A/N: Thank you Stress and Dizzy for reviewing ^_^. Big twist type thingy in
this chapter. (Has anyone noticed I always end a chapter with Diamonds and
Pie? oO)
Disclaimer: See other chapters.
`*`*`*`*`
Prairie glanced to the clock hanging on the wall, covered with dust. The time was hard to read through the dark of the bunkroom.
She slipped quietly out of her bunk with the same candle, now just a stub, she had used during her library visit. Casting a furtive glance at the others sleeping, she ducked out the window onto the fire escape.
The night air had chilled, making Prairie wish she had worn something warmer. The fire escape was slippery from the late night dew.
With a few cautious steps, she managed to get down, landing on the dirty sidewalk. She flattened herself against the wall, looking over both shoulders before running swiftly into a darkened alley nearby.
The alley, surrounded by closed shops and run down houses, wasn't the most pleasant place to be in the middle of the night.
"I gotta find Denton. I bet Blise'll try somethin' tomorrow. I know I said it didn't mattah, but it does. I shoulda let Denton help sooner." She thought, her hands shaking ever so slightly.
A soft shuffle behind caused her to swing around, fists clenched. Nobody was there, just a shadow.
She cocked an eyebrow but continued on, trying to figure where Denton would be. She stopped at the end of another alley, and shielded her eyes from the bright moon's glow. Did he live over there? Or on that street? She couldn't remember.
Just as she was about to set off towards James Street, another noise, this time louder, reached her ears. She began to run, uncertain of what was there. The noise behind her grew louder and quicker, almost like footsteps. Heavy footsteps.
She turned to look behind her; a pale face loomed there. Prairie muffled a scream, the face was horrifying. A scar crossed the right eye, the lips were twisted into a strange smile and at his side was a metal club, glinting maliciously.
The man grabbed her by the shoulders, holding her in an unnaturally tight grip. Prairie struggled to get free but to no avail. The man spoke, "Well, well, I've been looking for you, m'dear. You know so much more than you should." She tried to twist out of his grip; he seemed to have iron fists.
"Let me introduce myself properly, I am Marcus Finnigan. Well known to mister Blise. We work together you see, He and I. He told me that you seemed to know what he was up to after he took those notes. Clever one, aren't you." Finnigan continued, "The boss won't be very happy if you destroy our little plot. And we can't have that, so I'm afraid you must go."
Prairie's eyes widened, she knew what he meant by 'go.' She looked around wildly, searching for anything, anyone, to help her. She found nothing.
He closed his grip around her shoulders and reached into his coat pocket. A pewter pistol, the same menacing color as the club, was retrieved.
He curled a lip and pulled the trigger.
~*~*~
The sun shone through the curtains, making delicate patterns on the girl's faces. Selley was up first like always. She had awoken earlier that morning, when it was still a misty dark outside. She had thought she had heard something, but when she peered out the window, nothing was out of the ordinary.
Cake yawned and stumbled into the bathroom, perusing the floor for a clean towel.
"Where's Prairie?" Dizzy inquired, noticing the red haired girl wasn't anywhere to be found.
Poem shrugged, "Probably out somewheres. You'se know how she gets."
The meeting at Tibby's was at noon that day; they had a few hours before they were due to meet with Blise and the Brooklyn girls. No one bothered to give Prairie's whereabouts a second thought, she was sure to appear sooner or later. She wouldn't miss the rally.
Stress turned towards Prairie's bunk, something didn't feel right. She quirked a brow, but decided it was nothing to worry about. Prairie often disappeared.
The distribution center was crowded with all the newsies hurrying to get their papers. From a far they looked like a line of ants, busy and rushed.
The girls spent most of the morning taunting Weasel and sending Oscar and Morris on wild goose chases. Selley folded numerous paper hats with the younger newsies her age. Poem hid behind a barrel while Oscar ran after her, threatening and cursing.
