A.N. I want to thank you for the huge response I got from the opening chapter; I was shocked and overjoyed that people still wanted a sequel. The number of reviews and messages was totally worth the one negative review that called me a 'bitch' and said I belonged in an asylum. Call me crazy but I'm gonna go with the voice of the many rather than the voice of the few. Sorry, but I'm continuing. If you don't like it then take note of the warnings, use your common sense and don't read!

Replies:

Reader: I LOVE questions. So, will Sebastian get jealous/suspicious of Blaine´s weird and disturbed attraction for Kurt? In my head both Blaine and Sebastian have been playing this game for a long time and Sebastian won´t get jealous of Blaine´s sexual feelings however if they start to clash with the real games then he might act out. I have a particular scene in mind for either the 3rd or 4th chapter that´ll answer that. Are they going to ´play´the same games? Some old ones will come back and there will be a new one from the movie version that I don´t think I used last time. :)

Guest, who was kind enough to leave such a humorous flame of a review: Apologies if my writing offended you, obviously I never set out with that intention and I completely understand why many feel uncomfortable or even sick by the scenes portrayed. However, I am not apologising for writing anything - I gave a very clear warning at the start and if the first few paragraphs were not evidence enough then I am afraid I must insist you avoid reading anything on this site as abusive comments are not warrented simply because you cannot follow ´do not read!´advice and you don´t approve of a plotline. (If the person actually comes back to read this I think my point might be made haha!)

DarkGreenForest4: In answer to your question, honestly I am not sure. I don´t really have the specifics in mind, just general scenes, so if the situation arises Blaine MAY rape Kurt again. I won´t put it in for nothing, but he already did it before so it wouldn´t be a crazy plot twist. If anyone has a preference and there is a clear majority I probably would write to that. :D

Waiting For Life To Begin

Welcome to NYADA's homepage - the gateway into your performing future!

Biting his lip, Kurt clicked on the admissions section. He scanned the grade requirements and breathed a sigh of relief. They had not changed their prerequisites since the last time he looked - two days ago. To say that he was being paranoid would have been an understatement, but Kurt couldn't tell if this was normal when applying to the college of your dreams or if his overbearing nerves were as a result of his recent 'life trauma'. That's what everyone referred to it as, anyway: a life trauma. Having confirmed his grades still met the requirements, Kurt faced the next question: would he be physically and mentally able to audition? He would need to be able to fly to New York if he passed the preliminary stage, which he had the money to do but it was unlikely his new guardians would let him go on such a trip alone. Finn would no doubt volunteer to join him, and together Kurt was sure they could overrule his Aunt and Uncle's verdict. But mentally? Kurt closed his eyes and pictured himself walking through crowds of people. In New York, he was bound to be bumped into and shoved around in places like the subway where most people cared more about their destinations than their manners. Could he cope with it? Could he ask Finn to do the same?

With a frustrated sigh, Kurt leaned back in his dining room chair. The house was quiet, as usual. Finn was at the local hospital for a check up to see how his injuries had healed over the last few weeks. Hopefully the last of the bandaging would be ready to be removed permanently very soon. Kurt's Aunt Jenny - sister of his mother - was out shopping, as was her custom, and his Uncle Louis was up in his study working on his umpteenth book on World War II economics. For such a lifeless, boring individual, Louis was certainly appreciated by Kurt. For one thing, he didn't talk much. With a bubbly and talkative wife like Jenny, though, perhaps that was just learned behavior. Another reason for Kurt's appreciation, though, was Louis' tendency to leave him alone. Unlike Jenny, who questioned Kurt and his feelings at every spare moment, Louis seemed to understand that they were not children and trusted that if either Kurt or Finn wanted him then they would ask. And they never did.

Kurt knew it had to be tough on Finn; at least Kurt knew Jenny and Louis, even if only through annual family get-togethers, before moving across the country to live with them. However, it made the most logical sense. Louis was a quietly wealthy author, with excellent public standing and beautiful home large enough to house the big family Jenny had wanted but never had. Since arriving on his own (as Finn was still hospitalised at the time) Kurt had found the home to be statically welcoming and surprisingly homely yet with no real feeling of belonging. The atmosphere was tense at the best of times; no one was sure how or when to talk about the 'life trauma' and the awkward and emotional situations which followed mentioning of it usually resulted in both teens quietly excusing themselves either separately or together. As friendly as their new guardians were, they were like strangers. Kurt would not have argued had Finn wanted to live with one of his own relatives, but their desire to stick together and Finn's obvious embarrassment over his extended family meant that the option was not considered. It was just a temporary situation, anyway, they figured. After all, they would probably still go to college in the fall (providing their late admissions were accepted and at least one successful) and live together in a small two bedroom apartment. Before their 'life trauma', living together had never entered their minds. Now, though, even with the generous life insurance pay out, which Burt and Carol had been so considerate to arrange prior to their death, they could not even think about living separately. Something had changed.

