Title: Fighting the Hardest Battle
Author: Daveydearest14
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Newsies, I think they belong to Disney.I only own the plot (unless I unconsciously stole it) and the original characters that you probably don't recognize.
Authors Notes: Hi all! This is the first fanfiction that I've posted here on ff.net, so be kind! Please do review though, and even if its not good.I really want to get better and the only way I can is if you all help me and review and tell me what to do better! Umm.there is nothing really else to say, I'll try to make this story good and not stereotypical (Not a marysue.OK Madeleine?!? Hehe) That's all I have to say, thanks a lot for reading! Please review!
~*~Chapter 1~*~
"Hey, where's ya cowboy at, now? Huh?" Emma turned around sharply at the harsh voice. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief - the obviously negative remark wasn't directed towards her. She spun back around, tugging her worn red jacket closer to her body and tucking a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear. She slowly, almost mechanically, raised and cupped her hands to her mouth and breathed warm air on them, trying in vain to warm them up.
She was about to continue her walk when she heard another shout - "hey, leave me alone!" then a yelp and a strangled cry, "Davey! Cowboy! Help!" The voice was much different the first - it was obviously that of a young child - she couldn't tell whether it was a boy or a girl. Emma hesitated for a moment. She took a step forward and stopped - James would be so mad if he found out she was fighting- but the boy.errr the girl..uhh the kid! Another moment's hesitation passed and Emma turned on her heel and - as if she was following silent instructions - ran towards an old cobblestone building.
"Where's ya bruddah ya lousy shrimp? Answer me!" Les looked around fleetingly. Davey! he thought frantically, C'mon Cowboy! This is what you're 'apposed to do! Jump out and save me! He looked back at the two Delancey brothers - both tons of feet bigger than him. One of them pushed Les down and he fell - and he was pretty sure he tasted blood. He looked up again at the two bullies, expecting another blow, but it never came. He, surprised and relieved, looked around, figuring finally Davey or Cowboy had come.
Instead he saw a girl standing at the end of the alley. She had long, curly, dark brown hair and was fairly petite. With her pale skin she looked rather worn out and was clutching a faded red jacket around her arms and torso. A patched brown skirt hung around her waist and ended a little above her ankles. She was walking slowly, purposefully towards the three young men.
She looked around and gave Les a look that plainly told him to keep quiet. Les nodded to himself, and slowly backed up against the wall behind him. She gave Les one last look and then spoke, "There ya are, ya runt! Where's ya been? I been looking for yah for ages! We gotsta go, c'mon now!" She made a grab for Les's tiny arm but was cut off by a greasy-haired, tall boy of about seventeen or eighteen years - one or two years her senior.
His thin, chapped lips were curled into an unpleasant sneer when he spoke abruptly, " 'Scuse me, uhh Miss, but we'se ain't dun yet, you'se bettah scarm before us boys teach you'se a lesson in respectin' udder people's bisnuss." Emma was hardly fazed - these must be the infamous Delancey brothers, the notorious bullies who made life miserable for most of New York's newsie population. Woah, they sure do smell, thought Emma. Her comical first instinct was interrupted by the same boy addressing her again,
"Whaddya still doin' here? You'se stupid o' sumptin?" Emma smiled grimly.idiot. She smiled sweetly and turned to face him, "Just need my bruddah, and I'll be on my way, I swear." The boy's sneer was promptly replaced with a smirk, "So you'se Sarah, Cowboy's goil.hmmm." Emma looked at him under furrowed brows.this boy sure was stupid. "Look I dunno what ya talking 'bout.we're just gonna be on our way now."
She grabbed Les and pulled him towards the street again, when the boy roughly pushed Les down again and slammed her against the wall. She felt a trickle of blood from her left temple but gritted her teeth and pushed him off of her. She tried to run off again, but the boy was too strong and pressed her against the wall again. "You'se jus' don't learn nuthin, do ya?" He reared his arm back, as if to slap her, but she shoved him away from her and stepped on his foot.hard. She picked Les off the ground and the two ran away towards the other end of the alley.
They made it to the next building when the two boys caught up with them. Les let out another strangled cry as he hit the ground again, and Emma, finally scared for the first time, was caught with the boy again. His brother hung out in the back of the scene, surveying it for any trouble to come their way. Emma turned frantically around searching for the little boy. She spotted him inching around the scene, having picked himself up from the ground. She nodded toward the street, urging him to run. Les didn't need telling twice and he sprinted off.
"Damn!" the first boy swore, watching him run. With eyes seething with anger, the boy reared back again and made contact with her lower cheek, next to her mouth. Emma cried out and fell to the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was another obnoxious comment from the boy, "That stupid goil hurt me leg.I'se gunna make her pay!"
