By: Nightingale
Rating: PG13Part 2
Gin had her hand tucked unwillingly into the crook of Mr. Heptson's arm. The two bodyguards were not more than three yards behind the two and it seemed as if he forgot their existence as he led her through Central Park.
"I'm a bit hungry. How about you my pet?"
How she hated to be called that but she didn't respond to the name just merely let it pass and shook her head.
"I'm going over there to get a bite to eat" he stated pointing at a vender a few yards away.
"I'll sit right here and wait" stated Gin sitting on the bench.
Gin kept her eyes low as she walked away with his two guards.
"Buy a paper miss?" asked a voice
Gin looked up. It was her newsie.
"I wish I could but I don't have any money on me." She stated
He was about to walk away but she grabbed his arm. He turned and looked down at her as she glanced to the vender where her suitor was heckling with the man.
"What's your name?" she asked
"Jack. Jack Kelly"
"Nightingale Lee. My friends call me Gin"
"May I ask why you're talking to me Miss?"
"You see that man over there"
"I saw him"
"He...I just need someone to talk to. My mother wont listen and...I must sound like a complete fool to you. Forget I ever said anything."
"What's going on?" he asked slightly worried
Before she could answer her eyes went wide and Jack felt a sudden knock across the head. Gin was shocked to see the two bodyguards start wailing on the newsie.
"Stop it! He didn't do anything!" she shouted pulling on them
The two guards held their ground pounding on the newsie laying hits on his face and stomach. Gin grabbed one of their arms and pulled to control the motion but was only thrown out of the way.
"Stop it!" she shouted again
Heptson hearing the noise yelled for them to stop. They followed orders and the poor boy fell to the ground and Gin immediately went down with him holding his head. She looked angrily at her suitor who did nothing but stand there and watch her struggle to lower him to the ground.
"Go get a doctor or something." She ordered
"Why bother? He's just some poor kid likely to die of disease anyway." Laughed Heptson
She was stunned at his behavior. It took her several seconds to regain her tongue to stop his terrible laughter.
"Get out of here!" she yelled
"Your mother won't like this."
"I don't care get the hell away from me!" She shouted
Heptson and his men walked away leaving the girl alone with an unconscious newsie. She had his head placed in her lap as she looked down at his battered face. She couldn't help but let her hand drift to his hair and brush a few strands from his face.
"I'm so sorry" she whispered
A voice that seemed so light at first began to enter her head. It was a child…it had to be.
"Jack?"
"Over here!" she called guessing that was the small newsie from before.
She couldn't be seen so she gently put his head on the grass before getting up and running off. She stopped far enough away not to be noticed but close enough to make sure he was found. The small boy came around the corner of the bush and ran back to the opening.
"David, Blink, Mush…he's over here!" the boy shouted before running back to Jack.
Gin watched as a boy with an eye patch and another boy lifted Jack and carried him away. Somehow Gin had found her answer…this was her escape.
Jack couldn't remember much of what happened. There were only battered memories of a girl who had held him. He could still feel the softness of the touch that had trailed across his face. Her touch was the only thing that kept him alive.
"You're lucky you aren't dead" voiced Blink who had been keeping an eye on him
"What happened?"
"No idea but it looks too bad to be the Delancy's. They never had the strength it takes to get you down let alone leave the marks on you."
"How bad is it?"
"You should stay in bed a few days. You got quite a few ribs cracked and maybe bruised an organ or two. Let's not begin on the size of the shiner on your face."
Jack just shook his head. He wanted to remember so badly. Maybe it had been Sarah. That had to be it who else would touch him so sweetly.