They were orphaned. Perhaps they were a little old to be true 'orphans', but Kurt still felt himself shake with childlike fear each morning when he was once again faced with the truth that he would never see his dad again. Burt had been his only family before Finn and Carol entered their lives, and now there was only Finn. His brother. Not his 'step-brother', as so many pointedly said in recent months, but his true brother. They had gone through so much together - surely one dominating fact about siblings is their shared background and history. And together they had experienced more in one night than many do their whole lives. Yes, soon Kurt would feel so much better living in some crummy apartment with his only real family. Together, they would try to heal. Until then they were stuck in a timeless limbo after their old lives had been abruptly kicked in the stomach, and they were just waiting until they were ready to let this new life begin.

Suddenly Kurt sensed someone watching him. The notion alone made his stomach turn and his blood to run cold, and it only intensified as he felt a body draw close to his shoulder behind him. With a gasp, he turned and stared up with wide panicked eyes into the curious-turned-alarmed gaze of his Aunt Jenny.

'Oh, Kurt, honey, I'm sorry!' She stammered, 'I didn't mean to scare you. Poor thing, I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that-'

'I-It's okay,' Kurt responded, unknowingly taking silent yet sharp breaths. 'I wasn't paying attention.'

Aunt Jenny, her arms ladled with grocery bags, waddled to sit beside him. Letting the bags fall to the floor, she tilted Kurt's laptop screen towards her. 'I could tell. What had you so engrossed? Oh! Colleges?' Kurt faked a smile and nodded. Aunt Jenny hummed and studied the webpage. 'N-Y-A-D-A?'

'NYADA,' Kurt corrected. 'New York Academy of Dramatic Arts.'

Aunt Jenny hummed further. 'New York...so far away.' She paused before turning around to face her nephew properly. 'Kurt. You know that you don't need to go to college this year. Heavens, I personally think it all a waste of time and money, but if you want to go you don't need to go straight away. You can defer. It's getting more and more common now - get yourself some life experience before committing to four more years of-'

'I know, Aunt Jenny,' Kurt cut in, feeling bad for doing so yet wanting to avoid yet another discouraging talk about his future without college. Even his dad who could not bear the thought of his son leaving the nest supported the idea. They never considered that perhaps they would have to say goodbye earlier than the start of the next college year...

Aunt Jenny pouted and took his hand in her own. Kurt tried to steel himself still so as to not to offend the woman by pulling away like he wanted. 'Your situation...what you've been through... No one will blame you for taking things slow.'

'Thanks,' Kurt gave his most convincing smile of gratitude as he stood up and began gathering his things into his arms. 'I'll think about it. But I think college would be good for us. Finn and I. I appreciate all your help, and talking to me and...' He let his voice trail off as he made for the hallway stairway.

'Any time, Kurt,' Aunt Jenny called, and Kurt knew she meant it. After closing his bedroom door behind him, Kurt slumped against it. It made him feel terrible when his sweet-as-a-pie aunt was so...motherly. After losing his own mother, then Carol, his heart was not willing to accept another replacement, no matter how great they may be. He took to his bed in order to continue his research.

By the time Finn's trudging footsteps could be heard coming up the staircase, Kurt had pieced together three reasonably impressive college applications. All that was left to do was to e mail them to the admission offices; something that he just couldn't do. After tapping gently on the door, Finn poked his head inside Kurt's room. 'You decent?'

'As always,' Kurt cracked a smile and moved the array of college brochures off his bed to make room for Finn to sit. 'How was your check up?'

'You tell me.' Armed with a grin, Finn raised his shirt and displayed a bruised, scar-tissue ridden mess which was free from bandaging pads.

Kurt's eyes widened and he slapped his hands down on his knees. 'That's it? No more bandages?' Finn proudly shook his head. 'God, that's amazing - the doctor in Lima said it would take closer to eight months before you'd be ready.'

