Prima and Chase each took one of Spark's arms as they exited the stage so the audience couldn't see Spark's pronounced limp.

"Let me see your ankle." Chase said, leading Spark to the vanity chair.

Prima helped Spark change into her last costume while Chase assessed her injury.

"Ow!" Spark exclaimed as Chase touched a tender spot.

"Did he tie it too tight?" Chase asked as she examined some new bruises and rope burn on Spark's ankle.

"Yeah," Spark muttered. "That's why it took me so long to get out of the tank."

Chase tensed with rage.

"The dancing earlier couldn't have helped either." Said Prima.

Chase exhaled sharply and rummaged through Medda's dresser for a bandage for Spark's ankle. Prima roughly dried Spark's hair with a towel until it was just damp. She instructed Spark on how to pin up her hair with the rose buds. When Chase found a suitable bandage she sat at Spark's feet once more.

"Keep it elevated," Chase said as she tightly wound the bandage.

"Ok," Spark said through gritted teeth.

"A few more tricks and the show is over," Prima added, slipping into a long, flowing white dress. With her light hair loose and flowing down her back she looked like a ghost. "Then yous can get outta here."

"How?" Chase asked. So far she hadn't come up with a good way to escape. Chase would be onstage or in the wings for the rest of the show, once she changed into her final costume: the black and white scandal she had seen earlier. Then girls were required to join Shade and the rest of the cast for a curtain call at the end. Chase was sure he wouldn't let them go so easily.

"I have some ideas." Prima winked.


When the water escape trick was over Helena watched the Delancey brothers walk towards the back of the theatre to their seats. Except they weren't going to their seats. Helena handed her notebook and pen to Story.

"I need some air. " She said. Shade was on to his next trick making live butterflies appear from a deck of playing cards so no one was really paying attention. She walked out into the hallway to the top of the stairs. The Delanceys were just exiting the theatre door. Helena ducked behind the banister so they wouldn't spot her. What are they doing? She thought as both boys entered a small, nondescript door. As soon as they were out of sight Helena ran down the steps. The door was unlocked. Taking a breath she entered. A long, dark, narrow hallway stretched before her. She could hear the muffled sounds of the music playing inside of the theatre. Helena crept along the wall toward the voices she heard. She approached a door that was open just a crack, dim light spilling into the hall.

"Conlon's gonna get the surprise of his life tonight. " Helena recognized the voice of Morris Delancey.

Surprise? What surprise? Through the crack Helena could see the brothers sitting in some sort of workshop. Half finished props and set pieces scattered about the room. They were loading twin Colt revolvers.

"Yeah, I can't wait to see it. Wipe that smug little grin of his face."

Of course Shade would do the bullet catch. That would explain the pistols. But wait-

Oscar and Morris weren't just loading the guns with powder only, but bullets too. And Helena could tell they weren't blanks.

"Put a lot a' powder in that one," Morris instructed. "We want it to be a night they'll never forget."

"Oh I don't think they'll be forgettin' this anytime soon." Oscar smirked. "Such a shame, the loss." he put his hand to his heart. His brother just laughed.

Helena gasped. She had to get out of there and warn someone!

"What was that?" Helena heard the sounds of chairs scuffing the floor. She had to run! Just as she turned to go someone grabbed her shoulder hard.

"Well, well, what have we here, Morris?" Oscar Delancey pinned her against the wall.

"Looks like this little Princess has been spyin' on us."

"Let go of me, you brutes! " Helena struggled.

The Delanceys shared a wicked smile. "See, we can't do that, sweetheart." said Morris.

"Yeah, we can't have you ruinin' the grand finale now, could we?"

Before Helena could open her mouth the Delanceys grabbed her and started dragging her through the hallway. She kicked and screamed but the two boys were too strong for her.

"NO," She screamed. "Murderers! You can't do this!" but the music was too loud for anyone to hear her cries.

The boys dragged her through the lobby to a coat closet. They shoved her inside.

"Shade will decide what to do with you after the show." said Morris.

