Chapter Ten: The Truth About Johnny
"Where are we going?" Suze asked, not knowing why she was whispering as she did so.
"Shhh," Harry hushed her. "Just keep quiet. If we get caught…" he trailed off. Suze swallowed hard and kept her mouth shut.
Everything around them faded and Suze felt a sensation in her stomach like she was falling. She shut her eyes and struggled not to scream as they plummeted through the inky darkness.
"Before you open your eyes, Suzy," Harry said. "I must ask you not to scream." Suze swallowed and nodded her head firmly in agreement.
"Okay," Harry said softly. "Open your eyes." Suze did so, and bit her tongue to keep from shrieking. She staggered backwards and almost took off running, but Harry hung onto her.
"It's okay, it's all right," he reassured her. "I'm here. I won't let anything happen to you." Suze relaxed and managed to choke out, "W-what is that?"
"That," Harry said sadly, "is Karl Carducci." Suze recognized the name immediately.
"Karl Carducci? As in Uncle Karl? Your older brother?" she practically squeaked with disbelief. "But…what…?"
"You know he died about sixteen years ago, when you were just a baby," Harry explained. "He was found stabbed and hung from the rafters of the old abandoned red barn down the road. This is him. He was never moved."
Suze fought to keep her breakfast in her throat. When she had recovered, she asked, "But, Dad, what does this have to do with—?"
"I found this out only after I talked to him. When I died. He was in love with Maria Johnson sixteen years ago. They were planning to get married." He stopped to take a deep breath. Suze took his hand and squeezed it gently to comfort him.
When he had composed himself, Harry went on. "But although Karl and Maria were in love, Maria's abusive ex-boyfriend was still in love with her. They could never prove it, but Karl told me himself. That boyfriend killed him."
Suze could see where this was going. Her eyes widened. Harry noticed and grinned humorlessly. "I see you've figured it out," he said wryly. "You always were a bit of a detective."
Suze nodded absently. The gears were clicking in her head. "Oh, no," she muttered. "I've got to tell Johnny."
Harry smiled and hugged his daughter. "You'd better be going back," he said gently.
"What? No! Why?" Suze exclaimed, panicking. She had already lost her father once; she was not about to let him go again.
"Suzy," he whispered. "I don't like it any more than you do. But it's getting dark. Your mother's going to be worried."
"She's always worried," Suze groused. Harry tossed his head back and laughed. "So she is," he said, chuckling. "So she is. Come on, Suzy. We've got to get you back."
Suze felt the ground melting beneath her feet and couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. "Will I ever see you again?" she asked.
"Yes, Suzy. You will. Some day," Harry promised. "I love you, Suzy."
"I love you, too, Dad!" Suze shouted as everything faded. "I'll never forget you!"
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Suze found herself lying flat on her bed, tears still rolling down her cheeks, trembling. She had just touched with her fingertips a world she had never known of, apart from the two universes or anything else. It was like living in itself.
Speaking of living, Suze thought suddenly, sitting up straight. I've got to go get my body back.
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The sun had set a long time ago. Ponyboy shivered. Johnny was pacing back and forth nervously.
"Where's Suze?" he groaned. "What if something happened to her? What if she got lost somewhere and can't come back?"
"Quit worrying," Ponyboy said, more to convince himself than Johnny. "Suze can take care of herself."
"Hey, Suze," Dally said, appearing.
"It's Johnny," Johnny corrected him.
"Who's there?" Ponyboy demanded.
"Ponyboy?" Dally exclaimed, apparently not having heard Johnny.
"He can't see you, Dally," Johnny explained. "Suze told him everything."
"But you're Suze," Dally said, frowning in confusion.
"I'm JOHNNY," Johnny said, a grin spreading across his face. "I possessed Suze!"
"Tuff enough, Johnnycakes," Dally said, grinning.
Suze appeared. "Oh, good, you're all here!" she said, sounding pleased.
"Suze? Did you find out anything?" Johnny asked eagerly.
"Suze?" Ponyboy exclaimed, staring in the wrong direction.
All three boys started talking at once. Suze had had enough. "STOP!" she screamed. "One at a time! First things first. I want my body back! Then I'll explain everything."
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Ending it here. The chapter, not the story. Kindly review and tell what you think, nice or mean.