Through the night we moved sometimes running, sometimes walking, but never
slowing. I was thankful for the days in the recent past I had spent
dancing on a hill to the bag piper at the Renaissance Festival and for the
days I had spent walking through New York at the ground-eating pace that
Spot always kept. Now I was hardly out of breath as I followed the lead of
the young man I had kidnapped away.
"We's almost there." He whispered coming to a stop so suddenly I almost ran into him. I nodded and waited for him to continue on, but he paused. " Ya sure ya wanna do this?"
"No." I replied truthfully. "But I don't have any choice, that little boy in there is mine and I'm not going to let him continue to get hurt because of me. If anyone deserves his treatment it's me and I'm not about to let him continue receiving my punishment."
There was respect in the kid's eyes as he shook his head and silently made his way through the buildings. I was not doing this for respect, but it gave me a nice feeling to see it. Go figure, I'm a social pariah until I decide to risk my life in a way that was bound to get me killed. Typical male, they just aren't impressed unless possible bloodshed was involved. I sighed and shook my head, I would make him leave once I got where I needed to, getting Mimic out was my problem not his and I wasn't about to involve him if at all possible. I looked around and prayed if I got Mimic out I would run in the right direction, because at this time of night and this area I was as lost as a rat in a maze.
Some of the buildings around me looked ready to fall at any moment, the rest looked decrepit and run down. I knew that wherever I was it was where the dregs of society lodged. I prayed I wouldn't be accosted if I managed to make a break with Mimic.
"What are you doin here Depot?" I heard a familiar voice ask, I closed my eyes and threw my braid over my shoulder as I faced Ghost. I had forgotten they were to be keeping watch over Mimic. Ghost looked to me and I saw the light go on, I shrugged as his face took on a determined look. "What the hell were ya thinkin bringin her here?"
"Well mostly that it was the only way not to get my throat slit." He responded crossing his arms over his chest.
"Spot's gonna slit ya throat when he gets a hold of ya, but that's gonna be after he tortures ya." Ghost replied looking at my hand where Spots razor still rested though it had been closed. "She would have killed ya quick if she even had the guts ta kill ya at all."
"Trust me I would have had the guts to do it." I snapped softly as I flicked my wrist opening the razor with deadly accuracy.
"I don't care if ya slit my throat, but ya goin back." Ghost told me looking nervously at me.
"No, I'm not." I replied with a deadly tone in my voice that had scared bigger men than Ghost. "Now you are going to show me where Mimic is and then you are going to get out of here, both of you."
"I said I'd take ya, but I never said nothin about leavin ya." Depot said giving me that look that I was getting so used to. The one that said I was absolutely batty, the one that said they actually did worry about needing to lock me up.
"Look one innocent kid is mixed up in this whole mess because of me." I argued. " I'm not about to have your blood on my hands too."
They both stared at me the same look of respect mirrored in their faces. I shook my head, as started walking in what I hoped was the right direction. Ghost grabbed my arm and pulled me the opposite way.
"Not that way girly, this way." He said. " Ya blowin Spot's plan to hell, but I think maybe ya just crazy enough to get yaself out of this alive and maybe save Brooklyn the fight."
"I hope so." I sighed. I followed him down the alley we practically had to feel our way through and spilled out on the other side into the light of a street lamp blinking owlishly in it. Ghost pulled me down the street to another alleyway where the moonlight filtered into the bars of a small window. Ghost put a finger to his lips and pointed inside. A small figure huddled on the cold stone floor and I felt tears come to my eyes as I heard his soft sobs. I wanted to cry out to him, to tell him I was there. I felt my hands close over the bars and I looked down at them in curiosity. There was no glass in the window; I could see Mimic shivering in the cold, his breath coming in puffs of white, while the stone was already starting to frost. He would have been dead of hypothermia by morning. The bars were not welded to the frame of the window they were bolted. I knew that if it had been bolted on the inside Mimic would have figured out a way to unbolt them. I couldn't see the bolts in the light that was afforded to me, but I could feel them.
I looked at Ghost with a look of irritated disgust on my face. The bars to an unpaned window were bolted from the outside and they didn't think to just unscrew the bars. He gave me a look that said he was plainly confused and I ignored him my attention going back to Mimic.
"Mimic." I whispered as softly as possible, it was too soft; I took a pebble from the ground at my feet and threw it at him. It bounced harmlessly off the floor in front of him. He looked up at the window, hope shining in his eyes like a beacon in the dark. I made the soft hissing noise that was universal for him to remain silent. He made his way to the window and looked up at me adoringly. My heart contracted as I saw him dragging himself, as he couldn't put weight on his foot. I knew that his leg was useless, I had heard how he had faired, but seeing it made it all the harder.
