Hiiiii guys! I'm back! :D Its been FOREVER! I know! Getting back into the FFN GRIND of trying to remember that I cant add notes to the chapter when publishing lol. Still, I hope you enjoy this whump! :D

Ponyboy POV

Drip… drip… drip…

When you usually wake up, you dont wonder if you're dead. You know you're alive with the soft breaths you release. You know that the sun on your skin is real.

Drip… drip…

Is that my blood?

When I opened my eyes, all I saw was darkness. The dripping sound came from somewhere, something. I scanned the area, wondering if I was really awake. Everything hurt and a certain spot on- in?- my stomach seemed to be the only way I knew I was awake. I hope you dont feel pain when you die.

I need to get up. I need to go home.

A cat scurried by me, only stopping to look at me for a moment. Then as it bounded off, a car screeched and the cat almost got hit. Thankfully it was okay, running back and into the darkness.

Theres a road there. If I can go there then I'll remember where I am.

Part of me thought it'd be better if I lay there, in that alleyway. Maybe someone would come by and discover-

I pushed the thought away as I grabbed onto anything around me. An out-of-place brick caught my grip and I worked to make myself sit. Breathing heavily, I looked at where the road was. Distant streetlamps illuminated the street that I didn't know I was at. Finally, I stood up, albeit unsteadily.

Every step sent spikes of pain through my body. A spot in my stomach seemed to bear the most of the pain. Still, I gritted my teeth and somehow pulled through. The streetlamps grew closer, their lights sending dull spikes of pain through my head. I put a hand to my head, instantly touching a spot that made me cuss. My hand dropped to my stomach and in the dim light, I saw blood. Carefully I leaned on the brick building, holding my hand to my stomach and lightly pressing. Warm blood oozed out and I saw it.

Is that a switchblade… in me?

My breathing stopped and I carefully touched the switchblade. Tendrils of pain shot through me as I coughed. My nose ached and splatters of blood came from it. Unsure of what to do, I lifted my head up and unsteadily walked.

I need to leave. I need to go home- right now.

Fear coursed through my veins. There was nothing else that kept me alive at that moment.

Home.

It seemed like a distant dream- fake even- as I walked. I took a breath, holding it as my legs dragged on. I shut my eyes tightly, only opening them to make sure I hadn't wandered onto the road. Every breath started to feel like my last as I spat out blood.

Then, I saw a bright light. I squinted at it, my head pounding as I did so.

Am I… dead?

I focused on the light, staggering closer to it. My eyes failed to read it, but my hands felt around and reached a trashcan. I sighed, relieved that I hadn't died. Still, it was a building. Carefully I squinted and reached the door handle. As I opened the door, a bell rang, signaling that a customer had walked in.

"Welcome to the DX- Pony?" A familiar voice said. I looked up, my hand instinctively going to the switchblade in me. I coughed, choking on the blood from my bloody nose. Blood splattered on the ground and suddenly it felt as if I couldn't hold myself up.

My legs gave up, landing on my knees as someone I recognized ran over.

"Pony?" The voice I realized to be Steve was in front of me. His eyes were wide and his breathing labored as he caught onto my shoulders.

"Stay -wake- Pony!" His voice seemed to drift away.

If he thinks I can stay awake, hes mistaken.

My eyes shut, and the only thing I could hear was Steve yelling for me.

Maybe hes angry Im getting blood all over the place.

But something deep inside of me told me that wasn't the issue.

Steves POV

I always hated when Sodapop had the day off and I didnt. We always worked together and being alone felt boring.

Is this how Sodapop feels when Im at school?

I sighed, standing at the counter. There was other stuff to do, but I didnt want to do it. It was close to closing as well, so I thought to leave some stuff for Sodapop to do when he got to work.

I glanced at the clock, 10 PM.

Cant time go any faster?

I thought about what the Curtis's were making back at their house. Darry got back late, so dinner for them would be late as well. As the clock ticked, I looked at the garage. No cars needed to be fixed, and I knew that no one would be coming in for a while.

Just as I thought that, the door opened and a customer walked in.

"Welcome to the DX-" i greeted as usual, looking over to who walked in. "-Pony?" My heart dropped as Ponyboy looked back at me. Blood dripped steadily form him, and a switchblade handle stuck out of his stomach. He swayed, coughing into his arm as blood spilled from his mouth.

Instantly I jumped over the counter and ran over. Ponyboy fell to his knees, and I could tell that he was losing consciousness.

"Pony?" I asked, hoping in my mind that this wasnt him. Bruises lined nearly his every feature and he blinked blearily at me.

Hes gonna die.

"Stay awake! Please- Pony!" I begged, holding onto him. His chest hardly rose as he closed his eyes. My breathing stopped for a moment and in a flash I could see what Sodapop would say. I saw the Curtis family fall apart, just like it had barely five months ago.

Hes still breathing, I need to get him to the hospital.

In a burst of strength, I picked Ponyboy up bridal style. My arms instantly ached but I ran into my car. Quickly I fumbled around for a moment, placing Ponyboy in the passenger seat and running to the drivers. My mind raced, thoughts of Ponyboy dying ringing out in my head as I sped to the hospital.

Please Ponyboy, dont die on me.

I blinked back tears and tried to ignore the penny scent that Ponyboy gave off. I looked over at him at a stoplight, realizing that his breathing was slower than I thought. Right as the light turned green, I sped off, reaching the hospital in record time.

I sped into the emergency room, honking as if my life depended on it, and sighing as the doctors ran out. They took one look at Ponyboy and yelled back into the hospital. A nurse opened the door and gasped when she saw him. Her eyes flickered to mine as a doctor came by with a stretcher. He nodded to the nurse and another doctor came up to him. They got Ponyboy out of my car, leaving me with the empty sound of my thoughts, and a blood splatter where Ponyboy had sat.

Quickly I parked near the entrance. I ran into the hospital, my breathing off as I looked at the receptionist. Before I could walk up, a doctor came to me, blood smeared on his hands.

"Whats the name of the patient?" He asked.

"Ponyboy Curtis," I answered. He nodded, looking to the receptionist before running off.

"Family?" The receptionist asked as I walked up. Unsure, I nodded.

Ponyboys family to me, no matter what.

"You'll need to fill this out." She handed me a clipboard and all the questions made me freeze.

I need to call Darry.

"I'll call his brother," I said, my voice slightly going up. She nodded, "Is he the patients guardian?"

"Yeah… he is," I answered my hands shaking. "I-is there a phone nearby?"

The receptionist pointed at a hallway. "Right there, need a dime?" I shook my head, digging into my pockets and pulling out three dimes.

She nodded and I walked to the payphone.

What do I even say?

I breathed shakily, blinking back everything I could. Then, I put the dime in and punched in the numbers I knew by heart.

"Hello?"

"Darry… it's Steve. You need to come to the hospital, right now."

Thank you so much for reading!