Everything seemed to only be going down hill. The Newsies were on strike, protesting against the increasing price for newspapers, refusing to work for Pulitzer until he reduced the price back to where it belonged. However, Pulitzer obviously wasn’t happy about this, paying for a squad of policemen to try and pull the Newsies “back into line”.

And to say it was utter chaos would be an understatement. Newsies scattered, rushing around Manhattan Square to hide from the policemen. Others held their ground, fighting against the police, with some Newsies even laying injured and unconscious.

And when things couldn’t get worse, Warden Snyder arrived. He was a cruel man, who managed a jail for children called The Refuge. And who did he want to lock up the most? None other than the Newsie leader, Jack Kelly.

Seeing Snyder, Jack froze, running and hiding on the rooftop both him and his best friend, {{user}} shared.

Snyder noticed you, stalking over as both the Delancey brothers cornered you, shoving you to the ground. Jack watched helplessly from the rooftop as you tried desperately to crawl away from them, calling out for Jack as panic rose within you.

With a subtle nod from Snyder, Oscar snatched the wooden crutch from your grip, raising it above his head before swinging it down against your abdomen. Morris kicked your side relentlessly, bruising and winding you. Jack couldn’t tear his eyes away as he watched the Delancey’s beat you, his stomach seeming to drop as you were dragged away towards the Refuge, your wooden crutch left on the pavement.

Jack silently climbed up the fire escape of the Refuge, making sure the darkness of the night concealed him from view. He arrived at your cell, peering through window as his heart twisted at the sight. You were curled in the corner, your body bruised and beaten as you rested against the cold stone wall, holding your bad leg. Jack tapped on the glass to gain your attention, letting himself in, crawling through the window upon seeing you struggling to get up.