The creak of wood resounded through the relatively quiet space, and Kira swirled her head around to look at the people on the top of the stairs before her, her eyes catching Gerard's.
"Get her!" He roared.
Kira stumbled up to her feet hastily, turned around and booking it down the stairs-the rush of footstpes behind her letting her know she was being chased-and going around the corner with Gerard at her heels.
She rushed in through the door where the party was still in full swing, fear making her heart beat loudly in her ears.
Not stopping at the people blocking the entrance, she shoved where she could, and slithered in the small spaces which would allow her to, immensely grateful for her short stature.
The gathering soon swallowed her whole, creating more and more distance between her and the men at her back.
The costumes dancers had taked to the floor, and the whole of the Inn was dancing at once, stomping their feet and clapping their hands.
She turned around to look at her pursuer- easily able to locate him with his large stature- and found him near the door, looking around and trying to push the dancers away.
Kira knew she did not have a lot of time, and whatever it was she would do she would have to do it quickly. She ducked, mingling with the crowd and careful not to go against the flow.
Instead of going to the door where she could exit the pub, she went to the sides with the dancers, joining in on the train.
Spotting a small men's hat on a table, and a cloak laid across the chair on another, she stealthily picked up the items, intending to wear them to escape the men constantly searching for her in the room when a small voice called out to her.
"Kira? What are you doing?" She looked at the voice, startled, only to find Ricky sitting on one of the chairs, a mug of something in his hand that he was obviously not supposed to be having.
He seemed to have understood where her thought were for he squirmed in his seat, tightening his hands on the mug and raising it protectively to his chest.
"What?" He grumbled.
Kira only squinted, waiting. Waiting the guilty out was an effective strategy, she had noticed.
She donned on the attire she had stolen (she cringed internally at the thought with guilt) as she hid behind the pillar.
"It is only one glass, okay! You all had it! I saw!" He petulantly blurted out in a loud voice. Kira looked back down at the young child. "Please don't tell uncle." He pouted, slumping down on the chair.
Even still, he took a few large gulps out of his mug.
"Hey, watch out!"
"Oi!"
Irritated complaints from the people behind her caught her ears, making her turn around to the noise.
It was Gerard and Pete.
"Gerry! Gerard!- Excuse me- I'm so sor-GeraRD!"
Gerard had given up trying to make people move, and was bodily shoving them away while Pete followed behind, apologising to the patrons and trying to stop his friend from ruining more of his business than he had already done.
Kira hid herself more fully behind the pillar, as she watched the coachman rage around the place, and finally come to a stop in the middle.
He stood, chest heaving as he swept his eyes across the bar. Kira ducked back when he looked over where she was hiding. Looking over, she saw Ricky had already hid behind an adjacent pillar.
Smart kid.
Ricky gave her a curious look from his hiding spot, taking a careful sip of beer in his hands with foam sticking to his lips.
She heaved a sigh, but didn't question him again.
"What are you doing?" He stage-whispered at her, his earlier indignation gone, leaning over from behind the pillar. A frantic shooing motion from Kira had him leaning back to hide, giggling. He stumbled but was soon back in his place.
Kira rolled her eyes at the drunken display.
"Are we hiding from uncle Gerard?" Ricky continued, animatedly, chuckles renewing.
Kira looked at his glass. Yup, the beer was almost finished.
She cautiously peeked her head out, hoping that his actions had not attracted the attention of her chasers. So far so good.
They were still busy combing another section, while the dancers had converged again to fill the empty floor.
She went through her options, unsure of what to do, how to proceed. She knew she should go away, and go away fast. Gerard- the traitor! He had taken money from Shira, she saw it!- was still searching for her, and he was getting closer. Pete, even though she did not know his reasons aside from the vague conversation, was still helping even as he tried to reign in Gerard.
Kira took a breath, and seeing both of them busy, leaped from one pillar to the next. The one away from them. They were working their way around.
It would keep her safe for now, but not for much longer.
She was trapped. She knew that. Jumping pillar to pillar was not a sustainable strategy. It was only a matter of time.
Kira berated herself on her thoughtlessness, even as Henry went into songs next to her. He too had jumped a pillar, she realised, landing on the one she had been behind.
She should have been more careful! What was she thinking, going to the one corner of the room where she knew she could not be able to escape.It had been a split second decision, just to get away, but it was a stupid one.
Kira took note that they were getting closer, and this time, crawled to the next pillar on her belly. Jumping was too risky here. Ricky followed suit, belly-crawling.
She stood up again, and looked around. Not many pillars left on this side, just the one- and no way could she run across the room and not be spotted.
She spied the exit on the space between the two sides, near the round tables in the centre. The people were sparse, but enough for her to slip through. If only she could somehow get there...
Kira again sighed at her hopeless situation, too worked up to notice her sobering state, and the creeping headache pounding in her skull.
When she had been rushing to the pillar she had not taken into account that aside from a few pillars on this end of the room, there was nothing.
No exits, no table cloths to hide beneath, not many people given that most had gone to the middle. Only her.
Her eyes went wide.
Only her...and Ricky.