AN: I'm back in the suspense game! And man, is my next idea crazy or what…
This story may have more morbid elements than my other suspense pieces, but I always make the same promise- I'll take care of things. Trust me.
Oh, and all you history buffs? Turn back now. I mean it. Cause every single historical figure is going to be rolling over in their grave when I write this, and I don't even like history, so don't expect accuracy. This is strictly a 'back up and change history to have some fun' thing.
Summary: It's 1899, and New York City and the US are at peace with the world…naaaah. Back up, erase, delete. And definitely forget your history book.
The German army invades major cities all over the US, NYC being one of them. And now the Newsies are in a race for their lives. Not only that, but the survival of the entire city depends on them and them alone…
Blink
"Hey, Crutchy. How's sellin?"
Crutchy looked up from where he was sitting on the steps of a store, counting his remaining papers.
"Only four more ta go."
I nodded, and Mush and I sat down beside him, relaxing our feet after a long day of selling. The evening edition hadn't gone fast- there were no good headlines tonight. But at least it was a comfortable temperature- an August evening, not too hot, not too cold.
Crutchy stood up and started hawking the headlines again, making up some crazy headline about the mayor having an affair. He got down to one pretty quick- he could usual sell a whole lot faster than the rest of us, being a gimp and all. Even faster than me when I work on people's sympathy.
"Man…this has been one lousy day." Mush said, leaning back on the steps.
I lit up a cigarette and shrugged. "Couldn't get any worse."
Mush raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Every time you say that, it gets worse."
"Does not!"
"Does too!"
"Does not!"
A shriek suddenly cut through the air, and I looked up just in time to see a man on horseback shooting down a woman as she ran from him. I froze up in shock- that guy had just shot down a woman?! What was wrong with him?
Three more horses turned the corner, the men on their backs all carrying an arsenal of guns and knives and dressed in uniform. I jumped to my feet, but I still couldn't make sense of this. Who were these guys?
People began scattering from the streets as more shots rang out, and I looked at Mush, who had completely frozen up. I could see it in his eyes that he was just as scared as me.
"Kid…"
Mush didn't have a chance to finish.
"Hey you! Come here!"
I turned toward the sound of the voice, and one of the men was right behind me, beckoning me over. I tried to say no, but I couldn't find my voice. I just stood my ground, and he urged the horse forward toward me.
And quite suddenly, I had the muzzle of a gun in my face.
"You should do what you're told, boy."
Just before he pulled the trigger someone stepped in front of me- Mush. But my fear for him was pushed aside as instead of a loud 'bang', there was a sharp sounding 'click'. He was out of ammo. All three of us took off running, and Mush and I slowed our pace so Crutchy could keep up. The soldier was busy reloading his gun as my mind raced.
We're gonna get shot, right in da back. This ain't gonna work, I thought frantically, and then I heard the gun go off again and I dove for the ground, taking Mush and Crutchy with me. I stumbled to my feet and helped Crutchy up, and then I shoved Crutchy into the alley beside us. There was no way he could outrun those guys, so Mush and I needed to get him out of the soldier's crosshairs.
Mush and I took off in the opposite direction, and soon we were lost in the pandemonium of the frantic crowd. Soldiers on horseback were everywhere, seeming to be shooting people down for no reason whatsoever- more than once I stumbled over a body or slipped in a pool of blood.
"I told you so! See, it got a helluva lot worse!" Mush yelled at me, and I just growled. It wasn't like it was my fault.
"Where are you going?" One man asked, pulling his horse in front of us. I recognized the thick accent immediately- these people were German. Mush and I skidded to a stop- well, I did, anyway. Mush ran into me, practically knocking me into the horse.
"Just home, sir." I said quickly, hoping this guy wouldn't decide I was worth shooting. Mush stood behind me, breathing hard and ready to take off. The man studied us carefully.
