burning red

- 4 -

Spot slumped down on the steps of the lodging house while Felix and Hot Shot silently hovered over him. It had been days ever since they started looking for Lilly and they went around every borough, asking newsies whether they had seen her or not.

Every borough but one.

Spot had intentionally left Manhattan for last as he considered what Felix had suggested. He was so sure that they couldn't have taken her, but Race was her childhood best friend and initially, her stay in Brooklyn was supposed to be temporary.

If you consider 5 years as temporary.

He remembered the day she got dropped off to Brooklyn. Lilly refused to leave Race and Jojo's side, she kept her hands locked onto theirs as tears fell down her round cheeks. It was before they finally separated when Race had promised her that he would come back for her. And maybe he did.

"so, we only have 'Hattan left." Hot Shot clicked his tongue. "first thing in tha mornin'?" He suggested.

Spot sighed. "fine."

"we's gonna find 'er, Spot." Hot Shot reassured and put a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "I won't give up until we do." He left him alone outside with Felix, who simply stood there and stared at the ground.

The blonde, messy haired boy slowly lifted up his gaze, his head lifting up after his eyes did. "Manhattan's left." He sang in his signature monotoned, raspy voice.

"they don't have 'er." Spot spat, keeping his eyes on the pavement.

"first thing in the morning, then." Felix strolled into the lodging house, chewing on a toothpick that hung off of his lips. Spot looked back as Felix closed the door behind him.

If Race didn't have her, then he was sure that he knew where she was.

✧༝┉˚*❋ ❋*˚┉༝✧

"she's what?!" Albert yelled and started to pace around the room with his hands on his head, fistfuls of red in them. "no- no, this is a joke." He forced out a laugh and faced Spot and Felix again. "that was a good one, nice one."

Race ran over to Harley, putting his head near her ear before quietly asking her to, "round up tha newsies and lead 'em to tha circulation gate fah me," ending with a, "will ya?" before giving a quick kiss to her temple and sending her off with the newsies.

Felix held a large stick over his shoulder. "I's surprised it took ya this long ta notice." With a subtle smirk, he looked down and looked back up at the redhead.

"how could this happen?" He disregarded Felix's comment and faced Spot, who's expression was numb.

"I- I don't know, alright?" He spoke quietly and his jaw was clenched. "I came heah ta see Harley-"

Race raised an eyebrow at him, leaning backwards on a bunk bed post.

"- an' when I came back, she was gone an' theah was this note." Spot stuck his hand into his pocket, pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Albert. He gave Spot a look before opening it and reading the four words printed on.

"she doesn't belong heah." Albert read aloud as Race peered over his shoulder.

"Felix thinks ya took 'er." Felix clicked his tongue and nodded at Spot's words.