Braid dashed down the Brooklyn Bridge as fast as she could. Her sides hurt from running, but she made herself go further. She had to be quick.

She made it off the bridge and traveled close to the alley ways through Brooklyn until she got to the border line that divided Queens and Brooklyn. She stepped over and sighed. She felt safe. Knowing she was almost there, she took off running again.

Thankfully, the distance to the lodging house wasn't far. In no time she was standing outside the door and knocking on the wood. Fly opened up the door and smiled, pulling her in by her arm.

"Whisk!" He exclaimed. (Okay, in dialogue they call her Whisk. I still call her Braid.)

"Hey, Fly." She said, hugging him around the waist. He hugged her back and pulled her close.

"Where are Scrunch and High-Brow? I have some information for them." She said into his shirt. He stepped back.

"They are in High-Brow's office. Come on, I'll take you to them." Fly said. Braid nodded and the two ran up the steps, but quietly enough not to wake the boys who were sleeping. Braid walked up to the door and knocked.

"Come in," High-Brow said. By his voice he sounded exhausted. Braid cracked the door open and slipped in, Fly right behind her. He shut the door. Scrunch turned around and jumped out of his seat to hug her.

"Hey, Whisk! We were worried about you! Oh, um, sorry about yesterday...again." She laughed.

"It's fine. You didn't hurt me...except for my cheek. That hurt." Scrucnch smiled and punched her playfully on the shoulder before sitting back down.

"So, Whisk, what have you got for us? Did you find anything out?" High-Brow asked. She nodded.

"Um, yeah. Th-the Bronx has sided with Brooklyn." She said. High-Brow groaned.

"Oh, come on!" He muttered leaning back in his chair and rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands. Braid bit her bottom lip.

"Is that all?" High-Brow asked, his hands still over his eyes. Braid nodded.

"Okay, then. Hey, I've been dying to know this. What did they name you?" Scunch asked. Braid rolled her eyes. Only Scrunch would think about that in a turf war.

"Braid." She said. The boys instantly started laughed.

"Braid? Wow, real creative." Scrunch said, still laughing. Braid smiled.

"I know! The names are so generic! No effort at all." She said. Even High-Brow ended up laughed.

"Well, that's all for tonight. Meet us back here if you get any news on anything, okay?" High-Brow said. Braid nodded.

"Okay." She turned to leave and Fly followed her out. He walked her to the door, but stopped her before she could open it.

"Whisk, they are treating you okay, then?" He asked.

"Yeah." She said.

"Your sure?"

"Would I lie to you?" Braid responded. Fly cracked a smile.

"Good. I don't like you being over there, you know." He sighed.

"I know. It's weird over there. It's so different then being here, but I can't put my finger on why."

"Why did you agree to go?" Fly asked.

"I don't know. You know how Scrunch was the one to bring me here, right?" She started. Fly nodded.

"Well, he saved me. I was being chased by the bulls, and he helped me get away. He brought me here, where I have a job, money, a place to stay. I owe this to him." She said.

"Whisk, I'm sure he wouldn't be holding that against you. That was seven years ago, after all." Fly pointed out.

"I know, but if Scrunch needs me to help him out I'll do it in a heart beat. He helped me, now I'll help him. Plus, he's my friend." She said. Fly nodded.

"Okay, just be careful?"

"Oh come on! You know me." She said, smiling. He smiled back. Braid opened the door and slipped into the night.

She slipped into the room and shut the door. Everything was quiet, so she figured no one had slept through her sneaking out. Sighing in relief she climbed into bed. Almost as soon as her head hit the pillow, she fell into a light sleep.

Dream:

Braid was only six years old. As all six-year-old little girls do, she skipped down the street humming a playful tune. She was always a happy child, and was always very talkative and bold for her age. Looking around, she spotted her friend, Karen, and a boy she didn't recognize but looked to be her age.

The boy was taller than the girls, and had dark black hair and dark brown eyes. He was obviously on the richer side of society, because his clothes were nicer than the other children.

"Hi, Karen!" She said cheerfully, walking up beside her friend. Karen turned to look at her, and Braid realized her had tears in her eyes.

"Karen? What's wrong?" She asked.

"Haha! Your not getting your stupid doll back!" The boys jeered, throwing the torn doll made of rags on the ground and kicking it down the street. Karen took off after it as the boy laughed.

"That wasn't very nice!" Braid said, putting her tiny hands on her little hips. The boy laughed even harder.

"What are you going to do about it, huh?" He asked.

"I'm going to be mature and let you live, stupid head!" She said, voice rising slightly. The boy stopped laughed.

"Dummy!" He said.

"Meanie!" The boy's face turned read.

"You'll regret that!" He yelled, running down the road.

"What are you going to do about it?" She mimicked.

The scene changed to later that night. Braid was in her tiny bed when she heard her father scream.

"Out! Fire! Get out!" She jumped up and froze, panicked, Then, she saw the flames flickering in the hallway. Tears filled her eyes and they got closer to her room. It was like her limbs were lead. She tried to move but couldn't. She didn't know what to do. The flames flickered closer, and closer. Realization seemed to catch up with the little six-year-old and she ran to the window. A tear streamed down her face as she jumped. Luckily, she wasn't far from the ground and only landed with a small thud. The flames engulfed her house and the last thing she saw was a small black haired boy her age disappear around the corner.

"No!" Braid gasped, shooting up out of her bed. Sweat dripped down her face and she took deep breaths.

It was just a dream. It was just a dream. She told herself. She hated dreaming about that night, the night her family died. Her older brother, her baby sister, and even her parents parished in the fire. Who didn't she blame? No, not the boy. She blamed herself. If only she had kept her mouth shut...

"Braid? Up and at them!" Kloppman said.

"O-Okay!" She said. She quickly got dressed and stepped into the hallway. She started walking toward the door when Jack stepped in front of her.

"Hey, Braid. I need you to stay here at the Lodging House with me today. Spot is coming over and he heard we had a Queens over here." She bit her bottom lip.

"Um, okay." She said quietly. Jack smiled and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Come on. We can wait in the bunk room." He said, walking up the steps. He walked up the stairs ans Braid followed behind.

It didn't take long for Spot to arrive. The two had been sitting in awkward silence, Jack in deep thought sitting on his bunk and Braid sitting on the window ledge not wanting to meet Spot. When he came in, she didn't even move.

Jack stood up and smiled.

"Hey, Spot." He said, spitting in his hand and holding it out.

"Jack." He spit in his and they shook hands. Spot looked over at Braid and walked over.

"So, this is your Queens girl, huh?" He asked.

"Yup. Her real name is Emma, but one of our younger boys named her Braid." Jack said. Spot nodded and stood in front of her.

"How old are you?" He asked, a tone of leadership in his voice. She looked up at him.

"Four-teen." She said in her normal, small voice. Spot's face was unreadable.

"You are from Queens?" He asked.

Braid nodded.

"Why did you leave?" Spot asked, however it sounded more like a demand then a question. Braid bit her lip again.

"I talked back to High-Brow and him and Scrunch threw me out." She said, looking down at her hands.

"Race found High-Brow and Scunch soaking her by the bridge." Jack put in. Spot nodded, his face still plain. His eyes never left her.

"So, Braid. Were you ever close to the leaders?" Spot asked. Braid froze for a minute, then nodded her head.

"Okay. I need to know if I can trust you. The last thing I need is a spy on my hands-" Braid's heart sped up a little bit. "-so, tell me what you know." Spot said, crossing his arms.

"I...I don't know anything." Braid said, staring out of the window. Spot walked over and sat beside her.

"So, you were close to High-Brow and Scrunch, but you don't know anything about what they are planning?" Braid shook her head.

"They don't want me getting involved. They didn't tell me anything." She said. Spot grabbed her chin and made her look into his eyes.

"You swear?" He asked.

"I swear." She said, locking eyes with him and ignoring the burning in her stomach. Spot nodded and let go of her chin. He stood up and walked over to Jack.

"Keep her around. She could be useful to us." Spot whispered. Braid could still hear him.

"Will do, Spot. Keep me updated on what's going on." Spot nodded, then left. Jack walked over and sat by Braid.

"So, how about I take you to meet a friend of mine?"

There it is! Please review and tell me what you thought!

Thanks!

- Emily