Newsies: On the frontier.

Chapter 11: Knife to the throat.

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Chapter 11: Knife to the throat.

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I could tell it was strike day. Even from my deep, dark, prison I knew it was the day to strike. I could smell it, you could feel it. It was odd, but I just knew it. And I was so scared. I pleaded to Jack, begging him to save me from Oscar Delancey and his knife. I brought myself up onto my toes. I'd been down here for two days, and yet no-one had come. Not Jack, not Spot, not Mush or Richie. Maybe they'd been caught up with the Strike, or perhaps they didn't know I was even here, which made me even more nervous, if that was possible.

'Mornin' sunshine.' Oscar snickered, as he stepped down the stairs to my chamber. He wore what he usually wore, but upon his lips was a large sneer on his face. 'I thought we could rehearse for this afternoon'. He snickered, he plucked out a knife, running it along his pants leg, shining it up. 'Whaddya' say?'

'Don't come near me!' I shrieked. Fear was alive in my eyes as I backed up against the back of the wall, my feet shuffling along the floor. I kept moving back as he drew closer, the knife shimmering in the dim light. 'Stay away!' I warned.

'Aww', 'wittle baby scared?' He jumped at me, making a short stab at the air in front of me. I winced and threw myself hard against the wall, cowering at the sight of him. He strolled casually up to me, placing his hand on the right side of my face, cupping my cheek. He run the blunt end of the knife down my neck, tickling me. His lips caressed the side of my face, kissing down my neck, following the knife. I gripped his hips, pushing him away. But it was no use, he was forcing himself upon me, now kissing up to my face.

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I had to endure Oscar for the next three hours. He went and came as he pleased, hanging around me, kissing me, touching me. It was hell. And I didn't have Jack or Spot to protect me. I had no-one. I was sitting back down on the bed, when Oscar had returned again, his eyes bigger and greedier. He went to plant a kiss straight on my lips, but a voice cut him off.

'Save it for later boy!' Joseph Pulitzer yelled. He stood in a black suit, and his bald head was covered with a black top hat. I chewed my lip as Oscar pulled away, cleaning his mouth with his sleeve. He slid his hands into pants, chuckling. 'Todays the day.' He scoffed, patting down his pockets, checking for his watch. He pulled out the golden chain, and read the clock. 'Time to shine.' He said.

He lead me and Oscar up a pathway, and into a shed. It looked worse than my chambers. It looked haunted, and I wanted to get away quickly. Luckily we didn't hang around. We made our way down through the garden, it was gorgeous. Flowers sat in pots, bees buzzed around. It was like I'd never been in the sun before. It hit me like a ton of bricks. It was so bright. And that just made me miss all my friends. Mush, Richie, Jonsey, Davey, Isaac, Sweets, Crutchie, Spot, Will and even Jack. The awful boy he was.

We moved over to the carriage they had waiting, and we all piled in. Joseph sat next to Oscar, and Morris sat next to me. The carriage ride was short and silent. Just how I wanted it to be. We arrived to a bunch of screaming teenage boys. They all held banners, telling us where they were from. Harlem, Queens, The bronks, they were all there. Besides Brooklyn, of course.

Morris held my arms tightly as they led us into the Paper Depo'. We moved into a waiting room, were I was sat down. Oscar and Morris discussed something in silence, while Joseph talked with another man I didn't know. We waited there for at least an hour. I just sat their, twiddling my thumbs. I hoped to god Jack'd save me, or anyone. They'd step up to save a poor girls life. If they felt enough for me.

Soon the roaring outside got so loud. I could hear Jack's voice above the others, shouting the words 'STRIKE!' Over and over again, they chorused them out through the city, they rung like church bells. I could tell Joseph was getting frustrated, his cheeks were bright red.

Joseph went out outside, and it erupted in boos and groans and screams of horrible names. He calmed them down, the police behind them began to hit at the boys, some faught back, others stopped their noise. 'QUIET DOWN!' He screamed. 'I HAVE A DEAL TO MAKE.' Jack yelled for them to shut up, as Joseph continued. 'I'm sure you're all familiar with our guest?' He snickered. Oscar grabbed me around the neck, holding my hands with his other hand, her put the knife to me throat as he pushed me out through the doors. I felt the tears slide down my cheeks.

I couldn't breathe, both from shock, and the knife's pressure. I kept my neck high as we walked. Mush and Richie pushed against the police, Crutchie let out a cry, and Jack shook his head. Clancy was dumbfounded, and Will was no where to be seen. I stared directly at Jack, trying hard no to breathe. His eyes were large, and full of what appeared to be, tears. He glared his eyes at Joseph, shaking his head.

'You're turning down my offer?' He smirked. 'Stop the strikes, and she's fine.' He snickered. I thought that this was a stupid idea. The other papers would find out. But the boundary line was packed with policeman and newsies. I couldn't see New York. Just a river of bodies.'C'mon Jack. You won't let another girl die?' He smirked.

Jack's jaw clenched, and his fists balled up. I'd never seen the boys so angry. They all started yelling insults at us, and the Delanceys. But Joseph held up his hands and they went quiet. He clicked his fingers, and Oscar's knife cut the skin slowly. Blood trickled down my throat slowly. I let out a blood curdling squeal in pain as it happened. Air seeped into the thin cut, stinging me. 'JACK!' I screamed, struggling in his grip. I shook in Oscar's hands, but he merely laughed. 'JACK PLEASE!' I cried. He continued to slowly slice my throat, the knife skimming the flesh lightly, tempting Jack to stop it. 'JACK!' I could feel my breathing stopping, my voice cracking. 'J-J-JACK!'.I thought I was actually going to die, at Oscar and partly Jack's hand. I was going to die because of stubborn Jack.

Richie pushed Jack to the floor, and busted through the group of boys. He went to pull me from Oscar's grip, but it was too late. Richie had already got Oscar's knife, straight through his chest. He fell to his knees, his green eyes staring up to mine. I screamed murder, dropping down to him, his body went limp, and I everything slowed down. Jack fell back through the crowd.

And now I knew what it felt like, to have someone die in your arms.

Oh - My - God.