It's finally the last chapter! I'll miss you guys. Hopefully I get to see you review for my future Outsider stories. I have a few in mind already. :D Thanks for all your support!
o-o-o
The tip of the giant spear of ice stabbed through the shadow, dissipating it. But as soon as the ice could break its way through, it melted in a giant, steaming puddle on the roof. The hole immediately patched itself up. As the steam rollup up from the ground, the shadow sent the same move against me. I hardly had enough time to put up a wall of ice to shield myself. When I felt the pressure move from my shield, I let it down. On the other side, the shadow had disappeared.
All was silent besides the faraway sound of screaming people and fire flickering.
"Ponyboy, look out!" Johnny warned. I looked around only to see a flying black mass coming towards me. It rapped its arms around my waist, pushing me off the building. I could feel my life slowly being sucked out of me as the shadow continued to hold onto me. It felt like someone had stuck there hand in my stomach and started to drag out my insides out. I tried to pound wiggle out of his embrace and hit it. I was successful with one arm and managed to throw a fist at it, but my fist went through and the feeling of my soul being sucked out intensified. A feeling of dread washed over me. How could I defeat something that I can't even touch?
We slammed into the ground and I lost my breath for a second. My squinted my eyes and the shadow was pushed off of me. I quickly stopped time to get a breath and mold my ribs back together before standing up. Time resumed.
When I looked forward, I did not see the shadow. It disappeared once more. My blood ran cold as I thought about where it could be and I flew back to the top of the building that I was pushed off from. The gang turned around upon me landing and gave me questioning looks.
"Is it over?" Soda asked. I shook my head.
"No. I lost it. I came to check on you." I admitted.
"You lost it?" Steve asked seriously. My senses tingled. I could tell that the shadow was nearby, just waiting for the right time to pounce.
"It's here."
I flickered my eyes around the area to make sure nothing came this way. But nothing did. Well, not until a quiet gasp came from Johnny.
"W-Why…" Johnny started, panic clear on his eyes.
"What is it?" Two-Bit asked.
"I have two shadows…"
My eyes trailed to the ground. Indeed, Johnny had two shadows. Normally, this wouldn't have bothered me. But, there was also the fact that everyone else had one shadow and one of Johnny's shadow looked nothing like him.
Johnny quickly tried to step away from it, but it mirrored him like it was his own shadow. I didn't know what to say. If I told him to get away, it would just follow. If I told him to not move, it might get him. My mouth was dry.
The shadow moved, ripping itself off from the ground before stabbing its hand through Johnny's chest. Then everything went in slow motion and all I heard were the banging beats of my heart.
Johnny's eyes grew wide, mouth parting slightly. His bruised skin grew pale but the blood that came out of his mouth colored the skin with crimson. A choked gasp came out of Johnny's lips before a scream that only soon was cut off with more blood. Johnny's form fell to the ground and the shadow sank through the ground.
"Johnny!" Dally exclaimed, going over to him. Time went back to normal speed and everyone went to Johnny. "Damn it, Johnny! Get yourself back together!"
Darry kneeled down, pressing his hand to feel for a pulse. "He's dead…" Darry's eyes were sad before standing up.
I couldn't believe it. Johnny's gone. Just like that. It was all my fault. I could have saved him. Now all I could do is watch the gang's faces turn sad. Tears threatened to fall from my eyes and I fell to my knees. "J-Johnny…" I cried, crawling over to him. Damn it. Damn it. Damn it all.
If only I could save him from death. Heal like Mr. Jones can. I raised my hands over Johnny's unmoving form. Come on, let me have this one power. I just need this one? I shut my eyes, tears now falling the slits of my eyes. Come on, heal him. I need to do something good for once.
Come on.
Come on.
Come on, damn it!
My hands started to burn like I was holding it close to fire. But I ignored it. My mind was on another thought: I couldn't lose another person. Not like how mom and dad was whipped from me.
A cough broke my thought and snapped my eyes open. I looked down to see a golden veil over Johnny. Johnny's eyes weren't dim anymore, but he was still staring past me, like he didn't recognize me. The longer I held the veil up, the more lifelike he seemed. My tears stopped falling and a small smile formed on my lips. I did it. I finally did something.
A hand reached down and grabbed my wrist, pulling it away from Johnny. The veil broke.
"Ponyboy." Darry said. "Stop, you're killing yourself."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. Reaching up to rub away the blurriness from my eyes. My hand touched a warm, thick liquid that certainly didn't feel like tears. I pulled away to look at my hand. Blood covered them. "B-Blood?"
Two-Bit, who was standing next to me, pulled his switch-blade out, handing it to me. I took it, and looked at my reflection. Trails of blood went down from my eyes as well as my mouth, nose, and ears. Well that's what it looked like. My vision was blurry and it felt like I was going to pass out.
"You're overstressing your body." Darry explained, wiping away the blood.
