Hello London travelers (sad it's almost over!). This is what I decided to post on my revision of this story. Everyone responded how they wanted more of Evelyn's background and her connection to Roderick, so here ya go. I inserted chapters because that is what people advised for me to do during our workshop session, so hopefully it makes more sense now (?). They also wanted to know if this story is from Evelyn's point of view. I think yes, this is from her point of view, for these are her experiences, but read through this again and tell me what you think.
Chapter II is the dance scene I began to tell last week with Roderick and Evelyn. If it is confusing and the placement was confusing, please tell me. Tell me your impressions of this version and please do enjoy! I need comments of Roderick's character. So please do tell!
Cara Eiland
Chapter I
Chaos in the Night
Chaos surrounded the city. Flames of fire roared, smoke made it difficult to breathe, and screams of the innocent pierced the night. You could still hear planes flying in the sky, along with the dropping of bombs as they hit their targets. More screams filtered the air and the piercing roar of the warning siren did nothing to impede the torment and fear we were already under.
Evelyn had thought this night would be an unforgettable event as it was her first night in London. But who knew on the night of September 7, 1940 would be a life-changing event that would alter not only her life, but the innocent people of London.
She was running. Their destination unknown. Her life was in the hands of a man she had only met a few moments ago.
"You all right there Evelyn? We are almost at headquarters. There you will be safe," said Roderick.
Her breathing was hectic with the combination of smoke, fear, and fatigue was having an effect on her body.
"Y...Yes, I am making it,” said Evelyn with panted breathes. He noticed that she was wearing out, but he kept her going, pulling her along like the soldier he was.
Roderick furrowed his eyebrows and had a determined look upon his face, "Don't worry Evelyn, I will make sure you're safe and I will try to find your aunt".
His fearlessness and strong will gave her confidence. Evelyn picked up the pace, so he was not practically dragging her.
With his back facing Evelyn she looked at his form. His once immaculate white lieutent-colonel uniform was now smudged with soot, turning it a mixture of grey and black. She cannot seem to look away from his form as she notices that on his suit and hands were the traces of blood.
Slight flashback to minutes before:
The colonel had lost one of his comrades tonight. Philip was his name and he saved Roderick from a falling pillar. Roderick ran over to aid Philip who was now on his knees, looking down towards his stomach. Roderick noticed the piece of timber embedded in his stomach and the damage it had done; that Philip's lungs were pierced and with the predicament we were under and with no resources to help stop the bleeding, both soldiers knew Philip's fate. Philip looked at Roderick, whose face was sullen with regret for his childhood friend, but Philip looked up at him with a sullen smile.
Evelyn was so caught up in the moment that she did not see the falling debris heading her way. Roderick noticed and shouted towards her, but Evelyn could not hear what he had to say. She looked up hesitantly and was frozen. The next thing she knew, she found herself lying on the ground with Roderick's body shielding her from danger. He looked at her, checking her over to see if she had any injuries. Evelyn stared at his eyes, his once sarcastic and playful cerulean eyes that now held regret in them.
We picked ourselves up; there was no time to waste. Roderick did not look back, he only marched forward. Evelyn; however, glanced behind her shoulder where Philip once stood was now consumed by roaring fires and debris. She knew that Philip had fallen to his death and Roderick had to leave him to save her. Evelyn faced forward, trying not to show her tears. What little tears do fall is caught by Roderick. He is facing her now, they are inches apart and she is able to hear his heartbeat. It is not as erratic as her own, but a steady rhythm. Even though he has lost his friend, his will has not faltered.
He places his hand on her face, catching the fallen teardrops with his fingertips. He stares at the drops on his fingers and then looks into Evelyn’s eyes. She stares back, trying to grasp what he is feeling. She sees a man who has dealt with many hardships. Though he may seem arrogant and a flirt, he has seen his own demons.
There are no words exchanged through them. Roderick removes his hands from her face and takes her hand back into his firm grasp as they continue their escape through the streets.
Chapter II
First Impressions
Evelyn Thatcher, age 19 and from Chicago, Illinois travels along with her Aunt Gwen on her seasonal autumn trip to London, England. Though Europe was under threat of war, Evelyn and her aunt thought nothing of the impeding danger because they thought they would be safe in the heart of Britain. Their first event of the evening was a social gathering where soldiers, gentlemen and ladies would entertain themselves with music, dancing, and alcohol all around that would captivate the masses of the wealthy. It was to be a glorious night, until a disastrous event was to cause turmoil and calamity to the city of London.
Evelyn was amazed by the crowd of people that surrounded her, but she was left alone due to her Aunt Gwen socializing with her colleagues. Evelyn grew bored of the idle conversation and excused herself. She was making her way towards a waiter who was giving out champagne, when she nearly bumped into a man that crossed her path.
