Jack smiled back, his momentary anger at having his solitude disrupted forgotten. "Heya Race. How was your day at the tracks?"
Racetrack shrugged and pulled out a cigar. "Aw, you know. Got a light?"
Jack nodded and paused, lighting a match on the rough rock wall and cupping it between his hands for Racetrack. Race got his cigar lit and they continued down the road toward the lodging house. "So watcha' doin' out here all by yourself?" Racetrack asked, his cigar clenched tightly between his teeth.
Jack shrugged, thrusting his hands into his pockets again. "I was supposed to meet Spot tonight."
Racetrack's eyes widened in surprise as he took the cigar out of his mouth. "And he didn't show?"
Jack shook his head, running his fingers through his unruly hair. "No, he didn't." he said quietly.
Racetrack fell into a nervous silence, puffing on his cigar worriedly. This was bad. "What do ya think this means, Jack?" he asked finally as they crossed the street to the lodging house.
Jack paused on the steps, his face drawn. Finally he shook his head. "I don't know, Race." He said quietly before turning and trudging up the stairs.
Racetrack wiped his forehead slowly before knocking the coals off the end of his cigar and stowing it in his pocket. Yes, Race though at he climbed the stairs, this is definitely bad.
Jack fidgeted nervously as he waited for his usual 100 papes, glancing at the gates several times before hefting his stack onto his shoulder and heading down the stairs. He plopped down next to Kid Blink and opened the first paper in his stack, glancing it over haphazardly with one eye still fixed on the gate.
Blink glanced over at Jack, noticing his shifting eyes. "Hey, Cowboy, whatsa matta?"
Jack looked over at Blink in surprise, not realizing his nervousness was so apparent. He opened his mouth to answer when Blink's eyes widened in surprise as he pointed to the gates. "Hey, ain't that Cassie?"
Jack whipped his head around in astonishment, amazed that the leader of the midtown newsies had ventured into his territory. His eyes narrowed as he studied the tall lanky girl where she stood, leaning against a lamppost across the street. Blink noticed his expression and groaned. "Jack, don't go gettin' all crazy." He cautioned.
Jack glowered. "I'm not Blink." He said, standing up. "I just think our friend needs a proper welcome." He said, slinging his papes across his shoulders on his rope.
"Holy shit." Kid Blink said under his breath as he leapt off the dock and headed after Jack, forgetting his papes and having to race back and retrieve them, gathering a few boys on the way. "Mush, Race, Bumlets!" he called out. "Hurry up! Jack and Cassie are out there!"
Mush's face turned white and he grabbed Racetrack's arm, dragging him along after Kid Blink. Why was Cassie here? She and Jack did not get along, even under the best of circumstances, though they both tolerated the fragile truce that had been erected ever since the strike. Newsies on both sides regularly crossed the lines and soaked the enemy, but those incidents were usually nothing more than newsies blowing off steam. Jack knew Cassie's strength first hand, as she knew his, and each held a grudging respect for the other, though neither would admit it. Their territories shared a border, so they attempted to stay out of each other's way, for if a major reckoning ever occurred, it would not soon be forgotten. Mush groaned inwardly as he raced after Kid Blink. It looked like that day had arrived, and though Mush was never one to back down from a good fight, Cassie's girls were notorious around New York, and Mush wasn't too thrilled at the prospect of being soaked by a girl. Of course, Cassie girls weren't really girls, they were…well, they were good.
Mush, Racetrack and Bumlets joined Kid Blink at Jack's back, followed by a stream of other boys. "Kelly." Cassie called out, standing up straight and leading her gang of girls over to meet Jack's.
Jack scowled. "What do you want, Cassie?" He said, standing his ground.
Cassie's flint-grey eyes were hard as the stone they resembled. "You know why I'm here. You've invaded my territory one too many times. As 'a this moment, our truce is dissolved!" She said loudly.
At her words Jack's newsies gathered tighter together behind their leader, preparing to fight to the end if that's what it took. Hard eyes and angry faces peered out from the mass into equally set faces on Cassie's side. Jack was astonished. Invaded her territory? She was talking crazy. Jack never set foot in midtown when he didn't need to. He didn't need another newsie war on his hands. "Cassie, I ain't been in your territory in months." He said, frowning. "And as for our truce, my boys'll be happy to soak the lot 'a you right now." He said, gesturing behind him. "But the truth is, I don't know what the hell you're talkin' about." He said, folding his arms across his chest.
Cassie bristled under Jack's obvious nonchalance at her show of force. She drew herself up to her full height, just three or four inches shorter than Jack himself, and spoke loud and clear. "Your boys," she sneered, "have been gangin' up on my girls, soaking 'em good, four or five to one." She said harshly. "You ain't fit to call yourselves newsies."
