Rae: ::pets:: Don't worry about it. We have blonde moments all the time and we're brunettes XD
Sparkles: ::pets:: Of course not, m'dear.
Bluehag: Because…I think we said that they didn't sell papers on that day. 'Cause it was Sunday or something. XD; Don't remember. Erm. Giant mallets are more powerful than you think. Snoddy's pretty and old women think of Stage and ToT disgraceful. 'Specially Stage. ^^; And thanks.
Ann: ^^;; Sorry…? Yes. Those two are hot~…I just wish I knew what they look like now. Anyone care to help us with recent pictures of the minor characters? We'll luffle you forever.
Vinyl: Yeah. Womanizer. ::thwaps Jack:: So, yeah. ^^; Oh. Stage meant "epilogue" in her review for TBJJ.
Dreamcoat: ^_^ Thanks. ::glomplatchtackle:: We luffle you, 'cause you've stuck with us so long. Same with ol' Blue.
OC: WOO! It looks as though this'll have more reviews than "Immigrants"! ::hugs reviewers:: We looooove youuuuu~! Let's have this one hit the big ol' 100 mark! Please? ::hinthintnodnodwinkwinknudgenudge::
****
Sparkles ran as fast as she could down the street, grabbing the corner of the wall as she turned the corner. Specs scrambled around, right behind with Jack close on his tail. She ducked into an alleyway, taking a flying leap of the fence.
Further down, ToT was doing almost the same—only with more control. Behind her, Spot wondered how she vaulted over the fences with such ease as he fumbled over them. He didn't think much of it as Bumblits was also having almost no problem making it over the fences.
Farthest down was Stage. She and Dutchy had taken the streets. Dutchy was ahead by a few yards as he turned the next corner. Hearing a crash, Stage skidded around the corner; looking over her shoulder.
"They're right behind us, they're right behind us!" She exclaimed, whirling around. First, Stage's eyes fell on the pile of limbs that was Dutchy trying to help up a girl she didn't recognize. Moving her gaze upwards, she spotted another officer. "They're all around us!"
The three moved backwards as the Bulls closed in all around them. Their backs hit the wall and their eyes darted around wildly for an escape.
"There's no escape…" The new girl whispered.
"The fire escape!" Stage exclaimed, jumping on Dutchy and using him as a makeshift ladder.
"Stage! Whadd'ya doin'?!"
"Hold still!" Stage answered, propelling herself forward and off his shoulders. Dutchy fell forward and Stage barely reached the platform. "Get the girl up! Come on, let's go! It's easy!"
"Maybe foir youse!" Dutchy grumbled, scooping the girl up into his arms and throwing her up. Stage grabbed her wrist and dragged her up. The Bulls were closing in around Dutchy and he didn't have a boost to get up onto the landing. He spun around wildly.
"Uh…your shoe's untied, mistah." Dutchy said, pointing down at the officer's said shoe. Surprisingly, he fell for it and looked down. Dutchy jumped on his back, then made a frantic leap towards his "escape". Stage and the new girl each grabbed him and helped him up.
"Da oldest trick in da book an' 'e fell for it." Dutchy laughed in relief.
The now trio clambered up the fire escape and onto the roof. They looked around, breathing hard from the adrenaline rush and the run.
"Where do we go now?" The girl asked.
"This way." Stage replied, jogging over to the opposite edge of the building. She peered over and then signaled for the others. "We'll jump."
"Jump? Are you nuts?!"
"Basically." Dutchy filled in.
"I'll go first. Just watch…you'll pick it up in no time at all."
"Pick what up?"
"Seems more loike fallin' down ta me."
Stage said nothing and jumped. Dutchy and the girl watched in disbelief and horror as she fell. Hearing a few crashes from the other end, Dutchy laughed when he saw Jack run by with Sparkles in his arms and then Specs right behind, pushing along the older newsie. He looked a bit surprised—to say the least—when Stage landed in his outstretched arms. But that didn't stop Specs from running…stumbling a bit, that is.
"She's insane." The girl stated, firmly. As though he hadn't heard her, Dutchy again picked her up and walked to the edge.
"Ready? Here we go!" He said, jumping. The girl shrieked and shut her eyes. There was a soft landing and she cracked an eye.
"What…happened?"
"We's dead and in heaven. As youse can see, dey loike laundry heah." Dutchy replied. "Woulda be so kinda as to get awff me lap? We's gonna be left behind oddahwise."
She obediently crawled off and got out of the gigantic pile of dirty laundry. Dutchy was soon to follow and they ran off in the direction of the Lodging House.
****
ToT came bolting out the alleyway and crashed headlong into someone's stomach. Whoever it was doubled over and dropped a heavy weight on her. ToT found herself trapped underneath two bodies, face down on the cobblestone.
"Jack!"
"I's sorry, Sparkles."
"If you both don't get off me, right now…" ToT trailed off. The weight on her back was lifted and she got to her feet. Behind her, Spot and Bumblits had completely missed the dog pile with Jack and Sparkles.
"So where are we now?" Sparkles asked, looking around at the buildings. Her eyes fell on Specs and Stage and she blinked rapidly. "Um, hi, Stage…where'd you come from?"
"The sky." She chirped.
"Where's the Lodging House?" ToT asked, looking around as well. "There it is!"
The seven walked towards their home, breathing hard and holding the stitches in their sides. As they entered the doors, Stage, ToT, and Sparkles stopped the guys and put fingers to their lips to indicate silence. Quietly, they peeked around a corner to see the chief of police talking with Kloppman…and not another newsie was in sight.
"What were those names again, officer?" Kloppman asked, seeing the seven out of the corner of his eyes.
"Veronique Englhart, Sandra Strauss, and Sylvia Vecchi."
"I see."
"You must keep your eyes open for them, Mister Kloppman. These three are fugitives and potentially dangerous. One of them disappeared up this fire escape with two others. We suspect them to be accomplices. They were also seen with five others whom we suspect to be newsies."
Stage's hand went over her mouth and she looked over at Sparkles and ToT with a worried expression. Sparkles mirrored her look and ToT just glared at the officer's back.
"Ask your boys if they've seen them. They're charged with resisting arrest, smuggling, and manslaughter."
"I'll do that officer, have a nice night."
The officer walked out, but not before the other newsies had a chance to duck back into the alleyway shadows. Once his footsteps had faded, the seven came into the main room just as the other newsies--who had been hiding upstairs--came down. Kloppman looked expectantly at the three girls.
"I don't normally ask questions, but this is anything but normal." He stated. ToT, Stage, and Sparkles exchanged glances and each sighed.
"Roll 'em up." Stage said in defeat.
"I'm not doing it." ToT insisted.
"If she doesn't do it, I sure as hell won't." Sparkles added. Stage frowned.
"What if I go first?"
"They'll all find out anyway."
"So why not now?" Sparkles asked, switching back and forth.
"We'll be able to roll up our sleeves when it gets hot." Stage tried.
"Not in public." ToT shot down the idea. "But if you go first, then maybe I'll go."
Stage glared in the direction of her friends as she rolled up her right sleeve a bit awkwardly. Once it was at her elbow, she turned up the underside of her arm. Upon the pale skin was printed "16005" in black, blocky letters. ToT also rolled up hers and the number was "16705". Sparkles was the last to follow the action, with "15205" reading across her forearm.
"Sylvia Vecchi: resisting arrest and manslaughter." Stage spoke first, shattering the dead silence.
"Veronique Englhart: resisting arrest, smuggling, and murder of an officer." ToT said next.
"Sandra Strauss: also resisting arrest, smuggling, and traitorism." Sparkles concluded.
"We're convicts." All three agreed.
****