Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of its characters, they belong to Disney. DT owns Floaty. I own Emily, Bandit, Torch, Gunslinger, Mouse, Warrior, River, Red, Badger, Lori, Matt and Bridges.
(A/N: Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for the great reviews! The trailer for "Harlem To Delancey" is now up on youtube. You can find the link on my profile page under the Fanfiction Trailers section. Special thanks to Leah61909 who helped me with this chapter. Thanks Leah, this chapter is dedicated to you! :-))
Vixen sighed when the footsteps, voices, and all noise from the lodging house above her ceased. She was angry, hurt, and afraid. Vampire threw me away like yesterday's garbage, all for some girl who barely noticed him. She sniffled and wiped her nose on the shoulder of her shirt; her wrists and ankles were both bound to keep her from escaping. She shut her eyes and leaned against the pillow Mush had brought in her for a few hours earlier. She swallowed and thought about the night's events that changed her life forever.
4 Hours Earlier….
"I don't know why ya like Vampire, all he does is use ya and hurt ya," Mush said as he led Vixen down the basement stairs. He held her wrists in one hand, a coil of rope hung around his shoulder, and although he acted calm Vixen knew he was angry. Angry with her and Vampire for starting this newsie war, hurting newsies in all boroughs allied with Brooklyn, and kidnapping Racetrack. It was a messy situation, and Vixen was quickly wishing she could turn back time and leave Harlem before all other boroughs – even the ones allied with Vampire – turned their backs to her.
"Vampiah loves me," she snarled. "He'll see dat when he realizes da Delancey's sister is a bimbo!" I wish I could believe me own words…But I have ta….Vampire….He wouldn't just leave me here. Would he?
"She ain't a bimbo," Mush exclaimed.
"You standin' up for a Delancey? Ain't dat against some kind of Newsie-Delancey code?"
Mush tensed, "Dere ain't a code….And she ain't like them." He stopped in the corner of the basement and released her wrists. "Don't do anythin' stupid."
"Or what? You'll hit me?"
Mush's shoulders tensed, "I won't hit ya, but I will knock ya down." He uncoiled the rope and swallowed. He was obviously uncomfortable with tying a person up. But after a moment's pause he took a small pocket knife out of his trouser's pocket.
"I didn't know ya carry a knife," Vixen raised an eyebrow in surprise. If any Manhattan newsie carried a blade, she expected it to be Skittery. He was pessimistic and expected trouble around every corner. I'm surprised dey didn't name him 'Paranoid'.
"Yeah, but I only use it for cuttin' rope, bandages, and some other things….I'd never harm people wid it," he looked up at her. Vixen swallowed, she understood what he was saying all too well. When she had helped Bridges and Bandit kidnap Racetrack, she swung a pocket knife in front of the Manhattan newsie's face. A pang of guilt seemed to stab her in the heart; the poor kid had been terrified, but none the less he fought and struggled. He coulda had a chance if I….No! I'm a Harlem newsie! I support Vampire; dat means I don't have time to feel guilty for spineless cowards.
Mush paused, "Where's yer knife?"
"I don't got it on me."
"I don't believe ya, either ya give it to me or I ask one of da newsgirls to come down and get it. Da last person ya want down here is Floaty."
Vixen rolled her eyes, "Dat little pest? She won't do nothin' to me other dan spurt some fancy-spancy grammar and try to scare me."
Mush suddenly smirked, "Obviously ya haven't seen her much since da strike."
"Why would I want to visit a person I hate?" When he reached her arm, she pulled away from his grasp and edged towards the wall. "Mush, listen to me….Why don't ya and I….Get to know one another? Face it, I need a friend and ya look…starved for some female companionship….I can give dat to you if ya turn your back afterwards." She stepped closer to him and slowly raised her lips to his. Vixen was almost kissing the muscular newsboy when his hand clamped around her wrist and he spun her around so she faced the wall.
"I don't like it when women sell deys bodies, Vixen. It ain't right," Mush said with disgust in his voice. "And I don't like bein' treated like some mindless thing. Now where is da knife?"
"I'll scream, I'll tell them that you hurt me!" She drew in a breath to scream and paused when she Mush didn't budge or say a word. She gave a small smile, Maybe he's thinkin' of what I'm saying, bein' smart for once. If he hurts me, he'll regret it. Then, she heard footsteps descending the basement stairs. She craned her neck to the side, but all she could see was the wall and the dim light from the oil lantern hanging on the wall.
