Chapter Six
Brick by Boring Brick, Paramore
"Stop!" Reed grumbled. "You're scaring me!"
"Sorry," Shane smiled, his face shadowed in the one candle's light. "I didn't mean to."
"It's alright," Reed yawned, resting up against Shane's warm chest.
"Kurt, tell us a story. You're good at that," Shane said. Kurt stood from the kitchen chair of the apartment and moved into the small living room. He sat on the carpet and faced the two on the couch.
"Let's see," Kurt sighed, racking his brain for a story. "I've got one. It's called The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes. It's a poem, so bear with me for the rhyming."
The Highwayman
The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon the cloudy seas
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor
And the highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding,
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.
He'd a French cocked hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
They fitted with never a wrinkle; his boots were up to the thigh!
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.
Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.
"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize tonight,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by the moonlight,
Watch for me by the moonlight,
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way.
He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand
But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
(Oh, sweet black waves in the moonlight!)
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonlight, and galloped away to the west.
He did not come at the dawning; he did not come at noon,
And out of the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching,
Marching, marching
King George's men came marching, up to the old inn-door.
They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
Two of them knelt at the casement, with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window
And hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through the casement,
The road that he would ride.
They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
They had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"now keep good watch!" And they kissed her.
She heard the dead man say
"Look for me by the moonlight
Watch for me by the moonlight
I'll come to thee by the moonlight, though hell should bar the way!"
She twisted her hands behind her, but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness and the hours crawled by like years!
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it!
The trigger at least was hers!
Tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs were ringing clear
Tlot-tlot, in the distance! Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding!
The red-coats looked to their priming!
She stood up straight and still!
Tlot in the frosty silence! Tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment! She drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him with her death.
He turned; he spurred to the west; he did not know she stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
Not till the dawn he heard it; his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.
Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were the spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
Still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon, tossed upon the cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding,
Riding, riding,
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.
"Is that story true?" Reed asked as Kurt finished.
"As true as me," Kurt replied with a small smile. "You two get some sleep. I'll keep first watch."
"Like anyone will find us here," Shane laughed.
"You'd be surprised," Kurt said with a nervous smile.
"You don't think that..." Reed trailed off.
"It's better to be safe than sorry." Kurt stood and blew out the candle, emerging them in darkness so thick it felt swallowing.
"Let's give them some light shows," the head gamer said.
"Yes, sir," a voice answered.
There was an echoing bang and lightning filled the sky. Blaine jumped awake immediately, looking around. His lower body was asleep. He stood, taking in his surroundings. No one was there. His breathing slowed with relief. He didn't have anything to defend himself with, so he counting on his speed which was in short supply at the moment.
The rain started to fall and Blaine began walking. Everything was pitch black, except a small light in the distance. Instinctively, Blaine was going to follow it, but stopped himself.
Who would be there? Maybe he could thin out the competition.
Blaine started forward and eventually reached the light. It was a small, glittering candle within the first level of business building. Liberty Tax by the looks of it.
Blaine looked into the window and could see the twins asleep, one beside the other. One was badly injured.
Blaine could easily take advantage of this, but then he'd end up a killer. He'd just be another piece in the Capitol's game. He wouldn't surcome to that.
With one final look over the twins, Blaine left and started out into the rain again. He knew that the Capitol wouldn't like this, but he didn't care.
He wandered through the streets and finally couldn't take the cold. He went to the closest building that was there was and stepped through the door. He continued through the room that looked like an old hotel.
To the right was the check in desk and to the left, shops. Directly in front of Blaine was a granite coffee table with three leather couches around it. Behind the couches was an un-runing water feature and behind that a bar, courtyard and the elevators.
Blaine ran a hand through his hair to shake out the water. There was a click and Blaine turned. His hazel eyes searched the dark room. There was a flash of lightning and Blaine could see a dark figure running at him.
Blaine turned and ran, almost falling over the coffee table. His shin burst into pain and he could feel it start to bruise. Hands took hold of his shoulders and dragged him to the ground. He shoved the figure off of him and blindly stood. There was silence as Blaine looked around. He could feel eyes on him, but couldn't see anything. There was another flash of lightning and on the wall in front of Blaine was a shadow with a knife.