Ghost and Depot were looking at me waiting for me to show them why I had given them a disgusted look as I pulled the razor forward again. I wedged it into the screws that were holding the frame of the bars to the wall and twisted. It slipped almost making me cut my knuckles on the deadly sharp blade. I tried again, it squeaked as it turned in its rusty hole. Luckily it was not enough noise to draw forth the man I knew that had to be keeping watch over the door that held Mimic. I did not look up, but Depot took his knife from his pocket and set to work on the other side. I could tell they were smacking themselves mentally in the head for not once thinking of just opening the window and letting poor Mimic out.
Women brains, men brawn, perfect illustration. I thought wryly. Spot had planned to come bursting in starting a raging brawl and freeing Mimic. I knew Ox was expecting him to do just that, neither one thought of a quiet break.
Minutes crawled by like hours as we worked, Ghost disappeared to find Shadow and keep the men who were likely keeping watch over the house waiting for Spot Conlon to strike out of our way.
"Damn it." I cried muffling the noise just in time, there were only two screws left and they were both rusted to the frame. I searched around looking for something to use to pry it the rest of the way open. Depot moved further down in the alley way looking as I put my food on the edge we had managed to pull away. Luckily the screws were on the bottom of the frame. I put my weight on it hoping maybe I could push it down. The metal made a horrible creaking noise. Lights went on upstairs and I jumped on the frame knowing that we would be caught. I had only minutes to get Mimic out.
"Depot." I cried as I jumped again the frame breaking away from the window in a horrendous noise. Depot immediately appeared and knelt as I did both of us reaching hands down to Mimic. He reached up his small little hand only inches from Depots; someone was fumbling with the lock on the door. Looking back fearfully, Mimic took a deep breath, put all of his weight on his injured leg and jumped. He cried out in pain, Depot caught his arm and pulled him forward. I winced as I heard Mimic's little body thudding against the wall. I grabbed for his other hand and we hauled him out just as three large men came barreling around the corner and into the alley. Depot pulled Mimic into his arms and both of us took off running. Weaving our way through the debris and the discarded trash pushing it behind us in hopes of slowing our pursuers. It worked in the movies, but of course it did not work for us. Finally we just ran not looking back, hoping against hope we could out run them. I saw Depot dodge ahead of me and into an alley entering it I found he had disappeared. I looked around for a moment, but I could hear the pounding of feet on the pavement that told me the men were right behind. I ran on figuring that Depot at least had gotten Mimic out of the way. I had accomplished my mission, I had gotten Mimic free, I hoped that he would be okay now. My heart felt light as I turned and ran out of the alley into the street lamp. Tears almost flooded my eyes as I saw I was right back where I had started. I had run in a circle and I could see Ox shouting orders ahead of me, two of his goons were hot on my tail. I continued running hoping that maybe I could find shelter across the street. Someone grabbed my arm and I turned swinging ready to try to fight myself free. Looking up into the cold eyes of the man who held me I sighed in relief. My relief was short lived as Spot pulled me back into the alleyway and slammed me against the wall. I gasped for breath as he pressed a passionate kiss to my lips, though this kiss was unlike any previous. It was mechanical and forced; finally he pulled his head up. I saw Ox's men run past and I realized what he had been doing.
"What the hell was that?" I hissed.
"What the hell were ya thinking?" he replied with a question of his own. "I'm ready to kill ya, ya know that? How dare ya disobey me."
" We got him out Spot." I told him, " We got him out with minimal blood shed, with any luck Depot's back at the Lodging House with Mimic. You didn't stop to look at the window to see if you could just pop the screws and let him out."
"No, we did, but we also checked to see if they were rusted." Spot retorted. " Ya lucky the bars were rusted through enough to break or ya wouldn't have gotten him out. We weren't gonna chance it."
"I got him out." I cried.
"Yeah, ya got lucky." Spot fumed, "As soon as we get back to Brooklyn I want ya out."
"What?" I asked in shock it had not been the response I had been expecting.
" I don't tolerate stupidity from any of me boys and I ain't gonna tolerate if from you. Ya goin back to Manhattan if they'll take ya. I'm washin my hands, I ain't gonna get me or me boys killed because of ya stupid actions. Ya started this ya know. If ya had just acted like the woman ya are and gotten a man instead of tryin to take on Ox he wouldn't be after ya. My boys wouldn't be in danger and Jacky's boys wouldn't be in danger. Quill would be alive, and Mimic wouldn't be lookin at spendin the rest of his life with a limp because his legs busted and it probably won't mend right. Ya brought all of this with ya crazy ideas. I can't believe you were stupid enough to wonder off and try to get Mimic out yaself." He hissed, I felt the tears as I realized he was saying all that those voices had whispered over and over again. I looked into those eyes that had been laughing down at me only hours before as he tackled me into the grass. Angrily he grabbed my arm and hauled me around the corner heading in the opposite direction of the building Ox had taken over. My mind tumbled thoughts over each other as I let the hopeless feeling I had kept at bay for so long take over. I allowed him to pull me down the street to where Shadow and Ghost waited, but we were not out of the fire yet. As the boys talked trying to figure out the best way to get out of here and back to the Lodging House I saw a shadow fall over me.
