Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies. Title is from OneRepublic's song "Something I Need".

Flashbacks are in italics.

Jack sat on the hard, wooden slab as the man stalked around the dark basement.

"So Kelly," Pulitzer asked, "what's it going to be? Back to the Refuge with all your little friends or the opportunity of a lifetime, enough money for your grand dream?"

The two sat in silence, staring at each other. "Cat got your tongue, Kelly?" Pulitzer mocked him.

"No," Jack said, looking at the floor.

"What?"

"No," Jack repeated, this time making eye contact with Pulitzer. "I'se won't be taking your deal. Throw me in the Refuge for all I care. I won't betray my friends." He was standing now, stomping towards the older man. Pulitzer shook his head and then motioned at the door. It swung open and the Delanceys advanced towards them. But Jack just smiled because he had seen the brief look of surprise and fear that Pulitzer had tried to hide.

"You'se scared of us, admit it," Jack said and Pulitzer laughed, but he could hear the slight panic behind it.

"Over here," Pulitzer said to the Delanceys. Oscar walked around behind the boy and grabbed him by the neck. He wrenched Kelly backward until he was lying flat on the printing press. Morris put his fist into Jack's stomach and the first one wasn't that bad, but as it continued and Oscar joined in, Jack wanted to curl up. But there was Oscar's arm, as steady as ever, keeping him from moving.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Pulitzer continued through Jack's beating. "Do you want to condemn all your friends to this?" Jack groaned and fought back tears. "C'mon Kelly, just give up already. Take the money. Head west to Santa Fe, Cowboy."

"No," Jack mumbled.

"Sorry," Pulitzer said with a mocking smile, "you're going to have to speak up."

"No!" Jack screamed, spitting blood on the ground. "Take you'se deals someplace else. We will win. We'se already winning." And through the beating and wounds, he managed a smile. "Them boys ain't givin' up just cause I'se gone. Hell, it gives them more of a reason to fight. Don't underestimate us."

The Delanceys pulled him up and Pulitzer grabbed his face. "Enjoy the Refuge, boy." Then he was dragged out of the dark room and up the stairs, hitting his bruised knees on each of the steps. Once they reached the floor, Jack gathered the strength to stand up. He whimpered as he straightened his left leg, but a loud gasp prevented the Delanceys from hearing it. Katherine stood in front of him with her hands over her mouth. She rushed forward and tried to pull Jack from the brothers. It was obvious that it wasn't gonna work, but Jack got close enough to pass a message.

Katherine felt a hand slip into her pocket and Jack winked at her. Then he was dragged away from her too. It was only a short carriage ride to the Refuge and then Jack was officially handed off to the Spider.

"Hello, Mr. Kelly," Snyder sneered. "Welcome back."

"Aww, thanks," Jack crooned. He refused to be broken. "I can't say I'se really missed you though." A quick slap to the face silenced him. It hurt, but he still laughed. "You haven't changed, Spider."

"Neither have you, Kelly. That's too bad."

Jack took a deep breath, his last of free air, and stood strong as Snyder pushed him into the Refuge. The two walked through the doors and immediately two guards took up position behind Jack. Obviously, Snyder wasn't going to let him escape again. But he would. He had to.

He was led down a long hallway filled with heavy metal doors and he could see kids peeking through small windows to see the newcomer. But he wasn't a newcomer. No, Jack had been stuck in the Refuge more times than he'd ever admit. He'd made the papes the one time he had escaped with the governor so everyone knew about that and a select few even knew about the three times before that, but only one knew about the very first time Snyder had caught him.

Jack didn't know what was happening. He didn't know where he was or where his family was. He just knew they were gone. Maybe dead, maybe in jail, or maybe they just left him behind. All he knew was when he went back to the house a week ago, it was full of police officers. He had been told his entire life to stay clear of officers. His dad said they were all liars and thieves. So he had left, refused to go back to the house that night. And when he returned the next day and the day after that and the day after that, the house remained empty. It was locked, otherwise he would've spent the night there. Instead, he spent the night on the streets. And no one ever came for him.

Jack sat in an alley where he was sure no one would see him. He wasn't an orphan, he couldn't be. He had seen orphans passing on the streets. They were all mean-looking and scary. He couldn't survive like that. He began to sob into his hands, trying to muffle the noise from any passerby. But it seemed somebody heard him because he felt a tap on his shoulder.

Jack looked up to see a man standing there. He was older, his hair was graying, but he had a kind smile.

"Are you okay, boy?" the man asked and Jack nodded. "Where are your parents?"

Jack just shook his head. The man rubbed his shoulder, attempting to comfort the young boy.

"Do you need a place to stay?"

