Author Note: I'm so sorry it's been so long! But my school started and I have hockey practices and games, and I'm in 3 plays right now... I have a solo night coming up for my musical theatre class and I'm in french club and I'm a Thespian which is a member of the drama club. So on top of all that and homework...I'm so busy...and tired. But I'm so sorry! I've been working on this chapter at school and home for the past 3 days. I plan to write as much as I can soon. But I do apologize for it being so long. I sometimes get days where I can do it but I never do. So I'm really trying. Thanks for being pacient with little me. :P

-Casey

Shout outs:

koodles4you: Hey there, sorry it's been so long since I've updated but I'm glad you still reviewed. Try to write more on 1899 TA soon!

Lainie: Ohh! I'm sorry I made you cry! hugs I'm not planning to kill like a lot of people...but I usually take emotions off on my story...sorry if it made you sad. Thanks for the review. :)

elleestJenn: Hey thanks for letting my know the info about the phone. Much appreciated. Yeah there is a lot of death. :-/ But I'm glad you like the story. Please keep reading and thanks very much for your review. :)

Chapter 23.

Casey awoke with a start the next morning. She was still shaken up about the dream. "Relax, it was just a dream." She told herself. She got up from her bed and meandered her way to the washroom. She looked into the cracked mirror above the sink and gazed at her reflection. She really looked as shaken as she had felt. She quickly threw cold dirty water into her face.

The horror the dream had never left Casey's mind. Not even for one blissful moment. She considered just forgetting the whole thing but something had interrupted her thoughts. "Matthews!" Casey whirled around and saw the caretaker, Mr. Bradford stride forward. With each menacing step he took, his evil wide toothed grin got even bigger.

"It's 9:35…where should you be?" He asked with the biggest grin ever. "I know…I know I--" He cut her off with a triumphant sneer. "I'll ask you one final time…. WHERE should you be?" He asked in malice, covering her in flecks of saliva. "She wiped her forehead with her sleeve and sighed. "I should be at work sir." She said looking at her feet.

"That's right…and you aren't there now are you?" He asked with a glint in his evil eyes. "No I'm not I—" Casey said trying to defend her self.

"You're fired. Now get out. Don't show your nauseating face around here again. He turned on his heel and stalked out of the room. If Casey hadn't known better she could have swore there was a leap in his step. Mr. Bradford never felt more joy then when he was firing someone or making someone's life miserable torment.

She turned back to the mirror and gazed back into the mirror. "What a pity." She spoke sarcastically to no one in particular. She took a deep breath and then went back into her closet to collect her things. She felt no remorse; this didn't beat her job as a Newsie. Not even by a step. She laughed silently to herself and threw the stuff she had in a bag.

It finally dawned on her that it was Friday and her last paycheck was in today. She went over to the payroll counter and addressed the lady. "Mornin' Miss. Sarnoff." Casey said placing her elbow on the counter and shifting her eyes toward the door. "Good morning Casey!" She spoke brightly, revealing her pearly white teeth that scintillated in the dim light of the room.

"I'll miss her…heck, she was the only enjoyable thing here." Casey thought in her mind. Miss. Sarnoff sensed when there was a flaw in something. Her enormous smile faded into aw humongous frown. "Case…don't tell me you're…." She trailed off.

"Fired…." Casey finished for her. "Yep. It's true." Casey said with a regretful look. She could see a tear forming in her eye. "Please don't get upset." Casey said sternly, as Miss. Sarnoff handed her, her paycheck. Casey put the money in her bag and walked to the door and halted as Miss. Sarnoff's voice sounded from behind her.

"You'll come and visit me, won't you Casey?" Miss. Sarnoff asked hopefully. "As often as I can." Casey said with a smile and then she was out the door. Cold penetrated her body as she stepped into the gloomy city. It was snowing lightly any but it could be a blizzard at any given minute. Soon she started her way back towards Manhattan when something caught her eye, which had caused her to hide behind a garbage bin.

"I'll ask you again kid! Have you seen Casey Matthews?" The voice spoke. Casey knew that cold voice…filled with malice and hate. "I—I haven't Mr. Delancey sir! Honest!" The little boy cried flinging his arms up to guard his face. Oscar Delancey stood in the gloominess of the city. Looking as vengeful as ever.

Just as he was about to his the boy Casey stood up and yelled, "Leave him alone!" Oscar whirled around facing Casey. Before he could utter a word, Casey's fist slammed into his jaw and her foot found it's way into his stomach. He doubled over and fell to the ground with the wind knocked out of him. She threw herself on top of him, pinning him down by his wrists. "Run kid!" She yelled. The kid didn't think twice, and he ran off.

Oscar looked up at her. Anger, flaming in his cold eyes. "What do you want? What did ya come here for?" She yelled right in his face.

He didn't answer. He turned his face over and away from her. "I've had quite enough of you." Casey said shaking with anger. She dug her pocketknife out of her pocket. Oscar's eye caught the gleam off the blade and his eyes grew wide. "Don't…" He said with all his might.

She figured that she dislocated his jaw or else he would've had her pinned down in seconds. But blood was gushing from his mouth. He could hardly say a word. "What is it going to take to get you to leave me alone?" Casey screamed in his face. He looked up at her with fright in his eyes.

She got up off him and put the blade away. You still ain't worth killing. But next time Delancey…you may not come out as lucky. You mark my words." She spoke darkly. She turned away from his pathetic bleeding form on the ground. "Morris must be here somewhere…he'll help him back to Manhattan." Casey thought in her mind and when she turned the corner she sneaked a glance back around to find Morris picking up Oscar's limp form.

