Well here is the nest chapter. I am sorry if anyone does not like the modern setting, but it is easier to put the story in the current times, then to write it during the actual time the story took place in. This is because I have lived though the current time, and I was not even born yet when the time of the story took place. Anyway, I do not own The Outsiders and I do not own the lullaby. It was from the hunger games.

Andromeda rolled onto her back, as she tried to get comfortable. She frowned as she sunk uncomfortably into the mattress, and the sheets felt to stiff against her. Andromeda sighed, as she closed her eyes and remembered the bed that she slept in at Aunt Marge's home. The sheets were soft, ans the bed was comfortably firm. She smiled when the remembered how the sheets had a large picture of a black, Arabian, stallion, her favorite.

She opened her eyes again and looked at the clock. It was twelve pm. Andromeda sighed, and stared at the ceiling, she was incredibly tired. "It feels terrible, doesn't it.", Andromeda started when she heard the familiar child's voice. Her head flicked in the direction of the voice. "It feels terrible how, no matter how hard you try, You can never fall asleep."

Andromeda stared at the little girl, she was wearing a pink hello kitty shirt, and a blue jeans skirt, along with pink leggings, silver ballet flats, and a gold half heart on a slender chain. The outfit was made of expensive fabrics, an odd thing for such a young girl. The girl stared at Andromeda intently, her curly, strawberry red was bobbed to her chin. Her short heart face hadn't lost its plumpness. But, her small lips were pursed, and the purple eyes sparked with an ancient rage.

"It it your fault, you know." The child continued, "It is your fault, Andy, that I am the way I am. It would not have been this way if you had just stayed. But, you abandoned me, Andy." Andromeda felt tears form in her eyes "I am sorry Seffy, I never meant for it to happen to you. I wish I could take it back, but I can not."

The child's innocent face twisted into a snarl. " LIAR!",she screamed before she hissed out the words, "I hope you never have a good nights sleep again. I hope nobody ever likes you again. Because you deserve neither sleep nor friends, you wretched girl."

Tears fell thickly out of Andromeda's eyes and she sobbed openly, "I am sorry, truly I am! Tell me Persephone, how can I make it up to you? What can I do to make it right? Please, Seffy, tell me!"

The child's face contorted as a devious smile lit across it. A change slowly occurred on the girl. A cut appeared on the hello kitty's face, so it looked like it had blood dripping from a mouth. Another cut appeared staring at her chin and ending on her collar-bone. A third cut formed at the middle of her right, plum cheek and cut across her face to the left eyebrow. The half heat was covered in flecks of blood. "In that case, Andy, you will suffer a thousand times worse that I have." As the girl spoke, her skin rippled, and began to rot away. Eventually, all that was left of her was a skeleton in a pink hello kitty shirt, a blue jeans skirt, pink leggings, silver ballet flats, and a gold half heart on a slender chain.

"You can come in now." the skeleton sang, and the form of a shadowed man appeared beside her. His mouth opened to form a smile, showing pristine white teeth. He lifted a long, bloody knife, and spoke in a high, chilling voice, "I have finally got ya. You will never get away from me now." Then he lunged at her, his high, cold laughter mixing with that of the skeleton child's. Just as the knife pierced the skin of her cheek, she screamed.

Andromeda's eyes flew open as she sat up, having woken up to the sound of her own screams. Andromeda sat there, and thought to herself, 'It was just a nightmare, just a nightmare. do not worry. Nothing bad will happen. IT WAS JUST A NIGHTMARE.' she heard footsteps approach and her door was yanked open to reveal her disheveled Aunt Cristy.

Tears rolled down her face as Andromeda whispered, "I had a bad dream, Aunt Cristy. Will you comfort me, please?" She held out her arms to her Aunt Cristy, much as a child would ask a loved one for comfort.

