"Oww, shit, fuck, dammit!" Tear yanked a piece of glass out of her palm.

"Hay hurry up, Child, I's don't wanna be heah forevah!" Wisecracks held on tighter to the drain pipe below Tear when a gust of wind came and knocked the hat off her head "Oh no! Me hat!"

David rushed back down the pipe to retrieve Wisecracks black hat as Spot helped Tear through the window.

"Is oldah den you's so don't call me child" Tear smiled at the younger girl of fifteen, she happened to be a year older then her.

Tear offered Wisecracks a hand through the window, but she refused to accept it. "I's can take care of meself, dank you!" Wisecracks climbed though the window with a little work, but she did it.

"I see" Tear grinned as Spot grabbed her around the waist and held her close "so what you say we's go take a look around."

"I see no problem wit dat" David said as he climbed though the window and handed Wisecracks her fathers hat "heah."

"Oh dank you" Wisecracks through her arms around David shoulders and hugged him "I don't know what I'd do wit'out you."

"Probably lose ya hat" David grind.

"Ahh how cute you tryin' ta make a joke" Wisecracks stroked his check and David turned red.

"Come on yous two" Spot sighed "lets see if dis place will do?"

"Yeah if we's wants ta have a good party we needs a good cheep place ta have it!" Tear led Spot away. "Meet ya back heah in twenty minutes, k?"

"Yeah" David grabbed Wisecracks hand and led her down a flight of stairs.

Tear and Spot managed to make their way to the attic of the big house and Spot started to nibble on Tears neck "what you dink you doing?" Tear giggled pooling her neck away and looking at him with her deep gray eyes. "You now dat tickles?"

"What you dink" Spot grind and started to nibble on her thin neck again.

"Spot not now" Tear continued to giggle  "What if day come lookin fer us?"

"Dey wont mind" Spot turned her around to face him and kissed her.

Spot picked Tear up by the legs and set her on an old trunk, continuing to kiss her passionately. They had no idea at the moment, but Tear was sitting on the thing that was holding something that would ruin there whole lives, and meany others. They were interrupted by the sound of someone clearing there throat and they both looked in the direction of the ladder.

"Um... Children... hate ta interrupt you" Wisecracks tried her hardest not to burst into laughter.

"But we need ta go" David looked to the floor obviously avoiding the scowl that Spot was producing "We need ta eat ya know!"

"We can eat latah" Spot was a little peeved at what they done.

"Oh come on Spot" Tear smiled "dey din't do anytin wrong."

"Well I ain't hungry" Spot said bluntly "an I want ta take a look in dis chest, you nevah now what riches it may hold."

"Oh" Wisecracks sighed "dat's a good idea, lets take a look!"

Tear got off the chest as David and Wisecracks walked towards it. When looking at it she realized just how expensive looking it looked. With it's gold trimming and lace patterns all around it. They all held their breath a she slowly lifted the lid.

"Ahh man!" Spot bellowed "jus a bunch of dresses."

"Yeah an dey's way behind in styles" Wisecracks turned towards the door, her brown shoulder length hair flowing behind her, with the rest of them.

"Wait!" Tear thought she saw something, and pooled out a miniature chest, identical to the big one, "dis might be sometin?"

"Ya right" Spot smiled and walked back towards her causing everyone to fallow "so open it up!"

"It's locked" Tear realized "we can take it ta Cannabis ‘e's real good at lock picking."

"Yeah an gettin High" Spot chuckled loudly.

*****************************

Tear, Wisecracks, David, and Spot walked up to a building that probably had more bugs then it did tenants, but not uncommon for the Brooklyn territory. After walking up the wooden dusty stairs, they walked down a squeaky hallway and waited as Spot knocked on the door. After waiting a minute or two Spot was getting impatient and knocked harder. Then you could hear someone from inside yelling at them to come in. After turning the doorknob they all walked in, single filled.  Cannabis was sitting in a circle with a couple of friends smoking a joint, that was more then likely filled with marijuana.

