Hello! Sorry this has taken so long, I've been busy with exams, school, and whatnot. Anywho, here is chapter six with our beloved Skeeter and co.
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This chapter is dedicated to JE Magic!
Skeeter's P.O.V
"Hey Skeeter! I didn't know if you wanted beef or pork in your sandwich so I…Skeeter? Skeeter, come on, I hate hide and seek. Skeeter! Crap…crap crap crap crap! Skeeter! Where are you this isn't a joke!"
I held a hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles. I mean honestly, I'm hiding behind the doorframe, turn around! Wait, don't turn around, because then I'll be caught and I'll have to stay in this heck-hole.
I shifted my position as quietly as I could so Scratch wouldn't hear me. I feel kind of bad for him, but my freedom is the top priority at the moment.
"Skeeter! Please, come out!" Scratch cried out, crawling on the floor and looking under bunks.
He stood up, finally, and ran a hand through his shaggy hair.
"I gotta find her, Spot will kill me."
He talks to himself. Interesting.
He ran out of the room and my plan was put into action.
I creeped to the top of the stairs and was just in time to see my new best friend running out the lodging house door. And guess who forgot to lock said door?
You have three guesses and two of 'em don't count.
After painfully counting to a ridiculously high number, 10, I slowly inched my way down the wooden stairs, wincing at each squeak.
Praise the Lord that by some miracle, no one was in the Lodging House to see my excellent escape plan.
There! Right ahead was the Gateway to Heaven, hypothetically, it was actually just to my freedom.
I grasped the rusty doorknob and slowly opened the door. Seeing the docks were deserted, I sprinted, running as fast as I could away from my prison.
"There he is! We got your back, Cowboy" Mush gave a reassuring pat on the back and Jack headed towards Spot.
The boys had agreed that their first course of action should be to ask Spot about Skeeter and why he abducted her. No harm in that, right?
As soon as Mush, Jack, and Race (still woozy from his fainting episode) crossed the bridge, they could tell they were being trailed by Spot's boidies. The boidies had increased the further they got into Spot's territory. First two, four, eventually six tiny boys were following them. They were on the roofs, shadows, alleys, always following, always watching. A good boidie can mean the difference between another borough attacking you and announcing guests. Spot, had the best boidies around.
Mush didn't like the boidies, he hated being watched. He kept glancing around, glaring at them until Jack finally told him to stop.
After thirty minutes, they had finally reached the main square, Spot's selling spot.
Jack wandered over to Spot, who was flirting with two high society girls trying to get them to buy his papes.
They were giggling stupidly and hiding behind their lace fans. One of those fans cost about as much as a years rent for the newsies.
"Well, if it ain't Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. What brings you to Brooklyn, Cowboy?" Spot finally acknowledged Jack after the girls had left, blowing kisses at the King.
"It's a beautiful day, Spot." Jack murmured, looking anywhere but Spot's piercing blue eyes. Spot had a way of looking at someone like he were looking through their soul.
"That it is Cowboy. Now stop messing around. What the heck are you doing in my territory? Did you…lose something?" he smirked knowingly.
Jack sighed, "Actually Spot, I did. A girl about yay high. She's one of my newsies. She's family, Spot. Why'd you take 'er and can I have her back?"
Spot laughed and started walking down the street. Jack, though much bigger than the lanky boy, had to jog to keep up.
"I can't tell youse Cowboy, but I need 'er"
"Why, Spot!"
Spot stopped suddenly and Jack nearly fell down, trying not to run into him.
"Not many boroughs have goil newsies, Cowboy. In fact, youse is the only one. Goils is considered weak. Poisonally, I agree, but there's always a handful of goils that prove useful. Very useful."
He trailed off and continued walking down the streets. Vendors would eye him cautiously and small boys would look at him in awe. This was the King's territory, he owned it and everything and everyone in it.
"I'll make you a deal, Cowboy. Now Ise bein' fairly generous here. I'll let you and yer friends visit 'er, but then I get to keep her, no questions asked, for a month. She's mine. And if she runs away, it's yer word of honor, I'll blacken yer name so no borough will have anything ta do wit youse. Understood?"
"I-I- what?."
Spot rolled his eyes, "I promise on my woid of honor I won't hoit 'er or nuttin"
"I can't Spot! What will I tell my boys! She's like me sister, I can't leave 'er wid youse, you have a reputation Spot. She doesn't. I'd like to keep it that way."
