Hidden ( A Newsies Fan Fiction)

Chapter 21: How Could You?

Julie screamed as the man struck Crutchie again. She ran to be with him, but Jack appeared behind her and grabbed her by the wrist.

"Let me go!" she exclaimed. Jack started to pulled her away. She struggled and yelled, "We have ta help him!" 

Crutchie called for Jack again, in between screams of pain. "He needs you!" Julie screamed, pleading with Jack. "You can't just leave him!" 

Jack yanked her hand. "Listen, we have ta get out of here!" he said. "There's nothin' we can do!" He dragged Julie away from the square. Once they were safely away, he looked down at her.

Tears welled up in her eyes. "How could you?" she whispered.

Jack sighed. "It's bettah for only one ta be caught than three," he looked away. "I already told you. There was nothin' we coulda done."

"That's where you're wrong," she said, eyes smoldering with anger. "You could have saved him! I could have saved him if you'd let me!" Jack shook his head.

A scream of anger escaped her. "I hate you!" she yelled. She raised her hand and smacked him. His eyes grew wide and his hand flew to his cheek, where she had struck him.

"You are so selfish! You don't even care what happens to him, do you?" she screamed. "He's probably badly hurt, right now! They're probably taking him to the refuge! They'll abuse him and neglect him! No one there will care whether he lives or dies!"

"I know, I spent a good portion of my live there," she continued, fury building up. "And they won't care if he's a crip who had just been beat up by police, they'll feed him scraps not fit for a stray dog, they'll work him to the breaking point, they'll hurt him!" Jack turned away. "And you just let them take him," she whispered, tears spilling down her cheeks. 

She turned and ran off. She had to find Crutchie.