"And who is this?" he asked, gesturing to Mush. I stuttered a moment- I had to come up with something creative, and I had to do it fast. If I didn't say something distinct, he may just shoot Mush for the sole reason that he felt like it.
"He's my…um…he's my caregiver. Ya see, I gots this nasty disease…"
I doubled over and went into a coughing fit, and the German officer recoiled in disgust. He muttered something in German as Mush gently helped me stay upright.
Mush saw his opportunity. "I'm sorry bout dat, sir. See, dis disease, it's very contagious, and he's gotta get home to avoid infectin' others."
The German officer turned up his nose. "Get home, you street trash. And stay there."
"Yes sir."
As soon as he turned and rode away, Mush and I took off again. We knew Crutchy would've gotten to Tibby's by now, if he had taken our hint, shoving him into the shortcut. Couldn't get much more obvious than that. Most likely other newsies would be at Tibby's finishing their supper, and they'd be able to help him.
Mush and I both knew where we had to go without saying a single word. We had to get back to the lodging house. That's where all the other newsies would go, and we could regroup and decide what to do there. Cause none of us could manage this alone.
I couldn't take it anymore, though. I had to talk to Mush, and it had to be now. I stepped into a vacant doorway, pulling Mush with me.
"Mush…if that guy hadn't been outta ammo…" I stuttered, and Mush just looked down at the ground. "You woulda died for me."
He didn't say anything. He just got this small smile on his face, and punched me in the shoulder.
"That's what friends is for, Blink. I woulda taken that bullet for you any day."
I was at a loss for words. I didn't know what to say. I pulled him into a hug, wondering what I ever did to deserve having him as a friend. A brother. A selling partner. A confidant. God, he'd done so much for me already…now this. I'd never be able to repay him.
The sound of more guns firing brought us back to the present, and we took off again, heading for home.
Jack
As soon as the shooting started, I knew I had to get to David's. Today was his first day back in school, so I hadn't seen him all day. I had to make sure he was alright.
I ran to David's apartment building, luckily not getting shot along the way. I tried to stay unnoticed, and it seemed to work on the way there, at least. But when I got there, I almost wished they had caught me.
There were people lying dead in the hallways, and I could hear the sound of horses' hooves on the floors above. They were going systematically through each floor, killing everyone they saw. I made sure the coast was clear and then I ducked into the apartment.
"David! David, are you here?"
"Jack?!"
I ran to David's room, and there he was, huddled in the corner with Les right beside him. He was beat up pretty bad, but Les seemed okay.
"Are you alright?" I asked, helping him to his feet.
"I think so…they took Sarah."
Big deal, I thought, even though I let concern shine through on my face. There was a very good reason I'd broken up with her, and the fact that she'd been taken away by the Germans brought one pinpoint of light into the horrible day.
"What about your parents?"
He didn't have to say a thing- I knew just from the look on his face that they were dead.
"Come on. Let's get back to da lodging house…that's where everyone will go anyways."
We headed out onto the fire escape, and suddenly bullets started hitting the metal bars around us. We looked down, and there were four men down there, pointing at us and shooting.
"Back inside!" I yelled, pushing David back through the window. We took the stairs down and got outside, and I suddenly saw something that scared me to death- Itey lying on the sidewalk, his papers soaked with his own blood.
"Itey!" I yelled, running to his side. He looked up at me, but his eyes seemed glazed over and unfocused.
"Jack…" He started weakly, and I saw the source of the problem. He'd been stabbed in the side. I pulled off one of my shirts and pressed it on the wound, praying to God that it hadn't been a long knife.
"Itey, listen to me. Stay awake." I said as I tied the shirt around him. He nodded, but I really didn't think he understood. He was fading fast. I gently picked him up and David helped me keep him awake as we made our way back to the lodging house.
When Itey came, I'd promised him that I'd protect him. He wasn't made for the streets, at least not mentally.
I'd made him a promise. And now I hadn't kept it.
