"Ponyboy."
I barely heard him. I came closer and leaned over to hear what he was going to say.
"Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold..." The pillow seemed to sink a little, and Johnny died.
You read about people looking peacefully asleep when they're dead, but they don't. Johnny just looked dead. Like a candle with the flame gone. I tried to say something, but I couldn't make a sound.
Dally swallowed and reached over to push Johnny's hair back. "Never could keep that hair back... that's what you get for tryin' to help people, you little punk, that's what you get..."
Whirling suddenly, he slammed back against the wall. His face contracted in agony and sweat streamed down his face.
"Damnit, Johnny..." he begged, slamming one fist against the wall, hammering it to make it obey his will. "Oh, damnit, Johnny, don't die, please don't die..."
He suddenly bolted through the door and down the hall.
I didn't have a ride home and I wasn't in a rush, so I decided to walk home. I knew it probably wouldn't end up very well, but I decided to take the risk. I needed to think.
Johnny wasn't dead. I knew it in my heart. We had a connection I could never explain. That boy wasn't Johnny. Johnny was still in Windrixville. That boy was just a random kid who looks like Johnny.
It was our plan. Johnny would stay in Windrixville, and the other kid would come to town and turn himself in.
I reached the train station just in time for the Windrixville Train departure. The fuzz had just checked the cars for stowaways, so I jumped in an empty car. The train started up automatically and I went to see Johnny.
"Johnny!" I called into the forest where he was supposed to be.
"Ponyboy?" I heard a voice call back. It was from Johnny.
I could hear Johnny running to the sound of my voice. He came up and hugged me. It was only a small hug. Johnny wasn't a very compassionate person.
"Johnny, he... he died. The boy. The fire. Dally." I tried to explain but I couldn't get the words out. I realized I had been holding back tears since I left the hospital.
"Pony, let's just try to figure this out. So, the fake me died." Johnny guessed. I nodded.
"I saw that the church was on fire. Did the boy die in the fire or from injuries?" He asked.
"Injuries. We went in to save some kids and a board fell on him. He broke his back Johnny, he didn't need to get in this mess." I answered.
"Okay, now what about Dally. Did he know? Or does he think I'm dead?" Johnny was very curious about Dally.
"He, he, he thinks you're dead Johnny. I don't know what he's gonna do. He ran out of the hospital mad. Real mad, Johnny." I explained.
"Well, we better go before Dally does anything to mess with the fuzz," Johnny suggested. I nodded and we set off.