Blaine spun around, his arm up to block his head. He knew the statistics of knives. No matter what, you would get hurt, and you are more likely to die from a knife than a gun.
There wasn't necessarily any pain, it was more of a cool shock as the knife sliced through Blaine's forearm. He wasn't sure what to do. There wasn't much he could do. He turned and in the dim light hid behind the front desk, crouching down.
There was a crash against the desk, causing Blaine to fall over slightly. His back fell against the desk as it settled, only to be hit again. It was almost like the person was a zombie. It couldn't think about how to get around the desk.
After a few minutes, it stopped and everything fell still and silent. Blaine glanced around the desk but saw nothing. He gave a sigh and relaxed slightly. Whatever it was, it was gone.
The thunder rolled outside, starting with a deep bass rumble, then faded to a lighter, clearer treble drum. There was a crack from the lightning and Blaine's heart stopped at a face to his left.
Blaine scrambled from around the desk and got to his feet. As the thing grew closer, Blaine's legs hit the tipped over coffee table. He glanced back at it and then turned and ran.
He raced into the courtyard that had overturned tables and chairs. Smashed dishes covered the floor, as did silverware and other eating devices.
Blaine stopped abruptly as a figure jumped in front of him. Blaine turned, but the first creature stood behind him. His mind went blank. His heart raced. His palms grew sweaty. He bent down and, from the lightning, was able to find a fork. It wasn't the best thing, but it was something.
Blaine was quickly backed up against the wall. This was it. It was over him.
In one flash of lightning they were there, and in the next, they were gone, followed by a crashing sound.
"Get to the stairs!" a voice ordered. "Now!"
Blaine obeyed, racing to the elevators and around them. He yanked the stair door open and raced up them, tripping over his feet in the dark. Blaine stopped when he reached the second floor, breathing deeply. There were footsteps on the stairs and Blaine stood upright, looking at the stair well. A figure finally appeared.
"Room 127," a voice, the voice from the first floor, said. The silhouette wiped a knife on their shirt and Blaine slowly started down the hall.
Blaine found the door then opened it, stepping in. "Shane?" he asked. Both Shane and Reed were awake, staring at the door.
"Get in," the other voice said harshly. Blaine turned to see Kurt. Kurt shoved Blaine into the room and closed the door, locking it.
"What were those things!?" Blaine asked, pointing to the door.
"Not tributes, I can tell you that much," Kurt replied. "They'll be more of them."
"More of what?" Reed asked.
"Shane, in the backpack are the medical supplies. Help your brother with his blood problem."
Shane nodded and grabbed the backpack.
"More of what?" Reed repeated.
"I don't know," Kurt answered bitterly. "You two are supposed to be asleep."
"Well, sorry. First there was the thunder and then the ruckus down stairs," Shane said, defending Reed. He took Blaine's arm and wiped it down with a antibacterial cloth. Blaine gasped. "Baby, relax."
"Did you see anyone else?" Kurt asked.
"Why does that matter?" Blaine questioned, his jaw clenched in pain.
"One, we know their whereabouts and therefore are safer, or two, I go and kill them and again we are safer. They'll both end in the same result," Kurt answered.
"The-the twins were in a Liberty Tax building."
"And you left them there?" Kurt demanded. "You could have thinned out the competition!"
"I'm not a killer like you Kurt!" Blaine argued.
"No," Kurt smiled. "But you will be. Just wait and see. This place will change you. It will make you see things you never thought were possible and you will react to things in different ways than normal. People lose themselves here. I mean Karofsky was already lost, but you get the picture."
Blaine was silent, staring at Kurt with a dark gaze, as Shane wrapped up his arm.
"Believe it or not, you will kill someone before this is through." Kurt went to go and sit on the couch.
"Most likely you," Blaine grumbled.
"You wouldn't be able to lift the weapon," Kurt laughed.
"I wouldn't put it past him," Shane whispered.
"Be a good boy and listen to your brother, will you?" Kurt continued to tease. "Oh, and if I may remind you, you owe me. I saved your life, not only your life, but your brother's as well."