Jack was taken aback by Cassie's accusations. He glanced over at Racetrack, who knew just about everything that happened on the streets. Race shook his head, a baffled look on his face. He was just as puzzled as Jack. He turned back to Cassie, angry now that she was accusing his boys of such an act. "My gang ain't never soaked your girls, Cassie. If we fight, we fight fair." Jack said with finality.
But Cassie wasn't through. "Well, we think it was you. And we're here to settle it. You've come into our territory for the last time, Cowboy."
Jack's eyes narrowed, his face hardening. "You wanna fight me, Cassie?" He asked, his voice quiet. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn ya."
Cassie sneered at Jack, her hands balling into fists. "I don't need no warning for the likes 'a you." She said, the two packs of newsies facing off. They were about to dive in when a whistle blasted through the square.
"Hey! You streetrats clear out!" Every face turned to the three police officers that had just entered the square and were heading toward them.
Cassie frowned, angry that her chance was wasted. Jack shook his head, waving his hand in the air. "Cheese it!" He yelled, glancing back at Cassie.
Cassie's girls were racing out of the square the opposite way, with Cassie following behind. She turned and faced Jack one last time. "This ain't over Kelly!" She yelled.
Jack ignored her, running after his friends. They dodged through alleyways and across bustling streets until they were several blocks away from the square. Jack joined up with Kid Blink and Mush, who were waiting for him. "What do you make of it, Jack?" Blink asked, his face drawn.
Jack shook his head, his face darkening. "I don't like this, Blink." He said quietly. "First Spot, now this. Somethin's wrong in New York."
"It sure is, Cowboy." Kid Blink said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But what?"
Cassie carefully wrapped a block of ice in a worn towel before turning back to where her friend lay, groaning, on the bed. Cassie carefully placed the ice pack on Belle's swollen eye, causing her to wince as the sudden cold touched her skin. "It's okay, Belle," Cassie comforted, squeezing her hand. "Just lay back. We'll take care 'a you." Belle's hand squeezed back, feebly. Cassie sighed, her face filled with worry for her friend. She sat by her side a moment longer until she felt a touch on her shoulder. Cassie stood, allowing one of her girls to take her place at the bedside vigil of the latest newsie to be soaked in midtown.
Cassie walked quietly over to the door where three of her best friends, Willow, Lexie and Keeley stood, their faces somber. Cassie moved past them, motioning for them to follow. They did, silently following their leader down the hall and down the front steps of their lodging house. They stood in a silent circle, waiting for Cassie to speak. She took her time, lighting a cigarette and taking several drags before turning to her friends and meeting their eyes. "Who saw it?"
Willow glanced at the others, a little worried, before speaking up. "No one." She said quietly. "No one saw it."
Cassie swore under her breath, taking a few furious drags on the cigarette before throwing it away in disgust. "How could this happen?" She burst out, her eyes flashing.
"Cassie, she went off by herself to sell today." Willow explained, trying to keep her voice calm. "She knew about your warning, but it was two miles inside our territory!"
"I told ya, nowhere is safe!" Cassie said icily.
The three nodded, their faces pained. "She knew, too, Cassie. But who woulda thought?" Lexie said, running a hand through her thick hair.
"I woulda." Cassie said between clenched teeth. She shook her head, looking down at her feet, trying to get a hold of her anger. Finally she raised her head, all traces of rage gone, only sadness remaining. "We've gotta stop this. I'm sicka carrying my friends in from off 'a the street."
Keeley sighed, looking away, as Lexie fiddled with one of her suspenders. Willow was the only one to meet Cassie's eyes openly. "All we can do we're already doin." She said, truthfully. "We just can't go out alone anymore. We'll beat 'em eventually."
"Cassie," Keeley said, looking up. "What about Jack?"
Cassie's eyes darkened, turning into smoldering coals. "You know what I want to do about him."
"I personally want ta kill 'im." Lexie said carelessly. "But we got nowhere today. He either had no idea what you were talking about or he seriously didn't care."
"Then we'll make him care." Cassie said grimly.
"Cassie, we don't know for sure that it was Kelly's boys." Keeley reminded. "No one has actually seen any of 'em, and none a the girls who were hurt can identify who attacked 'em."
Cassie stood in silence for several moments, thinking over everything before she spoke again. "All right." She said finally. "For now, we just keep in groups. And the minute we identify one a 'dem, we go after Jack." She said, looking at her girls for agreement. They all nodded, silently. Cassie nodded too, turning and heading inside again to continue the watch over her battered friend.
Racetrack and Bumlets paused in the shadows, gazing across the street grimly. At first glance the street across from them seemed like any other street, and to most people it would remain that way, but to Race and Bumlets, this street was like no other. This street was Cassie's territory. Racetrack looked right and left, noticing with satisfaction that no one was coming before trotting across the street silently, Bumlets right behind him. They slipped into an alley as soon as they reached the sidewalk, pausing to make sure that no one had heard or seen them. After several tense minutes, Racetrack nodded and they headed down the alley and silently slipped through the darkened streets, deep into Cassie's territory.
