Hi again all! So sorry for such a long delay. Here's the next chapter for you all, hope you enjoy it.
No time for responses to reviews now, sorry guys. It's past midnight here. But I will try to respond to each review as they come in this time... And I definitely won't keep you waiting so long again, promise!
Enjoy! :D
Burning Star
Part Six
Korse dragged Poison up by his hair, tightened his grip and revelled in the other man's pathetic whimpers. He looked up, taking in the destruction and chaos of the battle to the death that was still being played out just a few meters away. There were dead bodies littered everywhere, Dracs and rebels alike. He had taken some losses, true, but so had his enemy. He smirked down at the squirming Killjoy, helpless in his grasp.
The losses were acceptable. He had exactly what he wanted.
He had been waiting in the shadows, just biding his time. He had known an opportunity would present itself, if he was patient enough. It always did. And he had been right. The Killjoys had left one by one, rushing off to be the heroes that they so longed to be, and finally had foolishly left Poison alone, protected only by a naive, stupid little girl.
It had all been too easy.
Korse was thrown out of his musings as Gerard began to struggle against his iron grip, and he frowned. "Keep still," he ordered, and heard the Killjoy cursing under his breath in response. Korse knew that the very familiar spark had returned and he grimaced. He clung on all the more tightly, not allowing the Killjoy any respite. The Exterminator was determined. He'd been caught out by the sudden appearance of the Killjoys, he couldn't deny it. He had known Party Poison had brains, had prior experience of the rebel's cunning, but he hadn't expected the others to come up with such a clever ruse. They were filth, after all - brainless, irrational fools that always went leaping in, feet first, led by their hearts. Isn't that what they swore by? Doctor Death Defying fed them their instructions, Gerard Way was their strategic deviser, the one who pulled them back and made them think. He had made the group clever. Without him, the Killjoys were nothing more than boys wearing costumes playing a silly, dangerous game; or that was what BLI had come to believe.
The company had apparently been given false information.
Korse began to drag Poison the remaining short distance to the Trans AM. The Killjoy leader would pay the price for how he had been outwitted. The rebels had dared to return with a small army, outnumbering Korse and his Draculoids two to one. That was how much Party Poison's life meant to this little merry band. Korse had unexpectedly found himself fighting for his life. But even as he grabbed Way and pulled him closer, placing the cold steel of his ray gun against his head and chuckling in his ear, Korse was only too aware that the others would not rest until they hunted him down and avenged their beloved Party Poison.
It had all been there, in their eyes: the barely concealed rage they were fighting to contain.
How Korse wished he could be there to see their faces when he released Gerard back to them, once the man had been reprogrammed and once more controlled. Just before their esteemed leader blew out their brains, one by one.
He smiled at the thought.
Korse then glared as Poison began to thrash around, still desperately trying to get free.
"Don't be stupid, Gerard." He snarled, forcing him onward. "You know it's pointless."
"Get off me!" The Killjoy spat, and continued to struggle against his tormentor's hold.
Korse backhanded him across his face, hard. Gerard grimaced from the force of the blow, and then slowly met his captor's gaze once more. He then attempted to wrench his arm away from Korse's grasp, but the Exterminator held on.
Gerard would not give up. Not this time. He managed, with a rush of triumph, to pull free from Korse, but the effort this tiny moment of freedom took managed to result in Gerard collapsing to the ground, off balance and exhausted.
Korse chuckled and kicked Poison viciously, aimed just above his cracked rib. The stricken man cried out, his laboured breathing coming out in harsh sobs as he turned his head and fixed Korse with a cold stare. The other man shook his head, pulled Gerard up once more and laughed in his face. "Why do you keep fighting me?" He taunted. "You must know it's useless. You are a broken man, Gerard Way. You gave in to me. Why not just accept it's all over?"
Gerard's reply was a whisper. "Because they came for me."
The Exterminator laughed loudly. "Yes, they did. You weren't worth all their trouble, in my opinion." He threw Gerard forward again, they were nearly at the car now. All Gerard could manage was to drag his feet, that was the most resistance he was able to offer Korse. He moaned when he felt Korse's lips by his ear, hissing his poisonous words: "And do you know how you will repay their bravery, once I send you back to them? Do you know what you'll do to them, before you finally kill them?"