Blaine looked at Shane, who was now sitting on the floor where Reed was. "It's true," Shane said, shrugging. "I owe him, as does Reed." Reed only nodded.
Blaine was silent for a moment, thinking over what had happened. "Ok, so... you think that those things aren't tributes?"
"Correct," Kurt nodded, cleaning his knife.
"Well, how do you know?" Blaine challenged.
"One, they didn't bleed. Two, they felt no pain."
"And how do you know that?" Blaine asked.
"They didn't scream when I stabbed them. They made no noise. Do I need to give you other things that prove they were not tributes?" Before Blaine could answer, Kurt continued. "They were not the right bodybuild to be any of the tributes, except for maybe Reed, and Reed was in this room the whole time you and I were down there. Also, the only way that they would die was if I stabbed them through the head. The heart did nothing. So I go on? They smelt of decay and death, and none of us have been out here long enough to smell like that and-"
"Alright!" Blaine yelled. "I get the picture!" Blaine stared at the floor for a moment. "What were your clues for the game?"
"Why?" Shane asked.
"What were your clues for the game?" Blaine repeated.
"Watch your step when looking for shelter, or else your world will be knocked off kilter," Reed answered.
"One of them is very close, maybe the one you loved the most," Kurt finished. "Why, what does that have to do with anything."
"District three had a clue that I-I can't remember what it is," Blaine said, a hand to his head. He patted his legs as he paced the room for a moment, until he felt something in his pocket. He pulled it out and unfolded a piece of paper, as Kurt began talking softly.
"Shane, your brother is a little... troubled upstairs I believe. Maybe it's best-"
"Past fought wars become your own, and more than twelve make themselves known," Blaine read.
"What?" Kurt asked.
Blaine lowered the paper, with a smile. "Past fought wars become your own, and more than twelve make themselves known. Don't you get it? I thought that it would be a mental state, but it's these zombie things."
Kurt gave a slightly worried look at Shane when he caught the excitement in Blaine's voice. "How did you know the clue?" Kurt asked. Blaine handed him the paper. Kurt read it over, and the room was silent. Kurt looked back up. "And you think that these zombie assassins are the extra people mentioned?"
"It's the only possibility that make sense," Blaine said with a smile.
"Shane, could you...?" Kurt motioned to Blaine.
Shane nodded, standing. "Blaine how about you get some rest, and then we'll talk about this in the morning?"
Julian sat up and slowly and quietly opened his backpack. In the early morning light, a knife blade caught the sun. Julian looked from the knife to Logan, who slept soundly. One swift move it would be over. Logan would be gone. Julian shifted his position and lifted the knife.
He was about to bring the blade down on Logan, but couldn't. After a moment, Julian lowered the knife into his lap. He couldn't kill Logan. Sure, his plan the whole time had been to get Logan to fall in love with him, so that he could kill Logan, but now... Julian hadn't expected to fall in love with Logan himself.
Sure, he had written Logan that symphony, but that was when he had had a school crush on Logan. Now it was more than a crush.
Julian slid the knife back into the backpack, and closed it. He then rested back beside Logan, listening to his steady breathing. Julian closed his eyes, Logan's warmth a comfort to him.
"Hey Jules," Logan whispered.
"Hmm?" Julian asked. Jules?
"Please tell me that we're in the districts where it's safe."
"But then I wouldn't be here." Julian rolled over to look at Logan. "Do..." Julian sighed. "Screw the sponsors and cameras!"
"What do you mean?" Logan asked, confused.
"Do you love me?" Julian sat up. "I have to know."
Logan slowly sat up. "Jules, we went over this. I love Blaine. I even told you before the games. You know this."
"I know, I just..." He licked his lips. "I just thought that for once I'd have someone love me back. Not because of what I am, but because of who I am."
"Julian, yo-you're a great person, but I'm not right for you."
"Why not?" Julian's eyes met Logan's. "You're perfect for me."
"Ask Blaine." Logan laughed sarcastically. "I'm nothing but crap. If you want someone who's perfect for you, go after Blaine. I-i cheated on him three times and he took me back. I hit him. He would have bruises, but he took me back."
"You don't look like that kind of person," Julian whispered softly, shaking his head.
"How would you know?"
