Here is another chapter. I won't bore you with a long intro. I don't own Newsies. If I did, I would be playing Crutchie in Africa next year.
Tiny woke up to the sound of groaning. "Crutchie? Crutchie, are you okay?"
"Ugh, ya I'm fine."
"Hey, Jack came by the window earlier. We told him youse couldn't come to da window cause youse was sleepin'."
"Wait, Jack came by?"
Tiny vigorously shook his head.
"Aw, man. He's probably worrin' bout me now. I gotta tell him I'm okay!"
"Crutchie, calm down! Youse is gonna wake everyone up. And how is youse plannin' to tell him somethin'?"
"I'll write him a letter."
"How do ya plan to get him a letter?"
"I don't know, but I'll figure it out."
"Whateva. I'm goin ta bed."
Crutchie blew out the candle and heard a knock.
"Crutchie? Crutchie!? Are you in here?"
"Romeo?" Crutchie jumped off his bunk and limped over to the window.
"Oh my God! Crutchie, what did they do to you?" Romeo's eyes started to water as he got a full look at Crutchie's injuries.
"Romeo, Ise is fine. But you can't be here. What if they catcha?"
"Crutchie, stop worryin bout me. You look like youse is almost dead."
Romeo reached a hand through the bars and grabbed onto Crutchie's hand.
"Crutchie, don't worry we'll get youse outta here."
"I'm fine. Dontcha worry about me."
"Crutchie…Charlie, stop. Please, stop. You don't have ta pretend anymore."
Crutchie looked into Romeo's all-to-knowing eyes. Tears escaped down his face.
"Romeo, I don't know if I can keep goin' in here. It's so hard…"
Romeo squeezed the older boy's hand and tilted his face back up.
"Hey, you know Mark used ta talk to me about how strong you were…are. I know you can make it through this, but if ya don't believe me, believe Mark."
Crutchie rested his forehead on their intertwined hands. Both boys jumped up as a footsteps started down the hall.
"Leave quickly!" Crutchie quickly let go of Romeo's hand and handed him the letter. "Give this ta Jack for me."
Romeo tossed the letter down to Specs and swung down the ladder.
Crutchie breathed a sigh of relief as the silhouettes of the two boys jumped over the gate.
"What, exactly are you doing by the window, Little Man?"
Crutchie shivered at the feeling of Snyder's ice cold breath on the back of his neck.
"J-Just lookin' at da moon, sssir."
"Ah, yes, the moon. Well, I think you've seen it enough. Why don't you turn around and look at me?"
Crutchie turned around and was greeted to the sight of Snyder grinning with his cane raised above his head. He closed his eyes and braced for the hit.
"Sir, please. He is very hoit already."
Crutchie opened his eyes and saw Tiny carefully approaching Snyder.
"I don't believe I asked for your opinion, boy. What's your name?"
"T-t-t-t-Tiny, sir!" The little boy trembled as Snyder approached him.
"No! What's your real name?"
"I don't know?"
"What kind of child doesn't know his own name? Are you an idiot?"
Crutchie felt something inside him break as Snyder started to swing his cane towards the small boy.
"Stop!" Crutchie surged forward and blocked the cane.
Snyder turned towards him with a murderous rage in his eyes. Crutchie yelped as Snyder grabbed his collar and dragged him out of the room.
"If you would like to take your little friend's place, then so be it." Snyder growled as he tied Crutchie's wrists to a post.
He quickly walked over to a crate and grabbed a whip. Crutchie whimpered and closed his eyes.
I believe you, Mark. I can get through this.
Whoo, that was sad. Alright, I think honestly I might be at the end of this story, but if there is something that you need to know about that I missed, leave a review and I will keep writing. I might think of something anyway, but if you have a burning idea, please share it. Also, a quick thank you to everyone that prayed for my grandpa. His results came back and instead of us having to just wait for him to die or instead of him having to go through a very high risk surgery which were the two options that we had pretty much narrowed it down to, the tumor in his kidney is not going to grow nor is it cancerous. So, he will not have to undergo any operation, and is not at risk of dying from the tumor anymore, so from the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU! Alright, it's 12:13 AM MST, so goodnight, goodmorning, and good everything in-between!
