No-o-o-o-o-ot m-i-i-i-i-i-i-ine! *Beats on chest to get reverb effect*
Note: Wow…*keels over dead* lots of reviews…thank you guys! Oh, and if you have any more ideas about the title, or about what should happen next, please inform me. ^_^
~*~
No one bothers Racetrack. Even Jack is wary, watches his step around him. Nobody ever refuses his anything. Nobody's ever ruffed him up, or tried to get him to take a side. He's a loner. He never takes part in any of the fights. He just sells his papers and gambles. As a rule of thumb, you never, ever bet or play cards with Race. Of course, you never want to refuse him, either. The best thing is just not to attract his attention.
Skittery knew him before he came here. The two of them were friends or something. Skitts always stays out of everything and he almost never talks. But Race likes him, so no one bothers him either. Everyone's always real careful around Race.
Because Race has knives.
He uses them well, too, and has no regrets about doing so. You wouldn't think it to look at him. He's this tiny little jolly kind of guy, always making jokes. But after dark, he's completely different. He uses those knives to make sure people pay back their debts. Even when they don't have debts.
It was an evening in late November the first time I saw it. I'd been in a fight and n no shape for selling, so I had to work the evening edition to make up for the lost money. It was almost entirely dark out and I only had a few papers left. I was heading down to the other end of the few blocks that made up my territory when I heard a familiar voice from around the corner. It was Itey, a young, quiet boy fairly new to the Lodging House. His voice was high and slightly hysteric.
"But I won! Remember? Oh…of course…I don't care about the money or anything…"
"Oh, did you really?" I snuck over and peered behind the building. Racetrack had Itey backed up against a wall. His back was to me, but I could imagine what Itey was seeing. "I don't think so. See, I seem to remember that I won. And that you promised me some money." His voice was an icy hiss, but I could hear every word of it.
"No! I'm sure I won. Hone-" He stopped abruptly, eyes wide, as a dully shining blade appeared at his throat.
"You're sure?"
Itey began to panic as I watched in shock. "Actually, now that I think of it, you did win, Race. Yes, you did. By a lot, really. Yes, I remember now…" the knife pressed harder, cutting off his words.
"Good. I'm glad your memory's functioning again. Now what did you owe me?"
I ran the length of the block, and didn't stop staring over my shoulder until I was far away. I threw out the remaining papers- it was too dark to sell, and I didn't want to risk being heard. I was a few streets away from the Lodging House when I was suddenly thrown into a wall from behind. An all too familiar voice hissed in my ear.
"I wouldn't say anything, if I was you." There was a sharp stinging pain and then I was alone, the back of my neck tacky with blood.
There is a reason why everyone laughs at Racetrack's jokes.
~*~
*Itey!muse squeals and hides under the bed* *sighs and gives him carrots* it's ok….
Wow!!! Thanks you guys! Oh, and so you know, the next chapter will probably take a lot longer. A -lot- longer. Sorry…*sheepish smile*
Hotshot: Hehe…I can tell. I'm not sure what's going on with Spot at this point. The gang weren't newsies, methinks. Just a random gang from Brooklyn. Random gangs from Brooklyn are good at disposing of characters you no longer need. ^_^ Gotta love 'em…anyway…yes! Evil characters are good! Ah, dang, forgot about Snitch and Itey. I'll have to do something about that…Thanks!
Keza: Oh…thanks….*grabs a towel and dries self off*
Cards: Yeah, I know. Sorry it had to turn out that way…
Falco: Lol! Jack -is- an evil spirit breaker. Meep! I am updating!
Crunch: Oh, thank you! There's Race and Skittery for you. *sobs* I didn't mean it Race…I love you…*runs after evil murdering race and turns him back into sweet funny race* hehee…off topic…sorry
Ali: Wow…thanks a lot…yeah, I really did mean it. Really, honestly, truly, and all other words like that. ^_^
Misprint: hehehe. Maybe you should. Wouldn't want you to be offended, now. What side -would- you join? I'm curious. Bumlets is really evil in this one. I dunno why…I had an urge. Besides, he seemed like a good Jack body guard.
Dr. Linkinshlof: Jaaack Keeelle….hehehe….I agree, that is horrible. Wow! I get a Spot story! He is my second fav. newsie, you know, next to Race. Thank you! *bounces around hyperly*
Moods: Thanks!
Merlin's Quill: hehehe….hehehehehehehe….etc, etc. Hey…hehehe isn't coming up as a spelling error. Strange. Isn't he sick and self-satisfied though? I just noticed it says prudly on your profile. Which by the way isn't showing up updated. To quote me from when? What? Lol! Oh, I wish I'd been there. That would've been hilarious. Who was in your group? *pats box on the head* *pats fic on the head* hehe. Maybe I'll write something from the pov of the review box sometime. *random ideas* see what you've done? Sheesh. I'm getting as offtopic as you. And wow, this was a long shout out.
Mondie: I'M SORRY!!!!! Well, actually, I'm not. But I can pretend. ^_^ would you like me to? I'm sorry I made you sad. *tries to decode your sign off* Seize the day, carry(in') the banner, pelvic thrusts forever, err, umm, well, here's your knife, um, hmm, huh? Yeah. Right. *feels stupid*