Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of its characters, they belong to Disney.

(A/N: Hi everyone, thank you so much for the awesome reviews and for your author and story alerts. :-) Also, I'm showing more of Vampire's dark side in this chapter. Let's just say Vampire's elevator doesn't go all the way to the top.)

"The world's so big, it can break your heart
And you just want to help, not sure where to start
So you close your eyes
And send up a prayer into the dark…"

-Carrie Underwood, Change-

Kid Blink squared his jaw; he had no problem gathering bottles to create the controlled fire in, but to be partnered with Morris Delancey…that he minded. Opening up a trash can outside of Tibby's, Blink flashed back to the days he had garbage dived for food when he was 8 years old, only a few months after his parents had passed. 9 years ago, he had been going through this can looking for food when Jack Kelly – only two years older than Blink – had walked in the alley asking him 'whatcha doin'?' Blink had retorted he was looking for food, Jack had told him, 'come inta Tibby's wid me, I'll pay for yer food. Den ya can pay me back aftah ya sell a few papes.' That had been the day Kid Blink became a newsie.

"I ain't goin' through dat can," Morris sneered in disgust as Blink prepared to rummage through it.

Blink looked over at the eldest Delancey, "Ya want yer sister back, don'cha? If ya don' then walk away but if ya do start lookin' for bottles!" Blink snapped, when Spot had partnered Morris with him, Blink suddenly understood how an erupting volcano felt. Angry, shaken to the core, and willing to do anything and everything to get whatever was pissing it off out of the way. Unfortunately, he didn't puke lava; if he could, Morris would be nothing more than an extra crispy memory. It was taking him all his patience not to lunge forward and slug the Delancey brother; instead he took a deep breath as Floaty had coached him before he left the lodging house.

"Either ya help me," Blink exclaimed in a trembling voice, "Or I'se walk away and ya gotta get Emily outta Harlem yerself!" He slammed the lid back onto the can and walked towards the alley's exit.

"Fine! Fine!" Morris snapped and overturned the can, "Dis is how ya look, newsie!" He sneered, "Ya don' put yer hands in one of dese things!" He began kicking the mound of garbage around with his foot until he found a glass bottle; he lifted it and threw it to Blink.

"My way is more considerate," Blink retorted, "Now some waiter is gonna hafta clean dat up!"

"Yeah, so? Dat's deys job," Morris snorted, "I'm heah to help me sister, not worry about whose gonna get deys hands dirty." He moved onto the next garbage can and before he could overturn it, Morris let it fall to the ground and jumped back when a loud yowling echoed from inside the can. Blink bit the side of his cheek in an attempt to keep a straight face but doubled over with laughter when the trash can lid came flying off and orange yowling and hissing cat ran out of the alleyway. Morris's arms had waved around his face when the cat lunged out of the can, he had jumped back a few feet and did a strange little dance…perhaps a rain dance to scare alley cats away?

"Quit yer laughin'!" Morris slammed his fist into his open palm, "Or I'll soak ya!"

"Befoah ya soak me," Blink laughed and wiped a tear from his eye, "Lemme go get dat cat back!"

In reply, Morris picked up the garbage can, overturned it and began kicking through it again. For a moment, Blink thought the older Delancey was going to back down, though uncharacteristic of the Delancey brother, it was possible. A minute later a glass jar sailed towards his head. Blink dodged it in time and watched as the bottle landed on the cobblestone street with a loud crack. Cursing, he hoped the jar hadn't broken; he picked it up and found it only to be cracked near the top.

"What da hell?" Morris asked from behind him.

"What?" Blink turned and watched as Morris held up a long silver chain, dangling from it was an oval pendant. "What's dat?"

"A Miraculous Medal," Morris replied, sounding upset. "Someone threw da Virgin Mary away," he snarled in disgust. "Shows ya how much deys give a damn for da woman who gave birth ta da Earth's sav-" he stopped at seeing Blink's stunned expression. Morris glanced away and shoved the medal into his pocket.

