Dartho (not based on my old RPG)

SimonW said:
lol, well, speculate all you want. But, pay close attention, for clues are everywhere, sometimes.

Well, that is two...three admirers so far of this story.

Anyway, at your request, here is the rest...lol.



(Chapter 3, part 2)


Tabitha was still cold and wet from the rain. Though the house was sturdy, it was a bit drafty aswell.
Shivering, Tabitha closed her legs together and held her arms with her own hands, trying to brave the shivers that overswept her.
It wasn't long before Tabitha heard the trotting of Madame Claudia's high heels uon the worn out and dusty floorboards.
Tabitha glanced up at the smiling face of Madame Claudia. The woman was not exactly a budding rose, but she had a fanciful charm which made Tabitha suspect that was the reason men spent their time with Madame Claudia.
Being ten, Tabitha knew well enough that it was not exactly polite to think of such things, for she liked Madame Claudia.
It was Madame Claudia whom had seemed like a distant relative, allways providing shelter to those in need.
Madame Claudia presented some clean clothes to Tabitha. They were haphazardly folded but seemed warm enough.
"Here ya are, dearie. Mind ya put this here 'lothes on, I got Bill ter tend to. He dun like to be kept waitin', my Bill," stated Madame Claudia, smiling as she leaned back after handing Tabitha the clothes.
Tabitha had meekly taken the clothes, after removing her hands from her arms. She held the clothes close to her chest, glad of the warm feeling it had upon her wet nightgown and cold skin.

Madame Claudia had drawn her attention away from Tabitha, having done her good deed for the day, she had felt she deserved herself a good stiff drink. And if any was to be found, it would be with good old Bill.
Madame Claudia braced herself slightly as she started to trot up the wooden stairway, swaying from side to side as she placed her high-heeled feet upon each step.
She was soon gone after a few rapt banging of the steps above brought upon the high-heeled shoes she wore. Small clouds of dust cascaded down from the wooden roof, after-effects of the stomping of the shoes.
Tabitha barely heard the upstairs door shutting, nor a few drunkern shrieks of laughter from Madame Claudia. All Tabitha heard in her mind was the steady drips from her wet clothes plopping down onto the wooden floor. Probably the only time the place had been cleaned for a few years.
Still clasping the clothes Madame Claudia had given her, Tabitha was about to get up when she heard a sharp, "BANG! BANG! BANG!" from the front door to the left of her. Tabitha jolted slightly, glancing at the door, fear grasping her chest. Could it be? Did the shadow of her nightmares follow her? Was she doomed to keep running? What if...?
That was as far as Tabitha's train of thought went as Tabitha saw the door's rusty handle was suddenly starting to turn.

(more to come....what will happen?)
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AHHHHHHH!!!!
*crosses fingers*
Please don't be anyone bad. Pleeaassseee don't be anyone bad...:p
 
I'll have a gander.

(Chapter 3, last part)

Tabitha felt her heart pounding within her chest. She held the clothes tightly, her knucklebones starting to ache from squeezing the clothes so hard.
The door was flung open with force after the handle had been turned all the way. Standing in the still pouring rain, there were three men dressed in policemen garb.
They stood in the doorway for several seconds, glancing at Tabitha.
Tabitha was shocked to see them, but she was also relieved it wasn’t what she allowed herself to believe.
Two of the policemen entered, the third entered last, holding the door open.
“Where is the wrench?” asked the one holding the door to Tabitha.
Tabitha could not say anything, she knew well enough not to say anything. But, she did glance up as she heard more banging coming from upstairs, causing more dust to billow out of the wooden roof.
“Right,” stated the policeman by the door as he and the other two policemen followed Tabitha’s gaze. He signalled with his nightstick at the two other policemen to head upstairs.
The two officers plodded upstairs, leaving Tabitha with their commanding officer.
After a few minutes of waiting, Tabitha and the remaining policeman heard a ruckus upstairs, a bottle smashing and some rather vulgar language of which Tabitha felt made the police officer turn his face beetroot.
Eventually, the two officers came down, leading the handcuffed Bill and Madame Claudia down the stairs.
Bill had his face smeared with lipstick, his clothes were rumpled and his shirt practically nearly torn off. Madame Claudia was in her pantaloons, shouting drunkern profanity and other such things.
The policemen paid no heed, dragging Bill and Madame Claudia out into the rain.
The officer glanced at Tabitha with something that looked like pity.
“You got a home to go to?” asked the police officer.
Tabitha knew that if she said no, she would be sent to an orphanage, since that was what she was. Tabitha merely nodded her head in reply.
“Well, mind the weather out there, young un,” stated the police officer as he sighed and closed the wooden door behind him.
Tabitha was once again alone, she now felt empty inside. Her friend had been arrested. That was all Tabitha knew. But, what Tabitha didn’t know was that Madame Claudia would be hanged the following day after her arrest.
Tabitha had nobody to go to now, all she had was some new clothes, which she promptly changed into, and the dark streets to help guide her way through the night.

