That night I slept only because my dreams kept me occupied, nightmares more like. A shadow creature stood before me, raising up through the flames and roaring like a lion. It was holding what I suspected was my mother in its clutches, squeezing her ruthlessly and relishing in her screams of agony. I ran up to it and started bashing it and kicking it just like I knew how and the creature merely laughed at me and kicked me away. "No one is safe." Its voice was a sibilant hiss like that of a snake and I shuddered involuntarily. "Death is soon to come." I figured that it meant my mother, for it was on the verge of suffocating her and in one last desperate effort I threw myself into the shadow, feeling somewhat of a burning sensation for one split second but then found myself plumeting into a dark hole. I screamed as I felt the wind rush past me and I could feel the hard floor as I smacked on the bottom of the pit.

end dream

I awoke with a scream and found myself indeed on the hard wooden floor of the bunk room. I hadn't cried because I never did; only when I thought Dallas was dead had I ever shed a tear and I didn't like the feeling. I was sweating and my breathing was shallow and rapid, my small chest heaving with fear. I saw that outside the sun was rising and decided I might as well get up because there was no telling how these boys got up in the morning; I would just watch from the sidelines.

Drawing myself up off the floor I went into the washroom I had spotted earlier and tried to reach up and grab a comb, but found I wasn't tall enough. Looking around I spotted a stool and dragged it over, stepping on top and looking myself in the mirror. I was a reddish parlor from walking the streets in the hot sun for these past two years and my hair was jet black, going down my back in pretty curls. I had freckles dotting my nose and cheeks and my eyes were dark blue, quite piercing to say the least. I threw some water on my face to wake me up and glanced over at Dallas's sleeping form. I grinned evilly thinking of all the fun I could have.

Tip toeing over silently I didn't even make the floor boards creak, not like my 30 pounds or so could. Dallas's mouth was slightly open and seizing a stray pillow feather I started tickling his nose, causing him to scrunch it up. I stopped for a second and just looked at him; I guess I hadn't realized how much he had grown. He had shaggy black hair and piercing green eyes, looking slightly like me but not much. He was at least six foot and was more muscular than any of these boys could ever hope to get. He always had a switchblade tucked in his belt and he didn't want me to know, but he had taught me how to fight with one so I don't know why he didn't think I would figure it out. Dallas had been the only family I had ever had and he hadn't told me anything about my mother and father, but I guessed that he wouldn't tell me until I was older. Lots of the time at night he would awake with a start like I did and I would pretend to be asleep while he went downstairs. Then, as quietly as I was now, I would follow and see him sitting at the poker table with Spot, talking in hushed tones. Spot and Dallas were best friends, Dallas being his second in command. They were both very fair, but hard when time called for it, and really good guys inside, just not to the ones they punished. Spot was kind of like my brother too, just not the way Dallas was. I found it hard to explain when I was little but back then things didn't need and explanation. They just were. Spot was scrawny compared to his boys but was stronger and could fight better than any of them, even Dallas. He had piercing gray eyes and dirty blonde hair, forever holding his cane with his slingshot in his back pocket. I respected him, but at the same time smart mouthed to him. I loved them both and it was strange to think that the other boys knew them for something that they weren't, cold mean snakes that would bite your head off and keep poisoning you when you thought they were dead.

Just then Dallas stirred, causing me to jump slightly. I shook him, becoming impatient and wanting to go find Spot, Manhatten was too boring for me. Dallas opened his eyes lazily and yawned, stretching his arms which were probably longer than I was. He eyed me sleepily and grinned stupidly.

"Heya Blaith. Oh, right, Stilly."

I punched him playfully and he picked me up and held me upside down. I gasped as he held me there and squeaked at him, "Lemme down, Class!"

He chuckled evilly and shook his head.

"Nope, this is too much fun."

"I'm warnin ya Dallas..." He grinned at this and guffawed at the very thought of ME warning HIM.

"Say Uncle!" he crowed.

"This is it Dallas. 1...2...3..."

With one mighty swing I pulled myself up in crunching position and punched his chest. It didn't do anything more than surprise him, but he let me go all the same. I flipped once in the ari before landing on my feet solidly. He just looked at me wide eyed.

"Gotcha," I said with great mirth.