"But, I can't stop. If I stop, Johnny will die."
"He'll be fine. We can take care of the rest. Focus on the shadow."
"But I can't win. I can't even lay a hand on it…"
A sigh came from Steve's mouth. "Use your head. Honestly, I thought you were smart. From the expression you had while healing Johnny, it seems like it was a new power. What was the thought on your mind while healing him?"
"I needed a power to save him."
"Exactly. You can get any power if you put your mind to it, kid."
It dawned to me that he was telling the truth. But that doesn't help me to find a way to defeat it. Regardless, I stood up.
"Good luck," Soda said. I nodded my thanks and flew off.
I found the shadow near a field of dead bodies and landed. I made sure not to step on any corpses. I really hope everything works out. I took a deep breath, thinking strongly before a ball of fire shot out from my hand. The fire ball went throw the shadow, hitting a pile of dead bodies. I cringed. At least they'll get cremated?
The fire grew big, fueling on the fat of humans. It was so hot that I could feel its warmth from a far distance. The shadows image flickered as the fire expanded. It moved away, catching my attention. Does it not like fire? But it didn't seem to affect it before. My mind swam. What does fire have that bothers it? What does fire have that makes it disappear?
To make a shadow you need light, but too much light makes it so there is no shadow.
The shadow disappeared as I blinked, reappearing behind me. It swatted a dark and at me, pushing me towards the fire. My vision turned red as the flames danced across my skin. I got up and ran out of the fire.
How could I make it so I could generate enough light to conquer it? Ideas flashed in my mind quickly as well as memories. Memories of the school stood out the most. The obstacle courses seemed real, but they were illusions.
I snapped my fingers thinking of an image. A dome of mirrors came over the shadow and I. Everything turned dark until I conjured a ball of light that hovered near the top of the dome. The light grew bigger, reflecting off of the mirrors and maximizing the light capacity. I shielded my eyes as the light started to burn me. I knew my clothes were going to be pretty bunt after this is over.
I waited what seemed like a couple minutes until I dispelled the light as well as the illusion. I opened my eyes. The area around me turned to a pile of ash. But there was no shadow. I felt no threat. I forced a vision to come to make sure that it was truly gone. Nothing. I did it. I actually did it.
My vision blurred and then everything went black.
I woke up in a familiar room that I missed all too much. It was my room that I shared with Soda. I sat up to get a glance around the room, swallowing the familiar scent. Beside me, something stirred. Soda, who was sleeping, sat up and looked at me with glazed eyes.
"Mornin' Ponyboy…" He muttered, and flopped back down. It was a few seconds later did he snap back up and swallowed me up in a bear hug. "You're awake!"
"Soda, can't breathe…" I managed to get out. He let go with a big smile on his face.
"Darry, he's awake!"
Footsteps rumbled the house and the door swung open. My eldest brother stormed over to the bed.
"Uh…how long was I out?" I asked.
"Three days. We were so worried. Your body was too stressed out to continue functioning."
"Three days? How is everything? How's Johnny?"
"Everything's fine, minus the major damage to Tulsa as well as the dozens of deaths. Johnny is okay. Actually, I think he will visit today."
My stomach rumbled and my ears turned a bit red from embarrassment.
"Let's get some food in your systems now."
A couple of hours later, the door opened again and the gang came tumbling in. I looked over from the table with a fork still in my mouth. Relived looks came from most of the member's eyes. But that soon ended when the door opened once more and guys with suits walked in. Behind them all, an old man came in. I recognized him immediately.
"Director!" I said, swallowing my food. The director looked at me, eyes full of relief.
"We came to see Ponyboy Curtis. We heard that he was awake." A man in a suit said.
"That's me…"
"Under the protection of this country, we have to confiscate you."
My mouth dropped.
"Now hold on! You can't take him from us. Not after having him gone for so long!" Darry argued. The gang nodded.
"It does not matter about-"
"Hold on." The director cut in, stepping forward. "I see that you are well, Mr. Curtis."
I nodded.
"You have also successfully defeated the shadow. That has saved many lives. Possibly the whole human species. Now, would you purposely hurt humans?"
"No, sir."
"Then you are not a threat."
"But sir-!" A man in a suit tried to cut in but was silenced by a hand.
"Mr. Curtis is not a threat and I assume he can control his gifts well. He had also saved the world. I think that disserves a prize. Mr. Curtis, do you wish to stay here?"
"I do, sir." Ponyboy answered.
"Then you may stay."
"You can't do that!" A man in a suit interjected.
"Am I not the director?"
"You are…"
"Then I call this shot."
"But what about the millions of dollars of destruction?"
"Then Mr. Curtis better start helping to rebuild this town." The men grumbled before heading out. The director smiled at Ponyboy, winked before following suit.
"What just happened?" Steve asked.
"Old man just owned the government." Two-Bit answered simply.
END