No Freedom

Chapter 9

"There's two Katherine's," Elmer gaped, rubbing his eyes to make sure he wasn't hallucinating.

"Yep," I shrugged. "Jack, explanation, now," I demanded.

The Newsboy leader held his hands up in defense, "Kath apparently has a twin sister."

"Skylar," the second Katherine grinned, thrusting her hand out to me. "But my friends call me Sky."

"Katie," I grinned, shaking her hand.

"Elmer," the black-haired boy yawned, shaking Sky's hand as well.

(A/N: Sky is my character for another Newsie based book that hasn't been started yet. I tend to get creative and make a ton of characters and have to figure out what to do with them all. Haha. That's okay. After this one is finished, there will be another one out soon after. It'll be fascinating to write. Happy reading!)

"So, you're Katherine's twin sister?" I asked, eyeing the two ginger girls.

"Yep," they both nodded.

"Not fully identical because Sky has the beauty mark right under her right eye, while Kath doesn't," I grinned. Everyone blinked rapidly, staring at me dumbfounded. "What? When you're not allowed out or alone for a long period of time, you start noticing things."

"Okay, then," Jack shrugged. "What else do ya know about us?"

"Hmm," I glanced around the room.

"Any day now," Race joked.

"Alright, Race, we'll start with you," I laughed. "You keep your cigars under your pillow at night to keep the others from stealing them."

"Wha- how?!" He yelped, pulling his current cigar from his mouth.

"When you're me, you notice everything," I shrugged. "Romeo, you're up."

"Aye, Ma'am," he grinned.

"You read Shakespeare," I chuckled.

"Aye," he laughed, adjusting his cap.

"My turn!" Jack yelled.

"You stole Race's pocket knife yesterday and hid it in your roll of illustrations," I grinned.

"Umm...I gotta go re-hide that now," he laughed, running off before returning a short while later.

I yawned, "I'm gonna call it a night. It was nice meeting you girls." I waved before heading upstairs and changing into a flannel nightgown.

"Katie?" Elmer asked, the door squeaking as he slowly opened it. "You awake?"

"Yeah, what's up?" I asked, propping myself up on my elbow.

"You got a torch for any of the fellas?" He inquired, voice quiet.

"Yeah," I answered, looking down at him. "Why?"

"Um.." He rubbed the back of his neck, "the others were wonderin' and wanted me to ask."

"Oh," I sighed.

"Goodnight," he sighed.

"Goodnight," I replied, positioning myself to where I wouldn't squash Patrick if I rolled over.

(A/N: There's a small chance I forgot about the little brother for a bit. It's okay. He's back now haha. I'm done talking now. Byee!)

"Katie!" Patrick yelled in my ear.

"What?" I groaned, flipping over.

"Your nose is bleeding," he said, small face filled with concern.

"No it's," I felt up by my nose, pulling my hand away. My index and middle finger were covered in blood and I felt a bit of it dribble onto my top lip. "Okay, you're right." I slid out of the bed, seeing Elmer had left. I dug through my bag, grabbing a few cloths and blowing my nose with them until the bleeding ceased.

"I know," he shrugged, running out of the room.

"Pat, get changed," I sighed, going down the hall to the bathroom with a navy blue dress and grey flats.

"Fine," he sighed, closing the door. I quickly changed into my outfit and headed back to the room, waiting for Pat to finish. He opened the door and ran downstairs. I sighed, grabbing my songbook and a pencil. "Pat, where'd you go?"

The front door closed. Aw, crap! I placed my pencil and notebook on a chair and ran out. I ran down the street, searching frantically before careening into someone, flattening them. "Ouch!" They yelped, voice familiar.

"Sorry!" I apologized, green eyes widening.

"Katie?"

"Elmer?"

"The heck are ya doin' out here right now?" He asked, dark eyes searching my face.

"Patrick ran out and I was lookin' for him when I crushed ya. Sorry," I responded, unable to will myself to move.

"Need help lookin' for him?" He asked.

"No, no. I don't want you to loose a day's pay for me," I replied, forcing myself to move off him.

"You's worth it," he smiled, helping me up.

My face flushed," erm..thanks."

"Lemme know if ya need help," he grinned as I headed toward the bakery.

"Pat?" I asked, passing a broken window. A broken window. Holy crap! Why is the window broken?! I shoved the door open, calling for my brother louder and more forcefully.

"What?" He asked, poking his head out from the counter.

"What happened?" I asked, jogging over.

"He's still here," he shushed me as heavy footsteps decended the stairs. I shoved him under the counter, following closely.

"Katie, come out," the gruff voice bellowed.

I pulled a rolling pin from a box under the counter, standing up and facing the rather thin, yet muscular man. "What do you want and how do you know my name?" I hissed, holding the rolling pin in front of myself.

"Thought you'd remember your doctor," he hissed, flashing a gun in an angle holster at his side.

"Doctor Callaway?" I asked.

"No ship, Sherlock," he growled.

"It was you on the bridge," I hissed.

"Yes."

"Why the act? Why'd you try to throw me off?" I seethed, noticing Elmer outside.

"You're the only cancer patient I've have live as long as you have. I was getting tired of the visits and telling you the same crap over and over. Besides, you're gonna die anyway," he laughed, white hair covering his forehead.

"I get it's hard and boring, but you don't take your emotions out on your patients, regardless if they're dying or not," I growled.

"You're different. Plus, you've got those boys protecting you. If it weren't for them, you would've died there on the bridge. You're just as weak as everyone else with cancer and will always need protecting!"

Elmer stepped through the broken window, glass crunching under his boots. In one motion, Callaway was beside me with the gun pointed at my head.