"What you smokin?" Tear asked and sat on the one free chair leaving none for Spot, Wisecracks, and David.

"What you dink?" Cannabis laughed showing his bloodshot eyes, he was obviously smoking cannabis another name for marijuana.

Spot walked over to Tear and easily picked her up and sat in her spot, allowing her to site on his lap. Meanwhile Wisecracks and David found two pillows and used those to cushion their butts. Everyone new that if you came to Cannabis for something you better spend some time with him first.

"So got any greens?" Cannabis grinned widely, he never stopped grinning. "Cause I'm in de mood ta smoke out."

"Sorry Cannabis" Tear hoped that would not cause him to kick them out, because certain people if they did not bring any or wanted to bey some when they visited, he would simply kick out.

"Tis ok" Cannabis looked overly excited "cause I's got plenty of me own!"

"We's got's ta go" The five people that were there before got up. None of them knew each other and Tear was pleased that they were leaving and it was obvious that David and Wisecracks wore also because they quickly got up and sat on a chair.

"Ya loss" Cannabis shrugged and pooled out a BIG bag of marijuana, starting to roll a new joint.

"So who were day?" Spot asked "I's don't recognize deme."

"Oh jus' some custamah's from outta town" Cannabis said as he lite the joint.

After he let some of the smoke fly out of his nose he handed it to David who refused.

"Ya Loss" Cannabis shrugged and continued to hand it to Wisecracks.

"No I don't.." Wisecracks unrolled and rerolled her sleeves.

"What! Ya brought a couple of dumb asses er sometin?" Cannabis had a Tendisy to overreact.

"No" Tear glared with her gray, catlike eyes. "Dey's probably smartah dens we's evah be."

"Yeah wright" Cannabis started laughing uncontrollably. When he finally stopped he handed the joint to Tear who hungrily took it. She was very much into drugs, even though most of the newsies were not.

A wail had passed and they had only gone through three joints when Wisecracks had to remind Tear, and Spot why they came hear.

"Oh yeah!" Spot almost yelled.

"What?" Cannabis asked, being the nosy person he was. "What is it?"

"you see we's went ta dis old abandoned ‘ous in Manhattan an well... we's found sometin we need ya help with." Spot laughed and got a couple of weird looks from David and Wisecracks who saw nothing funny in what he was saying.

"Yeah?" Cannabis grinned "what is it?"

"We's found a tinny chest dat we can't crack!" Tear slowly stood and grabbed the bag that they had earlier put it in.

"Give it ta me, give it ta me" Cannabis whined, causing him to sound like a child. He took a major joy in lock picking.

After Tear handed him the chest he examined it. "Dis ding is poidy, if it hold any riches you'd bettah give me some." Cannabis said now examining the lock on it.

"No way!" Spot bellowed.

"Dene I ain't openin it!" Cannabis bellowed back.

"Calm Down Children!" Wisecracks stood in the boy's view of each other "we's heah ta get dis ding open, and if we have ta give ‘im some of de profit, den dates what we'll do."

Spot still looked a little miffed and that, but simply sat back and crossed his arms.

"Dis is gonna be a synch." Cannabis went right to work.

"I don't see why we's gotta give ‘im some of de riches" Spot pouted.

"Cause it's de only way we's can git him ta open it" Tear polled spots hat off his head and started running her fingers through his hair lovingly. She often did that, it tended to calm him down a lot.

"Still..." Spot continued.

"Still nothin" Tear looked at Spot with a look in her eyes that Spot could never say no too.

"Fine" Spot said through a sigh.

Meanwhile Wisecracks and David were watching Cannabis Struggle to open the lock. After sighing a frustrated sigh he looked up at David "git me dat small pouch on dat table ovah dere."

David looked where Cannabis had pointed and fallowed his orders, and retrieved the small bag. When returning he received his reword, a scowl from Wisecracks, causing him to look away and pretend to be even more mesmerized by Cannabis.

"Ahugh" Cannabis yelped then looked around the dark room"I's did it, so who want ta open it?"

