January 1933

Tom continued to see the woman often. Sometimes it was the smallest of glimpses, but other times it would be days like that first time they had disappeared into the city. Sometimes she would be standing in the courtyard, simply watching. Other times he would catch sight of her as she wandered through London. She rarely stayed long, always slipping away to somewhere else.

The other children were frightened by her. They thought she was a ghost. The bigger children would make up stories of her to scare the younger ones. But they never scared Tom.

She was warm and real. When she saw him she would smile. When he spoke she listened.

But she often seemed in pain. And she didn't seem to notice the time that had passed.

The first time he heard her speak was the day after Tom turned six.

The girl in front of him was older and bigger, but she was weak. She was frightened. He had heard her telling ghost stories and threatening to tell Mrs. Cole the next time the girl appeared. She was always telling stories and tattling on the other children.

Tom hated her. He wanted to scare her. He wanted her to hurt. He knew he could do it.

She was crying, whimpering, and begging. And he was revelling in her fear, a cruel smile on his young face.

Suddenly, a hand gripped his shoulder and pulled him firmly away from her.

"Tom."

The voice wasn't one that he had heard before, but it felt familiar. It was quiet, rough from disuse, but firm.

He swung around and saw the girl standing over him. She was looking at him with disappointment. People often looked at him that way, but she never had. She looked so sad, as though she had expected him to do better. He wanted to cry out against that. People hated him and he wanted them to hurt for it. They weren't anything special; not like him. But the words stuck in his throat in the face of her disappointment.

She took his hand and led him away from the trembling, orphan girl. Tom sat with the woman on the steps leading into the orphanage. She just looked at him, searching his face. Tom squirmed. It wasn't often someone could make him so uncomfortable without him seeking retribution.

"Tom," she said again, her voice coming out in a sigh. But before Tom could say anything she disappeared from view.

Authors Note: I apologize for the slow updates. I have several chapters of this story written, including the ending, but the in between chapters often give me problems. If you have any feedback or ideas, feel free to leave a review or message me.