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As the four drove back to the church to gather the boys' things, they saw that the church was ablaze and little kids were running right outside of it. "Jesus Christ." Dallas groaned.
Ponyboy instantly jumped out of the car and ran in the church to retrieve some of the kids that seemed to be stuck inside of the burning building. Johnny followed Pony in to save the kids. Dallas called after them, but they didn't listen. Jessica hopped out of the car and ran after the boys. Dallas followed her and the two opened some windows to help Johnny and Ponyboy get the kids out of the burning church.
Jessica jumped inside of the church to quickly pass the kids to Dallas to get them out of the blazing church. As soon as they were done, Jessica helped Pony out. Unfortunately for Johnny and Jessica, a fiery beam from above fell down on top of them and began to scorch them. Both of them shrieked for help, and next thing Jess knew— she was in the hospital.
She couldn't feel anything nor could she move. All she felt was a freezing cold feeling going down her spine. When she opened her eyes, there was Dallas sitting by her bedside. "You ever pull a stunt like that again, I'll kill ya." Dallas looked worried over Jessica.
Jessica barely turned her head to look at Dallas. "You ain't doing that soc versus greaser fight tonight, right?" Jessica asked.
"Shoot, Jess. I can't let my buds down." Dallas ran his thumb over the palm over her hand.
"How am I looking, Dal?" Jessica asked, for she couldn't even move.
Dallas looked down at his shoes. "Not good, Jess. But you'll pull through, I know you will. This whole thing wouldn't have happened if those socs hadn't came after Pony and Johnny. That's why I gotta go win that fight tonight. We gotta get even with those socs." Dallas told.
* * *
Later on that night, Dallas went back to Jess' room. This time he had tears filling his eyes. He looked a bit roughed up from the fight. "We beat the socs." He choked up telling Jess the news.
"Why you crying, Dal?" Jessica asked.
"Johnny's dead." Dallas dropped to his knees next to Jessica's bed and he grabbed her hand to press it to his cheek.
Jessica was stunned; she didn't know what to say. "Jess, I gotta do it for Johnny, I'm sorry." He randomly said.
"You gotta do what, Dal?" Jessica asked.
He suddenly pulled out his unloaded gun and stood up, letting go of her hand. "Dallas.. what are you doing?" She began to grow worried that he was going to do something crazy. She was scorched from the burns the church inflicted on her, so she couldn't move to physically stop him.
"I'm sorry, Jess." Was all that he said before running out of her hospital room.
* * *
Only about an hour later, the phone next to her bed began to ring. "Nurse!" Jessica yelled for a nurse to come and answer the phone for her.
Within seconds, a nurse came to her room. "Can you answer the phone? Can you put it up to my ear?" Jessica frantically asked.
"Ma'am, you shouldn't be stressing so much. You are in severe condition. You're paralyzed and have third degree burns all over." The nurse suggested.
"ANSWER THE DAMN PHONE!" Jessica screamed at her.
The nurse gulped and followed instructions, then left Jessica alone. "Hello?" Jessica answered.
"Jess, listen to me. I just knocked off a store. The cops are looking for me." Dallas told.
"Dallas you promised me you wouldn't leave me! Are you crazy? You're gonna get shot! You lied to me! You promised, Dal!" She screamed at him.
"I'm sorry, Jess. I love you." Dallas whispered before hanging up.
* * *
A few hours later, Sodapop showed up with a sad look at Jessica's door. "Where is he?" Jessica growled.
"He's gone." Soda shook his head.
Jessica began to cry. Her heart felt like it was torn to shreds and had been stomped on. Every part of her body went rigid. Her heart couldn't seem to take it, and at that very moment she felt her throat began to close up as she began to sob. "No, no, no." She gasped for air.
Soda didn't know how to comfort her, so he stayed where he was. Her heart began to race, then it finally pushed itself to its limit. She felt it stop, then she felt her mind go black. She was expected to die from her injuries, but no one would've thought she'd die from heartbreak.
Her death was dark and lonely. There seemed to be nothing on the other side. She would've been better off if she had never met Dallas and he would have never told her lies.