"I won't do it." Gerard's hoarse voice trembled, but he meant every word. "I won't hurt my friends."
"Yes, you will." Korse countered. It was a statement. "And you will do it for me, with a fucking grin on your face." He released Gerard abruptly, and the man once again crashed to his knees, his head down. "You will torture them in ways you cannot even imagine. And not just your fellow Killjoys. You'll kill your precious Doctor, and every last one of the rebels that support him." He sounded euphoric. How Gerard wished Korse would just disappear. All the Killjoy wanted was quiet. Was that so much to ask for? Apparently so. Korse continued: "And you will not stop at the rebels, you will destroy every single person, every man, woman or child, that has ever helped you, befriended you, or showed you the slightest hintof any kindness."
Party shook his head despairingly. "They are not your enemy, they're harmless!"
"Not if they've helped you or your Doctor, they're not. They betrayed the corporation and they will therefore get exactly what they deserve. Now, Way; get in the car. It's time to leave."
Gerard stared at the Trans AM for a second, then glared up at Korse again. "It's all you do, isn't it, Korse? Kill people who can't fight back. Or destroy any trace of the person they were. Like Summer. Just another innocent person, ghosted because of you and your fucking company! Better Living? Fuck off!"
Gerard's voice grew louder, his eyes wide, and he began to struggle again. Despite the pain he was in, despite the fear and doom he felt, he was not going to face his fate as a coward. He was a Killjoy. He'd fight to the end. "You don't want people to live at all, unless it's by your fucked up rules."
"Shut your mouth, Way. That girl died like the rest, because of you and your pointless cause. They all die because of you. Haven't you figured that out yet?"
"You know what, Korse? You can go to hell. I'm not your broken victim any more." Gerard pointed into the distance. "They came for me, they didn't give up on me. That's all I needed." He broke off, and balled his hands into fists. Frank came. "You're gonna kill me anyway, right? Why not just get on with it?"
Korse laughed at that. He grabbed Gerard and threw him hard against the open car door, knocking the wind out of him.
He crouched down beside the cringing man, grabbed his hair and ripped his head back, staring into his eyes. "You won't die, Gerard. On the contrary, you'll get to live. A reminder to the rest of this big wide world what happens when you go up against Better Living Industries." He leaned in closer. "You'll make a pretty little slave for me and my company, don't you think?" He grinned. "We'll share you around."
Gerard felt the shame coursing through him. Share him around? Like a whore? Like a piece of meat?
He, as calmly as he could muster, stared Korse right in the eye.
"Fuck you."
Korse smirked. He then, with no warning, slammed his lips against the Killjoys, and kissed him hungrily. Gerard couldn't pull away, pinned against the car door. Korse released him and leaned back. "Can't wait for round two, I see?" He drawled. "Plenty of time for that, Gerard, don't you fear."
Poison stared at him.
Oh God, no. Not that. Not again. Never again.
"Now," Korse barked to him. "Get that tight ass of yours in the fucking car."
Gerard pursed his lips together. "No."
"Stop fighting me, Gerard. You know you'll do as I ask in the end. Why bother wasting energy, mine as well as yours?" He titled his head, pulling the shooter out of his pocket and holding it up for Gerard to see. The other man froze instantly at the sight of the weapon. "Or would you prefer to give in to me the hard way yet again?" Korse's grin was chilling. "It's your choice."
Gerard blinked. He couldn't go through that again - that torture, the agony. He just couldn't take it. He'd do anything to prevent that drug burning inside of him again. Anything.
The Killjoy closed his eyes tightly, and sighed.
Korse waited, throwing a nervous glance towards the direction of the battle raging just far enough away to not interfere with his plans. He was very aware that just the threat of using the drug on Gerard would be enough to make him compliant. Korse would only use the drug again if he had no choice. The shooter gun, the only prototype, only carried ten darts at most, and he had already used four on Gerard. He didn't want to waste any more. Especially as he wanted the controller to see the effects on the Killjoy as soon as possible, once they were back in the city.
Gerard, meanwhile, was in a quandary. He didn't want to give in, didn't want to finally give Korse the satisfaction of knowing he was done, or to let his loved ones down.
But he had just been through too fucking much.
He was so tired.
"Don't." He muttered, his eyes fixated on the ground. He would not look at the bastard.
