Ponyboy slowly opened his eyes. It was dark and there was no one around. Where was he. This place wasn't familiar. He sat up slowly, noticing an ache in his back which then led him to notice that he was lying on concrete. He looked around. He was lying in some Ally way it looked like. His mind went blank for a moment. Why was he here? He remembered then what had happened and tired to hoist himself off the ground. He stood with some difficulty and began to walk down the dark street, looking around at his surroundings to see if he could figure out were he was and how to get home from there. He wasn't sure but he didn't remember this place as where he had been walking. It looked different. Maybe they put me over here in this Ally so nobody would find me. Ponyboy thought as he shivered. It was freezing out and he couldn't wait to get home and get into his warm bed. He ached all over and his clothes had blood stains.

He wondered what time it was. How long had he been asleep and how was he going to get home if he wasn't sure were he was? He sighed deeply and fought back tears but they escaped his eyes anyways and rolled down his cheeks making them colder as the wind blew. He figured if he could find his way back to the grocery store then he could find his way home from there. Or maybe it had only been a few minutes and Darry was still shopping. He was unsure of which way to go so he went with his gut and headed straight. He then looked around noticing that there were very few cars on the road and hardly anybody walking around, so he knew it must be late now. Ponyboy found himself still searching a half an hour later and he was getting so cold he thought he'd freeze. Those Socs must've taken him pretty far because he really had no idea were he was.

There was no point in wandering around anymore because he wasn't getting anywhere and if he was it was just more lost. So Ponyboy searched for some public place that was open. There was always some stuff open twenty four hours a day. Finally he found a gas station and went in, feeling immediately warm the second the door closed behind him.

The guy at the counter was drinking black coffee and leaning back on the wall staring at nothing in particular. "Excuse me?" Pony asked.

The man looked up a bit startled. "Whatcha want kid? You ok? You look pretty banged up."

"I'm ok." Ponyboy said.

"Aint it late for you to be out here on your own?"

"I dunno. What time is it sir?" Pony asked.

The guy looked down at his watch. "It's three a.m."

"Really?" Ponyboy asked shocked. The man nodded. "Can I use your phone?" Ponyboy asked.

"Yeah, sure kid." The guy said picking it up from the other side of the counter and putting it near Ponyboy.

"Thanks." Pony said as he picked it up and dialed home. He waited impatiently as it rang but nobody picked up. This was weird. Someone always picked up the phone. He tried again but still there was no answer. He then tried Two-Bit and Steve but nobody picked up. He put the phone down sighing.

"Didn't reach anyone?" The guy asked.

"No." Pony said. "Thanks though." The man nodded. Ponyboy noticed how hungry he was then. He started digging through his pockets for some money. He found a few nickels and a couple quarters. He stuffed it back in his pocket and walked around the small store picking up everything appetizing that he could afford. He got a couple candy bars, a muffin, and some hot chocolate then went up to pay for them. After he took his food and drink and went back out into the freezing cold. He sat on the curb and shivered as he sipped his hot chocolate and ate his muffin. As much as he tried not to he found that tears were escaping his eyes again. He was cold and scared and he wanted to go home. He didn't know were he was or what he was going to do. Darry and Sodapop were probably looking all over for him by now, maybe that's why nobody picked up the phone. How was he gonna get in touch with them?



(Meanwhile at the Curtis house)

"How do I loose a fourteen year old kid in the grocery store?!" Darry yelled as they all walked through the front door, returning from an unsuccessful search. "He's been gone for hours."

"Did you check the movie theatre?" Steve asked from his position on the couch.

"Yes, I checked everywhere he could possibly be. The theatre, the lot, Tim's, Buck's. were would he go? It's three a.m.!"

"Maybe he's at the Dingo." Steve suggested.

"No I looked there." Two-Bit said.

"He'll show, Darry." Soda comforted. "You were a little harsh with him earlier."

Darry sighed. "If he doesn't turn up in the next five minutes I'm calling the police. What if something's happened? If he did run off don't you think he'd be back by now?"

"Did anyone check the library?" Two-Bit asked. Soda looked over at him and rolled his eyes. "What?" Two-Bit asked. "He goes over there a lot."

"The library is closed." Steve said. "What library is open at this time of night?"

"No library." Soda said getting up out of his chair and looking out the window. He sighed. "Can I go look again?"

"What's the point?" Darry said. "We've been everywhere in town."

"Maybe he aint in town." Two-Bit said, playing with the collar on his jacket.

"Why would he not be in town?" Steve said.

Two-Bit shrugged. "I'm just saying that theirs a possibility that he aint in town. It's been like eight hours since you last saw him right, Darry?" Darry nodded. "Well, he could be anywhere by now. The kid could be off on a plane to New York."

"Thank you, Two-Bit, for those words of encouragement." Darry said sarcastically.

"I think I remember the phone ringing a couple times while you guys were out looking." Steve said. "I didn't pick it up though."

"Steve!" The other three barked.

"What?" Steve said. "I was tired, I didn't want to get up." Soda jumped up and did his best to hold Darry back before he did something rational.

Darry finally calmed down. He sighed, "I'm calling the police. If he aint back by now, something must've happened."

"Knowing Ponyboy he probably just walked off and got lost." Steve laughed. Soda glared at him. "Ok, ok, sorry." Steve said noticing that Sodapop wasn't kidding around.

Darry picked the phone up and dialed 911. "Hi, I'm reporting a missing kid."