Hi guys! I miss this story. It's been a while but wow school is sucking the life right out of me. I'm tired all the time. It sucks. But I figure I should wait to write till I'm at least a little bit aware of what I'm writing. That's why these updates are taking so long. Sorry about that. But here we are and I'm so happy to be updating this story!
bexlynne: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like all the little interactions. I loved writing when Jack drew Katherine in class. It was adorable and I'm so glad you liked it. Also, just thank you for absolutely everything. You're an amazing, wonderful friend.
Fanz4life: You are amazing! I just thought I should tell you that. I'm so excited for you to read this chapter and to know what you think of it. I know that you really want your requested story as well and I'll apologize again and say that it should be coming up soon. I'm hoping to get that one started next week. I'll have a lot more time next week. Thank you for everything!
unofficialfansie: Aw I'm so glad that this story made your day better. I'm not sure if that'll happen in this chapter, but we'll see. Thank you so much! I'm so glad you love this story! I love it too.
queenlmno: Yeah I'm sorry. I know I need to stop but once I start writing things just... happen. / Thank you so much for your review! They mean a lot to me!
NASA: Thank you so much!
BroadwayIsMyPurposeInLife: Thank you so so much! I really try with this one to make in intriguing and intense and I'm so glad you like it!
selizabethharrisburg: I'm so happy that you reviewed this story! I'm so glad you enjoy this story. It's one of my absolute favorite ones to write. And I'm definitely with you on the Newsies-going-through-high-school thing. There are a lot of them and they're all very similar. That's why I will do everything I can do to make this one unique. It's my goal. This is a story unlike any other one I've seen for this fandom and I really hope I can get it to stay that way. Also, be careful what you wish for... your wish just might come true. ;) Thank you so much for absolutely everything!
Teeloganroryflan: Thank you so much! I'm so happy you like it!
M J Azilem: Anytime, man! Thank you so much for reading! It truly means a lot!
Mythical Luna: Aww I feel guilty that I smiled when I read this comment. But I'm shocked that I could make you cry when you just don't cry. I must be doing something right. Thank you so much for reading!
So, a little note before going in: My descriptions of high school are not made up or based on movies. The things I describe happen at my school close to everyday. I don't know about anyone else, I just thought I'd let you guys know how realistic my description of high school is to me. Anyways...
Okay... here we go... prepare yourselves...
Enjoy!
Katherine sat in her class silently. She sat up in her chair with one of her hands lazily tapping on the small wooden desk in front of her and the other, holding up her chin. There was a binder out on top of the uncomfortable, small table she sat at and a blank piece of lined paper on top of it. A pencil bounced up and down between her moving fingers as she stared blankly ahead, a smile still placed on her features from the encounter she's had a few minutes ago with a new, charming, mysterious, new boy. Jack.
She found herself unable to focus on the lecture she was supposed to be listening to. The man in the front of the room was oblivious to the boys on their phones, snickering to each other about the latest girl they'd slept with. He didn't notice the guy that was asleep on his desk in the back of the classroom. He was ignoring the girl next to her, fixing her make up and hair. Why should he take any notice to her, sitting in a class and day dreaming about a boy she'd just met?
What she didn't expect, however, was for someone else to notice. "Bet you're glad you got out of that mess." Katherine looked over to see the girl fixing her hair and makeup speaking to her.
"What mess?" The beautiful girl wasn't too taken into the conversation with her classmate. But she was too polite to ignore her, no matter how badly she wanted to. Those polished nails and pristine hair always made her cringe. Why did kids try so hard to be models?
"That mess of a teenage boy that was practically throwing himself at you in the hall." The other girl wasn't even looking at her. She was too busy perfecting her face full of color that made her look inhuman.
Katherine's eyes widened in shock. She didn't think anyone would've noticed. She hoped no one did. Sadly, she was wrong. Someone had noticed. Someone she wished hadn't. That, however, wasn't what bothered her the most. She was irritated that this girl was judging this boy without even knowing his name. "Jack."
The other girl stopped and looked at her, dumbfounded. "What?"
"His name," Katherine clarified for her. "He has one, you know. Jack. Jack Kelly." The girl tried to force away the smile that creeped up on her when she thought about him telling her his name. She sighed before turning back to the teacher at the front of the room. But her neighbor wasn't quite finished yet.