The clock in Weasel's office chimed twelve times, signaling noon. As though on cue, they clambered to Tibby's, awaiting the meeting.
Blise had already arrived and was sitting at a small booth, flipping through a few pages of notes. He looked up and smiled when the throng of newsies came through the door, the small bell ringing on the door.
"Girls. Good to see you. We need to talk about this rally." He said, showing the camera.
After an hour-long conversation, it was decided the rally would be held that night in the Newsies Square, eight o' clock.
"Good. Good. I'll be there right on time. Get ready, you will be changing the face of Newsie rights forever." Blise ensured, tipping his hat and leaving.
"Prairie bettah show up soon. She ain't gonna want ta miss da rally tonight." Poem announced.
~*~*~
"The rally is tonight sir. We will be able to get them then." Blise was standing in the man's office once more, fiddling with his hat in his hands.
The man stepped out from a shadow, his face revealed. He had graying hair much like Blise's, combed into a slick style. His eyes were a hard gray, he wore an immaculate suit. A cigar hung limply from the corner of his mouth.
"Excellent. I do not want any bloodshed though Blise. I assume you know that." The man ordered, picking up the picture of the girl. He smiled sadly at it, "I don't want these infuriating orphans ruining my business, but I don't want ANY of them harmed, do you hear?" Blise nodded. "Good."
"Ah, Mr. Herst?" Blise inquired.
"What is it now, Blise?" William Herst, owner of The Journal replied, turning a sharp eye on Blise.
"Who IS that girl in that picture?" He asked, pointing towards the blonde haired girl in the picture.
Herst snapped, "None of your business. Get out! You have work to do." He watched Blise scuttle nervously out the door after being reprimanded.
He quickly shoved the picture into a drawer, and leaned back into his chair. Things were not working as he had planned.
~*~*~*~
"She still ain't here!" Cake exclaimed, concern crossing her face. The girls were gathered in Newsies Square later that evening. The rally was set to begin as soon as Brooklyn arrived. But there was still no sign of Prairie.
"She'll come, she ain't gonna miss dis." Diamonds said. But she wasn't so sure herself, Prairie wouldn't have normally missed the meeting at Tibby's and now she hadn't shown up for the rally. It was looking dim.
Stress chewed a finger nail, "I say we'se look fer her, somethin' might have happened."
It was a unanimous decision. Stress, Diamonds and Selley would search for Prairie while the others stayed behind to wait for Brooklyn and Blise.
"If we'se ain't back by da time Brooklyn gets here, den tell 'em where we are." Diamonds told the group, they huddled around the statue wondering what could be going on.
The three split up, every street, shop and yard was scoured for any sign of Prairie. No such luck. Selley stopped numerous strangers to ask if they had seen her, no one had any information. It seemed hopeless.
Stress sighed and put an arm around Selley, waiting for Diamonds to return. Selley looked into the sky with tears nearly spilling over her cheeks.
"PRARIE!" A sudden voice shouted with urgency. Selley and Stress turned to look at the where the voice was coming from.
Diamonds appeared and grabbed their sleeves pulling them into an eternally dark alley next to the old bookstore.
They peered into the darkness; a small figure was slumped against the wall, pools of blood turned crimson on the ground from being exposed to the smoggy air.
Selley gasped, the figure had dusty red hair.
It was Prairie. Stress shook the cold girl. Prairie didn't move. Her eyes were open but held no life. She was pale and still.
"She's gone." Diamonds whispered, a sob rose from her throat. Selley turned and ran, the others on her heels.
They burst into the Square, everyone turned to look. Brooklyn had finally come, they cheered and laughed but stopped abruptly.
"What happened?" Slash asked, putting down her strike sign.
Diamonds faced her, "Prairie. She's dead."
----From Derby: *Grabs a tissue* I don't know where that came from, anyway, more twists abound next chapter. I know it's getting sort of hard to understand but I'm sorting it all out slowly, because I have a good ending in mind now ^_^ (By the way, is it spelled Herst or Hurst? If anyone can remember, let me know pleeease!)
