Tulsa Ripper

Chapter 5

Johnny picked up a pillow and blanket from where Darry had left them on the table, then he hopped up on the other side of the couch across from Dallas. He had gotten used to sleeping at the Curtis' and Darry always welcomed him to stay. The only stipulation was that Ponyboy had to get all his work done and they were not allowed to stay up all night waching television unless it was a Friday. Darry found that it was actually easier to get Ponyboy to finish his work now. He was pretty sure it was because Pony thought if he didn't, Darry might make Johnny go back to sleeping at his own house or in the lot. Of course, that would never happen. But Darry figured he would't tell Pony that. Johnny laid his head on the pillow and pulled a blanket up around him. Thunder rumbled in the distance. He was glad that Dally was staying too. He hadn't really calmed down one bit since that guy had attacked him in the woods. He had gotten so worked up over the whole thing that he was completely exhausted and he fell asleep almost immediately. "Sounds like a storm's coming..." Dally said absently as he stared at the TV. He was tired too, but didn't feel like sleeping just yet. Darry had turned off all the lights and the living room was bathed in the cool glow of the TV and the smell of wet grass as the rain started outside. Dally looked over at Johnny. He was sleeping peacefully on his side of the couch, his legs curled up tight and the blanket covering his nose. Dally started at the TV for another half hour. Finally his eyeslids started to droop and he sighed and stood up. He gently pulled Johhny's feet down towards where he'd been sitting so he could stretch out. Johnny stirred slightly but continued sleeping. He had looked so tired tonight, Dally figured it would take quite a bit to wake him. He pulled the blanket down to cover Johnny's feet and headed off to the chair. He picked up one of the blankets, sat down in the recliner and spread the blanket across his legs. Sleep was finally ready to take him. As he started to close his eyes, a flash of lightning illuminated the front porch and something caught his eye. For a second, he was sure someone had been standing there. 'That's ridiculous' he told himself. He watched the window for a minute or two, until finally, he couldn't keep his eyes open anymore and he fell asleep.
It wasn't very long before he was awakened by screaming. It was Johnny. He knew before he was even fully awake. His stomach went cold and the hairs on his neck stood on end. He'd seen Johnny upset, he'd even seen him cry, but he'd NEVER heard him scream with that kind of intense fear. He was out of the chair and at Johnny's side without even knowing how he got there. He took Johnny by the shoulders. "Johnnycake, what's wrong?" he asked, surpressing the fear rising in his own chest. Johnny was shaking and sobbing uncontrolably. He just didn't do that. Not that Dally had ever seen, anyway. He was timid and quiet, but with all he went through at home, it took a lot to get him really worked up. As soon as Dallas had reached him, Johnny had clutched at his shirt in terror. "Johnny, hey... c'mon, it's all right..." Dally put his arms around him, his guard dropping, his tough, non-caring wall of aloofness crumbled and fell as though it had never existed. Even as Darry came running into the livingroom, he didn't let go of Johnny. "Dally, what happened?" Darry said dropping to his knees beside the couch. He put his hand on Johnny's arm and felt him flinch. He had his face buried in Dally's shirt and Darry could feel him shaking, just like Ponyboy did when he woke up in the middle of the night. "I...I don't know. Shhh..It's ok, Johnny... he just woke up screamin' bloody murder.. I don't know," Dally said with more than just an edge of nervousness to his voice. Oh, man, Johnny thought. Had he really seen that? The eyes. The eyes were the same... but it was dark out. It must have been a dream. He couldn't have seen it. But it was so real... He'd opened his eyes, and there he was. The same mask, the same eyes, staring at him through the window, illuminated only for an instant by the lightening. He struggled to regain control, but he could barely breathe. Who was holding him? Dally? No. It wouldn't be Dally...Wait, yes... it was Dally. Thank God, he thought. Dally wouldn't let anyone hurt him... but he couldn't relax. His mind was so clouded with sleep and terror. Dallas was franticly trying to soothe Johnny, and Johnny was clinging to him, shivering. Tears streamed down his cheeks. "Dally.." he choked out between sobs. "Johnny, it's okay, I'm right here... Look at me! It's all right, buddy..." Dally's voice was shaky. He was trying to get Johnny to look at him, but Johnny's eyes were focused on the window. "Johnny... Hey, it's all right kid..." Darry rubbed his back. "You were just having a bad dream... It's ok.." Darry had one hand on Johnny's back and one hand on Dally's arm. Dally was about as frightened at the moment as Darry had ever seen him. It was very controlled, but Darry knew him well enough to see right through the front he was putting up. "He's ok, Dal. He just had a bad dream. I've seen Pony like this a hundred times... He's gonna be all right..." "I know..." Dally whispered. But Darry could feel Dally shaking slightly, too, and he could hear the hesitation in his voice. Thunder exploded outside. Johnny nearly jumped out of his skin. Dally held him tighter. "I'm right here, kid. You're all right, you're all right." He had to tell them. "... not.. dreaming..." Johnny struggled to get the words out. "What? No, kid, it was just a dream. We're right here. You're safe" Darry whispered. Johnny was crying even more now "No..I... I saw him.." "Who, baby?" Darry coaxed. "S..somebody was on the porch." "What?" A chill ran down Dally's spine as he remembered the image of someone on the porch. Was it possible that both he AND Johnny had imagined the same thing? He sat there for a minute, not wanting to let go of Johnny, but knowing that he had to go outside and see for himself. He looked at the window and then back at Johnny again. Dally chewed nervously at his lip. He pushed Johnny back and tilted his chin up to look at his eyes. "You wait right here. I'll be right back, kid." He let go of Johnny and stood up. As he headed for the door, realization struck Johnny."DALLY! NO!" Johnny grabbed his arm. Dally turned and looked at him, startled. "I'm just going to poke my head out the door, kid. No big deal!" Johnny pulled at Dally's sleeve and let out a soft whimper. "Kid... "Dally stood there, hesitating. "It's ok. Don't be scared." Darry stood up too. "Wait a minute- I'll come with you, Dal. Johnny, we'll be right back, OK?" Soda had woken up by then and came into the living room scratching his head. "What's going on?" "Nothin'. Hey, sit with Johnny a minute will you?" Darry asked. Soda plopped himself down next to Johnny and put an arm around him. "You have a bad dream buddy?" Soda had seen Pony like that so many times it didn't phase him too much. Johnny looked at him. "No, there was somebody outside," he said quietly, his eyes following the two older boys as they headed for the porch. Soda looked at him for a minute and then smiled. "Aww.. you're REALLY tired aren't you, kid? That was just a dream..." Just then Soda caught sight of the way Dally and Darry were walking to the door- carefully, like cats stalking prey. Something had given them reason to take this more seriously than a run of the mill bad dream. He pretended he hadn't noticed and turned back to Johnny. "Did he have six inch fangs and claws?" he asked, trying to lighten the mood. But it quickly became apparent that Johnny was in no mood for jokes. He just looked hurt. Soda felt terrible and immediatley wished he hadn't said it. "Oh, Johnny, I'm sorry! I was just trying to make you laugh...Look, whatever you saw, I'm sure we're safe... with Darry and Dally together, what can touch us?" Johnny finally smiled at him, but he was still shaking and looking pretty scared.