Aunt Cristy scowled. "Is that it?", she snapped as she crossed her arms, "You HAD A NIGHTMARE?!" Suddenly her Aunt Cristy yelled, "FOR GOODNESS SAKES, WILL YOU STOP HAVING THOSE NIGHTMARES AND GROW A SPINE ALREADY?! PUT YOUR ARMS DOWN GIRL, YOUR SIXTEEN, NOT SIX! I WILL NOT GO OVER AND GIVE YOU ... HUGS AND... KISSES ... AND LET YOU BLUBBER ALL OVER MY FINE SILK NIGHTGOWN OVER A MEASLY NIGHTMARE! SO, GROW UP ALREADY, BECAUSE THE NEXT TIME YOU HAVE ANOTHER NIGHTMARE, I WILL STAY IN BED, AND SEND THE MALE SERVANT TO SPANK YOU SO YOU CAN HAVE SOMETHING REAL TO CRY ABOUT. I AM GOING TO BED NOW, YOU WEAK CHILD, DO NOT TRY TO COME AND GET ME, UNDERSTAND?"

Andromeda just stared as her Aunt Cristy turned around and walked out of the room, and slammed the door behind her making Andromeda flinch.

Andromeda drew up her legs into a fetal position, hot tears rolled down her face, as sobs convulsed through her body. A few minutes later, a song floated through her mind and she sang softly, her voice quivering with saddens.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow, A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes, And when you awake, the sun will rise.

Andromeda voice still shook, her heart ached from the pain, everything was so dark.

Here it's safe, here it's warm, Here the daisies guard you from harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, Here is the place where I love you.

Andromeda felt cold, Seffy had not been safe, the nightmares always reminded her of that. She did not deserve love.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, A moonbeam ray, Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

Her sins were obvious, nothing hid them, nothing relived them, they would never go away. Oh, poor, poor Seffy.

Here it's safe, here it's warm, Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, Here is the place where I love you.

She made a mistake, she had to pay the consequences, nothing she could do would ever let have joy, love.

Here it's safe, here it's warm, Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true, Here is the place where I love you.

Andromeda stopped singing, and sniffled. She got up and waked to the mirror. Andromeda bleakly stared at her reflection. Her long strawberry red hair lay in a tangled mess about her shoulders, arms, and back. Her violet eyes were red and puffy, her lips were turned down, and quivered as tears silently made their way down her face. The tears landed on her cream nightie. The nightie had a v-neck and was gathered under the bust and at her waist to emphasis her slender waistline and bony hips. The nightie was long, it ended mid-calf.

Without thinking, Andromeda got Lassie out of her closet, and walked over to her nightstand. she pulled out a piece of paper, and read the words on it. She replaced the paper, and wiped her tears away. The abruptly turned, and walked out of the room, carrying the stuffed animal with her.

When she reached the front door, Andromeda opened it, then locked it behind herself. After all, she could not let burglars in. Andromeda continued walking, her feet carried her silently away from the house. Andromeda was not aware of where she was going, nor why, she did not even remember what the paper had written on it. She just walked thoughtlessly forward.

Some time later, she reached her destination. Andromeda stared at the door, It was suddenly opened to let out wild laughter. Two-Bit stood in the doorway and grinned as he looked over his shoulder at the six boys behind him. He grin faded to shock and confusion when he saw Andromeda standing in front of him.

"A.C., What are you doing here at the Curtis house at 1:30 in the morning? You should be in bed, sleeping!", He practically yelled. Andromeda jolted to reality and started to stammer, " I, I, d-do n-n-not know, I ju-ju-just c-c-came here! I, I haa- had a nnnn-nightma-ma-mare, and c-c-came h-here. I, I am s-sorry, I, I will j-just-just g-go, a-and lea-leave you in, in p-peace."

Andromeda was nearly hysterical now and both Two-Bit and Soda tried to calm her down which served to make Andromeda even more upset. "I, I, I w-w-wi-will l-l-lea-leave n-now, so-so-sorry f-fo-f-for tr-tr-roubl-bling y-you," She continued to stammer as she stumbled to turn away. she hear multiple voices cry "A.C., wait!", and one say, "Curse it all, Andy, just stand still!"

Andromeda stumbled away and started to fall of the porch as multiple vices cried out. Multiple calloused hands grabbed her and only let go when two sets of hand stood her up and pulled her into the house. Andromeda walked dumbly, she was brought into the house and the door was shut behind her with a click. She was brought to a sofa were, the sets of hands made her sit down. Glancing over, Andromeda was vaguely aware that they belonged to Dallas and Darry.