"Yeah," said Oscar, "I look forward to that."

"Bye, Princess."

The door shut with a click.

"NO!" Helena banged on the door. "Someone help me!"


"Thank you, Vivienne." Shade said as Prima floated back down to the ground, following the movement of his hand. He had somehow levitated his sister six feet into the air without the use of wires or anything. The audience was in awe.

Prima smiled and bowed for the audience and then stepped back behind the curtain, emerging two seconds later wearing an entirely new costume, her hair done up with rosebuds. The audience laughed and applauded at this small yet amazing trick. She and Chase, who was waiting in the wings, both returned to Shade's side. Chase took his arm as she was ordered.

"Alright," said Shade. "For the final trick: a brush with death." Shade pulled a pistol from his jacket.

Helena was right. Spot thought. It was amazing how vulnerable Shade was making himself. But maybe that was his plan all along. He had to have some sort of dirty trick up his sleeve.

"Let's see if a human being can catch a speeding bullet mid air and survive, shall we?" Shade smirked as the audience gasped. "I need a volunteer. Who would like to give this pistol a try?"

This is it. Spot though, it's now or never. He raised his hand. A few others in the audience did the same.

"Vivienne," Shade said. "This gentleman in the front row looks like he's dying for the chance to get up on stage." He gestured towards Spot who stood up.

Vivienne descended the steps into the audience and she took Spot's arm.

"I'm sorry, Spot," she whispered.

"It's ok, Prima. I know this isn't your doing."

She looked at him. "You remember me?" They slowly made their way to the stage.

"Yeah," Spot smiled a little. "You look more like yourself than you did in October."

Prima blushed a little. She was wearing less makeup than back then, favoring a more natural look like Chase. But as much as she liked Spot, Prima had a mission to accomplish.

"Listen to me, Spot. After this trick Chase is going to go back to Medda's dressing room with Maddie- er, Spark." Prima whispered quickly out of the corner of her mouth. "When the trick is over there's gonna be the curtain call. Shade will take a long time giving his final bows so take that time and meet the girls around back and run."

"What?"

"It's the only chance you'll get. Just take it." she said.

He looked at her. "Thank you," Spot could see a dull purple shadow underneath Prima's eye. A bruise she tried to conceal with makeup. Spot clenched his fist. To think that Shade would go as far as hit his own sister. It made him sick. "What's gonna happen to you?"

"I'll be fine." But the tears sparkling in her eyes told a different story.

No, Spot had to continue with the plan. To save two girls and leave another in danger… He wouldn't be able to live with himself.

Prima and spot came to the center of the stage to Shade and Chase.

"Thank you, sir for your participation." Shade held out his hand.

Spot shook his hand without breaking eye contact with Shade.

"Tight grip," Shade remarked. "Now," he said turning back to the audience. "On to the trick." He handed Spot the pistol. "And just to make things interesting, my beautiful assistant Roselia will expertly catch the bullet."

"What?" Both Spot and Prima asked. Obviously Shade hadn't let Prima in on his ideas.

"It's the twist." Shade took Chase's hand and kissed it, letting his lips linger for a second.

As soon as Shade gave a hint of releasing she snatched her hand back. She already knew about Shade's "twist". He had told her in secret earlier. She held the bullet in her hand. The one she was supposed to "catch". It was a simple enough trick. The gun would be unloaded so no harm would be done. She just wanted to get it over with so she could escape and eat some real food. And actually get some sleep. She nodded at Spot. Just do it, she thought and she tried to smile, It will be ok.

While Shade took his time kissing Chase's hand, Spot had the perfect moment to slip a penny down the barrel of the pistol. Spot had never (intentionally) killed a person in his life. He had only one shot to do this.

"Are you ready, my lady?" Shade asked. Chase curtsied, her smile remained but her eyes were dark. "Are you ready, sir?"

Spot nodded slowly, not taking his eyes off of Chase.

"Then let's begin!"

Spot lifted his arm slowly, pointing the gun at Chase. He took a breath, his finger on the trigger.

