Author note: I am back to update! So, I'm sorry for the wait, so here's this chapter.
I tilted my head, staring out at the ocean that stretched across the land. I sat firmly in the sand, my arms wrapped loosely around my knees, and my feet coated in warm sand. A slight breeze whistled by, slightly brushing my hair away from my face.
I could vaguely hear voices whispering silently, but nobody was around. Instead of being rough and forceful, the voices were soothing and soft. It was as if they were speaking gibberish, a language well known to a mere infant.
Suddenly I rose from the beach, my eyes now in a trance as I moved along towards the water. The voices were still whispering, but not to me, to each other.
I felt the water rush over my feet as I entered the ocean, remembering this scene vividly from countless encounters with the harsh waves before. As usual I walked further and further into the ocean towards my death, as if it were normal.
"Anomie?" someone whispered.
I blinked once, and ignored the voice. The waves pushed at my body, but they didn't affect my flow.
"Anomie!" the voice said more forceful.
I glanced to my right to find everything the same, and continued on. A force suddenly hit my body and I flew backwards…
I met the floor with a loud thump and a small shriek. Laughter came from above, and I opened my eyes to peer up at my little brother.
"That was funny!" he exclaimed cheerfully.
"What're you doing in here?" I asked, rubbing my now sore head.
"I can't sleep," Daniel explained, crawling into my bed and looking down at me.
"Nightmare?" I asked, pushing myself to sit Indian style on the hard floor.
"Nah," Daniel said with a wave of his hand, "the man standing by my window won't leave me alone."
I furrowed my eyebrows and perked up. "What man?" I asked.
"I don't know his name, but sometimes he's there and sometimes he isn't."
"Show me," I said, getting off the floor.
Daniel shrugged and led me out of my bedroom, down the hall and down the stairs to the second floor. We entered his room, and my eyes immediately landed on the window.
"Nobody's there," I said, looking down at my brother. "Maybe you were just seeing things."
"No, Nomie," Daniel said. "You believe in spirits, don't you?"
"Spirits? You think you are seeing ghosts?"
"I don't know," he said. "Maybe."
"The only spirit that lingers around us, Danny, is mothers," I said, bending down to his level.
"Have you seen her?" Daniel asked, crossing his arms.
"No, but-"
"Then she isn't there." He turned around and stormed out of the room, the sensitive subject scarring us both.
I sighed and hung my head, massaging my temples. He was a difficult little boy, and a little too smart for his age. Why did he have to start going psycho now?
I left Daniel's room and washed up, changing into simple clothes for a not so exciting day.
"Morning Miss," Sylvia greeted me as I entered the dining room.
I nodded towards her and sat down for breakfast. Daniel sat across the table, not even trying to make eye contact.
"I think I'll skip breakfast today," I said, rising from the chair.
"Are you sure Miss?" Sylvia asked.
"I'm sure."
I looked once more at Daniel and left the room, heading straight for the door. By now Blade, or somebody, should have word of Spot's whereabouts. As I exited the house, I was greeted by a buggy sitting right in front of the stairs.
"Well that was unexpected," I said to a grinning Jack.
"Yeah, and everythin' else was, too," Spot said, turning around to face me.
A bruise stood out on his tanned jaw line, a mixture of emotions flooding his features.
"Nice shiner," I said, tracing my fingers over the bruise.
Spot shrugged, and it was hard to hide the excitement inside for his quick return, but I did it.
"So was it a hoax or what?" I asked, crossing my arms.
"Well don't you wanna greet me foist before we get to da details?" Spot asked as if he were emotionally hurt.
"Let me think about it for a second," I said, rubbing my chin.
"Hey!" Spot said.
"Still thinking," I told him.
"Well I ain't waitin anymore," was all he said as he stepped forward and I was lost in a deep kiss, his arms wrapped firmly around me as if it had been years.
He slowly pulled away and met my eyes. "I wasn't done thinking," I said, pretending to glare.
Spot rolled his eyes and kissed my forehead. "Why do I even botha with you?" he joked.
"I ask the same question everyday," I returned.
Jack looked at me fully, and I finally noticed the bruise under his right eye.
"Okay, something happened or you all got gifts on your way out," I said, looking from Spot to Jack.
"I was right, it was a trick," Jack said, running his hand through his hair.
"Well where are the other leaders?" I asked.
"We already dropped 'em off," Spot explained.
I nodded and crossed my arms, watching the two newsie leaders intently. They didn't look mad at all, but they did seem tired.
"You may want to go visit Cadince real quick, Jack, and then go back to Manhattan and rest," I said. "And you, Spot, need to go to the Lodging House and sleep."
Spot raised his eyebrows, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Sure thing, mother," he said.
I rolled my eyes as Jack shrugged and bid us farewell. I watched him leave and could feel Spot's eyes boring into me, reading me like a book.
"What's bothering you?" he suddenly asked, sensing something was wrong.
"Nothing," I told him, not sure myself.
"C'mon, Anomie, I know you, what's wrong?"
"I was just worried, that's all," I said. "Why exactly did they want you there?"
"They were jus' mad 'cause we sell better den dem, stupid pricks. Dey thought dey could soak us, but they jus' weren't tough enough," he said proudly.
"Well it seems like they put up a pretty good fight," I said, tracing my eyes down to his bruised jaw.
Spot shrugged and picked up his sack from the ground. "It's alright," he said, "jus' a battle scar."
He grinned and kissed my cheek. I sighed through my nose and stared at him shortly.
"Okay, what's wrong now?" he asked.
"Why do you assume something's wrong?" I asked.
"Because you have dat look in your eyes."
"Fine," I sighed, "I'm just worried about Daniel…and the maids. They claimed they heard someone crying from the third floor, but they couldn't find anybody. But I couldn't hear it."
Spot furrowed his eyebrows, staring at me oddly.
"And just this morning Danny showed up in my room claiming that a man won't leave him alone," I said.
"Maybe he's jus' playin a trick," Spot shrugged. "But if it's worryin you so much, I'd be glad to stay da night."
I rolled my eyes. "You would," I said.
"What? It's been a whole week since I stayed with ya," he said. "Besides, if it is something, you'll need a man here to protect you."
"In other words you'll just be another person for me to look after," I joked.
"Well, if you really don't want me to stay…-"
"Fine, fine, you can stay," I said.
For some reason I had a feeling that even if Spot did stay, there was nothing he could do.
Next Chapter: Will be out soon, and hasn't been thought up yet. Keep reading!
Author note: Blah.