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Chapter 8 - Harm

Warning: Mentions of Abuse, Suicide, and Self Harm
Third Person POV

Jack kept Race from going to Queens to save Spot, to keep Race safe, so Bullet and Blade sent Haste with another note.

Race and Jack had gotten no sleep.

Race stayed up, his mind telling him that this was all his fault, and Jack stayed up to watch over Race to make sure he didn't do something stupid or try to leave.

Race sold with Jack and Crutchie so that Jack could make sure Race didn't try to go save Spot and make everything worse.

Currently, the boys were all hanging in Newsie Square, just talking.

All except Race, who was sitting on the ground and playing with rocks.

Haste came into view with another note, and hands it to Race silently, before walking out of view for the Newsies.

What they didn't know was that he was going to spy.

Race just stares at the note in his hands, his hands trembling slightly.

He slowly opens the note.

Jack stood beside him so that he didn't try to run this time, though the letter was out of view for him.

Dear Anthony,

We're not very happy that you decided not to come, but we know it wasn't your choice.
To make this an easier decision, you either come to us or we kill Spot. Easy peasy.
He has a few bruises already from starting fights, but nothing too bad, so unless you want that to change, you'll come.
Don't you dare show Jack this letter. We have spies everywhere, so we'll know.

- Your brothers Carson and Caleb

(A/N Incase you've forgotten, Carson is Blade, and Bullet is Caleb)

Race doesn't say anything as his blue eyes fill his tears and his vision blurs.

Jack makes a gesture for Race to hand him the note so he can read it.

Race shakes his head. "You can't read it, they said you can't." He whispers, his breathing speeding up.

"Race," Jack starts. "I can't help you unless you give me the note." He insists, his hand still out.

Tears stream down Race's face. "He's spying, I- you can't." He whispers, his breathing becoming labored.

Haste (who the Newsies can't see) sighs. At least he's trying not to tell Jack.

Jack takes the note out of Race's hand, despite Race's attempts to stop him.

Jack couldn't let Race get hurt, he wouldn't.

He swore he'd protect him and all the other boys, and he wasn't going to break that promise.

Jack reads the note, Davey again reading it over his shoulder.

Race pulls his knees against his chest, trying to silence his cries.

Jack and Davey's eyes widen.

"Racer, you are not leaving." Jack states, looking up from the note. "No one let Race leave."

The boys nod.

"Albert, Specs, please guide Race up to his room." Jack tells them.

Albert and Specs nod, helping Race up and bringing him, along with most other Newsies, to the older boys' bunk room.

Davey entwines his and Jack's fingers. "What do we do, Jack?" He asks, his voice soft and concerned..

"I don't know, baby." Jack whispers. "I don't know." He looks off in the distance trying to see if there's a spy from Queens that he can see, but he sees none, so he walks with Davey inside the Lodging House.