Specs
I never knew Dutchy spoke fluent German. Of course, we all knew he was fluent in Dutch, but German? Never would have guessed it.
He stopped a German officer- one that was our age- and began speaking to him in German, and I could tell they were fighting about something. Dutchy was yelling at him, and I began to get nervous. This guy had a gun, and Dutchy was yelling at him? Dutchy never yelled!
The officer jumped off his horse, and suddenly Dutchy grabbed him back the back of the head and gave him a strong headbutt. My mouth dropped open in shock as the guy fell unconscious and Dutchy began stripping his clothing off of him.
"What are you doin'?" I asked, and Dutchy looked around before he completely switched outfits with the poor guy. I suddenly saw the logic- Dutchy could speak German, and now he was wearing a German officer's uniform.
Oh, yes. This could be good. Very good indeed.
Another German officer turned the corner on foot, and before he could say anything, I punched him in the jaw. As he fell I hit him on the back of the head, and he was out like a light.
"Put on his uniform." Dutchy ordered.
"But I can't speak German!"
"I'll cover for ya. They'll make me kill you if you aren't wearing dat."
Okay, that convinced me. I certainly didn't want to end up dead today. I switched clothes with the officer and we dragged the unconscious men into a raided shop and tied them up in the broom closet.
"Where to now?" I asked as Dutchy grabbed the reins of the horse that the first officer had been on.
"Jump on."
"I've nevah ridden a horse before."
"Neither have I. I guess ya kick 'em and dey move."
He jumped onto the horse and then reached down and helped me up, and I shifted nervously as the horse stamped its foot.
"Let's get to da lodging house." Dutchy said, and then he gave the horse a good kick. It lurched forward, and I wrapped my arms around Dutchy's waist to avoid being thrown off the back end. It wasn't exactly a smooth ride- I didn't get what Race saw in these things.
Of course, Dutchy picked up on it real fast, and soon he relaxed and didn't seem to have any trouble at all. He saluted as we passed other officers, and I just held on- they didn't seem too phased by the fact that I didn't salute. I guess his salute made up for my lack of one.
"Dutchy…are we there yet?"
"No."
"How much longer?"
"Whatsa mattah, Specsy? You scared of da horse?"
"No!"
He laughed, and then he said, "Five minutes, at most. Just hang in dere."
I gripped him tighter and tried to imagine that I was elsewhere, anywhere except riding through the slums of NYC expecting to be shot down any second. I could only hope and pray that Dutchy knew what he was doing.
Another officer stopped us and spoke with Dutchy for a moment, eyeing me carefully. Dutchy gestured to me and said something, and then both he and the officer laughed, and we were allowed to pass.
"What did you say about me?"
"I said you was scared ta death of horses."
"But I'm not!"
"Yes you are. You's shakin' like a leaf."
"Yeah, so?"
"So, usually that implies dat you's scared."
I mumbled a bit, tempted to bite him. He was driving me nuts!
But then again, he was the one holding the reins. And this thing definitely wouldn't listen to me. It'd probably throw me off and trample me.
Wait a second. I was scared of horses!
Spot
"Spot!"
I spun around as I heard my name, and Race ran up to me, completely out of breath.
"Are they in Manhattan too?" I asked, and he nodded.
"They're all over. I can't find any of da newsies."
"Stick with me. Let's head back to Manhattan. I've gotta find Jack."
We hadn't taken two steps before an officer was in front of us, his gun out and ready to fire.
"Go to your home, children." He ordered in broken English.
Race and I looked at each other, and we both knew what the other was thinking.
Nobody tells us what to do.
We ran around the horse and down an alley, and I turned around and knocked over a few crates so the guy couldn't follow us. Bullets flew by us, and that made me mad. Really mad. Who shoots at kids who were weaponless? Cheap people. And I didn't like cheap people.
