Author's Note: Woo Hoo, I'm off suspension! *does a little victory jig* Anywho, this is going to be the third to last chapter. I was going to make the last chappy next but I just had a brilliant idea for the ending, mwahahaha! I hope you guys at least enjoy this chappy!
Shout Outs:
Emu ~ Wow, that was a really nice review! This story is kinda weird in the way I'm writing it. I know how I want it to begin, I know how I want it to end, but everything else is make up as I go along. I'm just trying to keep it interesting!
Rae-zin ~ That's good, I hope you understand it by the end… Otherwise you might not get the sequel : )
Derby ~ Don't worry, I was just as confused. And I don't think there are going to be any more murders. No, wait, I take that back… One more person has to go…
Dragonfly ~ You got it! *tosses you a candy-coated Racetrack* Awesome-ness!
Cards ~ I'm sorry that it was confusing, but you said it was brilliant! *does a victory jig* Thanks!
Raider ~ I guess we'll just have to wait and see…
Mist ~ Thanks! I'm glad you got a chance to read it, this really is one of my favorite stories that I'm writing!
Holiday ~ I'm glad the author's note helped! And lookee, I updated! Now it's your turn. More of Christmas Station!
Dice ~ I'm glad you liked the author's note too! I didn't want to leave anyone hanging in that chapter. That's what this one is for!
Aki ~ Alex says "wut up?". Also, you know I would love to see Jack in the shower *grins even more widely* Yum!
Rumor ~ You were right, the two sides of her are beginning to combine into one – which only means one thing… Trouble…
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Secrets re-read the one-line message from Kisses. See, I told you it would be best for everyone if the Cowboy was to go. Never doubt me. Yes, Kisses was right; she always is.
Quickly looking around the bunkroom to make sure she was alone, all the other girls racing down to the distribution center for the first time in weeks, Secrets picked up her pen and began a new entry in her journal.
September 28, 1899
Dear Journal -- Kisses,
Today will be the day, I promise. I realize now what that dream meant... Yes. Today will be the day, the day I send Cowboy up to Heaven to be with his gi--
"Secrets?"
Secrets' hand jerked and the pen fell to the floor as she jumped. "Oh my Gawd, Iris. Ya scared me!"
Iris pushed her glasses up her nose. "Sorry, Secrets. I was jist wondahin' if ya wanted me ta tell Dave ta git yer papes fer ya?"
Secrets shook her head as she hastily shut her journal and shoved it under her pillow. "Dat's awl right Iris, I'se on me way now."
Iris nodded slowly, remaining frozen at the doorway. "Dat's nice, Secrets," she murmured, not quite paying attention as Secrets grabbed a faded leather pouch that had been hanging on her bunkside and rushed out of the bunkroom. "Dat's nice..." Iris waited until she heard the faint slam of the lodging house door before rushing to Secrets' bunk. Ever since Secrets had come to live in the Bottle Alley Lodging House, Iris had noticed her tendency to faint every now and then -- though truth be told it had been some time since her last spell -- and also how she always had her nose in her trusty journal. Being a tad bit curious by nature, Iris had been dying to get her hands on the journal. Now was her chance.
Quickly looking to make sure that Secrets, or anyone else for that matter, was coming back through the bunkroom door, Iris slipped her hand under Secrets' pillow and pulled out the journal. "What da--?" Iris whispered as she dropped the journal in disgust. It was covered in spatters of dried blood. No, not just spatters, she realized. In certain spots, the old book seemed to have been drenched in blood.
***
Secrets and David stood by the side, their hands intertwined, as they waited for Jack to sell his last paper.
"T'anks, mistah," he said, tipping his cowboy hat in the direction of the well-dressed man.
The man nodded, handed Jack a penny, and began to walk off. Jack waited until the man turned the corner before heading over to Secrets and David. "Well, I'se done fer da day."
"Took ya long 'nuff," Secrets smirked, her blue eyes boring holes into Jack's. Subtle she was not; throughout the entire morning's worth of selling, Secrets had given Jack an attitude, distancing herself from him as best as she could.
"Secrets..." David warned her, trying not to sound too stern in fear of triggering another of her mood swings. But David was getting a little annoyed, though he was beginning to realize that Secrets would never like Jack. But that wasn't it, no. Secrets liked Jack just fine; it was Kisses who had a problem with him.
Secrets just smiled charmingly at David. "Sorry Dave."
"No, Dave. I'se da one dat's sorry. I don't know what it is, but I jist couldn't improve none o' da headlines taday. I jist can't believe dat it took me dis long ta sell toity papes. Toity!" Jack said, disbelieving. It was true that none of the newsies had sold any papers in almost a week, but it was hard to believe that "mister-100-papes-a-day" had a hard time selling thirty.
