^^^ This is just some music I listened to while writing this, so I thought that you might want to hear it.

Ponyboy's POV

I was frozen in fear as the Corvair stalked towards me. I didn't even think to run when the Socs hopped out of their car, stumbling and drunk. They surrounded me, grinning all too cheerfully. The scent of whisky was so powerful that I almost gagged, my breath coming out in uneven gasps. When it had come my chance to run, I hadn't taken it. Now I was trapped.

"Hey there, Little Colt," hissed the blonde. My eyes grew wide, frightened by how he knew... He just laughed, "We've been watching ya for a while now, Grease."

"Look," said one with colourless eyes, his voice full of mockery as he noticed the tears on my face. "The little baby's crying."

I felt like I was going to be sick. "What do you want?" I said, my mouth dry. My knees were shaking as I drew them to my chest, rocking back and forth.

"Just to have some fun, that's all," said the blonde, pulling out his switchblade from his back pocket. I pushed myself as far back as I could, eyeing the blade wildly.

"Didn't you have enough fun the first time?" My voice was beginning to rise.

The blonde grabbed the collar of my shirt and dragged me up so that I was face to face with him, the overpowering scent of alcohol on his breath. He laughed cruelly, causing the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. "No, but it was a blast. This time though, where gonna make sure we kill ya." He turned to his sidekicks, smirking, "Let's give him a bath."

Realisation dawned on me. I went hysterical, squirming and flailing like mad as the Socs grabbed my wrists and ankles. I let out a strangled scream, silently begging that someone would hear me. It was too late when I realised that I shouldn't have yelled. The blonde put the blade to my lips and I felt a small sting as the taste of blood filled my mouth. "I thought I made it clear the last time, grease," he said, chuckling. "You know the deal. Do you want those brothers of yours to join you?"

Warm tears prickled in my eyes as I trembled fearfully, feeling powerless. I couldn't scream. I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to Soda...or Darry... I couldn't lose my brothers... I wouldn't let that happen...

The Socs began to haul me towards the fountain, snickering as I tried to break free of their grip.

"No!" I cried out in a suppressed plea, kicking frantically in an attempt to get away. For one second, I almost did, jerking out of their grip for one moment before they tightened up on me again, this time too strong for me to break loose.

By then, I was scared out of my mind. I tried to call out, but before I could even begin to form the words, my head was dunked into the fountain. It was a cold shock, and the air was almost knocked out of me instantly. Frigid black water surrounded me, only adding to my fear as it closed in on me. I held my breath for as long as I could, and just as I began to suck in water, my head was lifted back out of the fountain. I coughed and spluttered, hardly having time to breath in before my head was dropped back down. I felt helpless as I held my breath, flailing desperately in an attempt to get away.

My whole body was shaking under the water. I was shivering in fear and soaked in what felt like pure ice, jerking with sobs as they racked my body. My tears didn't fall, only blended in with the deadly water. My heart was thumping a quick, wild beat against my rib cage, desperate for oxygen that I didn't have.

It was a never ending pattern; in, out, in, out, barely able to breathe. I was so dizzy, I didn't even know which way was up. Hands held me down and I waited, but this time they didn't lift me back up. In blind panic, I fought to free myself from the dark water that was closing in on me, but by then I was just too weak.

I couldn't hold my breath any longer. I sucked in, murky black water flooding my mouth and nose. It burnt as it gushed into my throat and lungs. I flailed feebly once more, desperate to get out of the water, but it was no use. I'm drowning... I thought. They've gone too far... A haze of red filled my mind and my body relaxed. I couldn't escape it in any other way...

***

The next thing I knew, I was lying on the pavement, shivering madly as the torrent of icy wind blew through the trees and across the park, blasting straight through me. The Socs had disappeared, the red Corvair nowhere to be seen. They had fooled me once again.

I began coughing up water, turning my head slightly as it spilt out of my mouth and onto the ground. I heaved it all up until there was nothing left. For the first time, I noticed the warm, sticky feeling of something on my chest and stomach. Weakly, I looked down at myself and saw many cuts and gashes across my chest, stomach and arms, blood oozing slowly onto the wet cement beneath me. The Socs must've done that while I was unconscious.

Suddenly, I started to sob, softly at first until I couldn't control it any longer. The fear and panic of it all had finally got the best of me. I had really believed that it had all come to an end, that I would be trapped in that fountain forever. But it had all been a trick, to torture me and to scare me. And it had worked.

I was alone again, my only company the wind and the terrible sound of the fountain bubbling and gurgling. It caused my raw nerves to snap, but I was too exhausted to even push myself up. I couldn't even see straight, I was so dizzy and the tears that streamed down my face didn't help much either.

I hated being alone more than I'd ever hated anything in my life. The shadows seemed to move closer and closer towards me, surrounding me as the moonlight shone eerily in the night. I was drenched and dripping with water, my soaked clothes clinging to me as I shook with cold and racking sobs. My hands were so numb, I'd never felt so cold.

I was too dazed to notice the footsteps pounding across the ground, heading towards me. Faces loomed above me, and panic took over before I could even think. It was all too hazy for me to recognise them. All I could see were the Socs, lunging at me with cruel, dark eyes. I began to scream, crying and pleading for help, all of my control gone.