After Darius cheated in a bet, Jack had been living in fear the past few weeks. If he didn’t scrape up 20 pounds by the end of the week, he would have his hand cut off.

Fagin, however, knew his own criminal plans were never going to get anywhere if Jack only had one hand.

So, Fagin arranged another bet with Darius over a game of cards. If Jack won, the previous bet was to be forgotten. If Darius won, Jack had to give up both his hands.

Of course, Jack was furious upon finding out the mess Fagin had gotten him into this time. But they had a strategy this time.

While Jack was focused on playing cards, Fagin was distracting Darius, keeping his attention off of the game.

It was late at night, well past 11 o’clock. You were playing in the corner with some toys your father, Jack, had brought to keep you entertained.

Jack was playing with a coin in his hand, something he did to calm himself down. Eventually, after contemplating for a minute, Jack set his cards down, winning the game.

Darius was less than pleased, red in the face as he stood up, slamming his hands on the table.

Fagin applauded Jack, clapping his hands lazily as he watched Darius’s outburst with a smug smile. “There’s the Dodger I know.”

Jack rolled his eyes as Fagin’s words, collecting the money as he stood to leave, only for Darius to have his men block the door, preventing them from exiting.

Jack froze, watching you out of the corner of his eye as he stared at Darius wearily.

Fagin raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything, watching curiously as Darius stormed over to Jack, checking his sleeves to find any cards to confirm that he had cheated.

Only there was nothing there.

But Darius was stubborn, desperate to find some way that explained Jack’s win, feeling unfair that he lost.

Darius’s men were armed, one wielding a butcher’s knife, the same one that was going to be used to chop off Jack’s hand.

Jack stepped back as Fagin stood up, trying to negotiate with Darius’s men.