They waited until it was dark to put Jack's plan into action. He, David, and Brenna then left the Lodging House and walked as quickly as they could to the Refuge. Jack had refused to let Brenna come along, but she in turn refused to take no for an answer. In the end, Brenna won out and there the three of them were to break out their friend.
"So here it is," Jack said as they approached the building. "Da Refuge. My home, sweet home."
"How can you be sure they sent him here?" David asked.
"How can I be sure da Delanceys stink? It's just how things work, ya know?"
Despite their situation, Brenna could not hide her smile at his words, mostly because they were true.
"An orphan gets arrested, Snyder makes sure he gets sent straight here, so he can 'rehabilitate' him. Da more kids in da Refuge, da more money da city sends to take care of 'em, da more Snyder sticks it in his pocket."
"Snyder only lets everyone believe he's helpin' da boys. He's really just keepin' 'em captive in a place arguably worse than actual jail," Brenna added.
David's brow furrowed at their words as he realized the gravity of the whole situation.
"So how come you brought the rope?" he asked.
There was no time to answer his question because a carriage began to pull out from the entrance gate. Jack pulled Brenna and David next to him against the wall and he concealed them all in the shadows of the night. While the guard was distracted, the three of them snuck through the open gates.
They climbed the fire escape and got on the roof the Refuge. Jack tied the rope around his chest, and ever so slowly, Brenna and David lowered him down until he was at the window.
They could tell that Jack was talking to someone on the other side, but it was nearly impossible to hear their conversation.
"Is the Refuge really as bad as Jack says it is?" David asked her quietly.
"Well, obviously, I've never been there. But Jack's not da only one with stories. I've heard lots of things from newsies all over New York about their time in da Refuge and none of 'em are pretty."
There was a bit more silence between them.
"Heya Dave! Trickster! How ya both doin'?" they heard Crutchy throw up to the roof.
"Shh!" David shushed, not wanting to get caught.
There was a bit more conversation between Crutchy and Jack before they heard him call out to them once more, "Hey, guys! You know, they still talk about how Jack rode outta here on dat coach!"
"Oh, yeah!" David said. "Teddy Roosevelt's, right?"
"You already heard da story!"
"You mean it's true?"
"Of course!"
At that moment, Jack swung himself to the side, and Brenna guessed Snyder had come into the room.
"Okay, guys," he whispered up to them. "Pull me up."
David and Brenna worked together to pull the rope and get Jack back on the roof.
"What's goin' on?" Brenna asked. "Are we gettin' him? Is he comin'?"
"No," Jack said, avoiding her eyes. "Da Delancey brudders…they didn't deliver him to da Refuge without…having a little 'fun' with him first."
Brenna's hands curled into fists again. "I'll kill 'em."
"Whoa, there. Take it easy. I want to soak 'em just as much as you do, believe me. All in good time, I promise."
"I never did like them."
"Has anyone ever liked them?"
They dejectedly walked back to the Lodging House and told the rest of the boys the bad news. As much as it pained all of them, it only fired them up more about the strike and they were now more determined than ever to win.
As the rest of the newsies prepared for bed, Brenna walked over to Crutchy's empty bed. The whole place just wasn't the same without him. She sighed as she leaned against the bedpost. She then felt an arm drape around her shoulders. When she looked up, she saw it was Jack.
"Don't worry. We'll get him outta there one way or anudder."
"Of all the newsies in New York, he was da one who deserves to be in there da least. It ain't fair."
"Whoever said life was fair?"
The boys' moods had plummeted drastically ever since Crutchy had been taken to the Refuge. But that didn't stop them from getting to the Distribution Center bright and early for another day of striking.
The Manhattan newsies all formed lines in front of the gates and then their voices were heard in perfect harmony:
Open the gates and seize the day
Don't be afraid and don't delay
Nothing can break us
No one can make us
Give our rights away
Arise and seize the day
Some of the younger boys tapped on some cans in rhythm and the newsies began dancing together in front of the building. The longer they danced, the more fired up they became. Brenna found herself smiling as she danced wildly. Towards the end, Jack did a little spin with her and then linked arms with her and the others as they blocked the entrance to the building.
They were all caught off guard as the delivery cart barreled through the gates, forcing them to break their perfect formation. But as soon as it was gone, they all came together again and found themselves face-to-face with more boys armed with their papers and ready to sell. Or at least…they thought they were going to sell.
"Alright. Everyone remain calm!" David ordered.
No one dared move until Jack yelled, "Let's soak 'em for Crutchy!"
At the sound of her friend's name, Brenna felt a fire rise up inside of her like never before. The newsies charged at the other boys who ran to the back door inside the Distribution Center and began hitting it. When the door opened, Brenna realized to her horror just why they had been banging on it.
"Oh! Jack!" Racetrack screamed. "Jack, da Cribs!
The newsies were faced with a ton of men with clubs, chains, and other instruments of torture that they planned on using to inflict numerous amounts of pain to the poor boys. Even worse, when they went to go retreat, they found that the police had shut the gates, forbidding them from leaving.
The Cribs formed a barrier which prevented the newsies from helping Jack in his face-off with the Delancey brothers.
"Jack!" Brenna screamed as he got backed up onto the stairs.
Just when Brenna thought for sure Jack was finally in for it, she heard above them, "Never fear, Brooklyn is here!"
Brenna never thought she would actually be happy to hear Spot Conlon's voice. She made eye contact with him and he nodded to her with a smirk.
All of the Brooklyn newsies loaded their slingshots and started abusing the Cribs in more ways than one. Who knew little marbles and pebbles could turn the tables in so many ways?
One of the Cribs grabbed Brenna from behind. Now she had learned a lot about fighting from the boys over the course of her stay with them, especially from Jack. However, they had not gone over what she was supposed to do if someone grabbed her like the man had. As much as she tried to employ every fighting technique she knew, he surpassed her strength by far and he was crushing the air out of her lungs.
"Tricks!" she heard Jack yell. She saw him trying to fight his way over to her, but he kept getting stopped by other newsies and the Cribs.
Suddenly, a huge force collided with the man holding her and they both fell over. She was released from his iron hold and when she looked up, she found that Spot had swung down and kicked the guy away from her. He was about to punch him, but she caught his fist before he could. She said nothing, but just smirked at him. He got the silent message and held his arms out for her. She sent him a nod before delivering such a hard punch to the guy's nose that she felt it crack beneath her knuckles.
"Are you alright?" Jack said, having finally gotten to her.
She smiled at him as she rubbed her fist. "Why don't you ask him?"
He looked at the man on the ground with blood flowing from his face and smiled at his friend.
Everywhere around them, newsies punched several of the guys. Brenna turned to Spot. "Is this proof enough for ya?"
He smiled at her and opened up the gates allowing Brooklyn newsies to flood in. The wave of boys forced the Cribs back through the doors they had come out of. Jack, David, Spot, and Brenna stood together in front of victoriously as Jack ripped another newspaper in half.
"Jack! Boys! Freeze! Freeze!" they heard. Brenna turned to find Denton standing there with his camera.
The boys standing in front of the door all struck a pose. Jack and Brenna ended up being the only ones ready for it.