.::I do not own the Outsiders::.


"One last thing before I shuffle off the planet,
I will be the one to make you crawl,
So I came down to wish you and unhappy birthday.

Someone call the ambulance..There's gonna be an accident."


Johnny sighed, he was tired of looking for the kitten named Pepsi. He promised Darry to feed it that afternoon. He had looked under the couch, the beds, the kitchen, the dressers, in the closets, in the backyard, the front yard and the front porch. With defeat he sat himself on the couch slouching tired from searching. Twobit walked inside with a wrapped up box in his hands whistling to a tune. Johnny nodded a hello while his friend placed the box on the table.

"Hey there Johnny Cakes what's hanging?"

"What's that you got there?"

"It's a little something for the squirt for tomorrow. Gotta hide it 'cause he's coming tonight 'member? Soda and Darry gonna pick him up today when they get back from work."

Johnny bit his bottom lip feeling bad for not buying anything for his friend, he had some money but not enough for some type of god present. Dallas walked inside next grunting a hello getting in the kitchen for a beer.

"Get me one will ya?" Twobit asked laying on the couch.

"Get one yourself you lazy ass."

"C'mon for your old buddy Twobit." He pleaded.

Dally rolled his eyes handing him one. Johnny still kept thinking of what to get for Pony. Gosh this is even harder than I thought...I don't have enough dough! Maybe a book? Um, a small toy? Dang it. They turned on the television for something good to watch. They landed on a drama movie with criminals robbing banks, cheesy romance scenes and the cops rescuing the day. Darry, Soda and Steve were busy working, in a couple of hours they'd get back soon. It was awful quiet outside though, no kids running around playing or Greasers walking by talking loudly. The sun went down, the darkness taking over. Johnny stood up remembering Pepsi, he growled, "Darned cat where are you?"

Twobit stretched his arms, "Can't find him?"

"No, I've been looking for him before you came. Maybe he's lost or somethin. We gotta find him."

Dally said, "We?"

"Don't be a lazy ass Dally." Twobit mocked using some of the same words Dallas had used on him.

"Don't get mouthy with me Keith Mathews," He pointed his finger at Twobit's face that had a grin, "Stuipid cat, where are ya?"

It was useless in the end, the kitten didn't appear. No trace of it either. They gave up when Darry, Steve and Soda arrived.

"What's wrong?" Darry asked putting away his tool belt.

Johnny shrugged, "I think Pepsi is lost."

Soda frowned, "Oh crap! Dar Pony's gonna be so sad when he gets here! Damn Pepsi where are you! Can you guys keep looking? We gotta hit the road in a couple of minutes so we can get Pony."

Twobit suggested, "Who can make cat noises? Meow! Here Pepsi...Meow!"

Steve smacked the back of his head, "You sound like an animal I ran over once."

"We already did. Maybe the stupid cat's dead." Dally said.

Johnny shook his head, "I really hope not. Pony loved that cat very much."

Darry sighed going to his room, "Just keep looking guys, Soda git in the shower already!"

Twobit had an idea, "Dally look in the back yard, Steve you check the rooms, Johnny the living room."

Steve turned to him before leaving, "What about you, bird brain?"

"I'll be looking in the fridge of the kitchen, ya know, just in case Pepsi wanted a beer or somethin."

Everybody gave him a dirty look, Twobit held his hands up in front of him, "All right all right, c'mon Dal I'll help ya look in the back yard."

Johnny kneeled down looking again under the couch, he went behind the television too. Nothing. Under Darry's recliner. Nothing again! Taking a deep breath the greaser sat down for a moment on the couch. He looked at the window with the curtains covering it not able to see outside. Maybe he ran away or something. Pony will be so heartbroken. He then heard a sound outside on the porch. Footsteps. At first he thought it was one of the guys looking around.

"Ya find him yet?!" Johnny shouted still sitting down.

No answer.

"Guys?" He leaned closer towards the window his hand grabbing the curtain to uncover the window, "Guy-"

He let out a shriek jumping from the couch to the floor. Right there was the white blank mask staring back very close to the window with his head cocked sideways. Johnny's breathing went faster frozen from terror. He felt the blood drain from his face. The masked stranger waved a goodbye leaving. Steve came running in the living room, "Johnny! Johnny! What is it?!"

Johnny pointed at the window with his trembling hand stuttering, "T-The-I-Ste-You-"

Darry, Dallas and Twobit barged in with Dally shouting, "What the hell was that?!"

Darry asked, "You ok Johnny?"

He still kept pointing at the window, "M-masked g-guy! I-I s-saw him!"

Twobit helped him up from the ground putting his arm around his shoulder, "It's all right it's all right. Calm down man, he ain't there no more."

Sodapop with only a towel wrapped around his waist, "Whoa what's going on? I heard someone scream?"

Darry pushed him aside opening a closet door taking hold of a baseball bat. Soda walked over to Johnny that was now sitting in the kitchen with his shaking hand covering his mouth. Dally and Steve were asking him, "What did you see?"

"Was it the crazy bastard?"

"Did he do anything?"

"Where?"

Sodapop's hand landed on Johnny's shoulder for comfort, "It's ok Johnny, take a deep breath you're all right."

"I-I saw the masked man right over there. It was some s-scary shit man." Johnny said his voice quivering a bit from being scared. Darry was now looking through the window Johnny had pointed at. Twobit was already by his side along with Dally and Steve positioning themselves for a fight.

"You guys stay behind me, Soda you call the police."

Darry twisted the door knob slowly. Sticking his head out, his eyes scanned the porch to see if the masked stranger was still there. Walking outside step by step ,the bat tightly gripped in his hands, he glanced around. I guess he got away. Damn crazy fuck. Twobit whispered in a low voice, "Ya see him?"

"No, I guess he-"

Dally's eyes widened, "The fuck is that on the ground?!"

Darry's bat fell to the wooden floor as he saw an appalling scene. Steve grimaced, Twobit cursed running his hand through his hair. Soda , already in some clothes, rushed to the door, "Already called the police, said they'll be here soon...Something wrong?"

Johnny wanted to see but Dally held him back, "Don't look Johnny."

His brother swallowed thickly before saying anything, "Soda get inside. All of you. Now."

Soda made his way to see what the big deal was, his eyes widened in horror. On the bottom of the porch stairs was the kitten. Pepsi. It was laying on its side, the legs were bended in a way that weren't supposed so. Pepsi's fur that was once white was now dark red, the spot on its back no longer there covered by the redness. His eyes were milky white lifeless, his tail was cut off. the kitten's throat was slashed open a puddle of blood surrounding him. There was a folded piece of paper next to the small body. Darry carefully picked it up trying to avoid touching the dead cat.

The Curtis brothers caught their breaths reading the message.

Strike three, it's time.

By the way... Happy birthday Ponyboy.


(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)