SURPRISE!! I decided to update two days early. I just couldn't take the suspense any longer. I would have updated on Monday if I would have let myself. But I wanted to give people time to review the last chapter. This chapter was both hard and fun to write. I wont give anything away, so you will just have to read and find out what happens. Thank you so much to everyone who reads this story. Even the people who don't have the chance to review. It means the world to me and I never would have finished without you.
Disclaimer: I do not own anyone or anything from the Newsies movie. I wish I did, but I sadly don't. So I will just have to stick with my character, Hanna. Who belongs entirely to me.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I could feel the tension all around me as we stood on the bridge staring at the flame illuminating the sky before us. I looked over at Jack and he looked back at me. We both knew what we had to do. "Let's go!" he yelled and we all sprinted towards the Brooklyn Lodging House. By the time we made it to the docks I was thankful to see that the flames were just coming from a pile of old crates that had been lit on fire by accident. But the thick black smoke was chocking me as we ran up to were the noise was coming from. When the smoke cleared and I could see once more, I saw around forty boys fighting all around us.
There were kids laying sprawled out on the docks with broken bones and some where even knocked out completely. I was happy to see that they were only using there fists and not any weapons but all of the blood was making me nauseous. I had to duck out of the way because a boy threw a crate and it busted on the wall beside my head. Between all of the commotion and violence I could think of nothing but finding Spot.
Race was beside me and I watched as a kid punched him straight across the face. I knew he was alright because he retaliated with a hard kick to the kids stomach. When I turned around the other way Jack was pounding on a kid twice his size. Knowing that I had to get higher up to see Spot, I climbed up the fire escape on the side of the Brooklyn Lodging House and looked out over the mass of boys.
It was hard to tell what was going on but from up there it looked like Brooklyn was winning. At first it seemed impossible to me that I would ever locate Spot out of all these people but just then my eyes caught sight of a shimmer of gold. When I looked closer I realized that it was the tip of Spots cane.
Blade and Spot were fighting fiercely on the edge of the dock. I cringed every time Spot was hit but he seemed to be holding his own. I wanted to run down and help him but I knew that there wasn't much I could do. I decided to wait till things calmed down a bit before I would make a move.
I ducked down on my knees and peered through the bars as I watched everything going on around me. Boots was fighting a kid directly below me and he didn't look like he was doing so well. I looked around and located a small wooden box. Wanting to help my friend, I grabbed it quickly and hung it over the fire escape. I aimed carefully and dropped it directly on the kids head, knocking him to the floor. Boots was startled and looked up, when he saw it was me he smiled.
"Thanks Doll," He yelled and then jumped back into the fight.
Quickly I looked up at the docks once more and was terrified at what I saw. Spot was being cornered near the edge by not just Blade but two other newsies from Queens. One of the boys charged at him but he quickly jumped to the side and I was thankful as I watched the kid loose his balance and fall into the river. Everyone I knew had told me that Spot was a decent fighter but I could tell by his movements that he was becoming tired and he still had two other kids to face.
Blade stood back casually and watched as the other newsie from Queen's began to fight Spot. I stared closely and tried to size up his competition. The kid was significantly taller than Spot was and he had dark brown hair and tan skin. His blue shirt was stained with blood from a previous fight and his trousers had a hole in the knee. But he was extremely thin and dangly, which was no comparison to Spot who was somewhat stockier in build.
They were moving around quickly and I was thankful that there wasn't many other boys fighting on the dock, so that I could see Spot clearly. Blade was still leaning up against a post to there right, staring maliciously at the fight going on before him. Deep down I knew what he was doing and I hated him for it. He was waiting for Spot to wear himself out before he finally decided to jump in. So that there would be no chance that Blade would lose.
The scraggily boy from Queen's got a good hit to Spot's face and I was sure that his nose was broken, even if I wasn't close enough to tell for sure. But that didn't seem to slow Spot down in the slightest bit. On the contrary, it seemed to make him even more enraged as he caught the kid off guard and sent him into the river to join his friend.
I silently cheered at Spots small victory but couldn't shake the frightened feeling that the worst was yet to come. I clenched my fists as I watched Blade stand up straight and walk over to Spot. They stood there for a few minutes just staring at each other. I had never seen such a look of hatred towards another person in all my life as I watched Spot glare at his former friend.
