Chapter 9

Stolen Kiss

A/N Hey guys! So I've been working non stopon this chapter because I just want it to be perfect, and I think I accomplished that. Warrning! This chapter contains some pretty dark themes, so if you are sensitive to things like violence (especially major violence towards women) I would wait for the next chapter. I tried not to be graphic, so I guess it all depends on the reader. So I hope you like it (or try too at least) and review! The song title comes from Lord of the Dance, one of my favorite songs in the show, even though it is like a really happy song and this chapter…ehhh not so much. But thought the title was appropriate. So I do not own Newsies, but I do own Nuala, Aoife, Blade and Owl. Pretty much anyone you don't recognize. So yeah, onward with the chapter!

When Nuala awoke, the first thing she felt was cold. She was lying on the cold pavement of the street and her head was throbbing partially from the side effects of the alcohol, and partially from the would that had been inflicted on her. She slowly started to get up, shutting her eyes and clenching her jaw, hoping the pain would go away as she finally sat up.

"Well, if it isn't da liddle lady, finally awake." A voice taunted from behind her. Slowly using the alley wall for support, she stood up mustering the best glare she could before turning around and coming face to face with Blade.

"Well if it isn't the rat himself." Nuala responded not missing a beat. On the outside she was showing her hard exterior; Spot Conlon's sister who was not afraid of anything. But on the inside, she was shaking.

"Now, now Starlight I would watch my mouth if I was you'se. ya neva knows what tricks I'se have up my sleeve." Blade said taking out his signature switchblade from his pocket and examining it in his hands.

"Hey now Blade," A new voice said. "Let's not scare the poor girl too much right now. We'se still need her." Owl said emerging out of the shadows.

"Make that two rats." Nuala corrected herself from her earlier statement resulting her to stumble into the wall behind her, her head snapping to her left side and a stinging sensation on her left cheek. The slap had echoed through the hollow alley, but Nuala had managed to stiffen a cry of unsuspected pain, not wanting to give her captor the pleasure of hearing her cry out. A calloused had tightly grabbed her forearm and roughly pulled her up. Nuala was suddenly staring into the angry eyes of Blade.

"Now I won't have to use this if you'll be a good girl." He said indicating to his knife. With a shove he let go of her arm pushing her back into the wall where she slid down landing hard on the ground on her shoulder. Hissing from the pain, she grasped her right arm she scrambled onto her feet once again ignoring the dizziness in her head. Her eyes gazed past Blade. She saw Owl and another boy from Queens who created a barricade at the mouth of the alley creating no room for Nuala to escape. She cursed in her native tongue, panic beginning to build up in her chest.

"You can't hurt me." She bravely said. "Obviously you need me for something. You woulden't risk killing me."

"Yes, dat is true…but exceptions can be made." Blade sail as he began to circle around her.

"Now den Starlight." He began. "I have a couple questions for you'se, I'm shouar you'se will ave no problems answerin' em huh?" not receiving an answer he continued. "I'se want ta know who are Brooklyn's allies, and what you'ar brodder's plans of attack are." He had stopping behind her to whisper in her ear sending shivers down her spine.

"I don't know what my brother is planin, and even if I did, I wouldn't tell you!" she said sticking out her chin. Despite what Blade probably thought, she answered truthfully; she in fact did not know what Spot's plans were as a result of her not being in his council, and if she did, nothing would make her spill Brooklyn's plans and secrets.

Blade chuckled at der defiance. "Well I'se don't quite believe's you'se. So I'm gonna give you a choice, you'se can eitha willingly tell us, or I can make you'se tell us."

Once again not getting an answer, letting his temper and anger get the hold of him Blade snapped and shoved her into the alley wall causing her head to slam into the hard stone and drop to the ground. Her stomach ached as she felt his foot make contact with it.

"Now I'se is gonna make dis simple. You'se is gonna tell us everythin you'se know, or you'se is gonna watch your liddle boyfriend…what's his name…Ryder…die."

"Go. To. Hell." She spat out emphasizing each word more than the last.

It wasn't until she saw him smile maliciously that she for the first time felt scared for her life.

~*~ Back at the Brooklyn tavern ~*~

"We'se gotta do smomethin!" Ryder yelled pacing across the floor of the tavern that was cleared out for him.

"We'se will." Spot said putting a hand on his shoulder trying to calm his friend down.

10 minutes ago Spot wanted nothing more than to pound his face in for letting his drunk sister out of his sight, but he was smarter than that and knew he needed every man to help him look for her. Ryder's soaking can wait until after she is found.

"What do you want us to do Spot?" Jack asked

"Look foar her. Find her. Do anything you can ta bring her back home. Split up and search for her, and I'se don't wanna see anyone until she's found! Now move out!" Spot yelled. Instantly, all the newsies that were still at the tavern to leave and go look for the missing news girl. Spot leaned on the bar after downing a shot of whiskey rubbing the bridge of his nose with this thumb and index finger. Aoife came up from behind him and snaked her arms around his waist.

