Author note: Success! I am writing the sequel, and that should make you happy. This is going to go way off of what I'm used to writing, so bear with me please.
I slowly stepped into the cold water, the ocean quickly rushing over my bare feet, my skirt skimming over the ankle-deep water. I would've shivered uncontrollably if I wasn't so numb and hypnotized from the mesmerizing clear sea ahead of me, running for miles and miles from the coast.
Slowly, yet surely, my feet shuffled over the muddy sand as I stepped deeper and deeper into the salty sea. Finally, the water reached an inch above my waist, leaving my upper body completely dry.
Seagulls swooped down from above, but I was left unharmed. Fish swam wildly past me, but I was left forgotten. Seaweed floated aimlessly by, but I was left alone.
Further and further into the ocean I walked, humming a sweet, unfamiliar melody to myself as if I were completely insane. There was nobody around for miles and the beach stood empty, its grains of sand shining ever so brightly from the sun's sharp rays. From a distance it looked pleasant, but a strange aura bouncing from it to me left me thinking about cold and heartless things, although I looked as calm as ever.
I didn't stop until there was no floor beneath, and as if by faith I was gone, wasted to the ocean. Salty water filled my lungs instantly, yet I stayed calm, humming that beautiful song in my head. It soon felt as if there were a pair of strong, rough hands wrapped tightly around my neck, and I finally began to squirm…
I suddenly crashed to the floor, my blankets tangled tightly around me. Beads of sweat trickled endlessly down my face as my heartbeat tried to maintain its normal pace.
I rubbed my eyes to clear my fuzzy vision and took several deep breaths of air, letting my lungs fill up with precious amounts of oxygen. It felt as if I was actually drowning, and I can still feel the weight of the ocean on my body.
My bedroom door opened quickly, causing me to jump slightly.
"Morning Miss. Parker," the British maid – Sylvia – greeted me as she made her way over to my window.
She threw back the curtains and the sunlight poured in, blinding me completely. I hid my eyes with my hand and tried to look up at her. "Uh, morning," I said hoarsely.
"Did you sleep well?" Sylvia asked, staring down at me with her hands placed firmly on her hips.
"Pleasantly," I joked, pushing myself off the floor.
I untangled the sheets from my body, having some difficulties doing so.
"You have a visitor downstairs, Miss," she said.
I nodded to acknowledge her news and lazily waved her away. Once she shut the door behind her I hurriedly changed my clothes.
Donna, Daniel's new and loveable puppy (who lived in my room), barked, jumping onto my bed.
"Get off!" I demanded, giving her a slight push.
She ignored the annoyance in my voice and returned to my bed, snuggling up against my pillow as if she were the most adorable thing known to man.
"Why don't you sleep in Danny's room?" I asked her, giving her an aggravated glare.
She responded by whimpering, and nuzzling my hand with her wet nose. "Stop it!" I said, pulling my hand away.
She looked at me with her big, brown eyes and whimpered once more, turning in a circle and settling down in the blankets.
"Whatever," I sighed, turning away from the little troublemaker.
I left the room and made my way down the never-ending stairs of torture. I finally came upon the foyer, and grinned at the handsome newsie leader who stood patiently in front of the door.
"Master Conlon is here to see you," said one of the butlers.
Spot snickered, lowering his head to keep from laughing. "He called me Master Conlon," he whispered.
"No kidding," I replied, nudging his side.
Spot gently pecked my lips, leaving me in a daze as I always was. "Hungry?" he asked, holding his arm out.
"Depends, you buying?" I asked, taking his arm in acceptance.
"Of course," he answered.
"Danny let's go!" I shouted up the stairs, gripping Spot's arm briefly, a sign of great affection the two of us did.
Daniel pounded down the steps, pulling his suspenders over his shoulders.
"Heya kiddo," Spot greeted him, ruffling Daniel's hair.
"Hey Spot," he replied, grinning up at Spot with a deep admiration.
I ushered the two most important boys in my life out the door and we set off towards Joy's diner. Once we were there Daniel immediately jumped onto Cadince's lap, causing her to laugh.
