I leaned against the brick wall, concealing myself completely in the shadows. I tipped my hat down so the pedestrians won't be able to see my face as I look across the busy streets of London. Women with enormous dresses hustled about with their husband, children, or servant. I scoffed, 'Look what has happened ta the women here, acting all prissy and prim and bossin' people around. While kids like me have ta steal for a living and try ta survive London's harsh treatments.'

I squinted my eyes more to see that the bakery that I always target was about to open. I looked at the nearest clock, which was inside another store beside the bakery, to see that it was five more minutes until the bakery opened. I sighed, as I sat down on the dirty alley floor, might as well wait until the bakery is open and is filled with costumers. Besides when the baker is busy, it'll be a great time to snatch some pastries.

Minutes passed by, which seemed like forever to me, until the baker, a big burly man with a German accent, opened the door to his bakery. Immediately, kids and adults swarmed the bakery as they tried to get the pastries before the pastries ran out. I hopped up to my feet and briskly walked across the street, with people cursing and yelling me to move out of the way, blending in with the crowd of customers.

I tipped my head down as I passed the baker, making sure he wouldn't recognize me. When I was inside, I instantly set off towards the loaves. I took out my bag that I kept with me at all times, which was inside my hat. I walked around, trying to look like I was just looking at the pastries, while in reality I'm stealing them and stuffing them in my bag.

I passed a basket full of cookies, making me stop my trek. I stared at the basket, contemplating if I should take some. I reached my hand out but hesitated, 'No! The baker knows your weakness of cookies, so you shouldn't touch them!' my conscious yelled in my mind.

I shook my head and turned around to walk out the exit. It would've been successful if it weren't for me bumping into a girl around my age. Age thirteen to be exact.

"Hey, watch where you're going you filthy street rat!" The girl shrieked.

I winced at the high frequency her voice has. "Sorry, but I have a rule not ta talk ta brats." I told her.

She scowled, her face scrunching up like a pig's, "Well, I don't think that I can talk to people who have lower I.Q.s."

"Yeah, yeah, then shouldn't ya not be talking ta me. Since ya know, ya have a lower I.Q. than me." I retorted.

"How dare you!" She shrieked again. I winced, man my ears are going to be killed if she doesn't shut up.

"Look lady, I have ta go. So, complain ta your mummy, daddy, Scotland Yard, heck! Even the Queen of England herself! But, ya know what? I don't care." I walked around her, leaving the girl baffled. 'She probably never had someone insult her like that.' I thought. 'What a spoiled brat.'

By now, the whole bakery was filled up, but there was still enough room for people to move around without bumping into each other. I scoured the crowd, trying to find the baker. But, I couldn't see him anywhere. 'He's probably trying ta make me feel safe, so he could strike. Ha! He's not going ta trick me that easily.' I thought. I neared the entrance, walking in a very slow pace. As I reached the opened doors, I stopped, waiting for the baker to pop out and think that he had out witted me. But nothing happened. That's weird, I've never been fooled easily and I bet that a small minded baker like him would be able to fool me.

I shrugged, as I walked out the door, getting impatient waiting for the man. Just when I reached the door, a calloused hand yanked my wrist, making me fall back. I quickly caught myself, before I fell down. I looked behind me to see that it was the baker, holding my wrist in a vice-like-grip. He was grinning thinking that he had out-smarted me.

"Ha, I've got you now! You dingy street rat!" The baker yelled in his German accent.

I grinned, "Think again, old man." I swiftly turned around and kicked him in his groin, making him let go of my hand.

"That vas a dirty trick." He groaned, kneeling down on the ground.

"Hey, when ya live on the streets, there are no dirty tricks. You do what you gotta do ta survive." I told him, before I quickly ran off. I ran straight through the roads, with me almost getting hit by a carriage, and quickly hid in the alleyway.

I pressed by back against the side of the building wall, as I heard the German yelling out profanities. I heard his feet pounding against the sidewalk and passing the alley. Once I hear the baker's footsteps fade, I give out a sigh of relief.

"That was close, could've cost me being caught by Scotland Yard." I mumbled. I looked down to see that I still had my bag full of pastries clutched into my hands. I opened the bag and saw that I only had half the bag full. 'The others must've fallen out when I ran and when that stupid baker yanked me back.' I thought.

"Guess I won't be able ta eat tonight." I said out loud and walked in the direction of an abandoned warehouse.

It took me at least three hours until I reached the place. I looked around my surroundings, checking if anyone was near. Even though the warehouse was at the outskirts of London, I would do millions of things for my family; even sacrifice myself so they wouldn't be able to go to the evil orphanages or being taken by Scotland Yard. I walked up to the huge doors and pushed the doors. The doors creaked as they slowly flew open. I braced myself as I knew what was coming. Rocks, sticks, and other objects were being thrown in my direction. I felt an especially sharp rock cut my cheek and felt that blood had started to leak out of the cut.

"STOP! Hold fire! It's just Alex." I hear a boy yell. Instantly, the throwing was halted. Kids of all shape, size, and color came out from behind objects or from the ceiling.

"Alex! You're back!" A little girl's voice squealed and tackled me into a hug. I looked down to see it was little Izzy, who was only seven years old. She was abandoned on the streets a few months ago with her older brother.

I smiled at Izzy; it pained me to think of why people would abandon a sweet little girl like her.

"Yup and look what I got!" I held up my bag half-full of food.

"Food!" Izzy giggled and ran off to tell her brother.

Kids started to swarm me so they could have a piece of food. I broke each loaf in half and handed them to the kids. I made sure that everybody had something to eat. By the time Izzy came back with her brother, a nine year old boy named Jason, I only had two loaves of bread left. I broke one in half and gave them the pieces, knowing full well that Jason would probably give his piece to Izzy. I mean, look at the boy! He's so skinny, that I could see his ribs. But, I knew that it was his decision so I didn't bother him about it.

"Now, where's Victor?" I asked the crowd of kids.

"He's at 'is hideout!" Olivia told me. I nodded my head and walked through the warehouse doors.

I set off towards the woods nearby and made a turn at the English oak tree. I kept going straight until I stumbled upon a small stream. With that, I followed the stream's flowing water which lead me to a small clearing with a pond in the middle. A huge Ash tree stood tall and proud near the pond. I walked to the tree and started to climb it until I reached a sturdy branch I could sit on.

"Victor? Are you there?" I called out.

"Hey, Alex!" A face popped up in front of me, frightening me to death. I jumped back with a yelp in surprise and fell off the tree.