"The mighty Spot Conlon caught like a rat in an alley." I heard Ox say, looking up I saw six of his boys crowd eagerly around behind him waiting for their leader to give them the go ahead. "Ya shoulda just given me the girl."
"I shoulda." Spot responded coolly. "She's more trouble than she's worth."
I could almost smell the bully's fear as he moved further into the alley way and toward Spot. I had no delusions; we were going to die despite the fear I saw there maybe even because of the fear. I watched the way the boys puffed themselves up like birds in the wild trying to seem bigger to frighten away prey. All except the Alpha male of the wolf pack who stood regally and coolly awaiting his fate. If Spot went down Brooklyn would be thrown into chaos, if he lost he would be ousted. This was a lose, lose situation, unless I acted. I weighed my options, I had nothing left, Mimic was safe and Spot hated me. Quietly I stood, my hands and legs shaking as I did the only thing I knew to do.
"Go Spot." I told him. "I'm not your responsibility anymore. You're right I am more trouble than I am worth. This is my mess, my problem not yours."
Spot looked at me for a moment then shrugged, it broke my heart. A heart I didn't think I had enough left to care. His anger at me was still there, glittering in his eyes as he grabbed my arm and pulled me to him roughly.
"Ya my responsibility until I decide otherwise." He hissed fear warring with another emotion as he glared down at me.
"No, I'm not." I whispered. " Think about it, you get yourself killed tonight because of me and Brooklyn will be in chaos, Glimmer could be placed in danger, and these boys with you will die. Be a leader Spot, wash your hands of me as you intended when we got back to Brooklyn and be free. Go, it is my fault, all of it and I will face the repercussions of my actions. "
His eyes clouded over and I could tell he fought with himself; for once his emotions were in turmoil in his eyes instead of under a glassy mirror that those eyes so often were. I watched for a moment then he nodded and stepped away from me. Slowly I turned away and walked to where Ox stood, I felt the heavy hand grip my arm bruising it. I looked back at Spot who looked lost, but he had made his choice. I wanted to kill him and I wanted to kiss him. He was a leader first and foremost, and he knew as I did more people would die if he managed somehow to get me out of the alley alive, if he managed to get out of the alley alive. I looked into those chips of ice and knew he'd be back for me, eventually, though I feared it would be too late. He wouldn't let me die if he could help it, his conscious if nothing else wouldn't let him.
Ox pulled me off telling Spot they were done, that there was nothing more between them. Spot nodded jerkily, his eyes never leaving mine. I wanted to walk away proudly, my head held high, but my legs were shaking too bad so I ended up over Ox's broad shoulder. He carried me up the steps, and the door shut with a finality I did not like.
For the first night I spent in a room much like Mimic's huddling to get what warmth I could from my own body. The next day they moved me, to keep any would be rescuers from saving me. I will spare you the details of the torture they inflicted, as I don't remember them. I will tell you that the next night came Ox's fun; it did not start out as I thought which would be a continuation of my advances the night of Brooklyn's party. It was not, it was much worse.
I will say it began with a whip cutting the back of my shirt to shreds, leaving bleeding welts on my back with a pain unlike anything I had ever experienced. Leaving scars that would follow me for the rest of my life. I remember as they tied my arms above my head and I waited nervously for Ox to swing the whip I saw in his hands I expected Spot to break in. I expected that like some sappy movie he would break in and stop it, but this was no story, no movie. This was life, so he did not. I had walked into this willingly, but I prayed for death. I prayed Spot would save me, but he did not. Eventually I stopped praying.
That first night as I lay there, tears falling freely, my pride already becoming nothing more than a memory my thoughts twirled in my head like leaves on the autumn breeze. They moved like the wind that froze the blood on my back and numbed the pain some of my back. I rolled onto my bleeding back the cold yet dirty stone feeling so good on the burning welts. I spent the night sleepless in too much pain to even think of sleeping
What kind of a hero was he? I remember thinking. Where was he, he should have come by now. As I lay there bleeding doubting him, I still waited for him to appear and break me free to clean the wounds in my back as he told me how he had tried to reach me sooner. He did not; finally I retreated into myself no longer able to handle what was happening.
I do not remember all that I suffered, I remember the whip, I remember the cruel laughter, I remember the humiliation as Ox sought to exact revenge on me for all humiliation I had inflicted on him. He was a monster, a man who enjoyed the pain of others. Days seemed like years, until finally it ended and they tired of me. They did not kill me out right; they locked the door to my cell, leaving me more of a frightened animal than a human. It did not take long to break me, as I had never dealt with physical discomfort on the level they inflicted. I had been as innocent as a lamb for slaughter and though I had tried to be brave, though I had bit my lip until it bleed to keep from screaming, I broke swiftly. Perhaps that is why they tired so quickly, because I broke so easily. They left me bleeding and bruised to die of starvation and the elements, if not from the wounds that still bleed freely. It had seemed like years, in fact it had been no more than days, but they had been inventive in their revenge.