Three… Two… One-

At the last second Spot turned the gun on Shade and pulled the trigger.

BANG!

The sound was deafening, in fact, Spot's ears were ringing. A few people in the audience screamed because of the sound. Spot's hand hurt for some reason. He looked down and saw that the gun was gone. Or at least, most of it was. Spot was still holding part of it, but the barrel was gone and his right hand was bleeding badly. As the puff of smoke in front of him cleared, Spot saw Chase with both hands to her mouth. Her eyes were as wide as saucers.

The audience was silent. Was this part of the show?

"Clever, Conlon." Shade said as he wiped the blood dripping from his lip. He had been hit with shrapnel. "I gotta say I did not expect that."

Spot dropped the gun, or what was left of it. The gun had exploded. But why? There were lots of ways a gun could malfunction. Too much powder? Or maybe there were two projectiles in the barrel...

"You," Spot said clutching his bloodied right hand. "You were gonna have me kill her!"

Shade smiled. "Brilliant plan, wasn't it?"

"Why, Shade? Why are you doin' this?"

"Because you killed my brother."

"FIRE!" Someone screamed. The red velvet curtain had caught fire from the explosion.


Helen's voice was growing hoarse from all of the screaming. It was no use. She would have to wait until after the show. But by then it might be too late.

Earlier Helena had tried picking the lock using a hairpin. She remembered that one of Skittery's friends, Swifty, had mentioned in passing that hairpins were useful tools for breaking and entering. Not that he had ever tried, of course. But it was too dark in the closet and she kept dropping or breaking the pins.

Helena sat back. She needed to preserve her voice for when the audience exited.

The closet started to feel warm and stuffy. It's my imagination. I just need to calm down.

she took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes.

What was that smell? It reminded her of the them when the Newsies used old newspapers as kindling at the lodging house. The ink burned bitter and smoke filled the room-

The music stopped abruptly. Helena heard a muffled scream and then the sound of a hundred people stampeding out of the theatre.

Irving Hall was on fire.

Helena banged on the closet door and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Someone! Please!" The commotion was evidence that no one was listening.


The audience was in uproar as they scrambled to escape impending blaze.

Shade and Spot ignored the chaos and continued their standoff.

"That was an accident!" Spot exclaimed. "And your brother killed Brooks!"

Shade shook his head, reaching into his jacket. He pulled out another pistol. Shade grabbed Chase's arm and pushed her down in front of him.

"It's time Brooklyn came into a new era. Out with the old." He pointed his gun at the couple.

Spot helped Chase up immediately and put himself in front of her.

"How romantic. Just think, Conlon, how much little Rosie will cry when you're dead. I'll leave her alive just long enough to see you take your last filthy breath and then you can both go to hell where you belong!"

Just as Shade pulled the trigger, Prima grabbed his arm.

"NO!" she screamed as the twins fought over the gun.

BANG!

For Spot it was like time had slowed. Everything seemed far away and blurry. Like he was in a tunnel. He felt an itch in his right leg.

Shade cursed. The bullet had shot low thanks to Prima. He shoved her off the stage. She hit her head hard on one of the chairs.

Spot tried to remain standing but his head started to feel fuzzy. He went down.

"Spot!" Chase cried, kneeling by his side. There was so much blood. "Wake up, Spot!" She slapped his face a few times but he wasn't showing a sign of stirring. A little relief washed over her as she felt his pulse.

"How sweet," Shade said, cocking his pistol once more. "Star crossed lovers. But it's such a cliche, don't you think?."

"How dare you!" Chase said. "Killing us isn't going to bring your brother back!"

"Couldn't hurt, could it? Besides, it's called revenge, Sweetheart." Shade pointed the gun at Spot to finish the job and he pulled the trigger. There was a faint clicking sound but no bullet. Shade cursed again. He must have given Spot the fully loaded gun by accident. "Oh well," Shade said as he threw the gun aside. "This might be better. You're going to suffer the way I suffered."

Chase stood in front of Spot.

Shade smirked. "Ladies first, then." And he took a swing.