"Everythin' alright down here?" Floaty questioned from halfway down the staircase.
"I'm tryin' to find Vixen's knife," Mush replied, "I don't…."
"When she posed as Chancy, she always disguised it as a hair barrette."
Vixen drew in a breath. Floaty had known that? How? Her confidence flew away like a leaf floating from a tree on a breezy fall day. Mush took off her cap and began searching her hair, until he found her knife.
"Ya just can't help yerself, can you, Floaty? Ya have to come to a coward's rescue!"
"Don't talk ta her like dat! In case ya haven't noticed, she an' Spot are da closest thing to royalty we newsies have!" Mush's whisper was laced with anger. Vixen shrugged and Mush turned her around and grabbed her wrists.
"Let me help ya," Floaty offered.
Vixen watched as Mush looked over his shoulder at Floaty, "Nah, Floats, its fine. Ya should go back upstairs now."
"Oh yes, do run back upstairs!" Vixen chuckled, "Maybe you'll fall in finish da job Oscar started!" The cold look on the so-called newsie queen's face made Vixen chuckle even more. Why Conlon had chosen a weak thing like that to be his queen, she'd never know. He coulda done much better wid Chancy….if she were real.
"I feel so sorry for ya, Vixen." Floaty said softly as Mush shoved the Harlem newsie into the wall so there was no escape.
"Oh? Why is dat?" Vixen snorted, "If anythin' I should feel sorry for ya. What Vampire has in store for you…." She winced when Mush began winding and tying the rope around her wrists. "Hey! Ow!"
"Yeah, well, ya deserve it," he whispered.
"I feel sorry for ya, Vixen, because what goes around comes around….I just hope whatever happens to ya ain't too bad."
Vixen was shocked into silence, she had forgotten the old rule her mother had taught her so many years ago: The deeds you do will always come back to you. Determined to keep 'the newsie queen' in her place, Vixen raised her head. "So where'd ya get the phony accent?"
Mush paused from finishing knotting the rope, he glared at her.
"It's fine, Mush," Floaty said softly and put a hand onto his shoulder. "Let me help ya."
"Nah, it's fine. Ya go back upstairs, if Spot don't see ya up dere soon, he's gonna be worried sick."
"You both are bein' so sweet! Keep dis up and my teeth will rot!" Vixen snickered when Mush glared at her yet again, and Floaty rolled her eyes. She watched the other girl climb up the stairs and for a fraction of a second she thought about saying 'I'm sorry.' Now was no time to be making enemies, not if she wanted to escape. I'd rather rot away in some sewer drain than apologize to her! When the door shut, Mush knelt down and began to tie her ankles. She noticed he was wary; his gaze darted from her feet back to her bound wrists. Obviously he expected her to attack him. For a long moment, she thought about it but missed her chance when he finished tying the knot.
The basement became silent enough that Vixen was able to hear a few newsies conversations. It was one conversation that caught her attention; she recognized the voices as Warrior and Gunslinger.
"I just don't understand why she stays wid that bum," Gunslinger said. "It's obvious he was usin' her da entire time. He never loved her. Durin' newsie meetin's, especially the rally, all he ever did was make fun of her. 'She things she tough, but she's nothin' more than a pretty face and nice body,' he treated her….Like an object."
"Well, dat's Vampire for ya. He uses girls and den leaves him. Da only girl who ever caught his fancy, and his heart, from what I hear was da Delancey's little sister," Warrior replied.
"Shhh!" Gunslinger hissed, "Deys heading over dis way."
Vixen felt as if her heart would split into two. She swallowed and tried to blink back the tears that were blurring her vision. She sniffled; she had suspected that he had been using her….And in a way she didn't mind, as long as he always came back to her. But knowing that….That she was nothing more than his bed fellow….A dispensable bed fellow….She felt as if Vampire had just ripped her heart out.
"Hey, ya alright?" Mush turned her away, "Is dis a trick?"
Vixen ignored his question; she took a few deep breaths. She didn't want to cry in front of him or any other newsie. "I….I….Can tell you who the spy is."
That caught Mush's attention. His eyes brightened and he leaned forward slightly, as if to hear her better. Vixen glanced up at him, Obviously da leaders told some of deys newsies about da spy.