"I didn't know ya and Oscar are Catholic," Blink exclaimed. He knew Oscar wore a golden cross with a small red gem in middle of it, though whether that had been faith or decoration he hadn't been sure until that moment.

"Yeah we'se Catholic!" He snapped, "What of it?"

Blink shrugged, "Nothin'. Sheesh ya don't gotta snap at me for statin' a fact!"

Morris glared at him, "Yeah well, stop statin' da obvious." He threw another bottle at Blink. "Ya get da last can!" He leaned against the brick wall and crossed his arms.

Blink glared at him and set down the bottle and jar. Instead of overturning the garbage can, he began searching through it and heard Morris mutter something about him being a goody two shoes newsie. Gritting his teeth, he ignored Morris and thought about Racetrack, Emily, Sport, and Red. He was terrified Racetrack was dead; he couldn't see Vampire keeping any captured newsie – other than Emily – alive. After a long minute of searching, he pulled a glass bottle and chipped jar out of the can.

"I think we found all we'se gonna find heah," Blink exclaimed and gathered up the jars.

"Deys one more place I'll look. Ya get back to da royal highn-ass. And if ya tell me not ta wandah off ya remember somethin': I ain't a newsie, I'se a Delancey."

"Yeah," Blink snorted, "And Vampire kidnapped a Delancey." He winced and realized he had gone below the belt at that comment. Morris tensed and balled his fingers into fists.

"Yeah," Morris exclaimed, his voice suddenly raspy, "He took da only one of us whose innocent and worth somethin'."

Oscar couldn't believe Spot had paired himself with him! What the hell the most feared newsboy leader wanted to be around him for was over his head. They had been walking around Brooklyn empty handed for the past hour and he was beginning to wonder if Spot had any interest at all in saving his newsies. Finally, he stopped and led Oscar down a long street filled with old broken down apartments and one or two houses that looked like they were holding their breath and wishing their owners to return.

"What da hell are we'se doin' heah? Ya walked around to down…" Oscar paused and looked for a street lamp with the street marker on it, "Rhode Island Street?"

Spot glanced over his shoulder with a sneer but didn't say anything. Instead, he looked ahead, "Dat's what we're heah for."

Oscar looked up to see an elderly African American milkman gathering up old empty milk bottles and carefully placing them in the back of his cart. They here for a milk man? He stared at Spot, wondering if the Brooklyn newsboy leader had finally lost his marbles. The short newsboy walked past Oscar and smiled.

"Heya Joshua!"

The milk man turned and smiled, "Spot Conlon, where's that pretty girl of yers?"

"Back at home wid our daughtah," Spot beamed and stuck out his chest.

"So ya finally got one of yer own?" Joshua chuckled at the proud father. "What can I do for ya today?"

Spot's pride deflated, "We need yer empty bottles and a lot of dem."

Joshua stopped and stared at Spot. The grave expression on his face spoke louder than words. Oscar glanced between the man and boy for a moment wondering if either were going to speak or move or if they'd be standing there all afternoon. If the staring match took any longer, Oscar would walk off and steal glass jars and bottles if he had too.

"So it is true? There is a newsie war and there have been kidnappings," Joshua frowned. "Damn, I was afraid of that. My cousin's a newsie over in Brownsville; tell me da war ain't there too."

"It's at each borough, Brownsville is one of da few on Harlem's side." Spot crossed his arms, "I've been workin' hard to keep me newsies outta dere, I don't want yer cousin hurt. But if he hurts me friends or comes aftah me…."

Joshua nodded, "I understand," he held up a hand, "Spot I gotta refill these bottles and deliver them again in a few days….I can't give up any."

"Not even da ones ya just took up? Dat family's on vacation," Spot smirked, "Deys won't be back for two weeks. Youse will have yer bottles back den, maybe even a few more."

"Yer askin' me to put my job on the line. I have a grandchild to support."

