Chapter Two

Ponyboy's POV

We looked everywhere. We double checked his house, the lot and the park then we started to search less obvious places like the train station, the train tracks and the drive-in. We even went all the way to Windrixville but Johnny was nowhere to be found.

I was really starting to worry myself gray headed. I missed him too. You gotta remember that I love him back and I was afraid he went off and got himself hurt.

When we had gone to his house to look, Soda and I had to climb through the window and the rest of the gang hid outside so Johnny's parents didn't see any of us.

Soda had looked under Johnny's bed and at the windows to see if any of the locks had been picked. I checked his closet and didn't find anything so I decided to go outside of his room.

"What are you doing?" Soda hissed when he saw me open the door.

"I'm going to look if they have him out there somewhere." I was about out the door, and staring back at my brother in defiance.

"Johnny wouldn't want you goin' out there while his folks are here."

My breath caught in my throat. What Johnny wanted, huh? I bet my whole life that Johnny had wanted me to tell him my feelings instead of getting him into all this trouble. I bet he wanted me to say I love you back, just like I did but was too stupid and chicken to say it.

I could feel the sting behind my eyes and I knew they were blood shot by the way Soda's forehead creased.

"Well, Johnny's not here." My voice sounded strange. It was hoarse and whispery; I was getting too upset. "And he needs my help. And I gotta find him!"

Soda came forward and rapped me in a hug. "I know Pony… I know."

It took me a second to my breathing under control. "I'm goin' out there anyway." With that I unraveled myself from Soda's arms and walked out.

I crept down the hall and into the living room. It smelt strongly of marijuana and alcohol and I felt my stomach tighten. I wonder if Johnny had been beaten badly and that's why I haven't seen him. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and hot tears rush forward to my eyes.

I continued to tip-toe my way toward the light that was given off by the TV. I could hear someone clanking bottles in the kitchen and someone else snoring loudly on the couch.

I rounded the corner and there I was, in the living room. My eyes met the form of the snorer on the couch, who was surrounded by cigarette butts and empty beer bottles. My face scrunched in disgust. What a pig!

I took a deep breath and my eyes scanned the floor, hoping for but afraid of seeing a bloodied and unconscious Johnny on the floor. And to my relief and disappointment he wasn't there. I turned to leave when I saw something familiar out of the corner of my eye.

I quickly turned to see something that brought tears to my eyes. Johnny's jeans jacket and ripped t-shirt were lying on the floor mere feet away from me. I ran to them and gathered them up in my arms. I buried my face in them and inhaled deeply taking in his sweet scent. I could feel a painful lump forming in my throat. I had to hold my breath to control the sobs that came rushing up my throat.

I got up and walked as quietly as I could with shaky legs and a sob stuck in my throat. I finally made it back to Johnny's room where Soda was waiting for me. He looked as if he wanted to say something but his mouth shut when he saw the fresh tears rolling down my face. Soda put his hand on my back and gently led me back to the window where we had climbed in.

When we got to the ground the gang emerged from the foliage with hope evident on their facial expressions.

"So?" Dally asked, probably ready to break in and bring Johnny out.

I sobbed again and shook my head. Everyone saw Johnny's jacket and t-shirt clutched in my hands and their faces fell.

That night I lay crying again. I was furious with myself. I should be out finding Johnny instead of laying in bad crying about it. Johnny being missing was my fault anyway. I didn't know why I was so damned stupid.

Soda had come in and slung his arm across my neck. "Don't worry Pone. We'll find him. He'll be okay."

He'll be okay? Then why did I fall asleep, Johnny's jacket still clutched in my hands, to be plagued with nightmares. I dreamed of blood, tire marks, darkness and the woods…

Johnny's POV

I woke up with a groan. I was smarting and aching all over. I could feel dried blood on my temple and my head throbbed. I reached up to rub a kink in my neck and realized there was something locked snuggly around it.

I opened my eyes and found I was in the middle of the woods lying in a bed of twigs and leaves. My breath quickened and I tugged on the strap around my neck. I heard something jingling each time I pulled. I turned to see that whatever was on my neck was attached to a chain that was wrapped around a tree. I was on a leash! It started to get hard to breathe. I hurried to the tree to see if it would come loose but it was padlocked and wouldn't budge.

I leaned against the tree in defeat. Oh well, I thought, I have nothing to go back to anyway. I guess it would be best if I died out here. After an hour of sitting there I started to doze when a foot hit me hard in the stomach.

"You're not allowed to sleep greaser!" I heard a voice snarl. I didn't have to look up to know that it was the person who attacked me yesterday. I could see their expensive shoes as I was doubled over trying to get my breath back.

They didn't waste any time with small talk. When I was still knelt over one of my captors grabbed my right wrist and yanked my hand up. I looked up, my breath hitching and unhitching. Dread ran up my torso and through my stomach and branched out through my limbs.

The one holding my hand up was smiling at me devilishly through his mask as he switched out a blade.

"I'm not gonna lie, grease," the stranger said, "this is gonna hurt."

He started to bring the knife closer and closer to my hand.

"No… no!" I didn't know what he was going to do but I knew it was gonna be horrible. I tried to get up but the other guy was holding me down now and I tried to pull away but the guys grip was tight.

I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth when he brought the knife to my pinky fingernail. With a fast movement he plunged the blade under my nail then ripped it back out. The pain was a shock; I went stiff and my eyes blown wide.

Each and every nerve was on fire up and down my arm. My knuckle twitched and I could feel hot tears willing their way out of my eyes.

Before I had time to process it he went to my ring finger and shoved the knife underneath the fingernail. I grunted and squeezed my eyes shut. The blood started to trickle down my palm and drip to the ground. He pulled the knife out and chuckled when he saw my reaction.

"Let me hear you scream greaser." That was the warning I got before he plunged the switchblade into my middle finger.

I whimpered but didn't scream, I didn't want to give them the satisfaction. The whimper got louder though. He kept the knife in longer than the other two and wiggled it around. I was on my hand and knees, my breath coming in harsh pants.

He pulled the knife out then pushed it roughly into my index finger. My hand burned and my skin tightened around my body in agony. I wanted it to stop. I wanted the pain to go away. I wanted Ponyboy to save me. Pony always knew how to make me feel better. But even if he did know where I was he wouldn't come. He was disgusted with me.

The torturer pushed the knife farther into my finger. My sobs were long, drawn out and pitiful.

"Scream for me!" He commanded before he shoved the knife under my thumb nail.

I didn't scream but I sobbed. My whole arm hurt and my head pounded. I wished I would've died in the hospital with my burns. All of this wouldn't have happened. I deserved to die.

"I said scream!" The man was mad now. He wiggled the knife down as far as it would then yanked it up, taking the fingernail with it. I did scream this time. It was long and blood curdling. It hurt my throat.

"That's it." Said the man in satisfaction. Then the guy holding me up dropped me and they circled me like predators.

I curled in on myself with my hand against my chest. Blood trickled from my hand down my arm. I sobbed as I layed there. I sobbed so loud it sounded like screams.

I was hoping it was over and they would leave but they had other ideas. The one that had been holding me down grabbed me by the hair and yanked me up. He flipped out his own switchblade.

"My turn." He smiled sweetly. My eyes widened in terror. "I think you need a haircut."

With that he yanked my hair and cut it. It didn't hurt as bad but I continued to lay there and sob. I was relieved when it was done.

They left me there, bleeding on the forest floor. Until I drifted into a half conscious state. In this state I almost convinced myself that Ponyboy loved me and would find me. Almost.


I'm sorry if this sucks too much. I hope you liked it! - Janie