"Oh my God, you're already crushing!" Katherine groaned. She had no desire to continue this conversation. It was clear to everyone but the girl next to her that she was getting irritated. "What's your father gonna say?"
Katherine didn't respond. That question had stunned her into silence. And the other girl smirked at her. She didn't turn to look but she could feel the smugness practically radiating off of her. "He wouldn't approve, Katherine. No one would," she stated in such a condescending tone, Katherine thought she might hit her. All she could do was remind herself to breathe. "That guy, whatever his name is, is nothing. He has no money and no reputation. Let him down easy. I'm sure someone so low class would understand."
The Plumber girl clenched her teeth together. This boy... Jack... he wasn't nobody. And damn it, she was going to find out who he was behind that charming smirk. She wanted to know him. And she suspected the same from him. And for the next hour, all she could think about were those mysterious green eyes. These kids may not see it, but she did. He had a story to tell. And she wanted to hear it.
"I hope you wanted a friend, Mr. Kelly..." she found herself muttering to no one. "Because now you've got one."
Jack thanked God when the bell rang. It was the last class of the day. He didn't think he'd ever waited longer for the end of a day in his life. He packed up his things and stood up, taking one quick glance around the room. All the desks were in perfect rows. The chairs left a constant space between each column. It was so perfectly organized. It made Jack a little nauseated. Nothing in his life had ever looked so pristine. He wasn't sure he wanted it that way. But for now, he supposed it was better than the disaster of a life he was living at home.
The classroom was clearing out. Jack slung his bag over his shoulder, ready to leave. Ready to go see his boys. But a hand caught his shoulder forcing him to turn around.
"Where do you think your going, newbie?" The voice was cruel and condescending. Something Jack had had quite enough of in his seventeen years of life. Those dark eyes glared daggers at him and Jack ripped himself from the grip, grumbling under his breath. But the other boy didn't like that. "Ya got something to say?"
Jack rolled his eyes and scoffed, turning and walking away, making it all the way into the hall. But the bully wasn't finished yet. "Don't walk away from me!" The other boy ran out behind him. Jack just kept going. But he wasn't ready for the threat that followed. "You can't be with your stupid brothers all the time! Someday they might run into some trouble."
At this, Jack stopped. He ground his teeth together before he turned to the boy. "Leave them alone, Morris."
The bully smirked. "Stay out of my way and maybe they'll be okay. But if that illiterate punk raises a hand at my brother or me ever again, I can't make you any promises."
Jack clenched his fists at his sides. He couldn't fight. Not there. Not then. Not after he'd made it through the day.
"Nobodies like you don't do too well around here," Morris continued. "So do yourself a favor and stay in line." And that was it. Then the bully turned and left, leaving Jack with a mind full of threats on the two people that held closest.
The halls were going silent. Teenagers were passing him by, laughing and arguing with each other, desperate for the fresh air outside of their daily prison. He was being shoved out of the way of oblivious other kids and he found the only thing he could do was move against the lockers, not sure where he was going. Only knowing that the spot he was at looked like the one he been at earlier, with his brothers. That was when he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Jack whirled around, startled by the sudden touch before he saw her. That soft brown hair, those deep, wonderful eyes, and those two, perfect lips that were barely curled up in a small smile. And, despite the conversation he'd just had, he felt himself smiling at the sight of this girl he didn't know.
Katherine jumped a little bit as the boy did. But once he turned to her, she felt her smile fall back into place. "Hi..." she found herself saying, awkwardly.
He flashed her an award winning smile. "Hi, Plumber." He placed his arm practically over the girl's head in a flirtatious manner, causing her to giggle a little bit. "What're ya, followin' me?" he teased.
She scoffed. "Don't flatter yourself, Mr. Kelly. You happen to be right next to my locker," Katherine stated, matter-of-factly.
Jack smirked and moved away, allowed her to twist her lock and open the thing up, revealing neatly stacked books and a container of pens and pencils on different shelves. Jack watched her place some things in her bag and then shut her locker, smiling at him as she turned to face him. "So... what's your story?"
Jack raised his eyebrows as he leaned his back against the lockers again, crossing his arms over his chest. "My story?" he repeated, curious as to what she meant.
"Yeah. Who are you, Jack Kelly?" she inquired, taking a step toward him, squinting her eyes up at him, awaiting his answer. He smiled his perfectly charming smile at her.
