"You want Brooklyn?" Chase lifted her chin and tried to look as queenly as possible.

"And eventually all of New York." Shade smiled deviously, leaning against the old printing press. Chase guessed that it was the same press that was used to print Denton's article that helped them win the strike.

Spark raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand how that has anything to do with us."

"It's really not you, Spark."

She flinched when Shade said her name.

"It's really Chase I need."

Chase glared at Shade hatefully. Her green eyes shone brightly in the light of the single bulb.

"Please share. What are you planning on doing with me?" She spoke, anger and sarcasm in every word.

Shade examined the printing press. "Nothin'," He said. "Yet. You see, your little strike over the summer inspired me. Someone new needs to step up and lead Brooklyn into the new century. Now that the strike is over, everyone's comfortable, back to the way things used to be..."

Chase's eyes widened the slightest bit. "Perfect timing for an uprising."

"Now is the time to seize the day." Shade smirked, looking up from the printing press. "Do you know if this press works?"

Chase didn't answer.

"No matter, I can figure it out myself." He crossed toward the girls, stepping into the light more "My boys have been preparing for this for months. They've been trying to answer this question: Just what is Spot Conlon's weakness?"

"And you think you have the answer?"

"Yes," Shade nodded. "And she's starin' right at me."

"What-"

Shade sat on the bed between the two girls and he turned to Chase. "Leverage, Hon'." It was all she could do not to punch him, but that wouldn't help her case. "Spot may seem like a street-hardened Brooklyn boy, but his problem is, he's gotten too attached to you. If anything happened to his darling Roselia," he brushed a stray blonde curl out of her face. "It would kill him."

Spark could see the color drain from Chase's face, but nothing in her eyes showed any emotion. Spark was close to tears though. She didn't know how the two of them would get out of this. She didn't like it that they were down in the basement alone with these boys. Anything could happen.

Chase was completely disgusted. "So that's it then? You're just going to kill him and take over?"

"Patience, love. We're workin' it one step at a time here." He said. "While I have you here, I want some information. I know Conlon has hundreds of birds all over this city. I'm gonna need their names and whereabouts."

"Why should we tell you?"

"You're going to want to tell me or..." Shade looked back at The Delancey Brothers, who laughed wickedly in response.

Spark was quick to respond. "I don't know anything, I swear." Chase could sense a little fear in Spark's voice.

"She's right," Said Chase, resigned. "She doesn't know anything. Let her go. You said so yourself, she's of no use to you."

"But she is. A little extra leverage. And I know you, Rosie, would do anything to keep her and the rest of your friends safe."

Spark shifted uneasily. Chase just stared at Shade, trying to hide her emotions.

"If you don't tell me what I ask, she'll be the first to go. Then your beloved brother and then Story and Jack Kelly... Every last one of them, until you talk."

"You think these two goons will be enough to eliminate my friends?" Chase spat.

"I have many more 'goons'."

Chase and Spark looked at each other. "You had them following us all around the city."

"Of course I did. They're my loyal Shadows." He was tiring of the conversation. "Now boys."

At Shade's command, the Delanceys roughly grabbed Spark and slammed her against the wall. Oscar pinned her arms back while Morris pressed on her throat with his hand. She could just barely breathe. "Make your choice."

Chase glanced from Spark to the Delanceys to Shade. Spark was making the most horrible choking sounds. Her eyes were wide and she thrashed against the Delanceys but they were too strong for her.

"Alright! I'll tell you. Just let her go!"

The boys released Spark. She dropped to the ground, panting and gasping for breath.

"I knew you would see it my way." Shade stepped away toward the stairs. He took his sister, Prima's hand. "Now lovelies, the hour is late. We will interrogate you tomorrow. Sleep well."


December 29, 1899

The lodging house was unusually quiet that morning. All of the joy was gone. Gone with Chase and Spark. Any of the newsies who had girls of their own (or girls that they liked) were scared to death that they would be kidnapped too.

Mush, Spot, Skittery, and Jack dragged themselves out of bed. It was a painful sight to see the four of them so grieved.

