"Trial for Jack Kelly, for hosting the rally, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest." The bayliff stepped back, nodding respectfully at the judge.

"Prosecution, your opening statement?" The judge nodded as Scammerton stood up about to talk.

Just then, Snyder burst through the doors. A fat grin to suit his fat face.

"I got this, your honor."

To their surprise, the judge nodded.

"Is that even legal?" Race hissed.

"Calm down." Anastasia kept her eyes trained on Jack. "If you squeeze my arm harder it'll come off!"

"Right." Race deadpanned, releasing the now nail-imprinted arm.

"This boy has been a Manhattan newsie for.. as long as I could remember." Snyder glared. "And he's been a pain in my side for twice that amount of time."

"How lovely," Jack snarled. "you people are friends."

Anyone who knew him well enough could tell that he was internally panicking- just from the way his eyes darted around the room, unfocusing.

"He is also pending on his convicttion of loitering food and clothing!" Snyder through his arms up. "People like him should not be walking around the street!"

"I was actually never convicted." Jack crossed his arms.

"Not helping Jackie Boy!" Race yelled out.

"I bet, your honor, a couple years in the refuge will fix him up to be a capable young man." Snyder smiled warmly.

Anyone could tell it wasn't real, just from the way his eyes twinkled with glee.

"No! You can't do this!" Davey yelled from the stands, Katherine holding him back.

"Four years should do it." Snyder nodded. "Till he is just over age."

"So be it." The judge nodded. "I hereby sentence Jack Kelly imprisonment in the refuge till he is age twenty-one."

"No!" Anastasia shouted, along with the protests of other newsies.

Jack locked his eyes with Racetracks.

Just, Racetrack.

"Take care of them Race." Jack nodded as he was pulled away.

Race's eyes widened as Jack was dragged further away from their family.

"TAKE CARE OF THEM WHILE I'M GONE!"

And just like that, Jack Kelly was gone.

As if he had never been there in the first place.

The crowd of angry, terrified newsies said otherwise.

Afraid of the corrupt world they would meet when they walked outside the court's doors.

Furious with the injustice thrusted upon them.

They only knew one thing.

They would continue this strike.

For Jack and for Crutchie.

For all of those who fell in the process.

For the young children suffering on the streets who deserve the right to live just as much as you or I.

They would fight on.

They won't be forgotten in history.

They're story had to be heard.

The people needed to know they weren't fighting because someone ordered them too.

They were fighting for their right to live.

Some day, they'd look back on this strike and know they deserve to live everyday in between.

That was what Pulitzer didn't have.

He fought for money.

For greed.

The newsies will win because they fought for more than that.

They fought for all the unspoken sufferings. For all the voices who have been silenced.

For everyone silenced in New York, and everywhere else. For all the unfought and unwon battles still needed to be won.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

Jack saw the panic rise amongst his newsies.

His family.

The precious seconds were a broken record, playing again and again in his mind.

He knew that he could trust Race with such an important task, but he didn't want to force the blonde into leading a battle he didn't start.

Jack knew that his newsies didn't need him.

"Jack Kelly." Pulitzer snarled, opening the door to his personal prison in the refuge. Snyder stood behind him, barely visible.

"How're ya doing Joe?" Jack crossed his arms, a playful smirk on his face.

"You can imagine the glee I had when I found out Snyder removed a thorn from my side." Pulitzer didn't look amused.

"No. No I can't." Jack raised an eyebrow. "I can't imagine such a glee from having a poor orphan boy imprisoned."

"Oh." Pulitzer laughed heartily. "Oh, oh you think you're funny boy." The laughter ceased, "I can hardly call you a boy."

"You just did." Jack rolled his eyes.

"But-"

"Oh great, there's a 'but' now."

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?" Pulitzer snapped, slapping Jack across the face.

Jack looked up, attempting to keep his face from looking like a wounded doe as he held his red cheek.

"No."

Jack put on his brave face once more. "I won't be silenced by people like-"

"Guards!" Snyder yelled.

Jack's eyes followed as big men, not unlike the guys who attacked them at newsies square, marched in.

"Teach him a lesson." Snyder grinned maliciously.

"Maybe you'll be up to talking tomorrow, boy." Pulitzer smirked wolfishly before walking out, soon followed by the warden.

Jack looked up, eyes wide, at the two big men that remained. In a futile attempt to prevent his suffering, he scooted back knowing it was useless.

And the two men knew it was useless too.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

A loud knock rang against the steel door. Almost frantic.

"What do you want now Joe?" Jack looked up tiredly, wiping the blood from his mouth.

"Jack?" A soft voice called out.

A voice Jack knew better than anyone's.

"Crutchie!?" Jack crawled over to the door, pressing his ear against the gap. "Is it you? Oh, please tell me it's you."

