It all started on a cold mid-day of South Park. As usual, the gang was caught up in an adventure they somehow got themselves into. Hiding in the forest of South Park, Stan, Kyle, Butters and Kenny were catching their breaths. Staggering behind was Cartman, puffing and wheezing.
"Seriously, you guys...!" Cartman wheezed.
"Hurry up, fat-ass!" Kyle snapped, glaring.
"'EY! SHUT UP, KYLE!" Cartman yelled.
"Both of you be quiet! They'll hear you!" Stan whispered loudly.
Kenny looked over at the gang and saw the worried look in Butters's eyes. Probably thinking how much trouble they were gonna be in and that his parents will possibly ground him. He looked around the forest, nothing but trees and snow.
"Sheesh, you think after years of this, we'll grow used to shit like this!" Kyle muttered.
"A-Aw, gee fellas. A-Are we out-laws n-now? My parents w-won't like that, me b-being an out-law." Butters said nervously, thumping his knuckles together.
"Butters, shut the fuck up." Cartman grumbled, glaring at him.
Butters looked down, still nervously fidgeting with his knuckles. Kenny shot a glare at Cartman, who doesn't care, and went up to Butters. He patted the boy's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Butters. If you get scared, you can hold my hand. If you want." Kenny told him.
"Really? Gee, thanks K-Kenny. That's awfully nice of you." Butters said, smiling.
"Gay!" Cartman coughed out obviously.
Kenny flipped him the bird and grabbed Butters's hand, not knowing that the gesture made the boy blush pink. A sound of something abnormal silenced the group and they continued their way deep into the forest. Kenny made sure to keep a tight grip on Butters's hand as they continued on.
As always, something weird was going on in town and the boys were escaping from the dangers in the town. Strange beings from another dimension or Hell, whatever it was all the same thing to the boys now anyway. They continued walking on until they reached the old railroads of South Park.
"Okay, I think if we follow these rails, we'll reach the nearest town and we can get help." Kyle said, climbing on the rails.
"Gee fellas, do y-you think those things a-are still safe?" Butters asked.
"Butters, shut up and get on the stupid rails." Cartman grumbled at him.
Kenny shot Cartman another glare, tightening his grip on Butters's hand. He always hated how Cartman bullied Butters. He always wished he could do something about it. He was beginning to show a liking to Butters now. When Stan or Kyle were too busy, Butters was always free.
He was always kind enough to play with Kenny and give him something to eat when he got hungry. Kenny couldn't help but feel something a bit different about Butters. He felt it before, but it was with past "girlfriends". He wasn't sure if they were the same feelings though.
He felt Butters squeeze his hand back and looked over at him to see Butters gently smiling at him. It seems holding hands with Butters was working on calming him down and Kenny was glad about that.
They all were on the old railroad tracks now, walking on them. Cartman kept on complaining and blaming Kyle for why South Park has gone to the pits again. This started a heated argument between the two and Stan was trying to break it up. Kenny and Butters watched as it seems the argument might turn into a fight.
"I am so sick and tired of you trying to find ways to blame me just because I'm Jewish, Cartman! It's getting really old, you fucking fat-ass!"
"Well, Kyle, maybe if you thought really long and hard, you'll come to terms that, yes, everything is your fault, you fucking fuck!"
"Fuck you, Cartman!"
"Guys, c'mon. This is no time to argue..."
As the two continued yelling, with Stan trying to calm the two, Kenny suddenly felt vibrations. He looked down at his feet and noticed the gravel was lightly shaking. He looked up and looked at both directions.
"Kyle! KYLE!"
"What, Kenny?" Kyle screeched, glaring at Kenny.
"Are you sure these tracks are abandoned?"
"What? Of course, they haven't been used for almost 50 years. Why?"
"Don't you feel that?"
The rest were quiet and they too could feel the vibrations of the railroads. The sound of a train whistle was heard and they all jumped. Cursing, the boys trudged out of the tracks and on to the left side for safety. Well, almost all of them.
"Butters, c'mon! A train is coming!" Kenny said, pulling Butters's hand.
"I-I'm tryin', Kenny! I-I think my foot is stuck!" Butters whimpered out pathetically.
Butters was right, his foot was stuck. Kenny cursed and bended down to help Butters pull his foot out. The vibrations were getting louder and the rumbling of a train was heard. Kenny heard Butters almost sobbing and he tried his best to pull his foot out.
"Kenny! Just forget him!" Cartman yelled.