Shrugging, the ex-quarterback took a seat beside his brother on his bed. 'What can I say? I'm just so awesome.' He glanced down at the brochures. 'Colleges, ugh, don't remind me.'

'Please tell me you've at least narrowed down your choices.'

'I've been getting round to it!' Finn said defensively. 'Besides, we both know you're most likely to be accepted and we're gonna live together so I gotta plan my college around yours. Speaking of which...' Yanking the laptop from Kurt, he studied the webpages. 'NYADA, University of Michigan, Burnman... Wait, Burnman?'

Finn gave Kurt a questioning look, which Kurt turned away from. 'What? It's a good school.'

'Yeah, without a drama program. Or music program.'

Kurt squirmed under his brother's accusing gaze. 'It's got a very impressive French course, and it means we can still be near New York.'

'A five hour drive away isn't what I call 'near', Kurt. Besides, I don't care where we stay - I care about you doing what you want to do.' Finn paused to turn his expression to disappointment. 'Or is musical theatre not you're goal anymore after fifteen years?'

Feeling guilty, Kurt threw up his hands and tried to be defensive. 'I'm sorry but college deadlines are passing us by. I've missed half of them already, and the other half require auditions. I don't know if I can do... Look, Burnman is a safe school. I'd be a shoe-in.' Finn shook his head. Kurt knew what he was thinking: What would Burt say? Burt was never one who liked talking about his only child's inevitable departure from the family home, but he was firm on Kurt not wasting his youthful years doing something he didn't want. Hell, when Kurt had mentioned an unremarkable dramatic arts school in Ohio with a lower rate of competition, Burt had firmly told him that he would cut off his right arm if his first-rate son went to a second-rate school. Kurt sighed. 'Fine, fine...consider it terminated.' As if to prove his point, he closed the Burnman tab. Finn looked happier. 'But if I don't get in anywhere and need to stay in this house another year, I will only blame you.'

Finn shivered. 'Dude, don't even say that. Jenny and Louis are great and all but...' He pulled a face. 'By fall, both of us will be out of here.'

It was a promise Kurt was going to hold him to.

What was that sound? What...what just touched me?

Kurt opened his eyes and found himself staring into the side of his bedside table. For some reason the wood was white and not brown, as it had been when he had last looked at it before going to sleep. It also appeared to be turning on itself. That was not normal. Still, it was hardly Kurt's main concern at that moment. As if in slow motion, Kurt shoved himself up and scanned the bedroom - why was his eyes taking so long to move? - for the source of his discomfort. Nothing looked right but Kurt couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong. Then, as if dissolving into his vision, Kurt saw it.

He saw him.

Kurt gasped, his legs sliding up towards him in a panic. Blaine just smiled at him from the foot of his bed. Those lips broke apart, his grin grew wider. Such a handsome face even in the darkness. Tousled curls were black with the light of the moon behind them. Funny, though, as the window was not normally along that wall. Why did that matter? Kurt screamed for help - no, he screamed a warning. No one he loved should be in this house. As Blaine leaned forward and placed his hands firmly on the mattress, his shoulder blades rose sharply and he took on the almost animalistic form of a dark jaguar stalking its prey. Kurt.

Finn's bedroom was just down the hall and he must have heard Kurt's cry. Even though Kurt wanted him to be safe, he couldn't help but question why Finn still hadn't burst through the door. Where was he?

'He's gone...' Blaine told him gently, though his predatory toothy grin was anything but gentle. Kurt couldn't move. Blaine crawled up towards him with hands and knees on either side of the shivering boy's frame, effectively trapping him. 'It's just you and me, Kurt. It's always going to be just you and me.'

'No!' Kurt's hands pushed against the rock-hard torso but it accomplished nothing. Blaine's hands wrapped around his wrists and pinned them down. Those smirking lips were lowering themselves and amber eyes began to shut. Kurt continued to fight. Although he could not feel the kiss, he knew in his heart that it had happened. Eyes squeezed shut, he thrashed around as best as his limbs would allow.

'GET OFF ME! GET OFF ME - PLEASE!'

'Kurt...'

'PLEASE, STOP-!'

