Who We Are(The Outsiders Fanfiction)

79|"Just Let Me Say My Peace..."

<Skyler's POV>

I can't even tell where the groans are coming from anymore. The pain coursing through the three of our bodies is unbearable and is causing involuntary sounds to escape our throat. Sometimes a harsh gasp or the sound of blood rising in our throats causing us to choke. I think back to when Pony was reading to us one day. The book was, Gone With The Wind, and I remember a particular scene that was awfully brutal. At the time, I hadn't really thought about how much the characters must have been hurting, with the flies swarming their bodies. But now I knew, now I've experienced death grasping at my throat and tearing out my chest. Pounding on the back of my skull as if death was knocking at my front door.

My short black hair is stained a deep red, the viscous liquid sticking small chunks of hair together. The blood sticks to my clothes. A cocktail of my own blood and Chris's from when she leaned against me for support when we were so close to escaping this hell hole. The look that was in her eyes is seared onto the inside of my eyelids. Her usual bright eyes, fogged with fear from the past repeating itself. The lips on her face that were usually turned into a smile, are cut up and glued into a frown. Her pale skin took a bath in its own blood, every inch of it coated in crimson.

And not to mention Steve. He thought he had saved us. He thought he was going to get us out alive. Only to figure out that Charlie was awaiting his arrival, ready to seriously injure and even kill him if necessary. It leaves me to ask the question, is this all one sick game to him? Does our torture add up to his pleasure or happiness.

Dallas comes into mind. His tough facade hidden behind his chocolate brown eyes. The brown hair that is constantly slicked back with grease or lazily tossed across his forehead. How I long to be in his arms. The desire inside of me to be with my life partner and children is stronger than ever. Those kids need me. Dallas needs me. For once in my life I actually feel needed. For the longest time after my parents died, I felt unwanted. I felt as if I died, no one would miss me and nothing in the world would change. Now here I am, with a family that needs me, and I can't reach them.

Charlie, for the most part, had left us alone since he strung up Steve on the shelf next to me. The three of us hang there like the meat of a pig in a freezer. Raw, waiting to be salted and cut into pieces. A part of me hopes Dallas comes to save me. The other part of me hopes he stays away. I don't want him dying too. Then my children would be orphans. They don't deserve that.

A mumble comes from my right. It's Chris, trying to speak through the pain. "Sky?" She manages to spit out in a hoarse voice. I look at her dismally, knowing the end is near.

"Ya Christina?" I reply in a slight whisper, unable to speak about lifer than that.

"If I don't make it and you do-"

"Chris don't say that, we're getting out of here," I reassure her even though I'm not sure myself.

"Just let me say my peace, please," Chris pleads. I nod slowly, my head pounding with the small movement. "If I don't make it and you do, take care of the kids and Soda, especially Soda. Don't let him go down the drain. He never showed it, but the war really killed him, his spirit already has a crack in it, don't let his spirit shatter," Chris begs, blood curdling her words. I nod my head yet again even though it worsens my headache.

"I will, I promise," I confirm, "do the same for me will you? Keep your brother happy, don't let him mourn too long," I demand kindly. Chris smiles to show her response. I smirk back weakly. On the other side of me, Steve coughs.

"You two talking about death," he snorts, aggravated with our tones, "we are all getting out of here, don't start making your damn death wishes on me. I intend to live a painfully long life."