"It's me Jack. It's me." Crutchie smiled that smile that spread like butter, even if there was no one to see it.

"Good, that's good." Jack grinned, resting his bruised forehead against the door.

"It's just me, you, and Santa Fe, right Jackie?"

"Yeah." Jack beamed wholeheartedly.

He wanted that more than anything.

"When we get out of here we can go to Santa Fe." Crutchie sighed.

"With a couple of cows." Jack suggested.

"Maybe a chicken or too." Crutchie laughed.

"A chicken army." Jack kept his eyes closed, picturing the paradise.

"And lot's of horses." Crutchie's eyes sparkles.

"Lot's of horses." Jack agreed.

"And a guest room for Stasia!" Crutchie drew a map out of the dirt on the floor.

And suddenly the paradise evaporated.

"Crutchie, you can get hurt. How are you even out of your cell?" Jack's mind was snapped back into reality.

"I was serving Snyder his food, so I thought I'd come and see you." Crutchie flushed in embarrassment.

"Crutch, you have to go back." Jack demanded.

"I don't want to leave you!" Crutchie protested.

"And I dont want you getting more hurt than you already are." Jack frowned as Crutchie went silence. "Just... remember Santa Fe. Okay? Remember it and hold it tight. Don't let go of your dreams bud."

"Okay." Crutchie whimpered, getting up slowly.

"One day we'll get out, and then we'll go to Santa Fe." Jack spoke calmly.

"I'll see you then?" Crutchie questioned.

"Definitely." Jack agreed.

And just like that, the crippled boy was gone.

The silence almost made Jack regret his choice.

Almost.

For now, he was alone once more.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"I'm scared." Race whispered. "I'm so, so scared."

"We'll get through this." Anastasia gripped his forearm, her right arm embracing him in a tight hug.

Race buried his head into the crook of her neck, as if hiding from all his worries.

"We?" Race spoke softly.

"We." Anastasia rested her chin on top of his head. "I'm going to be here for you, no matter what. Okay Race? I'm here."

"How am I supposed to take care of the newsies? I don't think I'm ready." Race confessed.

"If you wait until you feel like you're ready then you'll never try."

Race nodded. "So what am I supposed to do then?"

"Come on Blondie." Anastasia grinned as she pulled Race up. "I have a plan."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"This is your plan!?" Race up at the brown-haired girl as she hoisted him down.

"Isn't it great!?" Anastasia grinned.

"I think I might vomit." Davey gagged.

"Oh borrow someone's stomach!" Anastasia waved the newbie off. "We'll get Jack out of here in no time!"

"I love Jack, but not this much." David choked, getting sick from the way he rocked back and forth. The only thing preventing his ultimate doom being a rope, and the muscular redhead on the roof.

"Oi!" Albert huffed. "Quit whining down there!"

"This is David abuse." Davey muttered.

"You're not the only one who's dangling!" Race protested. "At least you have the muscular one holding you up!"

"I heard that." Anastasia snapped, making sure to slightly loosen her grip on the rope just to make Race sweat a little.

"Be careful!" Race scolded. "My life's at stake here!"

"And mine!" Davey added.

"And Jack's." Anastasia rolled her eyes. "Now get to working!"

"Work work work." Race sighed heavily. "Why can't we just let Jack die here?"

"RACE!" Everyone screamed at the blonde.

"What!" Race spoke exasperatedly. "I was joking!"

That's when Davey saw him.

The unmistakable silhouette of Jack Kelly.

"He's there guys!" David pointed, in which he was met by silence.

...

"Where?" Anastasia questioned.

"You're going to have to be a little more specific." Albert remarked.

"To your right." Race added 'helpfully' until Anastasia and Albert started pulling them in the wrong direction. "No! My right!"

The two buffoons above stopped moving abruptly, causing both Race and Davey to swing into each other.

"Hey!"

"Ow!"

"Be! More! Specific!" Anastasia clapped her hands, making Race bounce up and down.

"Can you not!?" Race screamed up at the blue-eyed-girl.

"Where are we going!?" Albert argued.

"Apparently into each other." Davey deadpanned grumpily.

"To the left!" Race yelled.

"What left!?" Albert waved his arms around, almost causing Davey to crash into Race.

"My left!" Race huffed exasperatedly.

"NO!" David shouted before anyone could even begin to move in the wrong direction. "NO! YOUR LEFT!"

"Exactly! My left!" Race rolled his eyes. "Thank you Davey!"

"No!" Davey facepalmed. "Their left! Slip and Albert's left!"

"Oh." Race quieted down. "Oh that makes more sense."

"YOU THINK?" Anastasia screeched.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Heya Jack!" Race called out, pounding his fist against the grate.

"Who the h*ll is Jack!?" A deep voice yelled.