"I don't," Julian whispered. Logan looked down. "But," -Logan looked back up- "I'm willing to trust you."
Logan shook his head. "You'll regret it."
"I'm bound to die anyway. I don't have time for regrets."
Logan was silent, looking out of the window at the quickly darkening sky.
"Julian stop. It's not worth it."
"Why?"
"Be-because!" Logan said, becoming frustrated. "I couldn't hurt someone else!" Julian was quiet. "Especially not you." Julian's eyes were wide for a moment.
The next thing Julian knew was Logan kissing him. Julian's heart stopped in shock. Logan's hands took Julian's face. Logan pulled back, his breathing scattered.
"You need rest," Evan said. "Please relax."
"We need to go," Ethan argued, sitting up. He groaned, pain covering his face. He hand went to his chest and Evan pushed him back down. "You need to find a place to hide. It's not smart to stay in the same place more than once."
"I'm not leaving you," Evan said sternly.
There was movement and Evan looked toward the .
"What?" Ethan tried to sit up again, but fell back, his eyes screwed up in pain. "W-what is it?"
"I thought I saw..." Evan trailed off. "It's nothing."
"Evan go."
"No! We started this together and we'll end this together!"
Again. there was movement and Evan stood.
"What is it?"
"There's someone out there."
"Really?" There was a gasp and Evan turned to see Ethan sitting up. "I never would have guessed it."
"It's not... human Ethan," Evan said. "But they seem to be moving toward the hotel."
"They? What are you talking about, Evan?"
"They look like humans, but they're different. They all look... dead."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Come and see."
Evan waved at Ethan. Ethan shakily stood and went over to the window. Though it were hundreds of figures walking to the hotel.
Does that look like-"
"Mr. Specter," Ethan finished.
"But he died...in the revolution ten years ago."
"Apparently not physically."
"Everyone up!" Kurt called. Everyone else groaned. rolling over. "I mean it! Move! We don't have time to mess around!"
"Let us sleep," Shane muttered, pulling Reed closer. There was a thud followed by a ding. Shane opened his eyes and jumped upright at the knife that was in the floor beside his head.
"I said get moving!" Kurt ordered through clenched teeth. Kurt was digging through everything in the room for supplies. Come on people!"
Blaine sat up, head in his hands.
"You, up!" kurt shoved Blaine. "I'm not joking, move!" Blaine glanced up when he detected a slight worry in Kurt's tone.
"What is it?" Blaine asked, standing.
"I told you there would be more of them," was Kurt's reply.
Blaine stumbled to the window, his hands pressed against the glass. His eyes widened.
"There's hundreds of them," he breathed, fogging up the glass.
"Yes," Kurt said slowly, nodding. Blaine felt stupid. "Shane, I need you to get Glass Cup-"
"His name's Reed!" Shane hissed.
"Not to me!" Kurt shot back, stuffing the backpack full of things. "Get Glass Cup and Einstein here, out. Take the bag. Go to the service elevator and repeal down the shaft. There's enough rope there. Then get out. There's a knife in the floor for you to use. Don't argue, just do."
Shane was quickly in action. "What about you?" he asked.
"I'll catch up," Kurt replied, shoving a large butcher's knife into his belt. "Go!"
Shane took Blaine's arm and pulled him from the room. Kurt smiled.
"Time to go hunting."
Kurt raced from the room and down the stairs, to the first floor, where he went to the from door.
"Hey!" he yelled. "Come and get me!" As soon as those words were out of his mouth, the creatures raced for the doors. Kurt dashed back in and looked around. "Idea," he muttered, running through the courtyard. "Idea, idea."
He jumped a table, just barely avoiding the hand that reached for him. His eyes watered at the decaying smell and he felt like gagging. He went for the stairs and started up them. A hand grabbed his ankle, and he crashed down onto the stairs, being dragged down them. In quick reaction, he grabbed the knife and brought it down on the hand of the demented looking creature.
The wrist detached and Kurt pode the finger from his ankle. He began running again. If only he could reach the ball room.
He crashed through the ballroom doors and grabbed the nearest chair, blocking the door. The wood began splintering with a cracking sound as the creatures smashed against the door.
