In Another World- A Newsies Fanfiction

Chapter 2

They were nearing the army base when Jack found the pictures that might save his life. He stopped in his tracks, and Katherine spun around.

"What are you doing?" she asked. "We need to keep moving."

"Listen Katherine, dis might be hard ta believe, but I'se got it figured out. I thinks I'se from an alternate dimension. I'se got proof too." He pulled out the photographs in his pocket. He handed them to Katherine, and she grew visibly paler as she looked at them. One was of Katherine's seventeenth birthday party at The Lodge, one was Jack and Katherine posing in front of a fountain in Central Park, and one was of Katherine holding a small kitten. 

"You see, in dis other dimension, we'se were, well, together. Dat's how I knew you. Clearly it's different 'ere. I'se don't think I even existed 'ere." Jack explained. Katherine's hands were shaking.

"But these...I...you..." she stammered. She finally handed them back. "You're really serious, aren't you?" Jack nodded. There was a long pause.

"Well," Katherine finally said, "I guess the army base isn't the right place to take you after all, but we're right here and I need to report to Commander Higgins, so we'll have to go there anyway." 

"Where is youse gonna take me after?" Jack asked.

"It's not safe to say. I'll tell you when we get there." Katherine said. She abruptly stopped and put her arm out to stop Jack.

"What...?" Jack asked. Katherine nodded at the ground, and Jack saw only grass.

"It's a trap." Katherine explained. "Step in that circle of grass, and you'll fall right through into a pit with some unpleasantly sharp spears at the bottom." Jack shuddered, and they walked around the trap. Jack was so busy examining the trap that he didn't even notice the large metal complex in front of them until Katherine knocked on the door. It made an echoing noise. 

"Who's there?" A voice asked from the other side of the door.

"The shadow of lion spirit brings the tale of the north." Katherine said. Jack stared at her blankly, but it must've been code for something, because the door opened. Katherine slipped in and pulled Jack after her. They entered a dark hallway, which fell into near blackness when the door was shut behind them. The man who had spoken grabbed a torch from the wall and held it out. 

"Spot!?" Jack gasped.

"I ain't been Spot for a long time." Spot said. "I'se Commander Conlon. Whose dat ya got with ya, Plumber?" 

"Commander, this is Jack Kelly. I'm taking him back to The Sisters, but I need to bring my report to Commander Higgins while I'm still in the country."

"The Sis-" Jack was cut off my Katherine sharply elbowing him in the ribs.

"Not the time, Kelly." she hissed at him. She headed deeper into the hall and Jack followed. After turning a corner, they were in a large, well lit room full of soldiers in tan uniforms. Jack immediately recognized several faces. He saw Albert, Mush, Finch, Kid Blink, JoJo, Buttons, and Elmer, among others. Katherine led Jack to the back of the room. The soldiers saluted or nodded with respect when Katherine passed by them. 

"Them boys really respect ya." Jack said. Katherine didn't even acknowledge his words. A decorated soldier stood from his chair, and Jack recognized Race.

"Commander Higgins." Katherine said.

"Katherine." Race said. "Who is this?" Jack noticed that Race had done away with his New York accent.

"This is Jack Kelly. I'm taking him back to The Sisters, but I came to make my report first." Katherine said. "I heard plans for an attack on the northeastern camp in two days, but our underground system fooled them into thinking there are only a small amount of soldiers at that camp, so they're only sending enough soldiers to match their estimated numbers."

"And the..." Race trailed off, glancing at Jack. "Davidson mission?"

"A success." Katherine said. "That is all. I'll be on my way now if you have no further questions."

"Of course." Race said. "We salute the lion spirit." He gave Katherine a shallow bow. Katherine turned and exited the room. Jack followed. They left the camp and walked back into the woods. Katherine stopped abruptly and turned to Jack.

"I'm taking you back to The Sisters." she said. "Since it's across the ocean, we have a faster way of travelling. Come here." Katherine beckoned Jack closer. She pulled a gold locket out of her pocket and put the long chain around her neck as well as Jack's. It forced them to stand very close together, and Jack found himself longing for the days with his Katherine more than ever. Katherine opened the locket, but instead of a picture, a soft glow was inside the locket. It grew brighter and brighter until, with a flash, Katherine and Jack vanished from the woods.