**Chapter 17: Dally's Warning**

As I sat beside Johnny's hospital bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered long after my parents had left. Their visit had been a reminder of everything I wanted to forget – the neglect, the abandonment, the constant feeling of being an afterthought. I glanced over at Johnny, who was still sleeping, his bruised face a stark contrast to his usual pale complexion. Dally, who had been quietly observing the scene, cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Vik, can I talk to you for a minute?" he asked, his voice low and serious. I nodded, getting up from my chair and following Dally out of the hospital room. We walked down the hall, the fluorescent lights overhead casting an eerie glow on the linoleum floor. The smell of antiseptic and stale air clung to my nostrils, a constant reminder of the hospital's sterile environment. "What's up, Dally?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Dally leaned against the wall, his eyes locked onto mine. "It's about Johnny," he said, his voice measured. "I know you two have gotten close, but you need to be careful around him." I raised an eyebrow, a shiver running down my spine. "What do you mean?" Dally's expression turned grim. "Johnny's got a past, Vik. A past that's not exactly... pleasant. He's been through some stuff, and it's left him with some scars. Emotional scars." I felt a pang of curiosity, mixed with concern. "What kind of scars?" I pressed, my voice laced with a sense of trepidation. Dally hesitated, his eyes flicking around the hallway before settling back on mine. "Let's just say that Johnny's not as innocent as he seems. He's been in some tough situations, and it's affected him. He's got a temper, Vik, and it's not always easy to control." I thought back to the way Johnny had fought off the Socs, his eyes flashing with a fierce intensity. I had seen that side of him before, but I had also seen the vulnerable side, the side that made me feel like I was the only person in the world. "What are you trying to say, Dally?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Dally's expression turned serious. "I'm trying to say that Johnny's not like us, Vik. He's got demons, and they're not always easy to deal with. You need to be careful around him, or you might get hurt." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I processed Dally's words. I had seen the way Johnny's eyes had flashed with anger when he was fighting, the way his face had twisted in a snarl. But I had also seen the way he had looked at me, the way he had smiled at me. As I walked back to Johnny's room, I couldn't shake off the feeling that Dally's warning had left me with. Johnny was a mystery, a puzzle that I was still trying to figure out. And I wasn't sure if I was ready for what lay ahead. I sat back down beside Johnny, holding his hand in mine. He stirred, his eyes fluttering open. "Hey, Vik," he whispered, his voice hoarse. I smiled, squeezing his hand. "Hey, Johnny. I'm here." He smiled back, his eyes locking onto mine. And in that moment, I knew that I was exactly where I was meant to be – by Johnny's side, no matter what lay ahead. But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't help but wonder – what secrets was he hiding? And what lay beneath that calm, gentle exterior? I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I was in over my head, that Johnny's past was a labyrinth of secrets and lies. And I wasn't sure if I was ready to face it.