"No!" Kenny yelled back, glaring at Cartman for even thinking of doing such a thing.
"E-Eric's right, Ken! Oh, I-I'm done for!" Butters whimpered.
"No, you're not done for, Butters! Just calm down and I'll get you out!" Kenny yelled.
The train was now seen and it whistled again. Stan, Kyle and Cartman were all yelling at Kenny and Butters to get off the tracks now. Kenny kept trying to pull Butters out. If he could at least save Butters, all will be well. Kenny will just wake up in his room again, just like always.
The train was coming closer and closer. It whistled again. Kenny's cursing was being muted by the train whistle, wondering why Butters's foot wouldn't budge. Butters yelled at Kenny but it wasn't heard. Kenny was suddenly pushed off the tracks. He tumbled down to Stan's feet and he looked up in surprise. Butters looked at him with tears in his eyes, his arms out reached. The train came by.
"NO!" Kenny yelled.
They all watched as the train rolled by, blowing it's whistle. They waited until it passed by. Soon the train was gone, and so was Butters. Horrified, Kenny ran back on the tracks, looking around. Over on the other side, he saw Butters's body lying on the grass.
Kenny skidded down and fell on his knees. He gently picked up Butters in his arms. The others were looking over Kenny's shoulders. Butters was limp in Kenny's arms and Kenny brushed away the blood on his face.
"They...killed Butters." Stan said.
"Those bastards..." Kyle followed.
"Sick, one of his legs are missing." Cartman mumbled.
Kenny held Butters close to his chest and he started shaking. Large tears were coming out of his eyes and he started sobbing loudly. Stan patted Kenny's back, frowning. Kyle and Cartman were silent too, for a while.
"Well, Kyle. This is clearly your fault." Cartman said.
"What? How is this my fault?" Kyle questioned, glaring at Cartman.
"Well, you were the one that said these tracks were old and abandoned! Now, thanks to you, Butters is now dead. Hope you're happy, you Jew." Cartman said.
"W-Wha-? Look, how was I suppose to know that today, of all fucking days, a train decided to use these tracks?" Kyle yelled at Cartman.
Stan decided to let the two argue for once. Kenny was still crying and holding Butters close to him. He never seen Kenny so broken up before. He guessed Kenny and Butters have gotten close these past few days but not this close.
"Hey, Kenny. It's gonna be okay. H-He's, you know, probably in a better place now." Stan said quietly to Kenny.
"You don't fucking understand!" Kenny yelled, still crying
"Sure I do, dude. He was your friend, and I get that." Stan said.
"No! I could of saved him! I could of pushed him out of the way and let the train hit me!" Kenny strained out through his tears.
"But then you would be dead, dude!" Stan said, shocked.
"You don't understand..." Kenny sobbed.
"Look, Kenny. Butters is dead and there's nothing you can do about it. It's all Kyle's fault that he's dead so we should just bury him." Cartman said.
"No! We're not burying him, you fucking fat asshole!" Kenny screamed at Cartman, holding Butters close to him.
"Kenny, dude. Calm down. W-We won't bury him, okay?" Kyle said, ignoring the part Cartman said about being his fault.
Kenny continued sobbing, looking away from his friends. They don't understand the complete guilt Kenny was feeling right now. He didn't know why Butters saved him, Kenny, the boy who can't die. If only he got Butters's foot out more quickly. If only they just walked on the side of tracks instead on them. If only, if only, if only was all Kenny was thinking as he continued crying.
A sudden chill came over the boys. The sky became dark and ominous. A figure came out of the trees and stepped on the grassy field. Every step the figure took, the grass died underneath it's feet. Every time it came closer, the air became colder.
"D-Dude, Kenny..." Stan whispered with fear.
Kenny looked up, wiping his tears away.
The figure looked over at the boys. It wore a long black robe with a hood over it's head. Kenny knew who this was. He met it countless times before. He glared at it and held Butters tightly.
"You can't have him, you ass." Kenny hissed at it.
The figure didn't say anything at first but then let out a sigh, a cloud of black coming out. A scythe suddenly appeared in the figure's hands and it pointed it at Kenny.
"Let him go. He needs to come with me now, Kenneth." It said, it's voice sounding old and gravelly, but still sent shivers down the other boys' spines.
"No! It's not fair! I could have saved him! You know it!" Kenny yelled, glaring.
"Dude, Kenny. I don't think you should be arguing with...uh, Death." Kyle whispered to him.
