A.N. I think it is about time I go through and clean up my story a little bit. I've gained a few years exprience and it's either clean some of this up or delete the story. I am going to try the former rather than the latter. The main story will be the same, only minor edits. And THANK YOU to all who read and kept up with my sprawling epic that started with a rather vivid dream and my desire for a good Davidfic.
A Rose and her Thorns
by LynxLion
The Run
I could not stay.
No, I had to leave. The sooner the better for me! I had known it for weeks, but I naively thought if I tried to forget about what I knew... Well, it clearly didn't work. Cecilia was the last straw. So I finally took action for once in my caged life. I quickly slipped on the worn shirt and leather-ish vest I had convinced Jimmy to let me buy from him. I pulled back my long hair into tight braids held close to my scalp. Then pulling on the beaten grey cap, I took one last look in the full length mirror.
"It'll have to do," I sighed. Grabbing the bag lying by my feet, I was off. Though not very quickly or very loud. Jerry was out in the hallway. He was asleep like he noramally was, but being "protector" of the city wards he tended to have a wide ear. I held my breath and prayed that I would be able to sneak by. I tred out of the room into the blessed hallway without a breath in my body. At the end of the hallway, I repressed a dance of joy, since I was not out of there yet. The Orphanage of Canta Martina is a maze of hallways, as far as it's existence no girl has ever left by her own will. The creeping was over, now it was time to test my small acting ability.
It was mid-afternoon, and I was supposed to be covering a screen or some such nonsense in my room. If someone saw me now, I would not get a second chance to escape. Squaring my shoulders, I walked with what I thought was a street rat shuffle hoping that none would pay attention to me. I don't know if it really mattered in the end, anyone I ran into took one look at my srcuffy attaire and took as much notice of me as if I was a dust bunny wedged into a corner. I was an unfortunate, so not of worth. Though if any would have really looked at me, then I would have been given away immediately. How many urchins have perfectly manicured nails? And I soon found out my shuffle was completely idotic. But I didn't know that at the time, and felt self consience. I wished with all my heart that I could have gotten a piece of coal to rub on my face before I had left, but the days had been warm and coal was not to be found. I was just grateful that Jimmy had pity on me; though he couldn't understand what I wanted to run away from. The outside world truly did not understand the horror of Canta Martina Girls Orphanage, I was dieing there and had to get out.
I had made it through the passages and swung open one last door. I was completely startled to find myself in a deparment store. To my left, a mother was busy trying to get her spoiled child to look at some books while "mummy finds a new handbag, dearest."
"So this is where we are hidden, above some store," I muttered under my breath in sheer irony. I made my way the store's exit, trying to look inconspiqous, when I realized the guards near by were not just checking for shoplifters. I had recognized one of them. They knew about the hidden orphanage and perhaps were there to keep us inside as much as others outside. I quickly searched my pockets and found a handful of change. A plan had started forming in my mind. I joined the line out of store. When I was only two people to the door, I tripped over my own feet and spilled coins over the floor. I quickly fell to the floor gathering my coins. Creeping forward and reaching, the last coin lying in the doorway. As I lay a hold of the last coin, I was literally pushed out of the door by the guard for holding up their lovely little line. It was exhilarating. I was out. Outside in the true air under a blue sky. It was more than I could ever imagine possible. Madam would have to live without me. With the change now in my pocket, I walked away from the hideous life hidden beneath a "Maginties: The Super Department Store" sign.
This portion of the story is introduction to the heroine. I promise that we will very shortly get to Newsies(next chapter!). If you think this first chapter is very vauge, it is true. I promise it does get fleshed out later in the story.