Hey, I'm back with another chapter. Thanks for sticking with me! I appreciate any feedback.

I hope that you like it.

My knee ached with every step, sending sharp jolts of pain up my leg, but I kept pushing on. I couldn't stop. This was my chance to get away.

"Hey!" Philip's voice behind me drove me forward.

The brush got denser up ahead and if I could make it there before Philip caught sight of me then maybe I could lose him. I was fast but Philip played basketball so he must be fast too, at least at a sprint. With my knee aching, I needed to hide.

I turned towards the right where the trees were closer together. My knee twisted and buckled, sending me stumbling but I didn't fall. I could hear the sound of snapping sticks and rustling leaves behind me.

My head swiveled trying to find a place to hide. Once I shook off Philip then I could plan my next step and find some help. Right now all I could focus on was getting away from him.

This area of forest wasn't flat, the ground rose and fell over hills. They were murder on my knee. My foot caught on a root and I stumbled again. I was making a racket. If I could hide behind a thick enough bush or something then maybe he'd pass me and I could get away.

The sound of my pursuer got louder and I pushed myself harder, my jaw clenching. My heart pounded in my ears so loud that I was sure that Philip could use it as a beacon to find me.

Down a ridge to the right I could see an old fallen tree half covered by a thicket. It was mostly rotted, large chunks of it were missing and the roots had been pulled out of the ground and hung in the air.

Gritting my teeth I pushed myself as fast as I could go towards it, but my feet slipped and skidded down the hill. I placed my hands on the moss covered bark and vaulted over the large trunk. I bit back a yelp as a shock wave ran through me from my knee, so strong that I could almost see stars.

I threw myself down on the ground and pressed myself against the trunk of the tree, tucking my side under the log as far as I could fit. The tree itself was just large enough that if I flattened myself against the ground that I wouldn't be seen. My lower half was covered by the thicket but it didn't spread far enough to hide my torso. It was the best that I could do though.

I tried to slow my breathing, desperate to calm my heart so that I could hear.

A frantic rustling in the leaves made me tense. The leaves crackled and I closed my eyes, praying I was hidden. There was no way I could sneak away now, I was stuck just hoping that he wouldn't see me.

If it came down to it I'd fight him. He was bigger than me but I'd been taught to fight by some of the tuffest greasers. All the guys had given me tips over the years, glory I can even remember Dally showing me the best way to punch a guy.

I curled my fingers into fists, trying to stop them from shaking and waited for the rustling to come into sight.

A small, furry head popped out from around the bush and I let my head fall back against the damp ground with a dull thud.

The squirrel eyed me for a second before taking off again. For such a small creature, he sure made a whole lot of noise. Shoot, I felt dumb. I let an embarrassed smile play on my lips as I refocused on listening.

The forest was silent and I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I'd lost him back there.

Crack.

I started in surprise but forced myself to remain still. The snapped stick had been just on the other side of the tree. It could be another squirrel or small animal, the dry leaves echoing in the still woods with every movement.

The slow trudging steps moved around the top of the tree further away from me and I shrank back as Philip stepped into my line of sight.

I could see his profile as his eyes swept the horizon.

He continued forward slowly, his steps measured and deliberate. I could tell that he was trying to be quiet but he was doing a piss poor job of it. The dry fall leaves snapped and crackled with every step.

I watched, every muscle frozen and ready to spring as his head slowly swiveled ahead of him.

If he looked back and down he'd see me. I was only partially covered by the brush and he was close enough that there's no way that I'd go unnoticed.

He didn't look behind him. He kept moving forward slowly climbing up the next hill and disappearing over the edge of it.

I didn't move for a long time. I barely let myself breath. I strained to hear if he was coming back. Slowly the rustling got further and further until I couldn't hear his movements anymore. He must be pretty far ahead of me now, but I couldn't make myself move. It felt safe here.

After what felt like forever I moved out from the bush. I crouched and crept up the hill after him. I just had to make sure he wasn't still in sight. I peered over the edge, my eyes scanning.

