Chapter 21: Extra Help

Back at the Curtis house, Johnny was pacing around the room. He was real worried about Louis. He wanted to go help, but what could he do? They…wait a minute, he knew something no one else knew. Drake was afraid of blades.

"Johnny. It's gonna be okay," said Ponyboy who was sitting on the couch. He was worried about Louis also, but not as much as Johnny.

"I just-I mean. Ponyboy! Let's go!" commanded Johnny.

Ponyboy looked at the gang's pet with a confused face. He had never seen Johnny like this. He was always jumpy after he had gotten jumped. He must have really cared for Louis.

"Go where?" asked Ponyboy.

"To the factory. We've got to help the guys save Louis."

"No," said Ponyboy sitting up. "Darry told us to stay here. Plus we have no way of getting there."

Johnny was right. The factory was a while away. It wasn't exactly walking distance. You could reach the place in two to three minutes if you're driving. If Soda or Two-Bit were driving. It would be seconds.

Suddenly the door opened. Ponyboy and Johnny looked up to the door. Johnny then yelled out,

"Dally!"

Dally saw the way Johnny was looking and knew there was something wrong.

"What's wrong? Where's everyone else?" asked Dally.

Johnny jumped up and told Louis' story again.

"And now Drake is after Louis. The boys went to go save him."

That hit it. Dally had to go help. He had to save Louis.

"Where are they?"

"At the factory just outside of town."

"I'm going."

"Wait!"

Dally turned around and saw Johnny's face.

"I'm coming too."

"No. It's too dangerous."

"I'm going!"

Dally most likely couldn't argue with Johnny. For the first time in his life, he was determined. Louis was the person, Johnny cared for the most in the world. He was too good of a friend to let die.

"Fine. Pony. You coming too?"

"Yeah." Ponyboy didn't want to miss the action.

"All right. C'mon."

All three of them ran into Buck's T-Bird. On the way there, Ponyboy spoke up.

"Dally. If Darry asks why I'm there. Just say you needed directions."

Dally just nodded. He was focused on getting to Louis and helping.

Louis was hiding in a room at the factory. He was hoping that Darry, Steve, Soda, Two-Bit or anybody. He just wanted someone to get rid of Drake.

"Louiiiiiiiiiiiiisss," called out Drake. That call creeped Louis out. Suddenly, the door rattled. Louis fears hit him. He looked up and saw there was an air vent. He climbed on top of a desk and broke open the old vent cover. He jumped up and pulled himself into the vent. He started crawling.

Suddenly the door busted open, and two figures stood there.

"Louis!" called Soda.

"I don't think he's in here," said Darry.

They then went off to check the other doors. Darry and Soda had split up with Two-Bit and Steve to find Louis.

Dally had reached the factory.

"Ponyboy. Stay in the car. Darry will kill me if you get hurt."

Ponyboy didn't want to argue with Dally. You wouldn't either, if you saw the way he looked. Dally and Johnny jumped out of the car and ran into the factory. Dally demanded that he stay with him.

Louis continued to crawl through the vents as he was crawling, he heard a familiar voice. He listened and then he whispered,

"Steve?"

The vent couldn't support Louis' weight and he fell right through and screamed as he crashed onto the floor. This reminded him of when the socs had chased him.

Steve and Two-Bit turned around quickly.

"Did you hear that?" asked Steve.

"Yeah," answered Two-Bit. "It came from that room way over there."

"Let's go."

The two greasers then ran over towards the room.

Louis was still shocked as he laid there. Suddenly, a shadow appeared over him. It was Drake.

"Time to drink up."

Drake put a bag he had been carrying on the ground and forced alcohol down Louis' mouth. Louis was worried. It was gonna happen again. A familiar taste when down his throat as psycho state of mind kicked in.

Two-Bit and Steve burst through the door as Drake poured the last bottle down.

"Hey!" yelled Steve.

Drake turned around and quickly got up smiling. He had also forced gloves onto Louis hand.

Steve and Two-Bit saw Louis getting up and then looked at Drake.

"You're Drake?" asked Two-Bit.

"Yeah. I'm Drake."

"You're dead meat, buddy," said Two-Bit cracking his knuckles.

"No. You are. Get them!"

Two-Bit and Steve didn't know what he was talking about. Then they looked at Louis. His eyes were different. He looked like a killer. They then figured out, that Drake had just made him drink alcohol.

Louis then flipped out a metal pipe and started swinging at Two-Bit and Steve furiously. Two-Bit and Steve just dodged him. Two-Bit wasn't gonna hit him. Neither was Steve. They just couldn't do it.

Drake then ran out of the room. Trying to get more alcohol.

"Where do you think you're going!" yelled Two-Bit.

