Note: Here's chapter five! Sorry for all the cliffy's..well not really.. I kinda like them ha ha. :D Let me know what you think!
Through Ups and Downs Chapter 5 - Slash
Mush was bruised and confused. Everything had seemingly happened in so short a time.
A large man, towering over the newsboy had hauled him into the room. Another man, only a little smaller than the first held Adah, who was kicking at his shins. Unfortunately, the man didn't even flinch when the heel of her boot connected with his leg, he only sat sat her down in a chair, tied her to it and then tied a blindfold over her eyes.
Mush stayed still in the man's grasp, trying to see what he could do, if anything. Adah's hands were tied, and she looked small and scared sitting in that chair with the blindfold over her eyes. Mush hated himself for not doing something. He should have stopped her from going in the room. He should have followed her sooner. He should have gone in first. He should have -" his self-deprecatory train of thought was interrupted by a boy coming into the room from the doorway opposite.
He was swaggering, twirling something around his finger. It was a small key on a string. Adah's apartment key, most likely. Mush had no clue as to why these people were in Adah's home, but he recognized the boy. He was from Queens. Not a newsie, exactly. There was something about this boy. Something Mush couldn't quite place..
"What's Manhattan doing here?" the boy spat, looking at Mush with, what was that? Contempt? It wasn't kind, whatever it was.
The huge man holding Mush shrugged. "Ya want me to get rid of 'im?"
The boy glared at Mush. "Nah," he said, "we'll let him live for now."
Mush was roughly shoved, and a blindfold was tied over his head. They were pulling his arms behind his back now, and he winced as ropes cut into his wrists.
"What do you want?" A small voice Mush didn't at first recognize as Adah's asked.
"You know what I want, sweetie," the boy said in a sickly sweet tone.
"Let Mush go," Adah said after a moment of thick silence, "he can't do anything for you, Slash."
Mush felt a hand jerk his chin up and he stiffened. The boy -Slash - said in dismissal, "Hm? Maybe not. But you won't try anything when he's around." The hand pushed Mush's face away.
Slash. Where had Mush heard that name? Something seemed to scream in his head, as if he should know the answer, but nothing came to mind. Then he heard the sound of a gun being cocked. "No, I think you'll be very good," Slash said, his voice menacing now and not at all sweet.
"How did you do it?" Adah said next.
"Oh, it was easy. I bribed someone at the party to put liquor in the punch. Of course it turned into a fight begun by the same person. I knew you wouldn't stick around, Adah. You were never one for drinks or fights. When you left your purse, it was all too easy. I had planned on getting home ahead of you, and surprising you, but this worked even better."
"How did you find me?"
"I have very good spies. Even Spot Conlon can't shake them. He didn't even know he was followed."
"Oh," Adah said softly, tiredly. "Can you at least take our blindfolds off?" she asked, her voice wavering.
Mush frowned slightly. Something didn't seem right about the way Adah was acting. Usually she seemed so tough..but tonight..she was acting so different. Mush felt his blindfold being untied
"It's not like you can escape anyway," Slash reasoned. Mush surveyed the other young man. Yeah, the one holding the gun. Mush had been too shocked when he'd first seen him to look at him, now he really studied Slash. Tall, muscular, blond hair. Piercing green eyes.
Adah looked at Mush from across the room. As though sensing it, Slash turned around, smirked at Adah, and checked a gold pocket watch that sat in his pocket. Wait a minute. A gold pocket watch? The boy had to have some sort of money.
"Spot should be along very soon," Slash said, replacing the watch. He pulled out a stack of cards, shuffling them carelessly with well practiced hands.
"Care to play a game, gentlemen?" he said smoothly, as if it didn't matter if the guards wanted to play or not. The two men shrugged. Slash directed them to the table, and they began a game. Mush was puzzled at first - no money was bet. Then he saw the cleverness of Slash. This way he could save his pride and not lose on purpose, because if he played for money, and beat the men, they might grow angry, and Slash needed them.
"So, you're called Slash, but you carry a gun?" Thug Number 1 said, indicating the black pistol. Slash's eyes glinted.
"I'm better with my knife...but I do admit, guns can be quick. My knife is a back up for now, just in case I lose this beauty...which is improbable." He patted the gun with an almost affectionate gesture.