'Kurt! Wake up!' Strong hands gripped his upper arms tightly, almost bruising. Panicked yet confused, Kurt opened his eyes. He was still in the bedroom - the one in Aunt Jenny's house - but everything was back to normal. The bedside table, the placement of the window; it was all back in place looking remarkably ordinary. Cold sweat dripped down his back and temples as his eyes adjusted to the face hovering above him.

'Finn...'

'Shh, dude, I know...' Finn wrapped his arms around him. Kurt let him but took a moment to mirror his movements. He stared over his brother's shoulder to the spot Blaine had been standing moments before.

'I saw him again.' Kurt sniffed roughly. His nose ached as a result. 'He was here.'

Finn nodded against him. 'I know...I see them too. Every night.' Kurt didn't even question his words; he knew they were true and not only meant as comfort. 'It's okay, though. They can't hurt us. Not here.'

Kurt grasped at the other boy's back and let the steady breathing and feel of toned muscles calm his racing heart. He closed his eyes. This has to stop.

From the moment Kurt stepped into the kitchen the following morning, he knew something was wrong. Finn didn't seem to be awake yet, judging by the still-unopened box of pop tarts sitting on the counter, but Kurt was used to being downstairs first. He was also used to walking in on his aunt and uncle discussing something and getting the overwhelming feeling from the ensuing silence that he and Finn had been the topic of conversation. What he wasn't used to, however, was seeing a look of dread in his aunt's eyes, or the obvious shifting and fidgeting of his uncle. Kurt immediately wanted to ask what was wrong but Aunt Jenny interrupted him before he had even began.

'Honey, there you are! Come sit down.' The smile she was forcing on her face was fooling no one and Kurt suspected even she knew that. 'I've just put some sausages on the stove - would you like two or three?'

Kurt ignored her question. 'Is something wrong?' Uncle Louis opened his mouth but nothing came out.

Aunt Jenny gave an unconvincing 'Pfft', waving her hand a little too dramatically and almost scalding herself on a cooking pot. 'Wrong? Of course not. I'm giving you three. You need fattening up.' She gave a cackle of laughter and looked to Louis, as if expecting back up. She received none. Kurt stared pointedly at his uncle in the hope that he would end the façade and just tell him what's wrong. It seemed like Louis wasn't helping anyone today; he remained silent yet visibly troubled.

Three fat, greasy sausages graced Kurt's plate but Kurt had no intention of touching them. 'What were you two talking about before I came in?' He pressed further. He knew his aunt still viewed him as a child needing protecting but he was beyond playing along with her motherly game. 'Don't lie to me, I can tell you're upset.'

Aunt Jenny's smile started to slip when Kurt refused to look away from her after five seconds. She swallowed hard, looked at her husband and then began wringing a dish towel in her hands. 'Kurt, honey, everything is fine. I think we should just wait until Finn gets up and then we can all have a little talk in the den, alright?'

Kurt could tell he wouldn't get anything else from her but he still opened his mouth to argue - yet was cut off by a loud thud from out in the hallway. All three of them anxiously made for the kitchen door to investigate but Finn burst through the door first, narrowly avoiding Jenny with the force of the slam. His face was boiled red, his jaw shaking in either fury or fear - Kurt could not tell which, perhaps both - and his fist was bloodied. 'Finn...' Kurt felt sick. It took a moment for him to make the connection between the thudding sound and Finn's injury: his brother must have punched a wall or something. But why?

'Those bastards!' Finn's quivering voice broke as he threw something onto the table. A newspaper.

Aunt Jenny gasped and then moaned 'Louis - I told you to collect the morning paper!'

'I was just going to!' Louis replied, guilt-ridden. 'I'm sorry.'

'What's going on?' Kurt looked between them all.

Finn was clearly somewhere between fear and anger, and his strained tone proved it. 'They're at it again. Those assholes. A whole fucking street!' Looking down at the newspaper, Kurt read the main headline:

Return of the Lima Butchers? - Over 30 killed in overnight killing spree, full story on page 3.

Blood ran cold. The words took affect but were not sinking in. It couldn't be true. It had been months since they had heard of any reported sightings. Police had almost started to convince him that maybe - just maybe - what happened in Lima was enough to put an end to the sickening games they played. Sebastian was still widely believed to be dead, even though Kurt knew better. Still...the number 30 burned into his mind's eye. Thirty people, thirty individual lives. Were some of them children? Were there any survivors? The room was spinning and the voices around him were both dull and piercing. The stench from the sizzling sausages was the last straw and Kurt lurched out into the hall and sealed himself in the downstairs bathroom to empty what little there was in his stomach.