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Emma's dark brown eyes fluttered open. Her head hurt like crazy and she thought she was going to pass out again. She looked around and saw she was on the bottom bed of a bunk bed in the corner of a beige wallpapered room with dull lighting. In the center of the room was a wooden chair with a small table in front of it. Her dull red jacket was carelessly slung over the back of the chair. Her eyes blinked open and closed for a couple seconds until she fully comprehended what was going on. She bolted upright suddenly and looked around hysterically, Where am I?! She tried to get off of the bed but a sudden wave of dizziness caught her off guard.
She settled instead on sitting upright on the bed, her legs crossed beneath her and thinking very hard. What was the last thing she was doing? Oh right, fighting with those stupid boys, those stupid Delancey brats. She vaguely wondered what had ever happened to that young boy she tried to help. Hope he got away bettah than I did, she thought bitterly. Abruptly, a wooden door on the opposite side of the room swung open and revealed a middle-aged man. He had a little bit of white, thin hair on his balding head and had cold, unfriendly eyes, framed with a pair of thin, wired glasses. "Miss.uhh, Miss. Welcome to the Refuge."
Emma blinked twice and stared at the man in front of her. What? She must have hit her head much harder than she thought. The Refuge? That was the youth prison in New York, she couldn't be there! "Uhh, pardon me, sir, but ain't ya makin some sort of mistake?" She asked. She was surprised to hear that her voice was raspy and diminished. Just talking was causing all the wind to escape her. She sat back, breathing rapidly. The man sneered slightly at her. "No mistake, Miss. You fight on the streets, hurting innocent boys, you end up in the Refuge."
After that, Emma didn't care how much her head hurt! She sat up to speak, but was slightly nudged back. She turned around. She hadn't noticed another man in the room. A much older man, he had crinkly blue eyes and wrinkled skin. He gave the impression of great age, but there was something twinkling in his eyes that also showed great energy. Emma furrowed her brow, she could've sworn she'd seen him wink at her.
"Sit down, Miss, you're gonna hurt that head even more than you already did." He spoke in a wispy, quiet voice. The first man glanced over at him and rolled his eyes, "Callahan." he spoke, his voice coupled with somewhat of a warning tone. He cleared his throat and again directed his attention to the youth on the bunk bed.
"So Miss, I'm thinking that you better stay here for awhile, I'll leave you now. Meals will be served at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm, no exceptions. You are not to leave this room and visit the others at any point. Unless someone can pay on your behalf, you are to stay here until I think it is fit for you to leave."
He spun on his heel and walked to the other side of the room to where a window was placed. He smirked again. He started to walk out when the old man, Callahan, hobbled after him, "Mister Trennson." he began. The two, Callahan with a hopeful look on his elderly face, and Warner with a cold, unforgiving smirk, walked into the hallway. They shut the door and Emma heard the unmistakable sound of a key being turned in the lock, and footsteps down the corridor.
Emma slowly brought her knees to her chin and rested her head on her legs. She started vacantly around for a couple seconds, digesting what had just been told to her. A single tear dropped from beneath her eyelid and she quickly wiped it away. The Refuge! This wasn't right! It wasn't supposed to happen like this! She lay back down and rested her head on the thin pillow, staring at the wall opposite her. Oh, what was she gonna do now?
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"Mister Trennson!" Callahan spoke rather harshly. Warner spun around and sneered at him, "Yes?" Callahan coughed once and then adjusted his bowtie. "That young girl in there.we've never had a girl in the Refuge before." Trennson rolled his eyes, "Things change Callahan." He continued down the hallway, shutting windows and kicking doors as he went. Mr. Callahan followed him, speeding to keep up with the man.
"But what if we let her go this time? With a warning? We've never seen her before, it'd probably be okay." Mr. Trennson turned around and clamped a hand on the older man's shoulder. "You've gone soft, eh Callahan?" "No!" Mr. Callahan exclaimed, "It's just.one whole room for that one girl! I..I mean I know we cannot put her with the young men," he quickly amended when he saw the look on Mr. Trennson's face, "It's just that, it's such a waste of space, we could just let her off, save us room."
Mr. Warner smiled grimly, "Nice try, Callahan." Once again, he took off down the hall, with Mr. Samson nearly sprinting to keep up with him. "Please, Mr. Trennson, I think it would cause some civil unrest if we kept a girl in the Refuge." He spoke in a wheezy tone, nearly out of breath. He was positive this last tactic wouldn't work, but he saw Mr. Warner thinking hard. He broke into stride once more. Mr. Callahan gritted his teeth and walked quickly behind him.