"Hey Jacky-boy," Spot greeted the Manhattan leader, giving him the usual spit shake.
"Hey Spot, how's Brooklyn?" Jack asked, referring to the newsies.
"Da best," Spot answered, smirking.
We took a seat at the table, me between Stephen and Spot.
"Hey Nomes," Stephen said.
I gave him a small smile as a greeting. Spot relaxed his arm around my shoulder, kissing my cheek tenderly.
It had been six months since Erica's death and we were still mourning. I wasn't completely over it, but I was managing better than Stephen. Erica was like a little sister to him, and it hurt him deeply to lose someone so close.
Cadince was in shock for quite awhile, too stunned to believe that Erica was actually gone.
Blade, on the other hand, wasn't afraid to show how much the loss hurt. Admitting that he never even got to tell her how he felt shocked us all.
Spot was still his cocky self, pride building up inside of him more and more each day. I had no room to complain, though, because in these past six months I got to know every single inch of Spot Conlon's body, and it was both manipulating and pleasurable.
Spot and I were two different people, that was obvious, but we shared the same pride and attitude. He was still the leader of the Brooklyn newsies, and I was still adored by the former prisoners of Ned's games.
Cadince, scarred from her uncle's cruelty, was left his riches and had the old survival school turned into a real school. The students, eager to know more about the school's past, were fascinated with Cadince. More students joined up, some admitting that it was interesting to attend a school that was used for pure torture.
Stephen worked at the school, telling the children stories of the school, and sometimes over exaggerating. He even started a rumor about how the dungeons, which weren't in use, were haunted. Cadince let him live there, since he had nowhere to go. His family had no use for him, so he decided to stay at the one home he ever really knew – the school.
Cadince lived out and about, sometimes she'd stay at the school, and sometimes she'd stay in Manhattan. I never really knew where she was, but if I ever needed her, she was there.
Spot squeezed my shoulder gently, and I looked up at him. "Watchya thinkin 'bout?" he asked.
"Nothing important," I shrugged.
"Good, because do I have some news for you," Cadince said, propping her elbows up on the table.
"What?" I asked, trying to sound interested.
"Well, Jack finally decided to go along with it," she said, making no sense at all.
"Go along with what?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows.
"You haven't heard? New York's newsie leaders were invited over to New Jersey for some kind of newsie meeting, but Jack suspects a scam, so he and Spot and the other leaders are going to go and check it out tomorrow."
I quickly turned my attention to Spot, who smacked his forehead. "When were you going to tell me this?" I asked, confusion and anger taking over.
"I was gonna tell ya tonight," he answered, already knowing that he was in big trouble.
"Tonight?" I nearly screamed.
"If I told ya eoilier you would've tried ta keep me heah," Spot explained.
"No I wouldn't!" I argued back.
"Nomes, yes you would," he said.
"And how do you know that? All you had to do was tell me!"
Spot sighed, and shook his head. "Calm down," he said. "It'll be a'right."
I grunted in aggravation and crossed my arms over my chest. "This argument isn't over," I told him. "And I won't speak to you until it's finished."
"Hey, dat ain't fair!" Spot exclaimed.
I simply looked away, ignoring his voice. Stephen looked down at me, giving me his usual grin.
"Don't be so hard on him," he said.
"I'm not," I replied, still ignoring Spot.
Stephen shrugged, "I didn't know about it until yesterday," he said.
"And I didn't know about it at all," I shot back.
"Anomie, dis ain't gonna help if you don't talk ta me," I heard Spot say.
I rolled my eyes and turned my head slightly towards Jack. "When will you be back?" I asked.
"Depends," he shrugged. "A few days probably."
"C'mon Nomes, you know it's gonna be the same for me since Jack's leaving too," Cadince said from across the table.
I turned my attention to Spot, who was staring at me pleadingly. "Fine," I said, "you can go."
Spot grinned, and kissed my cheek. "I won't be long," he whispered.
"Promise?" I asked.
"Promise."
Author note: I'll start the "Next Chapter" thing once I get a few chapters in. So, please bear with me, and just know that I won't be able to update as often as I used to.
