24

Everything was somewhat of a blur. As men and women collided with one another, it was like a war. People were falling and the ground was becoming covered in blood and dead bodies. I watched as men were cut down and punched and kicked. Men tore at flesh and broke bone and no gun shot was heard. It was a knife fight for all and everyone was taking out their aggressions on each other. My stomach tightened as I heard men shouting and groaning as they fell.

I looked all over the crowd trying to see if I could see Bill or Alexander in the crowd. But I couldn't. It was all the same, all the same. Violence, death. And no one would stop them. Screaming and shouting like wild animals. Just like those years ago. Priest was among them once. Skin is sliced open to the meat, legs and arms are hacked and bitten off. The white snow is no longer. Black and blood red form into a cakey mud. I am not numb to this brutality, but I cannot look away. Throats are torn open and heads are split into two. I notice three men are pushed by a large chunk of wood and they crash into the window of the building I am in. I gasp and feel now it is time for me to leave.

I paused though in my movements. I could run away. Could go into hiding and possibly disappear forever. I could leave Manhattan. But go where? I raised my hands and gently caressed the bare flesh of my neck. My only place is at Bill's side now whether there is a collar on me or not. I slowly continued out the door excepting that Bill would win. I know he would and he will come back to me. I quietly walked back to his second butcher shop. Nothing was broken into so that told me that no one had bothered it. Two of Bill's men were standing at the door as well guarding it. They saw me and just nodded and I opened the door and went inside. All day I sat down on the bed in my red dress, staring out at the window. I could hear faint noises but nothing else. My fingers were resting atop of each other.

There was noise coming from down the hall and I closed my eyes. I was terrified of who was coming down the hall in big boots. I inhaled some thinking if it were someone here to kill me then I would not fight against them. I would accept death right here and now. The door opened slowly, a loud creaking noise coming from it. I slowly turned to my head looking at him as he slowly walked over to me and sat down beside me. My hands rested on the bed now as relief spread over my face. His clothes are covered in blood and I was sure there was some organ hanging out of his coat pocket.

Bill's eyes just stared out ahead and slowly he turned to face me. He looked tired. With his right hand he raised to me and opened his hand to me. In it was a blue eye, Alexander's eye. I looked down at it and I could see he was gauging my reaction from it. I looked from it and up at him and with my left hand I took the eye in my hand and rolled it around my palm. Bill looked at my hand as I did this and slowly I squished it, feeling the warm fluids move between my fingers. So it was done. I slowly looked back to the window and Bill did the same and we both just breathed evenly. I feel his left hand slowly move over and curl over my right hand. He held it tight, his thumb moving over the top of my palm.

"Say it… tell me." I said lightly. There was more silence in the room.

"He's dead. Body pulled apart by horses after I gutted him. It's done." he said quietly and I just nodded once. Slowly we both looked at each other with gentle gazes and we leaned in to each other, eyes closing and lips connecting lovingly.

As a white man, a white Native born American, I knew he would never say he loves me. But know he does. I will always know.

14 Years later

The Five Points, a grizzly place still. More gangs have formed and each on was wreaking havoc to survive in Manhattan. The Natives still ran the town, with Bill cutting down anyone who challenged him. Time has aged us both, but it also made us a bit wiser. Bill had come to respect African Americans but only those brave enough to go off and fight for the country. His army grew and everyone feared him. The Dead Rabbits were still no concern for Bill and neither were the Scottish Saints. Bill wiped out all allies, all traces of them from the Five Points.

I was walking through the Five Points. My hair was in a long braid and I was in a black dress. It looked a bit worn out, but I liked to blend in with the crowds a bit. My fingers were curled and a few of Bills men walked around me as a silent escort. I no longer walked behind the group but either in the middle when I was alone or alongside Bill when he was with us. But of course, he still had an image to upload and that meant nonnatives are below him.

To some, I am Bill's whore, to other's his slave. To Bill, I am his. It was quite busy in The Five Points.

"And I told that chiseler to walk on before he gets my boot up his arse!" McGloin said. We all laughed at his story that he told. I was shocked he survived the fight years ago. But after 16 years, he enjoyed having someone to listen to his stories and ask questions about God. He liked having my ear to talk into and in time, we gained each other's loyalty and respect. Bet a negro couldn't say that. I felt a shoulder bump into me and I let out a gentle grunt as I noticed a man had hit my shoulder. He was a white man, neck length black hair hidden under a cap in ratty clothes. He had a bag over his shoulder. He was still a white man and I didn't want any trouble so I didn't plan to say anything, but McGloin caught the rude gesture.

"Hey! You shoved the lady you rat bastard!" he snapped. Two of our men stopped in front of him stopping the man. "Have you no class or respect! Apologize!" I was not expecting that from the shorter man. The man slowly turned and faced us, but as his eyes met mine, I slowly inhaled, visibly disturbed. The man looked at me with stunned eyes as well as he looked me over.

"HEY you'd better watch your eyes!" McGloin threatened, but I raised my hand quickly.

"McGloin, it is alright. I am sure the man meant no disrespect. Do not hurt him please." I said almost innocently. The stranger was still staring at me wide eyes before clearing his throat.

"Sorry ma'am. I should watch where I'm going." he said. His accent was still there. Still beautiful as ever.

"Now get on!" McGloin commanded and the stranger nodded and turned and began to walk. I stared at him for a moment before slowly turning and moving with the rest of the gang and the crowd. I looked over my shoulder just as he was doing the same. He came back. I bit my lip lowly and looked down, stunned he was even alive.

"Amsterdam." I said quietly. He was here in Manhattan and the look in his eyes told me he was looking for trouble. As we walked, we saw Bill and a few other of his gang waiting for us. He was talking to Happy Jack Mulraney another of Priest's Dead Rabbits now a cop. He was talking to Bill until Bill's face looked our way and slowly he smiled, his mustache curling with his smile. He's in a fancy suit and tie as if he had just gotten out of church, if he ever went. He raised his arm at me and I moved up to him and he hooked his arm around my hip. He pulled me in and I dipped my head as he kissed the top of my forehead. The gang formed and we just turned and walked through the Five Points together. Things were Bill's standard of peaceful. But I could only imagine how long that will last with Amsterdam in town. I guess however long it can.

The End