"Ná bíodh imní ort beidh orainn a fháil di." Don't worry, they'll find her.

"Tá súil agam go bhfuil tú ceart." I hope you're right.

~*~ Back in the alley~*~

Reddish and purple bruised were beginning to form all over Nuala's body, along with some cuts on her arms and face. Her blue shirt was now dirty, tattered, and blood stained and her black stockings received multiple holes in them especially on her knees which had scraped from falling on them after the first blow to her face. It had just escalated from there.

"Now," Blade said crouching down to her level on the ground pulling her up by the collar of her shirt. "Answa me questions." He said leaning in until their noses almost touched.

In one last act of bravery, Nuala pulled back and spit in his face.

Blade's eves narrowed as he once again grinned evilly and in one swift movement he sent a quick punch to her cheek, and two kicks to her ribs. She rolled onto her side clutching her stomach bringing her knees in.

"I do-don't know- a-anything." Nuala said in one last act of desperation, hoping maybe Blade would listen to her. She was starting to feel tired, and the pain was increasing with every punch and every kick. She didn't know how much longer she could take.

"The thing is Conlon, I's don't believe you'se. So now, You'se is gonna get it for lyin ta me."

And then she knew the worst of the worst was to come.

"N-no … stop!" Nuala struggled against him as Blade pinned her to the filth-ridden alley floor once again, feeling the sharp pain shoot through her wrist from where Blade had his grasp, while Owl cheering him on from the side. Tears threatened to fall down her cheeks, but she tried her hardest to keep her tough exterior. Blade leaned forward until his mouth was close to her ear and he whispered to her, his breath on her cheek. "We's is gonna have some fun now, Ms. Conlon ."

Nuala's eyes widened as she knew what was about to happen. Having a sudden a rush of adrenaline go through her, brought her foot up and kicked Blade as hard as she could between his legs. He cried out, scrambling off of her and sitting up upon his knees as he held is groin. As much as she regretted the decision, she proud and a bit powerful for getting at least one hit in, wondering if Spot would have been proud of her for it. However that moment was over as soon as it came for Blade became angrier than Nuala had seen him that night. He grabbed her wrists again, this time more painfully than the last, and pinned her to the ground, climbing on top of her his bent legs on either side of her traping her underneath him.

"You'll pay for that one." He sneered at her through clenched teeth, putting more pressure on her already bruised wrists.

"No…No…Please. Please don't do this, Blade." Nuala pleaded as she struggled against him. She had one thing left in this world, and she would be dammed if she let him take it from her.

"Oh, so now's you'se is begging, huh?" he laughed a little and shifted her wrists into one fist as he used the other to tangle through her hair, grabbing a fistful of her brown tresses as he pulled her neck back causing her to finally cry out. Be brought her face closer towards his, as he whisped in her hear, "Well now's I'se is gonna make you scream. Maybe now you'll learn to answa when I'se asks ya somethin'." He grinned and forced her face, up to his capturing her lips in a stolen kiss. She continued to struggle but he slammed her head against the ground, dazing her, he quickly took advantage of this and he rapidly went through the buttons on the front of her shirt and he pulled it off, leaving her in only her chemise.

Nuala tried to scream so he grabbed the handkerchief that was tied around her mouth earlier and repeated the gesture. Tears continued to pour down her face and her fearful screams became muffled by the rag as re roamed his hand down her waist, her stomach, her chest. Nuala began to give up. She could never fight him. She decided instead to fill her mind with memories of happier times with Spot and the other newsies. Often, her mind drifted to Ryder, and she found herself wishing she was safe in his arms, instead of helpless at the hands of her brother's arch enemy. Her brother. What would Spot do if he ever found her? Would he still want her as one of his newsies? And Ryder. Ryder would probably never want to associate with her anymore after he found she would not return to him the same as she was. They would shun her as a street whore and turn her away. Things were nor looking too good for Nuala, and she started to give up on hope. Blade was sliding his hand up her leg underneath of her skirt and she tried to kick him again in one final act of desperation, but he used his knees to stop her from doing so. She tried to concentrate on Spot and Ryder but suddenly she felt the most pain she had ever felt in her entire life.

Did you's find anythi yet?" Spot asked anxiously as the small group from Manhattan returned from their search.

"Sorry Spot, we'se got nutthin." Racetrack said.

"Spot I's is gonna take me boys back to Hattan'. And we'll help finish the search tomrraw when it's light.' Jack said as he lead his boys out into the cold night air.

Blade panted as he stepped away from her, admiring his work. Her mind was now blank, the only movement was the unsteady rhythm of her chest rising and falling with each painful breath and the single tear that had fallen from her eyes. She blinked once, her eyes blurring over as she stared at the wall of the alley whimpering in fright and pain. Beads of sweat began to form on her forehead and she shivered as the cold wind blew around her bare shoulders- after all a chemise isn't the warmest thing to be in at night. The handkerchief had been removed from her mouth allowing her to exude whimpers of pain.