"NICE GOING DAVID!" Albert yelled, frustration in his voice.

"HE LOOKED LIKE JACK!" Davey defended himself.

"He!?" The voice questioned. "I'm a girl!"

"Don't assume someone's gender Davey." Anastasia scolded.

"Yeah, Davey!" Race mocked.

"Stop fooling around!" Davey rolled his eyes. "We need to find Jack."

"Alright." Anastasia sighed. "To the left, and sorry ma'am."

"No problem." The girl sighed, leaning her head against the window.

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"Jack!" Davey knocked his knuckles upon a window.

"Davey!?" The familiar voice yelled.

"Finally!" Race threw his arms up.

"Took long enough." Albert looked pointedly down at the two boys bellow him.

"We're here to get you out." Anastasia grinned.

"Stasia, that you too?" Jack opened the tiny window, attempting to stick his head through to see the brown haired girl.

"Let's not do that." Davey shoved Jack's big head back in. "We don't need any more problems tonight."

Jack grinned to the light brown-haired-boy before his smile dropped.

"Wait- did you say you're here to get me out?"

"Duh!" Race rolled his eyes. "We're not going to just leave you here cowboy!" (mOviE rEfEreNce?) (mOrE liKelY tHaN yOu gUys tHinK!)

"No-nonononono." Jack jumped away from the window. "You guys shouldn't be here."

Davey furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "What-"

"No! I won't let you guys get caught!" Jack glared. "Scram!"

"What?" Anastasia questioned.

"Amsrcay!" Jack closed the window shut.

"Jack!" Race pounded against the window.

"I said leave!" Jack screamed.

"Why?" Albert demanded.

"Go!" Jack growled.

Suddenly, a light flickered on in Jack's room, signaling someone was coming.

"...go." Jack begged.

"Not without you!" Davey argued.

"We have to move!" Albert pushed Anastasia down the roof, dragging the two boys bellow with them.

When Jack was sure they were gone, he sunk to his knees, crying.