(End of Chapter 3)
 
^Lol. She really should be but she shouldn't be hanged for it! A bit harsh. I wander if Tabtha will see it. Poor girl.

Wrench haha and pantaloons! :p

It would be so funny though if this dark shadow was her father all this time.
 
tottyfruitty said:
^Lol. She really should be but she shouldn't be hanged for it! A bit harsh. I wander if Tabtha will see it. Poor girl.

Wrench haha and pantaloons! :p

It would be so funny though if this dark shadow was her father all this time.
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lol...Well, it is set in sorta Old-London era. Times are harsh and cruel.

Yeah, sorry about using old words...lol.

She's an orphan, though. lol...somebody has not been paying attention. *tsk-tsks*
 
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Lol well someone must have made her! Somebody doesnt know much about baby making lol. Unless her parents have died becasue she could think she was an orphan but her dad is still very well alive, maybe everyone thought he was dead ;) Haha very unlikely though.

Its okay. I like it. It makes the story more believeable being in London and all.

I noticed :p
 
Warning: Sad descriptive words appear in this chapter.

Okay, part 1 of Chapter 4.... Yippee...lol.



(Chapter 4, part 1)


Chapter 4: Shadows In The Night....

The day was bleak, the very air surrounded by a blanket of soot and smoke. Wet grimestone walls were almost oozing refuge from the sewer-riddled ground below. A vast network of large tunnels that were the underbelly of London, a cesspool for the abandoned and unwanted. Their cold and clammy fingers reach out for comfort, their hopeful eyes brimming with tears that would not come to fathom under all the dirt. Some had grown blind by this cruel living, despite the amount of times they bathed and washed their eyes in the rain, it made no differance. The refuse had done its work.

Tabitha felt frightened as she tip-toed through these large sewer ducts, careful not to fall into the waste that was rushing past her, a river of filth.
There were many children, if one would call them children. They were mere shadows of what they once were, crippled by the stench of decay and unable to reach the surface of London, not that it was much better up there.
Tabitha ignored the children she passed, for despite knowing how they felt, Tabitha knew there was nothing she could do for these wretched yet innocent souls. They'd have to fend for themselves, a network of urchins that worked above and below the streets of London.
Making her way past them, Tabitha turned right at a junction and found herself in front of a shabby-looking door. It was merely a piece of rotting wood covering a crevice and was held in place by an old rope that hung from some pipes.
Knocking slightly. Tabitha waited as her knocks hit the rotten wood and echoed dully before it stopped.
Tabitha knew she had a purpose, for there were other places besides Madame Claudia's to go to if she was in desperate need of a place to stay.
Tabitha left her thoughts as she saw the rotten door start to swing open on the frayed rope hinges that held it in place.

(to be continued...)
 
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Who has she gone to now? Someone like Madame Claudia? Haha you probably won't tell me and just say wait and all will be revealed or something like that or that you dont know yourself lol.
 
tottyfruitty said:
Who has she gone to now? Someone like Madame Claudia? Haha you probably won't tell me and just say wait and all will be revealed or something like that or that you dont know yourself lol.
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Not someone like Madame Claudia, I think.
Actually, no, I don't know who she went to.
But, the person who answers the door is not the person she went to see...it is somebody she already met.

WHO WILL IT BE TO ANSWER THE DOOR?

Will it be:

The distinguished gentlemen?

The old maid?

The young maid?

Bill?

Ben?

Sammy?

The shadow that stalks her?

Well, you can guess...but you'll have to wait to find out. :)
 
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Haha hmm *Thinks hard*
Is it.....................ummm..............Ben? I hope it is. I like that kid. Or it could be the distinguished gentleman or Sammy. Thats what I think.
 
tottyfruitty said:
Haha hmm *Thinks hard*
Is it.....................ummm..............Ben? I hope it is. I like that kid. Or it could be the distinguished gentleman or Sammy. Thats what I think.
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Would a man like the distinguished gentlemen be in a sewer??? lol.

Maybe Ben or Sammy or one of the others... :p

I'm not going to tell....only when I put more up. lol.



Okay, can never leave you guys hanging for long, here is the next part.

