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

"On the ground I lay
Motionless in pain
I can see my life flashing before my eyes
Did I fall asleep?
Is this all a dream
Wake me up, I'm living a nightmare

I will not die (I will not die)
I will survive"

Ponyboy snapped out of his scared state and ran down the hall bumping into things along the way since it was almost pitch black. He slammed on to the wall falling backwards on his bottom. He winced in pain rubbing his forehead where he got hurt. His head turned, his eyes scanned the darkness seeing if the masked man was there. Not even a sound was heard only his own breathing and the crickets outside, he wondered what had happened to Charlie after he saw so much blood coming out of him. If the masked man was going to do the same with him.

It's been some minutes since he was sitting down with no signs of anyone else, it almost seemed he was alone. That panicked him breathing harder and faster sitting down his knees up to his chin trembling with fear. There was a window nearby, the moon shone free from clouds covering it. The glow seeped through now having a little light inside the house.

Ponyboy gulped looking where he had run from, nobody was there, he only saw a lump on the ground very still, "Chawlie?"

No answer.

"Chawlie? You got a bubu? I-I can get a band aid..."

No answer.

"Chawlie I-"

A voice coming down the stairs snickered, "No band aid can heal him little boy. Now...Come out come out where ever you are..."

Pony held his breath, from down the hallway he saw a figure. It looked like it was searching for something or someone and Pony knew it was him he wanted.

"Oh Ponyboooy," He chanted.

Pony's eyes widened remembering his dream, the way the figure moved. It was the shadow from his dream.

"Poony..."

His parents had warned him in his dreams of this shadow that has turned out to be this man. The shadow was real. And it was going to get him. Suddenly the light went on, the killer had walked downstairs again to turn switch on the electricity again. The radio was turned on as well. Elvis.

Blue moon...

"There you are!" He spat.

Pony looked up seeing the blank mask staring down his bloody knife hovering above. In a flash the kid ran under him getting away as far as he could. Unfortunately he tripped over Charlie's body landing him on the ground. The man laughed walking slowly towards him. Pony wobbly stood up and started shaking his dead friend lying on the ground desperately.

You knew just what I was there for...

"Chawlie! Wake up!"

The masked stranger got closer. He took one step.
You heard me saying a pray for...

"Chawlie! Please!"

Another step.
Someone I really could care for...

"Chawlie! He's getting closew!"

Another.
Without a love of my own...

"Dawy! Soda! Help!"

Now he was in front of Ponyboy, behind his mask he grinned realizing he was actually going to succeed in his plan. Everything had turned out the way he had wanted and not the finale.

"It's time!" He said evilly.

Pony couldn't find another exit, the stairs were next to him but he could fall from panic trying to escape, the hallway was blocked because of the stranger. He had nowhere to run. Nowhere.

Sodapop's leg jumped up and down during the whole ride. Darry was driving fast totally ignoring the speed limit, lucky for them it was way too late for any other car to cause any traffic. Steve and Dally were in the back each of them busy with their own concerned thoughts for Ponyboy.

"Damn it Sodapop stop doing that! You're making me more damned nervous than I already am!" Darry only cursed when he was absolutely worried.

Sodapop sighed angrily, "I can't help it! Somethins wrong, I can feel it Dar. Can you go any faster?!"

Dally and Steve muttered a curse when a cop car stopped them. Darry smeared his hand on his face, "Great, just fucking great."

Soda groaned, the cop raised an eyebrow, "4 boys in one truck driving past the speed limit means they're up to nothin good."

Steve puffed, "For the love of-"

Darry interrupted, "Please officer we need to go right away. Give me all the tickets you want but let us go. If you don't believe us, just come with us!"

The cop thought for a moment rubbing his chin, Soda slammed his hand on his side of the car.

"God damn it! Just follow us! We ain't lying!"

Dally growled, "If you don't fucking make a decision some little kid could be dead by now."

There was a short moment of silence until the officer gave in, "All right, come now then. But if this is some kind of sick joke I-"

Darry turned on the ignition already driving, "Ok fine, let's go!"

As they drove off the police man was right behind them not sure if he had made the right choice but it was too late if he wanted to change it. They were getting closer to the house. Soda saw from a distance that inside everything was dark. Darry parked, Soda bolted out of his seat and up the porch. Dally with Steve followed. Darry grabbed the bat he had from his truck going towards the spooky house. The cop cleared his throat.

"What do you think you are doing fellas?"

Soda looked through the window but he saw nothing. Steve scratched the back of his head, "Maybe they left or somethin."

The lights inside turned on suddenly, a song was playing. The cop still didn't know what was going on so he stayed quiet wanting to find out. No sounds were heard inside. That is until.

"Dawy! Soda! Help!"

Darry didn't even bother to knock on the door so with his foot he easily managed to slam the door open. Another voice.

"It's time!"

Everybody saw the crazy stranger charge at the small child with a knife in his hand. Soda's eyes widened shouting, "No!"

Ponyboy took a quick look at them not believing if his brothers were really there. Then he ducked covering his head with his arms. That caused a cut on his left arm, blood began to spill. When he was going to run down the stairs to get to his brothers the man grabbed him by the hair making Pony yell in pain. Sodapop was already running to them ready to beat the tar out of the guy. Darry was right behind him.

"Get any closer and he's dead." He warned with a hint of mockery in his voice.

Dally threw a small trash can that was beside him at the attacker. It hit him on the head, trash now scattered everywhere. Steve didn't know exactly how to help so he stayed by the door in case the killer wanted to get out. Soda and Darry froze on the spot as they saw their baby brother in the hands of the enemy, his knife against Pony's neck his skin so fragile the metal weapon began leaving a red mark. He whimpered scared of the whole situation.

"What the hell do you want?! Just leave him alone!...Please..." Soda pleaded walking backwards.

Darry shook his head, "Why? Why him? What do you want?!"

With a snicker he pushed the knife closer, "Death."

He then began laughing hysterically grasping tightly Pony's arm tightly shaking him hard. That's when a loud bang echoed off the walls. Everything went slow motion. Seconds felt long and slow. It was the cop who had taken his gun discretely from his belt. He shot the man on the chest taking the opportunity to wound him before he could do more damage. The blow made the stranger let go of Pony who fell down the stairs screaming for help. The gang rushed to help Pony. The young Curtis was sprawled on the bottom step his head resting on the floor with his mouth slightly open.

Ponyboy began seeing black spots in his vision, the voices around him sounded far away. His head pounded and he felt numb all over. He could barely make out the words of the shouts from the people surrounding him. He couldn't even make out the faces of his brothers or friends, only dark shadows. The last thing he heard before giving in to the darkness were six words.

"Wake up baby, please wake up."

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)