(Darry)
I watch the two boys hurry down the street, and as I turn my back on them to face Officer McMann and the other cop, something in my gut twists. Something is wrong.
Something in me is screaming at me to get back home, to make sure both of my brothers are okay.
Luckily, the cops don't need much information from me, just asking me to give a statement about tackling Mr. Cade before he could get a hold of Johnny again and if the Cades had any similar incidents to this in the past.
Once I'm done, I turn to leave but I'm stopped by the sounds of cursing being spewed from Mr. Cade as the cops escort him to the back of the cop car. Mrs. Cade is screeching at the cops too, apparently she's already forgiven Mr. Cade for the beating he gave her and now she's screaming at the cops to let him go.
Mr. Cade is in the back of one of the cop cars while a few other cops are trying to calm down Mrs. Cade. Officer McMann catched my eye and gives me a nod, giving me permission to leave. I don't need to be told twice, leaving the messy scene behind me and hurrying home.
I've barely stepped foot into the house, the door still open behind me when Dallas is immediately stepping up to me, demanding answers.
"What the hell happened, man? Is Johnny okay?" Dally demands, his eyes dancing with anger but unable to totally conceal his concern.
I look around the living room, surprised Pony and Johnny haven't filled him in on what happened since they beat me home by a few minutes.
"They didn't tell you?" I ask.
"What are you talking about? Where's Johnny?" Dally asks angrily, desperation leaking into his voice.
That feeling of dread twists in my gut again as I take in the silent house, apparently empty aside from Dallas and me.
"Johnny's parents were going at it but I sent him and Pony back here. They didn't come home?" My own desperation is evident in my voice.
Dallas shakes his head, "No man, I've been in here. Nobody came in"
We stare at each other a moment as the worry grows around us.
"I came in because your phone wouldn't stop ringing" Dally says "It was the social worker, she says she'll be by later tonight"
There's too much happening at once. Competing worries slam into each other in my mind like a twisted game of bumper cars. There's one worry at the forefront, I need to find Pony.
"I gotta go find them" I say, turning back to the still open front door.
"Let's go" Dally says, moving towards the door with me.
I haven't even taken a step when I see two figures sprinting towards us. Susie Mathews and some other little girl come running up to us, looking scared out of their wits.
"Darry!" Susie squeaks, panting for breath, "You gotta go quick, to the park!"
"What happened?" I ask her, putting a hand on her shoulder as she works to catch her breath.
"It's Johnny! These guys at the park, they grabbed Johnny and some kid"
The words have barely left her mouth before Dally and I take off running for the park. I yell at the girls to get home over my shoulder but I don't have time to figure out if they heard me. There's only one thing on my mind: Get to Ponyboy.
I pull past Dallas, my longer legs and football training plus the desperate need to get to Pony making me run faster than I've ever run before.
The park comes into view. My eyes scan the scene in front of me quickly, trying to take in everything. There's a truck parked haphazardly against the curbs, it's door thrown open. A man, I recognize him as Officer Moore but out of his uniform, stands over Johnny, his foot arched back as though to kick him. Another man is bending over the fountain and to my absolute horror, my brother is slumped in the foundation, not moving as the man holds his head under the water.
I see red. Rage courses through me so hot I feel it burning through my veins as I surge forward, tackling the man holding my brother, sending both of us crashing into the side of the fountain. The two of us roll over, making him lose his grip on Pony, who remains face first in the water. I end up on top and grip his shirt in my hands.
With an angry roar, I cock my fist back and slam it into the man's face. Blood spurts from his already bloody nose and he yells back at me, spraying bloody spit at me as he bellows. I punch him again, as hard as I can, and he slumps back stunned.
As much as I'd love to beat this man to a bloody pulp, I have to get to Pony. Throwing his head to the ground with a solid thunk, I whip around and grab Pony around the waist to pull him out of the fountain, cradling him against me.
It's a haunting sight. His skin is pale white except for the blue tinged around his lips. His wet hair is plastered to his head and his eyes are shut. He's so cold it's like holding a block of ice. Worst of all, he isn't breathing.
'No no no no' I look around desperately. Dally has made it to the park and he's currently duking it out with Officer Moore, the two of them swinging wild fists at each while Johnny scooches back, an arm wrapped around his ribs.
'Focus Darry!' I scold myself, knowing that Pony needs me. I gently lay him on the concrete, begging to whatever God or angels are listening to please please save my brother.
I lean over him and tilt his head back, putting my mouth over his and blow a breath of air down his throat. I wait a second and then do it again. A third breath. Then a fourth. And then Pony sputters, coughing weakly. I practically sob, the sound like music to my ears. I turn him to his side, patting his back as he retches, water spewing from his mouth.
He slumps back, still coughing a wet, hacking sound. And then his eyes slowly open, looking slowly around until they settle on me.
"Darry?" he croaks, his voice barely a whisper.
I lift him to a sitting position and pull him into a tight hug, crushing him to me.
"It's me, Pony. You're safe now" I whisper to him, rubbing a hand up and down his back. He's still sputtering a bit, taking big breaths, like his lungs are trying to make up for all the oxygen they lost.
"Are you okay?" I ask him. He nods weakly, but I don't believe him.
