you can't outrun it

chapter 20

TW ⚠️

i go up to the roof and lie down, staring up at the blanket of stars above me

"hey mom. i gotta see dad today, i haven't seen him since they took him away, i'm not going to lie to you, i'm scared. but this is something i have to do, for jack, for the boys, for spot" i say my eyes starting to water "i miss you mom, i miss the soup you'd make when i was sick, i miss the scarves you'd knit in winter, i miss you're amazing cooking, i miss you so much, and i know jack does too" i say, i'm about to say something else when i hear screaming, a girls scream, it's then muffled, i assume by a hand. i stand up and walk to the fire escape, i climb over the railing and climb down the side of the steps, going level by level, i land on the ground in an alley, i hear another muffled cry and run out, i go towards the sound, i see a man holding a knife to a girl, i run over and grab the mans shoulders, turning him around and punching him "run" i say to the girl, i then look at the man and squint my eyes "dad?" he grabs my throat and pushes me to the wall, my head hitting against the wall, i grab at his hand and trying to move it finding it hard to breath, he smiles evilly.

"this was a lot easier than i thought Joey" he says "now i just need jack" he says, i kick him hard in the balls and he moves his hand so i run, i try to leave the alley but his pulls me back by the waist, holding me to his body, my back hitting his chest "i want my prize Jo" he whispers into my ear, i start to scream but he puts his hand over my mouth "shut up skank" he growls, he puts his other hand in his pocket and pulls out a brass knuckle, putting it on, he spins me around and punches me, i stumble into the wall before everything goes black.

i wake up in a cold room, i open my eyes but i can't see, there's just blurs. i scrunch up my eyes and reopen them trying to clear my vision, i try to move my hands but they're tied together behind me. i start to pull harder but they're too strong, my wrists starts to hurt, the circulation to my hands running dry, suddenly a door swings open and a bright light surrounds me, a tall figure walks in and over to me, he crouches down in front of my and starts to stroke my cheek

"i have been thinking about this moment for over 7 years, the moment i have you all to myself" my father says spitting slightly. He starts to touch me, where a father should NOT touch their daughter, a few minutes later and i'm alone again, but this time i'm laying naked on the cold floor, i manage to pull myself up and get to my clothes, i put them on and crawl to a corner and start to cry. i felt disgusting, only a few hours ago i was doing the same thing with spot, but that time it was completely consensual and extremely enjoyable. i sat there for who knows how long, in a dark room with no windows or source of light, it's hard to know how long you've been there, having no idea if it was still night or the middle of the day. i wanted to see spot, and jack, and race and all the other boys, but how would they find me, i didn't even know where i was and i doubt he'd be stupid enough to take me to our old house, unless he wants to get caught.

Spots pov

i woke up when the sun was shining onto my face, i sat up and looked around Caz wasn't there, i assumed she was still on the roof so i got changed into my usual outfit, grey and white checked shirt, brown trousers, red suspenders, and my newsie cap. i lastly put on my boots and went over to the fire escape, i climbed up and onto the roof, but she wasn't there, i went back down and straight out of my room and down to where the other boys sleep,

"any of you boys seen Tiger?" i shout, waking a few that were still asleep

"no boss" the boys all replied, i walked past them and out the front door, i checked the docks, the circulation gate, everywhere she liked to go, but she was nowhere.  i thought she might've gone to 'hattan so i walked over the bridge with my hands shoved into my pockets, i finally got to the newsboys lodging house and walked straight in not bothering to knock, i saw kloppman behind his desk and walked past him, straight up the stairs. i burst into the room where the senior boys slept, there was a few getting dressed by there beds but most were in the washroom. i rush to where jack i combing his hair

"heya spot what ya doin here?" Jack asked when he sees me

"is Tiger here?" i asked quickly

"what? no, she's supposed to be with you, has something happened?" jack starts to panic

"she went to the roof in the middle of the night and when i woke up shes was gone" i say starting to pace pulling at my hair, al the other boys gathered around

"he has her" jack says looking down

"how do you-" i start

"i just know okay, we have to find her" jack shouts before storming out, we all follow behind him

"do you know where she is, maybe your old house" i suggest as i catch up with jack

"nah, that house burnt down last year" jack replies "but i know a place he might go" he says as he starts to run, i run next to him as he leads us all who knows where

"don't you think we need a plan?" Mush asked from behind us

"there ain't no time to plan, she's in danger" i shout as jack turns a corner

cameron's pov

after i've regained some strength i pull myself up and go towards the door, the idiot left it open, but he isn't an idiot, he must've done it on purpose, but i can't just stay down here. i open the door and there's a wooden staircase with light at the top. i grab hold of the banister and start to climb, i reach the top and duck down, peering over the top step, it's a small room there's a seat that faces a little window, i can see train tracks, i'm at the train yard? i start to shout assuming people would be here getting trains, but when i come further into the room and burst through the door of the office, there's no one there, this must be the abandoned train yard. how is Jack going to find me now. i go and sit with my legs dangling over the tracks, silent tears flood my face. there are tall gates all around so i know i can't get out, there's no point trying

jack's pov

i led the boys through manhattan towards a place my father used to take me, just me, i knew he'd be expecting me, but i couldn't just leave her there. we ran past herds of people who all gave us weird stares. i finally slowed down as it came into view, i hadn't been here in years, i'm surprised i remembered how to get here. i look at the small building and take a deep breath

"an abandoned train yard?" bumlets says confused, i just nod. i walk up to the gates, a rusty padlock in the middle, i hold it in my hand and turn it over a few times, then Bumlets pushes me out of the way, he raising the stick he takes everywhere and brings it down hard on the lock, it breaks instantly

"what is that stick made of?" Skittery asks before walking in first, i follow him and we walk to the building, i tell spot and a few other boys to go into the building and we will search outside, we agree to yell if we find her.

spots pov

i lead Ractrack and a few other fellas into the small building, there's only one room, but there's a staircase leading into darkness, i walk down and into a dark room, i walk to a chair, but there's no one in it, the door was already open. she's not here, i start to loose hope when someone else runs down

"jack found her, she's ok" Blink says happily, i run out to the train tracks and see a man holding Tiger in his arm, holding a knife to her cheek, Jack is unconscious next to his feet.

"i knew dear old Frank would come to the rescue. be the hero, like always" he growled to us boys, i looked at blink and the grin he wore only a few seconds ago had vanished, i looked back to Caz and saw her eyes glisten slightly, but she was smiling, why was she smiling?