I left the orphanage late at night and found my way back to the Square. Instead of going to my room inside the Lodging House, I climbed up the fire escape to Jack's 'penthouse'. He wasn't there. I guess I'm not the only one who needed to leave. I went to a corner, a corner they couldn't see in the dark, and put my knees to my chest and laid my head down on my knees. My blonde hair fell as a shield to the world. I fell asleep like this. I woke up in the same position in the morning light. There was a blanket wrapped around me. Rather than being utterly alone, a boy was asleep next to me. I turned to see who it was and saw JoJo. His dark gray cap was covering his eyes. I remembered that I was still clutching my brother's cap. 

"Mornin'." He murmured, not opening his eyes.

"Mornin'." I muttered.

"I'm sorry about Crutchie." He told me solemnly, lifting up his hat.

"Wasn't your fault." I sighed, studying the tan hat in my hands.

"It wasn't your fault either." JoJo smiled kindly. "Or Race's."

"Jack could've done somethin'." I whispered bitterly. "He ran away. He ran."

"But Clara, you're forgettin' that Snyder captured and beat him when he was younger." JoJo reminded me. "And without Jack, we'd have to surrender."

"I guess that's true." I admitted.

"Speakin' of Jack, have you seen him?" JoJo asked.

"No." I shook my head. "He might be at the theater. Or the Deli. Or he went to Brooklyn or somethin' to escape."

"Let's go, then." He decided, standing up and offering me his hand. I took it, and we went on our way. 

"First stop, theater." He declared, trying to lighten my mood. That was usually my brother's thing to do. Especially since my best friend might be dead. And especially since my best friend is my brother. I nodded.

When we got there, I knew that there were bedrooms for actors living in-house. Medda lives here too. JoJo knocked on the door and she opened it. 

"Cass! And JoJo!" She smiled. "What a surprise! Come in."

She ushered us inside.

"Jack's in there." She told us quietly, showing us to a door.

"Thank you." I told her, JoJo and I walking up to it.

"I think you should go in first." He whispered, carefully quiet. "You both is really close to Crutchie."

"Okay." I nodded, slowly opening the door. I was expecting to see Jack asleep in his bed, but instead, he was reading a letter.

"Jack?" I asked cautiously. His green eyes snapped up.

"Cass." He greeted me curtly, going back to the letter.

"What's that?" I asked, walking up to him to see. He bent it so I couldn't see the words.

"It... It's a letter from Crutchie." He told me, guilt washing over his face. Then he reached into his pocket and handed me a piece of paper.

Dear Cass,

I tried to fight them. I did! And I think I did pretty good, too. Well, until Oscar hit me with them brass knuckles. How are you coping? I know you aren't the GREATEST with this sort of conflict. Knowing you, you probably disappeared for awhile? 

On a lighter note, the food ain't bad. That might be because we ain't gotten no food, though. Ha-ha? 

I saw you when they were arresting me. Race was doing what I told him, so can you tell him I said thanks? I know that you wanted to help, but I couldn't let us both get arrested. But I'm good. I'm doing just fine. You don't need to worry about me.

But do me a favor? Tell the boys to stay together, watch each others backs? I'll see you as soon as I can.

Your brother, Crutchie.

But something was weird. This wasn't Crutchie's handwriting. Jack didn't notice.

"We have to go see him!" He exclaimed. 

"I dunno if that's a good idea." I sighed, rubbing my neck.

"We're goin'." He decided, leading me out. "Hey JoJo." 

"Hey." JoJo smiled, walking alongside us. We walked to the Refuge and figured out which window Crutchie was in. Jack, JoJo, and I carefully climbed up the rusty fire escape. When I peered through the barred window, I didn't just see my brother. I saw maybe a dozen other boys sitting where ever they could. Then I saw my brother. He was leaning against the metal rails of the side of the metal bunk bed (which, might I add, looked to be old as dirt) asleep. I saw that his eye was swollen, there were cuts all over his face, and he was clutching his bum foot in his sleep. Even while unconscious, his face was twisted in pain. He was laden with scrapes and bruises.

"Crutchie!" Jack hissed, alerting the other boys to wake him. His eyes flickered open. But I don't think he could actually see us. 

"He can't move his head." A boy explained, voice worried.

"What?" I sucked in a breath.

"They... They took him away and he came back like this. He was passed out." The boy told us. I looked and saw that my brother had slipped back into unconsciousness. 

"They didn't mess up his neck or anything." Jack assured me. "Snyder did that to me once, it'll wear off."

"We have to get him out." I whispered, climbing up to try and slip between the bars. Before I could get the rest of my body through, Jack and JoJo pulled me back. 

"He can't move." Jack told me firmly. "Snyder shot a tranquilizer that numbed his entire body. Crutchie can't move."

"But can we try?" I begged.

"We should try and get some of the other boys out." JoJo murmured.

"Just a few." Jack agreed. "If we took too many Snyder'll notice and take it out on Crutchie."

JoJo nodded and they helped three boys out. Alex, Jasper, and Grains. Grains is a Brooklyn Newsie. Then we made our escape back to the theatre where Davey, Katherine, and Les were looking for Jack. JoJo and I took the boys back to the Lodging House. The instant the door opened Race darted out and threw his arms around me. I was taken aback for a minute, but returned the embrace. I could feel his warmth, and even though it was kind of humid outside, it wasn't uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry." He breathed in my ear, causing the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I reached into my pocket and handed him the letter Crutchie--- not Crutchie, someone wrote for him to me.

The hug ended and Race quickly read over the message.

"He don't blame me?" He looked up at me, blue eyes pleading.

"No." I shook my head, smiling in spite of my brother's conditions. 

"Did Davey tell you about the rally?" Albert asked, pushing through the crowd.

"No, what rally?" I cocked my head.

"We want to organize a city-wide rally for every working kid." Elmer said excitedly. He was bruised from the fight as well. He had a small bruise at the bottom of his neck, someone probably punched him. It's a miracle that they didn't hit him harder, otherwise his trachea would collapse and he wouldn't be able to breathe and he would die.

"After working hours." Race added.

"And we could get all the cities Newsies!" I exclaimed, catching on. Then we all went inside with the boys we had rescued to figure out how to help them.