"Don't even worry about it, Jack. Secrets," David said, turning to face his girl, "I'm going to run home now and give the money I earned to Mama. Want to come with me?"
She paused and stared up at the sun in the sky. It was only mid-afternoon, barely even three. And she'd never met David's parents before. But, no. She had a job to do. After all, she had promised Kisses that today would be the day. "I'se sorry, Dave, but I got sumt'ing dat I gotta take care o'. I'll meetcha ovah at Tibby's when I'se done."
David nodded before turning back to Jack. "How about you, Jack? Sarah has been asking about you ever since she found out that Stress had died," he added. David's sister, Sarah, had been Jack's girlfriend for the weeks following the strike before she dumped him to date Snoddy. That was right about the time that Jack and Stress had gotten together.
Jack slowly shook his head. "Tell Sarah dat I said 'hi', but I don't feel up ta tawkin' ta her right now. I t'ink I'se jist gonna head back ta da lodgin' house an' maybe toin in early."
"O.K., well then I guess I'll see you later. Secrets, I'll be at Tibby's in an hour or two, right?" David kissed her on her cheek after he saw her nod. "Atta girl."
"Bye Dave," she whispered in his ear before heading off in the direction of the Bottle Alley Lodging House.
David clapped Jack on his shoulder. "Don't worry, Cowboy. Things will all work out in the end, promise."
"I know, Dave. I know," Jack muttered. "See ya." Jack stuck his hands inside his pockets and began to shuffle off to the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House.
Dave waited until neither Secrets nor Jack were in his vision before beginning to head home. "Things better work out in the end..." he told himself, shaking his head slightly.
Secrets ducked down behind a local merchant and the cart baring his wares as she watched David walk past, lost in his own thoughts. Once she was sure that he was far enough away, her ice-blue eyes gleaming, her face growing more wicked as Kisses started to take hold of her. She laughed cruelly, a laugh that did not fit her, as she looked in the leather pouch that she had carried slung over her shoulder the entire afternoon. Ahh, yes. Her favorite knife was still inside. "The time is growing near, Cowboy..." she whispered before turning and running after Jack.
***
"C'mon, Iris," Iris whispered to herself, "ya wanted ta know what was inside dis heah joinal, so read it!" Then, before she could change her mind, Iris reached down and picked up the journal. She paused for a moment, staring down at the cover, as chills went up her spine. Etched on the front leather cover, as if done by a knife, were the words: "Layna + Kisses, forever". "Dat shoah is creepy..." she noted before slowly opening up the journal to a page somewhere in the middle. "August 13, 1899. Deah joinal..." she began as she walked the journal into one of the changing stalls, just in case anyone was to return from selling their papers early. As far as Iris knew, all of her pals were meeting up at Tibby's after they sell, just like olden times. She figured she had a couple hours before she had to place the journal back under Secrets' pillow without anyone knowing what she had done.
***
Secrets kept her distance as she continued to follow Jack towards the Manhattan Newsboys Lodging House. Once she watched him enter, she stood just outside the door.
"Aftahnoon, Denton," Jack greeted the man who stood behind the desk in the lobby.
"Hiya, Jack. Listen, are you going to be hanging around the lodging house today?"
"Yeah, I ain't got no plans right now. Why?"
"My editor told me yesterday that I had to attend some sort of meeting this afternoon or else I was fired."
"No problem, Denton. I'll watch ovah da lodgin' house fer ya."
A slow, sardonic grin came to Secrets' face. "This is almost too easy," she murmured as she turned her back to the door, trying to hide her face from Denton as he exited the lodging house.
It worked. Denton, too busy straightening the hideously patterned bowtie around his neck, walked right past Secrets without even noticing her.
Secrets waited for Denton to make it a little further down the street before entering the lodging house and pulling the door tight behind her. For what she was about to do, she didn't want any witnesses.
***
"September 28, 1899. Dear Journal -- Kisses, today will be the day, I promise. I realize now what that dream meant... Yes. Today will be the day, the day I send Cowboy up to Heaven to be with his gi--" Iris covered her mouth with her hand as she tossed the journal to the side and tried with all her might not to vomit. Secrets? The "kissy-mark murderer"? It can't be...but it is.
Iris leaned her head against the wall and tried to push the images out of her mind. It was hard to believe, but there it was. Every excruciating detail...
Shaking her head, letting her glasses fall to the ground, Iris crawled to where she had thrown the journal. Quickly she leafed through the pages until she found the passage she was looking for. The last entry Secrets made, only that morning. "Today will be the day, the day I send Cowboy up to Heaven to be with his gi--". Iris could only guess what the rest of the entry would have said if she hadn't have interrupted her in the middle of it. But, right there in front of her, was proof. Secrets was going to add Jack to her list of ever-growing victims.
And she was the only one who knew...
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Author's Note: I figure I should leave one or two more cliffhangers before this story ends… Mwahahaha!