A yell distracts us. I look over and see Officer Moore and Dally rolling around on the ground. Dally is a good fighter, but Officer Moore has a big size advantage on him. The two of them look like they are fighting over an object but I can't tell what it is between all of their movements. Suddenly there's a flash as Officer Moore gets a hold of the object, raising it high and then crashing it down against Dally's head. Dally lets out a yelp and a groan. Officer Moore stands up off of Dally and turns to where I'm sitting with Pony still leaning against me. I can see the object clearly now. In his hands, is a gun.
Time seems to freeze. I see Dallas sit up slowly, blood dripping down his face from where he got clocked with the gun. He glances back at Johnny, who still has an arm wrapped around his ribs, and starts to move slowly back towards him. I feel Pony tense against me, I give his arm a gentle squeeze and start to shift him behind me as Officer Moore levels the weapon in our direction.
My heart is pounding in my chest, sending adrenaline through me. I don't know if I've ever been this scared before, but my brain can only focus on keeping Pony safe.
Mr. Moore groans behind us, sitting up and rubbing his jaw where I had punched him.
Not wanting to be sitting on the ground between the two brothers, I stand up, dragging Pony up with me. He's standing weakly next to me on shaky legs, I keep an arm around him, both for protection and to help support him. He's leaning heavily on me, like his legs are too weak to fully support him.
Mr. Moore uses the side of the fountain to pull himself up, taking in the scene. His brother stands with the gun, aiming in our direction. Dallas and Johnny stand on the other side of the fountain.
As if the situation can't get any worse, Mr. Moore reaches into his pocket and pulls out a blade, flicking it open and holding it at his side.
"We just need the kid. The rest of you can go on your way, but the kid has to come with us" Officer Moore says.
"No. You ain't taking him anywhere" I say, moving Ponyboy fully behind me and placing myself between him and the gun. I feel one of his hands clench in my shirt. His breath is quick and warm against my arm.
"You best move out of the way, boy" Officer Moore growls, gesturing his gun at me, "I'll shoot you if I have to, I aint playing games"
"Then you'll have to shoot me. I ain't letting you hurt him again." I say, standing tall and looking him straight in the eye.
"Darry, no!" Pony says from behind me. He squirms and tries to get out from behind me but I swing an arm out, keeping him in place.
"You ain't taking the kid" Dally growls from where he's standing with Johnny.
Officer Moore turns the gun to Dally as he speaks. Despite the appearance of the gun, Dally doesn't seem scared. He's looking at it as casually as he would look at a bottle of pop. In fact, Dally seems to puff out his chest a bit, his eyes practically daring Officer Moore to use the gun on him.
"We can't have any loose ends" Mr. Moore says, taking a step closer to me and Pony.
"Drop the weapon!" a new voice calls out.
Relief floods through me as I see Officer McMann, his own gun drawn and pointed at Officer Moore.
He runs across the park to join us, standing on the other side of the fountain, facing Officer Moore.
Recognition flickers in Officer Moore's face as he takes in Officer McMann. It's quickly replaced with a sneer.
"How many of these kids do you think I can take out before you drop me, McMann?" Officer Moore taunts, waving his gun back to me and Pony.
Dally steps forward, using one of his arms to keep Johnny back. "You ain't gonna shoot us. You would've already done it by now"
I scream at Dally in my mind 'Stop taunting the man with the gun you fool!', trying my best to tell him with just my eyes.
"Stay back, son" Officer McMann warns, his hands flexing against the gun he's still aiming at Officer Moore.
Dallas just eyes the dirty cop coolly, the way he'd eye an soc before a rumble and takes a step towards him. Pony whimpers quietly behind me, his hand tightening on my shirt.
"You better stay back, brat" Mr. Moore growls, his eyes glaring daggers at Dally while his knife is still brandished towards me and Pony. My heart thuds as I shift a bit, trying to keep myself in between Pony and both brothers. Johnny stands across from us, shaking, his hand stretched out to Dallas who has stepped just out of his reach.
Officer McMann glances at Mr. Moore and his knife, but his aim never wavers off Officer McMann.
"You aren't getting out of this, Peter. The evidence is stacked against you. But you'll only make it worse for yourself if you hurt one of these kids" Officer McMann says, "You and your brother can make it a lot easier on yourselves if lower your weapons"
The Moore brothers look at each other, an unspoken conversation happening between the two. Sirens pierce the air, sounding like they are coming from our neighborhood. I can only hope backup gets here soon. A calm resolve settles over Officer Moore's face while an angry scowl twists on Mr. Moore's.
"Well if the evidence is as stacked against us as you say" Officer Moore says slowly, "Guess I don't have anything to lose"
He tightens his hold on the gun still leveled at me, turning to face us.
"Don't do it" Officer McMann yells, stepping forward.
"No!" I yell at the same time, trying to push Ponyboy even more behind me.
"It's okay, Darry" Dallas says "He ain't gonna use the gun"
Dally looks over at me and meets my eyes, his hardened eyes piercing mine, looking calm and assured despite the situation that we're in. For some reason, I believe Dally, and a small amount of fear evaporates.
Officer Moore scoffs, "That's what you think, kid". He quickly swings the gun towards Dally and his finger goes to the trigger.
A shot rings out and a body falls to the ground.