I paced back and forth in the closet. I wanted time to go faster so I can face the pain quick. I should've told Jack the truth when I had the chance and now he's gonna know it the hard way. But at least I have a chance to hear everything's that's going on outside. I can't believe he even got the mayor here too.

Now I heard of the mystery man who gave stolen food and clothing to the boys at the refuge. I didn't know it was Jack. "Oh my God!" I thought in my head. It was him all along. He's not as selfish as I thought he was. I so totally owe Jack an apology not for being a spy. But for being such a jerk towards him. I don't know what Pulitzer's planning but I can gather it's going to be hard and tough. I pressed my ear to the door when I heard Jack was coming in.

"And which Jack Kelly is this? The charismatic union organizer or the petty thief and escaped convict?"

"Which one gives us more in common?"

"Impudence is in bad taste when crawling for mercy." Oh think again Pulitzer my brother's not here to beg for mercy I thought to myself.

"Crawlin' now that's a laugh. No I just stopped by with an invite. It seems a few hundred of your employees are rallying to discuss some recent disagreements. Now I thought it only fair to invite you to state your case directly to the fellas. So what do you say Joe, huh? Want us to save you a spot on the bill?" Good going Jack. A brave soldier never backs down and cowers in fear.

"You are as shameless and disrespectful of a creature as I was told. Do you know what I was doing when I was your age boy? I was fighting in a war."

"And how did that turn out for you?"

"Well it taught me a lesson and shaped my life. You don't win a war on the battlefield, it's the headline that crowns the victor."

"Well I'll keep that in mind when New York wakes up to front page of our rally."

"Oh rally till the cows come home. No paper in town will publish a word and if it's not in the papers, it never happened." I almost forgot about the strike blackout. I still tried to figure out a way to be heard if no newspaper will publish about the strike. Thanks a lot Pulitzer for making this harder on us.

"You may run this town Joe. But there are some of us who can't be bullied, even some reporters."

"Such as that young woman who made you yesterday's news. Talented girl and beautiful as well, don't you think?"

"I'll tell her you said so."

"No need she can hear for herself. Can't you darling? I trust you know my daughter Katherine." I fell back in shock. So this was why Katherine was here. She's Pulitzer's daughter. No wonder she won't tell me her real name and telling me to climb up to the window to her room. I knew she was hiding a secret but I didn't know it would be this. I pressed my ear again to listen on more. "Yes... My daughter. Now you're probably asking yourself 'why the nom de plume, and why doesn't my daughter work for me?' Good questions. I offered Katherine a life of wealth and leisure. Instead she chose to pursue a career and she was showing real promise until this recent lapse. But you're done with all that now, aren't you sweetheart?"

Great now her own father's breaking her down. Dreams and job. "Jack, I didn't mean to-"

"Now don't fill the boy with your problems dearest. Mr. Kelly has a plate full of his own, wouldn't you say, Mr. Snyder?"

"Hello Jack." I can tell Jack tried to run and by the sounds of struggling I can tell the Delanceys also entered the room as well. We're nearing my time to be exposed.

"Now does anyone feel a noose tightening? But allow me to offer you an alternate scenario. You attend this rally and speak against this hopeless strike. I'll see you and your sister's criminal records expunged and your pockets filled with enough cash to carry you both in a first class train departing from New York to New Mexico and beyond. You did say they both wanted to travel west, didn't you?"

"There ain't a person in this room who knows you stink."

"And if they know me they know I don't care. Mark my words, boy; defy me and I'll have every you and each and every one of your friends locked up in the refuge. I know you're Mr. Tough Guy but it's not right to condemn that little crippled boy to conditions like that. And what about your sister will she ever come to forgive you if you were the one that put her in the refuge again. And what about your pal Davey and his baby brother ripped from their loving family and tossed to the rats. Will they ever be able to thank you enough?"