"Who says I got a story?" he shot back, playfully. He was smitten. And he couldn't stop himself. She was beautiful. Her eyes made his heart flutter and her smile made him feel like he was flying. He couldn't hide that feeling forever.
"Well, what kind of guy are you? You're not like others, I can tell you that." Katherine watched Jack smirk. He was about to answer when something behind the girl caught his attention. And his face fell, immediately.
"Right now, I'm a guy who only sees one of his brothas when he should see two." Jack pushed himself off of the wall with a sigh, walking around Katherine. The girl turned to watch him walk up to another boy. A boy with a crutch and a bag hanging over both of his shoulders. Katherine stood and watched the two interact, surprised at the scene.
"Where is he?" Jack asked his baby brother, hoping that the other was nearby. The younger boy limped up to him and shook his head.
"Davey's lookin' for him," Crutchie explained, quickly as he stopped in front of his big brother. "He was s'posed ta meet me outside my last class. I don't know where he is."
Jack sighed and wrapped an arm around the boy, assuring him it was okay. Crutchie leaned into the embrace as if he hadn't been in his brother's arms for days. "Cmon, kid. It okay..." Jack smiled. He knew the today hadn't been the greatest but if he could get his brothers to smile, he considered the day a win. So he grabbed the cap off of his own head and lovingly placed it over his brother's blond hair. When the boy smiled, so did Jack. So did Katherine.
Jack looked back up at the girl in front of him, still holding his brother close to his left side, feeling the metal crutch be clutched tightly underneath the younger boy's arm. And suddenly, he remembered he hadn't yet introduced his brother to this girl that he'd taken a strong liking to. "I'm sorry, Katherine," he quickly apologized with a smile. Then he gestured to the innocence contained inside one small boy. "This is my baby brother, Crutchie."
Katherine's heart melted. Such innocence had been lost to her. She hadn't seen it in a long time and that smile made her heart flutter in response. She grinned back at him and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Crutchie." The young boy stopped for a moment as she reached for him, but, with a slight nod from Jack, he reached his hand out, letting go of his ever present crutch to shake her hand.
"Nice ta meet ya too..." Crutchie mumbled out, shyly. The boy watched Katherine's eyes light up when he spoke to her. He didn't know why she was so excited to be talking to him. The new gimp. He knew he didn't stand a chance here. But it made him feel better to know that at least someone was willing to give him a second glance.
"I found him!" A voice rang out through the almost empty hallway. And Jack could feel Crutchie's body be overcome with relief when a familiar groan met his ears.
Katherine glanced behind her new friend at the two boys making their way down to them. The taller of the two was dragging the other behind him. His hair was a mess and his brown eyes were blank as he was pushing all emotion to the side. But it was the other boy that caught Katherine's eye.
His curly blond hair was knotted and sticking up at odd angles. He was stumbling behind the boy, clearly older than him, tripping over his own feet as if he had no will to be up and walking. His hands were shoved in his pockets and a satchel dangled down by his hip as the other boy had him held gently yet forcefully by his arm. But what the girl took notice to the most were those blue eyes. Not only were they as mesmerizing as Jack's, but they told a story she couldn't quite clearly read. They were puffy and red all around and to anyone else in that God forsaken place they would look completely normal. But not to her. She could tell when someone had been crying. And, she quickly realized, so could Jack. And the last thing her eyes picked up on was the faded bruise, one that looked just like Jack's, peaking up from under, what looked to be, makeup.
"Racer, where the hell where you?" Jack's voice was gentle and quiet, as to not startle the boy walking up to them.
Before Race could even try to think up something. Something to get out of the conversation. A witty distraction or a passive comment, Davey was already speaking. And he could feel the eyes that landed on him as he tried to shrink in on himself, praying he'd disappear.
"I found him locked in one of the bathrooms near the cafeteria." Race looked solely down at the ground. He couldn't lift his gaze for anything. Not even when a safe arm wrapped around his shoulder.
"...Race?" His baby brother's voice couldn't even pull him out of his own head. He blinked back tears. He could clearly see four pairs of feet. Two of them were ones he knew. One of them was a new friend he was trying to warm up to. The last were two shoes he didn't recognize. Two brown boots that belonged to a woman. He couldn't break down. Not in front of a stranger.
"Racer, what happened?"