Spot was walking up to grab the miniature chest when Wisecracks spoke up "I dink Teah should do it."

"What?" Spot was shocked, was someone actually telling him, Spot Conlon, what to do. Not in his lifetime. "You ‘ave no say in dis, but sense I's nice, I'll let Teah do it"

"Sure....Nice?" Wisecracks mumble under her breath.

"K" Tear smiled and walked up to the little group that was formed around Cannabis. After pausing to hold it in her hands for a minute she was soon urged on by the rest to open it quickly for they did not want to wait any longer. As she lifted the lid everyone held there breath.

"What!" Spot yelled when he saw it was only a book of some sort. "Dis is what we've gone drew all dis trouble fer!"

"Well yeah" Tear was not in the mood for his temper "what else?"

"Not for this piece of shit!" Spot yelled as he through the booklet across the room.

"Hay take a easy" Wisecracks was not in the mood for his temper either.

"May be it has a map dat will lead ta a treasure?" David suggested trying to calm Spot down and received bazar looks from everyone except Spot who was still greatly angered.

"You dumb ‘er sometin!?" Spot yelled as he got into David's face.

Tear quickly retrieved the book and the chest then grabbed Spot's arm quickly dragging him away so he would not cause any trouble "Come on! I ain't in de mood ta watch ya an Mouth argue"

"Hay Teah!" Wisecracks yelled after her at the same time fallowing her out the door because she did not want to stay around someone she did not know named Cannabis.

"What?" Tear Turned her head backwards still leading spot out the door.

"Hay I can walk by meself!" Spot yelled at Tear, and wrenched his arm out of her grasp.

"Tomorrow I want ta take a look at de book, so meet me at Tibby's at noon." Wisecracks yelled as they parted their separate ways.

"Yeah sure" Tear half answered, paying more attention towards Spot who the whole time was bickering at her.

"How meany times I gotta tell yous dat I'm me own man an you don't tell me what ta do?" Spot yelled at Tear.

"An how meany times I gotta tell you ta control ya tempah!" Tear yelled back. As much as they loved each other they both had vigorous tempers and everyone knew to never intervene.

******************************************************************************

"I still don't see why we haft ta come ‘ere jus ta read dat book" Spot gripped as he opened the door to Tibby's.

"Cause Wise asked us to is why" Tear smiled, sometimes Spot had a habit of acting like a spoiled child. "Any ways you haven't been hear in a wail."

"Hay Spot wheres ya been?" Jack Stood from a both and strolled over to them smiling. "Haven't seen yous round dese parts lately."

"I've been around is all" Spot sat in a both and Tear sat closely beside him. Then Spot placed his arm around Tears boney, small shoulders.

"Hay where's Wisecracks?" Tear examined the atmosphere around her, not seeing a young girl with brown hair and eyes that looked like Wisecracks.

"Oh she said she'd be late" Alley sat in the booth across from Spot and pushed some loose curly caramel blond hair behind her left ear. She was Tears best friend even though when they first met they did not like each other at all. After all they were complete opposites. Tear basically the bad girl willing to do anything and Alley the sweet innocent typ against anything bad. It was a wonder how they found each other fun and entertaining.

"Great!" Spot griped "we's come heah, and she ain't even heah!"

"You'll live" Alley rolled her Mahogany green eyes at Spot.

"What you mean by dat?" Spot was still in a bad mood.

"Come one baby" Tear stroked Spot Cheek and smiled sweetly "you know I don't like to see you upset."

"Yeah" Spot sighed and gently kissed Tears Cheek in response.

Just then Wisecracks pushed the door to Tibby's open looking a little miffed. After plumping herself down next to Alley she sighed heavily and crossed her arms.

"What's de matta?" Alley looked concerned for her friend.

"Nothin ok?" Wisecracks snapped through anger.

"Ok" Alley looked at Tear with a worried expression.

"So where's de book?" Wisecracks looked at Spot and Tear who were rapped around each other tightly.

"Oh right heah" Tear smiled ignoring the temper Wisecracks was showing and through the booklet on the table.