Dwight saw this as an opportunity. Karofsky was more interested in the distant ruckus more than his load. Dwight crouched behind a wooden crate and snatched up a bag of apples. He then grabbed a crossbow from beside him and swiftly loading it, throwing the sack of arrows over his shoulder. If only he could hit Karofsky.
Dwight glanced over the pile, but gave a confused look. He wasn't there.
Dwight groaned at a flashing red, hot pain, dropping the bow. He glanced down to see a spear head protruding out of his stomach.
"Our little ghost hunter's out for the count," Karofsky's voice laughed in Dwight's ear. The spear was ripped from Dwight with a sickening tearing sound.
Dwight fell over, holding his stomach. He closed his eyes.
"I'll come and visit your body in a minute or so. You ruined my entertainment."
Karofsky stepped away from Dwight. Dwight rolled onto his stomach and grabbed the crossbow, dragging himself to his feet. He wasn't going down that easily.
David sat atop of a building, watching the hotel and enjoying the view. All he knew as that last night he'd seen someone enter and now it was full of those things. He laughed at the thought that he would get home faster.
There was a creak as a door opened on the side of the hotel and David's expression became questioning. Three people raced from it. David pulled back the arrow on his bow and let it fly. It clipped the side of the building, just missing the small tribute's foot.
David stood and ran to the other side of the roof, another arrow loaded. At the first sight of a person, David released it.
The man that it hit gave a gasp, holding his arm.
"Are you ok?" Shane asked. Blaine nodded, leaning against a building. He pulled the arrow from his arm. Kurt looked around the room, trying to find something to defend himself with. Then it clicked. There were table top stoves and stoves equal gas. He ran to the little stoves, but stopped. A smile came to his lips.
He grabbed lighter fluid from the table and began spraying it over the floor and the tables, including the walls. His eyes would flicker to the door every time the doors would be slammed against. When the bottle was empty, he grabbed some matches from the table and looked around. There was one last crash on the door.
Kurt lit the match and dropped it. The room filled with flames with a whoosh. Kurt turned and booked it to the balcony. He didn't bother looking to where he was going, he just jumped the railing.
"Do-"
"Let's just keep moving," Blaine said, his eyes behind them. Shane turned and saw people racing after them.
"Are-"
"Not now," Reed muttered, turning and running after Blaine.
Shane nodded and ran. They continued down the street and Blaine turned at an explosion. His eyes were wide at the sight of the hotel in flames. From the bottom floor and to the very top. It was all in flames.
"Kurt," Shane whispered.
"There's no cannon, he's still alive," Reed pointed out. "But I think we have bigger things to worry about at the moment. Like running and finding who shot Blaine."
"Sounds good. Let's find somewhere else to stay," Shane added.
"I'm not sure that that's possible at the moment," Blaine muttered.
Both Shane and Reed turned to look in the direction that Blaine was looking. There stood David, swinging an arrow in his fingers. He wore a slight smile. Shane slowly reached behind him, and carefully opened his backpack.
"Well, let's get this over with," David said with a sigh. "You two, go. I'll finish off district five."
"Finish?" Reed asked.
"What did you do to Logan?" Blaine demanded, taking a step forward.
"Ah, ah, ah," David said, putting his arrow to the bow in a blink of an eye. "Stay back. I did whatever I pleased to... Logan did you say? Yes, I believe that's what his name was. Blonde hair and green eyes. Begged for death before the end."
"There wasn't a cannon, only Wes has died," Shane argued.
David shrugged. "What can I say? Now, do as I said. You two younger ones, leave. I must finish off what I've started. "
"Go," Blaine ordered, glancing back at the other two. "Now."
"Yes, why don't you obey?" A new voice said. A slight smile came to Blaine's face at the sight of Kurt. Kurt was a little banged up, but he seemed all in tact. "Blaine, take Shane and Reed and get them out of here. David will have to settle with me."
"Forgive me, but I'm stubborn," David said. "I'll be taking Blaine either way. Even if I have to go through you."
"Blaine, do it now," Kurt said, moving forward, and standing beside Blaine.
"Go," Blaine said, turning, and taking Shane's arm.