Blade circled her, smiling viciously as his gaze fixated on the bruised and battered girl that lay in front of him. Her eyes fluttered closed as her body fought to stay conscious. Her entire body throbbed with a piercing, pain especially in her lower body.

"Why won't she talk?" Owl asked.

"Stupid broads tryin ta protect Spotty-Boy an dat boyfriend a hers."

"Do ya think she really don't know nothing about da plans?"

"Nah, she knows."

"I … I d-don't." She gasped, making both of them turn to glance down at her causing one final kick from Blade to her side. Tears had been streaming down her face stinging the numerous cuts Blade gave her. Her wrists were already beginning to turn a violent purple color and he vision was being intruded by black dots. The last thing she remembered before shutting her eyes was Blade and his newsies walking away from her, leaving her in the alley probably to die. But her morbid thoughts were interrupted when she heard footsteps. Nuala perked up a little and she slightly painfully squinted her eyes open. The pain in her body was unbearable, the burning in her chest from where Blade had kicked her ribs, the bump and the open cut on the back and front of her head made her feel dizzy and woozy as all of the contents of her stomach was threatening to spill out (she also had the side effects of the alcohol to thank for that) the cuts on her arms Blade gave her with his knife was still oozing blood and blood was also running down her leg. She attempted to try to pull her skirt back down to a modest length, but was too sore to do so. She groaned, rolling to her side and clutching her throbbing abdomen. Her eyes fluttered, and she began to give into darkness, her last thought was of her brother and the Brooklyn Boys.

A foggy mist swirled around in the air, as Jack led his boys down to the Brooklyn Bridge back to their Lodging House, taking the short cuts through some of the alleyways. But as the group of boys neared the bridge, a silhouetted figure met his gaze. Jack stopped, examining the odd shape in front of him, but not daring to take a step towards it. It couldn't be Nuala, could it?

"Wait a minute boys." He said stopping the boys in their tracks.

"Whad is it?" Race asked, but jack didn't need to answer. As soon as all the boys had gazed at the mysterious lump in the middle of the alley, they were all sharing Jack's thoughts. Jack, who had finally worked up the courage to take a step closer, and took in the details that proved it was who he thought it was. Long, brown curls, the same blue shirt-only somewhat dirtier. Jack felt a lump of form in his throat as he finally stepped close enough to see the picture good and clear.

He knew that girl.

"Starlight!" Jack yelled as he jogged closer to the girl and bent down beside her so he could look at her better. She looked awful. The blue shirt she was wearing earlier had been disposed of and was lying as bloody rags in the alley, and she was dressed only in her ratty chemise allowing Jack to see the bruises that were on her arms. Her lip was split and her right eye was swollen nearly shut. Various cuts lay on her face and her arms and blood was freely pouring from a wound on her right temple. Her skirt was pushed up to a length that was indecent for any young lady, and her cheek had bruises in the shape of Could it be? Hand prints.

With tears in his eyes Jack, as gently as he could, tried to scoop Nuala into his arms to carry her back to Spot. She was like the little sister he never had, and he was devastated to see the once tough Princess of Brooklyn (as she was so called) completely powerless. She didn't completely register what was happening in her daze, as she slowly began to come-to. It was then that she felt someone's warm arm wrapped around her and another on her waist fiddling with her skirts? She tensed, and with a rush of adrenalin, her eyes snapped open, and she flailed her arms outward, trying desperately to strike whoever the touch belonged to, despite the awful pain that was scorching through her entire body. She dropped her arms, opting to beneath the figure. A hand was pressed gently against her soar cheek, but she flinched away.

"Shh, Starlight. You'se is gonna be alright." She stopped struggling. This voice was kind and soft. She knew that voice, her eyes closed once more as exhaustion overcame her.

"Jack, is that you?" She croaked, her voice hoarse and soar from screaming.

"Yeah, yeah it's me. I promise, they'se aint gonna hurt you no more."

Her body gave in before she could reply.

As gingerly as he could, Jack lifted Katherine's limp frame into his arms, and announced to his boys that they were going back to the bar, where hopefully Brooklyn still was. He gave orders to Sprint to run ahead and tell Spot what had happened.

He clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath in the hopes of composing himself before he got to Spot, but didn't know how the infamous leader of Brooklyn would react to what had clearly just happened to his sister.

A/N- please don't hate me, please don't hate me, please don't hate me, please don't hate me,! This was a hard decision to write what I wanted to happen with Nuala, and I really hope you guys don't hate me, but it was important and I thought it had to happen. Now Blade had just made the war a "personal family problem" and I needed something like this to happen in order for the plot to reach it's climax. Plus now, I can write more fluff with Nuala and Ryder (which I love doing) and I chapters yet to come, some of Aoife's past and secrets will be revealed. So please favorite, follow, and review and let me know if you like to story so far! Thank you for reading! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to start getting ready because I'm going to see. The Book of Mormon on tour! But I promised I would get a chapter out before I go. =)