The Hostage // Peaky Blinders

Unchain My Mind

Amelie's day had started with waking up from a horrible nightmare, like the past three days had been. She got up and got herself a glass of goat milk to calm herself. "Dreams again, Amelié?" Betty asks, sitting at the table across from her.

"No, felt like I should start the day early again," Amelié lies.

"Yeah right. I heard you screaming three rooms away, I'm surprised you haven't awaken the whole town with those cries," she says with her head tilted.

Amelié looks down, "I'm sorry Betty."

She puts a hand on Amelié's arm, "you can tell me anything, Amelié."

She nods and gets up after finishing her glass of milk. Amelié knew she couldn't tell Betty. For one, she'd get drunk and tell the whole town, but she also wouldn't understand. No one could ever understand what the Russians did to her. They made her a prisoner for life, shutting down her ability to truly speak to anyone. Her family and her time with the Russians made her fragile and disturbed. She could never go back to the optimistic young girl she once was.

Walking back to her room she notices a small note signed Campbell on Matthews desk. She looks around to make sure no one sees and takes it for herself. What could Campbell possibly want with Betty's father?

She rushes to her room and locks the door behind her. The note had already been opened so she wouldn't have to seal it again. Thank God.

Matthew,

You will be compensated for your work soon. I appreciate you keeping an eye on her since I have business elsewhere. We will meet tomorrow at 11 sharp near the canal.

Signed,
C. Campbell

Amelié drops the letter and freezes up. The one person she has trusted this whole time is working for Campbell, the man who wants to put her away. She quickly puts it back in the envelope, sets it where she found it and runs out of the house.

"Amelié!" Thomas yells from near her. She stops and looks at him, frightened, "are you alright?"

She looks down at herself and back at him, "yes, I was just... I was just leaving," she says, almost out of breath after being pulled back to reality.

"Let's head back into your place for a drink yeah? We're celebrating!" he says.

They walk into the shop together and Amelié pours the two of them rum, eyeing Matthews desk. "What are we celebrating?" She asks looking back at him.

"Contract of employment," he answers, setting down a paper in front of her.

"Book keeper, Shelby Brothers Limited," Amelié reads.

"I don't like that word, limited," he says, turning away and pulling out a cigarette.

Amelié grabs it from him and sets it down so he's unable to smoke it, "every legitimate business uses limited."

Tommy puts it back in his case and forces it into his pocket, "Yeah that's what worries me."

"Can I ask you something?" Amelié asks out of nowhere.

He looks at her, gesturing her to continue. "Matthew, he works for you, correct?"

"Yeah, respectable man. I'm surprised you didn't know that until now."

"I'm not much for paying attention to gangs and their affiliations. But Matthew... he's never been... trouble?"

He gives her a questioning look, "why do you ask?"