The forest was still and I heaved a sigh of relief.

I sat down on the ground and pulled up the hem of my jeans. The fabric was tight against my knee and I couldn't pull the jeans up enough to see it. It was swollen for sure.

There was nothing I could do about it now. I needed to find help. If I could find a phone somewhere then I could hide out until my brothers came and got me.

I wasn't 100 percent sure where I was, I figured this must be Gold Lake in Colorado where Mr. Donovan had told me that his parents owned a cabin. No one had ever told me if that's where they'd taken me and it's not like I could see any signs or nothing from inside that trunk.

I involuntarily gave a shudder at the thought of those hours in that dark cramped compartment. I waved the memory away.

So the plan was to confirm where I was, then find a phone to call my brothers.

Colorado was mighty far from Tulsa. Would they even drive all this way if that's where I was?

I pushed that thought aside too, of course my brothers would come get me. They had to be missing me as much as I was missing them right?

I set my teeth and pulled myself to my feet, ignoring the pain in my knee. I looked around but all I could see was brush. I didn't know where I was or even what direction to go in.

I'd come from somewhere in that direction, I thought, looking at the fallen tree I'd hid behind. So, I guess I go this way.

I started forward, constantly searching for any sign of Philip. I didn't know how long he'd keep looking for me.

I didn't think he really wanted me as a replacement brother but he seemed to want to make his mom happy awfully bad. I kind of felt sorry for him, I knew the guilt of feeling responsible for the death of someone you cared about. I still felt guilty about Johnny. He'd followed me into that church. He'd followed me to that park.

I shook my head. Now was not that time. Not the time to think of Johnny. Not the time to feel sorry for Philip.

I could almost see Dally rolling his eyes. What the hell are you doing, kid? Get moving!

I trudged forward, pushing branches out of my way.

Ok, focus. The plan. Find out where I am. Find a phone. Call for help.

It looked like it was clearer up ahead, like maybe there was a trail or dirt road. I limped faster.

Get to the road. Find out where I am. Find a phone. Call for…

A body rammed into my side and I fell hard. I kicked out, twisting just in time to see my foot connect with Philip's side.

I scrambled away but he grabbed my leg. I kicked him again, this time going for his head. My foot only grazed the side of his face but he fell back and I crawled to my feet.

Adrenaline pumped through me as I bolted for the trail. I heard Philip grunt and I glanced back to see him pull himself to his feet.

I burst out of the woods and connected with a solid surface. Hands grasped my arms, keeping me upright.

I pulled back but the hands tightened. I blinked at Mr. Donovan.

"Ponyboy, what's going on?" He asked, not loosening his grip on me.

Hope bloomed in my chest. Did he really not know?

"They've taken me, Darry has custody again. I need to go home."

"I know, and I want to get you there." He let go of my arms and I heaved a sigh.

"Glory…" I breathed, I didn't know how to tell him how good that sounded.

He nodded. "Let's get you back to the cabin and we can figure this out."

I nodded.

He gestured up the trail. "The cabin's up that way." We started walking up the path together.

I looked around. "Did you just get here? Where's your car?"

"I parked it at the cabin."

I paused. He'd gone to the cabin first. That meant he'd talked to Daniel or Mrs. Donovan if she was back. He knew I had run away and he'd come out here looking for me. He'd come to take me back.

I began shaking my head and took a step back, wincing at the pain in my leg.

"How'd you know to come out here looking for me?"

Mr. Donovan turned back towards me. "Daniel told me."

"Did he tell you that he let me go in the first place?"

Mr. Donovan furrowed his brow and nodded slowly.

I took another step backwards but this time he matched it. "And you came to find me anyway." I said. "You couldn't just let me go."

His jaw tightened.

"I couldn't just let you run blind through the woods. Who knows what might have happened to you? Not on my watch Bucko." He sighed and took another step forward, I backed away. "Come on Ponyboy. I need to have a talk with my boys and we can figure this mess out." His eyes flicked up over my shoulder and I turned my head to see Philip step onto the trail.

