************************************************************************
A half hour later, Oscar Delancy looked at the boys whom he had tied to chairs in the darkest corner of the office, with a large grin. "I jest sent my men ta tell yer fadda dat I gots ya here. He'll be here any minute I kin guarantee ya." He said happily. "Why me? What do you want so bad here in New Yawk? Why cain't ya go somewhere else?" Sketch yelled angrily. Oscar shrugged and sat down at his desk. "Well dose are a lotta questions kid, but I'll try ta answer 'em. I'm usin' you ta git rid of all of ya dat I shoulda got rid of in da foist place. Gittin' rid of da Conlons an' dis kid here, is da best plan I've had in a long time. Second of all, I got plans fer New Yawk. Big ones. Thoidly, I don't got connections anywhere else. But back ta da beginnin', why in da woild is a kid like dat runnin' afta me? What did I do?" Oscar asked Sketch, pointing a long finger in Wolf's direction.
Wolf's blue eyes blazed and he wriggled in his bonds. "You killed me fadda! Dats why!" He hissed angrily. For the second time that day, Sketch saw surprise enter Oscar Delancy's eyes. But the emotion soon exited, replaced by cold indifference. "So? I kill lotsa people. Someone killed my kid too. You tink I kin do anytin' 'bout dat?" Oscar asked. "Dere's a difference! Da guy who killed yer kid probably had a reason! You killed me fadda in cold blood ta show yer powa! Dat ain't right an' it ain't fair! 'Specially not when ya shoot 'im in da back!" Wolf spluttered angrily. Oscar began to shake his head then stopped short. Gradually he lifted his finger in Wolf's direction. "Who da heck are ya?" He asked quietly. Sketch watched as Wolf lifted his head proudly as he spoke. "I'm Wolf Archer, son of James Edward Archer, forma leada of Queens."
Oscar took a step backward, motioning to one of his men and whispering anxiously in his ear. The man quickly exited, leaving the boys alone with Oscar Delancy. "So yer Archer's kid huh? I knew he did, but you was sometin' of a legend. No one eva really saw ya." Oscar said cooly, his fingers playing with the trigger of his pistol. "Dats because me Mama wanted ta keep me home. She wanted ta keep me away from everytin' outside. I didn't do nothin' fer a livin'. It was me Papa bein' leada an' makin' money on papes an' me Mama woikin' in a sweatshop. I stayed at home all da time. Afta Papa died, Mama near went crazy. She got killed in a sweatshop fire afta dat." Wolf said quietly, his voice coming down from it's angry crecendo.
"So, what happened afta dat? Yer boys look surprised aincha neva tol' dem any of dis?" Oscar asked with a sneer. Wolf turned to look at Quincy and Raven wearily and shook his head. "No neva. Dey jest accepted me plans an' didn't question. Dey're good. Dey're only part of da best gang I eva had." Wolf stopped a moment to clear his throat. "Afta everyin', I finally came outta da house, I was so hungry. So I went ta da Lodgin' House an' some of me fadda's friends put me up an' gave me sometin' ta eat. I lived dere until I figured I could take care of meself. I was only six den. When I was 'bout eleven I quit da Lodgin' House an' took ta livin' alone. I made my way. Till now. I'd been plannin' till now. Do ya know what dat plan was Osca?" Wolf sneered. Oscar shrugged his shoulders.
"Ta kill da guy dat killed me fadda." Wolf hissed. "Ain't dat nice." Oscar commented. Wolf shook his head angrily. "So I got meself a gang. Da best gang in alla New Yawk. We been boinin' down yer hidin' places, hopin' dat mebey we'd strike lucky an' you'd be in one of 'em." Wolf said. Oscar frowned. "Yeah ya little tweip. Boinin' down all me hidin' spots. Now I ain't got nowhere ta go." He said. "Dat was da point Osca." Wolf remarked sarcastically. "Well dat makes me mad. You know what happens when people make me mad?" Oscar asked, standing from his sitting position on the desk, the pistol in his hands. "Lemme guess. Ya shoot 'em in da back an' leave 'em fer somebody else ta bury?" Wolf asked sarcastically. "Dats 'bout da size of it. I cain't afford ta let any of ya's go. You'll blab. Unlike udda normal people, you street rats an' Newsies got some sense. Amazin', 'specially fer Newsies." Oscar scoffed.