"Maybe, just this once," spoke Mr. Trennson harshly, "we'll keep her until morning, just to scare her straight. But then, I suppose," He took a breath, releasing a prisoner - err, child, always proved troublesome for him, "We'll release her." Callahan smiled a bit, then coughed and walked away. Mr. Trennson shook his head grimly, what a shame.
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Rays of sunshine poured into the tiny room where Emma lay sleeping on the bed. Her eyes flickered open and it took a couple minutes for her to register where she was and why she was there. She groaned. The stupid fight with the boys. The little boy who ran away. The Refuge. The two men.Mister Callahan and the other one. She sighed. She had hoped it was all a dream. But now seeing the drab room and the wooden desk, she knew it was real. She cuddled up against the pillow again, she didn't want to wake up. For now, she could pretend she was back with James and Caroline. The fight hadn't happened, and she hadn't been so stupid as to fight with the Delancey brothers.
Her daydreaming, wishing, and regretting was instantly interrupted. The wooden door creaked open and in marched in the first man she had met the night before. Mr. Callahan came after, slightly more slowly, and with a slight limp. "Well miss, seems as though we're going to let you off with a warning." Emma's heart leapt.could it be? "But I assure you miss, one more time and you will be back her until you're 21! Now get out of my sight!" He stomped out of the room, muttering about insolent teenagers and their rude ways.
Emma, overjoyed, made a move to get off the bed, but it turns out her head was not completely settled. Once she got to her feet, she dangerously wobbled and fell back onto the bed. Mr. Callahan rushed forward, a concerned look in his eyes. "Miss? You need some help there miss?" Emma smiled slightly, "No, thanks though, mister. I'm pretty sure yah helped me out there. I thank yah a lot" She spoke shyly. She may come off bold, but she was always shy underneath it all.
Mr. Callahan smiled. "Here, let me help you to your feet." He took her arm and together they walked to the little wooden chair, retrieved her jacket and then journeyed down the stairs. Mr. Callahan broke the silence with an obvious inquiry, "So what happened last night? We had Thomas and Jacob come in and tell us that you had tried to beat up an innocent young boy on the street. I have to say though, I didn't quite believe it."
Emma bit her lip and furrowed her brows, Thomas and Jacob? " 'Scuse me sir, but who is Thomas and Jacob? I don't think I know's them." Mr. Callahan smiled again, of course, she wasn't on first name basis with the two boys. "The Delancey brothers." Then it dawned on Emma. Those two had tried to pin it on her! "No sir, they were just misunderstood." Mr. Callahan nodded. He didn't want to inquire further, but, by the nasty cut she sported on her left temple, and the bruise forming by her lip, he was sure that the situation might have been altered by the Delancey brothers slightly.
The two walked on in silence until they reached another wide door. "This is the exit, good luck Miss.uhh." "Miss Lahren.but please, call me Emma." Mr. Callahan smiled, "Ok Emma, you come and tell me if you need anything, okay?" Emma nodded and smiled shyly, "I can't thank you enough! You really saved me." With another warm glance between them, Emma opened the door and walked out of it and onto the cold, busy streets of New York City.
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Les woke up in his warm bed and looked around. He yawned and scratched his head. He stretched his arms and leapt from his covers. He walked into the kitchen of his family's small apartment and gave his mom a big hug. "Mornin' mama!" he greeted. His mom automatically ran her finger over his lip. "Does it still hurt, baby?" she inquired, her eyebrows knitted in worry. "No mama! I swear! Where's Davey?" He asked, wriggling out of his mother's grasp. She looked at him skeptically but ignored it, "He's up on the roof, I think."
Les raced out of his apartment and found that indeed, his brother was sitting on the roof eating an apple and sketching the New York scene. "Whaddya doin' Davey?" Les asked, barging into the peaceful morning. David Jacobs, a seventeen year old boy with curly, dark brown hair, looked up startled. He quickly shut his drawing pad and looked around at his little brother. "Hi Les, how are you feeling? Mom told me that you hurt yourself yesterday? What happened?" Les launched into his exciting story.
".and then, she came from nowhere! She came and pretended to be Sarah or something, I don't even know what her name is! But she didn't even get scared of them or nothing!" Les breathed for the first time during his entire speech and waited for his big brother's input.
"Was this girl okay? Did you see what happened to her?" Les shook his head. I saw her being dragged away by those scum though, ya know, the Delancey brothers.they took her to some big building, with a gate around it." David breathed in, The Refuge. He remembered all to clearly when he and Jack went to go rescue Crutchy from it last year.