"Say it again," Korse muttered, and grabbed Gerard's chin harshly, forced the younger man to meet his eyes. "And this time, ask me nicely."
Gerard squirmed in his grasp and averted his gaze once more. He hated him. He despised him with his very being. He had never wanted to kill anyone so desperately in his life. But, as Korse touched his arm with the shooter, he found himself blurting out the words, just as before, against his will. His eyes remained locked on the ground. "Please, Sir. Just stop. Don't use that drug on me again."
The shooter was placed against his throat. Gerard shivered.
"Look at me, Way!" Korse growled.
Very reluctantly, Gerard met Korse's cold stare.
The exterminator smiled at him approvingly. "That's better, sweetheart." He taunted. "Now, will you be a good boy for me?"
Gerard knew he had no way out. He looked, though he knew it was useless, in the direction of the battle. He couldn't see any of the Killjoys or the Doc through the smoke and the fierce flames. No one was coming to save him this time. His gaze flickered back to Korse, and he nodded once.
Korse smirked. "Some common sense, at long last. You're finally learning, Gerard." He grabbed his hair again and yanked it back, his lips on the younger man's throat. "Don't ever forget what happened back at that store, Way. I broke you. I held you down and fucked you into the ground. And once you're reprogrammed, and we've removed every individual thought in that pretty little head of yours, you will be begging for me to do it again." He shoved him away then, smiling as Gerard stumbled and nearly fell.
"Now, bitch, do as I tell you." He snarled. "And get into the fucking car!"
Gerard, his shoulders slumped in defeat, began the short walk to his car, the car that had suddenly become his hearse. Or it may as well have done. He knew he would never see Mikey, Ray or Frank again. Not as himself, anyway. If Korse truly planned to go through with his sick plan, and Gerard fully believed that he did, then he would see his Killjoys again. One last time, when he murdered them, at Korse's instructions. He wanted to be sick, wanted to fight back and prevent any of Korse's plans for him coming true, but he couldn't.
Korse had succeeded. Party Poison was dead.
He heard Korse following just behind him, could feel the nozzle of his gun just touching his back lightly, a constant reminder for Gerard to remain compliant. Just as the Killjoy reached out for the open car door to help support his entry into the vehicle, a shot whizzed past him, right by his ear. He gasped, and stepped backwards, into Korse. Korse yelled out in outrage and shoved Gerard forward, forcing the weak man onto the ground next to the car, and then he whirled round. More shots zoomed towards them. Gerard steadied himself as the pain of the sudden fall swept through him, and prepared for the blasts to find him and end his torment. He heard Korse scream and he glanced up at his enemy. Korse had taken two shots, one to his shoulder, the other to his left hand. Not his gun hand, unfortunately. The man had his gun raised in response, breathing hard, staring into the smoke, clearly searching for a target. Gerard gaped. He couldn't see a thing and evidently, neither could the now furious Korse.
"Come out!" He shouted. "Face me!" He pointed his gun straight at Gerard's head. "Come on out, Killjoy scum, or I will end Gerard Way's suffering right here and now! Is that what you want?"
There was no response. But no more shots were fired either.
Korse stared intently. "Cowards!" He then spat on the ground, beside Gerard, and addressed him: "I thought your trained monkeys were braver than this, Party Poison." He laughed. "I certainly expected them to be better shots!"
"Bite me," Gerard muttered.
Korse leered at him, and slapped him across the face. "Sounds like fun. I might just try that." He shot a few blasts into the empty space. "Your second rescue attempt is worst than the first!" He called, tauntingly. "Don't you worry though, boys;" he yelled, into the nothingness. "You'll see him again real soon!"
At that, they both heard an angry, desperate shout and suddenly a man was running towards them, ray gun blasting shot after shot at Korse, who dived out of the way, crying out as one shot glanced off his side. Korse rolled expertly as he landed, got up onto his knees, took aim and returned fire. A young man he didn't recognise, not a Killjoy anyway, got a blast full in the chest and fell down. But more men were coming out of the haze, running towards Korse, not with guns raised but more crude weapons, such as metal poles or heavy planks of wood. As Gerard watched, four men surrounded Korse and began to beat him. Gerard watched, with much satisfaction, as Korse curled up into a ball to protect himself from the blows.
Suddenly, one of the men had moved away from Korse and had knelt down beside Gerard, reaching for him.