Then the staring contest ended as Blade got a good hit to the side of his head. Spot stumbled backwards but then took the advantage and tackled him. They both toppled down hard onto the dock and rolled rather close to the edge. Blade pinned Spot down by his shoulders and punched him in the face. I was so worried about Spot that I didn't even notice that I was clenching my hands together so tightly that my nails were digging into the palm of my hands.
Blade stood up as Spot rolled over and wiped blood onto his sleeve from his nose. It almost looked like he was about to leave but then I saw Blade reach into the back of his pants and pull out a shiny object. I couldn't tell exactly what it was until I squinted my eyes and looked a little closer. When I did finally see what it was that Blade was holding, I froze. It was a knife and Spot had no idea, as he stumbled to his feet.
Without a second thought, I ran down the metal stairs of the fire escape and into the crowed of boys. One kid tried to grab my arm but I yanked it free and continued running towards the dock. It was almost completely dark and the light from the fire was dying down. I cried out as I smacked into the chest of a boy and fell to the ground.
I didn't have time to think as I got back to my feet. But the kid got a firm grip on my forearm. I turned around and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw that it was Booker. He had a black eye and a small cut on the top of his forehead, but he seemed to be fairing pretty well. "Doll you need to get outta here!" He yelled. But I didn't listen I just continued to try and rip my arm free.
"Let me go!" I yelled. But he shook his head.
"Your gunna get hurt," he hollered, as he tried to pull me off to the side. I was gratefully that he was worrying about my safety but there wasn't anytime.
"Its Spot, I have to help him." I cried.
"I'm sure Spot is fine, Doll." Booker said. But then he saw the tears that escaped from my eyes. I didn't know if I was crying because I was scared or because I was afraid that I would be to late.
"No, Please let me go!" I begged. "Blade, he has a knife! I have to stop him." Booker's eyes grew wide when he realized what I was saying.
Suddenly Race appeared out of the crowed. "Whats goin on," he asked as he put his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
But I didn't have the time to speak as I yanked my arm free from Booker and ran through a small space that was left open between two groups of fighting boys. But Race was close behind me and just as Spot was in view, he grabbed me around the waist and held me back. Blade was walking towards him with the knife still hidden behind his back. Spot was finally standing but was so dizzy from loss of blood that he was wobbling on his feet.
Booker finally caught up with us and was standing next to Race. He looked quickly down at the knife in Blades hand and then back up at me. Then the next few things seemed to happen in slow motion. Blade lifted the knife and Spots eyes grew wide as he realized what was going to happen. But suddenly Booker ran forward and shoved Spot out of the way. I watched in horror as the knife dug deep into his chest.
"NO!" my scream was so loud that it pierced the night air and everyone around us stopped and stared. Race was in such shock that he loosened his grip on me and I ran to Bookers side.
"Why would you do that? Why would you jump in front of him?" I asked hysterically crying as I looked down at the knife in his chest and then looked over at Spot who was as pale as the sheets on my bed.
Booker looked up at me with tears in his eyes. He clenched his teeth together from the pain. "Because I love you." Booker managed to choke out. I stared down at him confused. What did his love for me have to do with saving Spot.
"Just…just hold on," I said brushing the hair out of his face. He was cold and pale as he shivered slightly. I grabbed his hand tightly as he started shaking and his breathing became sharp and raspy.
"Besides, he has more to live for." Booker chocked out and a tiny drop of blood ran down from his mouth. I shook my head as the tears in my eyes practically blinded me. I looked up as Jack came through and stopped in horror as he stared down at Booker. Then he turned around and ran to get the doctor.
"Stop talking like that. You…you'll be fine. Jack went to get help. Just hold on." I knew he was dying…I could see it in his eyes.
"Don't worry. I'll be happier were I'm going." He said sadly. I just continued to shake my head as I pressed my hand hard against his wound trying to stop the bleeding. Every newsie that was there that night just stood there horrified, watching the scene unfold. Spot was in a state of shock as he stood there staring down at us. But I didn't dare look up at him. Not after this, not ever again.
"Your not going anywhere. Come on John don't give up on me now. Just be strong, you can make it." Booker started chocking and tears formed in his eyes.
"Tell me Hanna, what's here that's worth living for?" he asked. I took his hand in my own, trying to think of something to tell him that would make him fight harder.
"Did you not once say that I was everything to you. If nothing else, live for me. Please, you can't leave me here alone. Not like this, not now. Please I…I " I knew that I would lie just once if it meant his happiness. For I at least owed him that much. "…I love you."