One eye witness, who claims to have been driving past Cedar View on Sunday night during the hours the massacre took place and wishes to remain anonymous, remains positive that he saw two young men acting suspiciously by a gated driveway. 'At the time I didn't think anything of it. The community has always been peaceful and safe. Only now can I say without a doubt in my mind that they are the same two responsible for the killings in Ohio. I know almost everyone in that street from barbeques and golf tournaments and those two men are not part of the community.' Men fitting their description have not been found among the dead or in unaffected homes. Officials were first called to the scene when a young woman discovered her parents dead in there home, and subsequently the other crimes scenes were found. There have been no reported survivors and no promising evidence has yet been uncovered. Thoughts now turn to other such communities in the area, and police are assuring that they will be doing there best to step up security measures. Hotlines have been set up for anyone with information or reason to suspect the criminals are in their area.

Kurt Hummel and Finn Hudson, both seventeen, lost their father and mother respectively at the hands of the killers and underwent torturous activities and critical injuries in . Both have been relocated for their own safety although many are now calling for their input as they are the only known survivors in what seems to be a twisted game of cat and mouse which normally ends in mass homicide, and their first hand experience and intel could be used to save those who might next be at risk. Police, however, are adamant the boys be left in peace after what the chief of Lima Police described as a 'barbaric, sickening downright evil ordeal which will haunt them the rest of their lives'.

Kurt took in a silent breath and re-read the last few sentences of the paragraph and then placed the newspaper down on the kitchen table. There was more to read but he wasn't sure he could stomach going over the words again. He looked over at Finn. The star quarterback was hunched over his own copy of the paper but by the looks of it he wasn't reading; he was lost in thought and staring at the flowered table cloth.

The murmuring coming from down the hall was the sound of Kurt's aunt and uncle interrogating the police officers - who no doubt were at least partly taken aback from being on the receiving side for once - about what was happening in Cedar View and what it meant for them. Jenny repeated in a vicious whisper for the fourth time that neither Kurt or Finn should have to re-live that awful night by telling of the events again and for the fourth time the main officer assured her that was not why they were there. It was a courtesy call simply to check up on them after such news.

Kurt understood it was a polite move but quite honestly was not open to talking to any more men in uniform. Finn felt the same. They caught each other's eye across the table and shared a mutual stare of utter desolation and sense of loss. What did this mean for them? Did it mean anything? This recent tragedy still didn't change the fact their tormentors were still very much at large and it still didn't change how little they could do or say to help the investigation.

After about forty minutes of hissing whispers, the police were finally permitted to leave and neither officer came to bid the boys farewell. The front door closed behind them and a few moments later Aunt Jenny and Uncle Louis entered the kitchen. Jenny sat between Kurt and Finn as her husband stood behind the breakfast bar. 'Well,' Jenny started, smoothing out her skirt. 'At least they have the decency to show an interest in your wellbeing. I told them of course you were not fine and that you needed to be left alone to recover and gather your-'

'We know.' Finn interrupted quietly. 'We...we could hear you.'

As his wife was looking a little embarrassed and lost for words, Louis took over. 'So we've been thinking it over. We can try to help you both heal but we can't force it, as much as we'd love to, however we can take you somewhere that might ease all the hardship. If only partly.' He looked at Kurt and Finn over the upper rim of his glasses. 'You came here not long after it happened; I know this house doesn't exactly contain happy memories. We have a...vacation home, of sorts, out west a few hours away. It's remote, it's peaceful and, most importantly, it's safe.'

'We think it would be a good idea to take you boys out there for a week or so,' Jenny nodded in agreement. 'Just until the crazy media attention dies down. I'm afraid this time tomorrow someone will let slip you are here and I think it's better for us to be gone if and when that happens.'

Kurt met Finn's eyes once more.

What do you think?

I think we don't have a choice.

Rubbing at his eyes briefly, Finn turned back to Jenny. 'When do we leave?'

A.N. A slow beginning, I'm sorry, especially after a short-but-dark first chapter but I promise the next two parts will really get the ball rolling. I HOPE to have one of our lovely murderers enter the scene in Chapter 3 but we'll see. Any reviews would be amazing and thoughts/comments/questions are very much welcomed!