I do not remember all of what they did; my mind had hidden those memories. It is funny the things the brain can do to protect itself, I have never tried to remember those few days, I have no desire to remember. I know only what Lucky told me, I know only what Lucky felt I should know. I am getting ahead of myself again, for I have yet to introduce Lucky.
Lucky was my savior, what the Queens newsie was doing near Ox's new hide out I do not know. I can only suppose she had run off as she usually did when she was upset. I do not remember the whimpering that brought her to investigate, I do not remember scuttling across the room in fear as she broke down the locked door. I do not remember that she had to coax me out of the corner for every time she tried to move close to me I moved away in fear. She told me I had been close to a babbling idiot. She had thought I had been a little slow and had been beaten up on because I could not talk or defend myself. I do not remember nearly screaming in pain as she took off her coat and covered me with it. I do not remember the trip to Queens, I don't remember the flurry of excitement I caused as she somehow managed to half carry me to her friends. I do not remember the days I spent near death, fighting the infection from the dirt that had crusted into my wounds from the floor that had eased the pain. I don't remember calling out "his" name. She refused to talk about it, but except for one night while we sat drinking together. Still there were things she did not say, things that seemed to haunt even her. I did not ask, I did not want to know.
Eventually I began to mend in a sleep that healed both body and mind as best it could. I woke days later, my eyes gritty as they can get from a long sleep too weak to even stand to get to the bathroom only feet away. I had survived purely on Lucky's will power and stubborn refusal to let me die. She was there when I woke, her blue eyes watching me with determination. Determination that had nursed me back to life. I found Mush asleep in a chair only inches from me, Blink stretched out on the floor, Mimic curled at my side the bruises already fading from his ordeal and Crutchy in the bunk only feet away. At first I did not even know my name, though she remembered me from fight in Brooklyn, the fight that had brought me to this. She brought Spot to see me when she first found me to make sure I was who she thought. He had confirmed it and left the emotionless look on his face. Days later Ox was found dead, no one had seen Spot do it, but they all were sure it had been him.
Manhattan had been notified as soon as Spot had confirmed it and those that had become close had rushed to my side. All except Spot, even Glimmer had come; tears of worry and joy in her eyes. Jack had promptly yelled himself blue in the face and I had nodded agreeing with every word of his tirade, which shut him up as soon as he realized I was agreeing with him. They did not wish me to leave Manhattan despite the problems I had caused. I was one of them and they were adamant about me staying.
I waited for Spot, but just as it had been during my little trip to hell he did not come. I was quiet and withdrawn for long after not really who I had been. Eventually my humor came back as did some of my sharp wit, but I had been changed. I had been taught my place in a way I wished never to be repeated. I had lost some of that fiery girl that had caught attention of every newsie. I missed her, but I locked her away and stared out the window wondering some days what to do as I did not know if I could return to selling.
I waited as those horribly romantic stories of women who haunt the windows they waited for their lovers to return by. I did not die to forever wait for Spot's return though. I eventually realized he was never coming and I went about the process of living. Finally the day I saw him waltz by at a party in Manhattan with a girl on his arm I stopped asking myself why he did not come. I felt my heart shatter and I locked what was left away as I had before. Only a chosen few were allowed close, only a chosen few had gotten beyond the wall and stayed there.
Eventually Mush and Blink coached me outside. Eventually I returned to selling and to the Manhattan Lodging House, though I brought with me a new member, as Lucky did not want to leave my side. We sold together with Mimic and I had learned my lesson with him. I cherished the love he gave me and gave him the love he had been looking for. I put away the Gypsy amulet knowing I was not meant to leave yet. That if the time came I would know, knowing I would eventually have to deal with the mess that had become my relationship with Spot. That I could not leave until I knew for certain why he had abandoned me.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and a Merry Christmas to you all (or Happy Holidays).
Chelci: She sure did, bad Cameo, Bad! Sorry you didn't get any of the comforting I am sure you needed.
Dreamer: I know I left you hanging again, sorry, but it makes you come back and read more! Mimic lived! Yay! When are you putting up more?
FyreEye: (new reviewer dance ensues) Yay, thank you for reviewing. I'm glad you liked it. Hope this one is as enjoyable as it can be.
Rumor: Here's your whip slave driver. Hope you want more! I'm expecting another long review Grandma!
Galaxy: She didn't die! Yay for Cameo! I try to update frequently, I'm addicted to reviews.
Hotshot: Yup stupid, defiantly stupid, but I think she did her time for it! Though her relationship is on the rocks with Spot, I think they will have to pull through, they just seem made for each other at this point. We'll see I'm a slave of my muses, (and rumor)
Raider: Yay, you made it. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who is lost in time.
Ali: Okay your heart is not going to be broken, though Cameo's is...well for right now. Sorry, Spot's a dick again.. makes life more interesting though. I updated now you review.
Rhap: You read it, you finally read it. I was afraid you would be so turned off on the time travel idea that you wouldn't. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
JP: Where are you? Did I loose you somewhere?