He shook himself out of his stupor and smiled.

"That's my Little Flower. We better get goin, Spot will probably meet us at the distribution office."

I remembered our duties of keeping Spot happy and we started to walk out the door before the kid with the eyepatch caught up with us.

"Heya Classic. Mawnin Stilly."

Dallas greeted the boy and turned to me.

"Stilly, this is Kid Blink, Kid, Stilly."

I just nodded in greeting and Kid Blink grinned.

"Yeah, I heard the boys talkin about it las night. Goiman (German) says dat her name means silence."

Dallas nodded, apparently havng talked to the boys last night about my name.

"Yeah, stille."

It kind of annoyed me how they talked as though I wasn't there. I ignored them though and thought about some new selling tactics. Wait, what? I didn't need tactics, I was the cute little girl who every person within the vicinity was drawn to. They loved my adorable cuteness, the way that I almost bent under the weight of the paper. Of course, I spread it on thick remembering that I had a brother that I needed to care for. We had sold papers for two years now, ever since , "that fatal day." This was how Dallas always referred to it and I wondered if that was the night my parents had died. Every time I even said the word "mother," or "father," Dallas looked hurt and too pained to talk about it so I never asked any questions. Dallas was the best seller in town next to Spot; I guess he just let Cowboy think he was better so as not to lose face in front of his boys. I laughed at that. When we reached the Manhatten Distribution Office, I looked around and did indeed see Spot and Krane, flanked by at least four other boys. I tugged on Classic's sleeve and motioned to them and with that we said our goodbyes and left Blink to buy his papes.

Spot's face showed no emotion but in his eyes I could see that he was worried. I was used to looking at his eyes so they didn't faze me as much as they might others. Also, being only four, I didn't know to be afraid of them. He fingered his cane and looked at the tip, giving Dallas a sideways glance.

"Where ya been Class."

It wasn't a question, but more of an order.

"Got knocked aroun' in an alley las night, Cowboy wouldn't let us go."

Spot nodded and looked down at me.

"He ain't lyin is he?"

I shook my head in all seriousness and he smirked.

"I won't believe you Class, but I'll believe Blaith. Case closed."

Dallas shook his head and chuckled.

"Oho, you missed it."

Spot stopped and looked up at him, squinting as if he was about to spit.

"Missed what?"

"Her named is Stilly now."

"Stilly?" It was apparent as Spot echoed this that he didn't get it.

"Stille means silence in Goiman and Goiman named her Stilly. It stuck."

Spot nodded thoughtfully and we continued walking.

"Yeah, I guess it does fit, don't it?"

Spot nodded. He motioned the other boys on and pulled Classic and me asied.

"What happened? Who dunnit?"

I wasn't quite sure what Spot was referring to but Dallas seemed pretty sure.

"Da Bronx. I'd recognize Lobsta anywhere, and he brought Cruncher wit im."

Spot shrugged as if saying, "So?"

"Ya should've been able to take them no problem, Class."

Dallas nodded but then looked down at me.

"It was kind of hard to keep both of em from gettin to er, specially since dey had two knives a piece, a pair a brass knuckles, and a couple a switchblades. Every once and a while I'd look back ta make shore she was okay. Dey still got me and her, most of all."Spot seemed concerned. Looking down at me, he said, " Where'd dey get you."

I looked down at my feet and quailed under his gaze. Classic lifted up my shirt sleeve to reveal the bandage, which was now soaked through with blood.

"Dose BASTARDS! I'LL MUTALATE EM! DEY'LL DIE FOR DAT!"

Spot seemed completely serious and I grimaced at the thought of what he really might do. I took his hand and looked up into his furious face, gazing innocently and serenly up at him.

"Ise okay Spot."

His face softened, but still seemed hard as a rock.

"Have you looked at what dey done ta ya Blaith?"

I nodded.

"I'm fine."

Spot looked towards the heavenly realm as if to say, "What did I do to deserve this child."

Dallas laughed slightly and we resumed walking to Brooklyn.

"Didn't even cry, it was incredible."

Little did he know.

"Still, I'm goin over to talk to Grit, if he can't control his boys and keep em in dere own territory, wese gonna have some problems anyway."

Thus, in all subtelty, the conflict had risen.