"You did well boy." Pulitzer smirked, to which Jack let out a loud sob. "..very, well."

~~~~~~📰~~~~~~

"He has to have a plan, right?" Anastasia crossed her arms the next morning. "Why- why wouldn't he leave?"

"David!!" Spot ran over. "Anastasia, Smalls, you guys- you have to see this!"

He grabbed Davey by the arm, pulling him out of the lodging house and dragging him to the circulation center.

Newsies crowded the entrance, all screaming one name.

Jack.

It wasn't how it was meant to be though.

The name was meant to hold pride and hope- showing the newsboys to their victory.

Instead, venom traced every vowel, anger spitting it out of their mouths.

One word stuck to it like glue, as if they were meant to be together.

Traitor.

"What's happening?" Davey looked over the crowd, pushing his way to the front.

Anastasia froze in her tracks, seeing Jack in clothes far too expensive for any newsie to afford.

"He's a traitor, that's what." Katherine glared.

Smalls's fists clenched, seeing the leader that they had all grown to love clutch onto newspapers.

"So you found a place where the grass is greener." Anastasia huffed.

"And you jumped the fence to the other side." Katherine crossed her arms.

"Is it good!?" Race screamed. "Are they giving you a world we could never provide?" He gestured back frantically to the Manhattan newsies.

"Well I hope that you're proud of our big decision!" Davey pushed through the crowd. "Yeah, hope that it's all that you want and more." He jabbed his finger, making Jack stumble backwards.

"I'm-"

"Now you're free! From the agonizing life you were living before!" Anastasia snapped.

"And you say what you need to say!" Mush cried.

"So that you get to walk away!" Blink glared.

"It would kill you to have to stay trapped, when you got somethin' new!" Albert pushed the Manhattan newsies behind him protectively.

"Well I'm sorry ya had it rough!" Davey took control again. "And I'm sorry I'm not enough!"

"Thank god he rescued you!" Katherine rolled her eyes.

Jack backed away and into a wall, eyes welling up with tears.

"So you got what you always wanted." Anastasia's voice rose over the angry newsies. "So you got your dream come true. Good for you! Good for you! You! You!"

Jack's cover broke at the tear-soaked face of his friend.

"Stas-"

"Got a taste of a life so perfect!" Race built up, walking directly in front of Jack. "So you did what you had to do, good for you! Good for you!"

"Look-"

"I THOUGHT OF YOU AS MY HERO!" Anastasia screamed. "YOU- YOU WERE MY HERO."

"Well-"

"Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry?" Spot slid in.

"Do you even care that you might be wrong?" Hot Shot glared.

"Was it fun!?" Spot raised an eyebrow. "Well I hope you had a blast while you dragged me along!"

"AND YOU SAY WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY!" Books snapped.

"And you play who you need to play." Hyper shook his head.

"And if somebody's in your way," Rowan snapped. "Crush them and leave them behind!"

"Well I guess if I'm not of use." Smalls and Spot agreed together. "Go ahead, you can cut me loose!"

"Go ahead now, I won't mind!" Anastasia joined the two.

"I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go." Davey narrowed his eyes.

"Is that good for you?" Race raised an eyebrow. "Would that be good for you,"

"You." Specs cut Race off.

"You." Albert clenched his fists.

"I'll just sit back while you run the show." Katherine and Anastasia spoke together.

"Is that good for you?" Davey joined. "Would that be good for you,"

"You," Blink held his friends close.

"You." Jack stepped back, whispering to himself. "All I need is some time to think." Jack muttered.

"I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go." The newsies started teaming up.

"Cause the boat is about to sink." Jack backed up into the wall, now knowing he was trapped.

"Is that good for you? Would that be good for you, you, you?" The Brooklyn newsies cornered Jack to the left.

"Can I erase what I wrote in ink?" Jack felt as if he was getting suffocated.

Emotionally and physically.

"Tell me how can I change the story?" Unbeknownst to Jack, he started crying.

"I'll just sit back while you run the show. Is that good for you, you, you?" The Bronx newsies cornered him to the right.

"All the words that I can't take back." Jack's air was leaving him. "Like a train coming off the track."

"Cause the rails and my bones all crack." Jack took a finally gasp of air seeing the tear streaked faces of his friends.

"GOOD FOR YOU!" The Manhattan newsies finally cornered him to the front.

"I've got to find a way to stop it-" Jack pushed his friends back. "STOP IT!" He gasped, breaking free from the crowd. "JUST LET ME OUT!"

"SO YOU GOT WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED." They all screamed, making Jack stumble back. "SO YOU GOT YOUR DREAM COME TRUE, GOOD FOR YOU! GOOD FOR-"

"YOU!"

Brooklyn.

"YOU!"

Bronx.

"YOU!"

Manhattan.

"GOT A TASTE OF A LIFE SO PERFECT, NOW YOU SAY THAT YOU'RE SOMEONE NEW!"

"GOOD FOR YOU!" Bronx screamed.

"GOOD FOR YOU!" Queens roared.

"GOOD FOR YOU!" Brooklyn snapped.

"GOOD FOR YOU!" Manhattan glared and cried at the same time.

"Dave-"

"So you got what you always wanted." Davey shrugged, wiping his eyes and turning away.

Jack looked around, eyes welled up with tears as everyone left.

Left him.

Alone.

One person remained.

The familiar blonde-haired-boy he had grown up with.

Had grown to love as he became his little brother.

"Race," Jack called out- begging, pleaing.

"I trusted you, you know." Race clenched his fists, back turned. "More than anyone- even Anastasia."

"You don't under-"

"You don't understand!" Race screamed. "You were more than just our leader! You were our brother! Someone who we could trust with our lives." [you betrayed me.] [YOU betrayed ME!] [sorry lokius stans](Dbdbdb) (o u c h)

Jack stayed silent, furiously wiping his eyes.

"I guess-" Race looked down. "I guess we were wrong."

And with that, he walked away.

"Race-" Jack tried again.

But the scary part... was that Race never turned back.

-

The newsies were grouped together, a large clump of mass with Katherine in the middle.

"Where is my daughter!?" Pulitzer pushed through the crowd, making newsies go silent.

"KATHERINE!" Pulitzer screamed.

The newsies turned to the reporter who had her head in her hands.

"Katherine-"

"What now!?"

"Traitor!"

"Care to explain Katherine?" Anastasia raised an eyebrow.

"I-"

"Katherine it's time to leave this silly strike." Pulitzer grabbed the girl by her arm, dragging her away.

She should've known it wouldn't work.

"TWO TRAITORS IN ONE DAY!" A newsie screamed, causing the crowd of exhausted and angry newsies burst.

She wouldn't forget the hurt look on her friend's faces as she was dragged away.

-

"This day cannot get any worse." David sighed, sitting down on the couch.

His mind was having a war with itself.

Katherine- he didn't know what to make of her.

Sure, she lied.

But she had good intentions- look at how they reacted to her now. Just imagine what could've happened if she told them before anything.

He heard newsies discuss it at the kitchen table.

It's decided-

...

Katherine was not in the wrong.

...but was Jack?

Eyo! I think ima change my update schedule to every other week. Is that okay with you guys?

Anyway, I'm doing newsiestober everyday on tumblr!

Here's the masterlist!

https://ms-kelphead-1899.tumblr.com/post/664714362923204608/newsiestober2021-masterlist-newsiestober2021-day

Anyway,
Have a nice day <3

This is Izzy,
Over and out