Falco: Where's my favorite Lazy bum? Where's my waffles? Thanks for the last review again can I have another?
"We's almost there." He whispered coming to a stop so suddenly I almost ran into him. I nodded and waited for him to continue on, but he paused. " Ya sure ya wanna do this?"
"No." I replied truthfully. "But I don't have any choice, that little boy in there is mine and I'm not going to let him continue to get hurt because of me. If anyone deserves his treatment it's me and I'm not about to let him continue receiving my punishment."
There was respect in the kid's eyes as he shook his head and silently made his way through the buildings. I was not doing this for respect, but it gave me a nice feeling to see it. Go figure, I'm a social pariah until I decide to risk my life in a way that was bound to get me killed. Typical male, they just aren't impressed unless possible bloodshed was involved. I sighed and shook my head, I would make him leave once I got where I needed to, getting Mimic out was my problem not his and I wasn't about to involve him if at all possible. I looked around and prayed if I got Mimic out I would run in the right direction, because at this time of night and this area I was as lost as a rat in a maze.
Some of the buildings around me looked ready to fall at any moment, the rest looked decrepit and run down. I knew that wherever I was it was where the dregs of society lodged. I prayed I wouldn't be accosted if I managed to make a break with Mimic.
"What are you doin here Depot?" I heard a familiar voice ask, I closed my eyes and threw my braid over my shoulder as I faced Ghost. I had forgotten they were to be keeping watch over Mimic. Ghost looked to me and I saw the light go on, I shrugged as his face took on a determined look. "What the hell were ya thinkin bringin her here?"
"Well mostly that it was the only way not to get my throat slit." He responded crossing his arms over his chest.
"Spot's gonna slit ya throat when he gets a hold of ya, but that's gonna be after he tortures ya." Ghost replied looking at my hand where Spots razor still rested though it had been closed. "She would have killed ya quick if she even had the guts ta kill ya at all."
"Trust me I would have had the guts to do it." I snapped softly as I flicked my wrist opening the razor with deadly accuracy.
"I don't care if ya slit my throat, but ya goin back." Ghost told me looking nervously at me.
"No, I'm not." I replied with a deadly tone in my voice that had scared bigger men than Ghost. "Now you are going to show me where Mimic is and then you are going to get out of here, both of you."
"I said I'd take ya, but I never said nothin about leavin ya." Depot said giving me that look that I was getting so used to. The one that said I was absolutely batty, the one that said they actually did worry about needing to lock me up.
"Look one innocent kid is mixed up in this whole mess because of me." I argued. " I'm not about to have your blood on my hands too."
They both stared at me the same look of respect mirrored in their faces. I shook my head, as started walking in what I hoped was the right direction. Ghost grabbed my arm and pulled me the opposite way.
"Not that way girly, this way." He said. " Ya blowin Spot's plan to hell, but I think maybe ya just crazy enough to get yaself out of this alive and maybe save Brooklyn the fight."
"I hope so." I sighed. I followed him down the alley we practically had to feel our way through and spilled out on the other side into the light of a street lamp blinking owlishly in it. Ghost pulled me down the street to another alleyway where the moonlight filtered into the bars of a small window. Ghost put a finger to his lips and pointed inside. A small figure huddled on the cold stone floor and I felt tears come to my eyes as I heard his soft sobs. I wanted to cry out to him, to tell him I was there. I felt my hands close over the bars and I looked down at them in curiosity. There was no glass in the window; I could see Mimic shivering in the cold, his breath coming in puffs of white, while the stone was already starting to frost. He would have been dead of hypothermia by morning. The bars were not welded to the frame of the window they were bolted. I knew that if it had been bolted on the inside Mimic would have figured out a way to unbolt them. I couldn't see the bolts in the light that was afforded to me, but I could feel them.
I looked at Ghost with a look of irritated disgust on my face. The bars to an unpaned window were bolted from the outside and they didn't think to just unscrew the bars. He gave me a look that said he was plainly confused and I ignored him my attention going back to Mimic.
"Mimic." I whispered as softly as possible, it was too soft; I took a pebble from the ground at my feet and threw it at him. It bounced harmlessly off the floor in front of him. He looked up at the window, hope shining in his eyes like a beacon in the dark. I made the soft hissing noise that was universal for him to remain silent. He made his way to the window and looked up at me adoringly. My heart contracted as I saw him dragging himself, as he couldn't put weight on his foot. I knew that his leg was useless, I had heard how he had faired, but seeing it made it all the harder.
Ghost and Depot were looking at me waiting for me to show them why I had given them a disgusted look as I pulled the razor forward again. I wedged it into the screws that were holding the frame of the bars to the wall and twisted. It slipped almost making me cut my knuckles on the deadly sharp blade. I tried again, it squeaked as it turned in its rusty hole. Luckily it was not enough noise to draw forth the man I knew that had to be keeping watch over the door that held Mimic. I did not look up, but Depot took his knife from his pocket and set to work on the other side. I could tell they were smacking themselves mentally in the head for not once thinking of just opening the window and letting poor Mimic out.
