A/N: As of 8/17/08 this story is being REVISED. It follows the same story line but I fixed the grammar and other things that were annoying me. I also added dates in since that was confusing before.

Hope you all give it another read over, and anyone new I hope you enjoy it. Review and let me know if it needs to be redone again or anything that will help make it better.

Thanks to all my previous reviewers and anyone that added it their favorites before!

Disclaimer: I don't own anyone from the movie

Through the pitch black of the night you could see her, she walked around New York when others dared not to go out. They call her The Phantom, for very few know her well enough to remember her name, but then again that was a long time ago and people have forgotten it now. If you wanted to see her you would have to search the streets at night, but she only was found when she wanted to be. Maybe she really is a phantom or perhaps even a ghost but no one know...yet.

New York, 1900

I took a long drag on my cigar before throwing it on the ground. I turned and headed towards the Brooklyn Bridge. As I began to cross the bridge I took the time to pause and looked down at the waves crashing against one another. The water below seemed to hold my stare as my mind wandered. It had been too long since I had left my territory. My name seemed to be dying with each passing day I was away. I sighed and turned my head to the right letting my hair sweep across my face as the wind picked up. Near by was the end of the bridge, the edge of Brooklyn. And for a minute I found myself frozen, not because of the idea of Brooklyn but by the noise I heard coming from the darkness. I slowed my breathing to listen more carefully and slipped into the shadows cast by the bridge. From the shadows I watched as a figure approached the bridge.

I noticed with curiosity that it was Spot Conlon. It was a little late for him to be walking away from his territory. But I shrugged it off it wasn't my business to worry about what he was doing. As soon as he passed I stepped back out into the dim glow of the moon. I slowly shook my head as I looked once more across the water. People thought he was the most feared and respected of all the newsies in New York. But there was a time when I was as feared as him, back when I ruled over my newsies.

I shook the thoughts from my head as I turned back into the darkened streets to my temporary home not too far away. Tomorrow it would be time to head back and reclaim what I had and with it reclaim my name that was slipping away.

As the sun rose, I oddly found myself getting out of 'bed' or my makeshift one at that. And before I could change my mind, or even realize what I was doing, I was already engulfed by the busy streets around me. The brightness outside was something I wasn't too used to and I quickly shielded my eyes in hope the sun would some how dim itself. Once my eyes became adjusted I let down my hand, it had been to long since I had stepped into this different world, the world consumed by the majority of New York. Putting my shocked state behind me I turned in the direction of the Bronx, carefully finding the same streets I used at night.

The back alleys and less crowded streets made it easier for me to reach my territory than the normal routes. The minute I stepped into my old territory I felt a weird wave of security wash over me. I shook it off and smirked as I noticed what I had stopped in front of...the lodging house.

As I took the step to the door I paused and pulled out my last cigar from my pocket. When the match sparked and the smoke was released around me I turned and opened the door, stepping into my past.

It was early afternoon when I entered the lodging house, but even still I found a few newsies hanging around. My emotionless eyes scanned the room looking for a particular person, and near the back I found him. The other newsies had now stopped what they were doing and watched me with a certain interest, but I focused on the person who had yet to notice me. I came to a silent stop in front of him and waited till he lifted his head up to meet my gaze. His sandy blond hair slowly moved back and deep hazel eyes threatened mine, until he took a look at the whole person.

"Phantom?" was the near whisper he uttered. Once he regained his composure he spit in his hand and stuck it out hoping I would return his gesture. I did but motioned for him to follow me to the roof. The silence of the bunk room was too much for me and I went out before him waiting for him to take a seat next to me.

"So Phantom, what brings you back?"

I shrugged, "been gone too long. How are things heah?"

It was his turn to shrug this time. "Been the same mostly, sell, eat, sleep"

I nodded my approval, "territory still da same?"

"More of less, but we all kinda have a pack, ya know since the strike and all" was his hesitant reply and I could see why. This was something I was not expecting.

I raised my eyebrows at that statement, "A pact? So you'se sayin' that no ones threatened us?"

"Phantom things changed when you left, ain't no ones touched anyone yet" although he had spoken back to me I let it slip for the moment.

I took a long drag on my cigar and blew the smoke out before me, I watched as it disappeared into the surrounding air. Through the air around it I could see my territory laid out in front of me, I nodded to myself before turning my attention to what was at hand.

"Alright Haze" Hazel or Haze, nodded and slipped back in the lodging house.

I took another look across the horizon in the distance before I followed Hazes retreat to check on the rest of the newsies.

Upon entering the bunkroom, I noticed a lot more newsies had returned from selling, and there were new ones among them. Haze called them over and looked up at me before continuing.

"Alright guys this is Phantom, she'll be taking over as the leader again. If anyone has a problem I suggest leaving before you are thrown out in worse shape." He glanced at the faces in front of him; none dared to move, once satisfied he continued, "Phantom the new ones are Whisper and Bolt." I looked over at the first one he introduced, noticing that he was around 6 and the other was closer to 11.

"Well dis heah is da Bronx, and for those who don't remember we have a few rules 'round here. Anyone in our territory is to be shown out unless here for gamblin' or business. You must learn how ta use a knife if you wanna survive, and you wanna stay you have to sell ta pay rent. Understood?" The Newsies nodded and mumbled agreement.

"Good," most of the little kids ran off to do their own thing and I was left with the older kids, I smiled and spit shook with them.

"Heya Phantom I was getting' worried you forgot 'bout us?"

I laughed, "Me forget 'bout you Razor? I've tried to and it's harder than it looks"

He laughed and slapped me on the back, "good to have you back, not that Haze was bad or anythin'" he added before quickly looking at Haze to emphasize his respect towards him.

After catching up with the other Newsies I had lost contact with, I turned to Haze, "What no poker game tonight?"

"Is that what you came back for, the gamblin'?"

"What you think I came back for the guys? Nah, dis is where the real fun is."

Within a few minutes we set up our makeshift poker table and it didn't take long for all they guy to become absorbed in their cards for the night. By the end of about 10 poker games the room had shifted its occupants from the middle of the room to under their sheets.

As I looked around the room I noticed the sky outside was a pitch black, no moon in sight. I smiled and decided to try and sleep at night for once instead of the early morning. As I waited for sleep to take over I couldn't help but think of my newsies.

Everything seemed to be in good order around here, Haze did a good job and I was happy with it. He had the build of a leader and towered over my frame at 6'. Razor, I was sad to say I missed his antics and was glad he hadn't changed; his hair was still somewhat long and slicked back away from his face. He was shorter than Haze and reached around 5'7 still taller than my 5'2 size.

So far this day had worked out and I was hoping tomorrow would fair similar, but you never know around here. With the questions of tomorrow playing in my head I slipped off into a dreamless sleep.

A/N: The rest of the chapters should be up soon, the story is mostly all redone so far. Thanks