"But fer now da only problem is who am I gonna take out foist. Decisions, decisions." Oscar said, beginning to pace around the four boys. "Mebey, I could jest take out you Conlon. Den yer fadda wouldn't hafta worry 'bout nothin' no more." Oscar said, pressing the pistol up against the boy's blonde head. Sketch didn't flinch, merely held himself straight and proud, his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him. Oscar eyed him, then removed the pistol, sticking it suddenly against Wolf's head. "Or mebey you. Den yer boys would have no leada. Boo-hoo." Oscar scoffed. Wolf held his head erect and gritted his teeth angrily. "Jest do what yer gonna do an' git it ova wit'." Wolf muttered. "Oh I will, in good time." Oscar murmured.
Suddenly a commotion from the hall startled the five in the room, making them all jump. Oscar frowned and walked towards the door muttering. As his hand settled on the doorknob, the door was flung open, smacking Oscar in the face. Oscar swore angrily, then cast his angry eyes on his brother. "Morris! What's goin' on out there?" He yelled. "I ain't sure meself Oscar. But sometin's happenin'. It's a jail break." Morris stuttered. Oscar looked back at the boys, who were watching him anxiously. "How many are dere?" Oscar asked thoughtfully. "I'd say about fifty. Dats about how much noise dey're makin'."
Oscar's eyes widened. "Fifty? Fifty kids? How in da heck did Conlon git fifty kids?" Oscar muttered. Morris shook his head. "Spot ain't dere. It's jest kids." Morris said seriously. Oscar shook his head. "I'll jest hafta handle dis meself. C'mon Morris." Oscar said, picking up his pistol with his good hand. Morris frowned and looked back at the boys. "What about dem?" Oscar turned around, looked at the boys, then at Morris with a shrug. "We'll handle da udda problem foist. Dese guys cain't git out. If dey do, dey're smarter den I thought. C'mon." He said, motioning to the door. Oscar stood listening in the doorway for a moment, before dashing into the hall, Morris following closely behind him.
As soon as they left, the boys began wiggling in their bonds, trying to find a loose end. But almost as soon as the heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, the door burst open again. The boys' heads came up anxiously and at the sight in the doorway, their mouths hung open. Angel rushed into the room to Wolf, clawing at his bonds feverishly. Jade stood in the doorway, staring, shock on her face for the first time. Angel looked back at her questioningly, but Jade didn't respond. Instead she walked over to the boys till she stood right in front of Sketch. She stared at him, her green eyes penetrating his blue ones. "I thought dat you was smarta dan dis. Gitting caught by Osca Delancy." She said quietly.
Surprise flickered in Sketch's eyes for a moment before he shrugged. "Ain't my fault. Thought everytin' was good." He said nonchalantly. "You join up wit' dese guys or sometin'?" Jade asked, nodding at Wolf, Quincy, and Raven. Sketch nodded. Angel looked at Sketch, happy he was found, but her eyes chanced to glimpse Jade's stone face. She quickly looked back down at the knots. Jade stared at Sketch a moment more before dropping to her knees and undoing the bonds. Sketch closed his eyes and listened to her harsh breathing. With every knot she untied, her breath came out quicker and harsher. "You angry?" The question was small and was barely heard, but Jade heard it, and she raised her face. "You tink I'm angry? No I ain't angry. I'm furious. I'm hoit an' I'm frankly ready ta disown ya right now." Jade replied fiercely. Sketch nodded. "I know. So why are ya helpin' me?" He asked quietly. Jade dropped her head and worked on the knots. " 'Cause yer me brudda. Leada of Brooklyn or not. Yer still me brudda an' I still love ya." Jade answered gruffly. "Well tank God fer dat." Sketch said softly, a smile on his face. Jade shook her head as the last knot came untied.
