Are you as stunned as I am?!  I actually updated!  It's been a rather long time, eh?  Life caught up with me and I didn't even have time to just quickly proofread my story and put it up.  But slowly but surely I will get the remaining chapters up. I hope you enjoy this chapter.  Things to look out for in this chapter are some instances of my really bizarre humor and a really crappy fighting scene. Criticism welcome!

                Alexiel ~ Thank you so much for your sweet comments!  Here is an exciting Jack part just for you!  Although I'm pretty bad at writing fight scenes, I tried. -_-;;

            Kate ~ I really didn't want to tell anyone how many chapters this story turns out to be.. because I know it's going to scare away a lot of people.  But since ya asked.. it rounds out into a nice 17 chapters.  :o)  Thanks for the comments and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

            Broadway ~ Yes!  There is a fight scene with Raymon in here so you're wish has been granted! Although.. do they really beat him up?  Hmmm.  Anyways, I'm glad you found my cheap shots at David humorous.  I thought I was the only one! ^_^

            Tabbs ~  I keep on forgetting to get around to you and sending you an e-mail.  But anyways.. thank you for one the best, most detailed reviews I have ever received!  You hit the jackpot on numerous moments.  The only thing that I had not intended to be there but notice it also now that you mentioned it is her new clothing.  Oh, and her fitting on Spots shoulder.  I always just thought of that as something cute to do.. although saying that it means she fits into his life makes even more cute!  Thank you so much for your review!! It meant so much to me!!!

            I. M. wiener ~  ^_^;;.. Here's the update, as requested!  Thanks!

            Kaylee ~ Thanks for Iming me tonight and reminding me.. I needed to update! XD!

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                Selece squirmed like a fish out of water. She dug her nails into Raymon's thick fingers but to no avail. The strong male would not let go of her neck. Selece swung her legs around, trying to make contact with a least one part of the mans body. But Raymon, in an act of sheer genius, had held Selece an arm's length away so she could only nick him.

"Now, listen, work fer me and I'll let ya go! If ya don't agree," Raymon tightened his grip even more. He could tell the girl wasn't going to last for much longer. But he didn't want to stop. Watching the poor girl squirm and struggle was one of the best things that had ever happened to Raymon. He liked knowing he had the power to just let her die or release her when she was on the brink of death. He had so much control. "Now, will ya work fer me? Just answer 'yes' and you and me will be happy." Selece stopped her pathetic attempts. "Is that a yes?" The girl lowered her eyes to the ground and Raymon grinned. He released her, laughing at the loud thud she had created when she hit the ground. "I knew ya'd come around! Now, yer first customer. How about one of yer newsie friends?"

Knock Knock.

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Jack walked up the steps; trying to remember the number of the room the Raymon he was looking for was in. He grumbled, leaning his ear against every door.

"Rupert, damn you! Does mummy need to spank you?!" Jack smirked, some lil' bum was getting disciplined. Jack made a mental note to watch out for any brand-new newsies named Rupert.

"I'mma sorry, Mama. You know I didn't mean to," came a sympathetic reply. Jack's eyes bulged out of his head. Rupert's voice was mighty deep for 'some lil' bum'. Jack quickly dashed to the next door, shuddering.

"I putted up with your stupidity fer fourteen yars! Fourteen! And dis is your thanks?!" came a screaming voice from the next apartment. Jack smirked, this sounded like it would prove to be interesting.

"Ma'am, it wasn't yer husbands fault. The machine at the factory grabbed a hold of his sleeve," came an informative voice.

"Dat bastard! Leavin' I wit' four cheelden!" screamed the womyn again.

"Please! Don't kick the corpse!" shouted the earlier informative voice.

"DADDY'S EYE JUST FELL OUT!" came a scream. The voice sounded like it belonged to a little girl. Probably the daughter. Jack blinked a few times and decided he didn't want to stick around. The newsie dashed to the next door in the hallway.

"I knew ya'd come around! Now, yer first customer. How about one of yer newsie friends?" came a happy, dimwitted sounding person. Jack smirked. The word 'newsie' was spoken so there was the chance this was the room. Jack raised his right hand and knocked twice on the door.

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"Get the door, Selece," ordered Raymon as he settled down in his chair. He tapped one enormous finger against his nose, trying to think of all the people he could get to buy a night from Selece.

