~ Sixteen ~

I woke up to unfamiliar surroundings. The walls were gray brick, and they had writings all over them, the ceiling was high up, the rafters looked old, as if they were about to break. It was still dark outside when I peered out of my tiny window, but I knew exactly where I was.

The feeling of containment washed over me. I felt like I was in a prison. Well, that is what the Refuge is, a prison, a nightmare, a living hell.

I stood up from the lumpy cot against the wall. There was no one else with me, no roommates, no one to annoy me, or to give me any grief. I never knew a private room existed in this place. They gave it to me? That makes me feel special, and kind of suspicious at the same time.

My breath echoed in the empty space, everything was quiet. I saw a light flicker in the little window on the wall. The street lights began to glow. I could see the view of Manhattan. I see this when I'm on the roof with Jack, and I look for all of my favorite places in New York, but this time, all I could look for was the lodging house.

There's no way you could see Jack from here. I told myself. But I just wanted to make sure that they didn't get him, too.

I sat in silence for what felt like forever. Thinking about my Santa Fe, Jack. I picked up the candle left for me, and rock from the corner and began to scratch in my story on the wall, for the next prisoner who stays in this room.

I wrote about my first time at the Refuge, and how I met Jack Kelly. I wrote about the strike, about Davey, and about Jared.

After I'm finished, it feels like it's been hours. I look closely at the brick wall and see some other writings. I hold up my small candle so I can see a few faint scratches on it. I read things like I miss my family, or Bring me home. Then, I find something written on the wall, and it sounds all too familiar.

Santa Fe...

My old friend.

I can't spend my whole life hidin'.

You're the only light that's guidin' me today.

"Santa Fe, huh?" I smiled as a flood rises in my eyes. "Great minds think alike, don't they, Cowboy?" I whisper as the dream of Santa Fe grows stronger inside of me. I wipe away the tears and continue reading and I begin to quietly and wearily hum the tune.

Will you keep the candle burning?

Will you help me find my way?

You're my chance to break free.

And who knows when my next one will be?

Santa Fe...

Wait for me...

My tears fall into my smile. The tune was so familiar to me, yet I couldn't recognize the writing.

Something different.

I sing the melody and continue reading, until I found the name to go with the song. It wasn't Jack who wrote the song.

It was Jared.

His name was written right below the song. I took a look around the walls and all I could see was Jared's writings scratched in all over.

27 Days

This is a nightmare

Help me

Get me out of here

Welcome back.

49 Days

Jared wrote all of these words on the brick. Every single one. But when? There is no way he could have written that when he was thirteen. He was not in the Refuge for fourty-nine days, we weren't even here for thirty days!

I can't even remember how long it's been since I've seen his handwriting. I'd almost forgotten what his voice sounded like, what his face looked like, but when I read what he wrote, it all started racing back to me. I could see it all again. All of those memories whizzed through my mind, and I felt so overwhelmed.

~*~

"Jared? Where are you going?" I catch him right before he walks out the door.

"I told you earlier today, I got some stuff to settle with the Delancey boys." He reminded me. He was barely eighteen. Two months before he left.

"You can't go back there, Jared."

"Why not?" He shrugged. "I'll be back before you know it." He turns for the door again.

"Wait!" I grab his arm. He looked at me, puzzled. I didn't want him to leave. He wouldn't have been soaked by the Delanceys, but by Wiesel, when he finds out that they were all fighting.

"What am I waiting for?" I tried to make an excuse, but nothing came to me.

"You said that you would help me move some things into Cory's new room, remember?" Fourteen year-old Jack came and rested his elbow on my shoulder.

Thank you, Jack.

"Right. Sorry, Jack. I forgot." I thought he would stay, but he quickly changed his mind. "Well, maybe some other time. Bye!" He escaped from my grasp and headed out he door.

Hours later, it was past two in the morning. I stayed up, waiting for him to come back. The doors of the lodging house creaked open and the echoes were loud enough to wake me up, but not loud enough to wake up the boys. I was sleeping on the ground, doomed to another night without a bed, thanks to Jared and his "settling with the Delancey boys".

I sat up, rubbing my eyes and saw Jared stumble through the foyer. I stood up to greet him at the table he sat down at. I could see all of his new bruises and scars. Oh, great. He did get soaked by Wiesel.

"Are you alright, Jared?" I helped him into a chair.

"I'm fine... Fine."

"We need something to clean you up." I began to scramble around the cabinets. I found some of Kloppman's "hidden" alcohol.

"I'm not in any pain at all." He laughed as I rinsed the cloth in the alcohol. I crossed over to him and smelled something terrible.

"What's that smell?" I coughed, I sniffed the washcloth and hoped that's what I was smelling. Unfortunately, it wasn't. When Jared laughed at me, that's when I realized his breath was a little suspicious.

Great. He's drunk, isn't he?

"Jared! Are you drunk?" I began to scold him.

"No! No, of course not!" He chuckled.

Yep. He's drunk.

"Jared. You need to go to sleep. You've got papes to sell in the morning." He shot me a thumbs up before laying his head on the table and falling asleep. "Okay..." I sighed and decided to leave him to rest.

And that's when it all started.

I drag myself up the stairs and out to the fire escape. After climbing the steps, I see Jack sitting alone.

I sighed as I plopped on the stair next to him. "Hey. Can't sleep?"

"Yeah," he answered. "You alright?"

"Jared finally came back."

"Oh."

"He's drunk."

"Oh!" Jack was a bit more concerned. "What's goin' on?"

"I don't know," I sigh. "I don't know why he would ever pick up a glass."

~*~

I sit on the lumpy cot after I'm finished reading his writings. I feel like falling back asleep, and I almost do, until I hear a knock on the cell door. I'm immediately alert when I remember where I am. I sit up straight as the door opens. A man in uniform enters through the doorway. I hold my chin up high, scared to know why they sent him in.

"Get up and follow me." I'm hesitant, but I do as he says when I think of what he might do to me if I don't obey.

He leads me down a dark hallway, passing the poor orphan boys being treated like servants. I try to spot Crutchie, you know, just in case. I couldn't tell if he was there or not, the man is moving too quickly, if I fall behind, who knows what'll happen?

Next thing I know, I'm riding in a carriage to God knows where. I peek out the window and see two tall wooden doors and a sign above it reads:

The World

A door is opened in front of me. I brace myself for whatever could be behind it. I walk into an office that I thought was empty, except, it wasn't. When the chair behind the desk spun around, he then appeared. The man who started this whole mess.

"Mr. Pulitzer." I try not to show my fear.

"Ah, Miss Queen. Please, come in..."

📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵 📰 ❤️ 🎵

-alright guys. things are about to get real.

-i am so excited for these next few chapters!!! I can't wait for you guys to read them!

-qotd: favorite Broadway villain?

-aotd: aaron burr! he's technically not a villain, but he's amazing!!! #queenleslie #hahaseewhatididthere #notfunnyokay

-i love you all, and stay tuned for the next chapter, cause it's going to get so good!