"I know," Spot replied, "I wouldn' be askin' ya if I'se thought me friends lives were safe. Harlem's leadah ain't known for his good tempahment." He waited, "I'se was hopin' not to hafta say dis, but Joshua, Vampire kidnapped an innocent goil." He motioned for Oscar to step forward, "Oscah Delancey's sistah, Emily. She ain't like dis moron."

"Watch it ya lousy little twerp!" Oscar snarled, "I'se ain't got any problem soakin' ya-"

Spot gave him an icy glare, "Da last time youse tried, as I remembah it, ya limped off and walked around on a crutch for almost a month aftahwards!"

"Dat was some daydream in youse head, Conlon."

Joshua stared at the two, "If he acts like that, what proof do ya have that Emily is any different?" He placed another bottle into the cart.

Oscar stepped forward before Spot could speak, "Me sista," Oscar exclaimed, "Would give ya da shirt off her back if she thought ya needed it more dan she did. Hell, she'd give youse some of her wages to help wid dat kid! Youse don't gotta believe me, but believe dis: Da Harlem leadah has plans for me sistah." Oscar paled and his stomach flipped at the very idea of what Vampire Conlon could be doing to his poor sister at that very moment, "For all I know," his voice softened, "He has heh tied down on some bed…an'…" he stopped, unable to go any further. The idea of his sister being abused like that….

"Here," Joshua grabbed eight bottles out of the card and handed them to Spot, "Two weeks." He looked at Oscar, "I hope your sister will be alright and I'm real sorry about what's goin on with her. But if ya ever come near my cart again," he pointed at his Clydesdale, "I'll have no problem letting Clyde run you over. Spot, you owe me two favors now."

"Both I'll repay," Spot nodded as he carefully handed Oscar four of the bottles.

Emily stared at her reflection in the mirror and she instantly disliked what she saw. Her grandmother had always told her, If you ever want to know what kind of person you are, look in the mirror and judge yourself through another's eyes…not just your looks but your actions. These past few days she had allowed herself to be a victim of the crazy Vampire Conlon; of course she was terrified for her life. But did that mean she couldn't be brave like her grandmother was? Did that mean she had to play her role and just survive and pray for help?

One who wants help needs to help themselves first her grandmother, the real Emily Delancey, had always taught her. Emily knew at that moment she had to help herself before she could depend on others; it was time to stop depending on Torch to keep her safe, time to stop hoping her great uncles would save her, and time to stop doubting her own survival skills. A spark she had never seen before lit her eyes like a fire and for a moment she saw a younger version of her grandmother staring at her. Emily's hand went over her locket, I can do this.

Taking a deep breath she turned towards the door and knocked on it. Torch's face appeared when the door cracked open.

"I want to see Vampire," she exclaimed in a strong tone of voice. Torch stared at her for a moment and looked ready to argue but the look on her face stopped him. He stood up and stared at her and for a moment Emily wondered why he staring at her as if he had never seen her before. Whatever the reason, she ignored it and went to sit down on the edge of the bed. She looked down at the pearl bracelet Vampire had given her, he wanted to make her his 'Queen' and if she wanted to help save the newsies then she needed to put her big girl pants on and play the role she had been given. Not just survive it.

Vampire walked into the room a minute later, "Emily, Torch said youse asked for me, youse okay?"

Emily forced herself to smile, Pretend he's Blink. This has gotta be real. It has to be. At least to him. "I'm fine, I missed ya, dat's all." She hoped her accent was convincing enough.

Vampire opened his mouth slightly and shut it and stared at her for a long minute. Emily's stomach clenched, oh crap…he knows I'm acting…

A smile suddenly crossed the Harlem leader's face, "Dere's me goil." He opened up his arms and Emily walked into them and wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes and pressed her lips against his in a soft kiss. When he tried to back away she placed a hand behind his head and pulled him back to her; she heard him chuckle and mutter 'dere's da goil I'se know…'

"So…." Emily smiled and hoped she was channeling her grandmother, "I am tired of being cooped up in dis room like a…I dunno, a doll or somethin'. I'm a Delancey I come from strong stock, I'se ain't gonna break. How 'bout you an' me work togedda on endin' Spot's reign."