Selece sighed but she hadn't given up. There was certainly no way she could defeat Raymon psychically but his half-baked plans had so many ways to get out of it. She just had to wait and then she'd go back to.. go back to.. Spot.

The girl opened the door. Her eyes stretched to their limits at the sight of a familiar newsie. Slowly, her jaw creaked open as Jack held a finger to his lips. He then mouthed the question 'Do you need help?'

Selece couldn't help but roll her eyes before she nodded. Jack rolled his eyes in retaliation before stepping in. Selece backed up, turning to glance at Raymon. The old man looked like he was trying to figure out the meaning of life with that serious expression on his face.

"Hey, Raymon," the man jerked out of his haze at the sound of a new voice. He glanced up to spot a nice looking boy. Probably near the age of Selece but maybe a little bit older.

"Who are you?" Raymon yelled. He glared over at Selece who simply gave him an innocent shrug.

"I'm.. I'm da Cowboy," Jack said with a smirk. Selece gagged but remained silent.

"Da Cowboy? What the hell?" Raymon blinked. Jack then also blinked.

"All right, Uhm. Let's go, I dun think dis man is gonna do nothing," Jack said, grabbing up Selece's hand.

"No, wait!" Selece said. She knew that just completely walking out was one thing that really annoyed Raymon but her words came out too late. The temper had been released.

"Who do you think you are, boy?" growled out Raymon as he stood from the chair. Jack smirked; this was more like it. Jack got into a ready fighting stance. "Argh!" Raymon cried out as he ran for Jack. Jack wasn't even able to parry as Raymon rammed him right into the wall.

"Keep it down over dere!" screamed a voice from the apartment next door.

"You shut up, you old hag before I hang ya!" screamed Raymon, his face crimson. The apartment next door fell to silence as Jack tried to quickly catch his breath before Raymon attacked again. Jack wasn't so lucky. "And you, you little," Raymon grabbed hold of the boys ear, dragging him up. "You dun know who you're messing with. Do you know who yer messin' with?"

Selece bit her nails. Then, quickly and without thinking, lunged for Raymon's back. She wrapped her legs around his thick sides and began pounding on his back. "Let him go, you big idiot!" she screamed into his ear then began to attack the soft skin of his neck with her nails.

Raymon laughed as he continued to hold the wounded Jack. Raymon reached back with his free arm, grabbing hold of Selece. He then sent her hurtling into the chair he had just been sitting in. The girl fell quiet as the chair broke all around her.

"Now, back to you and yer unanswered question," Raymon said, grinning brightly.

Jack looked over at Selece, grumbling at what a stupid move that had been. He had half a mind to simply tell Raymon to keep the girl but he remembered Spot and decided against it.

"An idiot?" Jack said, still keeping his usual attitude even though his entire body was screaming. To think one move could do so much.

Raymon smirked, he then grabbed hold of the boy's neck, letting go of his ear and pinned him to the wall. The larger male then kneed the younger in the gut, laughing as he heard Jack cry out. A large fist went hurtling for Jack's face and then went back to his gut. Raymon flung the boy to the other side of the room, pleasure written all over him. He skipped merrily over to Jack, squatting down in front of him, "Are ya hurtin', boy? I think you are. I've more muscle in me pinky then you got in all of you!"

Jack stared at the man, knowing what he was saying was true. Not even when he had got Spot angry with him was he ever in this much pain. And all for what? Some stupid girl that might actually end up hurting his friend? Jack closed his eyes; everything was already going black anyways. He didn't want to fight for that girl anymore. He just wanted the pain in his head to go away.

Jack could hear Raymon laughing. But he didn't mind. Then suddenly, the laughing took on a new noise. Almost like he was gurgling on something. The laughing soon stopped altogether and was replaced by mere gasps.

"I told you, Raymon. I'd kill you," came a voice. It was dark, foreboding and monotonous. Jack could feel shivers run up his spine. The voice was so merciless, so unfeeling that he knew he must be next.

"Jack, Jack, are you alright?" came another voice. It sounded similar but warmer, softer. "Jack, don't go to sleep. Open yer eyes. C'mon, Jack."

