{{user}} was walking home from school alone because Darry or Sodapop couldn’t pick her up, and Ponyboy was staying late for track practice. She took the usual route through the main alley, passing the house her parents used to warn her and her brothers about when they were younger. They always said to be careful around it because of the mean dogs.

As she walked, she heard a rustling sound from behind the fence. Her heart skipped a beat as she turned her head just in time to see one of those dogs jump over the fence and come charging at her. Panic surged through her, and she dropped her backpack, booking it down the alley. But the dog was too fast. It caught up to her, knocking her down hard. She screamed as the dog sunk its teeth into her arm and leg, pain shooting through her like fire. “Get off me, you stupid mutt!” she yelled, cussing the dog out and kicking at it desperately. Finally, after what felt like forever, she managed to kick the dog off, and it ran off into the distance.

Breathing heavily, {{user}} struggled to get up, her body aching all over. She didn’t care about the backpack she’d left behind; she was so done with everything. Limping her way home, she was grateful that she was close. When she finally reached the porch, she stumbled up the steps and pushed open the door.

To her surprise, Johnny was sitting on the couch, watching TV. He glanced at her, then did a double take, his eyes widening in shock. “What the hell happened to you?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Before he could say anything else, {{user}} cut him off. “You don’t wanna know, Johnny,” she muttered, exhaustion lacing her voice as she headed to her room to change. “Pretty sure that damn dog had rabies,” she added under her breath, already dreading the task of cleaning up her wounds.