The hope evaporated. I didn't care what reason he had to give me, there was no way in hell I was going back to that cabin.

"No!" I shouted and turned to run. My knee gave out beneath me and my knees hit the ground. Mr. Donovan dived towards me and he grabbed me around the waist, pulling me to my feet. I thrashed in his hold and he groaned as my elbow met his gut.

"Philip!" He barked and suddenly Philip was on my other side grabbing my arm. Mr. Donovan readjusted his grip to my other arm.

I yanked and pulled against them but I couldn't free myself from their hold. They slowly started down the path and I dug my heels into the dirt. It didn't stop them as they dragged me forward.

"Let go of me! Help! Anybody help!" I yelled and thrashed, but still we moved forward. My knee was throbbing now and it could barely hold my weight anymore.

"Kid, there ain't anybody out here but us." Philip snapped, giving my arm a sharp pull that set me off balance.

Up ahead I could catch glimpses of the cabin and I fought harder. The woods was filled with the sounds of grunts and curses but they steadily moved me towards the cabin.

"Help!"

"If you don't shut up, I'll make you shut up." Philip growled, leaning forward. I tried to headbut him. He pulled his head back just in time and Mr. Donovan cursed as we all veered to the side.

"Knock it off Philip, you're scaring him." Mr. Donovan said.

I cocked my eyebrow. "You worried about me being scared when you've kidnapped me?"

"I'm not trying to kidnap.." I tried to kick him in the shin and he barely dodged it. "Oh..nevermind." He snapped.

We were almost to the cabin door and I looked up to see Daniel standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest.

"Back up," Mr. Donovan puffed and Daniel reluctantly stepped back into the cabin.

Pulling me over the threshold, Philip threw me to the ground and Mr. Donovan slammed the door.

I scuttled backwards away from them, my eyes darting around the room. I pulled myself into a crouch, favouring my good leg, ready to spring up and fight. Philip was blocking the front door and Daniel was standing in front of the hallway, the only other exit.

Turning my attention back to the newest addition to this craziness. "You're as crazy as the rest of them!" I hollered at Mr. Donovan. "What do you want with me?!"

He was bent over panting, his hands on his knees. I felt a sick sort of pleasure in seeing that I'd given him such a hard time.

He lifted his hand. "Just let me think." He scrubbed his face with his hands.

I couldn't fight all three of them but I was done with this garbage. I was getting out if I had to fight tooth and nail.

"Dad.." Philip started.

"Enough!" Mr. Donovan wheeled around to his eldest son. "What were you thinking?! Do you know what you've done?"

Philip paled and took a step back. "I didn't start this, mom did. She'd already taken him before we found out what she was doing."

"And you what?! Decided to help her kidnap him? Just went along with it." Mr. Donovan's round face was turning red.

"I didn't know what else to do." Philip said. "She wouldn't listen to me." He was looking at his father like he was desperate for him to understand.

"We should have let him go like I said." Daniel muttered.

"He'd have told them what mom did!" Philip yelled. "Do you think she'd survive in jail?"

"Well we're all suspects, son. What do you think is going to happen if we let him go now?" Mr. Donovan said his eyes hard. He turned to Daniel. "And who do you think would be blamed if he died wandering around the woods way out here?"

Daniel glowered. "At least I tried something." His eyes flicked over to Philip, who's eyes narrowed in return.

I couldn't stay quiet any longer. "I won't tell anyone!" I begged, cringing that my voice sounded so young. So much for being a tough greaser. I cleared my throat. "Let me go and I won't say anything." I said more firmly this time.

Mr. Donovan spoke his head sadly. "I want to, I really do. I've met your brothers. You think that they'll believe you ran off and then just decided to come back?"

I gritted my teeth. No, Darry would immediately know something was up and he would corner me. Sodapop would be just as relentless but he'd be more subtle about it. Under his dark pleading eyes I'd slip up and admit the truth before I realized what I was saying. I could beg them to leave the Donovans alone, they wouldn't matter anymore if I was home. But what if Mrs. Donovan just went after another kid? Could I just hide her crime and risk someone else?

