Disclaimer: The character Rafe Edwards is the creative property of me, as is Stress, Dice, Switch and various other characters. The character Jack Kelly (among others) is the property of Disney. The words following each chapter heading are from the Bryan McFadden song, "Demons in my Dreams" and are used in order to help create the context in which the plot was conceived.

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DEMONS IN MY DREAMS

Have you ever been lost in a different world?

Rafe Edwards is a leader eager to try his luck out at going straight.
What happens when his gang wasn't what he thought it was?
Or his newfound loyalties are questionable?

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VI. ENTER COMPLICATIONS
I can feel a sense of danger,
You stare at me like I'm a stranger

Rafe stood right outside the Lodging House on Duane Street, debating his course of action. He could either follow Kelly's orders or return to the Wraiths hideaway. He snorted at the first option and rubbed his face with his hand. He never was one to follow orders; Quick had been an exception and, after all this time leading the gang, he had grown accustomed to giving the commands. But he couldn't just return to his boys and expect them to tell him what has been going on behind his back. They had kept this from him for so long already – why would they divulge their motives if they didn't respect him enough then? Shrugging his shoulders, Rafe headed up the steps to the Lodging House. He would have to make do getting his information from these newsies.

He entered the front door and nodded to the pair of kids manning the desk. "Kloppman not back yet?" he asked. Rafe had seen the old man leave the Bottle Alley home a good twenty minutes before he did. He had assumed that Kloppman would have made it back to the Lodging House before he did.

One of the boys, a short one with dark skin, shook his head. "Nope. Some of the older boys told us that we could watch the desk for him while they talked business." He jerked his hand towards his companion, a pale boy of comparable size with a bandage across his cheek. "Me and Snipes can handle the sign-ins if that's what you is looking for."

Rafe shook his head. "Later, kid. Right now I gotta see some of these older boys you mentioned. They all still upstairs?" Without waiting for an answer he turned to head up the steps.

"Boots."

He paused, one foot mid-step. Boots? "Uhh, excuse me?"

The dark boy rolled his eyes. "I said 'Boots'. That's my name. And you can't go up there til you sign in."

Rafe prepared a retort but thought better of it. Instead, he pulled a nickel out of his trouser pocket and tossed it at Boots. Boots, not suspecting the throw, fumbled and dropped the coin. When he and Snipes bent down to retrieve the money Rafe began his ascent up the lodging house steps. By the time the pair were upright once more Rafe had made it upstairs.

He entered the bunkroom, walking right into an ongoing poker game. The four boys in the middle of playing looked up at his entrance before tossing their cards down and pausing in their talk. "Hey new kid, what's going on?" asked the short one with a cigar hanging off of his lip. He seemed perturbed at being interrupted.

Rafe bit back a retort. If he began arguing with the others he would never get any information. He cracked a smile instead before nodding at the boys. "Hiya…Race?" he asked, trying to remember the names of the boys he met in the bunkroom earlier. When the boy removed his cigar and bowed his head. Rafe continued. "Race. Fellas. I just came back from the Bottle Alley Lodging House and--"

A murmur among the boys, more than the four as the others left their bunks and surrounded Rafe, grew and Rafe grew uncomfortable. Maybe it would be better just to face his Wraiths. He shook his head. "Yeah, I went with Kloppman and Kelly down to that Girls' home and… it wasn't pretty. A girl – Hope – she… she died."

It was almost if a collective gasp echoed throughout the room. It was Mush, a young olive-skinned man, who spoke first. His expression was hurt and his voice soft, but the extensive muscles on his body pulsed in anger. "How? How did she die?"

Rafe stuck his hands in the back pockets of his slacks. "I don't know how to say this but Jack told me to, so… ," he paused and took a deep breath before finishing his sentence, "…the Wraiths got the kid. Jack says that means war…"

The group went silent for a brief moment before all hell broke loose. The larger boys were hurriedly pulling on slacks over their long-johns while the younger ones huddled together in sadness. First the attack on Snipes, now this…

Rafe held up his hands in order to bring some order to the bunkroom. "Hey, guys, hang on. Cowboy sent me down here to warn you not to start a riot. Seriously, what can you do at this hour?"

Blink stood just off to Rafe's side and placed a hand on his shoulder. "He's right. Jack wouldn't want us all to run off like this, would he?"

