I wake up silently and change into dark blue shorts, a olive shirt and hiking boots. I pull my hair into a ponytail and gather some firewood. I go around camp humming as I set up a tripod and my coffee pot. I light a match and throw it onto the wood. I dig around my trunk as quietly as possible and find my chocolate, and the stuff you use to make coffee in the woods. I wait for a moment then I grab my cup and pour some in. "Hmm." I sigh. "Now this is peace." I set up a chair and sit down with a book. I set my book down and think about my nightmare. Well, if it ever happens . . . I get up and grab a paper, an envelope and a pen. I set the paper atop my book and start writing.
Dear Tiffany and the Greaser gang,
If you found this letter, it means that I've been kidnapped. And taken back to NYC. Tell my Aunt Alice and try to find me, please! If not, you might run out of time and I might run out of time too. Tiffany, if you're reading this you'll know what will happen to me. And to be honest, I don't want that. Sixteen is too young. Johnny even said it. I have a feeling that Marie will bring me to the old apartment. If you organize a search party I suggest that Dally and Emily join because they know New York like the back of their hand. Well, I think they do. Please, please, please hurry and come quickly. Tiffany, I expect you to tell them about you-know-what.
Love,
Arizona
I set my pen down and fold up the paper, placing in the envelope. I set it with my book and decide to take a quick walk. When I reach the woods I start singing. I sit on a tree stump and sigh.
"Well, well, well." a voice says out of nowhere. "Hello, Dr. Pepper."
"If this is a prank Two-Bit, you can stop." I groan. "Who did you get to accompany you this time?"
"Hello my dear," Marie comes in out of nowhere.
"Hi Marie. Here to kill me?" I s sarcastically.
"How did you know?" Mr. Darkme asks, stepping into view.
"Oh, fun." I say. "I'm outnumbered."
"You still manage to be witty even when you aren't safe." Mr. Darksme cackles as a hand goes over my mouth.
I force the hand off of me. "Please," I plead. "Let me do one last thing."
"What? Kiss lover boy goodbye?" Mr. Darksme smirks.
I fake a look of sadness. "Yes."
"Go ahead." Marie says.
I run away and grab the note I had just written. I slip it into the CD player Tiffany has in our tent and leave it where I know they'll find it. I trip over my chair, spilling the coffee. I feel a slight stab in my hand and find I've cut it and the blood is dripping onto my book. I wince and suck on the cut. I take one longing glance at the camp and walk back. "I'm not leaving!" I yell to Marie and Mr. Darksme.
"Little traitor." Mr. Darksme cackles as a hand goes over my mouth and I smell chloroform and black out.
FROM NO ONE'S POV
Tiffany awakes and changes quickly to see a fire set up and mocha coffee. 'Where's Ari?' She wonders. Tiffany spots her book and the spilled coffee and . . . blood!? Tiffany screams. Pretty soon the whole gang is out of their tents.
"What happened!?" Emily asks.
"Arizona's missing!" Tiffany cries. "And there's blood on her book . . ."
"What the hell?" Dally says and picks the book up.
"You don't think . . ." Pony's voice trails off.
"No." Cherry breathes. She walks over to Arizona's car and picks up the CD player. "What is this?" she holds up the envelope.
Marcia grabs it from her. "To Tiffany and the Gang." She opens it and yanks the letter out. Her eyes scan it and they widen.
"What does it say?" Soda and Pony say in unison.
"It reads; 'Dear Tiffany and the Greaser gang. If you found this letter, it means that I've been kidnapped. And taken back to NYC. Tell my Aunt Alice and try to find me, please! If not, you might run out of time and I might run out of time too. Tiffany, if you're reading this you'll know what will happen to me. And to be honest, I don't want that. Sixteen is too young. Johnny even said it. I have a feeling that Marie will bring me to the old apartment. If you organize a search party I suggest that Dally and Emily join because they know New York like the back of their hand. Well, I think they do. Please, please, please hurry and come quickly. Tiffany, I expect you to tell them about you-know-what.' "
"No. No, no, no!" Tiffany cries. "Not Arizona! She can't be serious! No!"
"What is 'you-know-what'?" Two-Bit asks.
