Newsies: little sister

Chapter 6

After a while, Jack knocks on his door. it is now 6:00 PM.  One of the newsies tells Jack where they might be because he heard them talk about what they wanted to do.

Esther answers the door. "Oh, Jack come on in. David and Annie have fallen asleep on the couch.

Jack walks in and finds them asleep. He walks up to them. He nudges Annie to wake up.

"Huh, what?" Annie slowly wakes up. She finds herself asleep on David's shoulder while he is resting on the side of the coach now.

"You guys fell asleep. it is time to head home and eat some food. Come on." Jack helps her up.

"Mrs. Jacob tell Davey that I had a great time with him today."

"I will, Annie. you are welcome over anytime."

Annie smiles at her before they leave.

"So, what did you do with Davey?" Jack asks her.

"Well, I got to meet his sister and Mother. They are a very nice family." She lets out a sigh.

"Everything okay?"

Annie doesn't answer.

Jack waves his hand near her face. "Um, hello? Earth to Annie" Jack snaps his fingers.

Annie jumps, "Jack you scared me." She lets out a sigh of relief.

"Annie is everything okay? you seemed to have something on ya mind."

"Well, I guess I was just thinking about how nice it would've been to have what he has.

"Well, you do now." Jack puts his arm around her. "Remember you have people who care for you now.

"Plus I know how you feel." Jack puts his arm around her shoulder.

"Since when? I guess it wasn't always like this, was it?" Annie looks at him and realizes his life wasn't always like this.

"Yes and no" Jack smiles at her.

Annie tilts her head in confusion.

Jack lets out a laugh. "Well, I always had a family, I just didn't know that the newsies cared for me as they did. Being family isn't always blood-related. You can find family in your friends.

"What made you know they were your family?"

"Well, when I was gonna go off to Santa Fe, that was my dream to go to Santa Fe. To feel like I had a home. Little did I know I had one already.

Jack looks at her and smiles, "Plus if I left I guess I never would have known I had a sister." 

Annie goes to Jack and gives him a tight hug.

"I love you, Jack. Don't ever leave me."  Annie says to him.

"Hey, hey look at me." Annie lets go of jack. Jack has one hand on her shoulder and one hand under her chin.

Jack notices she has tears in her eyes. "Don't ya worry? I will never leave you. I will always be here. You can count on me. Your big brother will protect ya."

Annie smiles at him and they hug again. After they let go of one another.

"So, what are we going to do for supper?" Jack asks Annie. 

"I'm not quite sure, why don't you pick Jack."

"Well, let's see, we could to sandwiches, they are quick and easy, plus very yummy."

"Sounds good to me. let's do it." 

They head back to Jack's place. After supper. They both head to bed because they need to get an early start tomorrow. It's jack's day off and he always goes over to the Newsies to help them out.

in the morning, they get up early to eat breakfast. They are sitting at the table talking and laughing and having a good time.

"I'll be right back." Jack gets up from the chair and walks away. towards his room.

After a while, Annie gets concerned. Jack has been gone for 5 minutes. She hasn't heard anything from him.

"Jack?" Annie says while getting up. She looks around her. She doesn't see or hear anything.

"Jack are you in here?" She knocks on his door. The door slowly opens making a loud creaking sound,

Annie takes a step back frightened. She takes a deep breath and walks into his room.

"Jack?" The door slams shut. The world around her goes black. She begins to fall thru the floor.

She lands on the ground. Still surrounded by darkness. Someone's hand touches her shoulder. Thinking it was Jack she hugs it.

"This is not how a lady acts." She jumps back and sees her Grandmother.

"Wh-what? How did you find me?"  She tries to step back but something is stopping her.

"You don't think I haven't been keeping track of this street rat!"
Suddenly Jack appears and he is trapped in an invisible box.

Annie attempts to run to Jack but she falls into a deeper hole screaming for help.

While Annie is having a nightmare. Jack wakes up. He is hearing Annie yelling his name.

Jack goes to her room finding her hanging off the bed.

"Annie!' Jack runs to her he tries to get her back on the bed.

"No! let me go! I don't want to go back!"

"Annie, hey wake up!"

"Jack! please! Don't hurt him please!"

Jack holds onto Annie. He gently shakes her. She jolts awake. She is breathing heavily looking at her surroundings.

"Hey, Annie, it's okay. I got ya." Annie hugs Jack tightly. "It was just a nightmare.

"Jack you don't understand what she is capable of!"

"Look at me." Annie let go of the hug. "If she tries anything. I will be there. I can defend myself. I've dealt with awful situations."

Jack lets out a sigh, "I know you are sacred. You know what she can and will do. You don't know when she will try, but staying in a state of panic will not help ya. In the end, that will be ya downfall." 

Annie wipes away her tears, and she lets out a sigh. "You are right, Jack. How do you get rid of the constant fear?"

He thinks for a moment, "Thats just it, the fear will always be there. It will either go away on its own. Or it will be fought head-on.'

Jack gives her a quick hug. "I know what you are going thru, I ran my entire life from someone. Not knowing where he is, or what he is gonna do. When the time comes you will know what you need to do." 

Jack gets up, "Come on, we can sleep in the living room." Annie her pillow and blanket. They sleep next to one another on the floor, talking till they fell asleep, just like Jack used to do with Crutchie.

In her heart, she knew whatever happened. It would all be alright.