Vampire raised an eyebrow, "Youse used ta like him….How do I'se know youse still don't have feelin's for him?"

"Ya kiddin' me," Emily snorted and did her best to look heartbroken (by thinking of her grandmother's passing). "When I came back, Blink told me ya waited for me…but Spot went off and married some bimbo twit named Floaty. I'se couldn' believe it at foist den I realized I'se was confused…back then…it was youse I wanted all along…not dat egotistic…nymph."

Vampire threw back his head and laughed, "Egotistic nymph! I love it and boy does dat describe me brudda." His eyes sparkled and he motioned to Torch, "Dis door only closes when Emily wants it shut, undahstand?"

"Yeah…" Torch nodded and stared at Emily for a long moment. He seemed confused. She gave him a strong and confident smile and leaned into Vampire. She would explain later about her 'sudden change of heart' and 'regained memories.'

"I'se glad ya remembah cause tonight's da night, Emily. Tonight's da night ya become queen."

"Oh? Will I have a crown?"

Vampire smirked, "Youse will have a key, dat's as closest to a crown youse will get."

"A key to the city I hope."

Vampire paused, "Youse know what else is gonna happen?"

"What?" Emily smiled.

"Tonight, Sport and Racetrack Higgins are gonna be goin' through some trials."

"Trials?" Emily's stomach twisted.

"Yeah, youse evah heard of da Salem Witch Trials?"

"Who hasn't?"

"Well, I'se declarin' dem two witches."

Emily felt like throwing up; she knew how those poor women and one man had died during the Salem Witch Trials. The women were thrown into a well or lake and held down to drown, if they woke up they were considered the Devil's wife or employee according to different versions. Other women were burned at the stake and the man had rocks of all sizes piled onto his chest until his rib cage gave in and he was crushed to death.

"You're goin' ta kill dem?" Emily asked, trying to keep her voice strong.

"Deys gonna be boined at da stake. Luckily, our lodgin' house is away from da city and someone will just t'ink we'se cookin' outdoors," Vampire smiled. "Tonight at ten o'clock little Racey and Sport are goin' to da wild blue yondah." He stood and offered Emily his hand, she took it, though inside she was disgusted, and forced herself to play along. Maybe, just maybe, she could kick Torch out of the lodging house and he could warn Spot. I knew Vampire was nuts but I didn't think he was completely off his rocker!

"Before ya do that…" Emily paused near the door and glared at Torch, "I need him ta do somethin' for me."

"Oh? What's dat?" Vampire asked.

Emily walked over to Torch, "Deliver dis to Spot for me." She raised her hand and slapped Torch with all her might, when he leaned forward, holding his cheek she whispered, "I'm sorry but you gotta save them. It's the only way I knew how to get you outta here."

Torch stared at her and gave a slight nod, "I'se goin' to delivah da message." He looked at Vampire, who gave an amused nod.

"Ya say a single thing an' I'se will soak youse!"

Floaty looked up as Morris entered the lodging house with Kid Blink; the eldest Delancey was surly as usual only this time he looked uncomfortable, not just angry. She paused from stuffing twigs, newspaper, and moss into one of the many jars newsies from Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Little Italy had brought her, Snipeshooter, Dandy, and Piper over the past few hours. Blink set down two bottles and three jars and Morris set down five bottles in front of them.

"What do we'se do now?" Blink paced and Floaty could tell he wanted to do more than look more glassware or shove anything burnable into the bottles and jars. Knowing Blink, she assumed he wanted to go into Harlem and get Racetrack, Sport, Red, and the other newsies back. That was what every newsie, including herself, wanted to do.

Floaty paused, "You can either help me or you can go into the next room with Jack, two of the other leaders, and a group of newsies. They're all planning their positions once their inside the lodging house." She glanced at Morris, his jaw was squared and she could see the worry and fear etched across his face. Even though she despised the Delancey brothers, part of her wanted to walk over and assure him his sister would be alright. But she couldn't promise that, no matter how badly she wanted too.

