8 Days, 8 Letters; Spot Conlon

Choices

Songs: Santa Fe (Reprise) (1992 Version)

Great Expectations from The Outsiders Musical (if you haven't listened to the soundtrack you definitely should, it's amazing!)

A/N: Hi everyone. Please enjoy the next chapter of 8 Days, 8 Letters.

Present Day: July 1899

Jack's POV

They pulled me out of the carriage and shoved me up the steps of the building. I walked inside with Mr. Seitz. We entered Mr. Pulitzer's office and he left, leaving me alone.

Pulitzer sure had it nice. Everything was grand like something out of those books Jaime reads.

I went over to a table and picked up a photograph.

It was of a kid about my age in a Union uniform.

I heard someone coming down the stairs.

"Sit," Pulitzer said.

I sat down in the chair next to the table.

"You know what I was doing when I was your age, boy?"

I shook my head.

"I was in a war. The Civil War."

"Yeah, I heard of it," I replied. "So did ya win?"

He walked around his office.

"People think that the wars are about right or wrong. They're not. They're about power."

"Yeah, I heard of that too. Ya know I don't just sell your papes, Joe. Sometimes I read 'em."

He leaned over the large meeting table.

"Power of the press is the greatest power of them all," he lectured.

He began walking around his office again while continuing his spiel.

"I told the city how to vote. I shape its future."

He waved his arms to demonstrate.

"Yeah? Well, right now I'm just thinkin' about two futures, and that's mine and my sista's," I responded.

He leaned over the meeting table.

"Well, so am I, not," he said. "I have the power to see that you stay locked in the Refuge and your sister starves in the streets."

I could feel anger flash over me. How dare he bring my sister in something between me and him. I have to stay calm. It's the only way to keep Jaime and me safe.

"And I have the power to break out again and keep her far from the likes of you," I retorted.

"Or I could see you released tomorrow free and clear with more money in your pockets than you could earn in, well, three lifetimes."

I leaned forward in the chair.

"Are you bribin' me, Joe?"

"Mm. Well, no."

I stood up.

"Well, it's been nice chattin' with you's, Joe, but I gotta be goin' now."

He walked up to me.

"Wait. You listen to me, boy. Now you shut your mouth and listen to me. Just shut up and listen to me for once! It's no game I'm playing. You work for me until the strike is over. And it will end, boy, make no mistake, without you. Then you go wherever you want to buy a ticket for, away from the Refuge, these foul streets. Free. With money to spend and nobody chasing you."