He chased after Drake while Steve pinned Louis against the wall. Trying to convince him what was going on.

Louis got loose quickly and chased after Two-Bit and Drake. Steve followed also. Meanwhile, Darry and Soda had no idea what was going on. Soda took a glance out of a window, and then looked again.

"Darry!" he yelled. "Buck's T-Bird is outside. And Ponyboy's sitting in it!"

"What!" yelled Darry.

Darry then made his way outside and Soda followed. Darry was furious and curious. (That rhymes! Cool)

Meanwhile, Drake had lost Two-Bit. Drake made his way up to the roof and then stopped. Dally and Johnny were already up there looking for Johnny. Dally turned around.

"Who are you?" yelled Dally.

"Drake. Who are you?"

"That's for me to know and you to find out," snapped Dally.

Drake got angry and walked up to Dally. That meant he was ready to fight.

"Stand back, Johnny," said Dally pushing the young greaser back.

Johnny moved out of harm's way while Dally Drake duked it out. Drake was putting up a good fight, and Dally did have a little trouble. He knocked Dally back once and Dally almost lost his balance. Johnny then remembered something.

"Dally!"

Dally turned his attention to Johnny as he tossed his blade to Dally. Dally caught it and flicked it out. Drake froze and Dally smiled.

Then, Two-Bit came up and saw Drake frozen and Dally with the knife.

"Get out your blade, Two-Bit. This guy is scared of them."

Two-Bit got out his prized possession and Drake started backing up. He backed all the way onto the edge of the roof.

Right then, Louis came jumping up to the roof and Steve caught him just in time from attacking Johnny.

"Louis! Did he have alcohol?" yelled Dally.

"Yeah," said Two-Bit with his blade still pointing to Drake.

Dally looked to Drake and whispered,

"You son of a bitch."

Dally then turned his attention to Louis. He struggling hard to get out from Steve's grip. He could only think of one thing to do.

"Johnny," he started. "See if you can snap him back into reality."

Johnny looked at Dally. He was scared of Louis in this state of mind.

"C'mon kid," said Dallas calmly.

Johnny saw the look in Louis' eyes. He had to get him back to normal. Johnny slowly walked up to the struggling Louis and spoke.

"What are you doing here!"

Ponyboy turned around and saw his two brothers running to him. He put up his lie.

"Dally is here. He needed directions."

Darry was about to yell at Pony but then paused.

"Shhh. I hear something on the other side of the building. Soda stay here with Ponyboy."

Ponyboy and Sodapop exchanged looks as Darry ran off.

Meanwhile, back on the roof, Johnny was still calming Louis. It seemed to be working.

"C'mon Louis. This isn't you. You remember me don't you. It's Johnny. You- You're best friend."

All of a sudden, Louis eyes changed. They looked normal. Johnny had did it. All he needed to hear was his best friend. Louis was still in a state of mind. He looked past Johnny and saw Drake on the corner. Something flickered in his eyes again. It scared Johnny.

Louis got out of Steve's grip and pushed past Johnny. He zoomed right past Two-Bit and Dally and tackled Drake. Knocking them both clean off the roof.

"Louis!" yelled everyone running over to the edge.

Louis and Drake fell as Drake was screaming. Louis jacket suddenly caught a hook, but Drake continued to fall. Hit had an impact with the ground and was killed instantly. Drake's head was split open and his leg was broken. It was reminiscent of the way Louis' mom looked.

Louis had passed out after he knocked Drake off the roof. He was about to slip out of his jacket again. He was out of reach for everyone on the roof.

Drake slipped out of the jacket and Johnny and Dally yelled,

"Nooooooo!"

Louis fell, but luckily, Darry came speeding down towards his landing spot and caught Louis in his arms. Everyone on the roof was relieved. Especially Johnny and Dally.

About 2 weeks later….

The gang, Louis and a police officer were all in the living room, watching a news report.

"Drake Parker was found near a factory just outside of Tulsa. Detectives believe that it was suicide. Drake was also charged with killing someone's mother near his home."

Louis smiled. Drake's gun was found at the scene of the crime and Louis had gloves on. Drake's fingerprints were all over the weapon.

After the situation, the police got involved and found out about Louis. No one said that he killed his mother or Drake. They'll keep that to themselves. Louis would now be going to live with his grandmother, in Texas.

After the news report was over, the officer escorted Louis out the Curtis house. Louis said his goodbyes to everyone, he then had a talk with Johnny.

"Thanks Johnny. You really saved me, and a lot of other people."

"Well. You're my best friend. I hate to see you go."

"Me too."

Louis then turned his attention to Dally. Who was posted next to the house.

"Thanks Dally," said Louis.

"Yeah. Whatever. Bye kid," he said.

Louis smiled and got into the car. He was gonna miss these guys.