One More Ace Up Your Sleeve

J-Jack...J-Jack...h-help

~Katherine POV~
I wake up the next morning and put some clothes and stuff in a bag. I walk downstairs to run away. I can't live with a person who throws innocent kids into the worst living conditions in all of New York. Being unlucky like I am, my father is there, reading this mornings paper and drinking coffee.

"Katherine, I would like to speak with you." He says. I just avoid eye contact with him and nod once. "Katherine, I don't understand why you are behaving like this." I still don't look at him. He makes his voice more firm. "Katherine Pulitzer. Look at me right now." He says. I turn and look at him, but still avoid eye contact. "Katherine I would like to know what I did to deserve this attitude." He says, his voice getting tighter with anger. "Katherine, I would advise it in your best interest to explain why you must be acting like this." He says, yelling slightly. "KATHERINE!" He shouts.

"FINE! YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW? YOU ARE A MONSTER! THATS WHY! INNOCENT CHILDREN ARE BEING HELD IN UNHEALTHY CONDITIONS AND BEING HURT AND DYING BECAUSE OF YOU! A NINE YEAR OLD, AND KIDS EVEN YOUNGER THAN THAT ARE STARVING AND LIVING WORSE OFF THAN THEY WOULD BE IN THE STREETS BECAUSE OF YOU! THATS WHY! I HATE YOU! EVERY CHILD IN NEW YORK HATES YOU!" I yell, finally snapping.

"KATHERINE PULITZER! I will not have you take that tone with me." He says angrily. "Those street rats are going to pay for this." He mutters.

"THATS IT!" I scream, letting everything out. "THEY AREN'T STREET RATS, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS! HUMANS WITH FEELINGS AND BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS! HUMAN RIGHTS THAT YOU PERSONALLY ARE TAKING FROM THEM! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! I AM ASHAMED TO HAVE TO CALL YOU MY FATHER! IF YOU HAD A HEART, OR A SINGLE WELL-MEANING BONE IN YOUR BODY, YOU WOULD COME TO YOUR SENSES. BUT YOU DON'T. ALL YOU CARE ABOUT IS MONEY AND BEING THE BEST! NEWSFLASH, THOSE BOYS OUT THERE HAVE MORE LOVE IN THEIR FINGER THAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR WHOLE BODY!" With that, I run out the door just as I hear him start to yell in anger. And it's cloudy and starting to rain. Great.

"THOSE BOYS ARE IN FOR A WORLD OF HURT AND ANGER!" He yells, than lets out an angry shout. I just keep running. I pass newsies selling on my way to the lodging house and motion for them to come with me. They follow me with confused looks on their faces.

"Was that your father yelling at you'se Kath?" Specs asks. I nod.

"Where are we's going, Katherine?" Mush asks.

"To get Jack and the rest of them." I say. We meet up with the Brooklyn newsies and take to the refuge.

~Jack POV~
I walk down through the little-known hallway to the basement steps. I head down to the dungeon. It's dark, but I can make out something in the corner. Someone, not something. "Davey? Davey is you'se there?" I ask quietly. Nothing. "Dave?"

"J-Jack...J-Jack...h-help." I hear.

"Davey!" I whisper-yell. I run to him. When my eyes adjust to the dark, I see him lying there, all beat to a pulp. His eyes are swollen and black, his face covered in nasty cuts and bruises. His stomach is bleeding real bad. All of a sudden I hear something knocking quietly on metal. I freeze, and Davey tenses up. I look in every direction but behind me. Davey, who is looking behind me, points to a small window with metal bars on it. I carefully turn around, fists raised. The knocking happens again and I walk closer to see out the window. It's a girl. Wait. "Ace?"

"Jack!"

"Ace, what is you'se doing here? It's daylight outside!"