.::I do not own The Outsiders::.


"We're going down in a spiral to the ground
No one, no one's gonna save us now
Not even God, no one saved us
No one's gonna save us"


Ponyboy started getting antsy. An hour had already passed. His brothers had told him a certain time in which they haven't arrived yet. He had been waiting patiently for the past hour making up stories in his head so he could keep busy while his oldest brothers picked him up but now it was getting late. Charlie chuckled watching Pony fidget with his shirt sitting next to him in the porch waiting for Darry's truck. Marie was inside reading a book waiting for them too. The moon shone upon the house giving a slight glow. Charlie then stood up stretching his arms.

"So tomorrows your 4th birthday huh kiddo?"

Pony nodded, "Yup, I'm a bigger boy."

He grinned getting something from his back pocket, "It's almost midnight, almost time for your big day," He pulled out a small box that was now in his extended hand, "It's not much but It's something."

"Oooh, thank you Chawlie!" He pulled out a silver small keychain in shape of a small horse. Pony's eyes twinkled, a smile on his face very surprised by his gift, "It's weal pwetty."

Ponyboy stayed still this time admiring his keychain with awe never having anything so shiny. Marie came out yawning, "Gee sweetie, I think we should call it a night."

"No...Let's call my brodews. Chawlie?"

Charlie nodded, "I guess."

Marie sighed, "Ok but hurry. It's very late." She walked inside the bathroom closing the door behind her. Charlie went to her bedroom picking up the phone hearing Pony recite his phone number quickly, the phone began beeping.

Beep...Beep...


Sodapop shook his head in disbelief of what he had just seen. All that blood, the innocent kitten. How can someone do such a fucked up thing?! What had shaken him the most was the note left behind. Darry rubbed his temples not getting anything, Happy birthday Ponyboy? This wasn't making any sense. Or maybe they just weren't thinking hard enough. Dally on the other hand kept smoking inside the house even though Darry had his rule of no smoking inside but it was forgotten. Ponyboy? Wishing him a happy birthday?Pony...PONY! Dallas, who had been re reading the note many times,stood up throwing the now crunched up note to Sodapop.

"Pone's in trouble."

Soda raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"

Twobit rubbed his head, "Shouldn't we wait for the police anyway?"

Dally shook his head angrily, "Damn it guys! Don't you fucking get it?! It all makes sense! He. Wants. Ponyboy."

Darry breathed in evenly many thoughts sinking in...Ponyboy was with Johnny that day...

Soda also tried fitting in the pieces, Twobit was with Ponyboy...

And...Pepsi is Pony's.

And tomorrows Ponyboy's birthday!

The brothers jumped up their seats a weird bad feeling setting inside of them, Dally was already by the door, "We have to leave, man!"

Sodapop bolted out the door going to the truck, Darry grabbed the bat from the floor, Steve followed behind. Twobit stayed with Johnny in the house, "You guys go ahead, we'll stay. The police will get here. Go! Now!"

The truck drove off the greasers inside, Twobit gulped, I hope Dally is wrong...Squirt ya better get home in one piece!

Johnny started biting off his nails nervously sinking into the couch, "You really think th-that the masked guy...Wants Pone?"

"I don't know Johnny, they think he does. I hope they're wrong though. Maybe it's some sick joke I mean...Who the hell wants to hurt some little kid?"

Moments later they saw red and blue lights outside obviously the police parking outside. Some people were peeking out of their houses wanting to see the whole scenario. Both greasers went out to see him observe the small horrific scene of the kitten. He grimaced looking around some more then he walked to the greasers who were waiting, the cop asked what had happened.

Twobit answered, "That crazy bastard was here! He did this! Poor kitten never saw it coming! Owner of the house left a while ago for their baby brother. Thinks this fucker is after Ponyboy, the youngest, looky here." He handed the cop the eerie note left behind.

The cop frowned reading it, "We were right all along. Our suspicions were true..."

Johnny gave a strange glance at Twobit. "What suspicions?"

"Some time ago we made a hypothesis that this masked killer's target was the young one. We didn't tell you not wanting to raise any false alarms and anyway, he is placed in a foster home far away. "

Twobit gaped at the police officer, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

Inside the phone began to ring... Ring...Ring... Twobit quickly went inside picking it up, "Hello?"

"Dawy?"

"Kid! Awe Jesus, you ok? Are your brothers there yet?"

"Nuh uh, I'm still waiting! Whewe awe dey? I'm getting sleepy."

"Listen squirt, they'll be there soon, you call the police ok? Go to your room and don't get out. Let me speak to Charlie or the lady um Marie?"

