"Luna! Spot! Get over here already!" Slinks called, already engrossed in the poker game. It was Manhattan's turn to host the weekly get-together.
"We ain't that late are we?" Luna asked, seeing a game already in progress.
"Just a little," Brooky remarked through a cigarette clenched in her teeth.
Behind Luna and Spot strolled Spades' Fia, Blue, Snitch, and Key. The six grabbed the last remaining empty seats and sat down, watching as the latest game unfolded.
Racetrack looked up from his cards, taking a drag on his cigar as he did. "Alright Dublina, your call. Ya gonna raise or what?" he asked.
Spades' Fia noticed something different about the game. Someone was missing. Perusing the table, she figured out who it was. Mayhem always sat beside Racetrack for these games, but she wasn't there. And there wasn't a vacant seat either. She nudged her boyfriend, Blue, in the side and whispered, "Where's Mayhem?"
Shrugging, Blue put his arm around Spades' shoulder. "Dunno," he whispered back.
Race was growing tired of the looks the other newsies were giving him. He knew what they wanted to know. Sighing, Race cleared his throat. "May had some business to take care of, alright?" he snapped. Race had been nervous ever since Mayhem told him she wouldn't make it to the game. He knew what she was really up to. She wasn't visiting Leads' grave - she was going after Fox. After all, she didn't need to borrow his pocket watch just to go the grave site. He loved that watch, but he loved Mayhem much more, and this was strumming on his last nerve. But how could he stop her? She better come home in one piece. If anythin' happens ta her… Race knew there wasn't anything he could do to stop her. She had to take care of this and she wanted to do it alone. There was nothing else to do besides sit and wait, hoping she would make it back home safely.
The air was silent for a few moments, as everyone noticed Racetrack's attitude. There was more to this then they knew about, and they all felt it better to change the subject quickly.
"Alright, Dub, what's it gonna be?" Slinks asked, slicing the silence.
Sizing up her hand, Dub took another glance at the pot in the center and then at how much she had left. It was only the first game of the night, and if she wanted to last through the entire evening, she would have to be cautious about her spending. "Fold," she answered, setting her cards on the table before leaning back in her chair.
"Well, I call your twenty cents, and raise ya another five," Brooky grinned, throwing her coins on the table. "True?"
"Hmm," True scratched her head. Brooky, True, her boy Mush, Specs, Slinks, Shamrock, Kid Blink, his girl Slick, Jack, and his girl and co-leader Jade were still in this game. "Too rich for me blood," she sighed, folding her cards.
One by one the newsies backed out of the game, until it was down to Brooky, Racetrack, and Slinks.
"Well Brooky?" Slinks asked impatiently. She had her best hand ever, and was trying desperately not to show her excitement.
"Yeah, yeah, hold your horses," Brooky muttered, debating how high she wanted to go. Finally she tossed her cards down. "Fold."
Slinks held back her joy. Now it was down to the gambler himself and her. She knew Race was off his game. His head had jerked up each time the door opened, expecting it to be Mayhem. There was no way his hand was better. "Well Race? What's it gonna be?"
Sighing, Race took one look at the anti, then his hand, and pressed them down on the table. He just couldn't enjoy this game knowing where his love was. "Ya win Slinks," he muttered.
Jack stood up from the table and clasped a hand on Race's shoulder. "C'mon. Why don't ya get some fresh air with me?" he asked, knowing Race had a lot on his mind. Perhaps if nothing else, Race could talk things out with Jack.
Slinks wanted to whoop with joy, but when she saw Race's downtrodden face, all she could do was smile, take her winnings, and steal a victory kiss from Specs before pocketing the money.
"Alright, let the big boys in the game now," Spot announced. "Blue, let's show 'em how we do dis in Brooklyn," he grinned.
A new set of newsies sat down at the table, including Luna, Spot, Silk, Blue, Spades' Fia, Goosey, Itey, Skittery, Dreamer, Raven, Dutchy, Aurora, and Pie Eater. Spot shuffled the cards and dealt them out.
Once the cards were dealt, all the newsies except Luna picked theirs up. Her eyes were fixated on a knot in the floor as she sat stiff in her chair. Two dark figures flashed before her eyes, dancing in the moonlight. She centered her attention of them, noticing that their dance was actually a fight. The two seemed equal fighters, both with passion for what they were doing, yet one seemed to be in the game more for the fun of it.
"Luna? Hey, Luna, ya alright?" Spot asked, touching her shoulder gently.
"Huh?" Luna asked, blinking her eyes.
"Luna, what was that?" he whispered.
"I – I had another dream. I… I'm alright now," she stuttered. What the hell was that? Who were dose people?
"Ya sure?" Spot asked. "Somethin' spooked ya. You wanna talk about it?"
"No, it's alright. Go on. Brooklyn has a poker game to win," she smiled slightly, still stunned by what took place.
Nodding, Spot kept a cautious eye on Luna while he continued the game. "All right, first bids?"