Childhood Memory (Finn Shelby)

Part 2

Even though Elsie was only fifteen, somehow her father made it so she could still inherit everything. She soon realised how this was possible, her Aunt Nina had to take custody of her, but her aunt only showed up once or twice every week, making sure Elsie was alright.

The only thing, after her father's funeral, that was on her mind was the boy in the picture. She wanted to remember her time in Small Heath, she wanted to know who that young boy was and to thank his brother on behalf of her father and herself for saving her.

She was planning a trip to Small Heath, she really wanted to find the boy. She got a schedule of the train times so she could carefully plan the trip. She was nervous as she was going to go alone, she then decided she'd go sooner rather than later, so she packed her bag that night.

She placed her father's pistol in her purse alongside enough money for the trip. She carefully took the photo out of the frame and placed it inside a book so it didn't get creased.

She spoke to the head stablehand to tell him about her trip so he could look after the horses while she was away, she even convinced her Aunt to stay in the house to make sure everything was okay. Her aunt wasn't too happy about the trip, her only niece, at fifteen years old, was going on a multiple hour journey to Birmingham by herself.

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"I'm going to be fine" She told her aunt as they were at the station, waiting for the train to arrive.

"Birmingham is a dangerous place, I just don't want you to be killed" she said, holding onto her face gently.

"I won't, I've got this" she opened her purse slightly, revealing the pistol.

"Do you even know how to use that?" She questioned shrilly, shutting the bag and looking around, seeing if anyone saw it.

"I do, father and I used to go shooting together" she said with a smile.

"Alright" the whistle of the train echoed around the station, "that's your train" her Aunt Nina said before pulling her niece into a bone crushing hug. "Make sure you ring me every night and make sure you tell me when you're coming back. Okay?"

"I will, I promise. I love you" Elsie said before detaching herself from her aunt, "I'll see you soon" Elsie grabbed her suitcase and lifted her purse higher on her shoulder before making her way towards the train, a man helped put her case away in the rack and showed her to her seat. She then sat by herself in that compartment for whole journey, watching the scenery go by.

Small Heath was different that what she was used to, the air was thick with smoke, everyone spoke with an accent and everyone she had met so far were extremely rude and called her a "posh toff".

She made her way further out of the station and looked around, trying to find someone who looked nice enough to help her, no one really matched that description. She managed to find a small shop owner who helped her find a place to stay, she went to the Inn and set her bag inside the room and locked it inside the wardrobe, pocketing the keys, she didn't trust anyone with her stuff.

She kept her purse on her as she walked around Small Heath, trying to find where that photograph was taken. "Hey, excuse me?" She asked a lady who was passing by, "do you know where this picture was taken?" She questioned, holding the photo towards the woman.

"I do actually, see that house" she pointed to one in the picture, "that's actually mine and my husband's house" she smiled, "you're definitely not from around here, where are you from?"

"I don't actually know but I just came here from Warwickshire, I've lived there for around five years"

"That place is fancy" the woman said, "rich people live there"