I've had it. I slowly sunk to the floor and cried in silence. I know what Jack's going to do. He's gonna take the decision that's going to protect us all. He's doing this because of me. I put him up to this. If I hadn't gone to the Delanceys in the first place none of this would happen. I crawled to the back of the closet and continued crying in a fetal position. I really need Crutchie or Scarlet right now. I need their comfort. But would Crutchie ever look at me the same once he finds out that I'm the reason that the strike fell apart. I was strangely ready for Jack to find out. I was ready to see me for what I really am. And I've decided this once Jack takes the money and leave there'll be nothing left in my life. All the newsies will hate me. I'll go back to being that unloved nobody. The best way to deal with my problem is to maybe get rid of myself. and I don't mean running away. I mean ending my life.

The world doesn't deserve people like me but yet there are people like me who enjoy doing what they do. But there are others who feel the guilt everyday that a loved one has died or fled the state because of them. And they feel the hatred from the people around them. The ones who end their lives to make life easier for the rest of their loved ones. I belong to that group.

It felt like hours being in the closet. I awoke when I heard the doorknob jiggling. It's time. I sat up and let the Delanceys take care of me. "It's time now Eliza. Get ready to face the pain." Oscar reached out his hand and I took it. He and Morris led me down to the basement. This was the most painful thing I had to face. "We came down here to show you our new little pet. You'll love her." Oscar pushed me down the stairs and I landed right in front of Jack.

"Eliza! What is she doing here? Let her go! She has nothing to do with this!"

"I'm afraid she has everything to do with what's happening. While you and your newsies were off wasting your time on your silly strike. She was the one who kept us entertained with the information we brought. We knew every single plan you had thanks to her."

"No... No! It can't! It can't be!" I looked down tears in my eyes. I'm creating more pain for Jack than what he had before. "I'm afraid it's all true." Oscar walked right up to me and crouched down to me. "What a cute little girl you are but yet you do some very terrible things." he said holding my chin. "I really liked you I did." I led my face away when he was just about to kiss me. "Jack I'm sorry! I didn't know what I was getting into!" Oscar cut me off in front of me when I tried to walk to Jack. "Enough I believe you caused enough pain for our tenant here. Let's go." I tried fighting against Oscar and Morris. There was more I had to say to Jack. I was desperate to apologize. I felt a taste of Oscar's brass knuckles in my gut. I fell down the floor gripping my gut in pain.

Jack was so close to killing Oscar. He was on top of Oscar ready to soak him. His attention was diverted toward Morris who was holding me in a headlock. "I told you we were given discretion to handle you as we see fit. And this being one of them. I know you have a soft spot for her. You've done enough leaving her in the refuge to suffer but what about her death. It'll be a shame to kill this beautiful little girl when I could be having fun with her but if you're not going to behave this is the way I have to get you to behave."

Every sentence that Morris said he tightened his grip. What made it worse was when he pulled out a knife and held the blade close to my lips. "If you don't want to see your sister's blood staining the floors I suggest you step away from my brother because I really would like to some damage on her lips right now. She won't have any use for them. Not certainly for that crip she admires so much" Jack was about to punch Oscar and then I felt the knife cut a little bit of my skin. It was getting closer to my lips. That was when Jack had to come to terms.

I was clawing at Morris's arm when Jack stepped away from Oscar. "You can do anything you like to me but just don't hurt Eliza. Let her go." I gasped in shock weakly. He surrendered a fight to protect me. He did all that to save me. Normally he would try to fight off Oscar and Morris but he didn't. Morris dropped me to the floor and I was there lying down gasping for breath. Oscar came and grabbed me by the hair. "Now are you going to be a good little girl or are we gonna have to do this the hard way." he said. "I'll go with you." I weakly said. "That's a good girl."

They dragged me back to the basement. Back to Scarlet. I'm scarred now. Not badly but I'm scarred inside. The scar on my face can heal in no time but what about the scars I hold inside of me. How am I gonna get rid of those? "What happened to you? You look beat? What did they do to your face? What did you do to her?! I want to complain! Please just let us go she needs help!" I shushed Scarlet quickly. "Just forget about it. It's not worth it." I walked to the darkest part of the room to be alone. I put my head down and continued crying. This is all my fault I kept thinking. And even though Jack didn't make his decision yet it's still gonna be my fault.