Wisecracks grabbed it and let some anger fade from her face, after opening it she read it to herself. "It's a diary of some guy named Albert Letseem"

"Oh" Tear smiled at Spot who grabbed the booklet out of Wisecracks grasp.

"Hay" Wisecracks gripped "how dare you do dat!"

"Yeah Spot" Alley agreed "dat was rued."

"So" Spot took his arm from behind Tears back and flipped the page "hear I am regretting what I just done. Tonight I went to a barr and met a beautiful and attractive girl with legs as long and lanky as I can't believe. What a beauty she was. Her gray catlike eyes pierced my heart immediately and I melted with regret when I saw her kiss a guy. His fingers ran through her reddish brown hair with a tint of a coppery gold color in it when I saw the light reflect off the top of her head. I knew I had to have her despite the fact that it was obvious she did not need me."

All of a sudden Spot stopped and placed the book down on the table, which was enough to cause Alley to ask "hey, ah, Spot why's you stop?"

"Cause dis is bull shit! It's nothin, it's a waist of time!" Spot stopped when he received a scowl from Alley "what?"

"Well I dink it's worth it" Alley quickly smiled erasing the look of anger that was on her face before.

"Oh an why's dat, cause it's romantic" Spot Teased coldly.

"NO" Alley stood "look Spot I don't have ta deal wit your Llama Spit!"
 

"Ha, Llama Spit... that's bull-shit why don't you take this an leave!" Spot picked the book up and tossed it in her direction.

"Ok Spot I've watched this long enough" Tear quickly stood and walked over beside Alley and picked up the book "I'm sick of watchin you bark at me friends, come one Alley lets go find a nice tree in Central park ta site unda."

"You go ahead and do dat!" Spot hollered as Tear dragged Alley out of Tibby's.

Wisecracks stood quickly and glared at Spot before she headed for the door to fallow Tear and Alley "you know what? You got some nerves, but it seems only us goils evah have de courage ta speak up!"

When they left Spot turned to the shocked crowed of boy's sitting in Tibby's "goils all dey evah do is bitch."

Then there was a angered chuckle in the back of Tibby's causing everyone to turn their attention to a both in the fare corner with Kid Blink and Flame Mahan in it. "Oh Spot, I'll be sure ta let de al de goils know dat you feel dat way." Flame had been listening the whole time and quietly stood and glared at Spot with her green eyes as she walked slowly to the door and left. Her red hair making the fire in her seem bigger.

"Jeez are dey all on dere rages or sometin?" Spot threw his hands in the air through frustration.

"I don't know Spot" Mush quietly spook up "I's hoid dat when a group of goils are around each adda a lot dey tend ta cycle tegetha."

"Shud up!" Spot snapped.

******************************************************************************

Tear Reeder's full lips grinned with wisdom as she walked the streets of Manhattan ignoring the rude comments men often shouted at her and her friends, her shaped body in motion with her swaying arms. Her golden-brown hair with a tint of red flowing behind her trying to stay in place. Turning her head slightly, focusing her gray goddess eyes at the three people in step behind her. All faces she recognized and had learned to call her family, were busy in conversation.

There was Alley Stevenson, Tears best friend, but a tottle opposite. Her Carmel blond hair, curls bouncing and swinging above her shoulders. Her mahogany green eyes still made at Spot Conlon. She was a short girl, yet she never let people push her around.

There was also Wisecracks, another one of Tears good friends. Her hair and eyes both brown, matching her paints. She always wore a black hat that belongs to her loving father. Tear new that her father had left her with an abusive family and knew Wisecracks was deeply hurt by that no matter how little she showed it. She was a stubborn girl and new she would somehow make it through life.

Frowning Tear turned to her enemy, Flame Mahan, the girl that had no idea how much she hated her. Feeling as hot as Flames red hair she remembered the past. Flame was a Brooklyn Newsie and one time when Tear and Spot broke up during one of their common fights he ended up in bed with Flame and word got around. Tear never forgave Flame for bedding her guy even if she was not dating Spot at the time and Flame was not dating Kid Blink yet. To add the that Tears Best Friend Alley had a crush on Blink, longer then Flame even liked him. She believed her friend should have what she wanted and the only thing stopping her from it was, Flame.