"Uhm! You was here! Geez, what was takin' you and Jack so long? I got so worried 'bout ya two I had to come chec-.. Jack?! What happened to Jack?!" came a new voice. It was Spot. Jack was sure of it. The Manhattan newsie cracked a smile even though he couldn't see his friend.

"Raymon hurt him. Spot, help me get him up," came the female voice. It was Uhm, Selece, whatever. Jack didn't care what her name was anymore. He couldn't even remember what she had looked like.

"Okay," came Spot's voice. It sounded meeker then usual. Spot was never commanded around. Something bad must be happening. But what was wrong? Jack couldn't put his finger on it. Something was wrong here. And why.. why was it so cold?

"I got his head, careful careful. His ribs might be hurt real bad," Selece spoke. Whose ribs were hurt? Whose?! Jack tried to move to see who was injured. Whoever it was, he'd have to help them. "Don't move, Jack! Just talk to us.. don't fall asleep, okay?"

"Who are you?" murmured Jack. He felt like he was flying. He'd never flown before. Was it possible to fly? Maybe he'd fly tomorrow but right now, all he wanted to do was sleep.

"I'm Uhm, Jack. Jack? Slower on the steps, Spot. Jack, are you still with me?" came Selece's voice. It sounded so urgent, so scared. Jack giggled, wondering what the girl was so worked up about.

"No, I'm not wit' cha.. whacha gonna do 'bout it?"

"Well, if he's well enough to make jokes, he's not that bad off," came Spot's voice. There was a hint of laughter in the boy's voice. Jack wondered when Spot had turned Irish.  Spot never sounded Irish before.

"Alright, Spot, where are all your newsies? They're gonna have to help us carry him to Manhattan."

"Why the hell would we go all the way to Manhattan? Brooklyn has doctors!" Spot said, almost angry. Jack giggled again seeing Selece must have damaged Spot's Brooklyn pride. That boy was so silly, getting all upset about simple things like that.

"Yeah, but Brooklyn doesn't have his friends," Selece murmured. Jack thought he heard Spot say something but wasn't sure. Jack suddenly felt himself being lowered onto something warm. It reminded him of when he was little and he would rest his head on his mother's lap.

"Mum?" Jack croaked out, trying hard to see his mother's face in the darkness.

"Here, wear my hat. That way no one will try to pick a fight with you," Spot said. Jack heard footsteps running down the street and knew he was now alone except for...

"Mum?" he asked again.

"Yeah, Mum's here," came a soft gentle female voice. Jack smiled as his mother ran her fingers through his hair. "Jack, do me a favor. Don't go to sleep, okay?"

"I'll try, Mum. I'll try real hard. But Mum, my name isn't Jack, remember?"

"Yes, honey, I remember."

Selece continued speaking with Jack, running her fingers through his greasy hair. She continually asked him not to fall asleep and knew he was trying his hardest. But Raymon had hit him pretty hard. Selece watched as slowly a pair of cops walked by. She snorted, not surprised by the fact they hadn't stopped to ask if they could help her.

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"Spot, listen, dere's something important I've got ta tell ya."

"It'll have ta wait, Bullseye. We gotta get Jack ta Manhattan."

"But," Bullseye trailed off. "How we gonna get 'im back?"

"Carry him?" Selece offered.

"We gonna die," complained Bullseye as Jack felt himself flying again. "We neva gonna make it 'cross the bridge. Jack's too 'eavy."

"Yeah, Uhm. Mebbe we should just stay here," Spot mumbled.

"Argh, I guess. But if something happens, I wish some of his Manhattan friends were here," Selece sighed. Jack giggled again. Nothing was making sense anymore. Everything was starting to sound weird. Maybe if he went to sleep, everything would clear up. Sleep sounded good actually but no, Mum said not to.

"No! No, let's just go to Manhattan. We already on da bridge anyways," came Bullseye. The pace suddenly seemed to quicken. Everyone fell into silence save for Selece constantly telling Jack to stay awake. Just.. to stay awake.

Will Jack stay awake?

What is this important thing Bullseye has to tell Spot?

And will this story ever actually be worth yer time?!

Find answers to these puzzling questions plus much more in the dramatic next part of..

THE..

STORY..

OF..

UHM!!!!!!!!!!!