"Warrior….Warrior is yer spy. He claims to be da new leader of Queens, he ain't. Red's da new leader of Queens….She got her nickname because she keeps the Queen of Hearts card tucked in da brim of her hat." Swallowing, Vixen continued. "Warrior's real name is Stretch, cause he's so tall."
"Ya sure about dis?" Mush paused, "Why are ya even tellin' me somethin' dat will harm Harlem? Unless yer trying to….."
"I ain't tryin' nothin'!" Vixen snapped. "I'm tellin' ya….Because…"
Mush glanced towards the door, "Because ya heard Gunslinger….And now ya know what Vampire truly thinks of ya."
Vixen nodded. Mush stayed with her for a long and silent moment. "Look," he finally exclaimed, "I'll be back wid a pillow for ya in a little while, and a blanket."
Vixen shrugged and turned away from Mush as he ran up the stairs. She hopped towards the corner of the basement, and with a small struggle she began sitting down and fell the rest of the way…..And she stayed in that same place for four hours. Crying, sniffling, and muttering threats of ripping Vampire's heart out through his bum. Finally, she pulled the blanket Mush had given her up to her chin and cuddled her head against the pillow. Suddenly, she couldn't wait for this newsie war to end.
"You know, Emily, you shouldn't take a year's break….You should go right into college." Her older sister, Lori, exclaimed from the driver's seat.
"Aw c'mon, sis! I don't want to talk about this again," Emily groaned. "I've been in school for as long as I can remember….I want a year to myself!"
Lori shook her head, "I'm telling you, Em….That's a bad idea. If I hadn't enrolled in college before I graduated and started that summer semester…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know…." Emily groaned; she was so sick of hearing her sister's speeches. "You wouldn't have met your future husband, gotten your dream job, and wouldn't be about to have a child."
"Exactly." Her sister nodded, "Please, Em, you need to think about this…."
"I don't want too."
"You have too. You're a smart young lady, and you're going to help this world. That's why Grandmom gave you her locket, remember? She told you, 'Remember who you are' and to make something of yourself…."
"Yeah, and then she said 'find my brothers'."
"Well, you love history," Lori shrugged, "She figured if anyone could find them, it would be you. But I agree with Grandmom, Em, you need to remember who you are and never forget it."
"How or why could I forget who I am?" She glanced at her older sister, surprised that she would mention that.
"I don't know….Forget it…" Lori eyed Emily's locket, "Just….Be careful when you wear that…."
Emily's eyes flew open when something soft brushed her cheek. The dream ended so quickly and she wished it hadn't. She had been back in her own time with her sister….And the memories she had been losing returned to her. As she blinked to clear her vision, she realized her grandmother's locket had conveying her grandmother's memories to her, which had almost cancelled out her own. Thank you, Lori!
"Hey dere…" A tall boy with a raspy voice greeted.
Horror caused her to freeze as she recalled what happened. She had been with Oscar and Morris when someone grabbed Morris's watch….Then, when Oscar left someone came up from behind and grabbed her. She had fought to the point her kidnapper hit her over the head and knocked her unconscious. Now, she was lying on a lumpy mattress, she tried to bat this boy's hand away from her but her but wrists were bound and tied to the headboard.
"Hey, hey, calm down," the boy said softly and stroked her bangs out of her eyes. "C'mon, Emily, don't ya recognize me?"
Emily glanced up at the boy. He looked a lot like Spot Conlon, only his hair was darker, there was a mustache forming on his upper lip, and there seemed to be an aura of hate around him. She cringed away when his hand reached for her, drawing it back, he frowned. He looks familiar….For a moment she focused on the memories the locket had given her, and the boy's face flashed in the back of her mind with the word 'Harlem'.
"I….I don't remember much of anyone, sorry," she tried to wiggle out of the ropes, but all she succeeded in doing was getting rope burn and making the boy cross his arms.
"So da rumor is true, yer back, but yer memories ain't." He looked annoyed, almost hurt. Then he smiled and looked as if he was trying to convince himself everything was fine. "Dat's okay, cause the longer you're wid me, the more ya will remember. Me name's Vampire Conlon, I'm Spot's little brudda. We met two and a half years ago, I fell in love with ya, and I think you loved me too. But before I got da chance to tell ya….You vanished. I know me brudda had something to do with dat…"
"It was an accident….I got scared by something and fell off da bridge."