After the rest of the boys were untied, they stood uneasily. "So how in da woild did you git Osca an' Morris ta tink dat dere was 'bout fifty kids here?" Sketch asked, rubbing his sore wrists. "Easy. You git kids who, when dey make alotta racket, make it sound like dere's fifty kids." Angel said simply. "What Higgins is tryin' ta say is dat we had some help. We got da two Kelly boys, Taps an' Ice, an' Marbles, Flames, Mouse, Ace an' Trouble." Jade said simply. Sketch stared at her wide-eyed. "You mean ta tell me dat our brudda's is out dere? Don't dey know what dey're dealin' wit'?" Jade laughed. "Flames is so excited ta be leadin' his foist campaign as leada of Brooklyn dat he's 'bout ta wet his pants. He don't care who he's up against, jest so long as he comes outta it successfully." Jade said with a smile.
Sketch's face sobered. "Well dats nice. Lets git outta here." He said stonily, heading for the door. The group slipped out the door and began to run up the hall. The door was in sight when a voice behind them called out, "Okay, hold it right dere. You ain't goin' nowhere. Not now anyway." The group turned around slowly to face Oscar Delancy, his wrist hanging limply at his side, his other arm holding his pistol high. Jade leaned over slightly. "Wolf, you run fer it. Don't look back alright. We'll handle dis. Go git me fadda an' da Higgin's parents. We need 'em. Go now." She whispered. Wolf's eyes widened. "I ain't goin' nowhere! I cain't leave ya alone!" He whispered. "You go now! Yer hoit! You cain't do nothin' right now except dis. Now do it! We'll be fine!" Jade hissed, her eyes spitting fire. Wolf eyed them, then ran quickly towards the door. Oscar yelled angrily and began to fire on him, but the bullets hit the door as it swung shut behind the gang leader.
************************************************************************
A half hour later, Oscar Delancy looked at the boys whom he had tied to chairs in the darkest corner of the office, with a large grin. "I jest sent my men ta tell yer fadda dat I gots ya here. He'll be here any minute I kin guarantee ya." He said happily. "Why me? What do you want so bad here in New Yawk? Why cain't ya go somewhere else?" Sketch yelled angrily. Oscar shrugged and sat down at his desk. "Well dose are a lotta questions kid, but I'll try ta answer 'em. I'm usin' you ta git rid of all of ya dat I shoulda got rid of in da foist place. Gittin' rid of da Conlons an' dis kid here, is da best plan I've had in a long time. Second of all, I got plans fer New Yawk. Big ones. Thoidly, I don't got connections anywhere else. But back ta da beginnin', why in da woild is a kid like dat runnin' afta me? What did I do?" Oscar asked Sketch, pointing a long finger in Wolf's direction.
Wolf's blue eyes blazed and he wriggled in his bonds. "You killed me fadda! Dats why!" He hissed angrily. For the second time that day, Sketch saw surprise enter Oscar Delancy's eyes. But the emotion soon exited, replaced by cold indifference. "So? I kill lotsa people. Someone killed my kid too. You tink I kin do anytin' 'bout dat?" Oscar asked. "Dere's a difference! Da guy who killed yer kid probably had a reason! You killed me fadda in cold blood ta show yer powa! Dat ain't right an' it ain't fair! 'Specially not when ya shoot 'im in da back!" Wolf spluttered angrily. Oscar began to shake his head then stopped short. Gradually he lifted his finger in Wolf's direction. "Who da heck are ya?" He asked quietly. Sketch watched as Wolf lifted his head proudly as he spoke. "I'm Wolf Archer, son of James Edward Archer, forma leada of Queens."
