The Rose of Manhattan

It Was Worth It

Rose's POV

"ROSE!!!"

The boys looked at me with wide scared eyes. "It's going to be okay," I whispered. "Just. . . Everyone just stay here and. . . And don't make a sound." The boys nodded as I took a deep breath and headed down stairs.

"You. . . You called for me, sir?" I stuttered.

"Get. Over. Here." His back was to me as I walked into the kitchen. When he turned around, I could practically see the steam coming out of his ear. Without warning he back handed me, causing me to fall.

"Where is that crippled boy?" He sneered as I sat on the floor, clutching my cheek. "You know," he laughed bitterly, "the newsie who went on strike." I gasped when he kicked me in the stomach. "You know, Jack Kelly's little friend?" His eyes narrowed and fist clenched as he said Jack's name through gritted teeth. I gasped and tried to scramble away, but stopped when I hit the kitchen wall.

"Sir, I. . ." I tried to explain, but he shook his head and put his finger to his lips, shushing me.

"One of the boys told me you helped that crippled boy escape. I guess technically you wouldn't say he escaped. You let none other than Jack Kelly come in and take him."

"Mr. Snyder. . ." I gasped out, quietly.

"Don't interrupt me!" He yelled, hitting me. Snyder cleared his throat as he fixed his sleeve, standing up. "The little birdie also told me that you have been secretly washing the boys' clothes, bringing them food and you have even been stealing my pain pills and giving them to those rats."

"Sir, I only did that for Crutchie. He was. . . He was hurting so bad, I just. . ." He cut me off by kicking my shoulder, causing me to collapse.

"Did you or did you not let both Jack Kelly and that crippled boy go?" The pain made my head spin. All I could see was black dots and Snyder squatting down.

"Didn't I warn you about lyin' to me, Rose?" He smiled with an eerie tone in his voice.

"It was worth it," I mumbled as the blackness took over.

**********

The next thing I remember is the cold concrete underneath me. "Rose!" I thought I heard, along with footsteps running on the concrete.

"Rose? Can you hear me?" The person asked shakily.

I finally opened my eyes to see Davey looking down at me with a worried expression on his face. "Davey?" I asked softly. I tried to sit up, but collapsed in pain. He reached forward and caught me before I could hit my head on the concrete.

"Yes, it's me," he sighed like he was relieved. "I'm here. Everything is going to be okay, but I need you to wrap your arms around my neck. Can you do that?" He asked as he wrapped his arm around my waist. I nodded as I slowly wrapped my arms around him. He carefully took me in his arms and stood up.

"Davey?" I asked making him look down at me.

"Yes, Rose?"

"Wasn't it light outside a few minutes ago?" I asked making his facial expression change. He didn't answer. Instead he just continued to walk down the street.

"Where are we going?" I asked softly.

"I'm taking you to Jack," he said with a small laugh. I couldn't stop the smile that formed as I thought about the fearless leader of the Manhattan Newsies.