The boys congregated downstairs to figure out what they were going to do.

David and Les arrived shortly thereafter. "Hey ya guys-" He stopped when he saw their faces. "What's going on?"

Spot and Mush were in no condition to answer, neither of them even comprehended David's words. Skittery was in his own world, the events that had happened the night before we're so unreal. Jack spoke for them.

"Chase and Spark were kidnapped last night."

"What?! How- why- Where's Story? !"

"I'm ok." They all turned to see Story standing in the doorway with Helena and Denton close behind.

Her eyes were red and puffy. It looked like she had done a lot of crying. Her white scar was quite a contrast to her pink face.

"Oh, thank goodness!" David pulled her into a tight hug, lifting her a few inches off the ground. When he let her down, he turned back to his friends. "How did it happen?"

"They were walkin' from Brooklyn with Skittery an' they got attacked by two goons." Spot said, almost no expression in his voice. He stared off as he played with Chase's locket, which he wore around his neck along with his silver key, opening and closing it with a snap. He had tied the pink ribbon around his wrist.

"I-I f-fell asleep so they l-left me at h-h-home." Said Story, starting to cry again. "I-if I was w-with them m-maybe-"

"You couldn't have done anything, Story." Skittery broke his own silence, looking the girl right in the eye. "They were too strong for me and the other girls, they just woulda got you too. Consider yourself lucky."

This did little to comfort her. But Story, being the kind and nurturing soul she was, could tell Skittery was beating himself up inside.

"Oh, Skittery!" she crossed the room and embraced him, something Skittery had wanted since he met her. But he wasn't even thinking that now. He smiled less than half a smile.

"Have you guys done anything? Did you call the police?" David asked anxiously.

"I took care of that last night." Said Helena as she stepped into the room. "My uncle has some connections with the police force. They're patrolling the blocks nearby."

"And we got ads in the newspapers." Denton added.

"Which ones?" Jack questioned.

"All of them. 'The Sun', of course; plus 'The World', 'The Journal', 'The Tribune', 'The Herald', 'The Times'." Helena presented the stack of newspapers in her hands, one of each. "I have them all here, except for 'The World'." She handed one to David, Jack, Skittery, Mush, and Spot. The five of them anxiously skimmed the pages until they found the ads.

Mush found it first in his copy of 'The Journal'. "Two Newsgirls Missing." his voice cracked as he read. Helena put her hand on his shoulder for comfort. "Last night Madeleine 'Spark' Masi and Roselia 'Chase' Meyers, newsgirls of Brooklyn, were kidnapped by two men last night at around ten o' clock near Central Park. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Bryan Denton." followed by Denton's contact information.

Below the title were pictures of the girls. The first one was of Chase and Spot riding in Teddy Roosevelt's carriage after the strike, laughing because of something the governor had said. What hurt him the most was that Spot could remember the exact moment the photograph was taken. He could feel the heat from the summer sun and he could hear Chase's beautiful laugh, he almost liked it as much as her singing. He bit his bottom lip hard, until it bled, and then he stormed outside to get some air.

The second picture was of Spark and Story. Denton had taken the picture of the sisters Christmas day but he hadn't had them published in the newspaper. Helena had planned to compile all of the newsies' pictures and make a picture book for her friends but this was a better use of the photograph.

"You guys are gonna be late. Gotta get those papes before they're all out." Kloppman said, not in his usually cheerful voice.

As they exited the lodging house, Helena caught Skittery's arm.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school?" He walked, looking straight ahead.

"Uncle Denton told Ms. Trenton there was a family emergency." Said Helena. "Which is completely true. These girls are my only friends. They're like family to me."

"So what are you gonna do? Sit and wait by the telephone until someone calls with information?" Skittery laughed bitterly. "Like that's gonna happen."

"Well actually," Helena gave a half smile. It cheered Skittery a little. "Uncle Denton was going to walk the streets and look for suspicious activity and clues. And I thought, since I'm really not doing anything, maybe you could teach me what being a newsie is all about."

"Alright, then." Skittery let himself smile for real.