The Killjoy recoiled away, fearful, but the man placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"It's okay. We want to help you. Party Poison, right?"
"Who are you?" Gerard whispered, apprehensive. "Which group are you from?"
"No group," the man replied quickly. "This is our town."
Gerard stared at him.
"You towners are helping us? But we thought you were Better Living supporters?"
The man's eyes narrowed and he opened his mouth to reply, but then he heard a shout from behind and spun back round quickly. Korse was back up on his feet, and he was fighting back. He had grabbed hold one of the men's metal poles and was trying to wrestle it from him. And he was much stronger than his adversary. The proof of that was lying prone at his feet; one of the men was already slumped on the ground, gasping, blood pouring from a nasty looking head wound, unable to intervene while Korse fought with the other. And Korse was winning.
The older man grabbed Gerard by his shirt and pulled him close. "Quickly!" He hissed. "Have you got the key to the car?" When Gerard didn't reply at once, the man growled. "Come on, it's yours, right?"
"Yes, but he took the key," Gerard gasped.
The stranger released his grip, and instead supported the Killjoy's arm, holding him steady. "Go," he urged, jerking his head in the opposite direction, away from the Trans AM. "Get the hell out of here."
Party Poison gaped at him. "But you can't fight him alone."
"He's just one man."
"He's Korse! And he's too strong, too doped up on-"
The man gave him a small shove, interrupting him, and sending him a few feet forward.
"Just get moving." He shot another desperate look over his shoulder. "My sons need me. I promised them we'd help save you, you're their hero. Now, I've got to help them. Go now, Poison. Find your own people. Live up to the legends." He gave him a grim smile. "And keep running."
And then the man had left him and rushed back towards his sons and Korse. With the cries of the ordinary men who had been brave enough to rise up against the corporation, to save him, ringing in his ears, Gerard forced himself to move. He staggered forward a few steps before falling awkwardly down onto one knee. His breathing hoarse and laboured, he tried to block out the pain, but it was too strong. It hurt. Bad. Every inch of him felt as if he was on fire. He clutched his hand to his painful rib as he forced himself to move on, knowing that this was his only chance.
The cries had stopped. He knew what that meant.
Korse was a trained killer. Those men had never stood a chance against him.
Gerard began to crawl, dragging his aching, agonised limbs along the ground. Tears of pain and effort fell from his eyes with every excruciating movement.
The despairing man knew he couldn't go on much further. His body had taken too much punishment in a short space of time. It was hopeless.
And that was when he saw him. Frankie. Fun Ghoul was standing a small distance away, with two men Gerard could only guess were more townsfolk judging by their dress, advancing on a troop of Dracs. There was no sign of Mikey or Ray, but Gerard knew they would not be too far away. They never were, not during a battle. That was how they had all been trained. Gerard could have sobbed in relief. A Killjoy in shouting distance. Frank was so close, if he could only move a little nearer, Gerard was certain he would see him, definitely spot the Trans AM, but he was still just that small distance too far away, and could not see Gerard through the smoke.
"Frank!" Gerard croaked. "Help me."
But Frank couldn't hear him. And Gerard couldn't shout. His throat was wrecked.
He tried again. He had to. "Frankie, please..."
But Frankie was moving away, unknowing that Gerard was so near by, desperately calling for him.
Gerard moaned weakly. "No..."
Gerard could hear him then, and his whole body tensed. The footsteps approached him from behind him, and then he heard that damned soft chuckle. Suddenly, a heavy boot was pressed down on his back and he found himself pinned. Not that he could have moved anyway. Gerard knew what this meant of course, he didn't need to see. Korse. His borrowed time was up. Sure enough, he soon heard that smug voice.
"Do you know, Gerard?" He purred, matter-of-factly. "Eventually, it's time for everyone to stop running."
He was kicked then, on to his back and he laid there, and stared up into that hated face. Korse smiled evilly at him, twirling the stolen lead pole in his right hand.
"Even you, Killjoy."
Then, with no further warning, he raised the pipe high above his head, and brought it down viciously onto Gerard's left ankle. The bone broke easily with a loud cracking sound.
Despite his throat already being ravaged from the previous screaming, Gerard howled. The pain shot through him, consumed him.
