.::I do not own The Outsiders::.

"Tried to give you warning but everyone ignores me
Told you everything loud and clear
But nobody's listening
Called to you so clearly but you don't want to hear me
Told you everything loud and clear

But nobody's listening"

Sodapop yawned stretching his arms above him, he quietly crept away from the bed not wanting to wake up Ponyboy who was still sleeping snoring softly. Days after one of his worst nightmares had passed. Both brothers slept soundly, Pony hadn't woken up screaming or frightened which was a good sign to them. They had tried keeping him busy to not dream at all. The daycare kind of worked, many activities held like reading more advanced books or watch movies every then and now. Darry had breakfast on the table ready to be eaten. After that, wanting to spare a couple of minutes he walked out the door smelling the fresh air outside enjoying the weather. He looked up at the sky, it was reddish pink. He suddenly remembered his father's words.

"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in morning, sailor's warning"

For a moment he thought the worse of many bad situations like his brothers in danger, his friends but he shook it off trying not to believe in that silly superstition. Steve finally pulled up in the drive way. Soda got inside, Darry at the door waving bye. Sodapop shouted before leaving, "Hey be careful today and take good care of Pony!"

His brother nodded not really getting the secret message, after an hour he dropped of Pony at Sharon was already at the doorway waiting for them to come inside.

"There you are Pone, come in come in. Goodbye Darry "

"Johnny will pick you up later love you. Goodbye miss Sharon."

"Bye Dawy!"

The kid walked inside Miss Sharon behind him. Cherry was playing with the other ones but he noticed someone new. Sharon told the new one to present himself. Pony chuckled, "I know him miss Shawon."

She cocked her head, "Y-You do?"

"Ponyboy!"

"Cuwly!"

They clasped each other's hands. Curly had been placed in a daycare now because his mother had a morning shift job as a nurse for extra cash. Tim or Angie wouldn't be able to watch for him until afternoon. Or at least Angie, Tim wasn't home very much.

Pony was glad, at least he had a friend that was a boy instead of a girl. Both played around, did learning activities like counting or reading. Colored, did puzzles. When the day ended Sharon took them outside to wait for their friends or family. The first one was Cherry, Bob had driven up in his mustang, stepping out Cherry was bouncing up and down excitedly. Pony, like always, tried avoiding eye contact.

"Hey baby girl." Bob smiled at his little girl friend.

Cherry giggled, "Hi Bob! I missed you so much!"

"Me too babe, hello miss Sharon. Hey Pony...Who is this little fellow? Haven't seen you before."

Cherry presented him, "That's Curly.

Curly shrugged, "Yep."

Bob raised an eyebrow muttering under his breath, "Another greaser kid."

Sharon cleared her throat, "Excuse me?"

"Nothing nothing, have a nice day. Bye Curly. Pony, goodbye."

Ponyboy bit his lip, "Uh-huh."

They climbed in his mustang driving away, Pony frowned. He did not like him at all, gave off bad vibes. Curly nudged him, "You don't wike him?"

"Nope, he ... cweeps me out."

His friend nodded, "Me too."

Angela appeared walking with Johnny. She kept blabbing on and on about some really girly stuff. Johnny didn't really care but being respectful he listened nodding at the right moments. Curly along with Pony waved. Angie greeted Sharon, Johnny shyly said 'Hello.'

"Oh why hello there Ponyboy! You and my 'lil booger of a brother are the cutest little guys I've ever seen."

Curly pouted slapping her sisters hand that was pinching his cheek, "Knock it off Angie! I'm not cute! I'm tuff like Tim!"

She rolled her eyes, "God help me if you turn out like him."

Pony blushed, he liked Angie in a way that she was always sort of happy. Not like Sodapop but sassy happy. And she gave off a little of motherly nature, she had to take care of Curly since he was a baby. Their mother would be awfully busy to pay attention to him. Sometimes both had play dates, Pony was grateful for her mother instincts like telling him how to play nice, being a 'gentleman'. Stuff a mother would say.

Johnny carried his small back pack, "You coming with us?"

Angie shook her head, "I'm going to the grocery store. Take care guys."

Both greasers left, Pony talked about how Curly had ended up there, Johnny already knew because Angie had already explained but he didn't mind. Minutes of talking about his day a few blocks away from the Curtis house they saw someone standing still. This person had his arms behind him gazing intently at them. Johnny lifted Pony from the ground griping him tightly going on the other side of the road. Pony scared, held on to him tightly.