"I gotta go, Les," David said, jumping up from the ground, "tell mom that I went out with Jack and the others!" Les ran after his older brother, "You gonna tell cowboy, huh Davey? You gonna find her?" David nodded vaguely and waved goodbye to his little brother. He was more curious about this mystery girl's condition, from what Les told him, she took somewhat of a beating. It was peculiar, usually they didn't put girls in the refuge.
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"I dunno Sarah! I'se trying! It's hard.yah know?" Jack ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He was having the same old argument with his girlfriend Sarah.his job. Sarah was really supportive of him but she worried about him, and his future. She wanted him to find a "real" job. "Shh, Jack, I know! I'm sorry, let's talk about this later, okay?" Sarah spoke soothingly, patting his back. Jack nodded.
"Hey Jack!" came a shout. Jack turned around and faced David Jacobs, Sarah's brother. During the strike, Jack and David had become great friends. They were almost complete opposites, but were so good to each other that they had an unspoken bond. Jack greeted his best friend, "Hey there, Dave! How're ya?"
"I'm okay Jack, but I need your help." David looked around at Sarah, "Hey Sarah! Sneaking out to see Jack, eh?" He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, "I have to be going boys! Bye!" She gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek and walked off towards the apartment.
"So.whaddya need David?" Jack inquired, breaking the silence that had descended since Sarah's departure. "Well yesterday, Les got attacked by the Delancey brothers." Jack growled and swore. Not only were the Delancey brothers a constant source of bitterness for Jack, but Les was like a little brother to him. He gestured at David to continue.
"But anyways, luckily nothing too bad happened, because some girl came along and basically took the place of Les. Apparently she tried to get him away from them." Jack nodded and David continued, "But Les says he saw them take her away to the Refuge.and told me that she was in pretty bad shape. I was just wondering if you knew anything."
Jack shook his head, "No.I haven't heard nuthin.but I can check around.if ya want? And if we'se don't know nuthin by tonight.we'se can swing by the ol' place." David nodded, "sounds great.Thanks.I have to go swing by Davidson's, my mother needs some fabric. I'll see you later." The two spit in their hands and shook, each bidding the other goodbye.
David kept walking down the same way, while Jack departed down the opposite. He entered into "Davidson's Sewing Shop" and approached the counter, where a young lady with chin-length dark blonde hair stood. "Hi...can I have two feet of light pink."
Emma shivered. She was still dizzy, apparently it hadn't shaken off yet. She walked aimlessly through the streets, her head down. She looked up and saw the bright sun beaming down.why was she so cold then? Just tired, I guess, she thought. She hadn't gotten a lot of quality sleep last night, understandably. She continued walking; tucking a lock of hair behind her hair, out of nervous habit. Another wave of dizziness hit her and she swayed a bit. She clutched the side of a building to steady herself.
After a moment, she released her hold and kept walking. She had done so too quickly though, and she tripped and fell onto the pavement. She threw out her hands too late and she fell on her leg, hitting her head with her knees. She felt the cut on her temple open up and could feel a small trickle of blood. She held her head in her hands and closed her eyes.she needed some rest.
David exited from Davidson's with a small brown bag in his hands. He closed the top and swung it around carelessly as he walked. He peered down the street, looking for a sign of any of the newsies.the ones he become friends with during the strike. Not spotting any, he was about to continue walking when he heard a slight moan.
He turned around in time to see a girl fall to the ground and then collapse. He, being the gentleman that he was, rushed over to her. "Excuse me, Miss, are you okay? Miss?" When he didn't get a response he tapped her on the shoulder, "Miss?"
"I'm fine, thank you," she responded faintly, not looking up. David, concerned, lifted her chin up and gasped. The cut on her temple had indeed come open and the bruise by her lip was fairly evident. Her bloodshot eyes contrasted with her pale skin and her hair was messily fell around her face.
"You're not fine! Come here," He dragged her away from the busy street and into a corner. She gasped, but was too weak to protest. He ripped a small piece of the brown big off and wet it with some snow on the sidewalk. He gently wiped away the cut and pressed the ice against it. "Does that feel." She interrupted him, "yeah.thank you." she started to walk away, but David grabbed her arm, "wait.uhh.what's your name?" She looked suspiciously at him.
"Uhhh.I gotta go.bye, thank you." She walked away quickly and blended with the crowd. David, curious, picked up his brown bag and milled among the crowds, following her down the street.
A/N: Ok! There's chapter 1! What do you guys think? Should I continue? Was it too short, too long? Too bad? Hehe. I would really, really appreciate some feedback.even if it's just telling me not to write anymore! Thanks for reading it! Bye!
-daveydearest
Author: Daveydearest14
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original Newsies, I think they belong to Disney.I only own the plot (unless I unconsciously stole it) and the original characters that you probably don't recognize.
