"Will you teach us?" One of the weird Creatures asked, it's odd... 'eyes' staring into Jade's hazel one's.

"No," she sneered, "I would nev-"

"Jade." she looked at me when I said her name. I took her shoulder lightly, forcing her to look into my eyes instead of the Creatures. "Do it. Please." One, I didn't want to lose another person to whatever They did to the people who disobeyed. Two, I had a plan. She nodded.

"Alright. I'll teach you." She said, still looking into my eyes. Please, please... Take a long time. "But it may take awhile. It's not easy to learn." I smiled. She got it.

I slowly moved to the door, taking my leave from the room. I had to get everyone that was left. Luckily the Creatures didn't stop me. They were too busy getting what Jade needed to teach Them, which was kind of funny. They usually had one of us do things like that.

When I was out of the room I turned and flat out ran to where I knew the others would be. Jade and I were the only ones on duty today. It was almost luck. The first we've had in awhile.

;;/;; Flashback ;;\\;;

It was so clear, if we had only been paying attention to the signs. The fact that They were coming. I wish we had noticed.

The crop circles, those were nothing. Those were idiot farmers looking for money. No, what attracted them was music. They weren't aliens, the Creatures. They were just... Different.

The first home game we had. They were attracted to our music, the marching bands. Right as we were doing our thing and spelling tigers (A/N: I'm not sure what their mascot is... but it seems like everyone's a Tiger.) before the game, time just suddenly stopped. Then there was a bright flash of light. And we weren't on the field anymore. I looked around when I figured it out.

It was only band kids. No one else. The room we first appeared in, where I was heading now, became our... 'dormitory'. If you could call it that. We made our food in there, and we slept in there, though there were no beds.

;;/;; Real Time ;;\\;;

"Tori!"

I was snapped out of my Flashback as I heard my name.

"What are you doing here? They'll beat you for skipping if they find out!" Lexi shrieked at me, her blue eyes being the first to notice my entering the room. She knew I had gotten beaten badly from the first time. Though, everyone did. Lexi had light blond hair, was tall, and very peppy.

I put my hands on my knees, panting. They didn't give us enough food so we couldn't really get into shape. "That's... Why... I... Ran..." I gasped out, then held up a finger. "One... Minute..."

They had all crowded around me as soon as they realized who I was and that I was skipping out on my duties. Yes, I would be beaten if the creatures found out. Bastards.

I regained composure quickly, standing back up. "I can get us out." everyone immediately shut up. They knew I was serious and they knew I could do it. I was the one that had gotten the other half of the band out. I was also the reason they had gotten more strict on the rest of us, but still.

"Jade's going to show Them how to play tennis. Stupid of Them, really. They were giving us weapons. I know the weak spot. Jade can hit the tennis ball hard enough to... Fracture it. It would... Flicker, and when it flickered, we could escape. It's stupid, and dangerous. But the only way we can get out. I've looked around for other ways, but... There are none."

Lexi and Bella were immediately with me, and so was the rest of the depleted flute section. I could see it. The rest weren't so ready to trust me again. That's only because last time I thought I could get everyone out, but had only succeeded in getting half and making it harder on the ones that didn't get through. I saw when it had gone wrong, and purposefully stayed behind. I couldn't leave if there were still people here.

"Flicker, as in something that only lasts a second?" Someone standing in the back asked.

"No. Flicker as in... Like last time." Hope lit their eyes. "It would last a few minutes at least, plenty of time to get us all through." A sudden sharp, loud sound was easily heard by everyone. "Shit..." I muttered under my breath. And they were all suddenly frantic and protective of me, wanting me to get behind them. The Creatures beatings were harsh.

"Guys, stop, stop! I'll be fine. Be at the Front in 30 minutes. Everyone." They all knew what I was talking about. I took off at a sprint towards the sound, hopeing, just hopeing that I wouldn't run into the guard. If I got back to Jade and my station I would be fine. I could rattle off some excuse. And then everyone would be at the front, Jade would hit the ball where I told her to, and we would all be free. Hopefully.

I stopped outside the door to my station and slid slowly back in next to Jade. "Did I miss something?"

