Life was back on track. I could almost walk without support if it was just from room to room. Perhaps the thigh wasn't hurt as badly as I thought. I even resumed working in a limited capacity. Didn't entirely need to go all out, as Ruby had completely hijacked my project of returning the favour. I left him to it, it was a losing battle to argue with the stubborn bastard.

I lounged with the other freeloading homebodies in the downstairs den, occasionally assisting the kids with homework as the oldest and wisest in the room. Spouting nonsense about which I had little to no clue was just one of the perks of adulthood. Foolish youngsters! They'd soon learn they were the only ones they could rely on.

Dentist gave me a stink eye and called out to his peers, "Can't you see he's dumb as brick?"

This little shit!

"Not smart enough to help, but just enough to criticise?" I threw back at petulant child. He was well on his way to a wiser adulthood, and all thanks to me.

The boy sullenly sagged into himself and piped down, looking his age for once. I sighed and rubbed my face, "The wiseass is right, go get an actual adult. I'm just here to look pretty."

Dentist looked at me with suspicion as though expecting to get kicked and when that didn't come, turned and thundered up the stairs to the bedrooms.

A rowdy girl named Dancer plopped on my lap and I felt the bone shatter under her weight all over again. She haven't noticed in the slightest, hopping up and down and saying, "I liked your answer better. I'm telling that to the teacher."

"That's a bit pre-emptive? We haven't heard any other alternatives yet. Perhaps you'll prefer... like, the real one?" I ground out, shifting her onto the healthy leg.

"Nu-uh! Your answers are the best! They make everyone happy!"

"Well, if you keep that up, you'll end up being a comedian like me and mean people like Dentist won't like you anymore," I said hearing people descending. Couldn't let the little brat get complacent. 

"Then I won't like him first!" she threw her wild curls over the shoulder in a manner I could only applaud... Perhaps I could adopt this one.

"What?!" the boy ran down last few steps and was frowning unpleasantly at me again. "I wouldn't ever not like you!"

"Uhhhhh," I hollered and the gang of little ones joined in.

"Children, children. What did you all need help with?" Amber was roused from napping, if those mattress marks was of any indication. Expression still weary after her day job, but tone - willing and enthusiastic. Perhaps this was why the shop really kept her.

All the others must be out. Even brats knew better than disturb the rest of earners.

Rowdy gang settled down and listened. I was so enraptured with the truth I started snoring. I knew for a fact I'd slept because I woke to an empty room. There was banging and shouting somewhere close by. Groggy mind couldn't work out the details but panic roused me into full alertness. I was drenched in cold sweat and didn't know why.

Pitched voices of girls and barking of several men out in the foyer. That voice. Voices. I knew exactly what that was about without really hearing them. They started looking for more playthings but nobody was game.

The speech came into focus, "... You whores dare to blacklist us? Us?"

"Slandering to whole god damn city?"

Amber was there, speaking soothingly. I heard the older foundlings too. Little ones knew to stay out of sight – the scene wasn't entirely unusual. However, this outrage didn't feel like it would be stopped with words. There would be blood. Moreover, it sounded like since the gig was up, they'd be taking someone with them regardless of willingness.

My powerlessness rooted me to the ground as my family was smacked around. I was frozen to the spot, unable to take a step. What can I even do, a cripple? I was never brawler to begin with. I was a silver-tongued thief. Shall I stab them from behind? No, no... I can't even walk right now, much less sneak.

Shaking hands unclasped the braces lest they get in the way. After all, I ran with leg busted much worse than this. The heavy objects we stashed around the house wouldn't be of use in this situation. I pulled a knife out of the cushion and held it in my sleeve.

I strode out into the danger zone with an inviting smile, "Boys, what's the ruckus about? Come on in, let's sort it out over some tea."

The scene was a complete wipe-out. Two teens lay splayed out on the floor, no visible blood. Another wept holding her face. Amber was in a chokehold and turning purple. Two more kids on the stairs, paralysed with fear but otherwise unharmed. So far so good.

I had to stall. Maybe others will hear of the commotion and return. Maybe Ruby would make it back in time? It was three men, but they didn't grow up fighting other feral creatures for a bite to eat.

"You!" a bearded thug shouted. "Oh man, Mister Nikolas will be absolutely delighted to see you again."

Crap. I was sort of banking on them not remembering me. What gives? You'd think a self-respecting debaucherous scum wouldn't recall how an interchangeable toy looked like.

"Oh, right! You guys owe me a loooot of money, don't you? Did you come by to return your debts? You are henceforth even more welcome. Please, come in," I gestured to the living room. What I'd do with them there I had no idea. But I was good at improvising.

"He'd been missing your smart mouth," the beard informed me and I shuddered, failing to tap into years of previous experiences. "If you know what I mean."

"He'd killed that what's his name. The mister won't even get to see him," underdressed fellow spoke with a leer.