Women brains, men brawn, perfect illustration. I thought wryly. Spot had planned to come bursting in starting a raging brawl and freeing Mimic. I knew Ox was expecting him to do just that, neither one thought of a quiet break.
Minutes crawled by like hours as we worked, Ghost disappeared to find Shadow and keep the men who were likely keeping watch over the house waiting for Spot Conlon to strike out of our way.
"Damn it." I cried muffling the noise just in time, there were only two screws left and they were both rusted to the frame. I searched around looking for something to use to pry it the rest of the way open. Depot moved further down in the alley way looking as I put my food on the edge we had managed to pull away. Luckily the screws were on the bottom of the frame. I put my weight on it hoping maybe I could push it down. The metal made a horrible creaking noise. Lights went on upstairs and I jumped on the frame knowing that we would be caught. I had only minutes to get Mimic out.
"Depot." I cried as I jumped again the frame breaking away from the window in a horrendous noise. Depot immediately appeared and knelt as I did both of us reaching hands down to Mimic. He reached up his small little hand only inches from Depots; someone was fumbling with the lock on the door. Looking back fearfully, Mimic took a deep breath, put all of his weight on his injured leg and jumped. He cried out in pain, Depot caught his arm and pulled him forward. I winced as I heard Mimic's little body thudding against the wall. I grabbed for his other hand and we hauled him out just as three large men came barreling around the corner and into the alley. Depot pulled Mimic into his arms and both of us took off running. Weaving our way through the debris and the discarded trash pushing it behind us in hopes of slowing our pursuers. It worked in the movies, but of course it did not work for us. Finally we just ran not looking back, hoping against hope we could out run them. I saw Depot dodge ahead of me and into an alley entering it I found he had disappeared. I looked around for a moment, but I could hear the pounding of feet on the pavement that told me the men were right behind. I ran on figuring that Depot at least had gotten Mimic out of the way. I had accomplished my mission, I had gotten Mimic free, I hoped that he would be okay now. My heart felt light as I turned and ran out of the alley into the street lamp. Tears almost flooded my eyes as I saw I was right back where I had started. I had run in a circle and I could see Ox shouting orders ahead of me, two of his goons were hot on my tail. I continued running hoping that maybe I could find shelter across the street. Someone grabbed my arm and I turned swinging ready to try to fight myself free. Looking up into the cold eyes of the man who held me I sighed in relief. My relief was short lived as Spot pulled me back into the alleyway and slammed me against the wall. I gasped for breath as he pressed a passionate kiss to my lips, though this kiss was unlike any previous. It was mechanical and forced; finally he pulled his head up. I saw Ox's men run past and I realized what he had been doing.
"What the hell was that?" I hissed.
"What the hell were ya thinking?" he replied with a question of his own. "I'm ready to kill ya, ya know that? How dare ya disobey me."
" We got him out Spot." I told him, " We got him out with minimal blood shed, with any luck Depot's back at the Lodging House with Mimic. You didn't stop to look at the window to see if you could just pop the screws and let him out."
"No, we did, but we also checked to see if they were rusted." Spot retorted. " Ya lucky the bars were rusted through enough to break or ya wouldn't have gotten him out. We weren't gonna chance it."
"I got him out." I cried.
"Yeah, ya got lucky." Spot fumed, "As soon as we get back to Brooklyn I want ya out."
"What?" I asked in shock it had not been the response I had been expecting.
" I don't tolerate stupidity from any of me boys and I ain't gonna tolerate if from you. Ya goin back to Manhattan if they'll take ya. I'm washin my hands, I ain't gonna get me or me boys killed because of ya stupid actions. Ya started this ya know. If ya had just acted like the woman ya are and gotten a man instead of tryin to take on Ox he wouldn't be after ya. My boys wouldn't be in danger and Jacky's boys wouldn't be in danger. Quill would be alive, and Mimic wouldn't be lookin at spendin the rest of his life with a limp because his legs busted and it probably won't mend right. Ya brought all of this with ya crazy ideas. I can't believe you were stupid enough to wonder off and try to get Mimic out yaself." He hissed, I felt the tears as I realized he was saying all that those voices had whispered over and over again. I looked into those eyes that had been laughing down at me only hours before as he tackled me into the grass. Angrily he grabbed my arm and hauled me around the corner heading in the opposite direction of the building Ox had taken over. My mind tumbled thoughts over each other as I let the hopeless feeling I had kept at bay for so long take over. I allowed him to pull me down the street to where Shadow and Ghost waited, but we were not out of the fire yet. As the boys talked trying to figure out the best way to get out of here and back to the Lodging House I saw a shadow fall over me.
"The mighty Spot Conlon caught like a rat in an alley." I heard Ox say, looking up I saw six of his boys crowd eagerly around behind him waiting for their leader to give them the go ahead. "Ya shoulda just given me the girl."