There was a gasp, Reed gave a small scream. Blaine turned to see Kurt holding an arrow, blood dripping from his hand. Blaine stared. "I told you to leave," Kurt said. Blaine's chest tightened as Kurt pulled the arrow from his hand. Kurt snapped the arrow in half and turned to look at the three with a death glare. "I told you to leave," Kurt repeated.
Blaine nodded and he and the other two started down the street, where all of the zombie type things had disappeared. Once they were gone, Kurt looked back at David.
"Time to finish this. I can let you go and let you live, or you can die," Kurt said.
"You, let me live?" David laughed. "Hardly."
"Alright, then don't believe me." Kurt gave a shrug, walking forward.
"With that hand of yours it's not going to do you much good."
"Get this over with, come on."
David raised his bow and fitted an arrow, pulling it back. This is when Kurt broke into a run, racing directly to the arrow that was released. Without much of a move, the arrow head whizzed by Kurt's face, just barely nicking his cheek. Before David could truly see what had happened, he was on the ground, a rope being tied around his hands. Kurt then raced around a lamppost, and tugged on the rope, until David's back was against the post.
"You're life isn't worth my time," Kurt hissed, as he finished tying down David with the rope that Shane had pulled from his backpack and had slipped Kurt. Kurt had trouble tying the knots due to the blood that was slicking his hands, but eventually did. He stepped back to look at his work, then turned.
"Why don't you finish me off?" David asked.
"I'll leave that to them," Kurt answered, pointing to the group of zombies that was gathering. Kurt started off again.
"Coward."
Kurt turned and scooped up the fallen arrow, then stepped up to David. He slammed the arrow into the post just beside David's head. "You're not worth my time." With that Kurt left to find his small group.
"Evan, slow down," Ethan whispered. Evan turned back to look at his brother. There was a yell, and they both looked over to the east. "Who do you think that was?"
"Dunno," Evan replied breathlessly.
"Let's go see. Maybe we can finish off something. It'll get us back faster."
"Not in your condition. I didn't even want you to be out here."
"I don't care," Ethan argued. "Come on, follow me." Ethan started away, and Evan groaned following. They came back to the starting zone, and ducked behind a building. Evan glanced around. "What do you see?"
"Dwight. He's up behind Karofsky."
"Doing what?"
"He has a crossbow," Evan replied. "Should we help?"
"No, let it play out. It's not worth either one of us getting killed over."
"I think that our lovers have gotten too far from the rest of the group. Let's bring them back."
"Yes, sir."
Logan looked up at the sky as rain started falling. "Great!" he groaned. "Can this day-"
"Don't say that," Julian warned. "Something worse always happens when you say those words."
"Well, it's not getting any better," Logan said, sitting in the middle of the road.
Julian rolled his eyes. After a moment of looking around, he spoke. "Do you know where we are?"
"Nope."
"Oh... is it just me, or is that crack in the ground growing?"
"Don't be ridiculous," Logan snapped, slightly on edge.
"Well, look at it."
Logan glanced back at Julian, to see him pointing at the ground. Logan stood and looked at the sidewalk crack. Surely enough, the crack was growing, and spreading toward them. Logan stepped back and Julian took his arm.
"Do you think we should run?" Julian asked.
"I think that that would be a very good idea." Logan nodded.
They both broke into sprints the way they had come, and behind them they could hear a shifting sound, then an angry roar as the crack grew and opened up, chasing them at their heels. Soon, it turned and then cut in front of them, turning them to the north.
Logan could feel the ground slowly falling apart under his shoes, and he just couldn't run fast enough. Soon, his foot slipped and the crack caught up to him. Logan took the side, holding onto it.
"Julian!" Logan yelled, straining to keep a hold of the crumbling ground. "Help!"
Julian leaned over the side and took one of Logan's hands. He pulled Logan up and soon the crack stopped. Once Logan was up, he lied on his back, breathing heavily. Julian glanced over the edge at the fall. A good thirty or forty foot drop.
"That's two you owe me," Julian muttered.
"Yeah," Logan replied with a slight crack to his voice. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Logan sat up and looked around. "We're at the ring," He whispered.
Julian looked around and scrambled to his feet. Logan followed and they raced to a building, hiding behind it. They both glanced back around and could see the twins nearing the large pile of supplies. Behind it was something that the twins were focusing on.