Jack nodded and looked up the man, hopefully. The man held out his hand and Jack grabbed it. He led Jack out of the alley and to a waiting carriage. Once they climbed into the carriage though, Jack was afraid he had made a mistake. Although nothing appeared to have changed, the man's eyes now seemed hard and his smile turned into an evil smirk. As soon as the carriage stopped, Jack tried to jump out, but the man grabbed his arm. His grip was like iron and Jack couldn't shake him off.

"Welcome to the Refuge," the man said and dropped Jack inside a large cell. He looked up and all the boys were staring at him. There were kids of every age, though he was definitely the youngest one. Finally one came forward. He was probably a couple years older than Jack. He looked kind, but so did the man who had put him here. He helped Jack to his feet.

"What are you in for?" the boy asked and Jack looked at him confused. The kid seemed to understand his confused look and offered an explanation. "This is a jail, kid. My guess is you was stealing something and Snyder caught you." Jack shook his head, but didn't offer any other explanation.

"Don't matter, you probably won't survive long enough anyways." With that depressing thought, Jack was left alone in the middle of the room. He tried to find a bed, but they already all had three people per bed. He ended up curled up in a corner where he spent the night. It was so cold and he spent the whole night shivering. He didn't sleep at all and that continued for the next several weeks. It was the worst few weeks of his life. He was starved and beaten and never got a bed. He tried a couple of time when kids were released, but he was the youngest one and stood no chance against the stronger kids. He didn't talk at all and tried his best to keep to himself.

Then he started to get braver. He started talking back to the older boys and the guards, He fought when he could. Snyder, the man who had lied to him, seemed to take a special interest in him, often taking time out his day to beat Jack. And as long as he was conscious, he was taunting Snyder.

"Snyder the Spider," he liked to call him and the nickname caught on very fast.

And sometimes he liked to play pranks. Like the time he broke a bed and stuck one of the legs through the door so no one could get the door open. But eventually, the guards offered food to whoever would open the door and give him up. Of course, all of the other boys jumped at the chance, but that didn't stop his entertainment. Or the time he gathered all the rats he could fit into a balled up shirt and let them lose in Snyder's office. He spent three weeks in the basement for that one.

But it was still by far his worst visit to the Refuge. He spent most of his nights bruised, shivering, starving, and, most of all, alone. There was no one on his side. At five-years-old (well, maybe six now) he was the youngest one there and everyone else fought him for warmer beds and food. There was no one that cared for him, no one to support him. And finally, a year later, Jack was finally released. He limped out, feeling years older than the boy who had entered.

"I guess you survived." He heard a voice say. Jack whipped around to see the boy who had talked to him on the very first day, the boy he was so desperate to prove wrong. "I hear you made quite a reputation for yourself, Jack Kelly."

Jack nodded, regarding the boy with suspicion. "What do you want?"

"Come with me," the boy said and walked off, not waiting for Jack's answer. Jack considered saying no, after all, misplaced trust was how he originally ended up in the Refuge. But he remembered he had no home so he followed the boy.

"Looks like some people are already checking out the new meat," one of the guards behind him said, pulling Jack back to the present. Jack just laughed. The guard looked pissed, but Snyder kept him from touching Jack. They stopped outside the door at the end of the hallway and the guards shoved into the room with Snyder.

Snyder sat down in a large, cushioned chair and pulled out a heavy notebook. "Name?" he said, looking expectantly at Jack.

"Did you forget me already?" Jack sneered. "I guess I need to make a lastin' impression this time."

"Only if you don't want to leave here alive. Every inmate has to be logged. How else am I going to get my money? Is this your first time at the Refuge?" His voice was joking as if he was trying to make fun of Jack.

Images of dark rooms, cold nights, starving, and beatings flashed through Jack's mind and he winced, but put on a smile. "No, it's my sixth visit. Though, judgin' by the looks of things, you haven't listened to my reviews." Snyder reached over the table and backhanded Jack who fell to the floor.

"I thought you would've learned by now, boy. Or do you really like the beatings? I'm going to break you and you will surrender to me. You won't last forever, kid."

"Nah, I'se gonna live forever," Jack said from his place on the ground. Snyder chuckled and stepped over him. Jack reached out and grabbed his leg, forcing him to the ground. Snyder struck out and nailed Jack in the face, making him roll over and groan. Snyder opened the door.

"Guards! Please take care of Mr. Kelly." Then Snyder disappeared and the guards wrenched Jack off the floor. They weren't at all gentle and slammed his head against the wall. He cried out and dropped. The first guard continued to beat him until his vision blurred and he couldn't move. Jack felt cool, heavy metal snap tightly around his wrists and ankles.

I hope y'all enjoyed. Let me know what you thought! I'm trying for weekly updates, but who knows?