"I shoulda." Spot responded coolly. "She's more trouble than she's worth."
I could almost smell the bully's fear as he moved further into the alley way and toward Spot. I had no delusions; we were going to die despite the fear I saw there maybe even because of the fear. I watched the way the boys puffed themselves up like birds in the wild trying to seem bigger to frighten away prey. All except the Alpha male of the wolf pack who stood regally and coolly awaiting his fate. If Spot went down Brooklyn would be thrown into chaos, if he lost he would be ousted. This was a lose, lose situation, unless I acted. I weighed my options, I had nothing left, Mimic was safe and Spot hated me. Quietly I stood, my hands and legs shaking as I did the only thing I knew to do.
"Go Spot." I told him. "I'm not your responsibility anymore. You're right I am more trouble than I am worth. This is my mess, my problem not yours."
Spot looked at me for a moment then shrugged, it broke my heart. A heart I didn't think I had enough left to care. His anger at me was still there, glittering in his eyes as he grabbed my arm and pulled me to him roughly.
"Ya my responsibility until I decide otherwise." He hissed fear warring with another emotion as he glared down at me.
"No, I'm not." I whispered. " Think about it, you get yourself killed tonight because of me and Brooklyn will be in chaos, Glimmer could be placed in danger, and these boys with you will die. Be a leader Spot, wash your hands of me as you intended when we got back to Brooklyn and be free. Go, it is my fault, all of it and I will face the repercussions of my actions. "
His eyes clouded over and I could tell he fought with himself; for once his emotions were in turmoil in his eyes instead of under a glassy mirror that those eyes so often were. I watched for a moment then he nodded and stepped away from me. Slowly I turned away and walked to where Ox stood, I felt the heavy hand grip my arm bruising it. I looked back at Spot who looked lost, but he had made his choice. I wanted to kill him and I wanted to kiss him. He was a leader first and foremost, and he knew as I did more people would die if he managed somehow to get me out of the alley alive, if he managed to get out of the alley alive. I looked into those chips of ice and knew he'd be back for me, eventually, though I feared it would be too late. He wouldn't let me die if he could help it, his conscious if nothing else wouldn't let him.
Ox pulled me off telling Spot they were done, that there was nothing more between them. Spot nodded jerkily, his eyes never leaving mine. I wanted to walk away proudly, my head held high, but my legs were shaking too bad so I ended up over Ox's broad shoulder. He carried me up the steps, and the door shut with a finality I did not like.
For the first night I spent in a room much like Mimic's huddling to get what warmth I could from my own body. The next day they moved me, to keep any would be rescuers from saving me. I will spare you the details of the torture they inflicted, as I don't remember them. I will tell you that the next night came Ox's fun; it did not start out as I thought which would be a continuation of my advances the night of Brooklyn's party. It was not, it was much worse.
I will say it began with a whip cutting the back of my shirt to shreds, leaving bleeding welts on my back with a pain unlike anything I had ever experienced. Leaving scars that would follow me for the rest of my life. I remember as they tied my arms above my head and I waited nervously for Ox to swing the whip I saw in his hands I expected Spot to break in. I expected that like some sappy movie he would break in and stop it, but this was no story, no movie. This was life, so he did not. I had walked into this willingly, but I prayed for death. I prayed Spot would save me, but he did not. Eventually I stopped praying.
That first night as I lay there, tears falling freely, my pride already becoming nothing more than a memory my thoughts twirled in my head like leaves on the autumn breeze. They moved like the wind that froze the blood on my back and numbed the pain some of my back. I rolled onto my bleeding back the cold yet dirty stone feeling so good on the burning welts. I spent the night sleepless in too much pain to even think of sleeping
What kind of a hero was he? I remember thinking. Where was he, he should have come by now. As I lay there bleeding doubting him, I still waited for him to appear and break me free to clean the wounds in my back as he told me how he had tried to reach me sooner. He did not; finally I retreated into myself no longer able to handle what was happening.
I do not remember all that I suffered, I remember the whip, I remember the cruel laughter, I remember the humiliation as Ox sought to exact revenge on me for all humiliation I had inflicted on him. He was a monster, a man who enjoyed the pain of others. Days seemed like years, until finally it ended and they tired of me. They did not kill me out right; they locked the door to my cell, leaving me more of a frightened animal than a human. It did not take long to break me, as I had never dealt with physical discomfort on the level they inflicted. I had been as innocent as a lamb for slaughter and though I had tried to be brave, though I had bit my lip until it bleed to keep from screaming, I broke swiftly. Perhaps that is why they tired so quickly, because I broke so easily. They left me bleeding and bruised to die of starvation and the elements, if not from the wounds that still bleed freely. It had seemed like years, in fact it had been no more than days, but they had been inventive in their revenge.
I do not remember all of what they did; my mind had hidden those memories. It is funny the things the brain can do to protect itself, I have never tried to remember those few days, I have no desire to remember. I know only what Lucky told me, I know only what Lucky felt I should know. I am getting ahead of myself again, for I have yet to introduce Lucky.