"Only a bunch of yelling when they realized you were gone." Jade smirked slightly. "They really don't like you missing from their sights."

"Yeah, well..." I knew what she was implying. Last time I got away and made a plan. This time they were freaking out and...

I choked as I was suddenly thrown back against the wall with something around my neck. Jade gasped. That what I get for thinking, I lose my concentration... My hands were clawing at the thing around my throat, which was one of the Creatures tentacles.

"Where..." It hissed. It had limited English vocabulary. Good, it wasn't the one I was afraid of. Even if it was choking me. Speaking of, my vision was starting to go blurry...

"She can't answer if she can't breathe!" Jade shouted in my defense. Funny, she sounded a long ways off...

I gasped in a sharp breath, falling to my knees on the floor as the tentacle suddenly disappeared. I breathed hard for a few moments until my vision was no longer blurred. "Bathroom," I managed to gasp, looking up at it. "Went to the bathroom," I repeated more clearly. "I didn't expect to get almost killed for it though."

"You... Gone... Tell."

It took me a minute to realize what it meant. "If everyone hadn't looked so busy, maybe I would have told someone. I wasn't going to bother them."

"Lie?" It asked. I almost laughed.

"No. Lying gets you beaten and I've already been beaten once. I'm not going there again."

"Believe." It seemed to nod grudgingly before it... 'walked' off. 'Walked' because it was more a slither...

I got up, a little wobbly, and Jade helped steady me. "I told them 30 minutes." It had already been 10.

"So we need to hurry." It was not a question. I nodded anyway. "Great."

Jade helped me to stand but she yelled at the Creatures to hurry it up. I love it when people yell at Them and They don't retaliate. In a way, it gives hope. The only reason that They weren't doing anything was because Jade was going to teach Them something, though. They readily learned anything, even a stupid game.

"I can stand on my own now," I smiled at her. "Thanks."

"Least I could do. They don't realize it, but they owe you a lot."

I blushed slightly. "I guess… anyone could have figured it out though."

Her tone dropped. "They didn't." She nodded ever so slightly towards the Creatures.

My smile turned into a smirk, the blush gone. That was true, the Creatures hadn't figured it out until half the people They had abducted were gone. I frowned. "Are you ready?"

She nodded. On the exact same page I was. She knew that if this didn't work and They found out it had been me, They would kill me. Or beat me and bring me back repeatedly, only to beat me again. Like last time… One thing was certain. Dying was mercy. Yet, she also knew I would be the last one to get out.

"Ready." The same Creature that attacked me hissed, making us both jump. It had a tennis racket in one tentacle. A container with tennis balls was in the corner.

"Okay," Jade started, "First off, you…"

I tuned it out as she explained tennis to the Creatures. I only needed to pay attention when they started hitting the balls. I leaned back against the wall, just thinking.

;;/;; Flashback ;;\\;;

"And you're sure this will work?" Claire whispered to me. Her brown eyes were almost hidden by her dark auburn hair.

"I'm positive." I hadn't been the same way I was now. Then, a cocky smirk had lit my face. Now, I only had that look when I remembered that day.

Claire and I had been on duty together. They had still been allowing enough to let us choose who to be on duty with. Usually Claire stayed with her boyfriend, but I told her to come with me today. Simply because I thought she was the only one that could help me. And she was.

"See that?" I whispered. I was pointing at a small crack in the wall. There were never cracks, which is why this was important to any plan. By now we had figured out that the Creatures weren't aliens. Simply experiments gone wrong. Stupid scientists. They just had to try and make virtual reality… Course, no one could blame them. No one wanted to live in our little messed up world. "Do you think it will work?" I asked her.

"You're kidding, right?" I smiled. "Of course."

"Great. Get out of here." I watched nervously as Claire went to the crack, grateful that no one was supposed to be here. She touched it, pressing her finger hard against the crack. It went through, and suddenly, Claire wasn't there anymore. I almost yelled with joy. It had worked!

;;/;; Real Time ;;\\;;

I jumped when someone shook me. Jade. "Yeah?"