Disclaimer: See other chapters.
`*`*`*`*`
Prairie glanced to the clock hanging on the wall, covered with dust. The time was hard to read through the dark of the bunkroom.
She slipped quietly out of her bunk with the same candle, now just a stub, she had used during her library visit. Casting a furtive glance at the others sleeping, she ducked out the window onto the fire escape.
The night air had chilled, making Prairie wish she had worn something warmer. The fire escape was slippery from the late night dew.
With a few cautious steps, she managed to get down, landing on the dirty sidewalk. She flattened herself against the wall, looking over both shoulders before running swiftly into a darkened alley nearby.
The alley, surrounded by closed shops and run down houses, wasn't the most pleasant place to be in the middle of the night.
"I gotta find Denton. I bet Blise'll try somethin' tomorrow. I know I said it didn't mattah, but it does. I shoulda let Denton help sooner." She thought, her hands shaking ever so slightly.
A soft shuffle behind caused her to swing around, fists clenched. Nobody was there, just a shadow.
She cocked an eyebrow but continued on, trying to figure where Denton would be. She stopped at the end of another alley, and shielded her eyes from the bright moon's glow. Did he live over there? Or on that street? She couldn't remember.
Just as she was about to set off towards James Street, another noise, this time louder, reached her ears. She began to run, uncertain of what was there. The noise behind her grew louder and quicker, almost like footsteps. Heavy footsteps.
She turned to look behind her; a pale face loomed there. Prairie muffled a scream, the face was horrifying. A scar crossed the right eye, the lips were twisted into a strange smile and at his side was a metal club, glinting maliciously.
The man grabbed her by the shoulders, holding her in an unnaturally tight grip. Prairie struggled to get free but to no avail. The man spoke, "Well, well, I've been looking for you, m'dear. You know so much more than you should." She tried to twist out of his grip; he seemed to have iron fists.
"Let me introduce myself properly, I am Marcus Finnigan. Well known to mister Blise. We work together you see, He and I. He told me that you seemed to know what he was up to after he took those notes. Clever one, aren't you." Finnigan continued, "The boss won't be very happy if you destroy our little plot. And we can't have that, so I'm afraid you must go."
Prairie's eyes widened, she knew what he meant by 'go.' She looked around wildly, searching for anything, anyone, to help her. She found nothing.
He closed his grip around her shoulders and reached into his coat pocket. A pewter pistol, the same menacing color as the club, was retrieved.
He curled a lip and pulled the trigger.
~*~*~
The sun shone through the curtains, making delicate patterns on the girl's faces. Selley was up first like always. She had awoken earlier that morning, when it was still a misty dark outside. She had thought she had heard something, but when she peered out the window, nothing was out of the ordinary.
Cake yawned and stumbled into the bathroom, perusing the floor for a clean towel.
"Where's Prairie?" Dizzy inquired, noticing the red haired girl wasn't anywhere to be found.
Poem shrugged, "Probably out somewheres. You'se know how she gets."
The meeting at Tibby's was at noon that day; they had a few hours before they were due to meet with Blise and the Brooklyn girls. No one bothered to give Prairie's whereabouts a second thought, she was sure to appear sooner or later. She wouldn't miss the rally.
Stress turned towards Prairie's bunk, something didn't feel right. She quirked a brow, but decided it was nothing to worry about. Prairie often disappeared.
The distribution center was crowded with all the newsies hurrying to get their papers. From a far they looked like a line of ants, busy and rushed.
The girls spent most of the morning taunting Weasel and sending Oscar and Morris on wild goose chases. Selley folded numerous paper hats with the younger newsies her age. Poem hid behind a barrel while Oscar ran after her, threatening and cursing.
The clock in Weasel's office chimed twelve times, signaling noon. As though on cue, they clambered to Tibby's, awaiting the meeting.
