CHAPTER 1- Trousers
Heart was pounding, blood was rushing. All was silent except for the shoes pounding the pavement. This damned dress! I thought. My legs and feet were screaming to stop. As I slowed down to catch my breath, I caught myself on the corner of a building, took a step forward after re-orienting, and flew backwards onto the cobblestones. Someone offered me a hand and I glared up at him.
"No thanks. I can help myself up." I said briskly, brushing the dirt off of my petticoats. A sharp pain radiated in my wrist and I absentmindedly rubbed it.
"Well ain't she a ripe little cherry, boys." The one I'd run into snickered as he ran his finger under my chin and forced me to look up at him. I pulled my face away as the rest of them chuckled in agreement. "So, toots, let's say ya come with us, and no one gets hurt."
I laughed, "No one gets hurt, sure. I've heard that one before. Who do ya think you are? I ain't goin' anywhere with the likes o' yous, pal." I said turning on my heel and dashing away. A foot shot out and I tumbled down to the ground face first. This dress was going to be so ruined. Roughly, I was picked up by my arms, which were then pinned behind me. I struggled in his grasp, trying to break free. I kicked backwards at his shins. All I wanted was a nice, quiet morning. Shopping for food and back home to Spot and the others. Why can I not just ever have a peaceful morning? Finally, one of my arms broke free. "Let go or I swear—"
"—And what do you swear, you little—" I cut him off as I swung my fist back and sent it flying at his face, causing him to topple over and hit the ground hard. Don't they have any idea who I am? I took another stab at the new guy now in front of me, brushing his chin with my knuckles. I am, another hit the girl, I hoisted my skirts up and put my leg out, tripping another guy of the most respected, I stumbled backwards as someone's fist came into contact with my chest, knocking the wind out of me and famous newsie in all of New York. I finally finished my thought as I caught my breath, punching the first guy again in the face. He recuperated faster than he had the first time, everyone should know not to mess with me by now. Our reputation spreads far and wide. I dodged the oncoming attack, bowling through the rest of the men who were still a bit stunned, and began running again. Someone came out of the shadows and caught me against their chest, wrapping their arms around me. It was the furthest thing from a warm embrace. I pounded my fists against his chest to no avail. He quickly spun me around as I watched the men whom I'd just ran from catch up to us.
"Be a little more careful next time, boys. We wouldn't want 'er to get aways, then where would our necks be?" The fourth guy pushed me towards them, and I fell to my knees again. Someone bent down towards me, and socked me in the face. Someone pulled me to my feet, at which point another one of them punched my stomach, making me double over. They kicked at, and continued to punch at me, often hitting in the same places twice. I spun around, nearly taking a blow to the kidneys, and ducked as a pair of arms came at me, trying to capture me again. A few of the buttons connecting my skirt to its top had come undone, making the skirt longer in places. As I ran, I tripped multiple times, which slowed me down. I had to run, I didn't know what would happen to me, or where Spot and the others would think to look for me if I went missing. The police wouldn't be of any help, they'd probably lock a few of them up just for the fun of it. Unexpectedly, I flew forward so hard that my jaw clashed with the cobblestones and made me see stars. Someone had dived forward and grabbed one of my ankles through the dress. He was now standing over me. I kicked him right between his legs, rolled back over, and somehow scrambled to my feet. I glanced back, and the man was crumpled up in a ball with tears streaming down his face. My legs knew where they were going before my mind did because suddenly I could see the road before the lodging house through my tears. I wiped the back of my hand across my face. I saw red as I took my hand away. That was a matter for later. I ran into someone again, a familiar face. I looked into that one blue eye, and could feel myself smile.
"Hey there, Blink," I whispered. And then everything went black.