Author's note- this chapter may make you feel uncomfortable. Don't read if you don't want to. Only warning you get.

Emily sighed hanging the phone up in the office. "No ones home." She said softly walking out. It wouldn't take her terribly long to walk. At least she didn't think it would.

"You need a ride little Cade?" She heard from the parking lot and looked over. There stood a drunk Curly Shepherd with an equally drunk Tim. "No thanks. I can just walk guys." Emily said smiling some before turning on her heels. "Ya sure ya don't wanna ride darling?" Tim asked making Emily inwardly scream. "Yes Shepherd I'm sure." Emily said calmly making Tim cock an eyebrow. "You're gonna walk home. Alone. You read your dam godfather's theme didn't ya?" Tim asked arms folded over.

"Yeah...what's your point?" Emily asked arms folded over. "He got jumped walking alone didn't he?" Tim asked tapping his foot some. "Yeah He did. But again What's your point." Emily said softly. "Ya wanna gets jumped or get a ride home." Curly said seriously.

"I'm not getting in a car with you two morons. Your drunk off your asses." Emily said firmly. "Ah...that's the issue. Come on little Cade. Driving with us is safer than having to walk from them." Curly said pointing to a group of socs that had been eyeing Emily the whole time. "I'll take my chances." Emily said grabbing her bag up from the grass.

"Fine get jumped. Don't say we didn't try to prevent it." Curly said seriously getting into his car. Emily rolled her eyes some taking off for Home. She used a shortcut she learned from her godfather to get home quicker than the others would. But about half way through the lot she heard someone whistling at her. It made her cheeks blush a crimson red. She zipped up her jacket and picked up her pace. Again she heard the whistling and this time felt someone grab her shoulder roughly.

She was spun around and there stood a senior soc from her school. "Where you off to In such a rush?" The guy asked pushing some of her hair behind her ear. "Home. Now please let go." Emily said struggling to get out of the guy's grip. "Now..now Baby. I'll let go when I Dam well feel like it." The guy said shoving her against a tree. "Stop!" Emily screamed kicking the guy hard in between his legs and took off running.

She didn't get far before she got tackled by the same guy. "Now look what you made me do. I cut that pretty face of yours." The guy said sighing softly.

"Help!" Emily screamed loudly trying to knock the guy off of her once more. It didn't seem to be working as well as it had previously. "Please! Someone body! Anybody! Help!" Emily screamed down right terrified. "Not like you won't enjoy it." The guy on her said only making her scream even louder.

"Shut up…." He hissed at her angrily. "No...stop. Just. Please. Stop." Emily begged the guy on top of her. "Shut up. Shut up. Shut the hell up." The guy said striking the side of her face hard enough for Emily to hear her ears ringing. She began crying hard and still kept screaming for help. It really Began to irritate the guy on her. So much so that he placed his hands around her neck firmly. "I told you to shut up!" He seethed at Emily tightening his grip on her throat.

She began thrashing and kicking at him. She even clawed at his hands so much that she got blood under her nails.

Her eyes suddenly rolled back and her body went limp. "Fuck." The guy on her said getting up. He took off running praying no one saw him as he got into his car and sped off. He ran his fingers through his hair in panic. He didn't wanna kill her. She just wouldn't shut up. He needed her to.

Ponyboy sighed some glancing at the clock it wasn't like Emily to not be home. Unlike himself, she was smart enough to call if she'd be late. "Where you heading?" Steve asked Ponyboy whom grabbed his shoes on. "Emily's not home yet. I'm gonna go see where she is." He said simply making steve nod his head. "Best of luck come back you need help." Steve said as Ponyboy grabbed the keys to the truck.

He drove to the lot knowing that's where Emily would be coming from. "Emily! Emily you here sweetheart!" Ponyboy Called out. A sense of dread filling him remembering how she had admitted to almost cutting herself with the razors just two months prior. He hoped she hadn't hurt herself at all. He'd never forgive himself if that happened. Then he saw her limp and unmoving on the ground. "Emily!" Ponyboy shouted rushing over to his god daughter. "No. No. No." He said repeatedly going to his knees.

He quickly began performing CPR for once greatful he'd actually paid full attention in health class for it.

He waited a moment and suddenly heard Emily coughing and breathing. Most importantly breathing. Ponyboy grabbed her into a tight hug and she screamed. "Emily. Emily it's me." Ponyboy said softly to the terrified girl. "Pony….." Emily said softly looking at her godfather. "What happened?" "I….I was just walking home. This...this guy grabbed me and he he got on top of me. He got mad cuz I wouldn't stop screaming even though he wanted me to. And he well he he choked me." Emily said head down.

"Oh sweetheart." Ponyboy said gently kissing the top of her head. "Didn't anyone offer you a ride home?" Ponyboy asked seriously. "Tim and Curly did but...but I told them I'd rather walk." Emily said shyly. "Why?" Ponyboy asked slightly confused. "They were both drunk. I didn't wanna get into the car with drunk people." Emily said rubbing her arms some. "You okay? And don't lie to me." Ponyboy told her sternly. "No. He could have…." Emily began her voice trailing off.

"But he didn't." Ponyboy said gently helping her up. "You're not gonna tell the others are ya? I don't wanna have them hollering at me for not getting a ride from Tim and Curly." Emily said rubbing her arms nervously. "I'm gonna have to Sweetheart. So they can make sure no one ever does this to you again." Ponyboy said hearing Emily groan.

The duo got into the car and drove on home. "Find her?" Soda asked Ponyboy whom nodded. "Hey is…" "some bastard jumped her, tried to rape her and when she wouldn't stop screaming choked her. If I hadn't have gone out as soon as I did, we'd be burying her alongside her brother and parents." Ponyboy said seriously. "What?!" The others said practically snapping their heads over at Emily. She just sunk into the table bench hoping to just disappear.

"Emily…." "Yes I got offered a ride but said no to it." Emily said quickly. "Why d.." "Because Tim and Curly where drunk and I refuse to get into a car with someone who is." Emily said before Darry could even get a full senstive out. "You could have called." "I did. Several times and no one picked up." Emily said sitting up and rubbing at her eyes. "Look up." Darry told her to check on her neck. "Yeah those are finger tips. You remember what this guy looked like at all?"

"Uh….he was one of the seniors at the school. I think he's the quarterback on the football team." Emily said softly not so sure of herself. "Alright let's get some ice on that neck of yours then." Ponyboy said helping Emily Hold ice to her neck before placing it into the trash bin.

"Don't worry no one will ever hurt you again. Okay." Ponyboy told Emily getting a nod. He gently pulled her close , holding her as she cried into his chest. He felt horrible for the poor girl. She'd lost her parents and some creep dam near killed her. After a few moments Emily was silent making Ponyboy look down at her. She was fast asleep making him sigh. He set her down the couch gently then grabbed himself a water.

"You can't kill him." Darry told Ponyboy seeming to know his thoughts all too well. That's what Darry had wanted to do to the boys who'd jumped Ponyboy walking home from the movies all those years ago.

"I fell dam helpless to help her Darry. I don't want her to end up like Johnny was and so far, it looks like that might happen." Ponyboy said seriously. "She has you to help her. Your her guardian. Don't be so hard on yourself." Darry told his brother seriously. "Yeah thanks Darry." Ponyboy said seriously. "What I'm here for." Darry said with a gentle smile.