Authors Notes: Hi all! This is the first fanfiction that I've posted here on ff.net, so be kind! Please do review though, and even if its not good.I really want to get better and the only way I can is if you all help me and review and tell me what to do better! Umm.there is nothing really else to say, I'll try to make this story good and not stereotypical (Not a marysue.OK Madeleine?!? Hehe) That's all I have to say, thanks a lot for reading! Please review!
~*~Chapter 1~*~
"Hey, where's ya cowboy at, now? Huh?" Emma turned around sharply at the harsh voice. She breathed a heavy sigh of relief - the obviously negative remark wasn't directed towards her. She spun back around, tugging her worn red jacket closer to her body and tucking a lock of dark brown hair behind her ear. She slowly, almost mechanically, raised and cupped her hands to her mouth and breathed warm air on them, trying in vain to warm them up.
She was about to continue her walk when she heard another shout - "hey, leave me alone!" then a yelp and a strangled cry, "Davey! Cowboy! Help!" The voice was much different the first - it was obviously that of a young child - she couldn't tell whether it was a boy or a girl. Emma hesitated for a moment. She took a step forward and stopped - James would be so mad if he found out she was fighting- but the boy.errr the girl..uhh the kid! Another moment's hesitation passed and Emma turned on her heel and - as if she was following silent instructions - ran towards an old cobblestone building.
"Where's ya bruddah ya lousy shrimp? Answer me!" Les looked around fleetingly. Davey! he thought frantically, C'mon Cowboy! This is what you're 'apposed to do! Jump out and save me! He looked back at the two Delancey brothers - both tons of feet bigger than him. One of them pushed Les down and he fell - and he was pretty sure he tasted blood. He looked up again at the two bullies, expecting another blow, but it never came. He, surprised and relieved, looked around, figuring finally Davey or Cowboy had come.
Instead he saw a girl standing at the end of the alley. She had long, curly, dark brown hair and was fairly petite. With her pale skin she looked rather worn out and was clutching a faded red jacket around her arms and torso. A patched brown skirt hung around her waist and ended a little above her ankles. She was walking slowly, purposefully towards the three young men.
She looked around and gave Les a look that plainly told him to keep quiet. Les nodded to himself, and slowly backed up against the wall behind him. She gave Les one last look and then spoke, "There ya are, ya runt! Where's ya been? I been looking for yah for ages! We gotsta go, c'mon now!" She made a grab for Les's tiny arm but was cut off by a greasy-haired, tall boy of about seventeen or eighteen years - one or two years her senior.
His thin, chapped lips were curled into an unpleasant sneer when he spoke abruptly, " 'Scuse me, uhh Miss, but we'se ain't dun yet, you'se bettah scarm before us boys teach you'se a lesson in respectin' udder people's bisnuss." Emma was hardly fazed - these must be the infamous Delancey brothers, the notorious bullies who made life miserable for most of New York's newsie population. Woah, they sure do smell, thought Emma. Her comical first instinct was interrupted by the same boy addressing her again,
"Whaddya still doin' here? You'se stupid o' sumptin?" Emma smiled grimly.idiot. She smiled sweetly and turned to face him, "Just need my bruddah, and I'll be on my way, I swear." The boy's sneer was promptly replaced with a smirk, "So you'se Sarah, Cowboy's goil.hmmm." Emma looked at him under furrowed brows.this boy sure was stupid. "Look I dunno what ya talking 'bout.we're just gonna be on our way now."
She grabbed Les and pulled him towards the street again, when the boy roughly pushed Les down again and slammed her against the wall. She felt a trickle of blood from her left temple but gritted her teeth and pushed him off of her. She tried to run off again, but the boy was too strong and pressed her against the wall again. "You'se jus' don't learn nuthin, do ya?" He reared his arm back, as if to slap her, but she shoved him away from her and stepped on his foot.hard. She picked Les off the ground and the two ran away towards the other end of the alley.
They made it to the next building when the two boys caught up with them. Les let out another strangled cry as he hit the ground again, and Emma, finally scared for the first time, was caught with the boy again. His brother hung out in the back of the scene, surveying it for any trouble to come their way. Emma turned frantically around searching for the little boy. She spotted him inching around the scene, having picked himself up from the ground. She nodded toward the street, urging him to run. Les didn't need telling twice and he sprinted off.
"Damn!" the first boy swore, watching him run. With eyes seething with anger, the boy reared back again and made contact with her lower cheek, next to her mouth. Emma cried out and fell to the ground. The last thing she heard before she blacked out was another obnoxious comment from the boy, "That stupid goil hurt me leg.I'se gunna make her pay!"