After trotting through endless shadowy streets and blackened alleys, Racetrack halted, Bumlets coming up next to him. Bumlets glanced around warily before speaking in a quiet whisper. "What now, Race?" he asked, keeping an eye out for any unknown dangers.
Racetrack looked around as well, trying to gauge exactly where they were. He sighed, turning back to Bumlets. "We need information, and I haven't quite figured out where we're going to get that from yet."
Bumlets was silent for a moment and then whispered, "What do you mean."
Racetrack shrugged and glanced back the way they came. "I mean I don't really know what I'm goin' to do yet."
Bumlets stared at him in shock. "You don't know?" He asked, outraged. "How can you not know?! We traveled into enemy territory in the dead of night, trying to get information from people who would rather kill us than talk to us, and you don't know?"
"Shh!" Racetrack said irritably, glaring at Bumlets. "I'll figure it out, all right? I can get the lowdown on anyone. We're fine!"
Bumlets stared at Racetrack in amazement. "I don't believe this." He said, turning away and walking down the alley a few paces. "I can't believe I actually came with you of my own free will!" He said, turning around.
Racetrack was about to reply when he suddenly held up his hand, motioning for silence. Bumlets heaved a huge sigh and stomped over to Racetrack (though he stomped quietly), muttering to himself all the way. "What's that matta now?" He said in a hoarse whisper.
"Shh." Racetrack said, his hush almost silent. Bumlets paused, truly interested now and watched Racetrack's face. He was obviously listening to something, but Bumlets, who listened as well, couldn't hear a thing.
Bumlets stayed silent for several more moments, and then couldn't take it any longer. "Racetrack…" he began, but Racetrack hushed him with a hand. Bumlets fell into silence once more, becoming more annoyed by the moment. Finally Racetrack headed off down the alley, motioning for Bumlets to follow. Bumlets, bemused, followed after Racetrack's shadowy form.
After several moments, Bumlets began to hear what Racetrack had been listening to so intently just moments before. The sounds of a struggle could be heard almost clearly now, though they were attempting to be hushed as much as possible. Bumlets caught up to Racetrack, glancing over at his face, which had a harsh set to it. Though they were in hostile territory, surrounded by enemies, Bumlets couldn't help but smile. He was never one to back down from a good fight.
Racetrack led the way to another darkened alley, pausing at the head and staring in amazement. At the far end were five huge thugs surrounding two still forms which lay hunched on the ground. Two of them were placing vicious kicks into the two helpless bodies, the others watching as they nursed various injuries. Bumlets turned to Racetrack, his face filled with rage. "We wanted answers, Race. I think we got 'em."
Racetrack nodded, all joviality gone. "This is what Cassie was talkin' 'bout today." He said angrily. "Come on. We can't let 'em do this." Racetrack took several more steps into the alley and called out to the gang. "Hey! Get outta here ya bums!"
The five guys turned around in surprise, then their faces broke into ugly smiles. "You want a part 'a this?" One asked, taking a few steps away from the broken form at his feet. Bumlets could see faint movement and a slight groan met his ears. Fury washed over him and he headed forward, but was stopped by Racetrack's arm holding him back. The bully laughed and motioned for his gang. "Say hi to Jacky-boy for me." He said, turning away and running down the alley.
Racetrack and Bumlets raced over and knelt by the two still forms, turning them over carefully. Neither girl was conscious, both their faces covered in blood. Bumlets looked pained and glanced up at Racetrack. "These are Cassie's girls." He whispered.
Racetrack nodded. "Yeah." He said quietly, pulling out a handkerchief and attempting to stop the flow of blood from a nasty cut to the girl's forehead. "We've gotta get 'em outta here." He said, glancing over her to quickly assess any other damage. He was about to pick the girl up when he heard cried of outrage behind him. Racetrack glanced up surprised, then his blood ran cold as he saw a huge group of murderous girls running down the alley toward them.
He glanced over at Bumlets, seeing the same fear he felt mirrored in Bumlets' face. Racetrack stood, turning to face the onslaught, Bumlets right next to him. The reassuring bulk of Bumlets' shoulder right next to his own was strangely comforting, even in this awful situation. "Don't back down, Race." Bumlets said, seconds before the girls were upon them.
They were separated easily, though both Racetrack and Bumlets fought tooth and nail to stay upright. Bumlets' knuckles were soon bloody but he kept fighting, even though for every one of Cassie's gang he fought down, another sprang up in her place. He fought doggedly onward, trying to catch a glimpse of Racetrack through the melee. With a gasp of horror he saw Racetrack go down under a hail of punches and then felt his own head whip backward and slam against the brick wall behind him, already feeling the blood begin to pour out of the gash as he succumbed to the darkness.