The words felt odd as they left my mouth, but the look on his face was worth everything. But his smiled softened as he looked at me. He struggled to lean forward and kissed me softly on the cheek. Then to my surprise he then turned to look at Spot who stopped moving as they stared at each other. Then Booker nodded his head in a silent understanding. He turned back to me. "You don't love me, you never did." I shook my head frantically and opened my mouth, ready to protest. But he put a finger up to my mouth before I could speak. "But thanks for saying you do." John smiled brightly at me like he had the first time we met. But I just lowered my head and continued crying. He gently put a finger under my chin and lifted my head up. He wiped the tears from my cheeks then he groaned in pain and leaned his head back against my leg.
"No, Please…don't go. I need you, I always did. You can't leave me here… Please, don't leave me here alone." I was sobbing with my arms around him. Then I laid down next to him on the dock and placed my head onto his shoulder and cried. "Just hold on."
He leaned over and whispered in my ear. "You'll never be alone." Then before I realized what happened he closed his eyes and I knew he was gone.
I laid there sobbing hysterically until I felt a cold hand gently touch my shoulder. It was Racetrack "Ya gotta let em' go, Doll." I nodded my head and released my grip on his hand.
I sat up with a mixture of tears and Bookers blood, running down my cheeks. When I turned my head and looked behind me I saw the knife that Blade had used lying next to me. The next thing I knew I grabbed the knife and jumped to my feet.
"I'll kill you!" I screamed as I ran up to Blade, who was now being held by two Brooklyn boys. "I'll kill you!" I yelled as I placed the knife against Blades throat. The newsies just stood around shocked. They were afraid of what I might do.
"Da boy shouldn't of got in da way!" Blade replied but his voice was wavering.
"So that gives you the right to kill him! You heartless bastard!" I found myself screaming, shocked at the coldness in my own voice. " Besides John was more of a man than you will ever be."
"Oh, why because he saved someone's life. I saved you from drowning earlier this month. Remember that Dollface, so you gunna give me a kiss too."
"I can't believe you! If I remember correctly you were the one who knocked me into the river in the first place and you only saved me because Spot would of soaked ya if you didn't." I was angry but the tears continued to flow.
" Well look what honors gotten your little friend now." I pressed the knife into his neck and a speck of blood dripped down his skin.
"I'll kill you," I whispered venomously.
"Then do it already," I pushed the blade harder against the skin. My hands were shaking and I continued crying horribly. Suddenly I came to my senses and realized what I was doing. I dropped the knife to the dock and fell down, crying into my hands. No one said anything. A few kids from Brooklyn come and took Blade away as I just sat there speechless. Spot finally came to his senses and walked over. I didn't realized it was him until he placed a hand on my shoulder. I smacked it away quickly and backed up.
"Don't you touch me!" I screamed. "It's your fault he's dead!" This hurt Spot but he knew he deserved it.
"I…I'm sorry," Spot said as he reached out a hand to me again. But I smacked that away to.
"It's too late now. You can say your sorry all you want, Spot Conlon. But sorry isn't going to bring him back." I started crying even harder, if it was even possible. "I'm sorry…I'm sorry. Your apologies don't mean anything anymore. Johns dead and its all because you couldn't suck up your dammed pride for one second and say I'm sorry in the first place."
"I know, sorry wont bring him back. I didn't mean for dis whole thing ta happen. I hadn't meant ta get Blade upset. I know its my fault that Bookers dead and I regret that more than ya know. But ya, ya just made me so angry." Spot shook his head and pounded his fist against the wood.
"I…I was the reason you were so angry?" I asked confused. Spot nods his head.
"After we had dat fight an all, ya just up en' left," but Spot stopped when he saw that I wasn't listening anymore. I was to busy thinking about everything that had happened. It was my fault.
"I was the reason…I was the reason." I said to myself as I looked over at Booker. "It's my fault he's dead. I killed him!"
"No," Spot shook his head and went to grab my arm once more but I jumped to my feet.
"He loved me and I killed him!"
" Listen Doll, Ya didn't kill nobody," Racetrack said who was standing beside me now.
But I didn't listen. I was in a state of shock and I suddenly became expressionless. I stopped crying and just looked at Booker. "I'm going to leave now."
"Where ya think ya goin?" Race asked confused.
