Chapter 2-The Stalker and The Stalked and other Run-Ins
Morning came all too early for Slick, who was rudely awakened by all the noise the Brooklyn Newsies were making in the building below. Slick slowly got to her feet and took a look around, she was still on the roof of the Brooklyn Newsie's Boarding House, glancing towards the fire escape she caught a glimpse of Spot as he descended and crawled back inside. Grinning, she followed.
Pulling herself back into the Brooklyn House Slick was immediately knocked back onto a bunk the front of her shirt in the tight grasp of a Brooklyn Newsie, and his face inches from hers looking menacing. "Whaddaya think yer doin'?"
Slick just raised an eyebrow and looked back at him. A second latter a voice yelled from across the bunkroom, "Laz! Get offa Slick now!" Slick grinned when a pale Laz let her get up and turned to face Spot.
"I's sorry Spot, I thought 'e was a invader." Laz apologized quickly to the Brooklyn leader.
This all caused Slick to grin more, seeing how the big Newsie was afraid of Spot who was at least 6 inches shorter than him. "Ya ok Slick?" Spot asked still looking at Laz.
"Yeah, no harm done." Slick answered turning and walking towards the washroom. But despite her calm outward appearance, Laz had awaken old memories and she was shaking inside. Slick walked over to a tub of water and proceeded to splash water over her face in attempt to wake her up more.
"'Ey! Outta my way." A voice grumbled from behind Slick, turning she found herself face to face with a black-eyed, grumpy looking Shiner trying to push past her.
The opportunity was too good for even Slick to pass by, "Wow Shiner, who gave ya that one? Looks like it coulda hurt." Slick tried to pass her voice as innocent while trying to make her face the same way. Needless to say it was a challenge considering she was anything but.
Shiner looked the kid in front of him in the eye and recognized the smart- ass kid who had given him his namesake the night before, he swore at her and pushed her out of his way.
An all too familiar smirk snuck back onto Slick's face, "Now Shiner is that any way to treat a guest in yer midst?" she asked in a parenting tone.
Shiner turned around and swung his arm in a right hook, missing his target that had ducked, seeing the move coming.
"Slick! Quit harassin' my Newsies!" Spot yelled from the doorway. All he received in response was a passing smirk as Slick walked by him and headed for the stairs. Knowing where she was headed all he called to her was, "Don't get yerself lost!"
******
Don't get myself lost huh? Slick Rylan don't get lost very easily Slick thought to herself as she headed out into the bright Brooklyn sunshine and made her way towards the Brooklyn Bridge, and on her way toward Manhattan.
*****
It had been a slow selling day for Jack Kelly, there wasn't even many good headlines to 'improve'. And so Jack had been slowly wandering the streets selling a pape here and there, but slower than usual for him. But he kept walking instead of standing on one selling spot. He had this suspicious feeling that he was being watched every where he went, and to tell the truth he didn't appreciate it much. Hearing a slight thump in an alley off to his left he went over and peered in, at first he didn't see anything hiding in the dark alley and was about to turn away when a small sound caught his attention. It sounded like the movement of a foot against the dirt, "Alright! Whose in dere?! Come out an fight, I's sick a havin' somebodys stalk me!" No answer. Hearing his name being called somewhere else, Jack sighed and turned away, only to see the glint of something he would have swore as eyes out of the corner of his eye, he snapped his head around. Nothing. Sighing once again he turned and walked back into the crowded street selling a pape as he did.
********
It took all of Slick's will power and control not to start laughing at Jack's apprehension. Though having people be nervous and uneasy at being silently followed by her struck her as some what amusing sometimes, the scene of her hiding in the alley was all to familiar and ironic, and it sent an unwelcome shudder up her spine. Slipping out into the street again Slick discreetly made her way to the other side and into another alley, but this one, unlike the last connected the street in front of her to another one behind her. She stood unmoving in the shadows looking out into the busy Manhattan street, hoping to get an idea of were Jack had gone.
