King of the City (Bellarke Edition)

Chapter 16

Clarke could hear boy's talking, she moved to the window. Newsie's, a dozen of them joking around in the street. She grabbed a lone chair propping it under the door knob to keep Emerson out, before hurrying back to the window. She shimmied it open, far enough to get her head out.

"Hey!" she spoke a harsh whisper. They were so loud they couldn't hear her.

She let out a whistle and that did the trick. There heads shot up to her location. She held her finger up signalling them to be quiet.

An older one stepped forward.

"Everything alright ma'am"

"Who's territory is this?"

"Wick is our leader"

"I need you to tell him that Clarke is locked in this building, someone needs to get Bellamy, they are going to move me tomorrow at 10" she spoke. The same boy nodded tapping two younger ones who took off running.

"How many in there?"

"One or two max" she replied.

"I started in Bellamy's crew, I've heard about you, we all have" he replied. He called two more Newsies to him.

"You two stay here, you two on the other side and I want two on the docks. I'm heading to Manhattan, she moves or anyone else and I want to know." The boys all nodded and dispersed.

He turned looking up at her.

"I'll be back, we'll get you out" he stated full of confidence. She nodded she heard him, once he was out of sight she sunk to the floor below the window.

...

Bellamy and Murphy combed every inch of there territory with the help of the Newsie's. They were halfway across the Brooklyn bridge when Bellamy stopped looking out over the water.

"We'll find her" Murphy stated.

"I knew it wasn't over. I should've kept her with me, locked her in the damn boarding house" his frustration was evident.

Murphy chuckled beside him.

"If she could hear you, you'd get an earful just for insinuating you could control her"

"Yeah well she can't and that's a problem" he growled.

"Bellamy you can't blame yourself"

"We can't lose her Murphy, we can't lose Clarke" his voice was borderline upset, his eyes glassy. Miller turned away, he'd never seen their leader like this. He ran a hand over his face glancing down the bridge. They had to find her.

"Look, someones coming" Miller stated pointing down the street.

Monty and a kid Bellamy recognized as Jack came sprinting in their direction.

"Bellamy, they found her" Monty blurted.

"Where?" Murphy asked.

"The docks in Wick's territory, Wick will meet us at the boarder. I'll show you where." the Newsie answered.

"Miller, get Lincoln and O, Nyko and a few of the older ones and meet us at the boarder, Monty stay at the boarding house" Bellamy stated.

Murphy looked to the Newsie from Wick's crew.

"Lead the way"

Hours later the streets and room were dark. She was mentally exhausted and fighting sleep, and could see shadows from the moon of passing clouds every now and then. She watched light illuminate from under the door, she assumed from a lantern that was approaching the room she was in.

She heard the door knob move followed by a curse when it wouldn't open.

"Clarke!" Emerson's voice rattled off the door.

"What?" she snapped.

"Let me in"

"No" she replied.

"I'm suppose to check on you" he growled.

"Yeah, I see my well being is your concern." she laughed from where she sat.

"I'll break the door down"

"Go for it, you wont have anywhere to lock me in then" she replied.

"I'll set the building on fire"

"And I'm sure you wont be paid" she stated, massaging her temples, she could feel the headache coming. Partly from lack of sleep combined with the whole situation, and being hungry.

She heard him slide down the door sitting in front of it.

"Probably wont pay you anyway." She added.

"He gave me his word" Emerson replied.

"You should know better, growing up on the streets should have made you a better judge of character" Silence met her comment, he must have gave up on talking to her. She leaned her head back against the wall.

She jolted awake to the sound of voices, the light momentarily blinding her. She didn't remember falling asleep, and surely didn't feel like she slept.

"Clarke" a familiar voice boomed. Finn.

She stood looking out the window. The streets were empty, it was early though, not light enough to illuminate the alleys, the sun was just rising.

"Open this door" Finn ordered, followed by him banging on it. She rolled her eyes looking back at the window. The door flying open made her jump.

Finn stood in the door with Emerson and Cage by his sides.

"Morning" Clarke nodded sarcastically.

"It is a good morning, one where I get to sell you off and never have to hear or see you again"

"You can't just sell someone, you don't own me" she faced him.

"Oh I can, and I will!" he stated, walking back out. She could hear a door slam further in the building.

"Hi blondie" Cage smiled.

Clarke turned looking back out the window.

"They aren't coming for you" She could feel Cage's breath ghost her neck. She tensed seconds before she felt his hand oh her neck, he pressed her face to the window holding her there.

"Get off of me" she growled.

"Or what?" he laughed, his other hand sliding up her waist.

She felt his grip loosen and used that moment to bring her elbow up splitting his lip open. Turning to face him.

"I said get off me" she stated looking to Emerson.

"You can't take us both Clarke" he stated. She heard a whistle out front, and one answering from the street behind her.

"Seem's I'm not alone" she replied with new confidence.

"Maybe not, but Finn isn't either" Cage replied. Just then he came back in grabbing Clarke by the arm and yanking her out of the room, and through the open door outside.

"I have a dress in the coach, I'd prefer if you would put it on for travel" Finn voiced. Clarke stood as if she didn't hear him. He shoved her towards the carriage.

"I'm not changing, I'm not boarding a carriage, I'm not leaving the Newsies"

"You are if I have to change you myself" he clenched his teeth moving towards her. She stood tall when he backhanded her. She turned back facing him, spitting in his face. He knocked her to the ground, pinning her face down, his knee in her back and his hand on her neck.

"My how the rich easily became the dirt beneath me. Your no better then those who keep your company."

"Same could be said for you" she tried to push up with him on her. Becoming more aggravated because she couldn't move him.

He pressed her hard into the dirt, before calling out.

"Cage grab me her dress"