I shake my head.

"It cannot be. They reigned chaos last time they took over. I thought we locked them away."

She looks at me, concerned. "I guess not well enough. But if they do not take this boy, and let him live, Darkness will thrive inside of him. He will slowly get sicker and sicker, with no cure, until you take him, Elsto."

I look away and speak.

"I do not want to take him anytime soon, Allegra. He has a life to live. He is far too young."

Allegra frowns at me. "Elsto, you are Death. You are not some mortal who feels for other mortals. You don't, and cannot, feel for them. Your job is to simply take them."

I just look at her.

He is different; I can feel it. Couldn't you just change how the rest of the night plays out? Don't let his friend kill that other boy. Let them go home."

Allegra sighs and nods, pulling out another piece of paper. Changing the universe at her will. The drunk teenagers get driven away just at the sight of the friend's blade. The friend wakes up the boy and they walk back to the boy's house.

I am confused for a moment.

"How did The Dark save him if there was no presence here?"

Allegra shakes her head. "They work differently. They can merely change Fate by just reaching out into the real universe. Sometimes they plan it, sometimes they don't."

"What are we going to do when the boy gets sick? You aren't going to let him die, are you?" I ask.

Allegra sighs. "I suppose I cannot. But The Dark may fight against me, wanting the boy to die."

I think for a moment. "Is there any way to rid the boy of The Dark that is inside of him?"

Allegra pauses. "He has to fight it. Make the good in him outweigh the bad. But when he is very sick, it may rid himself of all his strength."

I look at her.

"I'll find a way. I will not be taking him until he is well past 50 years old," I say, promising to Allegra, the boy, and mostly, myself.

XXX

(Ponyboy's POV)

I am mad at everyone.

I came home to a sorry Darry, probably because Soda told him to apologize to me. I know he doesn't love me.

It didn't make matters any better when I told them me and Johnny got jumped and they nearly drowned me. They went insane.

I lay in my bed, unable to sleep. I know I'll probably have a nightmare anyways.

But then slowly, I drift off.

XXX

I visit the boy in his dream that night.

I need him to trust me. So I can save him.

"Hello, Ponyboy."

We are in a dark room, with a single lightbulb glowing in the center. Ponyboy steps into the ring of light.

"Hello? Who are you?"

"We only have a short amount of time, Ponyboy. Introductions are later. All that you need to know, is that you should have died tonight."

His neck snaps toward me. His eyes widen. "What do you mean? At the fountain? What?"

Suddenly, get a feeling that The Dark is around. Watching. Already consuming the inside of the boy.

"I cannot tell you now. I have to go. We will meet again, Ponyboy Curtis."

And I leave.

/

Thanks for reading so far! I promise I'll try to update as much as I can. Reviews are appreciated. :)

-Grace xx