"Dat's impossible, there's a railing….Wait did someone chase ya up dere?"
When she stared at him for a long moment, he drew his own conclusion. "Deys did, so they were tryin' take me girl….Well, dat doesn't surprise me. Newsies around here hate Harlem, for da reason dat I'm strong, stronger dan me brother 'The Newsie King'." He snorted, "I'm da King of the Newsies, not him. And yer me queen…."
"Could you please untie me?" Emily bit her lower lip and prayed this boy, Vampire, wouldn't (and hadn't) hurt her. She heard about stories in 2010 how women were abducted and….No….If he had done that to her, he'd want her dead; he wouldn't want her as 'his queen.'
"Sorry," Vampire gave a smirk and he looked anything but remorseful. "Bridges said ya fought him tooth and nail, in fact I think ya knocked one of his teeth out," he snickered and his face became serious. "Now, Emily, I don't want to have to hurt you. You will stay here wid me, understand? If at any time ya try to hit me, me newsies, or ya try to escape, I will do far worse den tie you to some uncomfortable bed." He stared at her until she nodded. He untied her wrists and helped her to sit up. "First things first, we need to get ya outta those clothes. Yer not goin' to be a Delancey much longer, so dere's no need for ya to dress like one." He glanced over his shoulder at the closed door, "Bandit! Bring da clothin'!"
Emily's heart pounded as Vampire stood. He's insane! I'm trapped in 1900 with a crazy man! She glanced towards the window; no matter what happened, she would try to escape. But she would wait a few days and gain Vampire's confidence. When he was comfortable she wouldn't try to run and let his guard down, she'd escape. Emily's gaze darted to the door when a shorter boy with dark hair walked in; he glanced at her.
"Glad to see ya awake…Miss…." He dropped a bundle of clothing at the foot of the bed, along with a hairbrush, barrette, and pearl bracelet.
Emily carefully picked up the bracelet….From everything I've read in history class, and from what I've seen, newsies don't have money for pearls.
"Ya like dat, Em? It was me mother's, I got it before me brudda could. It's yours now," he gently pulled it from her hand, unclasped it, and put it around her wrist. "It shows your me girl, da future Queen of New York, and me undyin' love for ya."
Emily swallowed, if she wasn't afraid before, she was terrified now. Taking a deep breath, she remembered what her older brother, Matt, had once told her. If you ever find yourself around someone whose dangerous, play their game for as long as you can to survive….Then, when they're not looking, run like hell. Giving a shaky smile, she took her brother's advice and played along, hoping it wouldn't get he killed in the end. "It's beautiful….So….So is the symbolism behind it….I….Love it."
Vampire stared at her for a long minute and Emily was terrified that he was catching on. Oh God, he's going to kill me! Instead, he smiled and pulled her into a small hug.
"We'll take things slow," he whispered, "So ya can get back yer memories, but in a few days I fully expect to be kissin' ya again." Standing he walked towards the doorway with Bandit. He turned towards her, "Stay here and rest. Dere's a….Newsie right outside if ya need anythin', awright?"
She nodded, "Where are you goin'?"
Vampire smiled, "To make life better for us." When he shut the door and she heard his footsteps receding down the hallway, Emily darted off the bed and froze in front of the window; he had nailed it shut.
I have no choice, I have to play along. "Um…." She started, "Whoever is out there…"
"Da names Torch," a boy replied from the other side of the door. "Need somethin'?"
"Um….Just for you not to open the door for a little bit, I'm changin' my clothes."
"Don't worry, da door won't open unless ya need to use da bathroom."
Gee, that's reassuring. Vampire trusts me so much, doesn't he? I'm nothing more than a prisoner. I'll find my way out. Emily undressed and hid Oscar and Morris's old clothing under her mattress. She would have to find a better hiding place for it later. She quickly dressed into the white blouse, sandy brown trousers, pink suspenders, and a dark brown vest. She brushed her hair and used the barrette to pin her hair back into a ponytail. She glanced down at her grandmother's locket and opened it; the old photographs of Oscar and Morris caused tears to brim in her eyes. Grandmom loved her brothers so much…..And so do I….And I don't think that's the work of the locket either. Maybe it's genetics, or maybe even magic.