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Emma's dark brown eyes fluttered open. Her head hurt like crazy and she thought she was going to pass out again. She looked around and saw she was on the bottom bed of a bunk bed in the corner of a beige wallpapered room with dull lighting. In the center of the room was a wooden chair with a small table in front of it. Her dull red jacket was carelessly slung over the back of the chair. Her eyes blinked open and closed for a couple seconds until she fully comprehended what was going on. She bolted upright suddenly and looked around hysterically, Where am I?! She tried to get off of the bed but a sudden wave of dizziness caught her off guard.
She settled instead on sitting upright on the bed, her legs crossed beneath her and thinking very hard. What was the last thing she was doing? Oh right, fighting with those stupid boys, those stupid Delancey brats. She vaguely wondered what had ever happened to that young boy she tried to help. Hope he got away bettah than I did, she thought bitterly. Abruptly, a wooden door on the opposite side of the room swung open and revealed a middle-aged man. He had a little bit of white, thin hair on his balding head and had cold, unfriendly eyes, framed with a pair of thin, wired glasses. "Miss.uhh, Miss. Welcome to the Refuge."
Emma blinked twice and stared at the man in front of her. What? She must have hit her head much harder than she thought. The Refuge? That was the youth prison in New York, she couldn't be there! "Uhh, pardon me, sir, but ain't ya makin some sort of mistake?" She asked. She was surprised to hear that her voice was raspy and diminished. Just talking was causing all the wind to escape her. She sat back, breathing rapidly. The man sneered slightly at her. "No mistake, Miss. You fight on the streets, hurting innocent boys, you end up in the Refuge."
After that, Emma didn't care how much her head hurt! She sat up to speak, but was slightly nudged back. She turned around. She hadn't noticed another man in the room. A much older man, he had crinkly blue eyes and wrinkled skin. He gave the impression of great age, but there was something twinkling in his eyes that also showed great energy. Emma furrowed her brow, she could've sworn she'd seen him wink at her.
"Sit down, Miss, you're gonna hurt that head even more than you already did." He spoke in a wispy, quiet voice. The first man glanced over at him and rolled his eyes, "Callahan." he spoke, his voice coupled with somewhat of a warning tone. He cleared his throat and again directed his attention to the youth on the bunk bed.
"So Miss, I'm thinking that you better stay here for awhile, I'll leave you now. Meals will be served at 6am, 12pm, and 6pm, no exceptions. You are not to leave this room and visit the others at any point. Unless someone can pay on your behalf, you are to stay here until I think it is fit for you to leave."
He spun on his heel and walked to the other side of the room to where a window was placed. He smirked again. He started to walk out when the old man, Callahan, hobbled after him, "Mister Trennson." he began. The two, Callahan with a hopeful look on his elderly face, and Warner with a cold, unforgiving smirk, walked into the hallway. They shut the door and Emma heard the unmistakable sound of a key being turned in the lock, and footsteps down the corridor.
Emma slowly brought her knees to her chin and rested her head on her legs. She started vacantly around for a couple seconds, digesting what had just been told to her. A single tear dropped from beneath her eyelid and she quickly wiped it away. The Refuge! This wasn't right! It wasn't supposed to happen like this! She lay back down and rested her head on the thin pillow, staring at the wall opposite her. Oh, what was she gonna do now?
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"Mister Trennson!" Callahan spoke rather harshly. Warner spun around and sneered at him, "Yes?" Callahan coughed once and then adjusted his bowtie. "That young girl in there.we've never had a girl in the Refuge before." Trennson rolled his eyes, "Things change Callahan." He continued down the hallway, shutting windows and kicking doors as he went. Mr. Callahan followed him, speeding to keep up with the man.
"But what if we let her go this time? With a warning? We've never seen her before, it'd probably be okay." Mr. Trennson turned around and clamped a hand on the older man's shoulder. "You've gone soft, eh Callahan?" "No!" Mr. Callahan exclaimed, "It's just.one whole room for that one girl! I..I mean I know we cannot put her with the young men," he quickly amended when he saw the look on Mr. Trennson's face, "It's just that, it's such a waste of space, we could just let her off, save us room."
Mr. Warner smiled grimly, "Nice try, Callahan." Once again, he took off down the hall, with Mr. Samson nearly sprinting to keep up with him. "Please, Mr. Trennson, I think it would cause some civil unrest if we kept a girl in the Refuge." He spoke in a wheezy tone, nearly out of breath. He was positive this last tactic wouldn't work, but he saw Mr. Warner thinking hard. He broke into stride once more. Mr. Callahan gritted his teeth and walked quickly behind him.