Race shrugged his arm out of Davey's grip but did not move away from his big brother's. His voice was broken and high pitched but somehow he managed to speak. "Can-... Can we just go, Kelly? Please?"
Jack glanced back at Katherine who gave him a sad smile. "I'll see you tomorrow, Mr. Kelly." And she began to back away, ignoring the look in Jack's eyes that gave away how badly he wanted her to stay.
"Same ta you, Plumber." And the girl turned and left, not fully grasping the situation she had just witness but knowing one thing; She wanted to make it better. Someday, somehow, she was gonna help these boys from the horrors they were suffering through. Little did she know, there was more than what was just on the surface.
Crutchie watched his older brother shake in Jack's arms. As Katherine walked away, he watched Race practically lose it. Davey tried to step towards the fifteen-year-old, but Jack shook his head at him. And Crutchie watched as Race turned to throw his arms around their older brother.
"Ya locked yourself in, didn't ya?" Jack sighed and glanced over at Davey who just shrugged. Race didn't respond, so David did.
"He wouldn't open the door. I had to get keys from the janitor." Jack wrapped his arms around the smaller boy. "He was sittin' in the corner... shakin'..."
"Race, what the hell were you thinkin'?" Crutchie's hadn't known his voice could be so intensely quiet. But Race peered up at him, from Jack's embrace.
"Sh-she wouldn't... leave me 'lone..." Race saw how scared his brother was. Damn it, he needed to pull it together. He turned his face back into Jack's shirt, trying desperately to hide the tears. But he felt his baby brother's shaky hands on his back. And it only made Race want to cry harder. "I had ta get away, Jack... she kept touchin' me... I didn't like it... i-it was like..."
Jack's eyes widened as he thought Race would actually say something. Something that Jack so desperately just wished he would say. Something about his last he would never speak of. But he didn't. He shook his head and pressed himself into Jack's chest.
Crutchie felt the tears well up in his eyes. Seven hours and they were already broken by the place so many teenagers called hell. Crutchie looked over to Davey who shrugged. "Who was his last teacher?" the older boy asked. And Jack gently pulled away from his brother, giving Crutchie a sad look as he noticed him crying too.
Davey watched Jack wipe away Race's tears and the younger boy sniffled, straightening up, trying to succumb to his confident, standoffish stature that the tall boy had seen for a split second with the other boys at the theatre. But Davey could see the act wasn't quite landing. He watched Jack give the boy a small smile as he gently took the small schedule from Race's sweatshirt pocket, quickly reading off a name. "Roland." And Davey's eyes widened in understanding. Jack noticed. "We got a problem here, Dave?"
Crutchie looked at the taller boy with worried eyes. "What the hell, Davey? Who is it?"
Davey sighed and looked around fast before he took another step to the brothers. He noticed the way Race shied away from him. He saw all their worried faces. "Roland has been known to..." How was he supposed to explain it? How was he supposed to review the rumor that hadn't yet even been spoken about to the school? "She's been known to get close to her students." That was all Davey was able to mumble out. The topic clearly made all of them a little bit uncomfortable. And Race let out a shaky breath before he sniffled.
"Sh... she was touchin' my hair... and sh-she was rubbin' my shoulders... I don't like her... I had ta get away." Race tried to contain himself before speaking again. "'N kids won't l-leave me alone, neitha'... they's all laughin' and shoutin' and teachers 're bangin' on desks and... I don't like it here, Jack..." Jack sighed when his brother tried to explain it. It wasn't necessary. The boy had been through enough in his life. They all had. They didn't need this.
"It's okay, Racer... you're gonna be fine." Jack saw Race's eyes flash a familiar anger, taught to him by someone Jack wished they could be rid of. Then the kid was back to feeling helpless and he stomped his foot to the ground. So Jack let Crutchie embrace him. And Race couldn't do anything but hug the smaller boy back, burying his face in his baby brother's shoulder as the younger boy grasped onto his shirt, trying to stop his own tears.
"Can we just get outta here?" It was a simple enough request. So Jack glanced to Davey who smiled to them.
"Yeah. Let's get outta here."
Jack sighed as they looked up at the apartment building. He didn't like it. The ground was good. He liked it down there. His brothers were down there. For a single moment, everything was okay. The sun was setting in the distance and the sky was a beautiful orange color. It made Jack's heart long for a place that they could go. A place where they would be safe from any danger. A place they'd wanted to be for so long it hurt.
