Disclaimer: I only own the plot. The title is a line from the song
Darkness by Disturbed.
A/N. Thanks for all the reviews. It just makes writing worthwhile
to know that people enjoy reading this story.
*Johnny's POV*
*Right before the doctor tells the gang Pony's dead*
I paced back and forth on the white tiles trying to make sense
of what was happening. How long had it been ? I didn't think it took this
long to revive someone.
"At least they're not giving up", I thought.
I didn't hate Pony for doing this, but I hated what was happening to
the gang. Soda looked like a scared little boy, and Steve was the
teen father who didn't know how to comfort him. Darry was lost. He had
no idea what direction to turn to, and he just stood there, lost and alone.
Two Bit wasn't joking around or smiling. He was being serious. I don't
think I've ever seen Two Bit truly serious. And here he was, looking like
his mother died.
The strangest change was Dally. He was letting his emotions show through,
even though I know he didn't want it to be that way. Sometimes when Pony
and I would talk about the gang he would mention Dally's eyes. How they
seemed iced over, glaring with hate.
"You've melted them Ponyboy," I thought.
I wasn't sure if I had changed at all. I wasn't the same person I was
before the Bob incident, but I don't think I've changed from that. Maybe
it's a good thing. A sign or something.
The door to Pony's room opened and a tired looking doctor stepped out.
I studied his face to see if I could tell anything. His face was worn and
exhausted. I thought of doctors' faces right after they delivered a baby.
They often had the same worn and tired look. Then their faces broke out
into a smile and they announced if it was a girl or a boy. I knew this
was different though. Somehow before the doctor even opened his mouth I
knew what he was going to tell us was not going to be good. Deep down we
all knew, Pony was going to die from this. I didn't know if that's
what he really wanted, or if he was just confused. I stopped myself before
I went any further. What if Pony wasn't dead. ? The doctor could just be
telling us that Pony's heart was beating again, but he was in a coma. The
doctor opened his mouth and I leaned forward to catch every word.
" I'm sorry we did all we could, but we lost him,"
I heard someone gasp and heard Dally mutter,
" Damnit kid, why ?"
It was a while before I realized I was crying.
"Lost him", the doctor said
"Go find him !," I wanted to scream.
I wanted to go up to that doctor and beat on him and scream at him
for losing Ponyboy. For losing my best friend. Pony was already lost, he
needed to be found. Not lost again.
I stood there on my crutches and sobbed. Cried until I thought my tears
were gone. I didn't want to be here anymore, surrounded by all this pain.
The nurse came to the door, but I ignored her. I just concentrated on finding
that place in my mind. The one where there were no Greasers and Socs. No
one fought based on financial status. The air was bright and clear. It
was a place that was gold all the time. Somewhere that Pony had told me
about once, and I'd always wanted to go. I've just been waiting for the
right moment. I've found that moment.
" Johnny ?, Johnny can you hear me ?" I heard Dally's voice say.
" Dally ? How did he get here ? Pony didn't tell him about this place
too, did he ?"
I squeezed the muscles around my eyelids. Trying to remember how to
open them. I slowly opened one eye and looked up. There was Dally, looking
down at me with a worried expression. It was a moment before I realized
I was in his arms.
"Dally ?" I asked hoping he'd take the hint.
"Johnny you're awake. What ? Oh, sorry,"
He slid me out of his grip and helped me sit up.
" What happened?" I asked.
" You fainted and it's good you were standing right next to me so I
could catch you. Because if you fell with those crutches it really wouldn't
be good. You could've been hurt and...." Dally stopped talking.
" Are Darry and Soda in the room with Pony's body ?" I asked
" Nope,"
"No ?"
"He's alive Johnnycakes. I don't know how the hell he did it, but the
kid managed to get his own heart beating even after all those doctors couldn't,"
Dally said with a small grin of triumph on his face.
"He's alive ? How is he ?" I asked, praying that the news was good.
" He's in a coma. Pretty deep from what I can tell,"
" Is he gonna make it ?"
"I'm not sure Johnnycakes. The doctors said he might not survive the
night, and the night's not over yet,"
"I know, but I'm not giving up. Can we see him ?"
" You're a good kid Johnny," he said softly.
Then he helped me to my feet and said
" Sure, the rest of the gang's all ready there."
We walked back inside Pony's room and I was relieved to find he didn't
look any worse. He didn't look any better either, but not worse. The only
difference in his appearance was an oxygen mask that covered his face.
Soda was standing by his bedside holding his hand and softly crying. Tears
of what ? Happiness ? Relief ? Sadness that he may never talk to his little
brother again ? Darry stood behind Soda, stroking Pony's hair back with
his fingers. Murmuring something that sounded like,
" Pony, Pony, Pony. I can't lose you,"
Steve and Two Bit stood in the middle of the room looking at Pony.
They seemed amazed as if Pony had performed some sort of magic trick.
The amazing Ponyboy, who can come back from the dead ! Steve walked over
to Soda and put a hand on his back
"The worst is probably over," he said
" I hope so," Soda's voice was shaky.
"Hey come on, you've said so yourself, he's strong," Steve said
Soda reached up a hand to touch Pony's pale cheek.
" He is, he's one of the strongest people I know," he whispered.
" Me too," I said
Soda looked up at me.
"Hey Johnny, did you hear ?"
It was an odd question because it was obvious that Pony was still alive.
It was too wonderful a moment to waste though.
" Yeah, I can't believe it."
" Neither can I," he said
Soda stood up and went over to talk to Two Bit. I walked over to Pony's
bed and looked down at him.
"You really scared us you know ? We can't lose you Pony, don't you
know how much you mean to us ?" I asked.
Of course Pony didn't reply but I continued anyway.
" I went to that place we always talked about. You know, the really
nice one without Greasers or Socs. The place that's always......
"Gold," I heard a voice say and I looked down.
Pony had one eye barely opened and he was looking straight at me.
" Gold," he repeated again.
Pony's voice was raspy and he looked like he had been hit with a truck,
but that didn't matter. He was awake. Ponyboy was alive.
"Darry," I said
Darry opened his eyes and looked at his little brother. Now both of
Pony's eyes were opened, but they looked like they could drop at any minute.
"Pony," he said slowly.
Pony's eyes moved to his oldest brother.
" I'm sorry," he whispered.
Darry was crying. I couldn't believe it. Darry the superman was crying.
"What's going on. Darry are you ok ?" Two Bit asked
" Are you crying ? Oh no, please no," Soda started to say
" He's awake," Darry said through tears.
"Awake ?" Soda asked.
" He's alive," I said
Pony's eyes closed and he drifted off to sleep.
" Stay gold," I whispered so only he could hear.
I would never have to ask him if he heard me. I knew he did.
A/N. Pony's alive! Did you guys really think I was going to kill off the main point of this story ? Tell me what you think.
Fyre