"We can keep him a secret until we leave. I think this one is bound for the long haul. Aren't you?" many-ringed fingers patted me on the cheek almost affectionately. I didn't flinch, but felt sick. And frozen with fear. And panicking, and words weren't coming out, not that they seemed to work here at all. Managed to force out a faint smile.

"Let's take these two and go, would be enough for now," one closest to me concluded.

Oh no no no no no...

"Please, why would you even need her when you've me," I did my money earning lean on the wall. They'd exchanged glances. I pressed on, "The woman cleans toilets for a living, for fuck's sake. Why do you think she's even here at this hour? Completely useless for the job."

I casually brushed lint off my bedraggled sleeve. Amber, puffy with tears and suffocation really didn't look overly inviting right this second. The intruders seemed to be willing to be convinced.

"What about that one?" An expensive-looking shoe turned over the knocked out girl and my stomach squeezed with desire to expel contents again. No no no no no no. What can I say now? Not like people like them cared about young age. In fact, they probably preferred it. Fuck!

"Hmmm," sweaty piece of shit considered, kneeling down. The other lifeless figure was Dentist's. Fool child, it was ten years too early for you to pull a Ruby.

"Look, they're all crap at the job. The working girls are working," I said as nonchalantly as I could and it was frankly an outstanding performance. I even stopped shuddering. Lives were on the line, and this was what I've done best.

"Dumb bitch. Not everybody wants a man's ass," man drowning in the shorts and t-shirt shouted at me with disgust and loathing. Ironic, as the sentiment never stopped him. He tossed the unconscious girl over his shoulder.

Many-ringed fingers grabbed me by the elbow and dragged after him too.

"Wait wait wait," I dug my heels in, stalling the procession further. This probably wouldn't have worked with the waterfall man, but the rings seemed to harbour delusions of amicableness and I leaned on it heavily. "You all haven't paid a dime for the last time!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" the bearded guy frowned, but violence wasn't in the air anymore. Their plans were finally back on the track and situation crossed over into all too familiar territory of business transaction.

"No money - no honey!" I shouted indignantly and the thugs exchanged looks. It would be easier on them if the dumb whore cooperated and went willingly, after all. Sweaty guy groaned and from the stream of expletives I understood he advocated for brutality.

Bejewelled man also groaned, but reached for his wallet, "Jesus! Just give him the cash, he'd done good job. And will again – won't you sweet cheeks?" He threw a wad of money back into the hallway of terrified faces and twined an arm around my waist. "I'll even let your friends hold onto it."

"Sure," I smiled wide. How kind. Since we both knew I wouldn't be around to spend it.

Beard fussed within his own wads and threw some denominations as well. They started moving again and my brain was fresh out of ideas. Even bad ones. Feigning heart attack would just land me with legs dangling in the air just like the girl in front of me. I would not be able to escape again. It was time for final stand.

Shuffled the knife down into firm stabbing grip and raised the hand to strike. Upon turning, my lame leg gave out and instead of fatal injury it just brushed through the surface. Blood was everywhere, but it was merely the skin.

Many-ringed man screamed out in pain, but wasn't entirely unfamiliar with survival. He ripped the weapon out of my grip even before I fell, then kneed me in the head.

"You fucking slut! You tried to kill me!"

Another kick into the stomach. He sounded almost hurt. Boo hoo.

Somebody was laughing his ass off nearby - must have been salty waterfalls. "Whachu expect, moron? You knew he'd killed that other guy."

"I guess I forgot! Public service announcement is in order," I got straddled and blade flashed right in front of my eyes. I whimpered and shut them closed as though that would have helped. Knees pressed down on my arms, and jaw in a golden grip. Searing pain made me scream and I didn't immediately realise what happened – only when warm liquid dripped down my ear.

"There, that should do it temporarily, you danger vixen. Don't worry, I prefer feisty ones," ornate fingers slapped my face again in a playful manner and I almost passed out. There was a breeze in my mouth. He'd cut my cheek open.

"What..." my dazed mind wasn't catching up quickly enough.

He smiled cruelly, "We will brand it properly later." Ah. I suppose I've gotten a letter. Looks like I wouldn't be able to stay in the city anymore anyhow.

Angry stomping of feet thundered in. A distinct noise of a bone crack. Before I knew it, the scene around me erupted into a brawl. Weight lifted off me and dabber man joined fighting with the knife in hand too, chasing red tuft of hair around.

He's laid out two, but the third must have remembered he wasn't a common hoodlum by then. Thug pulled out a gun. I screamed and threw my uncooperative body on the hand wielding it and then it was all quiet.

Couldn't really tell what happened in that brief span of seconds even if my life depended on it. There was no memory of it. I just saw my best friend in a puddle of red, someone crying over him and the thugs retreating. The still unconscious girl was left behind, as one of them seemed to be too concussed to manage on his own. I struggled to get free too but for naught. He'd protected her at least her, but at what cost?