"Can't we just go ta Medda's, Jack?" Jack glanced back at his gimp brother when the boy asked. He saw the hope and desperation in his eyes green eyes. He wish so badly that the answer could be yes. But he shook his head.
"Ya know how mad the Spider'll be." Jack's voice was barely a whisper as he gazed back up. He hated the view. Most would find it beautiful. But Jack could see through that. He saw the evil at the top of the building. It was waiting to swallow them whole. And the only thing he could do was lead his brothers right towards it, in fears of it growing darker by the second.
Jack glanced over at his other brother. Race was standing next to Crutchie, his hands shoved in his pockets as he looked up at the cruel apartment too. The blue eyed boy caught his gaze and they made a silent agreement. The same one they'd made everyday for four years... for forever.
They made it to the top of the fire escape. Jack quietly slipped the window open and stepped in. Glancing around, he saw nothing out of the ordinary. The main room was almost empty. There was a beer on the table, half finished, and the room smelled of smoke and alcohol. But Jack knew that the room couldn't be empty for much longer. So he helped his brothers in too.
Crutchie let his older brothers pull him into the room. Race held his crutch as Jack practically scooped him up and carried him through the window. And once he was back on the ground, he grabbed his crutch back as fast as he could, letting his blue eyed brother slip in as well.
They were in the dreaded apartment for all of a minute to get the window shut before a gruff voice was heard and all three heads turned to face him like their lives depended on it.
"You were supposed to lay low." That was it. That was how he started. The low, angry growl. And then Jack stepped in front of his brothers, making sure to defend them with everything he had.
"What the hell are ya talkin' about, Snyder?" Jack was a ticking time bomb. His emotions had been bottled up all day on account of the shaking boys in his arms and the girl he couldn't get off of his mind. In that moment, everything was coming back to him. He had lead his brothers into the unknown, terrified of what might be discovered about them. He'd held them in his arms when they were scared and the old man didn't even care that they were hanging on by a thread. Seven hours away from each other with teachers leaning over their shoulders at every moment trying to get out their every secret. Seven hours of bullies trying to expose them as cowards and misfits. Seven hours of the deafening bells and orders and other kids only to come home to a man who wanted nothing more than a paycheck. Only to come home to a man with stress and frustrations and two clenched fists.
The man stepped up to him. His dark eyes were furious and nostrils flared with irritation. Jack saw that his tie had been removed from the rest of his ensemble. The suit he was wearing was unbuttoned and it truly looked as though the man didn't care about how he looked. And then Jack quickly realized the worse part of everything. The man wasn't even close to drunk.
"I just got a very interesting phone call." Snyder's eyes were pointed behind Jack to the boy whom they all knew was the least favored of their small family. And Jack didn't have to turn around to see Race's gaze shoot down to the floor in a panic as he tried to figure out what he'd done wrong now. "A Mr. Kloppman." Jack didn't move as the man took another step forward. "Raising a fist at a classmate and then..." The hated man actually laughed before he spoke again. "And then not being able to read?"
Jack bit his cheek. He held back his growl and tried to stop his hands from balling up in fists.
"No wonder no one wants you, boy." The word held so much venom. So much hatred. "Who would want a fifteen year old kid who doesn't know the simplest things?"
Race felt the tears welling up in his eyes. He felt the blood rush up to his face as he became beat red, embarrassed at the words flowing from the man's mouth. He clutched onto the strap that crossed his chest and connected to his bag.
"It ain't his fault, Mr. Snyda'. He's tried-" Crutchie's voice was so small and terrified. It shook with every word he spoke as he stepped closer to his brother.
"Shut up, crip!" The boy jumped at the sudden outburst. And he stepped closer to Race. Their arms were touching, but neither of them dare moved after that. They just stood behind Jack, unsure of what was to follow.
"Out of all the kids in the world, why did I end up with such idiots?" Snyder shook his head in disappointment. Then he pointed to Race. "You'll never be more than a stupid bastard." The boy's head fell with more shame in every word. "You can't do anything right, you worthless piece of-"
"Shut up." Race gasped quietly and his gaze shot over to his big brother.
"Jack-"
"No, Race. Ya ain't stupid. None a' that's true." Jack straightened up to his full height, challenging the man eye to eye with just the look on his face. "You're the one who made us go ta that place. This ain't their fault!"
