This chapter should go between Chapter 6 and 7.

After Darry and Soda had been to Cathy's house to look for me, the cops came to visit Cathy. I almost yelled out for help but something told me to sit back down and keep quiet.

I hid behind the wash machine as Cathy showed the police the basement. "As you can see here," Cathy said while standing in front of me. "There is no one down here. I'm telling you, Ponyboy was terrified of Darrel so he ran away."

The cops looked at each other and the basement. "Well, sorry for bothering you, mam. We'll let ourselves out."

"Sorry I couldn't be more of assistance, boys. Please find my beloved Ponyboy and bring him home to me." It amazed me at her capability to have a calm conversation with the police while her missing nephew hid behind a wash machine in her basement.

Both cops looked uneasy and unconvinced. But seeing no evidence, one smiled and said, "Will do, mam. We'll do all we can to find Ponyboy. Don't worry."

Cathy smiled. "Oh thank you, officer. I needed a little encouragement after the day I just had. I can't help but worry about my precious Ponyboy. I hope he'll feel comfortable enough to come home after Darrel is gone. I don't blame Ponyboy for being afraid. Darrel has always been a violent little boy. I always knew Darrel was a bad seed from the very beginning."

"We'll have to check in on that before we make any accusations, Mrs. James. But if that may be true that Darrel Curtis is violent towards Ponyboy, he'll be going away for a long time."

My legs start to hurt after sitting behind the wash machine. I could hear my heart beating in my chest. I wanted to scream out and tell the cops I was here and Darry was a good guardian. That Darrel's name is Darry. I couldn't stand it when she called him by his full name. It sounded so stiff and formal. Something Darry wasn't. I couldn't make a sound. It felt like a strange force was holding my lips together to keep me from saying one single word. And then the police were gone.

"Good work, Ponyboy!" Cathy congratulated me. I slowly and carefully came out from behind the machine. I stretched my legs. "Because you were so good, I'll give you an extra helping of bread."

I smiled. Cathy smiled back at me. For a moment, I felt like I had an aunt again. We were never close or even friends, but at least we were nephew and aunt. She will always be my aunt, no matter how fucked up she is. That's how it should be. That's how I wished it would stay. But then it was gone almost as fast as it came and I was alone once again. Darkness soon consumed me.