Blise had already arrived and was sitting at a small booth, flipping through a few pages of notes. He looked up and smiled when the throng of newsies came through the door, the small bell ringing on the door.
"Girls. Good to see you. We need to talk about this rally." He said, showing the camera.
After an hour-long conversation, it was decided the rally would be held that night in the Newsies Square, eight o' clock.
"Good. Good. I'll be there right on time. Get ready, you will be changing the face of Newsie rights forever." Blise ensured, tipping his hat and leaving.
"Prairie bettah show up soon. She ain't gonna want ta miss da rally tonight." Poem announced.
~*~*~
"The rally is tonight sir. We will be able to get them then." Blise was standing in the man's office once more, fiddling with his hat in his hands.
The man stepped out from a shadow, his face revealed. He had graying hair much like Blise's, combed into a slick style. His eyes were a hard gray, he wore an immaculate suit. A cigar hung limply from the corner of his mouth.
"Excellent. I do not want any bloodshed though Blise. I assume you know that." The man ordered, picking up the picture of the girl. He smiled sadly at it, "I don't want these infuriating orphans ruining my business, but I don't want ANY of them harmed, do you hear?" Blise nodded. "Good."
"Ah, Mr. Herst?" Blise inquired.
"What is it now, Blise?" William Herst, owner of The Journal replied, turning a sharp eye on Blise.
"Who IS that girl in that picture?" He asked, pointing towards the blonde haired girl in the picture.
Herst snapped, "None of your business. Get out! You have work to do." He watched Blise scuttle nervously out the door after being reprimanded.
He quickly shoved the picture into a drawer, and leaned back into his chair. Things were not working as he had planned.
~*~*~*~
"She still ain't here!" Cake exclaimed, concern crossing her face. The girls were gathered in Newsies Square later that evening. The rally was set to begin as soon as Brooklyn arrived. But there was still no sign of Prairie.
"She'll come, she ain't gonna miss dis." Diamonds said. But she wasn't so sure herself, Prairie wouldn't have normally missed the meeting at Tibby's and now she hadn't shown up for the rally. It was looking dim.
Stress chewed a finger nail, "I say we'se look fer her, somethin' might have happened."
It was a unanimous decision. Stress, Diamonds and Selley would search for Prairie while the others stayed behind to wait for Brooklyn and Blise.
"If we'se ain't back by da time Brooklyn gets here, den tell 'em where we are." Diamonds told the group, they huddled around the statue wondering what could be going on.
The three split up, every street, shop and yard was scoured for any sign of Prairie. No such luck. Selley stopped numerous strangers to ask if they had seen her, no one had any information. It seemed hopeless.
Stress sighed and put an arm around Selley, waiting for Diamonds to return. Selley looked into the sky with tears nearly spilling over her cheeks.
"PRARIE!" A sudden voice shouted with urgency. Selley and Stress turned to look at the where the voice was coming from.
Diamonds appeared and grabbed their sleeves pulling them into an eternally dark alley next to the old bookstore.
They peered into the darkness; a small figure was slumped against the wall, pools of blood turned crimson on the ground from being exposed to the smoggy air.
Selley gasped, the figure had dusty red hair.
It was Prairie. Stress shook the cold girl. Prairie didn't move. Her eyes were open but held no life. She was pale and still.
"She's gone." Diamonds whispered, a sob rose from her throat. Selley turned and ran, the others on her heels.
They burst into the Square, everyone turned to look. Brooklyn had finally come, they cheered and laughed but stopped abruptly.
"What happened?" Slash asked, putting down her strike sign.
Diamonds faced her, "Prairie. She's dead."
----From Derby: *Grabs a tissue* I don't know where that came from, anyway, more twists abound next chapter. I know it's getting sort of hard to understand but I'm sorting it all out slowly, because I have a good ending in mind now ^_^ (By the way, is it spelled Herst or Hurst? If anyone can remember, let me know pleeease!)