Mr. Donovan must have seen something on my face because he sighed. "I'm just not sure if it's possible now."

Daniel threw his hands up. "So what are we going to do?" Drag his ass around the country running from the fuzz?"

"Obviously not but if we bring him home now your mom and brother will be thrown in jail and you'll probably end up in a boys home."

Daniel grimaced and I almost bitterly laughed at the irony of my foster brother afraid of ending up in the same position as me, but none of this was funny.

"I'll tell my brothers not to press charges. They won't care as long as I'm home. I'll take all the blame with the cops. Say I took the wrong bus home or something. We can all just go back to our lives." I pleaded. The words rushed out, bumping into each other so much that I wasn't sure if they could even understand me. I didn't care if I sounded tuff. I'd do just about anything to see Darry and Soda again.

Mr. Donovan scratched his moustache, staring out the window as he considered everything.

"Come on Dad," Daniel said stepping forward. "You know no matter what mom thinks, he isn't Peter."

The pain in Mr. Donovan's eyes when he looked back at his son was raw. His expression became determined. "Okay, how do we do this?"

The sound of a car door made all of us pause. Philip stepped back from the door just as Mrs. Donovan entered.

She looked around, "Oh good, you're all here. We need to leave." She said. She pushed by Daniel and disappeared down the hallway.

Mr. Donovan followed. "Now wait a minute Mary. You and I need to talk."

The cabin was small so their voices carried. "I don't have time for this Ken. I need to gather our stuff. Please get the boys in the car." I glanced at the door but Philip was still blocking my only exit. I could maybe take him. I wasn't sure if Daniel would help Philip or me if it came down to a fight but Mr. Donovan said he'd let me go. It might be better to wait and see.

"No," Mr. Donovan answered firmly. "This needs to stop now. You don't seem to understand that you've put our family at risk."

"No, you don't understand! I'm doing this for our family."

"Ponyboy isn't Peter…"

"Don't say his name!"

Mrs. Donovan's screech made Philip wince and he shoved his hands into his pockets. Daniel moved to the couch and sat down heavily.

Mrs. Donovan appeared at the end of the hallway. "Get your stuff and get in the car."

The brothers exchanged a look.

"Boys, stay where you are." Mr. Donovan followed closely on her heels.

She whirled around on her husband. "We don't have time for this!" She hissed. "Someone's asking around in town."

Mr. Donovan paled. "What?"

"Marty at the general store said someone was asking about us this evening. He wasn't sure of our address but he gave him the general direction. A tall boy with red hair."

Two-Bit.

My heart jumped. Could it be him? How was he here? Was he here alone?" The thoughts rushed through my mind so loudly that I missed what Mr. Donovan said.

"I don't know who he is but I don't like it." Mrs. Donovan replied.

"Just cause someone's asking around doesn't mean it's about the boy." Mr. Donovan answered but he didn't seem sure.

"I'm not willing to chance it. We need to leave before anyone finds us with him." She pointed at me.

My heart sank as Mr. Donovan nodded, resigned. I should have tried my luck taking on Philip.

"But Dad…" Daniel began.

"No, listen to your mother. We need to leave right now, just in case. Then we can lay low and determine our next move." He eyed his sons and they both nodded slowly in return. He turned to me, eyes pleading to trust him.

"No!" I couldn't let them take me away. What if it really was Two-Bit? Home was so close, I wasn't waiting around until it was convenient for them. I surged to my feet.

"Boys, grab your brother," her voice was ice.

"I'm not your son! I screamed but Mrs. Donovan's eyes were cold as she turned away from me.

I bolted for the door, throwing my fist into Philip's nose. He cursed and stumbled, before returning the hit. I staggered back as he connected with the side of my face.

Daniel stepped up beside his brother, looking pissed as hell but ready to help him. I backed away from them, my back coming up against the wall. Mrs. Donovan looked back at me over her shoulder and my blood froze.

"Put him in the trunk."

Thanks for reading!

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