“My name sir?” she says with a tint of red on her cheeks due to her own embarrassment. He smirks at her, finding her amusing and Evelyn finds that she will easily become addicted to his grin which showcased a hint of a dimple on the right side of his lip.
He replied in an arrogant manner, “Yes, it is proper to ask for a person’s name as a form of introduction, wouldn’t you agree?” Evelyn’s face becomes red for a different reason now, as she becomes angry at his note of sarcasm.
“Yes, but only when the other person finds it necessary to give one’s name,” she says with a turn of her head. With that, Evelyn thought she would have gotten rid of him, but the soldier was not turned down that easily.
It turns out that Evelyn had found herself the notorious bachelor of the city, who is known to gain all the girls attention. However, that did not win Evelyn over. His arrogance astounded Evelyn and her stubbornness to acknowledge the man only seemed to entice him further.
Evelyn finally gives in to the soldier and replies exasperatedly, “All right! My name is Evelyn Thatcher, you happy,” she says with her arms crossed in an irate manner.
He smiles a victorious smile, “Why yes, Miss Evelyn. Now if I may have this dance.” He does not even wait for her reply. He just takes her hand and begins spinning her around and dancing to the music.
Though his arrogance and smug attitude astounded Evelyn, she could not help but compliment him on his superb dancing skills, which was fascinating due to what she had learned of his background.
He had begun telling her bits of his life story of how he was raised as an orphan who lived off the streets. He formed his own gang alongside his right-hand-man Philip alongside four other members they had found through the years. They were the best pick-pockets and toughest group there was, even in their early ages of 10-14. Roderick soon became bored with dealing with the low-life and Philip had noticed the change in Roderick. It was Philip’s suggestion for Roderick to enlist in the army, but Roderick initially thought it was ridiculous to serve as a lap dog to the military. With persuasion of Philip and the rest of the gang, they tried to convince Roderick to see reason. Becoming annoyed with their constant bickering, Roderick began to think of what he could accomplish in life as a soldier. None-the-less a high ranking soldier because he knew he would easily rise in the ranks due to his deductive reasoning skills and intelligence. He knew that his life on the streets would get him nowhere in life, so he enlisted to join the army. Within two years’ time, Roderick rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, alongside with Philip as his second in command and his gang amongst them as his officers.
As Roderick continues to dance in formation, Evelyn says, I don’t see how you could be considered an elite soldier, Roderick,” she said with a glare in her eyes.
He smirks, “Well Miss Evelyn, the army found my charm and wit too appealing to pass up,” he says with a tone of sarcasm.
A tick of irritation forms on Evelyn’s forehead and she makes to retort back, that is until she notices all the ladies around her are glaring at her with envious faces. Roderick notices her stillness and looks where she is looking. He scoffs and turns back around, murmuring what sounded like to Evelyn, “Vultures, can’t keep out of my personal affairs, “he says with a curl of his lip in disgust. Though Evelyn was detested that he would say something like that, she cannot help but blame him. Those women were acting rudely.
He takes Evelyn’s attention away from her own thoughts and asks, “What brings you, an American, to this side of the ocean? Don’t you know we are under threat of an impending war?” he said with an irate tone and furrowed eyebrow.
Irritated, Evelyn retorts “Yes, I do know of the international affairs, I am not that ignorant. It’s just that my aunt always comes to London at this time of year and she asked me to accompany her. Who am I to deny that?” she says with a furrowed brow, waiting to see what Roderick has to say next.
He smirks down at her, enticed by her attitude, “Well, I hope your stay in London leaves with an experience of a lifetime. This city is beautiful, but along with beauty is the immanence of infinite dangers,” he said as the song concluded.
As soon as Roderick stopped, an echoing whistle penetrated the room. Silence engrossed the area as ears keened to finding the source of that sound. It was Roderick who acted first, knowing the source of the sound. He grabbed Evelyn’s hand and brought her down to the floor and enveloped her with his body in order to shield her from harm. A crash penetrated through the windows and walls. Debris fell everywhere and was scattered on the marble floor. Evelyn opened her eyes, she doesn’t know when she closed them, but when she looks up, and she notices that Roderick remains unscathed, but his white uniform is tarnished in soot. Turning it a ghastly grey and black, which now enveloped the sky? Evelyn pushes herself up with a bit of trouble. She was unsteady at first, but manages to crawl back up from the ground. She looks around her, but her aunt is nowhere in sight. All she can see and feel are the roaring flames and the screaming of people trying to escape from the fires. It was Roderick who gained Evelyn’s attention.
“lyn…EVELYN! Are you all right?” he says with an exasperated tone. Evelyn nods her head and turns back towards him.
He says to Evelyn, “Stay close to me; I will get you out of here and to safety.”
Those eyes that once held arrogance and smugness now hold determination and strength which ensured me that Roderick would see to it that my safety will be secured. As Evelyn follows him into unknown streets, her only thoughts were will I ever see the sky as clear as the cerulean blue in Roderick’s eyes again.
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