Korse's looked sharply in Frank's direction. There was shouting now, and a man was gesturing madly. The Exterminator frowned.
He leaned over Gerard, and licked his lips as he took in the pitiful state of his enemy.
"No more running," he whispered.
Gerard could feel that he was losing consciousness quickly, falling into that welcome darkness, this latest agony finally too much for his body to take.
The Killjoy barely registered what was happening as his hair was grabbed once more and he was dragged backwards. Korse was rushing now, ignorant of Gerard's pained cries. The new shooting agony he could feel from his damaged ankle only added to the rest of his pre-existing injuries. He knew his body had finally reached its breaking point; he was shutting down.
He allowed Korse to pull him along, and made no attempt to resist further. As if he could. As he was dragged, he glanced down, and swallowed hard when he saw what Korse had done to the old man and his sons. The younger men were lying close to each other, one had had his neck snapped, and the other had taken two ray gun blasts to the chest. It was the image of their father, the kindly old man who had tried to help him, that would stay with him. Korse had gouged his eyes out. Gerard closed his eyes tightly, and tried to block it out. More suffering, more torture, more death; the Killjoy couldn't take it anymore. He truly was now broken, body, mind and soul. Korse was undefeatable, and Gerard should have realised that from the start.
As he began to fade, one thought ran through his mind:
'Did Frankie hear me?'
He quickly got his answer.
The cry of horrified outrage, together with the three shotgun blasts that struck the side of the car, bringing Korse, and therefore Gerard, to an abrupt halt. Another step, and Korse would have been finished.
"Let him go!"
Gerard could hear the voice but he couldn't see anything through the dirt and cloud of smoke.
"Frank," he mouthed, and then could only moan as he was yanked up by his collar, his back to Korse, his body pressed up against the Exterminator. He knew he was being used as the perfect shield. Frank wouldn't dare fire again and risk hitting him. Or that was what Korse was counting on. Gerard cringed when he felt his captor's ray gun once more held against his head.
"I'd stop, if I were you!" Korse shouted out. "Show yourself, or you will be responsible for his death."
A shape stepped out of the smoke and dust, his gun aimed straight at Korse and Gerard, and his Killjoy mask covered his face.
"I'm not going to let you take him."
Korse bared his teeth. "Is that right, Fun Ghoul?" He taunted. "Isn't that your name?" He tightened his grip on Gerard. "Well, you have me at a disadvantage. Take off the mask, Ghoul. Let me see your face."
Fun Ghoul hesitated.
Korse glared. He tilted his head, aimed his gun at Gerard's shoulder, and fired. Gerard screamed as the red-hot blast burned into his flesh. Frank went to surge forward but he stopped when the Exterminator's gun returned to his lover's head.
"The next shot goes directly into his brain, Killjoy." Korse barked. "Now, take off the mask."
This time, Ghoul obeyed. He removed his mask carefully, and dropped it onto the ground.
"Better," Korse noted. "And now that you're feeling more agreeable, Frank Iero, why don't you put your gun down?"
Fun Ghoul actually chuckled, and then shook his head in disbelief.
"Not going to happen."
Korse raised an eyebrow. "Would you prefer to watch Gerard die, then?"
Frank swallowed hard. To have to stand there and watch his lover die after coming so close to rescuing him? He couldn't think of anything worse, apart from seeing him disappear in that car. Frank knew the fate awaiting Gerard in that city would be one worse than death. As Gerard met Frank's gaze, the brunette knew, from looking into those big brown eyes, that Gerard was thinking the same thing. As Frank continued to stare, he saw the pain and fear in those eyes and he had to look away. All he wanted to do was put an end to this. To just stop Gerard's suffering, once and for all.
"Let him go." He said again purposefully.
"I don't think so." Korse whispered. He gripped Gerard ever more tightly, and squeezed his wounded shoulder. Gerard gritted his teeth but couldn't stop a despairing moan from escaping his lips.
Frank trembled ever so slightly when he saw his lover's added pain. "Stop hurting him! I swear to God I will kill you unless you -"
"Will you now?" Korse interjected, smirking. "If you try to shoot me, you could very easily hit your beloved Gerard instead." Another cold chuckle. "Could you live without him Frank, I wonder? And could you live with yourself, knowing you yourselfpulled the trigger and ended his life?"
Frank paused. This was stalemate. And they all knew it.
