𝓲𝓷𝓿𝓲𝓼𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 • 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼

𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝓾𝓮

                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
                  𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢'𝚜 𝙿𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚅𝚒𝚎𝚠
                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
i laid on the raggedy hospital bed, alone in the room. the pain i felt in my back was almost unbearable, i couldn't take it anymore.

i saved the kids is all the repeated over and over in my mind. i saved the kids.

all of a sudden, a bruised and bloodied ponyboy and dallas barged into the room. dallas immediately rushed to my side.

"johnnycake?" he said in a hoarse voice, "johnny?"

i slightly opened my eyes, as much as i could, before answering. "hey." i replied, softly.

"we won." dallas exclaimed, out of breath, "we beat the socs, chased them outta our territory."

i could tell dally was expecting an enthusiastic response from me, but i knew i wouldn't give it. what's the point of fighting? violence period? it only leaves people injured.

"useless...fighting's no good." i forced out.

dallas seemed nervous at my lack of enthusiasm and energy.

"they're still writing editorials about you in the paper. for being hero and all." dally said, breaking the short lived silence. he fought hard to maintain his calm demeanor. "yeah, they're calling you a hero now and heroizin' all the greasers. we're all proud of you, buddy."

the last part stuck with me.

dallas winston...proud of me?

that's all i ever wanted to hear.

that's all i ever needed.

i suddenly felt a sharp pain in my back, one i knew i'd no longer be able to fight back. i didn't want to go, i couldn't go, but dally being proud of me would allow me to let go easier. it's like i completed what i wanted, the only thing i ever wanted, was complete.

i slowly shifted my focus over to ponyboy. he had stood there, silently, gazing upon my beat and burnt complexion.

as the pain grew, i knew now was time.

"ponyboy." i whispered, just enough for him to hear me.

he inched closer to me and leaned over, indicating he was listening. i took a moment to examine his face. the face of my best friend. the face i'd never see again.

"stay gold ponyboy...stay gold." i muttered. my eyes began to shut and my body sank fully into the bed, right before i finally gave in to the overbearing pain.
                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
                    𝙳𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢'𝚜 𝙿𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚅𝚒𝚎𝚠
                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
no. this can't be.

i don't believe it.

he ain't dead.

i slowly stepped toward his limp body and pushed his hair back. "never could get that hair back..." i started, fighting back my tears, "that's what you get for tryin' to help people, you little punk, that's what you get..." i forced a chuckle, hoping to spark one out of the relaxed body.

at the sight there was no use, i stepped back and slammed against the wall. the sweat began to drip down my face and i knew i had no control of my further actions.

"damnit johnny," i begged as i slammed a fist against the wall, "oh damnit johnny, don't die, please don't die..." i implored, but still, no use.

all i wanted was a miracle.

i don't believe in miracles, but maybe just this once, it would bring back johnny.

my johnny.

i stood still for a moment, not even acknowledging pony. my limbs tensed up and i felt as if i were going to explode.

i can't take it anymore.

i bolted out the door.

as fast as i could.

not daring to look back.
                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
                  𝙹𝚘𝚑𝚗𝚗𝚢'𝚜 𝙿𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚅𝚒𝚎𝚠
                       ︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵
all of a sudden, my eyes slowly reopened i woke up to an empty room.

i looked around, and the room looked the same as it did before i...

before i died...?

i looked down at my body to see it looked the exact same. i decided to try and move, and that's when i realized.

i'm not in my body.

i got out of the bed and turned to face my limp corpse.

holy shit, is that how i looked?

i looked down at my hands to see that they were slightly transparent. i still had my clothes on, but my body did too.

what the hell is going on...?

i walked to the mirror in the bedroom and examined myself.

i looked perfectly fine.

no burns, no bruises, no nothing.

all except i was transparent.

i checked the side table and saw that "gone with the wind" was gone. pony must've taken it.

wait.

that's reminds me.

ponyboy.

i dashed out of the room and down the hallway, unconcerned about the many nurses and fellow patients lined in the hallways and front lobby.

i ran out of the hospital.

i ran down the sidewalk.

i ran all the way to the curtis house.

and somehow, i wasn't out of breath at all.

i slowed my pace as i reached the front of the household and slowly walked up the front steps.

i tried to grip the door handle, but my hand went straight through it.

what the heck?

in a fit of confusion and slight rage, i attempted to bang on the door, but my hand went straight through it.

ha! how convenient!

i took a deep breath before walking straight into and through the front door.

i looked around for a second, inspecting the entire gang.

they all looked...beat? disgusting?

it must've been from the rumble. dal told me they won, but they all looked terrible.

speaking of dal, where was he?

just a second later, my question would be answered.

i turn my attention to the hallway, and out comes dallas winston.

transparent, just like me.