Mush's gaze was pulled from Slash and the enormous men, to Adah. She was tapping on the floor with her boot, and the sound had caught Mush's attention. She gave a small smile, quirking one corner of her mouth... almost like a smirk.. She didn't look scared at all. In fact, Adah looked far from scared. She seemed confident, sure of herself. She moved her eyes to her bedroom door, then back at Mush, then back to the door. She apparently wanted Mush to get into her room. Obviously, she had forgotten they were tied up! Mush gave her a frown. In response Adah raised an untied hand, and patted the pocket of her skirt. She quickly placed her arms behind her back again.
That's when it dawned on Mush. The men at the table weren't paying much attention to their prisoners. Sometime, while they were playing, Adah had managed to get her rope undone. Now she was waiting for Mush to do the same. Mush fished around in his pocket for the knife he kept there. Sure enough, Mush felt its reassuring handle. The two men had not searched them. Now that was notvery clever. Now to get the pocket knife out...Mush shoved his tied hands as far into his pocket as he could manage. Just then Thug Number 2 looked up, and the boy sat as still as possible, leaning against the chair. The man dismissed him, and went back to staring at his cards with a frown.
Mush tried to get the knife out, but it slipped from his grasp. The boy reached in again, and using his two pointer fingers, which were tied close together, he gripped the knife. Mush slowly and carefully lifted the sharp instrument from his pocket, and gave Adah a small smile to let her know it was out. She inclined her head slightly. Then, seemingly from nowhere, Slash appeared in front of the girl. Her face quickly resumed the terrified expression.
"Why can't you just do it, Adah?"
"What?"
"You know what. Don't play innocent with me!" Slash's face flushed deep red with anger. "What's holding you back? Is it him?" Slash pointed an accusing finger at Mush. A slight tinge of pink deepened color in the girl's cheeks. Mush had a feeling the blush wasn't faked. A mixture of joy, and then apprehension filled him. Now there was a reason for Slash to 'get rid of him'. Mush worked his knife open, trying to quietly saw away at his bonds.
"It is, isn't?" Slash asked.
Adah lifted her eyes and her bashful face. But her voice was steady. Strong. Like the real Adah. "Partly. But...there are other reasons."
Slash crossed his arms, gazing intently at her. Then he laughed. A dark, humorless laugh. Mush winced - he'd cut his wrist. But his hands were free!
"It's Spot, isn't it? The only way I'll be able to have you is if I'm King of Brooklyn." Adah didn't answer. "Because then Spot won't be here to interfere," he said in a softer tone.
Mush wanted to show Adah that he was free. Unfortunately, with Slash and the Hulking Thugs standing a few feet away, it would be difficult to do without attracting their attention as well. He tapped the floor a couple times with his shoes. That's what Adah had done when she was free. Except this didn't escape the attention of Slash, and soon Mush was the focus of three unwanted sets of eyes. Out of the corner of his own eye, Mush saw Adah give a small thumbs up. She'd gotten his message.
"You actually fell for this street rat?" Slash asked in disbelief and disgust. "A newsboy over me?"
"Exactly. A newsboy. Not a crook." The eyes were back on Adah. "Besides, I was gone before Mush. So don't blame him. I'm sorry, Slash. We'll see what can be done."
Strangely, at this statement, the boy began to calm down. After a short pause, he and the other two went back to their game. Then Adah looked at her room again and mouthed one word. Run! Then she took off, Mush on her heels. A foot from the door, the newsboy heard a shot implant itself in the wall, and shouting behind him. Then they were in the room. Adah locked the door, and she and Mush pulled a chair in front of it.
"That won't hold them long," she observed, watching with fascination as the door began to splinter under the big men's blows.
"Dis way," Mush's quick eyes had caught sight of a window. Adah followed him without question, and helped to raise the window sill. Without hesitation, Mush stepped out on the sill. He held his hand out for Adah. She grasped it, and followed out the window. A few feet away was a fire escape. Step by step they inched towards their freedom. They heard yelling from Adah's room.
"No, you idiot! They're holding hands! If you shoot him she's going down too!" Slash was shouting from the window. Mush hoped with all the noise going on, a neighbor would hear, and send for the bulls. The two finally reached the fire escape. Mush glanced back at the bedroom window. No one was there. Apparently Slash was going to try and head them off.
"We've gotta move," Mush said in a hoarse whisper. They ran down the steps, and made the street. "Come on!" Mush yelled, still holding Adah's hand, and running, they headed back towards the newsies party. Maybe there they would be safe from their enemies. Both of them put their all into it, running as fast as they could. Adah coughed beside him, and Mush glanced at her worriedly, then turned his attention back to getting to help. That's when Adah let out a horrible scream, and her hand was ripped from his.