Oscar took a step backward, motioning to one of his men and whispering anxiously in his ear. The man quickly exited, leaving the boys alone with Oscar Delancy. "So yer Archer's kid huh? I knew he did, but you was sometin' of a legend. No one eva really saw ya." Oscar said cooly, his fingers playing with the trigger of his pistol. "Dats because me Mama wanted ta keep me home. She wanted ta keep me away from everytin' outside. I didn't do nothin' fer a livin'. It was me Papa bein' leada an' makin' money on papes an' me Mama woikin' in a sweatshop. I stayed at home all da time. Afta Papa died, Mama near went crazy. She got killed in a sweatshop fire afta dat." Wolf said quietly, his voice coming down from it's angry crecendo.
"So, what happened afta dat? Yer boys look surprised aincha neva tol' dem any of dis?" Oscar asked with a sneer. Wolf turned to look at Quincy and Raven wearily and shook his head. "No neva. Dey jest accepted me plans an' didn't question. Dey're good. Dey're only part of da best gang I eva had." Wolf stopped a moment to clear his throat. "Afta everyin', I finally came outta da house, I was so hungry. So I went ta da Lodgin' House an' some of me fadda's friends put me up an' gave me sometin' ta eat. I lived dere until I figured I could take care of meself. I was only six den. When I was 'bout eleven I quit da Lodgin' House an' took ta livin' alone. I made my way. Till now. I'd been plannin' till now. Do ya know what dat plan was Osca?" Wolf sneered. Oscar shrugged his shoulders.
"Ta kill da guy dat killed me fadda." Wolf hissed. "Ain't dat nice." Oscar commented. Wolf shook his head angrily. "So I got meself a gang. Da best gang in alla New Yawk. We been boinin' down yer hidin' places, hopin' dat mebey we'd strike lucky an' you'd be in one of 'em." Wolf said. Oscar frowned. "Yeah ya little tweip. Boinin' down all me hidin' spots. Now I ain't got nowhere ta go." He said. "Dat was da point Osca." Wolf remarked sarcastically. "Well dat makes me mad. You know what happens when people make me mad?" Oscar asked, standing from his sitting position on the desk, the pistol in his hands. "Lemme guess. Ya shoot 'em in da back an' leave 'em fer somebody else ta bury?" Wolf asked sarcastically. "Dats 'bout da size of it. I cain't afford ta let any of ya's go. You'll blab. Unlike udda normal people, you street rats an' Newsies got some sense. Amazin', 'specially fer Newsies." Oscar scoffed.
"But fer now da only problem is who am I gonna take out foist. Decisions, decisions." Oscar said, beginning to pace around the four boys. "Mebey, I could jest take out you Conlon. Den yer fadda wouldn't hafta worry 'bout nothin' no more." Oscar said, pressing the pistol up against the boy's blonde head. Sketch didn't flinch, merely held himself straight and proud, his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him. Oscar eyed him, then removed the pistol, sticking it suddenly against Wolf's head. "Or mebey you. Den yer boys would have no leada. Boo-hoo." Oscar scoffed. Wolf held his head erect and gritted his teeth angrily. "Jest do what yer gonna do an' git it ova wit'." Wolf muttered. "Oh I will, in good time." Oscar murmured.
Suddenly a commotion from the hall startled the five in the room, making them all jump. Oscar frowned and walked towards the door muttering. As his hand settled on the doorknob, the door was flung open, smacking Oscar in the face. Oscar swore angrily, then cast his angry eyes on his brother. "Morris! What's goin' on out there?" He yelled. "I ain't sure meself Oscar. But sometin's happenin'. It's a jail break." Morris stuttered. Oscar looked back at the boys, who were watching him anxiously. "How many are dere?" Oscar asked thoughtfully. "I'd say about fifty. Dats about how much noise dey're makin'."
Oscar's eyes widened. "Fifty? Fifty kids? How in da heck did Conlon git fifty kids?" Oscar muttered. Morris shook his head. "Spot ain't dere. It's jest kids." Morris said seriously. Oscar shook his head. "I'll jest hafta handle dis meself. C'mon Morris." Oscar said, picking up his pistol with his good hand. Morris frowned and looked back at the boys. "What about dem?" Oscar turned around, looked at the boys, then at Morris with a shrug. "We'll handle da udda problem foist. Dese guys cain't git out. If dey do, dey're smarter den I thought. C'mon." He said, motioning to the door. Oscar stood listening in the doorway for a moment, before dashing into the hall, Morris following closely behind him.