"Morris, Oscar and Spot will be back soon and you three will be the first going in from what I've been hearing. You should go in dere with Blink."

"Yeah…" he paused and stopped in front of her, "Listen, I'se don' like youse." He paused, "But youse been real nice ta me an' Oscah and got us good places ta sleep heah. Jack and Conlon wanted us ta sleep on da floor and youse found an extra bunk." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a necklace, before she could ask what it was he placed it into her hand. "If youse Catholic, youse know what it is. She'll keep youse safe while we'se gone tonight."

Floaty nodded, "Thank…you," she was completely stunned by the gesture of kindness and concern. She looked down at medal of Mary and decided to give it to Spot when he returned; he'd be needing it more than she would tonight. Those two qualities she would never have expected from a Delancey. She glanced up at the door every now and then, waiting for Spot to return. She knew she was supposed to be at some safe house with Katrina but she had put her foot down and told Spot she would be doing her part to get their friends back. No ands, if's, or buts about it.

"So youse friends wid a milk man," Oscar exclaimed as he walked in, Spot followed behind him, his arms filled with glass bottles. "Next thing I'se know youse gonna tell me youse crochet lace doilies! Who'd a thunk it? Spot Conlon da 'mighty' leadah of Brooklyn is a woman at heart!" He started to laugh until Spot's fist sailed into his stomach.

"Shut da hell up Oscah! Encase youse forgettin'," Spot snarled, "It's me newsies puttin' deys necks out to help get youse sister – anudda Delancey – outta trouble! Keep dis up and I'se will leave her behind!"

"Spot Conlon!" Floaty snapped.

Spot jumped, "Floats…"

"This is stressful on everyone!" Floaty glared at the two, "But dat doesn't mean it gives ya two the right to trade insults! If we're gonna get our friends outta Harlem it means ya both gotta live up to the truce or none of you will get out of there alive! And be damned, I am not losing my friends or my husband! Now straighten up and get along!"

The two boys stared at her for a moment and Floaty's face turned bright red. She had lost her temper with Spot before but not in front of a Delancey! Spot and Oscar put the bottles down in front of her and the group of younger newsies helping her. Before Spot could join Jack and the other leaders, the lodging house doors flew open and Torch ran in. He was panting and stammering.

"Torch?" Spot walked over, "What's goin' on?"

"Who da hell is dis?" Oscar asked, staring at the out-of-breath-newsboy.

"One of me little boids," Spot replied and looked at Blink's older brother.

"Race…Red…Sport…Deys gonna….deys gonna…be boined at da stake tonight."

"WHAT?" Everyone in the room shouted in horror.

"He's gone too far!" Spot shouted, "Jacky boy youse and da uddahs get out heah now! We'se goin'! Deys gonna kill our friends!"

"If he tries dat wid our sistah" Morris snarled as he walked quickly out of the room, "I'se will kill him!"

"He bettah not get a rope anywheah near Emily!" Oscar snarled.

"We have most of the jars ready," Floaty exclaimed, "But there's still…."

"Dis is gonna hafta be enough," Spot replied as he helped Floaty to her feet and pulled her into a long embrace. She handed him the medal of Mary and kissed him.

"Come home safely, Katrina and I need you. So does every other newsie in this city," she stared into her husband's eyes for a long moment. She tried to keep the thought, what if this is the last time I see him out of her mind and her vision became blurry as her eyes prickled.

"Don'cha cry," Spot exclaimed softly as the newsies began gathering the bottles and jars and walking out of the lodging house. "I'se will be back in a few hours…safe an' sound. I'se Brooklyn, remembah?" he smiled and kissed her cheek, "I'se love youse and Katrina so much."

"And we love you more than words can say."

Spot gently pulled out of her embrace and glanced back over his shoulder at her as he followed the newsies out. There was no more planning, no more preparation; all there was now was war. A newsie war and Floaty prayed Spot and her friends were the victors.