" I'm going back to the Lodging House. I'm getting my stuff and then I'm leaving." I spoke like there was nothing left of my emotions. All the Manhattan boys standing around began to protest but I put up a hand to stop them. "I've done nothing but cause you more problems than you need. There is nothing left for me here."
"We aint gunna just let ya walk away from dis. We's all sad dat Booker got killed. But ya can't let dat ruin ya life." Spot practically yelled.
"What life?" I asked. "I had a life once, but it died just like everything else that I had ever cared about. Just let me go."
"No," Race said sternly.
"Why not?" I asked. I knew in my heart that there was not reason for me to stay and that it didn't matter what Race said. I no longer belonged here…and I don't think I ever did.
"Because we care about ya, dats why."
"Do you think I'm deaf or something. No, maybe just so stupid that I can't hear you guys talking. I know what ya say about me when I'm not around. You wouldn't believe the stuff that's made its way through the floor boards of my room at night when you think I'm sleeping or the stuff you say when your drunk. You don't care about me, you just care about what I can give you!" Race looked like I had just slapped him in the face with a hot iron. I started crying some more and ran away into the darkness. Hoping with all my heart that they would just let me go.
Thank you:
C.M. Higgins- Well I couldn't wait any longer and decided to update today. I am really sick and needed something to cheer me up. I am so glad I have you to read my chapters before I post them. Just because I like someone's opinion first. You were almost correct on what you guessed but not perfect. Lol Well thanks for all of your help and I will talk to ya later.
Katherine- Thank you so much, you are so sweet! I am really glad that you like my story. It means a lot to me and my reviews are what keeps me writing. I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Splashey- I always look forward to your reviews. You are always so encouraging. I know I normally update on Friday but I had to update today. I am really sick and my reviewer's always make me feel better. I can't wait to see what you think of this chapter. Yeah I know it was a shock to find out that Hanna might be leaving. But hey, I love putting twists in my story. I cant tell you what's gunna happen (no matter how much I want to) so just keep reading and let me know what you think.
Swimade333- Well don't worry, you don't have to make it till Friday. I decided to update two days early. I know its breaking my system but I couldn't keep you guys waiting any longer. You have been such wonder reviewers and you guys have helped me continue writing this. I never would have finished it if it wasn't for all of my reviewers. So I had to update. I can't wait to see what you think!
Clover- Well you don't have to worry about me not updating for awhile, because here is the next chapter. I had to update, I was so excited and I felt really bad about leaving you guys with a cliffhanger last time. I just couldn't post all of this into one chapter. I hope that you like this chapter, even though its really sad. Let me know what you think as soon as possible.
Joker is Poker with a J- Well Surprise! Here is an update, two day's earlier than expected. I am so sorry for leaving you a cliffhanger in the last chapter. It just makes more suspense for this one. Besides I was to excited about this chapter, to wait any longer. Please let me know what you think and be honest. Thanks so much!
Koodles4You- Hey, sorry for making you upset. Yeah I am getting a little sad to about the end of the story. Anyway here is the next chapter and its two days early. I had to update. I felt so guilty about leaving you guys hanging in the last chapter. I am so happy that you love my story that much. It really does mean a lot to me. I don't know how many times I would have stopped if it wasn't for my reviewer's. Well I hope you liked this chapter, even though its kinda sad. Let me know what you think as soon as possible!
The Good Girl- Well I guess your Update Dance, worked because I decided to update on Wednesday instead of Friday. I couldn't wait any longer to post. I have to see what you guys think of this chapter. I felt bad about leaving you guys hanging. Like I said before, your reviews always make me so happy! I love them! They are what keeps me writing.
truecalifornian- Well you didn't have to wait a week for me to update. I decided to be nice and update early, since all of my reviewer's have been so wonderful. This chapter was so hard to write but I managed to get through it. I was so excited that I couldn't wait till Friday. I hope you enjoyed it even though its kinda depressing.
Smiley Cad- Your reviews always make me happy! You always seem to have something nice to say. I am really glad that you liked the last chapter. I was so excited about this chapter that I couldn't wait any longer to post it. Normally it takes me a week to write a chapter, that's why I post on Fridays. But I wrote this one in a day and a half and so I had to update early. I hope you enjoy it.
Dimonah Tralon- Well, here is the next chapter! I felt so bad for leaving a cliffhanger that I decided to surprise people and update a couple of days early. Well this chapter was intense to write, so I hope you enjoyed it.
Luv ya all,
BlackWiltedRose