Slick was so absorbed in her task that she didn't hear anyone come up behind her until a hand clapped down on her shoulder. All muscles went stiff and her eyes wide in all of a half second and before she could control it, she spun around and at the same time swinging her right arm. She felt her fist connect with flesh and a pain shoot up her arm at the impact, the person behind her was shorter than her and had green eyes that was all she noticed before he stumbled backwards and tripped over a few boxes and went sprawling to the ground. "Cowboy?" Slick jumped at the voice to her left, and with a quick glance she saw that this kid had an eye patch over his left eye, and that was all she noticed about him before spinning around and tearing down the street. Old fear taking over all senses.
******
Kid Blink looked from the figure running full out down the street back to his friend lying stunned against a building wall, "Uh, Race? I don' think that was Jack."
Racetrack glared at his friend, he hand still at his eye where the kid had landed his punch. They had been looking for Jack, and when they'd passed this particular alley from the other side of the street they had saw standing at the other end, a tall figure with a cowboy hat. Race had figured it was Jack but when he'd put his hand on the bony shoulder, he'd felt all the muscles stiffen and the next thing he knew he had a fist coming towards his face. He'd only caught a glint of silver eyes before tripping and falling to the position he was in now. He slowly recalled the look in those strange eyes, they were full of fear, so full that they left no room for any other emotion to possibly show through. He'd meant to say something but the fist had hit his face before he'd had the chance. "Yeah no kidding Blink. Now 'elp me up wouldya." Race said grumply, his hand still on his eye, I's gonna 'ave one 'ell ofa shiner.
"Shoa." Blink reached out to grab Race's other hand and haul him to his feet. Still confused by the look of sheer terror he'd seen in the split second those silver eyes had turned to him.
*********
Slick ran full out for about a mile before turning into another alley and collapsing against a wall behind a dumpster. Fear was still coursing headstrong through her shaking body, as she pulled her knees up to her chest and took several deep breaths in attempt to get the stitch out of her side. She felt bad for punching the short kid like she did, but he'd brought back way too many memories that she'd attempted to bury within her. Slick also knew that neither kid had meant to spook her like they did and she almost smiled at the memory of the wide eyes staring at her. But her amusement was quickly washed away as she shut her own eyes tightly trying to block out every memory of.that night.
Morning came all too early for Slick, who was rudely awakened by all the noise the Brooklyn Newsies were making in the building below. Slick slowly got to her feet and took a look around, she was still on the roof of the Brooklyn Newsie's Boarding House, glancing towards the fire escape she caught a glimpse of Spot as he descended and crawled back inside. Grinning, she followed.
Pulling herself back into the Brooklyn House Slick was immediately knocked back onto a bunk the front of her shirt in the tight grasp of a Brooklyn Newsie, and his face inches from hers looking menacing. "Whaddaya think yer doin'?"
Slick just raised an eyebrow and looked back at him. A second latter a voice yelled from across the bunkroom, "Laz! Get offa Slick now!" Slick grinned when a pale Laz let her get up and turned to face Spot.
"I's sorry Spot, I thought 'e was a invader." Laz apologized quickly to the Brooklyn leader.
This all caused Slick to grin more, seeing how the big Newsie was afraid of Spot who was at least 6 inches shorter than him. "Ya ok Slick?" Spot asked still looking at Laz.
"Yeah, no harm done." Slick answered turning and walking towards the washroom. But despite her calm outward appearance, Laz had awaken old memories and she was shaking inside. Slick walked over to a tub of water and proceeded to splash water over her face in attempt to wake her up more.
"'Ey! Outta my way." A voice grumbled from behind Slick, turning she found herself face to face with a black-eyed, grumpy looking Shiner trying to push past her.
The opportunity was too good for even Slick to pass by, "Wow Shiner, who gave ya that one? Looks like it coulda hurt." Slick tried to pass her voice as innocent while trying to make her face the same way. Needless to say it was a challenge considering she was anything but.
Shiner looked the kid in front of him in the eye and recognized the smart- ass kid who had given him his namesake the night before, he swore at her and pushed her out of his way.
An all too familiar smirk snuck back onto Slick's face, "Now Shiner is that any way to treat a guest in yer midst?" she asked in a parenting tone.
Shiner turned around and swung his arm in a right hook, missing his target that had ducked, seeing the move coming.