Andromeda heard footsteps approach and looked in the direction of the sound. Soda walked over, with a glass of something in his hand. He sat down and put the glass into her hand, Andromeda stared blindly at it until somebody told her to drink. Raising her hand, she sipped the liquid. Cold water ran down her throat, easing the dryness. She did not realize till then how dry screaming, crying, and stammering had made it.

Andromeda looked up, she felt calmer now, not completely relaxed, but the Hysteria was gone. She saw seven sets of eyes star at her with varying amounts of surprise, confusion, worry, and in Dallas' case, anger. "Darry leaned closer and asked, "What happened." Andromeda took a deep breath and then replied.

Everyone was at the Curtis house, they had stayed up late, unaware of how much time had gone by. Dallas looked at the clock, "If you boys don't mind, I'm gonna sleep on your couch for the night."

Everyone looked at the clock, and Two-Bit yelled, "1:30?! My Moms gonna Kill me for staying up this late.", as he walked to the door Steve called after him, "Just call us when the funeral is gonna take place." Everyone, Two-Bit included, roared with laughter at this as he opened the door.

Then Two-Bit stopped and stared as grin faded to shock and confusion. Andy was standing in front of him disheveled, with a blank look on her face and a stuffed dog in her hand. The gang stared at her. Two-Bit broke the silence as he yelled, "A.C., What are you doing here at the Curtis house at 1:30 in the morning? You should be in bed, sleeping!"

Andy jerked slightly at his voice, and within seconds the blank expression was replaced with fear, confusion, and anxiety. Dallas stared at her in growing horror as she blurted out, " I, I, d-do n-n-not know, I ju-ju-just c-c-came here! I, I haa- had a nnnn-nightma-ma-mare, and c-c-came h-here."

Dallas filched, a nightmare, why wasn't she with the old crone then? though the corners of his eyes, Dallas say the same confusion in the rest of the gang. Andy did not stop there, "I, I am s-sorry, I, I will j-just-just g-go, a-and lea-leave you in, in p-peace."

Andy was in full-blown hysteria now, she began to hyperventilate and grew chalky white. The gang slipped outside to stand around her. "Easy A.C. Just calm down," Two-Bit said, Soda stepped forward to add, "Everything is alright A.C., just relax. there faces were strangely calm, but they did nothing to sooth Andy's nerves. She got worse instead.

Her stammering got worse as she all but wailed , "I, I, I w-w-wi-will l-l-lea-leave n-now, so-so-sorry f-fo-f-for tr-tr-roubl-bling y-you," Dallas felt her heart race as she tried to turn around, exhaustion and hysteria blinding her to all danger.

The entire gang cried out, "A.C., wait!", as Dallas yelled aloud, "Curse it all, Andy, just stand still!" But Andy was beyond reasoning, and Dallas felt his heart clench when he saw her miss a step and start to fall.

There was a collective cry of fear as everyone lunged forward to catch her. Dallas watched her closely as he and Darry pulled her into the house. She made no reaction when Pony shut the door behind her or when Darry told Soda, "Go get a glass of water, she'll need it for sure." Soda nodded and hurried off.

Dallas stared at her, her face was bloodlessly white, and her whole body shook as she hyperventilated. Her lips while partly opened to let air though, were turned down, and quivered slightly. Looking closer, he noticed her lips were small, but quite full and looked soft ... jerking his eyes up, Dallas internally cursed himself. Now was not the time for that.

Dallas focused his eyes higher, her hair lay in tangled knots on her shoulders, and her large violet eyes were a reddish color and wide open. Except for the overwhelming fear, confusion, hysteria, and anxiety, they were oddly blank. Dallas felt his throat close up when her saw fresh tear stains on her face. What nightmare could cause such pain?

As he set her onto the sofa, Dallas glanced at Darry and silently asked "What caused that?" Darry shrugged, as smart as he was, he didn't know either. Suddenly Andy's head snapped around to look at something and astonishingly, turned whiter. Everyone looked over to see Soda walk toward her, holding a glass of water. He flinched at her expression, then sat down next to her and put the glass in Andy's hand. Pony sat on her other side, with Johnny on his other side. Two-Bit moved to sit next to Soda, and leaned over to see Andy better.