"Should we move closer?" Julian asked. "We could sneak up on the twins."
"No." Logan shook his head. "Just stay here." Logan glanced back, but didn't see Julian. He looked back to the supplies and saw Julian sneaking to it. "Julian," Logan groaned. "Get back here?" Julian looked back, and waved Logan over to him. Logan shook his head. "No."
"Come on!" Julian whispered.
"How many times do I have to kill you?" Karofsky laughed as Dwight was stabbed with a knife. "Apparently it takes more than a spear and a few knives to bring you down."
Dwight stumbled over, and pulled the knife from his arm, holding his arm, as the knife clanked to the street. His sight was blurry and his limbs were growing cold. "I'm not done yet," he said in a surprisingly strong voice. "You'll have to work a little harder."
"My pleasure."
Karofsky stepped forward, and grabbed a handful of Dwight's hair, dragging him forward, and to a clearing away from the pile of supplies. He then shoved Dwight forward and he rolled into a street lamp. Using the streetlamp to stand, Dwight held his head high, wiping the blood from his cheek. Karofsky reached a hand for him and Dwight slapped it away, tripping Karofsky and attempting to run.
Karofsky latched a hand onto Dwight's ankle and pulled Dwight to the ground.
Reed stopped as the group of them passed where the supplies had been. He looked over everything, his eyes resting on a medical backpack. "We need that," he whispered as Shane passed. Shane looked over, trying to get a better grip on Blaine, who was on the edge of unconsciousness from the blood lost.
"No, we don't!" Shane hissed. "I'm sure there's a hospital somewhere. Plus Kurt will know what to do."
"My dad was a doctor. I know what I'm doing," Reed argued, moving forward without much of a second thought.
"Reed!" Shane whisper-yelled. He couldn't move though. He couldn't leave Blaine. "Reed!"
Reed turned with a finger to his lips. He turned back and continued forward. He eventually came to the pile of things, and he stopped looking around. To his right he could see Julian and Logan just barely. They hadn't seen him yet because that were focused intently on what was happening on the other side of the pile.
Reed looked to his left and could see the twins, who were doing the same as the other two tributes. This captured Reed's curiosity. He took a hold of a box and climbed onto the pile, looking over to the other side. Karofsky had Dwight in a headlock. Reed's mind stopped at a sound almost similar to the breaking of a popsicle stick. A hand went to his neck as Dwight's lifeless body fell to the ground.
Reed slid back down the pile, grabbed the bag, and started back. He stopped, feeling sick as his mind's eye replayed the snapping of Dwight's neck. Karofsky had done it so easily. It scared Reed.
Before Reed could really think of anything else, he was on the ground, the backpack flying from his hands. He looked up to see Kurt holding a knife from Evan over his head. Kurt kicked Evan off, and rolled over.
"Go," he gasped, breathing heavily.
Reed scrambled to his feet, and looked back as Evan came at Kurt again. Reed grabbed the backpack and ran to where Shane was waiting for him. They both started away, with Shane scolding Reed.
"What was going through your head?!"
"I-"
"You could have died!"
"But I didn't," Reed laughed, a little more than on edge. "And now I can help you, and your brother. And maybe Kurt, if he comes back."
"That boy doesn't know when to quit," Shane said with a sigh. "We owe him more than just our lives."
"I know that." Reed nodded.
Shane groaned as Blaine's legs gave out and they fell to the ground. Reed knelt and looked over Blaine, taking his pulse and checking his vital signs.
"He's breathing, but his heart is slowing down," Reed said, pulling off his jacket. He pushed it Blaine's arm. He used the sleeves to tie it around Blaine's bicep and then started to lift Blaine. Shane helped heave him up. Reed grabbed the backpack. "Let's make sure that we get somewhere safe, and then I'll look over him. We don't have the time."
"Let me do that," Kurt said, taking Blaine under his weight.
"Kurt!" Reed smiled.
"You're alive!" Shane added.
"Move," was all Kurt said, dragging Blaine's body down the street, letting Shane rest.
"Will you ever just give up?" Shane asked with a laugh. Both he and Reed jumped as the cannon sounded.
