Chapter 1 - The Refuge

I wake up to the sound of boys coughing and snoring in their beds. I roll over on the hard mattress and place my bare feet on the frozen floor. My trousers are torn and covered in layers of muck, my vest and shirt aren't any better. I pull my boots on and tie up the fraying laces.

The guards start banging on the walls with their clubs. "Get up! Get yer asses out of bed!" They yell and I watch the boys scramble out of bed to avoid another beating.

"Hey Sticky, you's gotta get up." I shake my head as Charlie tries and fails to wake up the other boys.

Someone leans over my shoulder. "Still holding onto you's hope eh Liv?" Jay asks from the top bunk.

"I's been in da Refuge longer than all of you'se. More than seven years." I remind him. "My days got to come some time's."

We all snap to attention as Snyder strolls into out bunk room. "Olive Kelly. My office. Now!" I follow Snyder the Spider into his office. He shuts the door behind me and I begin to feel worried. "You know why you're here?"

I raise my head. "I's believe so."

"You lied to the nuns about abuse in here." He slams a fist onto his desk and gives me a sly smile. "They took a kid with them when they left."

I smile. At least whatever beating I'll get will be worth it knowing that some kid got out of the Refuge. "Well sir." I start sarcastically. "Thank god."

He stands nose to nose with me. "Take off your vest Kelly. Now."

"What you's gonna do?" I sneer. "Beat a kid cause you's is weak."

He grabs a whipping stick from the corner of his office and snaps it across my arms. "Your vest Kelly."

I've learned after being in the Refuge for so long that you can't let Snyder hear you squeak. I unbutton my vest and clench it between my fists. He walks behind me and before long I can hear the swish of the cane as it arcs through the air and connects with my back. The pain is quick and loud. Snyder counts off twenty whips.

"You's done yet?" I ask through gritted teeth.

He smiles at me before his fist hits my eye. That's going to leave a bruise. "Now I'm done. By the way Kelly. You have three days left."

I take that information and stagger out of his office and back to my bunk room. The boys are all sitting about anxiously for me to get back. I lean on the doorframe and give them a weak smile.

"Heya boys. Guess who's got three days." I let a tear leak out the corner of my eye as the pain grows.

Jay jumps from the top bunk and hurries over. He puts my arm around his shoulders and walks me to my bunk.

"God Liv, Snyder soak'd you's good this time." Ollie comments, letting worry creep in around his nonchalant speak.

I let out a sob as Jay helps me lie down. "Sorry Liv. God I's is sorry."

"It ain't you's fault Jay." I try to reassure him. "Just don't let Tiny see me's like this."

I give in to the pull of sleep. Knowing that I'm going to be out in three days.

-/-

I hug my boys tightly. Giving them each a quick peck on the cheek, then ruffling Charlie and Tiny's hair. These boys got me through a lot. We've become like a family.

"I's gonna miss you'se. I'll do everything I's can to get you'se out. Promise." I try not to cry in front of them.

"Time to go." A guard shoves me roughly towards the gates and I look back. Sticky, Charlie, Jay, Ollie and Tiny all smile back and wave. I know how much this is hurting each of us as the guard pushes me through the gate and onto the street.

He smirks at me. "An orphan like you? I give it two months and you'll be back."

I stand up and smile. "Well as long as I don't have to see you's ugly mug."

I laugh and turn around, ready to face the new day.

-/-

"S'cuse me. Can you's tell me where to find Jack Kelly?" I ask the first newsie I find on the street.

He looks me up and down then smiles. "Who's askin'?"

"Olive, That's Liv." I tell him quickly.

"You's got a last name?" He puts his pape back into his bag.

I shake my head. "No."

He laughs. "Me neither. I'll take you's, but I got's to sell my last papes."

I stand behind him and watch as he flags people down by lying about the headline and making up sob stories.

A kindly old man buys his last paper for a nickel and he turns to me grinning. "Let's get walking then. I'll take you's to Jack."

I follow him through the streets of Lower Manhattan, I know that if I'm not careful I'll get lost and quick; everything is different now. We get to the door of the newsboys lodging house before I even start to think it might be a mistake. The newsboy opens the door for me and I follow him in.

"Jack, there's a goil lookin for you's!" He yells into the bustling room.

Everyone stops bouncing around and turns to look at me. The room is completely silent and all I can do is hold my breath and wait.

"Jackies got a goil?'

"Where's she come from?"

"Looks like she's just got out of the Refuge."

I try to ignore the whispers as they fly around the room. I take a deep breath as I see Jack and a newsboy with a crutch step into the room. Everything around me darkens and I start to have a hard time breathing.

"Sparks!" Jack looks surprised to see me.

I put my hand up. "Don't call me that Jack. It's not my name."

"Fine. I'll call's you Olive. Can we's talk?" He asks gently, looking defeated.

I shake my head. "Bad idea Jack. I's got nothin to say to you's. I just need's a place to stay."

One of the boys apparently is able to put two and two together. "Wait, Jack you's got yourself a sister?"

"Please, we's haven't been related in years. Ain't that right Jackie?" I ask him angrily.

A boy with a limp looks at Jack. "What's she meanin' Jack?'

I walk towards the door, scuffing my feet on the splintering ground. "He up and left me's in the Refuge. I's changed my mind. I don't need your help. I don't want it." I watch to see Jack's reaction through sad eyes. "I'll sleep on the street's."

I open the door and step out onto the cobblestones. I shut the door behind me and yell at myself. I should have known how that would go. I don't know what hurts more, the fact that he doesn't seem to care, or the fact that he hasn't come after me.

-3rd Person POV-

Specs adjusts his glasses. "Well's someones gotta go after her's." He looks around the room. "Ain't they?"

All the newsies look to Jack for some direction. "I's gonna go after her's." Jack walks to the door and opens it to find an empty alley. He steps back into the lodging house. "Newsies! I need's you'se help."

They can all see the dramatic change in their leader since his sister showed up. So of course, they're all going to help him find her.

"I got Midtown."

"I got the Bowery."

"I got the Bronx."

"I'll take Harlem."

"You's and Specs take Queens and the East Side."

Crutchie limps over to Jack. "I'll stay's here in case she comes back." He pats Jacks arm. "Don't worry the guy's is gonna find her."

-/-

-Olive POV-

It's colder than I remember it being. I never had a chance to change my clothes, and I'm in the same ones I left the Refuge in. I cross my arms trying to keep the little warmth I have left inside.

I remember the day Jack tried to escape, he talked it up so much. How excited he was to have me see the outside world again. I spent so long in that hell that I barely know what's what anymore. I want fresh air and open rolling fields, clean water and clothes that don't stink. But then I tripped, and one of the guards caught me; when I looked up Jack was riding away on the back of a carriage. He left me in the dust to rot, and he forgot about me.

I walk past an alley, then backtrack and sit down leaning against the wall. I don't worry about who can see me, it's so cold I don't care.

"Hey, she's over here's."

I can vaguely hear people walking towards me, but my eyelids droop and I quickly fall asleep.