"They're ready." If I had to guess it had been another 15 minutes. 5 more until everyone else got here.

"Take some practice shots. It won't be long now." Jade nodded. I suddenly got a bad feeling in my gut. I had to push it off though. I had to get everyone out of here, because if I didn't, everyone would end up dead. I knew what had to be done and I was going to do it.

My ears pricked up slightly as I heard footsteps coming down the hall. Finally. I walked to Jade and placed a hand on her arm. She looked at me and nodded.

"Okay! 10 minute break!" The Creatures were exhausted and immediately left. Don't ask me how, they just... Disappear. Frameworks, I guess.

;;/;; Outside, Claire's POV ;;\\;;

"You have to give them more time! They're smart, they can get out!" Claire was glaring at a thin, bald scientist.

"Look, I'm sorry, but it's a danger to have the thing still running. Even if there are still people in there. There's a possibility for those thi-"

"Creatures." Claire interjected.

"For those Creatures to get out. We can't possibly-"

"A week." Claire interrupted again. "I'm just asking for a week."

;;/;; Flashback, Claire's POV ;;\\;;

"I know they'll pull something on the Outside sooner or later. That's why we have to get out. You know?" Tori looked worried. And not like usual. She was stressed, because she knew this had to work. She also didn't want anything bad to happen to me, because I was taking the risk. But she couldn't. She had to tell everyone if it worked.

"Yeah. I know. Quit worrying so much."

"Were you comfortable?" She suddenly asked me. I guess I looked confused, because she said "On the bus. Remember?" I remembered all too clearly. I switched seats on the bus to sit beside her for a bit when we were coming home from Disney. We were both tired and fell asleep. She had woken up to my head on her shoulder. I didn't know why she wanted to know, but... "Yeah. Yeah, I was."

"You were so embarrassed when you woke up. You immediately went back to your normal seat. I had been comfortable too, you know-" she flinched, thinking she had said too much. She was sensitive about liking girls because she liked approval even if she didn't show it.

"It's okay. I know what you meant. You're right, I was embarrassed." We shared a small smile, before she got serious again. It kind of made me sad.

"Anyway. If this works, you need to keep them stalled. Don't let them shut down this Game. They'd be ending lives."

"I know. We've been over this."

"And you know that after a year..."

I teared up. "I know."

She got cocky again. "But we're getting everyone out."

"Yeah. We are."

;;/;; Real time, Outside, Claire's POV ;;\\;;

It wouldn't have been a year yet, but I wasn't going to ask for two more whole months. That was too much. I started tearing up again at the memory, and that's when the scientist gave in.

"Hey, it's okay, alright? One more week. They'll get out. From what you said, your friends pretty smart." So he does have a heart.

"T-thank you..."

"No problem kid. But you better watch that thing yourself. I'm one of the nicer ones. There are people here that will shut that thing down because it's a safety hazard to everyone out here. And themselves." He muttered something that sounded like 'selfish bastards' but I chose to ignore that.

"Thank you again, sir." I nodded. I would set up a vigil with the families and friends of the people in there. No one would get past us.

;;/;; Inside, Tori's POV ;;\\;;

Everyone was at the Front all at once. Jade looked grim, and I was just plain nervous. "We should do it now. Like, now. Everyone's here. Except Them. Like it should be."

"Chill." Jade rested a hand on my shoulder. "You know we have to wait."

"Remind me why again?" Jade rolled her eyes.

"We have to make sure it's at the same time as the rest disappeared or it may not work right. Because we don't know if it's a specific time or not. We can't afford to let anything happen. You've said this a million times. You know."

"Right." was all I said. She was right. I was just nervous. I knew. And it was only a minute away. The Creatures break ended in 3. God, this was going to be close. I gave a short laugh. God? Since when do I believe in that anymore? Ah... I need to stop talking to myself. "Now. Do it now."

"Right..." she said nervously. She threw the ball up in the air. Had split-second aim, and...

The ball hit the crack. At however fast it was going, however hard Jade could hit it. There was a moment where everyone tensed up, and then... Chaos. Absolute chaos. It seemed like the world exploded. The only thing I could think was 'At least no Creatures got out...'

