Title: Cuts Like A Knife

Author: Stress

First written: May 12, 2002

Edited and replaced: January 21, 2005

Summary: Part I of the Soul Mates Series; She thought that life couldn't get any better. She had friends and a family that loved her – she was taken care of and had no complaints. But that was before he came into her life. And, no matter how hard she tries to escape his grasp, he'll never let her go.

Sunrise at the O'Connor's Apartment

Mrs. O'Connor stood pacing in her kitchen as she debated whether or not to wake the girls to go to the distribution center. Last night she was awoken when she heard Grace shrieking at Jess. She knew better than to barge in on Jess, especially after she had come home at night. These past few weeks had brought a drastic change over her, and Mrs. O'Connor was extremely worried. So worried in fact that after she was sure that both Jess and Grace had fallen asleep last night, she had peeked her head into the bedroom to see why Grace was shrieking when Jess had returned home, an hour or so after sunset the night before.

Her stomach dropped as she remembered the sight she had encountered after she had snuck into Jess's room last night. By using one of the candles she kept for emergencies on her nightstand, she stealthily entered the room and gasped when she tripped over the pile of blood-stained clothes that Grace had left at the foot of Jess's bed.

Using the edge of the bed to steady herself, Mrs. O'Connor set her eyes on the two figures that lay asleep on top of the bed. Grace, still dressed in her newsies clothes, had her arms around Jess protectively as she lay by her side. Jess, the right side of her face swollen with a matching black eye, was dressed in one of the nightgowns she never wore, her head wrapped in a blood-stained cloth.

"My God," she had whispered as tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted to wake Jess up and ask her what had happened, but she knew that in her state all she needed was her rest. Instead she blew out her candle and trudged back to her room.

"Dear, where were you? Did you find out why the girls were arguing before?" Mr. O'Connor had asked sleepily as she had climbed back into their bed.

"Shhh, honey. I'll talk to you tomorrow morning," she replied, kissing him on the forehead as he fell back asleep.

She, on the other hand, was never able to fall back asleep. Instead she spent her sleepless night wondering why Jess was so beaten.

Now Mrs. O'Connor was worrying whether or not to wake Grace and Jess up to go to work. The decision was made for her when Grace came plodding into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes as she tried to wake up.

"Morning Mrs. O'Connor," she said as she sat down at the kitchen table.

"Good morning, Grace dear," Mrs. O'Connor replied, smiling warmly, as she sat down opposite of Grace.

"Before you say anything, I just want to say that we should be real quiet. You probably saw what Jess looks like and I don't think that she should be selling today," Grace finished her sentence warily as she tried - and failed - to stifle a yawn. She had stayed up late, hoping that Jess would wake up and finish explaining who had soaked her.

Mrs. O'Connor sighed in relief as she nodded. "I agree with you, dear. And yes, I did see the mess that she was last night. Would you mind telling me what happened to her?"

"If only I knew, Mrs. O'Connor," Grace said shaking her long blonde hair, "if only I knew."

"Jess didn't tell you anything about what happened? I - er- heard you girls talking a bit last night, but I wasn't sure exactly what was said," Mrs. O'Connor asked, a curious and puzzled look in her tired brown eyes.

"Nothing at all. All she told me was that a bunch of newsies attacked her and then she passed out again. I waited to see if she would wake up but she didn't. I ain't going to sell today neither. I'm going to wait until she opens her eyes cause maybe then she'll remember something else about yesterday."

"That's a great idea, Grace. I'm going to stay home today too. I was going to go to market but that can wait until after we figure out exactly what happened," Mrs. O'Connor added as she got up from the table and got breakfast for Grace. "Here, dear. Have something to eat. You look dead on your feet."

"Yeah, well, at least I ain't all bloody and beaten though," Grace said as she refused the food and stood to leave the kitchen. The site of Jess's beaten face and the repulsion Grace felt for her attacker had driven away any appetite that she may have had. "At least I ain't hiding from something, ya know?"