Scream and back off
"What are you doing 'ere?" he asks gruffly.
"I...I..." You try to think, but you are so afraid, and your
head hurts so much, that it's impossible.
He shakes you a bit. "What's your name, girl?"
Good question, you think dryly. You search the nooks and crannies of
your brain and seem to remember that your name starts with an M.
Maria? Marianne? Monica? No, that's not right...
"Mary...Mary Margaret," you manage, relieved to know you've
told the truth, although how you know it, you aren't sure.
"Mary Margaret wot?"
"I...I don't know." You try to stay calm, but your fear is
overtaking you. "Please, I don't know anything...well, I mean, I
do, but I don't know who I am, and..."
"Then where'd you get that name?" he asks. "You've got
stolen goods on you, I'd wager..." He reaches into your pocket
and, before you can do anything, extracts a stale slice of bread.
"A-ha! Robbing the baker's shop, were ye?"
"No!" You suddenly realize you can't let him take the bread;
it's the only meal you have. But when you try to take it back, you
fall over and faint again.
When you come around, you are in a cell in some sort of dungeon,
colder and more exhausted than you were before. The door creaks open,
and a constable takes you into a courtroom, where you know you stand
to be convicted of petty theft, with the baker as plaintiff and the
other guy--who is he, anyway--as witnesses. As you feared, you are
pronounced guilty and sentenced to three months hard labor, but you
will spend the night in your cell.
You try to think things through when you're returned to your present
lodgings, but the stress of the day is too much. You manage not to
burst into tears, but only with great restraint, and fall asleep on
the straw in the corner.
In the middle of the night, someone shakes your shoulder. "Come
with me. Quickly. We've got to get you out of here."
A hand--firm but gentle--pulls you up. Coughing--the dampness of the
cell has made you feel ill--you follow the person outside into the
night air, wondering what's happening.
"Where are we going?" you manage.
"Shhh. Just follow me."
Your rescuer ends up carrying you since you can't walk far on your
ankle. The two of you end up at a huge building that looks a bit like
an English manor. Your rescuer pounds the brass door knocker, and a
maid appears.
"Oh, thank heavens! You've found her--the Lady of Lachlan!"
Lady of Lachlan? you think. But before you have a chance to ask any
questions...
"Oh!" you exclaim, suddenly terrified, though of what,
you're not sure. You push yourself up and start to run again, but the
Cockney man catches you by the elbow.
