Chapter 9: Debts Paid

"Good morning sunshine," Skitts said as I opened my eyes the next day. "How you feeling?"

I slowly sat up, taking my time so that I didn't hurt myself. Thankfully the enormous pain that I had had the previous night had subsided substantially. It was replaced by a dull ache that made movements strenuous, but not impossible. "Better."

He smiled and held his hand out to me. "Want to try to get some breakfast?"

As if on cue, my stomach let out an angry growl. Skitts smiled. "I'll take that as a yes."

I took his hand and together we slowly descended the stairs to the lobby. The boys were scattered around the room, lazing about before they headed out to sell. Kloppman handed me a bowl of porridge as I headed for an open seat in the corner near the fire.

As I took my first bites, the door opened with a squeak. Every head in the room turned to study Spot and the Brooklyn boys who were filtering into the Lodging House. When he caught sight of Skip and me in the corner, Spot rushed over with his cane drawn. "What's she doin here?"

Jack and Skitts stepped protectively in front of me, stopping Spot in his tracks.

"Leave her be Spot," Jack commanded. "She's one of us now."

Spot focused on me over Jack's shoulder, and then gently brushed passed my two protectors. He carefully examined the bruised and cuts that decorated my face. "Did your brother do this to you?"

I nodded my head, focusing on the cracks in the floorboards below me. I couldn't bear to see his reaction.

He simply sighed and turned away. "Whattaya say Jackie Boy?"

"Let's go to Midtown!" A chorus of cheers rang out in agreement.

"Wait!" I yelled as loudly as I could as the boys scooted toward the door. A hundred sets of eyes turned to me I anticipation. "They will be waiting for you. Even with the Brooklyn boys, they outnumber you two to one. Besides, half of you are in no condition to be fighting."

"And what do you suggest that we do Hope? Let them keep beating on innocent people?" Skitts called from the front of the group.

"Go to the other boroughs," I replied. "Shiner has more enemies than friends in this city. If you band together you can stop him."

Two hours later, the lobby was bulging at the seams with New York newsies. More still awaited orders on the sidewalks of Duane street.

"Let's head out!" Jack screamed over the murmur of anticipation that had erupted.

I followed the Manhattan newsies as they took up the rear of the enormous group.

"Oh no you don't," Skitts said, stopping me on the stoop.

"I'm going with you."

Skitts sighed. "Connie, you're in no condition to be going anywhere."

"Neither are you!" I shot back. "I'm coming with you."

Skittery stepped aside coyly. "Right."

Shiner jumped off his bunk when we all entered the bunkroom. "What the -"

At that point, all hell broke loose. Chairs and mattresses flew in every direction. Midtown boys struggled against the will and sheer numbers of their attackers. For once they took more of a beating than they inflicted.

I stood in the corner, taking in the scene around me. As I glanced to the door, I caught sight of Shiner slipping out into the safety of the street. Jack and Spot had obviously noticed too. They abandoned the newsies that they were fighting and bolted after him.

Carefully, I skirted out of the room and onto the street. As I frantically scanned the area for a sign of the trio, I began to hear the muffled thumps of skin connecting with skin in a nearby alley. Trotting over, I took in the scene before me.

Jack and Spot stood poised, ready to pounce on a visibly shaken Shiner. In a flash, the two boys lunged together, trapping my brother between them. Fists flew in every direction, all of them contacting with a thump into Shiner's weakening body.

"Stop!" I called out, my voice echoing off the buildings that surrounded the alley.

Shocked, Jack and Spot stepped back and shot me confused glances.

"Leave him alone," I stated simply as I approached the huddled group.

Jack straightened himself, staring down at me. "Are you crazy Hope? After everything that he did to the boys, to you, you want him to just walk away?"

I nodded solemnly. "If you beat him to a pulp, you'll be just as rotten as he is. He's not worth it."

Spot shook his head in disgust and lunged at Shiner with a new intensity. Jack pulled him off and shoved him against the nearest wall. "Back off Spot."

I turned my gaze to my brother, who was struggling to stand up. Somehow, my feet began to move independently of my mind. Before I knew it, I was standing directly above him, staring down at his crumpled form on the cobblestone.

"Help me Connie," he strained out, stretching up his hand weakly.

I squatted before him on the dark street. "Now it's your turn to listen to me. I never want to see or hear from you again. You got that? I want you out of the city. Completely. If you ever come back to New York, we'll be waiting for you and I promise you that I won't pull them off you next time."

Shiner stared at me in disbelief.

"Get out of here!"

In a second, he was on his feet, limping down the alley. As soon as he had rounded the corner, tears of hatred rolled down my cheeks. Jack's arms wrapped tightly around my shoulder. "Come on, Hope."

The lodging house had quieted when we returned. The Midtown newsies that were loyal to Shiner had scattered to the wind, the others hung wearily around Skipper. Exhausted, Jack and spot took a seat on the curb.

A naive young Brooklyn newsie approached Spot. "Is it over?"

"Yeah Munchkin, it's over," the leader replied, ruffling the boy's hair playfully.

Jack sighed. "Let's go home boys."