The smack echoed throughout the room. The two younger brothers held their breath when the noise sounded. Neither of them had it in themselves to look up from the floor when their protector gasped in pain. All they could do was wait for the yelling to continue, assuming that slap would be Jack's one warning. Assuming that Jack would take it. But he didn't.
A scream ripped from Jack's throat as he stomped up to Snyder. He shoved the old man back. And he followed through with a swift punch to the chest. It took the boy a moment to realize what he'd done. And as he he did, his anger started to melt away and began to transform into mere panic instead. He took a step back, breathing hard.
Race looked up at his brother. When he saw Jack in the beginning stages of fright, he grabbed his little brother, who was tensing up and watching their guardian recover from the blows and grow angrier. "No... please..." The boy was about to launch himself into that fight. And Race stopped him just before he could.
Crutchie gasped when two strong arms wrapped around his frame. His crutch fell from under his arm and clattered to the ground as he was lifted off of the floor. "Put me down!"
Race ignored the boy. His brother fought against his hold and kicked his legs, trying to get to Jack as the screams started. Race held back his own sobs as he heard the oldest of them screaming for the man to stop. He dragged Crutchie to the back room.
"Race! Stop!" Crutchie didn't even know he was crying as Race gently dropped him down onto the bed. "Jack! He's hurting him!"
Race was beginning to get frantic. He heard the screams too. But he had to protect Crutchie. No matter what... he had to protect his baby brother. So when Crutchie tried to stand up screaming and crying out for Snyder to stop, for Jack to be alright, he pushed him back down onto the bed and placed his hands on either side of the gimp's face. "Hey, hey, hey, Crutch. I need you to calm down, alright?"
"He's hurt and he's screamin' and I don't like it, Race..." Crutchie was mumbling so fast. Some of it was nonsense. The boy was shaking. And Race tried to wipe away his tears only for more to come rushing in.
"Breathe, Crutchie..." Race tried to block out those horrific noises from the other room. The sound of harsh hits and pained cries. He held back a scream whenever the other boy couldn't.
Crutchie was still fighting against his big brother. Jack was crying. They could hear him sobbing. Crutchie didn't know how long it had been since he'd heard his oldest brother cry. But the hits seemed to have stopped. They could hear a low, condescending voice. It didn't take much to place who it belonged to. And Crutchie continued to shake and cry as Race's arms encircled him, bringing him into a safe hold. He felt Race playing with his hair and cradling his head to his chest but something about it felt wrong.
Race held his brother close and let the younger boy squeeze his eyes shut tight as they waited in silence for whatever was to come next. That was when the tears fell from his eyes. That was when he couldn't keep it together any longer.
Jack's vision was blurred. He was breathing hard. His whole body hurt bad. He was curled up in a ball on the ground beneath the couch, trying to shield himself from further harm. His hands were clutched together at his chest and his eyes were closed tight.
"Pathetic. How do you think you can take care of two kids when you can't even defend yourself?" Jack let in shaky breaths, trying to calm himself down. He could feel the tear tracks that stuck to his face. He knew that he was letting out an occasional sob or whimper. But he was glad his brothers weren't getting hit. He was glad it was him. "How dare you come at me like that, boy?" Jack didn't respond to a word the man said. He only tried to remind himself to breathe. "Do you have any idea what I could do?"
The silence that passed was long and awkward. It made Jack all the more uncomfortable. He made the mistake of opening his eyes and he could see the old man scowling at him. Jack tried to shrink in on himself more when Snyder crouched down next to him. He tried to swat away the hand that rested in his hair only to have his wrist grabbed. "I think you need to be taught a proper lesson, you little bastard." And Jack's eyes widened.
The two boys in the back room held onto each other for dear life. Race could feel Crutchie sobbing against him and he hoped the boy couldn't feel the same. He closed his eyes praying that Jack was alright. He wished it would all just end.
That's when Race heard a loud crack. And then he heard the inevitable cry that followed. "Oh my God..."
Crutchie's green orbs shot open at the sounds coming from the main room. He tried to push through Race but the older boy held him still. "Race, he has the whip!" he screamed, as if the his brother didn't know.
Race squeezed his eyes shut, praying for it all to just go away. He knew it. He knew Snyder had the whip. But there was nothing either of them could do to stop it now. So he just held onto Crutchie tighter, resting his chin in the boy's hair and whispering a small prayer. It was something he hadn't done in a long time.