"Lets stop heah" Tear suggested, and they all sate by the frozen lake.

"I don't see why you goils couldn't do this in the lodging house?" Alley rubbed her arms vigorously for warmth.

"Cause tis more privet child" Wisecracks took off her coat and offered it to Alley "take dis, it will add warmth."

"Oh no, Wisecracks, I can't" Alley continued to shiver.

"Why not!" Wisecracks was surprisingly showing a soft side for someone other then David Jacobs or Mouth as he has become to be known by. "You'll freez ta death" she would not take ‘no' for an answer and you could read it in her face "Take it!"

"If ya say so" Alley took the coat "are you sure though?"

"Ya I'm sure, I spent some time freezing on the streets, I can handle it" Wisecracks half smiled.

"Well so did I" Alley mumbled.

"But you can't handle de cold" Flame spoke rudely, she knew Alley had a thing for her boyfriend.

"She can be strong when she has ta!" Tear spoke acidly.

Seeing the tension growing between Flame and Tear Wisecracks quickly hollered "Children we've no need ta fight, calm down so we can read dis book, ok?!"

"Hurrie up and read it dene" Flame glared at Tear who willingly returned it.

******************************************************************************

Tear, Alley, Wisecracks, and Flame starred at the little book in shock of what they just heard. It was a dairy of a murderer, a viscous man that killed for fun, and was now a newsie. His first kill was for a the love of some girl, that resembled Tear greatly and the fact that one of her boyfriends mysteriously disappeared only helped frighten them all. In the end, the last entry, this rich man mentioned that he was to become a newsie to hide from the police.

"Oh my god Teah" Alley was the most scarred "if dats you, what does dat mean?"

"It's not me so it doesn't mattah, ok, Alley?" Tear was pacing, she did not want to believe what the others believed including Flame.

"Teah" Flame looked up from the Journal "umm... you ain't gonna like dis, but in de back it has ya name, ya real name written all oveah it, wit harts and stuff."

"Let me see dat!" Tear grabbed the booklet, and searched through the empty pages in that back of it "oh shit ya right, what am I ta do, dis persons probably afta Spot, we must worn him!"

"I'm sure if ‘e planned on killin Spot he woulda done so already" Wisecracks pointed out.

"But... maybe he's just waiting for the right time?" Alley suggested.

"Come one!" Flame stood "we gotta go, now, before it's to late!"

"Wait" Tear stopped causing the others to stop too, not making any sense as she gibbered off "dis is probably some joke, it can't be real, de writing is done to good to be written by a newsie, it must be some sort of a prank."

"Oh no Teah" Wisecracks looked at the ground "certain newsie can read and write betta den dis, like Specs, and Snoddy even."

"Ah shit" Tear through her palm to her four head "it's Snoddy, he's had a ding fer me evah sense I came heah, it has ta be him."

******************************************************************************

Just as they got nearer to the Manhattan lodging house a well discussed voice called out to them causing them to stop where they were and turn around to see a figure pointing a revolver at them in all black including the Black mask the figure wore.

"You thought I'd let you get away wit readin me journal, din't you?" The figure slowly walked towards them, the scarred, but brave bunch of girls. "I ain't gonna let me secretes be known, so now I gots ta kill ya all."

"We wont say anytin ta anyone" Alley, shaking hands in the air, tried to calm the person before them down.

Obviously this Black Devil would not let her do as she planned, for it pulled the trigger letting two bullets fly towards her. Tear, Flame, and Wisecracks jumped with freight as they watched Alley fall to the floor after she was shot two times through the chest. Her Carmel hair falling over her face when she hit the ground, dead. A puddle of blood forming around her body. Her last words before she died were as she watched the bullets fly towards her were "Oh shit." and anyone who knew Alley knew she was strongly against swearing.

