Author note: Okay…so…here's this chapter…
I stopped breathing as Spot got closer to my face. He closed his eyes, and brought his lips to my ear.
"The song's over," he whispered. I brought myself back to reality, and noticed everyone leaving the dance floor. I let go of Spot and backed away.
I stared at him for a second.
"Thanks for da dance," he said. "Youse look nice." He then turned around and walked over to the little girl who seemed to be upset. Probably because I danced with Spot. I took a deep breath and let it out, walking back over to the table. Scout was smiling widely at me.
"So, how was yer dance with Spot?" she asked. I sent her a glare,
"Shut up!" I warned. Scout laughed and shook her head. I sat down beside her and watched people dancing, holding back the urge to punch Spot square in the face. How dare he play with my emotions! Art soon walked over,
"Wanna dance?" he asked. I shook my head,
"No thanks. I don't feel like dancing." Art nodded and walked away, asking a different girl to dance with him. I felt like I had been used, and I'm pretty sure that I had been. I glanced around to see if I could see Splinter, but he was nowhere to be found. I sighed in frustration. How could one boy make me so angry and confused?
I then heard a few people whispering, and turned to see if it was me they were talking about, but it wasn't. It was much worse than that.
"Isn't dat Harlem's leadah?" One of the newsies asked another.
"Yeah, what is he doin here?" I stood to my feet and tried to see who it was. I stood on my toes and seen a handsome guy pushing people out of his way.
"Move it, punk, Harlem is makin their way through!" he said, pushing a kid to the ground. I immediately searched the area for Spot or Jack. I looked over to the little girl and seen Spot standing protectively in front of her, glaring in the Harlem leader's direction.
"Spot, who is he?" I read the girl's mouth. Spot glanced down at her,
"He's a bad person, Abigail," Spot said back. I looked over at Scout, but she was already gone, probably to get Jack. I watched the Harlem leader walk over to some of the Brooklyn boys, but Jack instantly appeared in front of him. There was total and complete silence.
"Last I checked, nobody invited youse," Jack hissed.
"Lance ain't gonna like dat," a newsy said. I guessed Lance was the Harlem leader.
"Last I checked I didn't need ta receive an invitation ta crash a party," Lance said. Jack's facial expression immediately turned murderous as he clenched his fist. They couldn't fight in front of these people! I watched Spot instantly run over to Jack's side, leaving Abigail by herself.
"Well, well, well; if it ain't da Brooklyn leadah," Lance said, giving Spot a smug look. Spot's eyes flashed with anger. I held my breath, hoping that they wouldn't fight.
"Get lost," Spot managed to say. Lance laughed and glanced back at his boys.
"Nah, I don't want to." Jack couldn't handle it anymore. He brought his fist back and it immediately came in contact with Lance's face, making him stagger backwards. All of the Harlem boys then attacked, pulling weapons out of their jackets. All of the "good" newsies began to fight back, and the girls screamed in fright as they ran for the doors.
Abigail screamed in fright as one of the Harlem newsies approached her and grinned evilly down at her. Spot immediately turned his head in her direction, and fear swept through his eyes. I then regained my senses and ran as fast as I could to Abigail's aid. I blocked the punch that the Harlem boy threw at her, and sent him an uppercut. He fell to the ground and screamed in pain.
I bent down to Abigail's level.
"Are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded and wrapped her little arms around my neck.
"You're that girl who danced with Spotty," she said.
"Yeah. My names Sage, I'm a friend of Spot's. I'm going to get you out of here, okay?" The little girl nodded.
"Okay. Spot told me to trust you." I flinched, and smiled to myself. I picked her up and looked around for the nearest exit. Spot saw me with Abigail and he seemed less tense. I pushed people out of my way, looking for anyway out. All of the exits were blocked by a Harlem boy, and they weren't about to let me out.
I felt somebody push me slightly, and turned my head to glare at one of Harlem's newsies.
"Heya, sweet face," he said. Abigail had a frightened look on her face as I placed her back onto the ground.
"Stay near me," I told her, putting my fists up. The boy laughed.
"Youse think youse can fight me?" I smirked, and threw a punch at him, causing him to stumble. I then took the opportunity and punched his gut, and then kneed him.
"Never call me sweet face," I spat. He fell to the floor groaning in pain. I turned back to Abigail and smiled down at her. She grinned and I grabbed her hand, running through the crowd.
My eyes wandered for any sign of Scout. There were children screaming from fear, and some from pain. I closed my eyes at the sounds of their screams, remembering the fire at my uncle's mansion. I then spotted a window, and quickly ran to it.
"Listen, Abigail, I'm going to need you to crawl through this window," I told her, opening it. Abigail bit her lip but nodded. I picked her up and she crawled through, and turned back to me.
"Are you coming, Sage?" she asked.
"No, I need to help the other children. Get to safety!" Abigail nodded and sprinted off. I turned back around and began to search for other children.
