From Crutchie To Wheels (And a Little Les Trouble)

Specs

Specs woke up in the refuge the next morning. He had learned that the boy who was beaten last night's name was Mute. He couldn't talk, so it explains why he didn't scream or protest last night. He was told that the boy tried to hang himself to get out of the hell hole, but it just ended up damaging his vocal chords. He also learned that Timmy was only 8 and had been through a hell of a life. It must suck only having one leg. One leg. Crutchie.

Specs thoroughly missed the boys. But especially Crutchie and Les. They were probably going through more hell than he was.

Just then Snyder burst through the door.

"It's a Friday so you know what that means!" He said with an evil grin. "Youngest first."

He yanked Timmy off the bed and dragged him out the door.

Specs sat in complete silence wondering what torture they could possibly be doing to an 8 year old.

15 minutes later, Timmy's limp body was dragged back in with blood and bruises everywhere. He was tossed on the floor with a final swift kick. Brit and one of the larger boys ran over to him as Snyder dragged out his next victim, a slightly older boy named Turtle.

Turtle was screaming and thrashing and trying to hide his face from Snyder.

After most of the boys had gone, it was Specs's turn.

"You're up, Blind Boy."

Specs was dragged by his hair down the hallway into a small room. There were heavily spiked brass knuckles and whips and all sorts of torture devices lining the walls.

Snyder walked in behind him and help up something.

"If you can read this paper, I will let you go, no strings attached."

"Ok."

Specs strained his eyes to see the blurry paper, but couldn't make out any words.

"I can't. I need my glasses."

"WELL YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR GLASSES!" Snyder screamed. He punched Specs in the jaw and he fell to the floor.

"I'm sorry! I can't see without them!"

"You think we don't know that? I thought you were the smartest Manhatten Newsie there was. Guess I was wrong. Dumb boy can't even read."

Specs was jerked up then handcuffed to a chair and punched and whipped over and over again.

He couldn't even scream by the time the whipping was done. Then Snyder did something Specs never saw him do before. He pulled out a knife and grinned.

He walked over to Specs and slowly dragged the knife across his back, carving out words. Specs couldn't tell what he was writing but it was long and painful, neverless.

His beating ended with a final question.

"So, Specs, how do you feel about brass?"

"What do you...?"

Snyder cut him off with a swift punch of the brass knuckles to the wrist. No screams could leave his mouth. Only an expression of shock.

He was dragged back into the room. Specs has passed out by now. The boys ran over to him and gasped when they saw his back.

Your little friend is dead and there's nothing you can do about it.

Sorry I didn't update last week. I've been having family issues and really bad writers block.