Chapter 17
The songs from the last chapter were "Be that way" by Martina McBride and "Dear God" by Sarah McLachlan.
"Storm!!" a voice called.
Storm turned her head from Spot, just as he almost reached his destination, and looked for whoever had called her name. She saw Magic waving for her to go back to the table.
"Magic's callin' me ovah," Storm whispered turning her back to Spot.
"Doya wanna go back ta da LH?" he asked softly. Storm simply nodded her head. "C'mon."
Spot reached down and grabbed her hand and sent a look back to Magic as he nodded toward the door. Magic smiled faintly and returned her attention to Fisher.
"Magic knows," he stated as they walked out the door and into the cool air.
"I'se guess youse really wanna know wha's been happenin', huh?" Storm asked as they started back to Brooklyn.
"It'd be nice," he said.
"It's a long story," Storm warned.
"We'se gotts time," he replied nonchalantly.
"Well, it all started afta Collin died," Storm started her voice suddenly painful. "It all started about then. I was only fourteen."
FLASHBACK
"C'mon Mush, we'se gonna be late ta git our papes," a small girl of fourteen whined.
"I'se comin', Storm, hold on," a boy around the girl's age said as he tied his shoes. "I'se promise da papes won't run away."
"Ahh, shuddup," Storm said as she put her hair up securely in her cap.
"Guys, ya comin' or not?" a blonde boy asked as he adjusted his eye patch.
"Yeah," another boy chimed in, a cigar hanging, unlit, from his mouth.
"Shuddup Blink," the girl snapped at the blonde. The other boy laughed. "Youse too, Race."
Mush just shook his head at his friends' antics and started down the stairs of the LH. Storm, Blink, Race, and Mush made it to the DO almost as the last newsie was getting his papers. They got their papes and, making plans to meet for lunch, parted ways to sell.
Storm had always been the only girl at the LH, well the only one that was allowed. She had always been a good fighter and a great friend, but when her brother had died, the boys had watched her start to die, too. So finally, they forced her out of the LH and made her sell with them again. That had been almost four years ago, and now Storm was almost her old self again. Almost.
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It was that day, a warm May day, that George Verlies came back to New York City looking for his daughter, Anneliese.
He had left his wife when he found money out west. There had gotten married to a widow, taking her money and soon after, her very life. You see, George had very strong belief that everyone was out to get him, with the exception of his stepson, Deacon.
"Have you found her?" the graying man asked to the shadows.
"Not yet," a young, strong voice answered. "But I will."
"Will you?" George asked Deacon as the youth stepped out of the shadows.
"Yes, father," Deacon said. "You know I will."
"I will know when you bring her to me," George snapped.
"Father--," Deacon started.
"Leave me!" George yelled. Nodding, the boy shrank away and left.
'I'll find you Anneliese,' George thought. 'If I have to die trying.'
"Guys," Jack Kelly said as he walked into Tibby's.
"What's happenin'?" Race asked as Storm glared at the boy.
"Dere's a new hot-shot in town," Jack said. "He's out lookin' for dis goil named Anneliese. 'E wants 'er dead or alive. And da guy who brings 'er ta 'im gets 100 bucks."
"I'se gotta go," Storm said suddenly.
"Storm?" Mush asked as she stood.
"I'se jist--, I'se gotta sell or I'se ain't gonna be able to stay at da LH," Storm said, a fake smile coming to her face.
"Okay," Mush said concern still evident on his face.
"I'se gonna be okay, Mush," Storm said as she dropped a kiss on his cheek. "Promise."
"We'se gonna see ya at Medda's?" Race asked.
"Coise," Storm said as she strolled out of the diner.
But no one noticed that Storm didn't head out to get more papes, she was heading to the LH.
"Storm?" Kloppman asked when he saw the girl.
"Heya Kloppman," Storm said as she climbed the stair to the bunkroom.
"What are ya doin' back so eoily?" the old man asked.
"I'se gotta go," Storm said as she gathered her stuff together.
"Why? What about da boys?"
"I'se cain't stay. Dey'll be safah widout me," Storm said strongly as s tear slid down her face.
"Wha' do I tell da boys?" Kloppman asked.
"Tell 'em," Storm paused. "Tell 'em I'se love 'em, and dat I'se gonna come back. Tell 'em not ta worry, tell 'em ta 'membah me."
"I'll do dat, Storm," Kloppman said as the girl started to leave.
"And Kloppman," Storm said as she reached the door. "If anyone comes 'ere lookin' fer me, you ain't neva hoid o' me, al'ight?"
Kloppman nodded and watched a she left. A few seconds later, the girl came running back and hugged the man.
"T'anks fer e'eryt'ing," she whispered and then she left.
She was walking. To where, she didn't know. Not until a hand eased over her mouth.
"Scream and you die," a malicous voice whispered. Storm nodded.
Another man appeared and motioned for Storm and her captor to follow.
"Where are you'se takin' me," Storm asked bravely.
"To you father," the other man said.
"Deacon," it was a statement, not a question.
"Anneliese," he countered.
After twenty minutes of walking and five mintues of climbing the stairs of some well-to-do house, Storm was standing before her father.
"Hello my dear," the man said as he dismissed Deacon and the captor.
"I'se not youse deah," Storm hissed.
"My, my, what a temper," George said.
"Fuck ya, youse damn bastard!!" Storm yelled.
"Now, now, no need for all of that," George said, a smile on his face.
"What doya want from me?" Storm asked.
"All the money your mother let to you," George said.
"Are youse insane? I'se ain't got no money, I'se live off pape money fer a reason," Storm said.
"Oh, you have money," George said. "And lots of it, you just can't touch it until you turn eighteen."
"If I cain't get ta it, how doya youse gonna get it?" Storm asked.
"I will marry you to deacon when you are old enough," George said smiling.
"I'se would soonah die," Storm spat.
"That can be arranged," George hissed. "Deacon!"
The young man came in quickly.
"Yes sir?" he asked.
"Take her to the guest room and lock her there. We leave in the morning," George said.
"Don't touch me ya bastard!!" Storm screamed as Deacon picked her up. He carried her, screaming, all the way down the hall.
The next day, the newsies searched the city looking for their friend. But they never found her. Not even a trace.