I turned around and let loose a few stones with my slingshot, ignoring Race's cries of protest. I managed to hit him with one, and after a string of German curses, he had his horse jump the crates.
"Run, Race! GO!" I screamed, and Race took off out of the alley. But another officer suddenly blocked the other end of the alley just after Race got out, and I was trapped, with two guns pointed at my head.
I saw Race turn around and start to run back, but I couldn't let him get himself killed.
"Race, I said run! Go find Jack!"
He hovered for a moment as the officers spoke to each other, and I began to panic as one of them turned his horse to go after Race.
"GO!"
Race turned and ran, and the next thing I knew, everything went black.
Snitch
I was trapped. I had three German guys on horseback around me, and right now, they were talking in German and laughing. Probably deciding what to do with me.
One of them jumped off his horse and knocked the papers out of my hands, and I knew I couldn't do anything about it. If I made one wrong move, they would shoot me.
He had a smug smirk on his face, though I wouldn't know why. I was helpless. He couldn't possibly think he was achieving anything by intimidating me when he had weapons and I didn't.
"Can you speak German, boy?"
I shook my head, and he suddenly pulled his fist back and punched me, right in the jaw. I staggered but didn't fall, and I could taste blood inside my mouth.
"Your answers will always be followed with 'sir'." He hissed, grabbing me by the shirt collar.
"Leave him ALONE!!!"
The German officer was suddenly pulled back off of me and spun around, and then he fell to the ground, clutching his face and letting out a string of what could only be German curses. And there stood Skittery, shaking out his hand and looking as pissed off as I had ever seen him.
The officer stood and faced Skittery, both of them unwilling to break the stare.
Skittery made a sound that I could only interpret as a growl. "You touch him again and I'll beat you so hard you won't remember your own mudder's name."
"Who are you, his boyfriend?"
The German officers that had gathered around snickered, but the off-beat question didn't phase Skittery at all. "No, but I bet you wish you was."
The entire group fell silent. Every German soldier nearby looked floored. I guess usually people didn't have the guts to insult this guy- and especially not refer to him as gay.
The officer suddenly began circling Skittery, as if he were sizing him up. "You're much too feisty for your own good." He said, taking out his knife. He suddenly leaned forward and whispered something to Skittery, and Skittery's eyes widened as he recoiled in what appeared to be disgust and horror.
He threw another punch at the officer, this time missing his mark. He was getting carried away on emotion, and it was making him a whole lot less effective. The officer grabbed him by the shirt, dropped the knife, and then punched him in the gut and shoved him away.
I ran to Skittery as he doubled over and sank to his knees, trying desperately to breathe. But then two other officers came forward, and as the main officer barked out orders, they shoved me back and grabbed onto Skittery, tying his hands behind his back.
"Say goodbye to your friend. You won't be seeing him again." The officer said, the smug smile still on his face.
"No! SKITTERY!" I screamed, trying to run after them- but suddenly I was restrained from behind. Another German officer had a grip on my arms from behind, and at first I thought he was going to take me as well.
"Don't follow. They will shoot you." He said softly, and I sank to the ground as I saw them taking my best friend away. I felt dry sobs begin to course through my body; I was crying so hard that tears wouldn't come.
"Oh, God…Skittery…"
The officer knelt beside me, laying a comforting hand on my shoulder. "My name is Gunter. I'll help you. I know where they will take him."
I looked up at him, trying to figure out if this was some type of cruel joke. But the only thing I could see in his eyes was sympathy and concern.
"But you…you're one of them."
"Your friend is a hero. I respect him for what he did. Besides…I never did want to be in this anyway."
By now, Skittery's captors had disappeared around the corner. It was my fault he got caught. That meant it was my job to get him out.
"What can we do?"
AN: Suggestions? Comments? Please review!
Oh, and I've been having major computer problems, so my updates may come at strange times…like three chapters at once and stuff like that…cause getting on the internet is a blessing from God right now, till we get it fixed. Which should be soon.