Andy stared at the cup in her hand, still in shock from the encounter. After a second, Darry spoke gruffly, "You need to drink it." Andy raised her and took a sip. She then gulped down the entire glass of water quickly. She sighed as she lowered the glass. Her other hand pulled the stuffed dog close to her breast.

Blinking slowly, she looked around, most of the negative emotions disappeared, but she was still scared, and the hysteria was faintly visible on her face. Dally felt anger rise as her eyes drifted over his, why was she so scared?

Darry noticed her more relaxed expression and asked, "What happened." Andy took a deep breath and answered, "I was trying to fall asleep in my bed, It, is not comfortable. It is much to soft." Her statement drew smirks, who knew a bed could be too soft.

"That and the sheets were too stiff. I closed my eye and I must have fallen asleep, but I did not notice, in my, nightmare, I opened my eyes and I was in my room. I was not scared at first, there was a girl with ma and she noticed that I could not sleep. She said that she could not ether." Dallas frowned, how could that be frightening? The others though so too because they also stared at her in confusion.

Andy continued, "After that she started to blame me for something, she said if I had stayed that it would not have happened, she said that I abandoned her." Andy shuddered at the memory. "I stated to ask for forgiveness, I do not remember what I said, but I begged her. I think I said that I wished that I could take 'it' back, but that I could not."

Andy closed her eyes, "She yelled 'liar' and then, then she said "I, I hope you never have a good nights sleep again. I, I hope no-nobody ever likes you again. Be-because you deserve neither sleep, nor friends, you wr-wretched girl." Andy stuttered slightly as a few tears slipped out. "Seffy, I called her Seffy and Persephone. I told her I was sorry, that I would do anything to make it better." Andy took a shaky breath.

"And she smiled, a devious smile, then she changed. Cuts started appear on, on her neck, one on her face, and, and one on her breast where the Hello kitty on her shirt would have a mouth. It, it looked like it had drunken blood or something." Johnny groaned at this, and Soda looked sick.

"Then", Andy continued she said 'In that case, Andy, you will suffer a thousand times worse that I have.' and her skin her flesh started to rot away, there was almost nothing left of her, just a skeleton in a Hello Kitty shirt, a jeans skirt, leggings, and a gold half heart on a slender chain." Dallas felt sick, that was in her nightmare, mercy, even he would be a bit freaked.

Andy opened her mouth, "Then the skeleton sort of sang 'You can come in now.', and this shadowy man appeared next to her, and smiled." Andy smiled faintly, looking almost hysterical, "He had really white teeth, like in a tooth paste commercial. he said ,'I have finally got ya. You will never get away from me now.', then he lunged at me, his high, cold laughter mixing with that of the skeleton child's. Just as the knife pierced my cheek, I woke up to the sound of my own screams."

The gang looked at her with wide eyes. Two-Bit coughed, and said, "What about your Aunt whats-her-face/' Andy grimaced, "She found on my bed and I sort of said, 'I had a bad dream, Aunt Cristy. Will you comfort me, please?', and then I held out my arms to her."

Andy's voice softened, "I acted like little girl I guess, so Aunt Cristy said, 'Is that it?' then she crossed her arms and went on, 'You has a nightmare?'". Andy's voice raised slightly like she was mimicking someone who was yelling. Her voice quivered, "For goodness sakes, will you stop having those nightmares an grow a spine already?! Put your arms down, girl, you are sixteen, not six! I will not go over and give you ... hugs and ... kisses ... and let you blubber all over my fine silk nightgown over a measly nightmare! so, grow up already, because the next time you have another nightmare, I will stay in bed, and send the male servant to spank you so you can have something real to cry about. I am going to bed now, you weak child, do not try to come and get me, understand?'

A small sob escaped from Andy's lips and she whispered, "Then she, just, left. She slammed the door on her way out and left me there. After that I sang a lullaby to myself then I got up to look in the mirror. I do not know why, the I got Lassie", She shook the dog slightly, "Out of my closet, and read this small paper that was in my dresser. I, do not remember what it said, and I put it back afterward. Then I went outside and locked the front door and walked here. I do not remember why, or how I knew how to get her, I just did. That is when you found me."

Once she had finished, Andy closed her mouth and looked at them. Dallas spoke without thinking, "She yelled at you to grow a spine, to quit blubbering, called it a measly nightmare? Dallas felt face form a frown that was disgusting.