"Give up?" Kurt asked with a huff as he tried to blow his hair from his face. "Get a dictionary and look up the phrase give up, there'll be a picture of me with the caption that reads: 'Over my dead body!'" Kurt and Shane laughed. "Right." Kurt rested Blaine's body on the ground and knelt beside him, his hand out to Reed. Reed handed him the backpack and Kurt opened it. "Oh, he got shot good. Right, so, let's see..." Kurt looked up, biting his tongue. "It's been about forty minutes, so... He's dead."
"What?" Shane asked, dropping to his knees.
"Nothing to worry over," Kurt said in a very calm voice. He pulled the backpack to him and began rummaging through it. The cannon went off, but Kurt didn't acknowledge it.
"Nothing to worry over?!" Shane demanded. "My brother doesn't have a pulse! And the cannon sounded!"
"Reed, your father was a doctor, right?" Kurt asked, ignoring Shane's comment and not looking up from the bag.
"Right." Reed nodded. "How did you know?"
"Victimology." Kurt looked up. "Well, start CPR. Get his heart going again." Reed did as Kurt said. Kurt began wrapping the bandage around Reed's jacket that was leaking blood everywhere.
"How did you get out of the hotel?" Shane asked, sitting back helplessly and watching, while trying to get his mind off of his brother.
"Jumped the roof," Kurt answered.
"You jumped the roof?" Reed asked.
"I caught a lamppost and slid down." He began searching through the backpack and a smile came to his face. He laughed.
"What?" Shane asked.
"Reed, you're amazing," Kurt smiled. "Move."
Reed moved away and Kurt pulled a plastic stopper from the silver of a syringe. He pulled open Blaine's jacket and stared for a moment. Blaine had muscles. Toned muscles. Kurt blinked several times, and shook his head. He unbuttoned Blaine's shirt and couldn't help but run his hand over Blaine's chest. He took the syringe and shoved it into Blaine's chest, where his heart would be.
"What is it?" Shane asked.
"Adrenaline," Kurt replied. "Pure adrenaline."
"How did you know what that would look like?" Reed asked. "I've never even seen it."
"How do you get pure adrenaline?" Shane asked.
"Very carefully," Kurt replied, pulling the syringe out. "Reed start CPR again." Reed obeyed, and Kurt began looking through the back again. There was a groan, and Reed jumped back. Kurt looked up as Blaine sat up, a hand to his head.
"I dreamed that someone was feeling me up," Blaine muttered. Shane tackled him in a hug, and he groaned. Kurt gave a half smile, and Reed laughed. Kurt stood, swinging the backpack over his shoulder.
"Let's go. There's been too much death today," Kurt muttered. He pulled Blaine to his feet and Blaine gasped, falling against Kurt.
"You're alive," Blaine whispered as he looked over Kurt. Kurt's hair was dirty and hung in his face. His clothes and skin were smudged with black soot. And blood covered him.
"Yep," Kurt nodded. "And now you are as well." Kurt started walking, holding most of Blaine's weight.
"Thank you."
Kurt stopped. "Y-You're welcome," he muttered.
"Kurt, you hand," Reed said. "You should really let me look at it."
"Speaking of my hand... David! You can come out now!" Kurt shoved Blaine to Shane and turned around.
"How did you know? Enlighten me," David said, stepping out from behind the post office.
"I could smell your fear," Kurt replied. Weird looks were shot at him. "Ok, no, not your fear, but I'll tell you what I did notice." He stepped over to the post office and rested a hand on the door. "Your mistake in letting me near this door."
"Why?" David asked.
"Kurt," Shane warned.
"Some advice?" Kurt's eyes flickered around the intersection that David stood in the middle of and a smile spread across his lips. "Run." With that, he pushed open the door to the post office and then began running. "Go!"
There was a whiz and flames erupted from the four corner buildings, swallowing David. Kurt smiled as he caught up to the others. He stopped and laughed.
"I bet none of you saw the flame throwers on the top of the buildings, did you?" Kurt asked.
"No," Shane shook his head, stopping. He was breathing hard, from helping Blaine. Blaine fell, and Kurt was quick to catch him.
"You need rest, come on," Kurt muttered.