"Maybe, just this once," spoke Mr. Trennson harshly, "we'll keep her until morning, just to scare her straight. But then, I suppose," He took a breath, releasing a prisoner - err, child, always proved troublesome for him, "We'll release her." Callahan smiled a bit, then coughed and walked away. Mr. Trennson shook his head grimly, what a shame.
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Rays of sunshine poured into the tiny room where Emma lay sleeping on the bed. Her eyes flickered open and it took a couple minutes for her to register where she was and why she was there. She groaned. The stupid fight with the boys. The little boy who ran away. The Refuge. The two men.Mister Callahan and the other one. She sighed. She had hoped it was all a dream. But now seeing the drab room and the wooden desk, she knew it was real. She cuddled up against the pillow again, she didn't want to wake up. For now, she could pretend she was back with James and Caroline. The fight hadn't happened, and she hadn't been so stupid as to fight with the Delancey brothers.
Her daydreaming, wishing, and regretting was instantly interrupted. The wooden door creaked open and in marched in the first man she had met the night before. Mr. Callahan came after, slightly more slowly, and with a slight limp. "Well miss, seems as though we're going to let you off with a warning." Emma's heart leapt.could it be? "But I assure you miss, one more time and you will be back her until you're 21! Now get out of my sight!" He stomped out of the room, muttering about insolent teenagers and their rude ways.
Emma, overjoyed, made a move to get off the bed, but it turns out her head was not completely settled. Once she got to her feet, she dangerously wobbled and fell back onto the bed. Mr. Callahan rushed forward, a concerned look in his eyes. "Miss? You need some help there miss?" Emma smiled slightly, "No, thanks though, mister. I'm pretty sure yah helped me out there. I thank yah a lot" She spoke shyly. She may come off bold, but she was always shy underneath it all.
Mr. Callahan smiled. "Here, let me help you to your feet." He took her arm and together they walked to the little wooden chair, retrieved her jacket and then journeyed down the stairs. Mr. Callahan broke the silence with an obvious inquiry, "So what happened last night? We had Thomas and Jacob come in and tell us that you had tried to beat up an innocent young boy on the street. I have to say though, I didn't quite believe it."
Emma bit her lip and furrowed her brows, Thomas and Jacob? " 'Scuse me sir, but who is Thomas and Jacob? I don't think I know's them." Mr. Callahan smiled again, of course, she wasn't on first name basis with the two boys. "The Delancey brothers." Then it dawned on Emma. Those two had tried to pin it on her! "No sir, they were just misunderstood." Mr. Callahan nodded. He didn't want to inquire further, but, by the nasty cut she sported on her left temple, and the bruise forming by her lip, he was sure that the situation might have been altered by the Delancey brothers slightly.
The two walked on in silence until they reached another wide door. "This is the exit, good luck Miss.uhh." "Miss Lahren.but please, call me Emma." Mr. Callahan smiled, "Ok Emma, you come and tell me if you need anything, okay?" Emma nodded and smiled shyly, "I can't thank you enough! You really saved me." With another warm glance between them, Emma opened the door and walked out of it and onto the cold, busy streets of New York City.
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Les woke up in his warm bed and looked around. He yawned and scratched his head. He stretched his arms and leapt from his covers. He walked into the kitchen of his family's small apartment and gave his mom a big hug. "Mornin' mama!" he greeted. His mom automatically ran her finger over his lip. "Does it still hurt, baby?" she inquired, her eyebrows knitted in worry. "No mama! I swear! Where's Davey?" He asked, wriggling out of his mother's grasp. She looked at him skeptically but ignored it, "He's up on the roof, I think."
Les raced out of his apartment and found that indeed, his brother was sitting on the roof eating an apple and sketching the New York scene. "Whaddya doin' Davey?" Les asked, barging into the peaceful morning. David Jacobs, a seventeen year old boy with curly, dark brown hair, looked up startled. He quickly shut his drawing pad and looked around at his little brother. "Hi Les, how are you feeling? Mom told me that you hurt yourself yesterday? What happened?" Les launched into his exciting story.
".and then, she came from nowhere! She came and pretended to be Sarah or something, I don't even know what her name is! But she didn't even get scared of them or nothing!" Les breathed for the first time during his entire speech and waited for his big brother's input.
"Was this girl okay? Did you see what happened to her?" Les shook his head. I saw her being dragged away by those scum though, ya know, the Delancey brothers.they took her to some big building, with a gate around it." David breathed in, The Refuge. He remembered all to clearly when he and Jack went to go rescue Crutchy from it last year.