Lucky was my savior, what the Queens newsie was doing near Ox's new hide out I do not know. I can only suppose she had run off as she usually did when she was upset. I do not remember the whimpering that brought her to investigate, I do not remember scuttling across the room in fear as she broke down the locked door. I do not remember that she had to coax me out of the corner for every time she tried to move close to me I moved away in fear. She told me I had been close to a babbling idiot. She had thought I had been a little slow and had been beaten up on because I could not talk or defend myself. I do not remember nearly screaming in pain as she took off her coat and covered me with it. I do not remember the trip to Queens, I don't remember the flurry of excitement I caused as she somehow managed to half carry me to her friends. I do not remember the days I spent near death, fighting the infection from the dirt that had crusted into my wounds from the floor that had eased the pain. I don't remember calling out "his" name. She refused to talk about it, but except for one night while we sat drinking together. Still there were things she did not say, things that seemed to haunt even her. I did not ask, I did not want to know.
Eventually I began to mend in a sleep that healed both body and mind as best it could. I woke days later, my eyes gritty as they can get from a long sleep too weak to even stand to get to the bathroom only feet away. I had survived purely on Lucky's will power and stubborn refusal to let me die. She was there when I woke, her blue eyes watching me with determination. Determination that had nursed me back to life. I found Mush asleep in a chair only inches from me, Blink stretched out on the floor, Mimic curled at my side the bruises already fading from his ordeal and Crutchy in the bunk only feet away. At first I did not even know my name, though she remembered me from fight in Brooklyn, the fight that had brought me to this. She brought Spot to see me when she first found me to make sure I was who she thought. He had confirmed it and left the emotionless look on his face. Days later Ox was found dead, no one had seen Spot do it, but they all were sure it had been him.
Manhattan had been notified as soon as Spot had confirmed it and those that had become close had rushed to my side. All except Spot, even Glimmer had come; tears of worry and joy in her eyes. Jack had promptly yelled himself blue in the face and I had nodded agreeing with every word of his tirade, which shut him up as soon as he realized I was agreeing with him. They did not wish me to leave Manhattan despite the problems I had caused. I was one of them and they were adamant about me staying.
I waited for Spot, but just as it had been during my little trip to hell he did not come. I was quiet and withdrawn for long after not really who I had been. Eventually my humor came back as did some of my sharp wit, but I had been changed. I had been taught my place in a way I wished never to be repeated. I had lost some of that fiery girl that had caught attention of every newsie. I missed her, but I locked her away and stared out the window wondering some days what to do as I did not know if I could return to selling.
I waited as those horribly romantic stories of women who haunt the windows they waited for their lovers to return by. I did not die to forever wait for Spot's return though. I eventually realized he was never coming and I went about the process of living. Finally the day I saw him waltz by at a party in Manhattan with a girl on his arm I stopped asking myself why he did not come. I felt my heart shatter and I locked what was left away as I had before. Only a chosen few were allowed close, only a chosen few had gotten beyond the wall and stayed there.
Eventually Mush and Blink coached me outside. Eventually I returned to selling and to the Manhattan Lodging House, though I brought with me a new member, as Lucky did not want to leave my side. We sold together with Mimic and I had learned my lesson with him. I cherished the love he gave me and gave him the love he had been looking for. I put away the Gypsy amulet knowing I was not meant to leave yet. That if the time came I would know, knowing I would eventually have to deal with the mess that had become my relationship with Spot. That I could not leave until I knew for certain why he had abandoned me.
Thank you all for your wonderful reviews and a Merry Christmas to you all (or Happy Holidays).
Chelci: She sure did, bad Cameo, Bad! Sorry you didn't get any of the comforting I am sure you needed.
Dreamer: I know I left you hanging again, sorry, but it makes you come back and read more! Mimic lived! Yay! When are you putting up more?
FyreEye: (new reviewer dance ensues) Yay, thank you for reviewing. I'm glad you liked it. Hope this one is as enjoyable as it can be.
Rumor: Here's your whip slave driver. Hope you want more! I'm expecting another long review Grandma!
Galaxy: She didn't die! Yay for Cameo! I try to update frequently, I'm addicted to reviews.
Hotshot: Yup stupid, defiantly stupid, but I think she did her time for it! Though her relationship is on the rocks with Spot, I think they will have to pull through, they just seem made for each other at this point. We'll see I'm a slave of my muses, (and rumor)
Raider: Yay, you made it. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who is lost in time.
Ali: Okay your heart is not going to be broken, though Cameo's is...well for right now. Sorry, Spot's a dick again.. makes life more interesting though. I updated now you review.
Rhap: You read it, you finally read it. I was afraid you would be so turned off on the time travel idea that you wouldn't. Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.
JP: Where are you? Did I loose you somewhere?
Falco: Where's my favorite Lazy bum? Where's my waffles? Thanks for the last review again can I have another?