There was only one chance.
"Take me instead of him."
Gerard whimpered. Frank stole a look at him. His boyfriend stared at him, wild-eyed, shaking his head desperately.
Korse was stunned.
"What did you say?"
"You need a Killjoy, right?" Frank said hurriedly. "Well, I'm a Killjoy too, just like Party. If you let him go, I'll go with you in his place. Do whatever the fuck you want to me. Just leave him alone." And then, he added, so softly; "Please."
"No," Gerard gasped. "Frankie, you can't-"
"Shut your mouth, Way." Korse snapped. "Who gave you permission to speak?" His gaze met Frank's again. "You would give up your life for him, Frank?"
Frank frowned. "I'd do anything for him."
Korse laughed. "Are you this loyal to all of your best friends?"
Ghoul blushed. "I-"
"Is that not how you described him?" Korse was enjoying himself. "I have to say, I was surprised. He'd led me to believe there was more between you." His hand trailed down Gerard's chest. Frank could see the disgust on his lover's face and he knew why.
"Don't touch him."
Another smirk. "Far too late, Iero. Do you want to know what I did to your little boyfriend? I fucked him. And he screamed and cried and begged for me to stop. I broke him, Frank, in every way possible. And he belongs to menow. Do you really think I'd give him up? For a lackey?" He threw his bald head back and laughed. "He's mine, not yours."
"You fucking bastard." Frank wanted to be sick. He had never felt so angry, so furious, in his life. "You're a rapist. A sick, perverted-"
"Put the gun down, Fun Ghoul." Korse sighed. "We both know you won't fire-"
"Do it, Frank."
Korse broke off abruptly. Gerard had spoken so softly, Frank was sure he hadn't heard him correctly.
"What?"
"Just shoot the bastard. Don't worry about me."
"Gee, I can't just-"
Gerard grimaced. "He's going to do a lot worse to me, Frank. Please. Do it for me-"
Korse shook Gerard in an attempt to silence him. "That's enough from you, Party Poison." He hissed in his ear, and then clamped a sweaty hand over his prisoner's mouth.
He then turned his attention once more to Frank, his eyes narrowed.
"Go on then, Frank." He urged. "Kill me, if you can. Get lucky."
Frank hesitated, and his gun hand trembled. Gerard was still appealing to him with his eyes, silently begging for Frank to follow his wishes. But Frank already knew, he wouldn't fire. He couldn't risk shooting his lover.
He could not watch Gerard die.
"I'm sorry, Gee." Frank mouthed.
Gerard shook his head desperately.
Frank lowered his gun, his eyes not leaving Gerard's. The sound of Korse's taunting laughter made the younger Killjoy cringe. Glancing at the hated man, he saw him aiming his gun and knew he was about to die.
Korse shrugged. "You Killjoys. You've saved Gerard from nothing, believe me. You know, he was fighting me again. Party Poison was rearing his ugly head once more, rising up again out of the sad, pathetic Gerard Way. And he's no good to me like that, I need him broken. Your death should do the trick." He grinned evilly. "So, thank you for your help, Frank."
His finger covered the trigger.
"Say goodbye, Gerard. Oh, I'm sorry, you can't speak, can you? Too bad."
Frank and Gerard stared at one another.
A lone tear fell down Frank's cheek. He wiped it away.
"I love you." he whispered. Gerard shook his head, desperate.
Gerard came to life. One last effort, to save the man he adored. He bit down hard into Korse's hand, drawing blood. Korse yelled his outrage, ripping his hand away and staggering back a step or two. Then, with his last vestige of strength, Gerard threw his head back, head butting Korse painfully and the hated man staggered backwards, moaning in pain and surprise. Gerard grabbed Korse's gun hand and twisted, forcing the man to drop his weapon.
"Gun, Frank..." Gerard gasped.
Frank dived for the blaster. But Korse moved quicker. Gerard, exhausted, had fallen to his knees in front of Korse. With a snarl, the Exterminator grasped the back of his enemy's neck and held him steady. He then pulled out the Shooter and, with a cry of triumph, injected another dart into Gerard, who gasped at the sharp pain.
"What have you done?" Frank cried.
Gerard closed his eyes.
