I have been before! Yes, I remember. This was the place where I found that key, the place where Frank led me into. Speaking of that key, where is it?
"You guys," I turned to Hallie and the others, "where's the key?"
"Actually, we don't know." Gail said, crossing her arms.
"I think we would have left it back there." Hallie said, looking uneasy. I thought about the past events that have happened. I lost control of my body, then I placed the key on a silver plate on a wall with a carving of a clock on its key-shaped recess. Then, the wall just opened up a gateway and we all got sucked into it. After that, we ended up here, which I'm still wondering what place this is. No, wait a minute, those guys...they said that this is a lodging house for newsboys, and Jack Kelly is here...we have been-
"Sent into the past?!?"
"SHHH!!!" Hallie shushed. "Lower your voice! We haven't told them that yet!"
"And how would they supposed to react if we told them that, huh?" Dawn said in a low voice.
'They'll think we're crazy." Taylor said.
"Yeah." Gail said.
I couldn't think straight. How could this be? Is this what Frank wanted? Us being sent in the past? What for? To meet Jack Kelly? Why? My mind is being bombarded with questions, including the ones that haunted me before. I can't take this anymore! I feel like my mind going to explode!
"I can't believe this!" I said, my mind is so unclear right now.
"Neither could we. But now, I suspect that Frank really might have a connection to this Jack Kelly. And we must find what it is." Hallie said with complete indignation.
"We? What did you mean by we?" Dawn said, her eyebrow raising to the top of the heavens again.
"You really have no use for your mind, have you? This includes you." Taylor said, in an irritated tone.
"I know what she meant, you hag!" Dawn retorted. For God's sake, please not here!
"Whatever." Taylor said, in that bored drawl she always uses.
"Now, what I meant is, before I was rudely interrupted, is I refuse to be involved, okay?" Dawn said, her eyebrow still raised.
"And why is that?" Hallie said, annoyed.
"Well, like, I don't want to be mired in Haylie's drama, okay?"
"Dawn, you are the most insensitive person I've ever had the misfortune to meet! Okay, go ahead, don't help us! But, if we find a way outta here, we'll leave you behind and you'll be stuck here forever. HAH! See if I care!" Hallie said, desperately keeping her voice down. I can't take this anymore. I just have to butt in.
"For God's sake! Will you please stop fighting?" I felt hot tears welling up in my eyes. I just can't stand this fighting.
"We're all friends, right? So, why are we fighting? We're all in this together, so please...stop fighting!"
Hallie, Dawn and Taylor were in deep silence. I can see the boys are looking at us, wondering what's happening. Then, i've just realized that someone is snoring.
"Gail? Gail? What are you do-"
Oh, great. We're having a drama scene here and she's already lying flat on her back and snoring!
"ZZZZZZZZZZ...."
"Knocked out cold." Taylor said, looking at Gail, who was lying in her bed with her mouth open. I can't believe how loud she snores! We can't help but laugh about it.
"Uhm...okay, that was weird. Let's talk about our current situation tomorrow." I said, wiping my eyes.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sleepy too. God, it was so silly of us to fight." Hallie said.
Dawn stretched her arms and said, "I'm going to bed too. I really need-"
"Your beauty sleep?" Taylor interrupted.
"Don't you start with me! I wanna go to sleep now!"
"Whatever."
I was about to sleep when I caught Jack looking at me. He was lying on the top bunk under the guy whom I have forgotten his name. He winked and smiled at me. Again, I felt myself turn red. I just smiled at him because that's the only thing I could think of doing. Then, I closed my eyes and let myself drift in the darkness of slumber...
You're here...
At last...
Huh?
Now, you will know why...
Why you exist...
Who are you? What are you talking about?
You'll know the truth about him...
Soon...
Wait! Are you talking about Frank? What? What should I know about him?
You'll meet me soon...
Very soon...
Who are you?
You'll know who I am...
"Who are you?!?"
I woke up with my hands numb with cold, my body all sweaty. I felt the bed shake. It was just my sister jumping down to check on me.
"Haylie! Are you all right?"
She placed her hand on my forehead.
"Your fever's back. Wait here."
She walked towards the faucets and took a bowl of water and a towel. Then, she went back towards my bed. She placed the bowl in the floor and soaked the towel in it. She wiped it all over my body, then wiped me dry with another towel. My head was pounding again. I felt cold, like I was trapped inside a refrigerator. She wrapped me inside a blanket.
"I can't believe your fever's high up again!" She said, beads of sweat sliding down her face.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"I think it's around two in the morning." She said. I noticed that she didn't look at her watch so I asked her about it.
"Oh, umm, my watch has gone haywire, probably because the time here is different." She said. She sat down beside me.
"What happened to you?"
I turned away from her, feeling reluctant to say anything about it. If I told her, then she'd panic again. I'd rather not tell her.
"Nothing, Hallie. It's nothing."
Hallie had a look of suspicion on me.
"Oh. You're a very bad liar, Haylie."
"I mean it, it's nothing."
She just shrugged her arms. I know that she doesn't believe me.
"Okay, I'll take your word for it. Now, go to sleep and if your fever's gone tomorrow, we'll go with the newsies all around town and see how different this world is from ours."
"Newsies? Is that what they're called?" I said, curious.
"Yep. Go to sleep."
"Okay."
Then, I went back to sleep. My head still feels like crap, but I still forced myself to think. I can't believe we're here. In New York, 1899.