"I gotta go, Les," David said, jumping up from the ground, "tell mom that I went out with Jack and the others!" Les ran after his older brother, "You gonna tell cowboy, huh Davey? You gonna find her?" David nodded vaguely and waved goodbye to his little brother. He was more curious about this mystery girl's condition, from what Les told him, she took somewhat of a beating. It was peculiar, usually they didn't put girls in the refuge.
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"I dunno Sarah! I'se trying! It's hard.yah know?" Jack ran his hands through his hair in frustration. He was having the same old argument with his girlfriend Sarah.his job. Sarah was really supportive of him but she worried about him, and his future. She wanted him to find a "real" job. "Shh, Jack, I know! I'm sorry, let's talk about this later, okay?" Sarah spoke soothingly, patting his back. Jack nodded.
"Hey Jack!" came a shout. Jack turned around and faced David Jacobs, Sarah's brother. During the strike, Jack and David had become great friends. They were almost complete opposites, but were so good to each other that they had an unspoken bond. Jack greeted his best friend, "Hey there, Dave! How're ya?"
"I'm okay Jack, but I need your help." David looked around at Sarah, "Hey Sarah! Sneaking out to see Jack, eh?" He winked at her, and she rolled her eyes, "I have to be going boys! Bye!" She gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek and walked off towards the apartment.
"So.whaddya need David?" Jack inquired, breaking the silence that had descended since Sarah's departure. "Well yesterday, Les got attacked by the Delancey brothers." Jack growled and swore. Not only were the Delancey brothers a constant source of bitterness for Jack, but Les was like a little brother to him. He gestured at David to continue.
"But anyways, luckily nothing too bad happened, because some girl came along and basically took the place of Les. Apparently she tried to get him away from them." Jack nodded and David continued, "But Les says he saw them take her away to the Refuge.and told me that she was in pretty bad shape. I was just wondering if you knew anything."
Jack shook his head, "No.I haven't heard nuthin.but I can check around.if ya want? And if we'se don't know nuthin by tonight.we'se can swing by the ol' place." David nodded, "sounds great.Thanks.I have to go swing by Davidson's, my mother needs some fabric. I'll see you later." The two spit in their hands and shook, each bidding the other goodbye.
David kept walking down the same way, while Jack departed down the opposite. He entered into "Davidson's Sewing Shop" and approached the counter, where a young lady with chin-length dark blonde hair stood. "Hi...can I have two feet of light pink."
Emma shivered. She was still dizzy, apparently it hadn't shaken off yet. She walked aimlessly through the streets, her head down. She looked up and saw the bright sun beaming down.why was she so cold then? Just tired, I guess, she thought. She hadn't gotten a lot of quality sleep last night, understandably. She continued walking; tucking a lock of hair behind her hair, out of nervous habit. Another wave of dizziness hit her and she swayed a bit. She clutched the side of a building to steady herself.
After a moment, she released her hold and kept walking. She had done so too quickly though, and she tripped and fell onto the pavement. She threw out her hands too late and she fell on her leg, hitting her head with her knees. She felt the cut on her temple open up and could feel a small trickle of blood. She held her head in her hands and closed her eyes.she needed some rest.
David exited from Davidson's with a small brown bag in his hands. He closed the top and swung it around carelessly as he walked. He peered down the street, looking for a sign of any of the newsies.the ones he become friends with during the strike. Not spotting any, he was about to continue walking when he heard a slight moan.
He turned around in time to see a girl fall to the ground and then collapse. He, being the gentleman that he was, rushed over to her. "Excuse me, Miss, are you okay? Miss?" When he didn't get a response he tapped her on the shoulder, "Miss?"
"I'm fine, thank you," she responded faintly, not looking up. David, concerned, lifted her chin up and gasped. The cut on her temple had indeed come open and the bruise by her lip was fairly evident. Her bloodshot eyes contrasted with her pale skin and her hair was messily fell around her face.
"You're not fine! Come here," He dragged her away from the busy street and into a corner. She gasped, but was too weak to protest. He ripped a small piece of the brown big off and wet it with some snow on the sidewalk. He gently wiped away the cut and pressed the ice against it. "Does that feel." She interrupted him, "yeah.thank you." she started to walk away, but David grabbed her arm, "wait.uhh.what's your name?" She looked suspiciously at him.
"Uhhh.I gotta go.bye, thank you." She walked away quickly and blended with the crowd. David, curious, picked up his brown bag and milled among the crowds, following her down the street.
A/N: Ok! There's chapter 1! What do you guys think? Should I continue? Was it too short, too long? Too bad? Hehe. I would really, really appreciate some feedback.even if it's just telling me not to write anymore! Thanks for reading it! Bye!
-daveydearest