"You were saying Pony?"

A car passed by with his music loud making it hearable to anyone.

Blue moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
Without a love of my own

Pony stuttered beginning to sweat at hearing the beat of the music, "And...and m-miss Sharon..."

Passing the person Johnny glanced quickly behind, he saw they weren't being followed. It surprised him that the person wasn't there anymore. He sighed relieved until Pony gasped in terror, "Johnny!"

He froze, in front of him was the guy. He had a plain white mask on, a human face though it was all white but disturbing, only blue eyes could be seen through the masks holes.. He wore a white shirt with black pants. Johnny chuckled nervously, "If-if this is some sort of joke drop it man."

Pony trembled in fright, he whispered, "I'm scawed."

The guy tilted his head and in a dark raspy voice he said, "Why this is no joke, this is no game. Actually... I came here to warn you."

Johnny backed away looking around for anybody to help, unfortunately for him nobody was in sight, only the swaying of trees and crows chirping.

"Look I don't want any trouble so just let me through."

The masked man pushed him back blocking his way, Johnny stumbled making Pony yelp in his arms.

"I'm afraid I can't let you. You see," he held out his arms, on his fingers were many shiny rings, "It's not that easy." The greaser slowly put Pony on the ground whispering, "Run Pony..."

As the man got closer his hands turned into fist, Johnny pushed Pony roughly, " I said run!"

The kid with wide eyes fell to the ground badly scraping his elbow but managed to scramble up running away from the scene. He knew where his house was, it wasn't far away. His small legs ached from running quickly, he climbed up the steps slamming the door frantically with his hands since he couldn't reach the door knob.

"Help! Help!"

The door was swung open with a surprised Dally, "Kid kid calm down! What is it? Why are you alone? Where's Johnny?"

Pony gasped for air pointing behind him, "Dally help! ... Johnny..Stwanger...Mask! Ya gotta help Johnny!"

Dally went to the phone dialing the numbers fast, "Steve, tell Soda to get home now. something bad happened...No not to Pony but I have to leave him alone...Look I gotta go man! I'll explain later bye."

Dal was already by the gate but before he pointed at Pony saying in a stern voice, "You don't fucking leave you hear me? You stay here pipsquick your brother will get here soon."

Pony nodded, "Just make suwe Johnny is safe."

Pony walked inside closing the door tears rolling down his eyes, he was so frightened and very worried for his friend. In the corner of the living room he put his knees up to his chin weeping. The song still played in his head making him shake some more.

Blue moon...

Some minutes passed by, he heard a truck screech to a halt. Rushed footsteps up the porch's stairs opening the door. It was Sodapop looking around, "Ponyboy!"

His little brother couldn't handle his over whelmed emotions and began crying loudly, "Soda!"

Sodapop saw him running to flinging his arms around Pony.

"Oh my God, what happened Pony?"

He started sobbing, "J-Johnny told me to wun! A-a scawy stwanger ... I don't know! Soda I'm so scawed!"

Another truck was heard then came in Darry a very angry face on him.

"What happened? Steve told me something 'bout Johnny and Pony."

Soda rested his chin on top of Pony's small head, "I don't know Dar but something bad happened to Johnny."

Darry kneeled down, "You alright honey?"

Pony shook his head, "J-Johnny...I want him to be ok..."

"You ok if you stay with him? I'm going to check out what's going on."

"Sure Dar, go right ahead."

Ponyboy wiped away his tears, "Johnny..."

Dally ran blocks down the street, Oh shit oh shit oh shit.

He saw a figure laying on the ground with somebody else beside it. Oh shit!

"What happened?!"

It was a woman whose face was pale. "I-I don't know. I saw this boy here and-and I called an ambulance. The police will get here soon... Oh poor boy."

Dally gulped, he held Johnny in his arms. One of his eyes was bruised up a sickly purple. There was a big gash on his cheek blood flowing out, his arms with more ugly bruises. His white shirt was stained red, Dally lifted it to see the damage making Johnny moan in pain. His blood felt icy at what he saw. The woman also saw and gasped.

A message cut on his stomach with bloody letters.

Strike one...

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)