Andromeda watched as Dallas frowned. Both Pony and Soda made an angry noise and Two-Bit frowned bitterly. In the few days that Andromeda had known them, she had never seen the gang look this, enraged, ever. Two-Bit growled, "So her stupid silk night-gown was more important that her upset niece?" "She sure got her priories strait.", Steve added sarcastically.

Darry leaned forward and asked, "Are you alright?" Andromeda felt a tear start to slide down her face and nodded. Dallas frowned, then leaned forward to wipe the tear from her face. He muttered something about crying being stupid. Soda pulled a pack of something out of his pocket, "You wanna smoke? I could give you a cigarette if you want."

Soda shook the package and smiled enticing. Andromeda laughed as she realized, That must be one of the reasons they smoke, to relax. She laughed softly, "Thank you, but no. First I have slight asthma so smoking might cause an attack, and my Aunt Cristy would find out if I did. And when she found out she would certainly have a servant spank me."

Soda shrugged and replaced the cigarets. Andromeda looked at the clock, 2:58. "I should go home now.", she said with a yawn. Darry leaned forward, he looked a lot like a concerned older brother, "You want to walk home, alone, at this hour? No way. You should sleep here for the night."

Andromeda blinked. Now that she had calmed down, she was extremely tired, and she really did not want to walk all the way home. "OK.", she yawned. "So I suppose I'll sleep on the couch?" The gang looked at her as if she was crazy, "No way." Pony said. Soda nodded, "We may be hoods, but were not that cruel." Darry nodded, You'll sleep in Soda's old room." The others agreed quickly to this.

Andromeda nodded. Two-Bit leaned forward, his eyes sparked with renewed mischief, "So, that's Lassie huh, how did you get her and why is she so, mangled." Andromeda blushed as she looked down at the frizzy, balding, stuffed dog. She had dragged Lassie with her.

"Um," she said, "I got him from my Aunt Marge when I was two for my birthday, or something. Then on the way back home I got carsick and threw up on him. When we got home, one of the maids tried to clean him, but the drier did something funny, and he went from having realistic feeling fur to, frizzy fluff. The messed up tongue is because I, kind of chewed on it when I was little because I wanted to see what it tasted like. Last of all, the bald patches are from years of being loved."

Two-Bit looked at her in surprise, then opened the toys mouth to see the chewed tongue, and everyone laughed. Andromeda yawned and said, "OK, which way do I go." She stood up and stumbled slightly from sheer exhaustion. Dallas grabbed her shoulder, and said, "I'll show her." The other nodded and Dallas led her out.

Once they were out of the gangs sight, Dallas scooped Andromeda into his arms. She blinked in confusion, and he muttered something under his breath. Andromeda closed her eyes and quickly fell into pleasant sleep.

Dallas looked at Andy. she looked ready to fall asleep on her feet. Dallas glanced around then picked her up. Andy blinked at him in confusion, and he muttered, "Darry would be mad if I let you fall asleep standing there." Andy closed her eyes fell asleep instantly. She snuggled into him, and sighed as she rested a hand on his chest over his heart. He stiffed slightly and she smiled, and snuggled in even closer.

Dallas scurried to Soda's old room and put her on the bed. She immediately curled int a ball, and shivered. Dallas covered her with the blankets and watched, she looked peaceful in her sleep. Dallas groaned, a girl like that shouldn't have any nightmares. She shouldn't have an aunt that yelled at her for needing comfort.

Dallas groaned again, and sat down in the chair next to the bed, hoping to get some sleep. If Andy had another nightmare tonight, Dallas would be sitting there next to her, to listen to her if nothing else.

The chapters finished. Yeah, no real romance yet, just hints. And I bet you're wondering who the girl is, but I am not telling you got her name, that will have to be enough for now. (Yes, I really am that cruel). And this is not just a nightmare, it is a hint at something big, IT. Yeah, I am currently having a flair for the dramatic.

And as note, all that stuff about Lassie, not fiction. Lassie is the name of a real stuffed animal, and yes I got sick on him, the dryer totally ruined his fur, I DID chew on his tongue (It tasted interesting *gives puppy dog eyes*), and he did start going bald. Sorry, I just could not help adding him in. He seems like a toy that Andromeda would love.