"Uh-"

A loud blood curdling scream was heard through the phone making Twobit drop the phone for a second, he put it next to his ear again, "Kid?! What the hell was that?!" Johnny's mouth was opened a little from hearing him speak.

"-lie? I'm scawed!" Pony's voice was low but quivery from being frightened.

"Squirt! Answer me!"

"Stay here Pone..." Muffled noises, "Chawlie?...Chawlie!?"

Outside the house another cop car parked nearby putting that yellow tape again, one man was taking pictures. Johnny nudged Twobit worriedly, "What's going on man?"

Twobit didn't answer, he kept trying to figure out what was going on, "Pony!"

Ponyboy talked again, "Twobit...Thewes...Thewes somebody in da house. I-I'm scawed Twobit, Chawlie told me to stay hewe..." Sob "Twobit!"

The line went dead.

Twobit felt the blood drain from his face, the phone dropped once again. Johnny took it hearing a dead line on the other side. He shook his friend's arm trying to snap him out of his shocking state. Oh shit oh shit oh shit! This ain't good! This ain't fucking good! A cop walked inside looking for them. Twobit gritted his teeth his hands clammed into fists, "You fucking bastards."

"Excuse me?"

"Why didn't you tell us that the fucked up masked man wanted Ponyboy!"

"W-what are you talking about?"

Johnny held Twobit back from doing anything violent, "Calm down man."

"I can't calm down! You wanna know why? He's already at Ponyboy's foster house!"


Ponyboy was in the dark, he was sitting next to Marie's bed his knees up to his chin. A while ago Charlie and him heard a scream coming from the bathroom. Then the lights went out everywhere in the house. Complete darkness. Pony was told to stay there until he came back for him. It's too dangerous, I think someone's inside the house. Charlie left the room checking what was going on outside with a small flashlight he had taken from Marie's dresser. Only a couple of minutes passed but to Pony it felt like hours. His body trembled remembering the nightmares from before. He wished so badly for his brothers, for his Mama and Father. For Marie or Charlie. Anybody to come rescue him already. Then he heard footsteps outside the room getting closer and closer. The door opened, some light illuminated the small room, it was Charlie.

"C'mon Pony let's get out of here."

Pony felt some relief, he took Charlie's hand. They walked very slowly not wanting to make any noises, he also noticed Charlie had some dark spots on his shirt, "You got diwty." Pony whispered.

Charlie nodded, shuddering he felt queasy as he thought about what he had found in the bathroom. What had caused the screaming. It was Marie, she was laying in the bathtub dead her arms over her throat. Somebody had slashed her throat open. There was a lot of blood gushing out, he tried keeping it all inside but it was too late. She was already dead.

He knew somebody was in the house with a weapon. So he had to get out of there as fast as he could. It was deathly quiet, Charlie could even hear his own heart beat fearing the killer could even hear it. Ponyboy's eyes darted everywhere scared of what might pop out suddenly from the dark so he clutched his friends hand harder. It was darker than the night, not even the moon's glow could get through the windows. It all felt too creepy. The only light was his small flashlight.

Charlie's ears were attentive to any noise around. They had to keep quiet though or the stranger would get to them. By the stairs Charlie bit his lip, walking down step by step meant the stairs would squeak. Pony looked up at him, "I'm scawed Chawlie."

"Come here." He started carrying Ponyboy.

They heard a creak from behind, Charlie gasped spinning to see who it was. His flashlight lit up a figure. It was the man. His blank mask staring at them his hands behind his back and as always his head cocked sideways. Ponyboy screamed. Charlie backed away the flashlight shaking in his hand. The killer went forward.

"Get the fuck away from us." Charlie warned.

A small snicker escaped the killer's lips and with a raspy voice he said, "Hand me the boy you little shit."

"Over my dead body."

"If you say so." He then unfolded his hands from behind his back showing a kitchen knife already soaked in blood. Marie's blood. He jumped towards Charlie who threw Pony to the floor as far as he could. Ponyboy landed on his hand and knees. The flashlight dropped to the floor. Pony saw how the knife in the man's hand disappeared into Charlie's body. His eyes bulged out from the pain, blood began to trickle from his wound that was coming from his ribs. His legs gave out. He fell to the floor, the killer pulled out the knife in a slick move. Ponyboy shook his head, "Chawlie...b-bluud...Chawlie!"

Charlie managed to turn his head to face Pony with the little strength he had left, "Run..."

The masked man stepped over Charlie getting closer to Pony.

"Pony...run."

"B-but Chawlie you huwt..."

With one final breath he shouted, "RUN!"


(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)