(Chapter 4, Part 2)


Tabitha waited as the hole in the wall was unbarred and from the darkness of the crevice a figure shuffled towards her.
For a slight instant, Tabitha was worried but was relieved as she saw it was only Sammy Gibb, the boy she met in the posh place, whom was standing in the opening that lead into the home of the friend she wanted to find. He was more dirty then she remembered seeing him last, but that was because he was treated to a bath at the posh place.
She was slightly surprised after her initial reaction, which was relief. Before Tabitha had time to speak, Sammy had uttered what she would have said.
"What are ya doin' 'ere?" asked the as much surprised Sammy Gibb.
Tabitha noticed there was no malice or disdain in the boy's voice, he wore a grin upon his face.
"Same thing as you, it seems," replied Tabitha to Sammy Gibb.
Sammy nodded slightly, as if accepting what she had stated.
"Yeh, guess so," he said as he began to squeeze his body through the crevice in the wall.
For a moment Tabitha thought he would get stuck, but realized this was foolish, for he was as skinny as her and managed to slip out undauntered.
With a few sideways glances to check the coast was clear, Sammy stepped to the side of the crevice in the wall.
"He be waitin' for yeh," stated Sammy to Tabitha simply.
Tabitha acknowledged this and brushed ast Sammy Gibb, making her way to the tight opening in the wall.
Tabitha had more trouble then Sammy did, for she tore the long white singlet she had gotten from Madame Claudia. She did not pay heed, for the rip was only an inch or two long and was near her lower leg. Tabitha was also wearing some old undergarments, proper ones, probably ones Madame Claudia had back in the day bfore she led a life of sin. She was also given a slightly moth-eaten old cardigan to cover Tabitha up like a shawl.
Despite all her misgivings, Tabitha really appreciated Madame Claudia because she never forced Tabitha into her way of living. And she made sure Tabitha would be bundled safely so as to not give the wrong impressions to any ruffians upon the streets.
Tabitha was unheeded by the tear in her long singlet. It felt like the nightgown she had worn before, but was slightly more easy to move around in. Dragging very slightly along the dirt and grime, it was not long before the bottom of the singlet was matted with mud and who knows what else. But, then again, it was not very clean to begin with.
Tabitha found herself in a large tunnel behind the wall. It looked man-made, a few lanterns on the dirt pathway, flickering and casting strange shadows on the dirt walls.
Tabitha looked back as she heard Sammy come back through, closing the rotten door behind him by yanking on the rope.

(to be continued)
 
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Good ol' SAMMY GIBBS!!:D
I missed that feller!! lol.

Man, you had me worried there for a minute with the whole "Who was at the door" thing.....:D
 
Haha I was right then.
Haha well it was a possibilty. He could just dress really nicely but was really a total bum :p
I thought singlets were like vest tops but longer and thinner and white.
 
GeNtLe SuSaN said:
Good ol' SAMMY GIBBS!!:D
I missed that feller!! lol.

Man, you had me worried there for a minute with the whole "Who was at the door" thing.....:D
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lol.

Well, I never intended to worry you....was just being mysterious. lol.

tottyfruitty said:
Haha I was right then.
Haha well it was a possibilty. He could just dress really nicely but was really a total bum :p
I thought singlets were like vest tops but longer and thinner and white.
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Yes, you were right. You are too good at guessing.
lol, believe me, the gentleman is a gentleman.
Well, that is what I described that she was wearing, but could not define it, so simply used the word "singlet", since it fit the description nicely.

Sir Benjamin the Lion said:
Tabitha!!! We studied her in Sunday school, and now I know her name means Dorcas. :p
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lol, she is no relation or akin to knowing about a Tabitha from the Bible. Anyway, it is simply a name. lol. Just varifying to my readers that having my character named as one from the Bible is merely a coincidence.
 
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lol....I try.

(Chapter 4, part 3)

Tabitha glanced back down the dirt path, a sea of darkness ahead with a faint smell of musk from the sewage behind her.
Walking forward, Tabitha felt the ground beneath her cold feet. It felt slightly moist, obviously there was moist because of the rain from topside had cascaded down and been sucked down into the lower-levels of London.
Without looking back, Tabitha continued forward into the darkness, the only light visible was from the lanterns on the ground and even that did not really help to improve the dimly lit tunnel.
Tabitha knew Sammy was behind her, she could hear his footsteps behind hers. He was keeping a safe distance, in case he needed to be on lookout duty again at the front door.
After walking for several minutes, Tabitha had found out that the tunnel had widened, she had no fear of touching the dirty and moss-covered walls.
Tabitha heard a distant sound ahead, it was faint at first, but as she drew closer to the end of the tunnel, the sound was a lot clearer.
It sounded like a person was humming gently, an odd little melody that wafted upon a breeze that chilled Tabitha as it by-passed her.
Shivering slightly, Tabitha stopped, halting slightly by the coldness that overswept her.
Glancing at the walls, Tabitha could see the flickering shadows appear to dance, having no real form as they swayed in the dimly-lit passageway by the flame in a solitary lantern.
"Oi! What be the 'oldup?" asked Sammy Gibb as he caught upto Tabitha and stood behind her.
Tabitha did not reply, she had barely heard Sammy. Tabitha was enraptured by the figureless shadows that appeared to dance to the person's humming that came from up ahead.
In all honesty, the shadows were flickering to the flame from the candle-lit lantern, but Tabitha had no notion of this because of one thing, she was only ten years old.

(to be continued....)

Next part, Tabitha shall meet the mysterious stranger.... Who (or what) will it be?
 
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