placing the children down, Edmund looked over at me. "George, John, Ellie, Karen, Jean, and Harry, meet my friend Clarissa Jenkins." All pair of eyes turned on me.
"She's a girl?!"
"Woah she looks so different!"
"Is she going to play with us?"
Many different voices started yelling at once and I laughed awkwardly. "Yes she's going to stay here with us," Edmund winked at me.
Although Edmund's siblings looked a little under fed, you could tell they were well cared for. I noticed that Edmund never mentioned his parents, but I didn't question him.
"Here Clarissa you can sleep in here with Ellie and Karen," Edmund said patting a small wooden bed. "Oh thank you," I said as I sat on the edge of the bed. Ellie and Karen stared at me, both of them wearing matching pigtails and clutching a doll. I placed my briefcase on the floor next to the bed. I never realized how tired I was, feeling myself dozing off already.
"You're pretty," one of the girls stated, Karen I believe. "Oh thanks," I said shyly. She continued, "And you look different from us, but that's okay. You're still pretty." I smiled at them appreciatively. After they left me alone, I got dressed in a simple nightgown and practically passed out from tiredness on the bed.
Still half asleep, I heard the rustle of sheets and a creak of the bed. "Can we sleep with you? It's cold," Karen and Ellie whispered to me. I shifted to the other side of the bed as an invitation to them. They snuggled up against me and I couldn't help, but smile since my whole life I've never known what it was like to have siblings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Another long chapter, but thank you for reading this far!! Woah imagine having 6 siblings under the same roof?! I hope you guys like that special moment between Clarissa, Ellie, and Karen 😍😊
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