;;/;; Jade's POV ;;\\;;

I rolled my eyes at Tori's question. She knew full well why. I answered anyway. "We have to make sure it's at the same time as the rest disappeared or it may not work right. Because we don't know if it's a specific time or not. We can't afford to let anything happen. You've said this a million times. You know."

"Right." She said. I knew she was thinking. I started thinking too. She would tell me when it was time. She had a supernatural ability to pretty much always know the time. It was creepy. But she would know when. She had these times down-

"Now. Do it now."

"Right." I said nervously. I threw the ball up, took aim, and... The ball hit the crack. Perfectly. I was proud. Then the world exploded. I was throw back onto my back. I heard people yell. I felt myself being pulled and let it happen. I'm pretty sure I screamed. Then, black.

;;/;; Tori's POV ;;\\;;

I felt more than saw Jade being thrown from my side. I yelled and jumped after her. I felt weightless, which was weird. Felt myself being pulled. No, I have to get Jade... I felt my hand latch onto something that felt like an ankle. Decided to yell: "Let it take you! Let it take you! I know you feel it pulling you, let it take you!" I'm not sure if anyone hear me but still...

Whoever I was holding onto flew back past me. I had no choice but to go with them because I was holding onto their ankle. The world went black for an instant. Then I felt myself land on someone.

"What the-" I recognized the voice immediately.

"Claire!"

"Tori?"

"Claire! Claire, we did it!" her arms went around me and I realized I was sobbing into her shoulder. It was so horrible in there... "D-did everyone make it?"

"I'm surprised you didn't wait till last, like last time."

"I had no choice. It exploded... Jade! Did you see her? Tell me you saw her!" I jerked back from Claire's shoulder, alternating from looking around to looking into her eyes. "She was right beside me! It knocked her back, but..."

"Tori? I didn't know you cared so much."

"Jade!" I turned and before I could even think, I was off of Claire and had tackled her. "Of course I was worried!"

"Ow! Watch it!"

"Sorry!" I could hear Claire chuckle behind me. "Jade... I was worried."

"I know. You said that."

"I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't made it. You helped me so much after... After..."

"Yeah." Jade finally wrapped her arms around me and held me close. "Yeah I know. Others would have helped but they were afraid."

"Afraid of hurting me worse and afraid of getting hurt themselves. But you weren't."

;;/;; Claire's POV ;;\\;;

"Afraid of hurting me worse and afraid of getting hurt themselves. But you weren't." There was something in Tori's voice when she said that. It just got to me. Something happened when all of them didn't get out. Something bad. I decided to think about this and let them have their moment, so I turned away and walked off.

"Claire?" Tori's hesitant voice followed me.

"Yeah?" I asked, without turning.

"Where are you going?"

"Someone has to tell the scientists, and parents, and... Everyone."

"Right."

;;/;; Bird's eye view, Narrator's POV ;;\\;;

There were three girls in a room, one lighter haired brunette on top of a dark brown haired girl, but looking towards a auburn haired girl. The dark brown and brunette embracing. The third auburn haired girl a few steps off from the pair, not looking back at them as she talked to them. Pain was evident in her posture, but no one knew why. The light haired brunette and the dark brown haired girl shared a look, the dark brown haired girl kissing the light haired brunette on the forehead gently and comfortingly as the auburn haired girl walked out of the room. The brunette buried her head into the dark brown haired girl's shoulder, sobs echoing around the room as the brunette lost her composure and just cried, the dark brown haired girl just holding her.

A/N:

Yeah... Terrible, isn't it? This came to me in a dream. Do you want to know what Claire(the auburn haired girl) said? Do you want to know if Tori and Jade become a couple? It's undetermined as of yet, but if you want me to write another chapter I will. Um... Review and tell me how terrible my mind is. I dare you. Please?

P.S: If you have a question, just ask me. This had a completely different ending so it looks wrong to me on here… but I couldn't write the ending without, like, crying… So… Yeah. Anyways. Just ask. And if you want me to write the actual ending and post it as another chapter, say so and I will. I'll do anything for you guys. Review, please. Any are appreciated.