She snapped the pendant shut when the door opened a crack, Torch glanced in at her. He appeared to be around Vampire's height, though it was hard to tell since he was sitting in a chair. His hair was dark brown and his eyes appeared to be silver. To her surprise, he looked a lot like Blink.
He suddenly smiled, to her surprise it was a kind and warm smile. "Me name's Torch, like I said." He whispered, "I work for Spot, I'm one of his spies, but ya can't tell no one. I'm Blink's older brudda. When da others are rescued, I'll make sure ya are too."
"The others?"
He gave a small nod, "Vampire kidnapped newsies from Brooklyn, Harlem, Queens, and Midtown. I'm surprised yer brudda's haven't broken into our lodgin' house yet." He glanced towards the hallway and shut the door. Emily's breath caught in her throat. Please tell me you weren't caught!
"Were ya talkin' to her?" Bandit questioned.
Emily leaned forward and heard Torch's response, "She was whinin' about bein' hungry."
"Yeah, well, she can wait for a little while. Vampire and a few others are gettin' da Queen's room ready."
Torch snorted, "Floaty is no queen. Let me know when ya all have caught her, I wanna see da look on her face when she realizes she's gonna be Spot's undoin'."
Bandit laughed, "Will do."
Emily's heart plummeted into her stomach; she felt bad for this Floaty person. She wished she could warn Blink somehow. Torch is his brother! But…He knows more than I know, and he must have some way to relay messages to the other newsies. I hope….
Racetrack Higgins had never been so uncomfortable in his life; even the jail cell the bulls had thrown him into during the strike had been more comfortable than this. His wrists and ankles were tied to a stake in the ground and Bandit had shoved a rag in his mouth to keep him silent. Except for a few shiners, and one or two scrapes, he was alright. Glancing around the room he recognized Mouse's sister, River; Red, a newsie from Queens; Badger, from the Bronx; and to his surprise, Spot's second in command, Sport. He winced at seeing his friend; his left eye was swollen shut, his arms were almost entirely black and blue, and his bottom lip was split.
"Damn, Sport, I'm sorry," Race frowned.
"Ain't yer fault, Race. You doin' okay?"
"Yeah, how bout da others?"
Sport winced and wiggled around the stake his ropes were tied around. Finally, he faced Racetrack, "Deys haven't woken up yet. I've been awake for a few hours."
Race nodded, "Just woke up meself." He glanced up at the ceiling and heard the Harlem newsies walking around, talking, and laughing.
"It's bad, Race, real bad. Deys goin' after Floaty next, and from what Bandit was sayin', deys already got da Delancey's sister."
"Deys got Emily?" Racetrack's eyes widened, "And deys alive to tell da tale?"
"So far."
"Damn," he whispered and glanced at the other newsies. "Dis goes against every unwritten rule in da newsies code."
"I know," Sport shrugged and winced, "But….Vampire is insane. He don't care what is against da rules or not."
"Spot took Floats – "
"Don't say where," Sport snapped, "Deys got a guard right outside, and if he heard dat, Vampire will be down here any second. Bridges, Grifter, and a few others turned da entire Brooklyn Lodgin' House upside down tryin' to find her, but couldn't."
"Good," Race replied. He hated being trapped here, being forced to fear for his and his friends' well being. If Vampire caught Floaty….Race didn't even want to think about it. Vampire hated Spot and hated anything and anyone who made Brooklyn happy. He had little doubt the Harlem leader would soak Floaty and maybe even kill her. Let's just hope he doesn't kill us or give us to dat steel mill….
"Wanna make a bet?" Race smirked, he needed to focus on something else.
"Ya want to make bets….At a time like dis?" Sport stared at him in disbelief.
"Yeah," Race smirked, "Two bits says dey won't find Floaty."
Sport chuckled and smirked, "Awright, I got a counter bet."
"Oh?"
"Two bits says da newsies and Delanceys are workin' together to save us and deys sister."
"Dat….Wouldn't happen." Race snorted.
"C'mon, Race ole buddy, I thought ya were a gamblin' man!"
"Awright, fine. If da Delanceys are workin' with da others, I owe ya two bits. If Harlem doesn't find Floaty, ya owe met two bits." Race smirked.
"And if both things come true, we keep our money," Sport chuckled.