Chapter 16: Alive

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Soda's POV

"Johnny, what do you know?" Darry demanded, wheeling around to face Johnny with a deadly glare. I noticed how Johnny recoiled, his eyes wide and fearful.

"I don't know nothing," he gasped, yet his eyes remained fixed on the carpet, giving him away instantly.

"Is he in trouble?" I squeak out, my throat restricted with the silent panic screaming inside me. By now, Steve, Two-bit and Dallas were at the doorway, concern lacing their features.

Johnny opened his mouth to protest, yet it shut once more, letting out a quivering sigh. He fearfully sidestepped Darry, making his way over to the dresser and reaches for a piece of note paper, folded into a neat square. He handed it to me, his movements jittery and edgy, before he walked back to the door to stand beside Dally.

Warily, I unfolded the crippled paper and instantly recognise Ponyboy's flourished handwriting, the letters swirling and jutting across the page. My blood turned to ice as I began to read out loud, the others alert and listening closely.

"Dear Soda and Darry,

"By the time you read this, I'll probably already be at the park, maybe dead...I don't know... The Socs wanted to meet me at the park tonight so we could finish this. I don't want to fight them, but if I have to, I will.

"I'm terrified of going, but I know I have to. I can't let them hurt you... I'd never be able to forgive myself..." I noticed how the ink became blotchy where tears must've fallen and my voice shook, my mouth dry.

"I love you both so much. If I don't get a chance, Johnny will tell you everything. Try not to worry so much. Don't stay up for me and don't come for me either. I may not be back. Say hi to the gang for me.

"Love Ponyboy

"P.S. Don't be mad at Johnny, he's just trying to be a good friend."

I looked up to see Darry, his eyes full of horror and disbelief. No one moved for the longest time, unsure, wary of what might happen.

"Shit," Dally mumbled finally, running his fingers through his hair and linking them at the nape of his neck. Two-bit was frozen, a hand lingering on his cheek and his eyes stormy, his jaw hanging open. Steve was glaring into space, his arms crossed over his chest. Johnny was still gazing down at his scuffed black converse, his shoulders trembling ever so slightly. It reminded me of Ponyboy, when he had come home late that night, unable to face Darry's smouldering eyes.

Suddenly, with a jolt, Darry awoke from his stunned silence, his voice quivering when he said, "Two-bit, call the police."

Two-bit stirred from his statue-like pose, his comical grin nowhere to be seen, stiff and nervy. "But-"

"Just do it," Darry ordered, and with the panic burning in his teal eyes, I could tell that his air of calm was wavering. With a sigh, Two-bit turned on his heel and bolted for the phone.

I sunk onto the bed, face in my hands, trying to stop the tears that were already leaking from my eyes. I could lose my baby brother... He could be dying right now... Before I knew it, I was sobbing, each cry strangled and choked, salt water slipping through my fingers. We couldn't let this happen to Pony... Not to the angel... Not to mum's little angel...

"Hey, it's gonna be ok, Soda," Darry breathed and I felt the mattress quake a little as my eldest brother sat down beside me, but it didn't sooth me in the slightest. I could tell by the shaky hand that was placed on my shoulder that Darry was struggling to keep control; he was just doing a better job than I was.

"He's a tough kid, Soda." Steve's voice broke into my world of grief and I lifted my head, astonished. Steve had never really liked Ponyboy much; well at least that's what I thought. "He'll be fine." There was confidence in his tone as he stared down at me, his hard eyes etched with sympathy, yet they held hope in them as well. With a small smile curving my lips, I nodded. With a sad grin, he extended his arm and I grasped his hand, hauling me to my feet. I could always rely on Steve, no matter what happened. His loyalty would always prevail, as would mine.

Two-bit came bounding back into the room. "They're on their way!"

"Let's go!" Darry cried, shooting off the bed and running out the door. We all followed suit. We couldn't let anything happen to Ponyboy. We couldn't live without him... We just couldn't...

Darry's POV

I was running at full throttle, Soda and the gang by my side, my heart hammering against my rib cage as I silently prayed that Ponyboy was ok. Cold fear was churning inside me, shooting through my veins, all the way down to the very tips of my fingers. My chest was so tight that I was barely breathing. I could see Pony's cheery smile in my mind and I felt like I was choking, the thought of him gone almost smothering me. I couldn't lose him... Mum and dad were gone... I couldn't lose him too...

The park was up ahead, blue and red lights flashing in the distance, sirens ringing in my ears. I accelerated, pumping my legs faster than I thought I could. Soda surprisingly kept at my pace, the rest of the gang falling behind slightly. The stabbing agony in my heart was causing me to run faster. If I didn't, I knew I'd never be able to live with myself.

My feet touched down on grass as my eyes went pinpoint on a pale figure motionless on the ground. "Ponyboy!" I cried, my voice twisted in a terror that caused my heart to skip a beat. I could see the scarlet pooling around him from miles away.

"Pony!" Soda yelped and I noticed the tears etching their way down his cheeks. I knew he couldn't hold it anymore and neither could I, watery diamonds clouding my eyes.

We both bolted to his side and fell to our knees beside him. The gang hovered above us, unwavering fear showing plainly in their expressions.

Ponyboy was barely conscious, yet he was smiling, an actual grin playing on his lips like it used to ages ago. The green in his eyes was alight, a bright ember against the grey, adrenaline and triumph so evident that my heart swelled. Despite the blood gushing from his wounds and the bruises blossoming over his skin, he looked happier then he'd been in weeks.

"I did it!" He squeak out, coughing slightly as blood began to trickle from his mouth, running down his chin and slipping down his neck. "I got them good, didn't I?"

"Yeah, you did, baby," I sobbed as tears rolled down my cheeks. I gathered him up in my arms and pulled him into my lap. "You did so well."