"Suicide." Tiffany says. "I asked Ari what she would do if she was taken back to NYC, and she said suicide."
"She can't be serious!" Emily exclaims.
"She can't be." Pony whispers.
"There goes the camping trip." Steve groans.
"Why suicide!?" Evie wonders aloud.
"Okay! That's it!" Tiffany cries. "We are going to New York! We are organizing a search party! And we are going to find my sister!"
"Sister?" Dally asks.
"Long story! Now we should pack up and we are going to find her!" Tiffany orders.
Hours later they arrive at the old Eastside neighborhood. Knock, knock, knock, knock.
"Yes?" A woman in her late thirties answers.
"Are you Aunt Alice?" Tiffany asks. "Arizona's Aunt Alice?"
"Yes? I take it that you're her friends." She replies. She peers at Soda and Pony. "Sodapop and Ponyboy Curtis! I knew your mother and father. Great people. Now, come in. We need to talk."
All the greasers file in. "Do you know what happened?" Cherry asks.
"Yes." Alice replies. "In fact, I got this voicemail" - she presses a button on the phone - "Just listen,"
An eerie, familiar voice fills the phone.
"Hi Aunt Alice and the gang, if you're there," It's Arizona's voice. "I'm in New York. And held captive by Marie and Darksme. Just come, please. As soon as you can! I don't know how long I can stand this . . . I hope Tiffany has told you all . . . I can't . . . take this anymore . . . But know I don't want to die . . . I have to much to live for . . . but I can't take this torture. . . I'm on the top floor of the Sunset Boulevard apartment . . ."
"Sunset Boulevard Apartment . . ." Tiffany stands up and paces the floor. "Hmm . . . I've been there . . . tall, black, across Broadway,"
"What're we going to do?" Emily asks.
"What torture are they talkin' about?" Soda asks.
"Um . . . I don't know." Tiffany replies. "But we need to call the police, and organize a search party."
"Okay, who's in?" Two-Bit asks.
"I'm in." Pony says. "It's my girlfriend here!"
"Okay, we have Pony." Tiffany replies. "I'm going too. What about-"
"I'm going." Emily says.
"Are you sure Babes?" Johnny asks. "I mean, it might be dangerous . . ."
"He's right." Dally says. "I'll come along. I know New York better than most of y'all."
"Okay, so the search party is me, Tiffany, Ponyboy, Dallas, and who else?" Aunt Alice asks.
"I'll go." Soda volunteers.
"Good." Aunt Alice says. "Now, the rest of you stay here-"
"I'm coming." Cherry stands up.
"Cherry, no." Dally objects. "You aren't go-"
"I'm going Dallas Winston whether you like it or not!" Cherry exclaims.
"Fine." Dally grumbles.
"Now we get into cars and drive to New York!" Aunt Alice says. "Come on! We can't lose any more time!"
ARIZONA'S POV
I awake in my old apartment bedroom. My mind flashes back to last night. Forced to sing . . . the fame I was getting . . . but no one knew it was me. . . .
So the events go little like this; I got kidnapped my Mare and Mr. Darksme who threatened to have me raped and killed if I didn't sing for a concert. I sang on Mr. Darksme's radio station and people loved it. So they arranged concerts for me and got all the profit. They would lock me in my room and I couldn't go out unless I told someone. Oh, and did I mention that I had to debuts with Randy? And they had me under the name Erica Corbin? I was constantly abused and I didn't know . . .
"Get up you little brat!" Marie comes in and slaps me. "Hurry up! Get ready!" She marches out and slams the door. I clutch my cheek and head to the bathroom. I wash my face and brush my hair until it's silky and my prep team comes in. I sit still as humanly possible as they do some 50's makeup and curl my hair, arranging it in some very complicated way as they weave in white roses and flowers in. I send a small prayer up to Heaven: 'Let the gang find me. Let them find me before it's too late . . . .'
AN: I'd like to say a ver special thank you to Moomimad and FlyActing! Thank you so much for your support and eagerness to read my stories! You don't know how much it means to me! I also suggest that you check out some of their stories, because they're great!
Stay Gold!
~Moniquan Rose