Jack's arms were above his head, bound together with duck tape at his wrists. He was on his stomach on the ground. He couldn't shield himself from the lashing on account of his hands being wrapped around the leg of a desk in the corner. Snyder made sure, even after his far too intense beating, that he couldn't move. He could feel his ribs throbbing. He couldn't be sure they weren't broken. And his head was killing him. His tongue was steadily bleeding from where he'd bitten it. The red substance dripped from his lips and his nose. He was sure he'd be choking on it if he were on his back. He could hardly breathe. The air had been knocked out of him. But Snyder wasn't done yet.
The whip cracked again and Snyder let the boy scream. "You brought this on yourself! Take it like a man!"
Race heard it again. The loud snap of the rope and the anguish that followed. He couldn't hold in a sob as he held the struggling boy in his arms tighter. His heart hurt. He felt his legs shaking as he knew he'd be unable to keep himself from doing what he did next.
"Don't move, Crutchie." He pulled away. He didn't want to. But this was worse than anything they'd been through in a long time. And he couldn't let it continue. He took a step back from the boy and made a move to the door.
"But Race-"
"I mean it, Chris!" Race didn't like raising his voice. Especially not at his younger brother who had no desire to be around loud noises. But if he hadn't done it, he wasn't sure the defiant, innocent boy would do as he'd asked. "Don't. Move."
Crutchie jumped at the use of that name. He jumped at the use of that voice. He hadn't heard either in a long time. But he didn't say anything. All he could do was do as he was told. That is... until Race slowly moved to the door, quietly sneaking out of it. And then Crutchie couldn't stay. He couldn't just sit and wait. So he stood on one unsteady leg and braced himself against the wall, making it to the door and sliding down the wall right next to it, peering out into the room he was rarely ever allowed to be in.
"Stop! Please!" Race clenched his jaw and snuck his way through the main room. He ignored the heart wrenching cries and hid himself from the view of a certain spider by crouching in front of the couch, knowing no one could see him there. His eyes were trained on the kitchen. If he could get there it would all be fine.
Crutchie watched from the small crack in the door. One of his green eyes peered through, allowing him to see Race, clearly. But he couldn't see Jack. Only his legs and the way Snyder stood above him. He could see the man's hand raised over his head and he could see the long, black, stick he held as he brought it down again and again onto his brother's back.
The boy watched as Race practically crawled into the kitchen and opened up a drawer. And Crutchie's eyes widened as he had realized what his brother was after even before the small metal thing was in his hand.
Jack screamed. It happened again and again and he cried. He closed his eyes, letting his mind try and wander to better days. Days of his childhood that were no where near golden. But Jack could say with confidence that it was better than this. So much better than this. And one more scream erupted from his throat before he heard the sound of something colliding and then a body falling to the floor.
Somehow, Jack mustered up the strength to open his eyes. But he didn't even need to do that to hear harsh breathing that wasn't his own. And he didn't need to do that to hear something metal drop to the ground. And he didn't need to do that to feel a shaky hand take comfort in his soft hair. But he needed to do that to see those blue eyes. They were terrified. But before Jack could say a word, his vision became dark around the edges and his breaths were too fast for him to be breathing healthily. With a mutter of a language Jack invented in that moment, the seventeen year old promptly let his eyes fall shut, unable to prevent the younger boy's terror, like he knew he should have, before he lost all consciousness.
Davey sat against on his bed, his back against the wall. He was being eaten alive by the silence in his own apartment. He felt himself letting tears grace his cheeks, not sure exactly what they were for, only knowing that there had been screams.
"Ta survive in this side of Manhattan, mindin' your own business is key."
The boy hadn't known exactly how hard that would be. But all he could do was respect the words and close his eyes, drawing his knees up to his chest and hugging his pillow close to him.
"I'm so sorry, Jack..."
Well... that was emotional. I'm sorry everyone. I hope to come back to this one soon. Any suggestions on what to update next?
Thank you so much to bexlynne! She gave me so many ideas for this chapter and ones to follow! Go read her stuff! They're so good and I can guarantee she's gonna be posting some pretty great stuff in the future! She's just kind of fantastic.
As always, thanks for reading! Make sure to tell me what you liked, what you didn't, what you'd change or what you'd improve by leaving me a review! Love ya babes!