"Are you gonna be ok?" Soda murmured through his tears, running a hand down Pony's jawline, caressing his chin.

"I'm not..." Ponyboy suddenly gasped, pain shimmering in his eyes before he lost consciousness, a tear breaking through his closed eyelids and glistening on his batted cheek. I stared down at my baby brother, disbelief and horror washing over me. No...please stay with me, baby...please don't go...not yet...

I was relieved when I noticed the gradual rise and fall of his chest, yet I could tell it was fading.

"The ambulance are on their way," an unfamiliar voice cooed above, yet I hardly noticed, cradling my little brother in my arms, rocking him back and forth, my tears blurring my vision. You're gonna be ok little angel... Just hold on...

***

Endless dull, white corridors teaming with hundreds of closed doors. The overwhelming scent of sterility clung to the air, artificial and sickly. Nurses rush down hallways, clipboards and other various equipment gathered in their hands as they made their way to patients desperate for attention, some barely touching life with their fingertips. And here we were in the frenzy, waiting, pleading, praying for a sign, anything that Ponyboy was ok. The doctors had rushed him away, an oxygen mask over his almost snow white face, his skin icy to the touch as he lay almost lifeless, the mangled bed sheets practically swallowing his small frame. Never had I felt so helpless pacing the waiting room, my shaky hands in my pockets, my stomach swooning with the worry churning inside me.

Pony was only a kid. He was innocent, young, still teaming with life and when I'd seen those brilliant glimmering eyes staring up into my own as he lay in the grass, blood gushing from his body, there had been something bright in them that hadn't been there for so long. He'd been in darkness for so long that I'd thought I'd never see his smiling eyes ever again. Yet now Ponyboy was one of the patients behind those closed doors, just like the others, desperately holding onto life. I knew I had to be strong for my brothers, but my mask was already breaking. I couldn't lose someone else... Maybe I didn't show how much I loved Ponyboy, but I loved him so much that I couldn't bare the thought of not seeing that shy, angelic smile ever again.

I wished to comfort Soda, who looked on the verge of hysterics, his knees bouncing as he struggled to remain still in his seat, his watery eyes constantly darting down the hallway where Ponyboy had disappeared with the doctors. Yet I knew I couldn't. I couldn't even reassure myself. Steve was trying, an arm slung over his friend's shoulders as he whispered empty words of comfort, but I knew it wasn't working. Soda wore his heart on his sleeve, and he looked ready to explode with worry.

The others looked worried themselves. Two-bit was drained of his usual humour, his bright grey eyes overcast as he stared into space, sitting numbly beside Johnny. Johnny was rocking slightly in his plastic chair, his head bowed guiltily as he looked down at the sickly cream floor. Dally was propped against the wall, puffing on his cigarette as he eyed the receptionist flirtatiously, yet his heart didn't really appear to be in it. Never had they been so quiet, so still. This was hitting everybody hard. The silence was so deafening that it grated at my raw nerves.

"Darrel Curtis?" I was awoken from my panicked daze by one of the young paramedics that was from the ambulance coming towards us. With a flash of movement, everyone was by my side, fear emitting off each one of them, no matter how subtle it was.

"Yes?" I couldn't keep the shake out of my voice as I waited desperately for news. The doctor smiled at me, her aqua blue eyes warm and her chocolaty brown hair pinned away from her face. I would've thought she was quite a looker if I hadn't been so worried for my brother.

"I'm Doctor Rivera," she said, her voice soothing and gentle, just like her eyes. "I've been running a few tests on your brother, Ponyboy Curtis?" She looked up quizzically from the clipboard fastened in her hands, obviously dazzled by my brother's very unique name.

"Yes, that's right."

She grinned cheerfully. "He's going to be just fine. He hasn't been awake much. He seems to be quite exhausted from the recent events and from what I can tell, his body has been through quite a bit without a chance to fully recover. He's also slightly under the weight range for a growing fourteen year-old, not to mention, he seems to have lost quite an amount of blood in the last couple of days. He just needs a few day of rest, to give his body a chance to heal and to catch up on some needed sleep. I'd like to keep him here for that period of time."

An audible sigh of relief was heard from Soda and I noticed how his tensed shoulders eased some. "Can we see him?" he asked eagerly and I couldn't help but chuckle.

"Of course," Doctor Rivera beamed. "He's just down the hall in room four hundred and twenty seven. He's sleeping at the moment, but I'm sure he'll come around soon." With that, she spun on her heel and continued on down the corridor.

"Let's go see him," Soda cheered gleefully and with a bounce in his step, he raced ahead and we followed less enthusiastically behind.

When the door opened and I saw Ponyboy, I didn't even bother to restrain the tears as they went cascading down my cheeks. I was overwhelmed by relief and my heart was swelling with pride and happiness. Despite being scared, he'd fort those Socs and he'd won, and I was so proud of him. He was so brave.

I held one hand while Soda held the other. I ran my fingers through Pony's mattered auburn locks, just like mum would've done, trying to give comfort in his drowsy state. Bruises were blossoming all of his arms and his face was an array of different colours. However, he looked better then I'd been expecting he would. At least he didn't have to wear the oxygen mask. Everything was gonna be ok now... Everything was gonna be fine...

With a barely audible whimper, Pony began to stir, his sleep-laced green-grey eyes opening a smidgen, before widening, making contact with my own watery ones. Without warning, tears began to stream down his face, silent sobs racking his small body.

"I'm so sorry, Darry..."

~~~~

Hey guys!

Sorry it's taken so long for this chapter. I'm still not exactly happy with the ending, but I might edit it more later. I've had a lot of trouble with writer's block and I've also been extremely busy. Life just gets in the way sometimes.

Anyway, I hope you like this!

M. Elyse Lynch

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net