A.N. Okay...time for a seriously freaky type chapter. Who is right? Rose or Anthony? And who will win the battle of wills??? I have no ownership of the Newsies and not affiliated with Disney in anyway. Thanks for all the Reviews. Please Review so I can keep the story up to par. LyxnLion

I am in his Mercy

I woke with sun in my eyes. Alone again, or rather, I wished I had been alone again.

"Morning, my little Rose," he said laughing, "How are you feeling?"

I felt sore, achy. I tried to get up, but brain numbing pain shot down my ribs.

"Drop dead," I mumbled half asleep.

"Why what a mouth you have, dearest," he continued to coo. His eyes flashed dangerously. I fought in a gasp. It had to be only coincidence. Surely he didn't know about David...

I lay there stoney. I would not give in. I would not forget.

"You... you sicken me Anthony Hearst!"

"My, don't worry you'll feel better as soon as you clear your head above the city scum. Your just a little confused dearie."

"Confused?" I asked my voice full of steel.

"Yes, confused about life, little one. You are confused about Love."

"I know about love," I said coldly.

"Do you? Do you really?" He asked, his voice soaked in irony, "Have you ever felt the knife blade cut your soul when someone you would move mountains for doesn't give you the time of day?" He advanced closer to me, "Have you ever loved someone who insults you? Love is bought and sold. Love is gold and silver," here he leaned closer to me reaching out and grabbing my hand, "Love is providing financial stability to the one you care about and giving awe to the one you depend on. Don't tell me you found love in streets, heated passionate love. You! A little housewife to broken-down, end-of-the-line boy! It is laughable! You deserve much more," His eyes lifted in disgust, "Yes, I know. And you should learn, you're mine. You have always been mine. You will always be mine. He can never give you the kind of love I can." I began to shake and cringed, David, what would happen to David?! I tried to pull my hand from his and he gripped all the tighter. He lowered his voice to a saccharine whisper, "You will learn. It's only a matter of time, sweetings." He leaned down over me and kiss my lips. The chill went further this time, the invasion deeper. I hated him, but his words started to steal over me like a heavy cloak I hated but wore anyways. He sat on the edge of my bed and brought a glass of water to my lips. "Now sleep, lovey. Sleep." My eye lids slid closed slowly no matter how hard I tried to open them, the stinker had drugged the water! I gave up, and sleep claimed me as Anthony sat still on the edge of my bed... staring at me asleep, his eyes devouring, his lips smiling a soft smile.

A strange stillness overtook his face and he gently stroked my hair, "Soon, dear one, soon, you will feel the love you have hidden inside yourself for me. It's got to be there. It has to be there. I love you too much for it not to exist. You can't ever leave me. Never, never, it tears my heart when you are gone from me." He lifted his hand to his eyes and sponged away the moisture threatening his manhood. "Time for phase two..." he muttered as he patted her hand once more and then got up and left, singing softly, "Oh, I love her!"