Hey, thanks again for all the great reviews! As you can see, this story is close to it's ending (don't worry it has a good 3 chapters left, if not more) and I know a lot of people like this story so I have good news for you! There will be a sequel! I'm not sure what the title will be yet, I'll let you know as the time nears but for now, enjoy chapter 21!

My cigarette was foul. It'd been a long time since I'd had one, well maybe just a day, but I let myself become overtaken by it's smoke and it's burning ashes. Soda stood beside me, smoking as well, as we waited in the parking lot of the police station. No words escaping our lips, just complete and utter silence between us while flashing police car lights scanned the building and police officers talked amongst themselves. It was the next morning as the sun was starting to dawn over the horizon. It had only been one day. It seemed like weeks. But how could so much tragedy strike in just a simple 24 hours? Death sure did have a slow clock. I tapped on the end of my cigarette.

And then I saw him.

Rick was being led out of the police station, four officers surrounding him and Caption Esteridge leading the way with Rick's hands cuffed behind his back. His eyes somehow darted right at me, they were sharp and I knew this was it. It had to be. A bus awaited to take him to his death bed - his electric chair. I heard a stifled laugh come from Soda.

"It's funny. All this time they were going out of their way because they thought we were the criminals. But now that they finally have him, its just ironic. Because it was him all along." he scoffed, taking a drag of his cigarette.

"I'm going to talk to him," I told Soda with a soft voice, setting in motion to walk.

"Huh?"

Just as Rick was taking his first step into the back of the bus, I spoke. "Wait,"

"Look, kid, we have a tight schedule. We don't have time to-"

"Let the kid speak. He saved all of our lives, he deserves anything he wants," Esteridge apprehended the other officer. He did as he was told. I took a step right in front of Rick. I knew now that I had power over him, and it felt good. Although this man had gone out of his way to make my life hell, I felt as if I owed it to him to say a proper goodbye.

"Well, Rick," I started, my gaze hardening with every word. "I guess this is it. It's all over and you're finally going to get what you deserve. And I'd just like to say," I paused letting all the anger I had within me build up until I could finish my sentence with the most hatred I've ever had. "I'd just like to say, that I hope you rot in hell." I spat at him as I turned to leave. A certain psychotic chuckle caused me to whip around and face him. Was he laughing at me? But all he said was;

"You're a stupid boy, Curtis. It's never over." he said softly, and with that he was swallowed by the bus, the doors closing in my face and leaving me there to ponder his last words. I was stupid? What a jackass, he'd see who's the stupid one. He was just trying to scare me, wasn't he? But then I thought back to all the horrors he caused and the lives he took. How he managed to track me down and kill everyone who remotely associated themselves with me. If he was capable of all that he'd done, there was no doubt that he'd be able to escape his death.

"C'mon boys, you want a ride home?" Esteridge's southern voice broke through my thoughts. I looked to him, grateful.

"I took the bus here and I have a ticket back so I guess I'll see you at home, Pony." Soda told me, giving me a concluding hug. He brushed his lips against my hair and suddenly they were near my ear.

"Don't get yourself killed, alright?" he whispered low in my ear.

"Huh?" I whispered back.

"I know it's not over. I saw it in the way he left. Do what you have to do. Whatever it takes, just do it. But promise me you willreturn home, alright?" his breath was hot against my cheek and his words made me shiver and made my throat start to close up. All I could do was nod. With that, I got into the front seat of Esteridge's police car as Soda waved at us, pulling away.

Twenty minutes went by without a single word in that car. Finally, the silence was broken. "Where you from?" Esteridge asked softly.

"Tulsa, Oklahoma, sir." I answered.

"That other boy back there, was he with you during the time that you were terrorized?" he inquired, the rising sun landing on his face. I suppose he wanted to know all about the crime. Which was just fine with me, in fact, I was ready to talk. No, dying to talk and to have someone believe everything I said. Just like Nash did.

"Yes, sir. That was my brother, Sodapop Curtis. Our friend was with us too but Sodapop and him had to leave to find medical help yesterday afternoon."

"What was your friend's name?"

"Johnny Cade. He's in a hospital back home now. There was also one other person involved…" I added, thinking back to Jim. It had been a while since I let myself think about how I pleaded with him to stay alive and how death swept through the mountains lifting away his soul.

"Hm, and what was his name?"

"Jim Halsey, sir."

"And where might he be?"

"He's dead, sir."

Esteridge grunted, tugging at the collar of his dress shirt. He obviously didn't expect that answer. Another series of minutes past before anything was said again. I wondered what it would be like to say exactly what was on my mind. How I knew Rick would somehow escape. I tested my nerves a couple times as the words rested in my throat, seeing if I was brave enough to tell the Caption that I knew he'd never be able to keep Rick under control.

"You'll never hold him," I finally said out loud. Esteridge let out an exaggerated breath, as if he were about to give me a lecture.

"Alright, son, listen to me. There's something strange going on between the two of you. I don't know what it is, I don't want to know. But he's in our hands now and whatever happens to him,…wont have anything to do with you." I just leaned my head against the palm of my hand, running my hands through my hair. Esteridge was in denial. It was that or he didn't know what Rick was capable of. But I knew I couldn't just go home and lead a normal life and forget about Rick until I knew for sure, that he was dead.