Darry's POV

Pony and I ran back to the alley. I stumbled a few times since I could barely see my hand in front of my face. The street light was the only way we could see who was screaming. It was Soda.

The Socs were running away. I didn't bother to look at them. They all just ran away, without looking back. It must have been their last attack when they got Soda.

Soda was doubled over on the ground, quietly whimpering with the pain. Blood spilled from between his fingers, where he was holding his side.

"Soda!" I gasped. I dropped down beside him and pulled his hands off his side. He moaned.

"Sorry, little buddy." I said.

From what I could see, he had just been cut on his side, not stabbed. He was bleeding fast, and he had to get home soon.

"Let's go, guys." I said. Everyone was in a circle around me and Soda. I scooped Soda into my arms and we walked home as fast as we could.

"Ow!" Soda cried out when I stumbled over a fallen branch.

"I'm sorry." I said.

We kept on walking. We could hardly see to get home, but we made it. We all walked inside and I laid Soda on the couch.

"Someone get me some bandages." I hollered. Sweat poured out along Soda's forehead. I hated to see him in so much pain. Usually, he wouldn't say anything if he was hurt. So for him to be screaming and moaning, I knew he was badly hurt.

Dallas handed me a strip of bandages. I hoped it would be enough.

"Can you sit up, honey?" I asked Soda.

He nodded and tried to sit up. I stuck my hand out for him and he accepted. I pulled him up, but he was in so much pain just by sitting up. I heard his sharp intake of breath. It was hurting him just to sit up. I tried to work quickly.

I wrapped Soda's waist in the bandage. Blood was pouring out of his wound, and I worried about him loosing too much.

When I was done, Soda fell limply back onto the couch.

"You gonna be okay, little brother?" I asked him.

"Yeah." He said through gritted teeth.

I went into the kitchen to get some medicine for him. He wouldn't sleep well when he's in so much pain, so I got him some medicine that would knock him out.

I came back with the medicine and a glass of water. The gang was scattered around. Some of them were on the floor and others sat on the end of the couch. Except one was missing.

"Where's Pony?" I asked as I sat down beside Soda to help him take some medicine.

"He went to his room." Two-Bit said.

Pony hadn't said a word since I had caught up with him and that Soc. I hope nothing's wrong.

"Can you take some medicine, Soda?" I asked.

I tilted his head up and he took the pills from me and put them in his mouth. Taking a drink of water, he swallowed them, and then rested against the couch again.

"I hope Pony's okay." Soda said. I had to smile. Leave it to Soda to get hurt, and then worry about someone else.

"Who else is hurt?" I asked, and got to work on the rest of the gang.

Two-Bit stepped up. He had a scrape on his forehead and hehad acut in his sidethat was bleeding a good bit. It wasn't quite as bad as Soda's.

I put a band aid on his forehead. It wasn't too big, so it didn't need any major bandages or anything. I wrapped his side in a bandage.

Steve was next. He had a cut on his arm that ran down from his elbow to his wrist. It wasn't very deep, but it was bleeding fast.

At such a weird angle, I could barely do anything but wrap the whole lower half of his arm up. I tried to make it as thin as I could, but it wasn't much better.

Dallas was fine. He was more bruised then cut, so I didn't have to patch him up. He was holding an ice pack on his side from where a Soc busted his ribs.

I looked down the hall way at Pony's closed door. I wondered what he was doing, and why he hadn't come out yet.

I decided I'd go check on him. I hated to think he might be blaming himself for this.

Pony's POV

I sat on the window, looking out at the starry sky. I wish I could still feel so small compared to it, but right now, I don't feel much of anything. Except guilt.

Soda had gotten hurt because of me. It was bad enough when the gang was getting hurt, but now, it's personal. The gang mean a lot to me, but Soda's my brother, and I love him a lot. I just hope he'll be okay.

I remember seeing the blood seeping out of his side. I shivered at the thought of it. And it was because of me. Everything is because of me. And I hate it.

Someone knocked at the door and I absently called, "Come in."

Darry stepped inside. I hadn't turned to look. But I knew it was him. I figured it was at the knock. Darry's always checking on me.

"Pony? You all right?" Darry asked as he stepped up beside me.

"Yeah." I said, staring out into the night.

"Whatcha looking at?" He asked.

"Nothing."

I heard him chuckle.

"Pony? Let me see your arm." He said. That got my attention.

"It's fine."I barked.

"Pony, it's bleeding." Darry said, stepping ever closer.

"I'm fine! Just leave it alone." I said.

He stepped back a little.

"Okay." He said quietly. I hated hurting Darry, but I didn't need him patching my arm up again. It would be fine. Besides, I didn't deserve to be healed.

I kept staring outside, but I wasn't seeing anything. I didn't see the beauty like I used to. I didn't see the color. I didn't see the magic. It was all gone. And what was left was an empty world full of anger, hate, and pain.

Darry put his hand on my chin, and pulled so I was facing him.

"Where'd you go?" He asked, smiling sadly.

"No where."

"Yeah. You left. I could see it in your eyes. What's going on, baby?"

"Nothing."

"Talk to me. I listen, too, you know." He said.

"There's nothing to talk about."

Darry looked into my eyes, searching for the truth.

"Okay. But you know I'm here, right? Whenever you need me."

"I know."

Darry swallowed me in a hug, and I stifled a yelp. Apparently, the stitches in my back had come out. I had only had a few more days for them to be in, too. But I could feel the dampness on my back, and I knew I was bleeding.

Darry lightly punched me in the arm and then walked out of our room.

The gang must have decided to stay here for the night because I never saw them leave.

I still sat there for hours maybe. I lost all track of time. But then something caught my eye.

A group of guys came up to our house and to the end of our drive way. They opened up our mailbox, and placed something inside.

Then they ran off like the devil was after them. Curiousity got the best of me, and I climbed out my window and ran to the driveway.

Opening the mailbox,I reached inside and grabbed the piece of paper, and then ran back to my window so I could read what it said.

I climbed back inside, trying my best not to be too loud. I tiptoed over to my desk and turned on my lamp.

I opened up the envelope and read what was written inside. Clearly, it was meant for me.

It said, If you're ready for this to stop, come to the Indian Hill Park at midnight tomorrow night. Alone.

Shivers ran up my spine as I placed the note under my pillow. I laid down on bed, but I didn't sleep. How could I?