Tear yanked Wisecracks who was too stunned to move as Flame and her started off running. They had to get away from this Black Devil fast. Running around corners and though dark alley's they maid there way towards the Lodging house, darting bullets along the way. This person, dressed in black, close behind them, shooting with an unsteady aim while running.

Finally they came to the building that they all knew as home. Hearing the soft voices of whispering newsies Tear and Wisecracks were to hurt and stunned to inform the rest of their friends what happened, so Flame, being as she did not appreciate Alley all that much walked up to the group of newsies and yanked Jack Kelley around to face them.

"Alley's dead!" She bellowed holding back tears of sorrow "some Black Devil killed ‘er and tried ta kill us!"

The Newsies all looked around the room, all wondering if this was some kind of joke. When they heard a cry of pain coming from they hallway, Jack, Racetrack, and Cat's ran out to see what who it was. Once outside they saw this once strong girl on the Floor in Wisecracks arms sobbing uncontrollably over her lose.

"Leave us alone" Wisecracks demanded, pushing her fingers through Tears hair, trying to comfort her "she just watched her best friend die, give her some room!"

Stunned that Tear, who usually hide her emotions unless it was anger, was on the floor crying they all left her be. Wisecracks comforting her, reashuring her.

Cats MacMillan, Daughter of a Scottish Immigrant, quit lanky, with her brownish red hair well bellow her shoulder walked into the room to see Kid Blink holding Flame, who was not crying, yet deeply hurt. "So you gonna tell us de story or do we have ta go botha deme out dere. An just between you an me, you look more capable of it right now."

******************************************************************************

Flame Mahane looked up from kid Blinks arms, her red hair a little knotted when she told the story about the journal they found and how it belonged to someone that became a newsie and had been stalking Tear for quit some time, the Newsie's gave her sympathetic glances. When she added how every lover of Tear's turned you missing, never to be heard of again and how Alley dies the Newsie comforted her.

"We must worn Spot" jack said quietly "he must be next ta death row!"

"Had it evah occurred ta you dat dis person could be Spot?" Copper asked, her blue eyes like deadly waves, ready to kill with it's force. Her pail skin shining as if it was part of that wave that the sun was reflecting off of. A girl that was usually bright and happy dancing around the streets of new York, now agree, like Fire.

"An what brings ya ta date conclusion?" Cat's asked coldly, placing her hands on her hips.  None of the Newsies believed Spot could kill no matter how much of a bad temper her had. Besides he had been a newsie all his life, traveling from lodging house to lodging house tell he settled in Brooklyn.

"Well de fact dat ‘e ain't dead fer one an de fact dat ‘e's been wit Teah fer almost a yeah now." Copper tucked some of her copper colored hair behind a ear.

"You stupid ‘er sometin?" jack and no one else believed her "you know as well as I do dat Spot may be mean and thick headed, but ‘e wouldn't go around killing nobody ger pleasur!"

"Yeah" Tear and Wisecracks were slowly walking up to the groups of people. Both noticing Snoddy was know where to be seen. "So now what we do?"

"Racetrack, Blink, Flame, an Faith you go an check on Alley. You nevah know maybe she lived." Jack took control of the situation easily "Teah, Filly, Wisecracks, an Mush you come wit me ta tawk wit Spot about dis, you know worn ‘im."

******************************************************************************

Flame led the small group of three, consisting of Racetrack, Kid Blink, and Faith. Faith nervous about seeing her friends body had a cigarette in her hand and was continuously inhaling and exhaling the smoke it provided for her lungs, calming her down.

"I don't see why Cowboy had ta separate me an Mush" faith complained trying to get the image of her friends white, stiff, and cold out of her head. Her icy-blue eyes filled with hidden tears. Her wavy blond hair in step behind her.

"Look it don't matta weatha ya wit ya boy or not, so stop complaining" Racetrack hated to be so cold, but decided it best "have faith in Jacky boy."

"Maybe Alley's alive" Faith hoped.