"I already told youse I won't touch 'er! I have 'er now, Cowboy. Either way, I have her. You can see her and get her back soon or you can play hero and I'll still have her!" he said softly, dangerously.
Jack looked helplessly at the sky and wondered what his life would be like once he reached Santa Fe. If he ever did.
"Fine, Spot. But if I heah youse hoit her, I will personally tear every limb from yer body meself"
Spot laughed
"I'd like to see you try Cowboy, but do we have a deal?"
Jack pondered about it for a minute.
"deal"
They spit into each others hands and Jack waited for Spot to make the next move.
Hearing running footsteps, Spot turned around just in time to see Scratch dive behind some apple crates.
Scratch's Point of View
Shoot! Did he see me?
"Heyo Scratch! Get ova heah!"
Yep, he did. Well, goodbye cruel world! It's been nice while it lasted!
I stood up nervously and brushed the never ending dirt off my pants.
I saw two of Manhattan's newsies coming up behind Cowboy and Spot and Jack turned around and began chatting with them.
The short Italian one kept glancing my way, givin' me the evil eye.
He was probably the one I soaked last night.
I plastered a large, cheesy grin on my face and walked over to Spot. I tried to calm down my heartbeat, some of the older newsies say he can smell your fear, like a werewolf or some otha horror story we tell to scare the little kids.
"Spot, can I talk wit youse in private?"
He squinted his eyes at me and grabbed my arm, twisting it close to the point of breakage.
"Shoah, pal. Jacky boy wait ova dere, I gots sometink to settle wit my boy"
He shoved my into the alley, placing his arm at my throat he quietly asked me,
"Weren't youse supposed to be watchin our little prisoner?"
"I-" I gasped, struggling for air.
"And isn't she supposed to be guarded? At all times? Cause that's what I told you, you must have disobeyed. I don't like people disobeying me, Scratch. Cause then I get angry, do you know what happens when I get angry?"
General Point of View
Scratch stammered out something between a squeak and a yelp,
"That's just the thing, boss! I went to get 'er some lunch and when I get back"
he gulped, his oxygen was running out fast.
"She was-um... shewasgoneandidon'tknowwheresheis!"
Cocking his head, Spot pulled out his can and held onto it threateningly,
"What?"
Now shaking with fear, Scratch closed his eyes and tried to imagine a happy place,
"She was gone, and I don't know where she is!"
Spot closed his eyes and grimaced. He released the choking boy. Scratch fell to the ground, inhaling sweet air, tinged of course, with the putrid smell of horse doo, smoke, and sweat.
"Get the boidies. The best one, and get Shadow too. You find her and you find her befoah dark. Guard the bridge and all entrances to 'Hattan. I'll deal wit youse later"
Walking off, Scratch breathed a sigh of relief. He was safe, for now.
"Cowboy! Change a plans. Get outta my territory. You'll see 'er later in two days. Got it?"
Jack, Mush, and Race stared at the King, their eyes wide with confusion.
"Go or I'll soak youse lousy bums!"
Mush and Jack nodded and started to head out, knowing that the King was in a lethal mood. Race, however, stood his ground.
"I want to see her. Now."
"Get outta heah Race"
"I want to see her!"
Spot glared at Mush and Jack and they grabbed Race and started towards the bridge. Spot watched them until they were out of sight. With an angry sigh, he walked towards The Leaky Ship to get some drinks to calm him down before he killed someone.
"Youse a coward! Why'd you leave 'er!"
Mush and Jack were dragging the kicking and screaming Race down the bridge, collecting many odd stares from passerbys.
"Race! Stop it!"
He continued screaming like a demented banshee and kicking like a wounded goat.
Jack slapped Race.
"Listen, Race, listen to me!"
Race reluctantly looked up at Jack.
"You don't know Spot, not in that mood anyway, he's dangerous. I don't know what his newsie told him, but it wasn't good. If we made him madder, well, I just don't want him to take it out on Skeeter. I was doing it fer her."
Race nodded, still peeved that they had to leave her, but she was safer, hopefully.
"And I ain't no coward" Jack mumbled.
The trio then marched, with heavy hearts, back to Manhattan with the sun quickly setting behind them.
There you go! Hope you liked it! Reviews, comments, suggestions, and witty humor is welcomed.
What would you like to see?
1) Why does Spot want with Skeeter?
2) Characters you want to appear (from the movie or made up)
3) Skeeter's real name
4) What should happen?
If your ideas are good enough, I will welcome them into A Time to Choose. Happy Writings and stay tuned!