There was a murmur of agreement rippling throughout the boys. Rafe nodded and brought down his hands; he was not prepared to confront his gang just yet. "Listen, fellas. Jack is heading out to Irving Hall. He told me to get any of you'se who wants to come."

Some of the boys nodded while others slowly returned to their bunks. It had been a long day for all of them. And the days that were to come would only be longer.

Blink let go of Rafe's arm and shook his head. "I can't believe Jack would think of going to Medda's at a time like this," he mumbled under his breath.

Rafe heard the remark and shrugged his shoulders. "He wanted to make sure that he got his girl out of the Bottle Alley Home. Kloppman said something about them not getting the girl's body out of there until tomorrow."

Race, who was standing next to Blink continually smoking on the end of his cigar, nodded. "Sounds about right to me," he said before addressing Blink. "So, what do you say, Blink? Should we help our pal out?"

Blink nodded slowly, his ever-present smile eerily missing. "I guess." Maybe if they met with Jack down at the Hall they could plan their next move. The Wraiths were going down.

--

Stress entered the dingy establishment on Jack's arm. Her upset at Hope's death had led to such fury that she could barely hold herself up. Jack supported her, whispering his comforts into her ear.

She didn't acknowledge his words, but leaned up against him. As much as she didn't want to be anywhere near the bunkroom that held Hope's body, she couldn't believe that she had agreed to go with Jack to Medda's Irving Hall. She must be more distraught than she thought. Damn those Wraiths

Even though Rafe had paused at the Duane Street Lodging House to talk to the boys, when Jack led Stress to a table in a smoke corner, Rafe was waiting. He sat at the table alongside Blink and Race, sipping his drink and looking on-edge. Jack maneuvered his way through the crowd making sure not to loose his hold on the girl. When he arrived at the table he looked down at the three boys. "My, you guys are quick."

Rafe coughed and Race smirked. It was Blink that spoke. "Actually, Jack, we've been waiting for you to arrive. I thought you would have been here already."

A scowl crossed Jack's handsome face. "I'm sorry I took so long but I've been a little busy," he replied gesturing to the uncharacteristically quiet girl on his arm. When Blink had the decency to look ashamed, Jack pulled a chair out for her. Stress kept her head down as she took the seat. Jack took a seat next to her.

Blink cleared his throat before addressing her. "I'm so sorry, Stress. We all know how close you were with Hope..."

At the mention of Hope's name she tensed. Her head jerked up and she glared at Blink. He shrank back in his seat before turning his head towards the stage. Stress could get pretty scary when she was mad. "I'm gonna get those damn Wraiths," she promised aloud.

It was an uncomfortable silence that followed before Rafe thought to reply to her statement. "Of course – and we'll all help. Right, Jack?"

Jack sighed. In the time it took to walk from Bottle Alley to Medda's Hall Stress had made that same pronouncement eight times. Nothing he could say would stray her from the subject. "Of course. You have to get them back for Hope, don't you?"

Stress heard the exasperation in his voice and glanced over at him. Jack met her eyes and reached for her hand. Before he could reach it she dropped it from the table. Jack pretended not to notice the action but Rafe did. He raised his eyebrow but Jack shook his head slightly. Rafe said nothing.

Jack turned in his seat so as to face her. "Stress, that's not what I meant. You kno—"

"Yeah, I know. I know exactly what you were saying," she replied heatedly. She pushed her seat away from him. "You never liked Hope, admit it! You're probably glad that those goons did her in. Well, not me. I'll go after them myself if you won't help me."

Jack fought back the urge to roll his eyes at her dramatics. She wouldn't dare leave him after what had happened. "Go right ahead, Stress. See if I care."

"Fine but don't you dare follow me, Cowboy," she added with a hiss, abandoning the seat she had only just occupied. Jack slumped back into his seat and she smirked before whirling around and storming out of the Hall. He should have known better to rise to her bait. In her pain it was her goal to bring everyone down with her. But he was not going to allow her to do that so easily; after all, he knew exactly what she was playing at.

Rafe glanced over at Jack who, just as soon as Stress disappeared into the crowd, began to rise from his seat. The other boys were either too busy ogling the dancer on stage or too used to this sort of behavior between the two to notice. Rafe was new to this sort of argument, though. "Hey, Kelly? Shouldn't you leave the girl be? She looked mighty mad."

