A Troubled Family || Newsies Soulmates AU

Chapter 7 - Jack

- Chapter 7 - Secrets -
Warnings: Bullying, anxiety, abuse, blood
Third Person POV

Right when Anthony woke up, he locked himself in his room.

Jack had carried him to his room, and they had left the room for one minute to get bandages and stuff to treat his injuries.

And Anthony apparently woke up and took that chance to lock them out of the room.

They hadn't even known he had woken up.

Anthony sat on the floor of the room, crying, with his back against the door.

His hands, mouth, and clothes were bloody, along with other parts of him, and he was in pain, but seemed to ignore that.

Most of the boys were outside of his door, trying to convince him to let them in.

They had lost the key the year before Anthony came, so that wouldn't work, and Medda was at her Theater.

"Anthony. My name is Spot. I was the one who was talking to you after my friend and I chased the Delanceys off. Remember me? Albert is my soulmate." They hear a quiet 'yes' from Anthony. "I need you to let us in there so we can help you."

Anthony shakes his head, not that they could see that, but by his silence they could tell he wasn't going to.

"Anthony, what if only a few of us came in? Like Jack, Crutchie, Albert, Specs, and Mush?" Davey asks him. Anthony shakes his head again.

"Am I-I in- in trouble?" Anthony whispers. A few of the boys share looks.

"No? Why would you be in trouble? We just want to help you" Finch tells Anthony. They hear a few sobs escape his lips, breaking most of the Newsies' hearts.

"My father- he- he said he wanted to- to help me" Anthony trails off, more tears streaming down his face.

"What happened after that, Anthony?" Elmer questions. Anthony shakes his head, putting his hands over his mouth to try and muffle his sobs.

It wasn't working. It broke their hearts to hear him like this.

"Jack." Blink starts, walking towards him. Jack turns to face him, "Medda is on the phone. She needs to speak with you."

Jack nods, going into his room with Blink, who hands him the phone.

"Jack." Medda starts. "I need you to figure out what caused his panic attack. It can't just be bullies. I need you to figure out what his father did to him."

"I got it, Mom" Jack agrees. Medda smiles a bit to herself, she liked it when Jack called her 'mom'. He didn't do it often.

"When you figured that out, come back to the phone. I'll be here" Medda instructs him. Jack nods.

Jack hands the phone back to Blink, before going back to the hallway outside of Anthony's bedroom.

"Anthony. It's Jack. I need you to be honest with me for a minute, can you do that?" Jack questions.

A small 'yes' can be barely heard from Anthony in response.

"Good. After your father said he would help you, what did he do? What did he do to you, Anthony?" Jack asks him. A few more sobs escape Anthony's lips.