Ready or Not, Here Comes Brooklyn

Chapter 4: The Lark, The Legend, and The Lover

Sorry about the long wait for the next chapter!!  Hope you enjoy!!!
-Lizzy Topaz

The wind whipped around me and I held my hat on with one hand. I fell into Jack's arms which were surprisingly muscular. I opened my eyes and looked up at him as he sat me down on my feet and grabbed my hand to drag me along behind him.

He looked kinda scared. Why would Jack, the bravest person I have ever met, be afraid of this round short man?

He pulled me past several stores and stands selling fruits and vegetables or trinkets like necklaces or bracelets which glittered in the sun. He pulled me down some alleys and eventually we lost the man.

"STOP!" Yelled David. "I can't run anymore! In fact, I won't run anymore until I know why we are running. Who was that guy?"

Jack rubbed the side of his face. "That was Snyder. He owns the Refuge. He wants to put me back in there, but I ain't going back."

"Are you a criminal?"

"No. He might think I am, but I ain't. All I did was steal some food cause I was hungry."

"Oh."

"Yeah, well, I'm past that now. I have a payin job and I don't have to steal food anymore. He doesn't have any reason to come after me other than the fact that I dented his pride."

"How did you dent his pride?" I asked.

"I escaped The Refuge." answered Jack grinning.

"And how did you manage that?" David asked with doubt in his voice.

Jack looked at him and he had undoubtedly picked up on David skepticism. "Do you doubt I could have escaped?"

David shook his head and said, "I don't think you were in there in the first place. The government would never put you into a jail if you had only stolen a loaf of bread. Especially if you were only hungry. It's survival. They wouldn't be so cruel as to put you in The Refuge for such a small crime."

"I'm sorry," Jack said, "But what world do you live in? I have had friends put in there for less. The government here isn't exactly kind or merciful as you suggest they are. The Refuge gets money based on the amount of boys in there, so Snyder always hams up the petty crimes boys commit, and he gets us sent to The Refuge. The more boys there are, the more money The Refuge gets.

"Snyder is the leader of The Refuge. He is supposed to be feeding the boys and helping us better ourselves with the money from the government, but he doesn't do anything with the money other than gamble it away and eat lavish dinners. Oh, and don't forget his custom tailored suits. That man makes me want to spit. If he finds me and catches me, I will be sent back for good and when I get too old for The Refuge, I will be sent to real jail."

David stood there and just looked at Jack. I was afraid David was going to punch Jack. Instead, David stepped forward and hugged Jack. Jack's narrowed eyes popped wider when David enveloped him into a warm hug. Les ran to them and wrapped himself around their legs.

I stood and watched carefully. How could two boys that had just met that day suddenly be such close friends? Then I realized I already knew the answer. It wasn't so far fetched. After all, she had just met Jack that day too. Jack had saved her. Jack had also saved David and Les from the rage of the Weasel and, by extension, the streets. If Jack hadn't started helping David learn to sell papes, David and his family would have been on the streets soon. But thanks to Jack they won't be. Jack saved me too. He saved me more than he will ever know.

Glistening tears began to well up in my eyes as I watched them stand there, comforting each other. I looked down ashamed at the tears streaming down my already red from exertion cheeks. I heard someone shuffle towards me, and I felt familiar strong arms wrap around me. I heard Jack humming softly in my ear. We stood there and just held me. Saving me from the stares of David and Les.