Death extended his hand, boney and crawling with old powers. It beckon Kenny to let Butters go, but Kenny glared at it and flipped it off. Death lifted it's scythe up and the others flinched, afraid what Death was going to do with it. Kenny showed no fear though.
"You can't fucking scare me." He challenged.
"Just give me the boy, Kenneth. His time has come." Death hissed.
"No! Please, he deserves a life! Can't you just skip him?" Kenny pleaded.
"You know I can not do that, Kenneth." Death hissed.
"Then...can't we do a trade? Me for him? Please?" Kenny asked.
"What? Dude, then that would mean you would be dead!" Stan cried out.
Death looked over at Stan and the others and it chuckled low and dark, making a flower or two wilt and crumble away. Death turned back at Kenny, and Kenny could tell it was smirking under that dark hood. Knowing that made Kenny just more mad.
"They still don't understand, do they?" Death asked.
"No." Kenny grumbled.
"Then you understand that it's not a fair trade, Kenneth." Death hissed.
"Please! Just this once, man!" Kenny pleaded.
Death stared at Kenny and the body of Butters. Kenny kept his hold on Butters, waiting for Death to say something. The others watched, now quiet because they felt something was going on because they never seen Kenny like this before.
"There is a way," Death finally said, "But there is a price, Kenneth."
"What is it?" Kenny asked hesitantly.
"I could bring the boy back, but he needs something. Something that you have, Kenneth." Death whispered.
Kenny looked confused so Death continued on. "If I bring him back, Kenneth, he will have half what you have. Half of your...curse."
Kenny felt himself froze. Death lingered on and whispered, "He will be just like you. Now think, Kenneth. Is this boy that important to you?"
"Kenny, dude. What is he talking about?" Kyle asked.
"Yeah, what curse?" Stan questioned.
"Kenny, what the fuck is going on?" Cartman grumbled.
Kenny didn't answer, he was lost in thought. Did he really want to do that to Butters? Give him half of what he had to live through all of his life? Dying over and over again, and no one remembering it? Feeling alone and confused because you know no one understands this pain you hold deep in your chest so sometimes you rock yourself to sleep at night and try not to cry out in anguish?
But then Kenny thinks about Butters's smile and no matter how many times things got dark, Butters always tried to look at the bright side of things. No matter how his parents abused him or how the bullies would get to him, Butters would always push it away with a smile, as long as someone was there with him. Someone like him, Kenny.
Kenny looked up at Death. "Yes. He is important to me."
Death stared at Kenny and let out another sigh. It stomped it's scythe down and extended it's hand. The hand glowed an ominous light and Death waited.
Kenny extended his hand but was stopped by Stan and Kyle. "Dude! What the hell are you doing?" Stan said.
"Yeah, man! Think about it! Butters will be okay, man! You don't have to do this!" Kyle said.
"No, I do have to do this. Don't you guys worry about me. I'll be back." Kenny said.
"No you won't, dude!" Stan yelled.
"Yes. Yes, I will." Kenny said. He looked back at Death. "I will, right?"
"Of course, Kenneth. Like always." Death hissed.
"Just watch over Butters and go back to the town, guys. Make sure Cartman doesn't boss him around." Kenny said.
Kenny extended his hand again and grabbed Death's hand. A light shone brightly and the boys were blinded by it, groaning as they rubbed their eyes. Kenny could feel something escaping his body and he gasped at the sudden pain of it. A whisper of old chants and singing was heard as it seems the dark magic was doing it's work. Kenny saw that he was vanishing and that life being drained out of him.
"You better not pussy-foot about this, dude." Kenny growled at Death.
"Never to you, old friend." Death hissed.
The light was gone. Stan, Kyle and Cartman got up from the ground, grumbling and groaning. Stan blinked and looked around. The grass was all dead, brown and crusted. Kenny was gone and so was Death. He heard Butters cough and gasp for air.
"Oh my god...He...It...killed Kenny." Stan whispered.
"That bastard." Kyle followed and rushed over to Butters.
Author's Notes: Lulz, what is this? It all started with this plotbunny I had and now it mutated into this. This is a two-shot, mmkay? Probably upload the second part tomorrow.
You like how I don't explain why they were running away? |D I'm like Jhonen with that shit. "Oh boy, thanks for the robot battle and then that other intergalactic battle on the way to the beach!"
Why is Death there? It's South Park, dudes. There's no need for an explanation.
R/R please! c:
