"Mamma! Mamma! MAMMA!"

All of the newsboys in the lodging house were awake now because of Lock's screams. These were the only times that she would let anything slip about her past. Except to Racetrack. She would sometimes tell him of the times she and her sister used to have when their "Mamma" was alive. Of what she had told him, it sounded like it was the perfect family. He still had no clue as to why she would run away.

Quiet sobs filled the room as shudders took over the young girl's body. Heaving deep breaths, she wiped away the tears and tear-streaks from her face and lay back down on her pillow. She knew she woke the guys up, but she also knew they were used to it. After three years of living with them, they knew that nightmares were common.

She pulled herself out of bed, dropping with a quiet thud onto the floor below her. She had slept in a boy's shirt and pants, but that no longer bothered her. Now she didn't care much about clothing, she had more important things to worry about. Besides, they were loose enough to be semi appropriate.

After washing her face and putting on a skirt and blouse, she ran outside to meet up with the boys. She was given some bread and water by the nuns who were usually waiting for the kids by the Church, then followed the sound of laughter to the distribution center. "Weasel" and the Delancy brothers had come back after the old man left for family problems. It didn't bother her, not much did anymore. Still, it was fun to poke fun at him and the brothers. Especially when you got to see their face after they lost. Priceless.

"Lock! Nice of you ta' join us! Youse 'ungry?"

"Nah, tanks though!"

Mush shrugged, "Your loss."

Narrowing her eyes, Lock turned away from the words that brought back memories. Memories of nearly three years ago. In three days it would be three years; it was not something she was looking forward to.

Racetrack gave a quick glance at Mush before heading over to Lock. He wouldn't admit it, but he had a slight crush on her. He wouldn't admit it mainly because she was currently courting another, a rich kid from the wealthy side of Manhattan. He was slightly worried that the kid would break her heart. After all, he was a rich boy and she was a poor orphan girl and New York orphans usually had bad pasts. Their kinds just didn't mix, and if they did it usually ended badly.

He placed a hand on her shoulder and she immediately shrugged it off. She wasn't one for much affection; she handled problems on her own, whether the guys liked it or not. He backed off as the gates opened and let her go in first. He knew that she knew what he was doing when she turned to give him a pointed look before disappearing into the sea of boys. He mentally shrugged; she always knew.

Gogogo

Selling the morning papes went by quickly that day. Maybe it was the chance of rain or the coolness in the air, but something made the day fly by. Shouting out headlines and making up stories was fun, but after a while, it can get tedious. Lock decided to not meet the boys at Tibby's and instead wander around Manhattan. She saw ladies in their fancy skirts and hats parading the streets; gentlemen taking their hats off as a woman passed; young boys playing marbles and some girls playing hoops; she saw the picture perfect day in almost anyone's mind.

She was submerged in memories of her childhood, back when she and her sister played hoops in the streets alongside some of the neighborhood boys. She saw the small trees, all still babies compared to the large ones in the park. She saw the cobblestone streets and the tall lampposts. She saw her mother and father sitting outside the house and watching their daughters play with joy. She remembered when she and Virginia laughed at all the boys who got caught playing hide n' seek in Mrs. Grange's flower bed. She smiled fondly when she saw her mother reading Virginia one of her favorite stories. She grimaced while thinking of the scolding she got from her mother for riding a bicycle, borrowed from one of the boys down the street, and letting the lower part of her calf show.

She was broken out of her trip down memory lane by the rumbling of thunder and the shock of freezing rain upon her head. While ladies rushed to get under a covered area and the gentlemen gave the women shelter with their coats, she slowly started heading out of the East side and back to the lodging house. She figured she would just be getting wetter anyway so it didn't really matter. She ignored the strange looks people were giving her as she walked, drenched with raindrops, through the streets and alleyways.

"Addie! What are you doing out in the rain! Come on inside!"

Thomas, the boy she was courting, stood on the corner of the street, holding out his coat to her. She headed over to the corner, accepting the coat he held out. As she wrapped it around her body, he looked at her worriedly.

"You'll catch a cold if you stay out much longer. See, you're already drenched to the bone."

Lock smiled at his concern, "Ise fine, but tanks."

He merely nodded hesitantly and let her be. The two stayed on the sidewalk to avoid being splashed by carriages and horses that were passing by. Sticking close together, they huddled under a covered pavilion for shelter from the rain. He was one of the few people that Lock would do this with. Some of the newsies could convince her to get out of the rain as well, but that was about it.

The rain stopped after about half an hour and the evening sun came out, lighting up the ground and sky with a soft, golden light. Lock's blonde hair shone like polished gold in the light and Tom couldn't help but notice how much she looked like the angels in some of the pictures and paintings at Church. Apparently many other young men noticed the same thing as the couple walked along the street. Thomas knew that if he held her tight, she would fly away, but if he allowed her to fly on her own, she would stay. He also knew that she didn't care how anyone else thought of her; sometimes she didn't care what he thought of her. So he was alright with their comments and hushed whispers about the angel at his side.

Hihihi

Thomas dropped her off at the lodging house after she refused to sleep at his house that night. The sky was now black and the stars shone brighter than diamonds, and when she looked up at the endless sky, she could see the vast galaxy for what it was: a beautiful, dark, endless mystery. The moon was nearly full and it looked like a yellow-orange sphere shining down on her. Lock stayed outside for a while, admiring God's raised creation from the ground, then slipped on inside to the bunkroom.

She pulled on her nightclothes in the bathroom and walked back to the bunkroom to lie down in her bed. Rolling to her side to stare out the window and look at the streets below her, she offered up a prayer to God before she went to sleep.

God, please help me. Help me find my sister this time. Help me to do what I have to, to find her. Please, I miss her so much.

Every year, Lock would go on a search through all of Manhattan and beyond to find her sister. She would always do it around the anniversary of Virginia's kidnapping and at other times as well. So far she had found nothing, but she never gave up hope. She already gave up almost everything else; she wasn't about to let that one go too.

So, how was it? This chapter was 1,266 words long; I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! Still, I would love it if you'd review!