As soon as they left, the boys began wiggling in their bonds, trying to find a loose end. But almost as soon as the heavy footsteps echoed down the hall, the door burst open again. The boys' heads came up anxiously and at the sight in the doorway, their mouths hung open. Angel rushed into the room to Wolf, clawing at his bonds feverishly. Jade stood in the doorway, staring, shock on her face for the first time. Angel looked back at her questioningly, but Jade didn't respond. Instead she walked over to the boys till she stood right in front of Sketch. She stared at him, her green eyes penetrating his blue ones. "I thought dat you was smarta dan dis. Gitting caught by Osca Delancy." She said quietly.
Surprise flickered in Sketch's eyes for a moment before he shrugged. "Ain't my fault. Thought everytin' was good." He said nonchalantly. "You join up wit' dese guys or sometin'?" Jade asked, nodding at Wolf, Quincy, and Raven. Sketch nodded. Angel looked at Sketch, happy he was found, but her eyes chanced to glimpse Jade's stone face. She quickly looked back down at the knots. Jade stared at Sketch a moment more before dropping to her knees and undoing the bonds. Sketch closed his eyes and listened to her harsh breathing. With every knot she untied, her breath came out quicker and harsher. "You angry?" The question was small and was barely heard, but Jade heard it, and she raised her face. "You tink I'm angry? No I ain't angry. I'm furious. I'm hoit an' I'm frankly ready ta disown ya right now." Jade replied fiercely. Sketch nodded. "I know. So why are ya helpin' me?" He asked quietly. Jade dropped her head and worked on the knots. " 'Cause yer me brudda. Leada of Brooklyn or not. Yer still me brudda an' I still love ya." Jade answered gruffly. "Well tank God fer dat." Sketch said softly, a smile on his face. Jade shook her head as the last knot came untied.
After the rest of the boys were untied, they stood uneasily. "So how in da woild did you git Osca an' Morris ta tink dat dere was 'bout fifty kids here?" Sketch asked, rubbing his sore wrists. "Easy. You git kids who, when dey make alotta racket, make it sound like dere's fifty kids." Angel said simply. "What Higgins is tryin' ta say is dat we had some help. We got da two Kelly boys, Taps an' Ice, an' Marbles, Flames, Mouse, Ace an' Trouble." Jade said simply. Sketch stared at her wide-eyed. "You mean ta tell me dat our brudda's is out dere? Don't dey know what dey're dealin' wit'?" Jade laughed. "Flames is so excited ta be leadin' his foist campaign as leada of Brooklyn dat he's 'bout ta wet his pants. He don't care who he's up against, jest so long as he comes outta it successfully." Jade said with a smile.
Sketch's face sobered. "Well dats nice. Lets git outta here." He said stonily, heading for the door. The group slipped out the door and began to run up the hall. The door was in sight when a voice behind them called out, "Okay, hold it right dere. You ain't goin' nowhere. Not now anyway." The group turned around slowly to face Oscar Delancy, his wrist hanging limply at his side, his other arm holding his pistol high. Jade leaned over slightly. "Wolf, you run fer it. Don't look back alright. We'll handle dis. Go git me fadda an' da Higgin's parents. We need 'em. Go now." She whispered. Wolf's eyes widened. "I ain't goin' nowhere! I cain't leave ya alone!" He whispered. "You go now! Yer hoit! You cain't do nothin' right now except dis. Now do it! We'll be fine!" Jade hissed, her eyes spitting fire. Wolf eyed them, then ran quickly towards the door. Oscar yelled angrily and began to fire on him, but the bullets hit the door as it swung shut behind the gang leader.
************************************************************************
