Hmm...I'll need one review before I'll post the next chapter, even if this chapter is boring, lol. The next two chapters is where the drama really happens, and I think some questions will be answered as well, so look forward to that :) Oh yeah, and the last bit...well, I know it isn't really needed, but I thought I hadn't put enough of Ponyboy in there, so...yeah.
The next morning Angie had decided to skip school. The sickness had occurred once more, and even if it had worn off by mid morning, she still wasn't in the mood. If Sodapop wasn't willing to run away with her last night, he would be soon. Hadn't he said he loved her through his actions? He wouldn't just tangle with her heart like that; he just didn't want to leave his brothers. But he couldn't love them more than her. He had to forget them.
Angie had convinced herself, after a long reflection that he would agree to go with her sometime soon.
After hearing details of Soda's horrendous experience, how he was taken advantage of by a girl and how Angie had kept the gun by her side during the whole experience, Darry began plotting again.
"You have to convince her you're sorry and that you'll go with her. She'll let us go, and then we can report her to the police. It's the only way."
Soda was about to object when footsteps sounded from the creaky wooden stairs. It was a dreaded sound that always meant Angie.
She entered the basement and was prepared to speak when she noticed how weary Ponyboy looked. The other boys were staring directly at her, but it was clear that they were concerned about him. The intensity of worry about their own survival had gone up a few notches as well. The reason being was how apparent her foul mood was. Her light airy step and the flowing of every movement that made her appear like a delicate dancer had gone. She now stalked like an agile cat, her shoulders forward slightly, one knee bent behind the other as if she was prepared to pounce or lunge at someone's throat. Had she decided to get rid of them…for good? Darry gulped.
"You need some sleep. I know something that'll put you out." She said. "I'll be right back."
She returned with one of the needles she hadn't used. She only used a third of it this time. She tossed the rest of it behind her. It met the wall with a clang.
"What did you do to him?" Darry yelled out, so shocked by her sudden act of kindness that he refused to believe she'd done something good for once.
"I'm only helping him to sleep, now shut your trap." She argued back harshly. There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
"You boys think that you have it bad, but you don't get it. You've always had each other. It's not fair. Why didn't I get to keep my sister?" she began, wringing her hands as she paced to and fro. "If they're what's holding you back, I'm going to have to get rid of them."
Soda gaped at her for a long moment before his face contorted with anger.
"No, they're not! And if you do anything to them, I'll kill myself before I'd go anywhere with you!"
Angie's eyes widened.
"I can't believe you'd scream at me. I thought you loved me."
Darry looked over at Sodapop, who looked fierce with anger that he felt he could no longer suppress. He felt as if his body was slowly being engulfed by flames. Somehow though -maybe it was the screaming instinct to save his brothers-, he managed to relax.
"I'm sorry, Angie. You need to give me another chance." He tried. Angie stuck her nose up in the air.
"I don't believe you. You have to prove it to me."
"How is he supposed to do anything chained to a goddamn wall?" Darry barked. A vein could be seen pulsing on his forehead.
"No, I'll decide for myself if I believe you. You're all stuck here until then." She raged before stomping up the stairs and slamming the door behind her.
Darry sighed loudly. A large bead of sweat rolled down his face and dropped off of his chin.
"I wonder if the guys will figure out a way to find us." He dreamed aloud.
"You think they're worried?" Soda asked, though he knew the answer.
"Of course they are." Darry replied, his voice dropped lower as he spoke again. "I'm sorry I made you go through with…"
"I had to do something," He said, giving Darry a look mixed with grief and courage.
For a moment Darry was going to remark just how much older and wiser his brother looked when he took on that expression. He was going to comment on how brave his scatter brained little brother had so suddenly become, but then he decided against it. He didn't want his brother to change and adopt that sullen attitude. He didn't want anything to change, but he knew that may just be a price they'd have to pay if they didn't get out soon.
"This blows, I'm sick of sitting around just waiting for something to happen." Steve said finally. They were all gathered at the vacant lot, trying to play a game of football. It wasn't the same without the three brothers that they were desperately trying to forget about.
"Sodapop was my buddy, if he was going somewhere, he'd tell me first."
"Maybe they're being held for ransom." Two-Bit joked. No one laughed, but he tried to crack a smile for the sake of everyone else.
"We need to start looking for them."
Everyone glanced around at each other. Only Dally seemed to have an objection. He took a long drag on his cigarette before speaking.
"How are we gonna do that all by ourselves?" He asked, scowling.
"We'll need all the help we can get." Steve said.
"I could ask some kids at school." Two-Bit offered.
"I know some people." Dally muttered.
"Get whoever you can, we'll meet here tomorrow and start looking. We'll go door to door." Steve announced.
They all went their separate ways, except for Johnny, who tagged along with Dally for the sake of not having to go home early. He wished desperately for Ponyboy to send him some sort of sign. He felt like he was collapsing under the pressure of numberless immense questions. Were they alive or dead? Who took them? Will they hurt someone else?
Sleep was a blessing for Ponyboy, but it brought to him dreams of agony and endless frustration. The first dream of was the last day he'd been outside. He'd come home from school hungry, searched in the kitchen for a snack, and went outside to have a smoke with Johnny before he headed back in to start on his homework. It was all going routine, until out of nowhere, she began to appear. Every so often, he'd see her in the corner of his eye, and then the moment he whipped his head around to get a better look, she'd disappear.
Following that dream was one where he was searching frantically through a gray building which there was no way out of. He never saw a window or a door - all that occupied the hallways were light bulbs that emitted a low light because they were halfway burned out. This dream was the one that occupied most of the long period of his unconsciousness. It seemed forever he was searching for a way out. It's a pity that he couldn't even get an escape in his dreams.
