Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight


Nicolas froze as he saw the scene happen in slow motion. He couldn’t believe that she had jumped in front of the gun, and he definitely couldn’t believe the guard had actually pulled the trigger.
“No!” He heard himself shout. But he was too late.
Miss Smith collapsed onto the cobblestone, blood already staining the bodice of her dress.
“What have you done?!” He screamed as he ran forward, sliding on the wet stones ‘til he was kneeling next to her. He gently pulled her up against him, and pressed a hand on her wound, hoping to stop the bleeding.
“You are not allowed down there. You are to be taken into custody.”
Nicolas couldn’t believe it, he couldn’t believe it.
“A young woman is bleeding in front of you and all you can think about is your job?! Are you insane?!”
The man was still holding his gun at Nicolas’ head, but was obviously indecisive on whether he truly wanted to take the shot or not.
“Miss Smith? Miss smith please, please open your eyes. Come on, come on, come on, come on.” He moved her head back and forth gently.
Georgiana groaned, and her bright green eyes fluttered open.
“I’m sorry…” She whispered.
Nico looked confused and leaned closer to her as she continued to speak.
“For calling you by your Christian name.” She said.
Nico rolled his eyes and dug into his pocket.
“You can call me by my Christian name when ever you like. If we’re to become partners we might as well.” He muttered.
Georgie didn’t respond, and her eyes drooped.
“No, no, no, no! Stay with me, stay with me.”
“You need to come with me sir.” The guard ordered.
“Would you shut it! A girl is bleeding in front of you and you - !” He groaned in anger. “You are all the same you idiotic Wasters!”
He pulled out his pocket watch and clicked it open.
“What are you doing?” The guard asked. “Put that down, and put your hands up.”
Nicolas would have come up with some sort of comeback to the man, but more blood was seeping through Georgiana’s bodice.
He glanced down at the pocket watch, and sent up a prayer.
“You had better work this time you bloody thing!” He hissed. He willed the Vortex to wrap around the two of them, and transport them to his home, transport them in only a few seconds.


When he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by familiar pipes that had been home to him for as long as he could remember.
He could hear the usual hustle and bustle of Lower Station, the children crying with glee, the parents trying to keep them in order. Adults calling out for things they needed. But above all that noise, all that joy, all that which conceived a form of normal to him, was the scream of the bleeding girl in his arms.
Nicolas shoved his watch back into his pocket and checked the young girl’s pulse. It was steady, but slow. He then noticed the all too familiar blue light that he only saw when he activated the Vortex. But he wasn’t activating it.
He quickly grabbed Georgiana’s right hand and starred in shock as a line slowly burnt into her skin, like a hot knife being dragged along it. Georgiana’s back arched as the pain shot through her body, her teeth clenched and her hand gripped his to the point all circulation was cut off.
“Not possible.” He mumbled. He forced her to let go and ripped the bottom part of his shirt, taking the material he wrapped it around her right hand before lifting the girl up and carrying her through the Common Ground full of people who hardly took notice of him, and into the Orphan’s Corner.
“Gran! Gran you need to get out here!” He shouted over the usual lull of noise. Heads poked out of the walls, curiously at first, then in horror as their eyes caught sight of the fading girl in his arms.
He moved past the curtain that covered the entrance to Gran’s tunnel. Inside he was greeted by the smell of incense, and dim light.
Gran’s outline was visible as she sat on her low bed that rested on the floor. She rose, her large body creaking slightly as her old bones took on the strain.
“Goodness gracious my boy, what happened?” She asked in a state of shock at the sight of so much blood.
“Gran there’s no time to explain, but she needs help. She’s been shot, I’ve tried to stop the bleeding but I’m not sure it worked though.”
“Yes alright, place her on the bed.” She moved aside as Nicolas placed the girl on the bed. “What’s her name?”
“Georgiana Smith.” He answered as he watched Gran place a hand on Miss Smith’s forehead, then place her fingers on her throat.
“Go beckon Jade and Gracie. I’m going to need their help, hand me that bag on the desk.”
He moved to the desk towards the back of the blocked off tunnel and grabbed the black bag.
“Now, out you go. I shall call you when I know more. Shoo!”
She shoved him out of her tunnel and then closed the curtain after him.

~ +++~

Axel and a few of the older orphans had left for work a few hours earlier, leaving Nicolas alone with the younger ones.
The young ones had seen the bleeding girl in Nico’s arms and knew immediately that something had gone wrong.
“Do you think we’ll have a new sister?” A little girl asked her friend on their way to the well that stood at the heart of the Common Ground.
“I don’t know, I do hope so, I would love have a bigger sister.” Her little friend responded as the two skipped out of the alcove.
Nico’s head jerked up when he heard the girl’s question. The thought hadn’t occurred to him, he didn’t realize that she would have to stay. Though now that it had been brought to his attention it was logical. She had gotten shot in the abdomen and that would take time to heal, longer than he realized.

Life had reached it’s usual lull. The elders and the younger children that were each unable to work, were preparing the evening meal for the others when they got home. There was a circle of little children that were listening to some of the elder ladies teaching them about history, or English, or some other great lesson they learned in life. That was their school, if it could be called school. And it only lasted until the children turned twelve, at that point it was off to work in one of the nine factories in Lower Station.

Nico’s leg bounced up and down as he sat on a wooden box, waiting to hear from Gran, but ever since Gracie and Jade had gone in, no one had come out.
“Nicolas?”
He looked up and saw Lacey standing over him, a concerned look on her face.
“Would you like something to eat? You look as if you’ve been to the grave and back.” She handed a small bowl of simple soup, and a wooden spoon, which he took gratefully.
“Thanks Lacey.” He said with a smile.
“What happened to the girl?” She asked.
“Oh nothing for you to worry about.”
“Is she going to be alright?”
He looked into the little girl’s eyes and saw concern as if Georgiana was already her dear sister.
“I hope you’re right. It’d be a shame to loose one so shiny.”
Nico laughed and ruffled up the young girl’s hair.
“Aye, shiny she is, now off to your studies!”
Lacey ran off giggling, leaving Nicolas to eat his soup in silence.
“I’m such a rusty idiot!” He yelled at himself, jumping up suddenly and upsetting his soup that spilt over. “First time we’re out on our own and I go and blotch things up! Blast it!” He ripped his cap off his head and threw it onto the ground, then almost pulled his hair out.
He sighed, and pulled out his watch and starred at it. Everything in him wished to go back and change what had just happened, but he knew it was against the rules to interfere in his own timeline.
“Hang on,” He said thoughtfully. “How come you worked now? And not before?”