Hey! I'm back once again with a chapter! Sorry it is taking me forever to update my stories. I have been crazy busy with school and work. But, I work on them when ever I have a chance. Ok, before I go on, I would like to thank: Griffindor's Newsie, Tuck, madmbutterfly713, elleestJenn, Tears in a Bottle, double-heart-penni, and mistymixwolf aka Perch. Tanks so much for reviewing! I enjoy getting them! A whole box of chocolate covered newsies and a barrel full of monkeys to you all! You guys rock! Ok, I know that I have kept you in suspense long enough. Onto the chapter!

Chapter Eighteen

Skittery stared at the vision that was before him. Tripper looked so different! Her hair had grown out again and nearly reached her knees. She wore a flowing white gown covered in lace and ribbons. She was beautiful, and all he could do was stand there staring. It made his eyes hurt just looking at her.

"Come on Skitts!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her as she ran down the beach.

He let himself be pulled by this angel as they ran hand in hand through the waves. It was like a dream come true! Her touch sent electricity shooting up his arm and through out his whole body. Her laughter sent happy shivers down his spine. This amazing girl was with him! Only him! A warm sensation grew in his middle and slowly spread to warm the rest of his frame. He couldn't be in love, could he?

Breathless, the couple dropped to lay in the sand laughing. Tripper propped herself up on her side and watched him warmly. Suddenly, Skittery didn't care about anything else except for the girl right in front of him. He nervously scooted closer to her small body and lifted a hand to softly caress her face. She blushed and shifted her gaze down at the sand to escape his heart melting brown eyes. Skittery leaned closer, moving her face closer as well. She glance up into his eyes and held his gaze as their faces moved toward each other. Skittery could feel her sweet breath on his face as his lips barely brushed hers.

Suddenly, Tripper was jerked away! Skittery jumped up to his feet finding two dark figures holding Tripper's arms. She struggled against their grasp, trying to break free. Her eyes were filled with fear as her lips moved to form his name. Even though her lips said his name, he couldn't hear the sound. Then the figures started dragging Tripper away, tearing at her clothes and hair till she once again looked like a boy.

Skittery charged after them only to find his arms and legs in chains. He fought and pulled against the bonds, yelling after Tripper as she grew smaller and smaller. His feet started slipping in the sand as the once firm ground suddenly turned to sinking sand. The more he struggled, the faster he sank. Nothing he did broke him free! It was agonizing as the one he loved being dragged further beyond his reach while he watched helplessly.

The sand was around his neck and slowly rising. He lifted his head high above the sand and struggled against his bonds. Again, it was useless. Just as his head vanished beneath the unforgiving sand, he heard Tripper scream!

"Rory!" Skittery sat up suddenly smacking his head on the bunk bottom above him. With a groan, he held his hand and sank back into the mattress once again. The bunkroom spun around him making his stomach churn. His ears were pounding loudly inside his head, which made him wonder what had happened. His fingertips brushed the rough material of the bandage that was wound tightly around his head.

He opened his eyes to find several blurry faces peering down at him in concern. "What happened? Wheah's Rory!" He struggled to sit up, only to have several pairs of hands hold him down.

"Take it easy, Skitts." Jack's voice was filled with worry and a little bit of relief. "Don't sit up. Youse gots a nasty bump on da back o' youse head."

A groan escaped Skittery's lips as he easily gave into the hands and laid down again.

"Do ya need anytin'?" Hawk's voice held back tears as she moved Skittery's blankets back up around his shoulders.

"Watah. I's needs some watah." His tongue felt thick and dry, and his voice cracked from lack of moisture.

Hawk nodded and moved away to find a clean cup and fill it for him. Skittery turned onto his back and searched the sorrowful faces gathered around him. The girls were pale, and their eyes were red and blood-shot from crying. Several of the boys sat on the floor or on the bunks with tight, worried faces. Race sat dejectedly in a corner with his head buried in his hands.

"What happened? Wheah is she?" His gaze traveled the room, searching for Tripper.

"We don't know." Shooter bit her lip as more tears sprang to her eyes. Blink slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

"What do ya mean ya don't know! Is dis some sick joke she's playin'? Well, it ain't funny!" His voice rose in anger and desperation as scenes from his dream danced through his head. He heard her scream again and once more felt the chains dragging him down.

Sweeps sat beside Skittery and ran a soothing hand over his back. "Dis ain't no joke, Skitts. We all hoid her scream yer name, but by da time we got to da alley, she was gone." A sob caught in her throat as she fought for control; "youse was layin' face down on da street, a pool o' blood around yer head. We didn't know if youse were dead or alive. Yer face was so pale, an' da blood so dark…We brought youse back heah not knowin' what else ta do. We's been soichin' for her all night. We's gots no idea wheah she is."

Skittery stared at the now weeping Sweeps as hot tears filled his eyes. She was gone! Just like in his dream, she had been snatched from his life. He leaned against Sweeps and buried his face in her shoulder as sobs shook his frame. The room was silent as sniffs and sobs came from almost every person in the room.

After several minutes of sobbing, Skittery laid his head back down on his bunk. A feeling of depression covered him along with the quilt Sweeps covered him with. Aurora was gone, probably never to return. He dejectedly turned over on his side as his friends went about their nightly routine. His tired eyes lifted to gaze out the window. Fresh snow was falling. It was just two weeks till Christmas. Tripper had been so excited, but now, all the excitement and thrill had fled with her.

A groan escaped Skittery's lips as he closed his eyes and willed away the memories. He would find her! This was one Christmas he was not going to spend alone!

Right across the street from where the newsies slept, a lone, pale face stared out at the same falling snowflakes. Tripper's bottom lip that was cut and bleeding was sharp in contrast with the blue/black shiner of her left eye and the paleness of her skin. She stood staring down from her fourth story window at the place she had come to know and love as her home. How she longed to be there right now!

A shudder ran through her small, bruised frame when a large hand ran down her arm. A pair of pale pink lips followed the hand as they slid softly down her neck and over her shoulder.

"Come now Aurora. Enough with the charade."

Her eyes glowed like hot coals, the fire getting brighter and angrier at every brush of his lips.

"Ye will maintain ye're distance, sir." The cold hardness of her voice had no effect on the boy who still placed slobbery kisses against her skin.

"But, you didn't say please." A whine entered his words, eliciting a sarcastic roll of Aurora's eyes.

"I don't have ta say please. Ye should know that I don't ask for anything!" Her voice had no feeling except an icy chill that would turn even Blink's usually jolly smile to ice.

From across the room, an even colder voice made Tripper shudder in dread. A cold sweat sprang onto her skin as the voice sneered at her.

"Jake, there will be plenty of time for that. Let's leave the lady alone for now."

With obvious reluctance, Jake pulled away from Tripper and headed for the door. "Good night my darling!"

The door shut tightly and a lock was thrown into place as the two men left the shaking girl alone in her prison. The minute the footsteps faded away down the hallway, Tripper's strength and defiance drained from her. She slumped against the window as sobs shook her small shoulders. She leaned her forehead against the cool glass and let the tears run down her cheeks as she watched the last of the lights go out in the lodging house.

"I'm here! Don't give up! I'm right here! Please don't give up on me! Find me! Skittery, please find me!" She whispered to the silence of the empty room and the friends who tried to find sleep that evaded their worried minds only several feet beyond her grasp. She slid down to sit with her back against the wall and cried herself to a restless sleep.