When she woke up, she was lying in the gutter, feeling, if anything, even worse than when she had passed out. It had been raining slightly, and the grime that had settled on her skin was tidemarked by raindrops that left little white patches in the yellow crust of her skin. She sat up slowly, unevenly, squinting painfully into the climbing sunlight. Stabbing shots of sickening pain swam around her skull, and she tenuously removed one hand from her mouth. Blood and vomit were grotesquely mingled between her fingers. She was lying in the shadow of a side-alley, still, the streets were empty. A lone passer-by suddenly broke the silence with her clicking heels. Instinctively, Anybodys shot back into the shadow, the unconsidered effort leaving her giddy. When her eyes refocused, she saw a PR girl - Rosalia - walking through the streets, glancing to right and left. As soon as she turned away, Anybodys crawled behind some crates, and huddled there, watching through the slats of wood.
Rosalia turned around - she was looking for someone. Help, it's me! Anybodys panicked, and held her breath. To her immense relief, Rosalia's shoulders slumped, and she gave a whistle.
"No luck, querida. She has vanished," Rosalia called to someone behind her. Anybodys shifted her position behind the debris to try and spot Rosalia's companion.
"Aie!" Anybodys froze in terror - it was Anita's voice. The tall Shark girl walked forwards, a wreck of her former beauty. Her dress was stained - with my blood, Anybodys thought, sickened. Her hair was scraped back into a knot, matted tangles still visible. There was a hole in one stocking. Anybodys saw Rosalia's face alter with mingled revulsion and pity at Anita's appearance. Quickly, the younger Shark darted forwards to slip a shawl over Anita's unkempt head and shoulders. The long waves of material extended over her dress, hiding the worst of the stains. She looked hunched and ancient in the ghoulish light, as Rosalia led her gently on. Anita's mumblings floated through the air to Anybodys, becoming fainter as time passed.
"What if she's dead- I never meant to hurt her- didn't know I had… but when she insulted Nardo…Nardo was my love… you understand, don't you, Maria?"
"Rosalia." Rosalia corrected her gently. Anita's head shook miserably.
They still haven't found Maria, Anybodys realised. And what did Doc and Action mean about "a meeting"? She cautiously crawled out from behind the boxes as the two girls vanished. Her heart, she realised, ached to return to the Jets. No way, sister. You're getting out of here, remember?
Anybodys sighed. Her head ached, and she was feeling too confused to think straight. How can I get out of here? she wondered. No money. Unsteadily, she wiped her nose on her good hand, and glanced at the streets. Suddenly, her heart lurched. Jets. The wall opposite her was covered in Jet graffiti… wow, I never knew we… they… made it so far into PR land. With a half-smile, she cautiously darted across the road, onto the opposite sidewalk. Gently, she traced the chalk outlines of the slogans and cartoons all around her. The largest, a proud boast in blue and green, brought a rueful smile to her bruised and painful jaws.
"Riff," she whispered, caressing the brick on which he had written. Suddenly, with a shuddering sigh, she threw herself against the wall, leaning with her cheek on the final F.
"Oh, Riff, you don't know how I miss you, now. Everything's gone wrong." She glanced down at her trembling hands, and sniffed apologetically. "You know - about Chino, and me?" She kicked the lower bricks. "I don't mean it… honestly… it was just a stupid dream. Like I could ever love the one who…" her words faded away, and she turned away from the wall, and started to plunge down a nearby street. Blood flashed black into her find, and she had inclinations to vomit. Her head told her to RUN, but her heart slowed her feet. She slumped into the shadows of a stairwell, and stood there, panting.
"What now?" she asked herself, eyes closed against the painful sunlight. Two little voices were bickering inside her head. Man, I'm cracking up.
Look, babes, just GET OUT OF HERE. You're better off out of all this, y'know. You don't need Action. What's done is done.
Ignore her. If you don't need Action then why can't you stop thinking about him, and wondering what happened at that meeting last night?
Don't waste time - you have to get out. Get some money - do you want to end up like Tony? Think what the Jets would do if they knew about your dream. Do you REALLY think the fighting will stop.
You've got to risk it. Only cowards run away. Think about Maria.
Maria?? What's she got to do with the price of one-way air tickets to the End of the Earth?
Who's going to look after her now?
NOT YOUR PROBLEM.
You were Tony's friend, right?
I don't like the sound of this.
You tried to look after Tony. Tony tried to look after Maria. Both of you failed.
STOP RIGHT THERE.
You love Tony. Tony loves Maria. Tony probably feels bad 'bout leaving Maria. Wants someone to look after her…
Yeah, I've lost. Wait for it - let me join in this last line…
It's what he would have wanted.
Jesus Christ, Anybodys thought. I'm loopy. She half-smiled, and mentally thanked the two bickering alter egos currently inhabiting her skull. They were probably right. She had to keep the peace Tony had fought for.
Gingerly, she leant forwards, back into the warmth of the morning sun, then froze.
"Hey - Snowboy!" A Jet voice called, behind her. For a terrifying second she thought she'd been mistaken for her least favourite gang member, but then a voice answered, and she realised the two boys were the other side of the wall. As noiselessly as she could, she flattened herself against the bricks to listen.
"You seen Action this morning?"
"Nah… not since he left the meeting last night…"
"He shoulda stayed."
"He shoulda stayed? I dunno how he hacked it for so long! Them PRs…"
"Didn't you learn anything? Riff, Tony, Anybodys, all three dead -"
WHAT? Anybodys gaped in astonishment. Dead?
"Cut it, Baby John. I got business."
"Business?" A pause. "What business?"
The sound of rustling denim. A gasp from Baby John. "No, Snowboy -no!"
"I have to!" Footfall, dying away, slow and steady - then the patter of more feet.
"Snowboy, wait!" The dying treads increased in speed as Snowboy put a block between him and his pursuer. Anybodys buried her head in her hands. Her horror at Snowboy's words heightened her morbid need to know what had happened between the Jets and Sharks. Where was Tony's body? Where were those of Riff and… well, try as she might, looking down at the scars his girlfriend had left on her body, she found it very hard to care whether Bernardo was lying in state or rotting in a ditch.
OK, she bargained with herself. Sort out the Jets. Take care of Maria. Then go. You owe it to Tony.
No you don't. Think of how he treated you. OK, he was upset. But even when he wasn't upset - did he really care? Really?
Don't be silly. Of course he cared, Anybodys told herself, hugging her knees. You're only thinkin' like this cos you're hungry… light-headed. Get some food down ya. Yes, Mama. Anybodys grinned, then winced at the swollen muscles in her jaw. She sounded like a mother. Not her mother, obviously. But still, she felt like a mother - a mother to the sorry mess Tony, Riff, and Bernardo had orphaned with their three deaths.
Which reminded her - the Jets seemed to think she was dead. Better check that one out too.