Jack shook his head. "Yeah, I know. But, if I don't go after her, who will? Especially after Hope got hurt, you know? The last thing I would want is for her to run into someone and mouth off like Hope did…" He didn't finish his sentence, instead letting it trail to a close. He didn't have to finish it in order for Rafe to understand.

Rafe nodded before rising from his seat. "If you want, I'll go after her and bring her back to you." It was as if the words just fell from his mouth; he didn't know why he offered to go, it just seemed like the right thing to say at the time. Besides, maybe he can get more information – or, at least, her necklace, he reminded himself rather absently —off of her if they were alone.

Jack hesitated. He was about to decline Rafe's offer when he saw that, at that moment, Medda was strolling over to the table to say "hello". Jack spied the red-headed performer and sighed. "Bring her back soon," he said finally before retaking his seat. He would give the boy a five minute head start before going after him. There was something about Rafe regarding Stress that made him nervous.

Rafe nodded again and was gone. He didn't know the girl well enough to know where she was heading. He would have to rely on his own intuition for this one.

Luckily, his intuition was not needed on this strike. Once he easily maneuvered his way out of the smoky crowd and made it out the front door he found the girl standing with her back to the window, shaking in anger.

He approached her slowly. "Stress?"

She turned towards him and paused. The pause lasted a few seconds before she understood that it was he, and not Jack, that was coming after her. Jack's rejection, though unintended, coupled with Hope's murder, was too much for her to bear. Before Rafe could take another step further she broke into a run.

"Damn," he muttered under his breath before breaking off after her. He hadn't had to run in so long he wasn't sure he was in good enough condition to make it after her. However, for the second time that night, luck was on his side. After a sprint of four blocks, Stress slowed before turning down into a secluded alley.

When Rafe caught up with her he found her raring to stand off against him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" she yelled, her eyes nearly glowing. She was livid.

Rafe gulped. What have I gotten myself into? He tentatively took a step closer. "Stress, just calm down."

"Did Cowboy send you?"

He thought the question over for a moment. She was furious, that was easy to see. Wouldn't she grow angrier if she knew that Jack had sent him to check up on her and bring her back to him? "No…" he answered slowly, drawing the syllable out.

She flinched and took a step back almost as if his answer had hurt her. "Then why? Why are you here? What have you followed me? Who are –"

He looked behind him, out into the dark street, to see if her shouts were drawing any attention. No one else was there. He sighed before interrupting her. "I don't know, alright? It… It just seemed like the right thing to do, okay?"

Her voice faltered and her yells stopped. He was glad for the quiet but it lasted only so long before it was interrupted by breaking, tearless sobs. Her knees gave way at the torrent of grief that overcame her. It didn't matter to her if she fell to the ground, tucked away in this alley, so long as she found solace. Rafe, however, caught her before she met the dirt.

Stress allowed herself to be held in his strong arms. The tears came loose and began to flood down her cheeks, leaving a trail down her smudged face. She hadn't bothered cleaning up entirely before leaving the Girls' Home so the newsprint from her earlier selling shift was still present.

Rafe wrapped his arms around her petite form, confused. One moment she was yelling at him, the next she was holding onto him. He barely noticed the wetness seeping into his shirt. He tried to soothe her but found himself unable to make any sound. Instead he gently guided her downward until they were both sitting, their backs leaning against the brick wall of the alleyway, arms holding onto each other.

He rested his chin on top of her head. He knew what it was like to lose someone so close to you. He had done so twice in his life: first his mother, then Quick. He didn't envy the girl the emotions she had tried to suppress only to have them come pouring out in such a way. He was just glad they he could be there for her to help her battle her pain. No one had done that for him.

As she cried she found herself clinging to him more desperately, regardless of the fact that he was not Jack, nor anyone she had known prior to that morning. It seemed like a perfect fit in that moment, that very instance.

When she moved, the mess of her curls fell off of her shoulders, allowing the moonlight to shine off of her silver chain. Rafe awkwardly rubbed the back of her blouse. He lowered his head to see if she was calming at all when he caught sight of the jewelry. He could take it now and she would never know. Or, at least, she would never know it was him. He could be long gone and back with his gang before she was coherent enough to realize that he had stolen from her while trying to comfort her.

But, for some strange reason, he couldn't make his hands move. They remained entwined around her waist, bringing her ever closer as she sobbed.

The necklace remained in place.