Korse whispered in his ear. "Level Ten, Gerard. So long and goodnight, fucker." Gerard cringed. Those words... Korse chuckled, taking great pleasure in taunting Gerard one final time. He allowed him to fall to the ground, where he landed with a thud, and then Korse smiled at Frank, who was covering him with his own gun, trembling. "Now, the question is, what is more important to you, Fun Ghoul. Him, or me?"
Frank was staring at Gerard. His lover was shaking, trying to crawl away from his enemy, towards Frank. And he was trembling uncontrollably. He slumped to the ground, entirely spent.
Frank's eyes met Korse's again and his finger tightened on his trigger.
All he had to do was fire.
Gerard whimpered. "Frankie!"
Korse's smile broadened. "You should put him out of his misery, Frank. This is going to hurt him. A lot. The highest levels of the drug always take longer to take hold. Shame I must miss the big finish." His eyes flashed as he regarded the dark haired Killjoy. "Is he worth your life, Frank? Come after me, prove yourself. Don't you want to avenge your precious Party Poison?" He edged backwards, to the car. "I'll be waiting."
Frank reached out for his lover, all thoughts of Korse banished. He dropped the gun on the floor, and didn't bat an eyelid when Korse reached down to reclaim it. He merely looked up at the exterminator when Korse held the gun against his head. "Keep running." Korse whispered. "Find me."
He didn't bother to reply, didn't even watch the bastard spin the car around, or see his mocking wave. Frank watched him go as he clung to Gerard. He was all that mattered now.
"I'm sorry, Frankie..." Gerard moaned softly.
"Don't be. You saved my life." He kissed his forehead. "You're gonna be okay. Whatever he did-"
Gerard had just a second to shake his head before he felt the familiar burning feeling beginning to build, coming to claim him once more as the drug again took hold of him. For the final time. He managed a weak smile to Frank, and he reached out gingerly for his lover's hand, which Frank grabbed.
Then, Gerard screamed. It was a cry of pure despair and agony.
"No, Gerard? What's wrong? What is it?" Tightening his hold on Gerard, Frank looked up and yelled, as loud as he could, "Doctor Death! Help me!"
Gerard began to writhe. His hand slipped from Frank's grasp, as the red-haired man arched his back. His horrendous cries ripped through Frank.
"Oh my God," Frank gasped, terrified to see his lover in such pain. "What the fuck can I do? Tell me what to do!"
He tried to comfort Gerard, pulled him closer and stroked his hair.
"DOCTOR DEATH," he called out again, twisting his head round. "PLEASE!"
He could only pray that someone would hear him.
"Gerard, can you hear me?" Frank pleaded. "Please, fight this!"
Gerard couldn't answer him. His torment had gripped him and was not letting go. His fingers gripped his face and he clawed at his own skin, left bloody marks. He was clearly out of his mind from the torment. He had no idea Frank was there. Then suddenly, his screams quieted, his writhing slowed and then, to his terror, Frank realised Gerard's breathing was slowing down, exhaled in whimpers and gasps. Frank was not naïve. He knew why.
Gerard was dying.
Frank scooped his lover up into his arms and gently rocked him.
"Don't you do this to me." He whispered, unable to stop the silent tears. "Don't you leave me." All his focus was on Gerard, he took no notice of the footsteps he heard behind him.
If it was a Drac, then the bastard could finish him too. Frankie had no fight left in him. He didn't give a shit anymore.
"Frank, move!"
Frank jumped and his head whipped round to see.
Suddenly, Defying was there, falling down beside Frank. He pushed Frank back determinedly, all colour drained from the Doctor's face when he took in Gerard's condition. With one hand on Gerard's shoulder, and the other clutching his communicator, Death desperately requested help.
"Get the MediVan over here now. Just do it, dammit!"
He threw his communicator to the ground, and Death began, even as his hands trembled, to search inside his coat pockets. He looked for something, anything, that he felt could help, that could give them time. He had no idea what the drug was that Gerard had been injected with, but he hoped he could stabilise the young man until the van arrived and they could get him some proper aid.
He found a vial containing the cocktail of drugs he was searching for, and quickly as he could, set up the needle and injected the mixture into Gerard's arm.
"What was that?" Frank demanded to know. He was on his feet now, unable to keep still.
Death looked up at him. "It's a drug I concocted, it eases pain. I don't know what Korse used, but this is the best I can do."