Some were lying on the floor bloody, and others were running around, screaming. I found a girl sitting in the corner, crying. I bent down.
"I'm going to help you," I told her. "Follow me!" I grabbed her hand and ran her over to the window, doing the same I had done for Abigail. The little girl thanked me and ran away.
I helped as many kids as I could, until I smelt something…burning? I turned around and seen a fire, spreading across the room. The image of my uncle's burning mansion flashed through my head. I then began screaming people's names, hoping someone would respond. These Harlem newsies were actually going to burn everyone?
I helped another child and realized that this was no use. I took a deep breath, which was a bad idea. I accidentally inhaled smoke, and I began to cough uncontrollably. I fell to my knees and stayed down, so I wouldn't inhale anymore smoke. My dress was dirty, now, and I felt like kicking ass because of it. I soon stopped coughing and rose to my feet, holding my breath for as long as I could.
"Spot?" I shouted. I couldn't see him anywhere. What if he already found a way out and forgot about me? The Harlem boys soon stopped beating everyone up and left the burning building, locking us in. I didn't know how they did it, but they did. The window was too small for me, and the exists were being blocked from the outside.
I began to walk backwards and ran into someone. I twirled around instantly, and came face to face with a familiar person.
"Where's Abby?" Spot asked.
"I led her to safety!" I screamed over the screaming people.
"We hafta get everyone outta here!" I looked around, and saw a door. I ran over to it and flung it open to find a flight of stairs.
"Duh, Sage!" I said to myself. Spot ran after me, and a smile appeared on his face. He then began to scream for people to run up the stairs, and with his loud mouth, everyone heard him and ran for the flight of stairs that led to the roof. I stood on one side of the door, and Spot stood on the other; making sure everyone got through.
The crowd of people soon died down, and I could see Spot.
"Go on!" he said. "I'll help the one's who can't walk!"
"No, I'm not leaving you!" I screamed back.
"Youse have to, Sage. Help da ones on da roof!" I saw a look of concern flash through Spot's eyes.
"But what if you…don't make it?" Spot glanced around quickly and then turned back to me.
"Have faith!" I instantly shot my head up, remembering my mother saying those exact same words in my dream. I looked up at the stairs, and then back at Spot.
"Be careful," I whispered. I quickly kissed his cheek, causing him to flinch and blush slightly. I turned to the stairs and ran up them. As I came up on the roof, I noticed people were already making their way down the ladder on the side of the building. I didn't see Jack or Scout, or any of the others anywhere, so I guessed they were already out.
I watched the people climb down the ladder, and safely run off. I was soon the only person left on the roof. I looked back at the door I just came through, hoping that Spot would run out…but he didn't. I turned back around and climbed down the ladder. I made it to the ground and ran around to the front of the building.
I watched the flames wildly dance around as the Harlem boys guarded the front door. Somebody instantly hugged me from behind, and I twirled around to see Splinter.
"Are youse okay?" he asked. I nodded and scanned the crowd for Scout.
"We have to save Spot!" I shouted, getting the attention of other newsies.
"Youse mean he's still in there?" I heard Spark asked. I nodded and turned to the burning building.
"C'mon, Spot…" I whispered. "You can do it."
"Sage!" I heard Scout's voice. I turned around and saw Scout, Jack, and David running in my direction.
"Scout!" I screamed back, hugging her tightly.
"Scout, we have to save-" but I was too late. The roof of the building collapsed.
"NO!" I screamed, running towards the building. Splinter and Spark caught me before I could get any further and I fell to my knees.
"Spot!" I screamed.
"Wait, Spot's in there?" Scout asked, her eyes wide. I let tears stream from my eyes as the Harlem boys ran away from the door and watched the burning building.
"No," Scout whispered. "Spot!" she screamed. She turned around and began to sob into Jack's chest.
Please don't let him die! I prayed. I had faith! Now give him back to me! I soon heard men yelling. It was the firemen. They began to work on the fire as I banged my fists against the grounds.
After the fire was finally put out, I felt my heart fading away. I then heard a few gasps and cheers, and looked up to see Spot walking out from behind the building, the boys and girls that were stuck in the fire following him. Spot was bleeding in various places, and had a serious look plastered on his face.
He then stopped when he saw me on the ground, crying. I pushed myself to my feet and ran into Spot's arms, hugging him tightly. The world stopped and went into slow motion, and then came back to reality.
"You're alive!" I said, letting him go and staring up at him. Spot chuckled,
"I told youse ta have faith, woman!" Spot said. I laughed and I hugged him once more.
"Sage!" I heard Art's voice. I pulled away from Spot and watched Art run over to me, picking me up and twirling around.
"Youse is okay!" he said. I smiled and nodded, not able to talk. He then pressed his lips gently to mine. Spot stared at us, and then turned back around and walked towards his friends.
Faith is merely an act for courage…
Next chapter: Once again, I have no idea, so we all can be surprised.
Author note: I'm sorry if this one is too…odd? I felt like writing something intense.