"Sorry Sweet-face, but I don't dink so" Kid Blink patter her head as if she was still a little girl.

Ten suddenly Flame stopped walking causing the rest of them to stop too "Dis is where she was" flame stood before the puddle of blood. Where was Alley's Body?

"Whah is she?" Racetrack asked, licking his lips which was a habit of his.

"How would I know?" Flame snapped.
 

"It looks as if she was picked up" kid Blink pointed out the trail of Blood.

"Maybe she walked!" Faith was still hopelessly praying for her friends survival.

"She's dead Faith!"Flame hollered as she started to fallow the trail "trust me fer cryin out load, I was der!"

"I don't have ta put up wit dis bull shit ok?" Faith waved her cigarette in the air before she took one last drag from it.

"Sorry doll it's jus'..dat well... we not lookin forward ta seein her body, an hoppin she's alive ain't gonna make it any easer" Flame put her arm around Faiths shoulders to reassure her as she spoke, pulling away when she was done.

"I guess I's undastand" Faith shrugged lightly.

Just then they came to the end of the bloody trail. A big dumpster, behind a nice house, that was big enough to offer each Newsie a nicely sized room. Kid Blink lifted the lid with ease and everyone peered in. What they saw was what they expected... Alley's body carelessly thrown in. They also saw something else, Spot Conlon's cain with the cold tip.

"Fuck the woild!" Racetrack kicked the trash can, out od all the people he did not want the murderer to be Spot Conlon.

"Faith!" Flame ordered "you run back an tell Coppah she was right! You two come wit me! Hopefully we can catch Jack an Teah before dey get ta Brooklyn!"

******************************************************************************

"Where's everybody?" Filly asked Spot when Tear, jack, Wisecracks, and herself saw him sitting quietly on his bunk bed, an expression on his face that scarred them all. Although they did not know why it did.

"Dey all went ta de Bronx" spot informed them "Snoddy went wit deme."

"Snoddy!?" Tear was stunned. She thought he was the one behind this mess.

"Ahhh Spot" mush realized something when Spot stood from his dark cornered bunk "why ya whearin Black, an why you covered in blood?"

"Dats a dumb question" Spot looked at them grinning "I killed Alley, an all ya boy's Teah."

"Ya sick ya know dat?" jack informed him and begone to walk up to him.

"I wouldn't do dat if I were you" Spot pulled out the same revolver that he killed Alley with. Jus to show he was not afraid to use it he let a few round out, hitting Mush in the chest and neck.

Filly screamed with Terror as she watched Much fall to the floor. She was a strong girl normally, but she could not handle watching Much, or anyone for that matter, die.

When Filly shut up she fell beside Mush and asked, tears streaming down her cheeks "Why Spot, why?"

Before she got an answer though Spot ran up behind her, grabbed her head, and with a snap broke her neck causing her to fall dead beside Mush.

"Ain't dis a fun game?" Spot grinned evilly "I would tell ya ta try it if you worn't next, Jacky- Boy."

"Spot!" Tear stepped between Spot and Jack, pleading "Don't do dis anymore, please!?"

"Sorry Sweet face, but if ya don't want ta watch any more, ya can be next" Spot grinned again and pushed her to the floor, with a thud.

As Spot repeatedly stabbed jack Wisecracks ran to help Tear stand and grabbed her hand so she could guide her and ran. She knew that they would be next and knew Tear needed help for she was so emotionally hurt, if Wisecracks was not pulling her along she would not be able to run.

Finding a place to hid Wisecracks guided Tear to a sitting position and sat down herself. Spot truly was occupied with something else now. When truly looking at Tear, Wisecracks frowns for Tears expression was Blank and all she did was stare off into space.

******************************************************************************

When Flame, Kid Blink, and Racetrack entered the dim lighted room they walked slowly and cautiously, for know one was in sight and they feared the possible. That Spot Conlon was somewhere in there ready to kill.

Then when hearing a moaning they ran to find Jack Kelly sprawled next to the dead Mush and Filly. Thank god he was still alive, but unable o move.

