The bar was empty beside the odd loner who didn’t have much going for him, but for Un-Fated like us what did any of us have going? Unlike the Fated types we couldn’t exactly go and buy a career from birth, or our parents couldn’t. I had no qualifications, no future and at this point in time no luck… that was all going to change however when I met one of the most dastardly little bitches I’ve ever set eyes on – Alice Fletcher
It was around the middle of the day when the young lass named Alice set up shop round the back alley of the bar “Alice’s little stall of forgotten goods” was the label she chose to place on her stall - Forgotten goods. Never the less I found my way to the front of the crowd that had gathered to see her. She was a small lady, wearing a corset and skirt with fashionable boots, of course her outfit wasn’t the first thing you noticed about her, her bright purple hair made sure of that.
“Now, don’t be shy ladies and gentlemen! Take a look at my fine wares on this afternoon I promise you won’t be disappointed” she quickly ripped away a silk sheet that adorned her stall. “Here we have the latest in women’s and men’s accessories, honestly ladies and gentlemen if you wanted them any sooner you’d need to be in the factories!”
The crowd seemed enamored with her like they’d seen the dead rise, admittedly what she lacked in height she made up for in charisma… however it didn’t seem to be making her any sales.
“You there lady have you never wanted one of the steam powered watches of the future? Well these were given to me charitably by the good lords of the high quarters I assure you! And it can be yours for a measly 10 pounds my friends!” Her eyes darted from customer to customer
“10 pounds? That’s a bargain I’ll take that one” Now I’m not sure what possessed me to help the little lady out, but I did. And once I’d bought one the rest of the flock moved in to grab as much as they could, money was being waved in her mug like it was Christmas at a hotel.
“That’s it, you just going to stand there like a spare prick at a prostitutes wedding mate show some love and the love will be returned!” she had a way with the crowd. “Now ladies and gentlemen I will be back here next Friday, if I don’t have the same merchandise the bastards have changed the locks!” the crowd let out a laugh and before they had stopped the authorities had already came running round the corner like it was the great fire of London behind them.
Without warning little Lady Alice threw half of the money at me and started darting off in the general direction of wherever the police happened not to be… without thinking I followed. I managed to catch up to her fortunately, which was a challenge in itself she could really move, my old pocket watch even came tumbling out of my. Well pocket while we ran. The police officers behind us didn’t seem in very good shape, we went through an abandoned warehouse that was still stocked full of pallets and other loading and unloading materials. Alice just about brought down the entire building when she tried to slow the coppers down by dropping pallets in their way; when I emerged from the death trap in pursuit of Alice it seemed the police had given up chase, they don’t get paid enough to chase low bit criminals. Was I a criminal at that point? Not my fault…
We sat underneath a bridge next to the sewage drainage facilities on the edge of the city; her hair looked ridiculous, going this way and that. However I would be lying if I said I looked any better, my jacket had been ripped frantically running through the collapsing warehouse and my pocket watch was nowhere to be seen. But worst of all was the god awful smell being released with each container load of shit that the authority dumped into the accompanying river to our fair city; Alice looked up at me and smiled from under her curly purple hair, giving me a wink and waving the money we had earned up in the air.
- “So then… who are you again?” her eyes remained fixed on the money.
- “Lewis Carrol, nice to meet you.”
We sat there for around 10 minutes, doing nothing but smiling. There’s something about making money through an un-honest trade that is so satisfying, I use to break into places myself but I never made this much money selling what got, that is of course if you weren’t double crossed. It was a hard life, but rewarding.
- “So then, Lewis Carrol… it would appear that our fates are intertwined.” She looked up once more with her bright eyes and ice cold smile, a smile of ambition. She had me.
- “They are?” I replied.
- “Indeed, and since you helped me today I see it only gentlemanly that I repay the favor”
By repaying the favor she actually meant, making her some money along the way and having a side kick that she could kick to the cops if we were ever caught. But I wasn’t exactly swimming in gold at that point in time, so really do you blame my choice?
- “Well, what are we waiting for Miss Fletcher?” A cheeky grin of my own, to match hers.