"Will it save him?"
"I don't know, Frank..."
He looked back down at Gerard quickly, who let out a low moan. Then he laid still, eyes closed.
Doctor Death swore loudly.
"No you don't, boy."
As Frank looked on, devastated, Defying began to administer CPR, desperately trying to save Gerard's life.
But Frank already knew it was useless.
His face showed no emotion as Doctor Dearth Defying worked to revive the man he loved.
Frank knew better. "He's dead." He muttered.
"No, he's not." Defying growled. "COME ON, GERARD!" Doctor Death shouted, and hit the Killjoy's chest, tried hard to get his heart beating once more. "FIGHT IT!"
Gerard inhaled sharply.
Doctor Death Defying almost sobbed with relief.
"I've got a heart beat. He's back." He looked over his shoulder angrily. "Where's that van, for fuck's sake!"
"GERARD!"
The new voice cut through the air like a knife and Frank was startled. He looked round, in a haze, to see Mikey and Ray racing towards him. Mikey ran past Frank and fell to knees by his brother's head. He stared at Doctor Death in stunned horror.
"What happened? I left him with -"
Mikey caught sight of Summer's crumpled body, which lay a few feet away. He stared at what was left of the young girl he had befriended, who had been brave enough to try and protect his brother while he had to run off and be a hero.
"Oh, God..."
He covered his face with his hand, unable to watch as his brother fought for life.
A fight he would lose.
Mikey had lost his big brother. Summer and Gerard were dead, and it was all his fault.
Ray stood beside Frank. He was holding Gerard's beloved jacket tightly, his eyes not leaving his friend's face. He stared, his heart breaking, as he watched Doctor Death Defying's efforts to save his leader and best friend.
Nobody knew what to say. Nobody knew what to do.
Was this really happening?
"Frank?" Ray whispered. "Did Korse...?"
His words broke off. He already knew the answer.
"He killed him, Ray." Frank stated. "And he smiled as he did it."
Ray swallowed hard. "He's strong, Frank. He'll make it."
Frank shook his head firmly. "He's dead."
Frank's ears suddenly pricked up when he heard the unmistakable sound of an engine. He glanced round to see the Doctor's MediVan rushing towards them. Frank watched as the van came to a halt right in front of him. Two men opened the doors and jumped out, grasping equipment and running to Doctor Death's side.
"Quickly, or we will lose him!" Frank heard Defying snap.
Frank's gaze returned to the van. He stepped closer, his hand reaching for his gun.
'Is he worth your life, Frank? Come after me, prove yourself.'
"Frank? What are you doing?" He heard Ray's confused cry, but he didn't respond.
His gun now raised, he walked around the van, to the driver's side.
Ray grabbed his arm, and tried to hurl him back.
"Don't be so stupid, Frank!" He hissed. "Gerard wouldn't want-".
Frank snarled. Beside himself with grief and a longing for revenge, he didn't hesitate. He struck out, and knocked Ray to the ground, his lip cut and bleeding.
'Don't you want to avenge your precious Party Poison?'
Frank didn't give Ray another glance. Instead, he pointed the gun at the driver.
"What the fuck?" The driver exclaimed.
"Get out." Frank ordered.
The man stared back. "Look, I know-"
'I'll be waiting'.
"I won't ask again." Frank continued, his voice steady. "Take all the medicine and shit with you. People need help, lots are wounded. I just want the van. Now, GET OUT."
The man weighed up his chances. He knew this was a desperate man. Coming to the only possible conclusion, he banged the door behind him, telling everyone to take as much as they could, and move. Soon, three men and one woman were standing, holding boxes of medical equipment, as Frank climbed into their van.
Frank turned the key in the ignition and the van sparked to life.
Then Ray, holding his jaw, was there again, and he pulled on the now locked door and banged the window in fury.
"Don't be an idiot, Frank!" Ray yelled. "You can't go after him."
Frank's eyes were cold and lifeless. Ray knew he wouldn't get through to him. There was only one man who could, and four men were still working to desperately save his life.
There was no stopping Frank now.
"He's dead, Ray." Frank told him, his voice breaking. "And Korse will be too."
And, with that, he glanced at Ray one last time, and then reversed the vehicle. He turned it round expertly and roared away.
And Ray could only stare after him, devastated.
TBC