"Figures." Casey sneered and walked on. The snow grew heavy as Casey made her way back to Manhattan. She shivered slightly from the cold wind but kept her pace. Her nerves were tight and her heart raced as she entered Manhattan. She loved it so much. It was so much better than New York City. It was terrible there...so busy... She hadn't been back in Manhattan since the winter before and nothing really looked like it had changed.

She finally found herself nearing the lodging house but as soon as she looked up and found herself in front of it, she saw it was all boarded up. "Huh?" Casey inquired, in shock. She made her way up the step and to the window and peered inside. It was abandoned. It was dusty and papers were strewn all over Kloppman's desk.

She turned away from the sight and layed in the doorway where the snow wouldn't hit her. "Where are the guys?" Casey wondered with a tear rolling down her cheek. She could hardly feel it since her face was so numb. She wrapped her coat around her tightly. It was the only form of shelter she had from the cold. Her work clothes wouldn't due. She layed there until she fell asleep.

Casey and Rinoa walked down the streets of Manhattan on a cold and windy day, Casey at 12 years old and Rinoa at 10. They were casually walking when a Newsie came into view on the street corner. Casey nudged Rinoa. "Hey look at that guy! Dare me to go talk to him?" She asked. Aren't you afraid?" Rinoa asked as Casey started walking up to a Newsie. "No way! Watch me." Casey said with dignity and walked behind him. She tapped his shoulder and he turned around. "Hey, there." She said flaunting her stuff. "Um...good day miss." The Newsie said politely but he couldn't help but let his eyes gaze and study Casey's features.

"Lovely mornin' isn't it?" She asked. "Sure is." He said eyeing her curves. "Would you like to maybe meet me at the races sometime?" She asked. His eyes widened excitedly. "Um, that would be uhh nice." The boy said awkwardly wondering why this girl wanted to meet him at the races. "Ok bye!" Casey yelled and ran off with Rinoa. Rinoa giggled and asked, "Are you really gonna?" And Casey laughed, "Not a chance."

Casey yawned and opened her eyes. The dream she had...the boy...she knew who it was. She had played Racetrack that day. Maybe that's why he's so fond of the races... Casey thought. She had been young then and-- "ACHOO!" Casey sneezed violently. "Damn!" Casey yelled. She had caught a cold from sleeping outside.

She stood up and she felt weak. She sniffed and sneezed again. She walked back into the lightly dropping snow. She looked around the city for signs of the Newsies but found nothing. "What's going on?" Casey asked under her breath. Her heart raced and he head throbbed.

She decided to go to Brooklyn and talk to Spot because it seemed like her only lead. She walked across the iced over Brooklyn Bridge. It felt weird to be crossing it again. She stared out into the water which was frozen solid. She made her way until she came across something that made her heart fall into her stomach. The Brooklyn Lodging House was boarded up too. "What's going on!" Casey yelled out to no one. It all looked so abandoned.

She ran down the street and walked up to a man nearby. "Excuse me sir, but where have all the Newsies gone?" She asked polietly and out of breath. The man raised an eyebrow and relucatantly stopped walking and turned toward her. "The Newsies have been relocated. "To where?" Casey asked.

"Take the road up to the abandoned car, take a left until you see the baker shop, it'll be around the corner." The man said.

"Thank you so much sir!" She yelled and took off down the street. She passed the car, and took a left to the baker's. Then she rounded the corner.

She collapsed in the snow when she realized where she was. "STATE PRISON." A newpaper blew by her feet. She picked it up and read the story.

New York Sun

Trials still on; Newsies To Face Prison Or Death.
Will the murder remain a mystery?
By: Brian Denton.

The murder of Rinoa Higgins (15), The daughter of the deceased, wealthy Higgins family; has remained unsolved to this very day. Suspicions have been let loose. All leads point to the New York News Boys, The Newsies. Accusations were sent out last winter, starting from neighbors, to city officials. No one can say, there has been no victim to testify on the Newsies behalf.

"I wasn't even there! This is such B. "- States, Spot Conlon (17) Leader of the Brooklyn Newsies. Sadly, Mr. Conlon won't recieve any sympathy for his mouth. Trials have been held. Yet nothing is looking bright for the Newsies.
"Why would I kill her? She's was my damn sister! I loved her with all my soul!" Spoke, Racetrack Higgins, Brother to Rinoa. Racetrack was in tears when we spoke with him.


Casey put the paper down. She couldn't read anymore. She wiped her coat sleeve at her eyes to stop the tears. She sniffed and looked back up at the State Prison sign. She breathed real deep and got up. She walked over to the entrance where the guards stood. "Excuse me, I'm here for visitation." Casey spoke, shakily.

They let her in and led her through the damp dirty hallways. She had never been in the state prison before. She had been in The Refuge. But never a real prison.Men and Woman of every age tried to grab at her through their cells. "Tell Jeffrey I'm innocent! Tell Jeffrey! TELL JEFFREY!" A woman screamed shrilly.

"I didn't do it!" A man yelled grabbing at her coat. Casey hurried along behind the guards careful to stay away from the hands snatching at her. She finally came into another corridor with a sign, "NEWSIES HOLDING CELLS."

Casey looked away from it immediatly. She then walked into the hall with all the cells. There he was. She had dreamt of the day she would see him again. But not like this, he wouldn't look as thin...and frail...dear god...he looked near death. The Newsies turned to face their only visitor.

Race never even turned around. Jack looked up over a book he was reading and his eyes grew wide. "Race, turn around." Jack commanded. "Why--what other beauty in this lonely resistant world do I have to gaze my worn and weary eyes to..." He turned and faced Casey. Casey could tell his vocabulary had picked up since she left.

His eyes filled with a mixture of sadness and happiness. She could see water forming in them. "W-Why'd you leave me?" Race asked not even cracking a smile. His eyes were glued to her and nothing else seemed existant. All that was there was her, and Race's face of dissapointment and betrayal.