"Blink, tack Jack somewhere ta get some help!" Flame ordered immediately.

"I ain't leavin you" Blink tried to convince her to let him stay.

"Now!" Flame would not take ‘no' for an answer and you could read it in her face. Besides she wanted to get him to safety, not thinking about her self at all.

"I'll take care of ‘er" Race reassured Blink as he helped him lift Jack, carefully.

"Jack! Wisecracks an Teah are alive right?" Flame asked, waiting for his nod, then hollered at Racetrack "Common Race, we don't ‘ave time ta waist!"

Stepping over the dead body's of Mash and Filly, Racetrack and Flame set out to find Wisecracks and Tear. Praying that they were still alive.

"Flame" Wisecracks whispered and when she did Spot came running towards then Knife in hand and revolver in pocket. He managed to get behind Racetrack, holding the switch blade to the poor Italians white throat.

"Don't do it Spot" Flame was trying to calm him down. "You'll regret it, for I know you nevah killed a friend before tanight."

"Well I'll quit killin dem when everyone who knows about me true past is dead!" Spot hollered, pushing the blade closer to scarred Racetracks neck, to the point where a trickle of blood was slowly making its way down Racetracks shirt.

"You can't kill all de Newsies in manhattan Spot" Flame bravely informed him "I sent someone ta inform de adda's bout you. Tis to late Spot, might as well stop now."

Wisecracks now stood beside Flame to help.

"I can bomb de lodgin ‘ouse when day sleepin!" Spot slit Racetracks throat in a single quick motion, blood gushing out as his body fell limp, finding it's way to the floor.

"You'll have no more fiends dene" Wisecracks Spoke up "you'll be all alone."

"No I won't!" Spot hollered, for the first time you could read the fear in his eyes. Realizing that they saw it Spot grabbed his revolver and quickly reloaded it, then fired, brining Wisecracks to the ground, where she would slowly die.

Little did any of them know that Tear slowly and secretly made her way behind Spot and when he was pulling the trigger she charged his back causing the bullet to graze Flames arm. Reselling Spot to the ground, he dropped both his knife and the revolver, and she attempted to strangle him Flame the whole time standing there in shock. Tear almost succeeded, but Spot pride her bonny finger from around his neck and sooner or later he was giving her a couple of good and strong blows with his fists. Blood flew fro Tears face and when she finally gave up Flame gave him a good kick to his side, hard enough for him to fall on his side; where Flame continued to kick him until he was spitting out blood.

When Flame turned to help the bruised Tear Spot slowly made his way to a corner, looking so innocent and sweet as if he was a child.

Tear quickly picked up Spots Revolver, and pointing it at him asked "how'd you like it, bein de one de guns piontin at? So tell be Spot do you enjoy it as much as I did?"

"Come one Teah, what are ya doin?" Flame asked, when Spot would not answer Tear's question.

Tear Reeder starred down the barrel of the 34 revolver. She could not believe that this was the person behind the mask. The mask that hid her fears. She had to get rid of him, for it was obvious that he was a sick being.

"How dare you" was all Tear said to Spot before she pulled the trigger. He had killed the nicest guy she had ever met in her life. The person she was beginning to love killed every man that stood in her arms and just for pleasure also looked so fragile and week. As if he was a little baby hiding in a corner, not knowing and understanding what was going on around him.

Watching his body go limp and the brains fly against the wall and leave drops of blood on her face and cloths, Tear fell to the floor crying. She would and could never love again. Flame coming out of her shock slowly walked over to Tear. Lifting the delicate figure to her feet Flame pried the gun from Tears fingers and dropped in to the ground.

"Everythin's gonna be all right" Flame helped Tear walk away from the crime scene, allowing the goldish hair to rest on her freckled shoulder as she leaned her head on it. Knowing that, Tear, once a strong and tempered girl would never be the same and soon find herself in a mental institute never to be released all because of this one night, of watching all her friends being killed in such a bloody fashion. The Black Devil had succeeded!