Johnny's P.o.V.

"Shit!" Was the first word out of my mouth when I woke up. Every single part of y body was hurting.

I slowly, painfully sat up and realized I was in Pony's bedroom, not my own. My eyes widened, as I remembered the events of yesterday. 'He' had almost found out that Soda had followed me.

I managed to convince him that no one was with me, and because he's stupid he believed me. But that didn't stop him from beating me harder than he ever had before.

I stood up and made my way downstairs, wincing with every step. My body ached and my head pounded. I felt extremely tired, even though I knew I must have went to bed yesterday around four p.m.

As I neared the living room I could hear the hushed voices of the gang. I didn't want to have to deal with them and their questions. Any talk at all of the abuser was a threat to Ponyboy's life.

But I had to face them all eventually, and it may as well be sooner than later. I finally walked in and immediately Pony noticed me. "Johnny!" His voice came out in a whisper tone and he rushed over to me. "Let me help you, you're ribs are cracked."

"T-that would e-explain why I feel like I-I'm walking on n-nails." I groaned and rubbed my side.

I used my boyfriend as a crutch and Soda stood from the couch, giving me his spot. I was too exhausted and in too much pain to argue with him, I just sat down as quickly as I could manage.

Wincing, I curled up into the corner and looked up, immediately being greeted by six pairs of eyes staring at me questioningly.

"H-how much did S-Soda tell you?" I asked.

Pony sat next to me. "Nothing important really. Only that you're letting yourself get beat up and abused for me." His voice a hint of bitterness, and I flinched, not being used to that tone coming from him.

"Yeah..." I whispered.

"You wanna tell us what's going on?" Darry kneeled down so that we were eye level.

I quickly shook my head no and he gave me a look that said he wasn't taking that for an answer. My lip quivered and I felt tears rush Tommy eyes. I looked down and let out a choked sob on accident. Quickly, I covered my mouth and began breathing heavily.

"Johnny you can cry." I was shocked to hear Dally say that. I figured that if Dallas Winston was fine with me crying then I could do it.

Tears began rushing down my cheeks. "T-this guy...I don't know how, but he found o-out about Pony and I. One day after school he dragged me behind the building and s-started threatening me. H-he said that I had to be his--" I began crying harder, and it got to the point where I couldn't really form a sentence.

Pony rubbed my back and buried his face in my shoulder. After a few minutes, I finally got myself under control.

"H-he didn't want to kill me...he w-wants to kill Pony...he said that if I didn't do exactly what he said...if I didn't agree to be his puppet...then he'd do it. He would k-kill you Pony...I j-just couldn't let that happen!"

I wiped my eyes and looked down, feeling ashamed all of the sudden.

"Why didn't you tell one of us? We could have helped." Steve was grinding his teeth together in frustration.

"If I t-told someone Pony would d-die. I didn't w-wanna risk one of y-yalls plans failing a-and then Pony dying." I had thought about telling them before. I knew they would try to do something, but what if what they tried to do didn't work out?

"Who is it Johnny? Who's beating you?" Pony whispered, on the verge of tears himself.

I began shaking. "I'm not telling you that. I-it's too risky..."

"Then we'll just follow you." Dally spat.

"No! I got beat up this bad because just because he wanted to show me what would happen if I ever did bring someone with me. He said if it we'd happened it would he twice as worse and I don't doubt him." I whimpered, thinking about the horrible beating I had to endure yesterday.

"Do we know him?" Two-Bit asked.

I sat still for a few seconds, before eventually nodding. "Yeah...you do."

"I swear to God...is it fucking Tim Shepard?" Dally almost yelled.

My eyes widened and I shook my head. "No...not him. He wouldn't do that Dal..."

"I don't know anyone else who would!" He grumbled.

Darry looked at me. "Johnny...why does he want to kill Pony and not you?" He asked.

I frowned and looked down, digging my foot in the carpet. "B-because...because he hates you Darry. He wants to hurt you, and that's the only way he knows how."

When will you guys ever figure out who it is? Maybe you can guess after this chapter.