Author's Note: I'm sorry it took me so long to update!!!!!!!!! And RAE! No more sporks! I will have holes all over me by the time you finish throwing all those sporks at me! And then you won't get any chappies…
Lashes, Singah, and Inky ran out of the building with smiles plastered across all their faces. They kept running for about two more blocks before they finally stopped to catch their breath. "So where do we go now?" Inky asked between gasps for air. Lashes frowned, she hadn't exactly thought much about that part of the plan, and it was a very important part. Lashes could tell by the look on Singah's face that she hadn't thought much of it either.
"Well… We uh… could just sorta of walk until we come up with an idea!" Lashes said doubtfully, and was surprised when the other two agreed. "What direction then?"
"How about the river? That is a landmark we actually know that kinda points us in the direction of New York." Said Singah.
"Ok then, that works." Lashes shrugged and the girls starting walking towards the river.
~*~*~*~
Blink and Mush got off the train. Mush looked around eagerly, drinking everything in with his mind. Blink kept his eyes down; he already knew this place and didn't need to see it again to know where he was going. He was too occupied trying to get his head to tell his stomach to keep his food in his stomach to pay much attention to where he was. "So where da we go from heah?" Mush asked catching Blink's attention.
"To da Lodging House I guess." Said Blink, "She should still be there." A sudden thought struck him. "What if she isn't there Mush? Whad am I gonna do if she isn't there?" His asked, eyes wide.
Mush clapped him on the back. "Course she's gonna be dere boy! Where else would she go?" He said as the same though crossed his mind. Oh well, he thought. No use in being a pessimistic! "So where is dis Lodging House a yours anyways? I wonder if da Philly newsies is different from da New York newsies…" He mumbled his mind being carried away by a new topic.
"Left. It's actually not dat far from heah." Blink replied.
"Well dat's good! Not in much of a walkin mood taday."
~*~*~*~
It only took the girls a few minutes to get to the river; the first thing they saw was the docks where the boats were loading up. They kept walking toward the docks watching the workers lift the heavy boxes and crates when someone called after them. "Heya there little misses! Where do you think you're going?" They all turned around in unison to see a tall skinny man smiling at them with clothes that looked like he had been wearing them for years; and indeed he had.
"We were uh…" Inky started.
"Going to New York." Singah mumbled, not meaning to be heard. The man in fact had very good hearing and did them. A memory of a young boy flashed across his memory but he dismissed it. "New York eh? And how do you plan on getting there?" He said noticing the surprised look on the girls' faces.
"Well, we are going to take the…" Lashes gave up. "We don't know how we are going to get there." The man gave her an amused look and said, "Well I might just be able to help you then." The girls looked up with hope written all over their faces.
"Really?" Singah asked eagerly. "And you won't charge us will you?" She added with a squint.
"No, no, no. No charge!" The man laughed. The memory of the boy came back to him again, and this time he remembered why. He had done the same thing for a boy about their age a few years back. He smiled to himself. Might as well just start a riverboat cruise company bound for New York, might actually make some money off of it, he thought jokingly. "Follow me and I'll see what I can do for you little ladies." The three girls followed him eagerly hardly believing their luck.
~*~*~*~
"We dere yet? I thought you'se said it wasn't dat far!" Mush complained.
"Actually, yes." Blink said looking up. "You see dat building halfway down da street? The big brick one wit da green door?" He pointed.
"Yeah, I see it. Now lets go dere! Actions speck loudah den words my boy!"
"'My boy' eh? Who you think you are? I'm oldah den you anyways!" Blink retorted.
"Jus jokin… my boy!" Mush said calmly and then made a run for it with Blink fast behind him.
~*~*~*~
The man had kept to his word and the girls were safely stowed away on a boat next to a shipment of mail, the man apparently had connections. They had thanked him many times and were looking forward to the trip, although it promised not to be very eventful or even short for that matter.
"So where in New York is your brother?" Inky asked curiously.
Lashes frowned. "I don't know exactly. But how many Lodging Houses could there possibly be? I assume that is where he would be. He was a newsie in Philly, and he liked it well enough, so I think he'd still be one. I'm almost positive."
Singah raised her eyebrows. "Almost positive eh? I'd better hope you were! New York is a pretty big place ya know!"
"I know." Lashes sighed. "But he has to be there! He just has to!" The feeling of excitement was beginning to wear off, and the butterflies were moving into her stomach and she didn't expect then to go away anytime soon. "Never know until you try."
~*~*~*~
Blink opened the door and walked into the Lodging House, he could feel his heart pounding inside his chest. "Hello?" He called. "Bottlecap? Ya here?" In answer to his call someone walked around the corner. "Heya." He said walking over and spitting in his hand. Holding his hand out to Blink, Blink repeated the gesture. "What ya need Bottlecap for?" The boy asked.
"Do ya know someone named Melissa?" He asked the boy hopefully.
"No Melissa's here."
Blink thought a moment. "Wait. What about da name Lissy?"
"There was a Lashes here if that helps any." The boy shrugged. "But she and the other girls left."
"What?" Blink asked, eyes widening. "Can you get Bottlecap?"
"Yeah, yeah, hold yer horses." The boy said turning the corner. He returned a minute later with Bottlecap walking beside him. Bottlecap looked at Bottlecap, shock spreading over his features. "Kid!" He gasped taking Blink in a hug. "Where have ya been? What are ya doing here?"
"Actually, I was looking for Lissy, where is she? Is she here?" Blink said excitedly.
A pained look crossed Bottlecap's face. "What is it?" Blink asked.
"I'm sorry, I told you I would watch after her. She's not here Kid. She left a few days ago… to go after you. She and two other girls, Inky and Singah." He trailed off. "I sent one of the newsies to follow them until they got out of Philly, and they only made it a few blocks before…"
"Before what?" Blink asked desperately grabbing at Bottlecap's arm.
"Before they ran into your dad, Kid." The worried look on Bottlecap's face increased as Blink's face paled and he stumbled backwards running into Mush. "But… but you know my father Bottlecap! What are we going to do?"
"The only thing to do really, is to go there and get her back." Bottlecap stated, he had been asking himself the same question and this seemed to be the only solution.
"See my father?" Blink whispered quietly.