"Slick! Quit harassin' my Newsies!" Spot yelled from the doorway. All he received in response was a passing smirk as Slick walked by him and headed for the stairs. Knowing where she was headed all he called to her was, "Don't get yerself lost!"
******
Don't get myself lost huh? Slick Rylan don't get lost very easily Slick thought to herself as she headed out into the bright Brooklyn sunshine and made her way towards the Brooklyn Bridge, and on her way toward Manhattan.
*****
It had been a slow selling day for Jack Kelly, there wasn't even many good headlines to 'improve'. And so Jack had been slowly wandering the streets selling a pape here and there, but slower than usual for him. But he kept walking instead of standing on one selling spot. He had this suspicious feeling that he was being watched every where he went, and to tell the truth he didn't appreciate it much. Hearing a slight thump in an alley off to his left he went over and peered in, at first he didn't see anything hiding in the dark alley and was about to turn away when a small sound caught his attention. It sounded like the movement of a foot against the dirt, "Alright! Whose in dere?! Come out an fight, I's sick a havin' somebodys stalk me!" No answer. Hearing his name being called somewhere else, Jack sighed and turned away, only to see the glint of something he would have swore as eyes out of the corner of his eye, he snapped his head around. Nothing. Sighing once again he turned and walked back into the crowded street selling a pape as he did.
********
It took all of Slick's will power and control not to start laughing at Jack's apprehension. Though having people be nervous and uneasy at being silently followed by her struck her as some what amusing sometimes, the scene of her hiding in the alley was all to familiar and ironic, and it sent an unwelcome shudder up her spine. Slipping out into the street again Slick discreetly made her way to the other side and into another alley, but this one, unlike the last connected the street in front of her to another one behind her. She stood unmoving in the shadows looking out into the busy Manhattan street, hoping to get an idea of were Jack had gone.
Slick was so absorbed in her task that she didn't hear anyone come up behind her until a hand clapped down on her shoulder. All muscles went stiff and her eyes wide in all of a half second and before she could control it, she spun around and at the same time swinging her right arm. She felt her fist connect with flesh and a pain shoot up her arm at the impact, the person behind her was shorter than her and had green eyes that was all she noticed before he stumbled backwards and tripped over a few boxes and went sprawling to the ground. "Cowboy?" Slick jumped at the voice to her left, and with a quick glance she saw that this kid had an eye patch over his left eye, and that was all she noticed about him before spinning around and tearing down the street. Old fear taking over all senses.
******
Kid Blink looked from the figure running full out down the street back to his friend lying stunned against a building wall, "Uh, Race? I don' think that was Jack."
Racetrack glared at his friend, he hand still at his eye where the kid had landed his punch. They had been looking for Jack, and when they'd passed this particular alley from the other side of the street they had saw standing at the other end, a tall figure with a cowboy hat. Race had figured it was Jack but when he'd put his hand on the bony shoulder, he'd felt all the muscles stiffen and the next thing he knew he had a fist coming towards his face. He'd only caught a glint of silver eyes before tripping and falling to the position he was in now. He slowly recalled the look in those strange eyes, they were full of fear, so full that they left no room for any other emotion to possibly show through. He'd meant to say something but the fist had hit his face before he'd had the chance. "Yeah no kidding Blink. Now 'elp me up wouldya." Race said grumply, his hand still on his eye, I's gonna 'ave one 'ell ofa shiner.
"Shoa." Blink reached out to grab Race's other hand and haul him to his feet. Still confused by the look of sheer terror he'd seen in the split second those silver eyes had turned to him.
*********
Slick ran full out for about a mile before turning into another alley and collapsing against a wall behind a dumpster. Fear was still coursing headstrong through her shaking body, as she pulled her knees up to her chest and took several deep breaths in attempt to get the stitch out of her side. She felt bad for punching the short kid like she did, but he'd brought back way too many memories that she'd attempted to bury within her. Slick also knew that neither kid had meant to spook her like they did and she almost smiled at the memory of the wide eyes staring at her. But her amusement was quickly washed away as she shut her own eyes tightly trying to block out every memory of.that night.