A/N: Sorry If this is late, I came down with the flu so I wasn't able to write for a couple of days. R&R!

Soulless

Chapter 10: Never Leave

Private gripped Skipper's side, still staring with wide eyes at the blank wall where the door once was. Skipper couldn't believe it. He had actually believed some of Private's story, but he never really thought something like this could happen. He took an unsteady step backwards.

"I..I don't believe it.." He whispered. He looked down at the smaller penguin, still at his side, and tried not to look frightened, even though what was happening right now really creeped him out. After what seemed like days, The leader finally stepped forward, placing his hands on the wall. He felt the wetness of the dark liquid. Fresh blood. Skipper turned even more pale.

"How did this happen? He asked, as if someone could give him the answer.

"M-maybe we can get out through the window." He heard Private say. He had to admit, it seemed like a pretty solid plan; he gave kudos to the smaller penguin before picking up one the chairs scattered about the main hall. He readied himself in front of the window, when he noticed something he hadn't before.

Skipper stared out the window, only to be met with complete darkness. That was impossible. It was still fairly early, but surely the sun would have risen by now. But the leader couldn't see two feet, let alone two inches, out the musty glass. He shook the thought away and held the chair high with his flippers, getting ready to break the glass.

He ran forward, lifting the chair even higher until he was close to the window, then, with all of his force, slammed the wooden furniture against the glass.

Nothing happened.

Well, something happened, just not what either penguin had expected or hoped for. The chair bounced back, sending Skipper along with it to the hard floor. He shook the small pain in his back away and stared wide-eyed at the window. Not even a scratch.

"H-how?" Private gasped out, looking back at the leader. He had the same confused look on his face, but lifted himself up and grabbed the chair once more.

"We're getting the Hell out of here!" He shouted before rushing to the window again, slamming the chair against the glass. Again and again, he forced the chair into the glass, only to be met with the furniture bouncing right back, as if the window itself was protected by something. Skipper, who was now out of breath, dropped the chair in defeat. He sullenly shook his head. What the Hell was keeping them here?

"We're neva getting out of here! Oh, God, Skippa, we can't leave!" Private cried out, fear overcoming his face. The leader waddled over to him and brought him close, stroking the feathers on his back and letting him cry on his shoulder. It was a lot to take in for the little penguin, and even more for Skipper, but he tried his best to keep his composure and calm Private down.

"No, we need to get out of here. And we're gonna find a way, even if it kills us.." The last words made Private shake even more, but he nodded in agreement; They had to get out of here.

"W-what do we do?" The little penguin asked, looking up at Skipper. In all honesty, the leader was at a loss for options. That's when it hit him. He gently grabbed Private's flipper and led him upstairs again.

"C'mon. We need to get the rest of the team." He offered. Hopefully Kowalski would have some sort of solution for this.

Once the two had made it to Kowalski and Rico's room, Skipper banged on the door.

"Kowalski! Rico! Get out here!" He ordered. A few moments later, the strategist and weapons expert groggily exited the room.

"Rise and shine, men. We need to get outta here." The leader said sternly. Kowalski glared at him with what looked like anger, but soon he saw the seriousness on his and Privates' faces.

"What's wrong, sir?" He asked, rubbing his eyes. Skipper wasn't really sure how to describe what was happening, especially to Kowalski, who most likely wouldn't believe a word of this. The leader wasn't even fully sure if he believed what was happening. It was almost like a dream.

Or a nightmare.

"Just...Just follow us, you'll see.." He said, rushing back to the main hall, Private right behind him. Kowalski stood there, confused. Whatever had happened to them, it really seemed to shake them up, he thought. He instantly thought about his encounter the previous night; a cold shiver ran through his body.

"Walksi..?" He heard Rico squawk out quietly. He almost jumped, forgetting he was there, but kept his composure and began to follow the two ahead of them, for whatever lay ahead.

He and Rico caught up to the others shortly, and the strategist had time to gauge his team-mates' faces. Private looked downright scared, like he had seen a ghost. He was trembling and he looked very nervous, as if something was coming for him. Kowalski peeked up at his leader. He looked relatively calm, but Kowalski knew better. He knew Skipper more than that. He could sense the fear in every one of his steps. This frightened the scientist. Whatever made Skipper scared like that surely had to have been bad. He also noticed something else about the shorter penguin. He looked worried, and it seemed like it was towards Private. Kowalski couldn't help but wonder what just happened in that room last night.

He looked down, and noticed something he hadn't before. The two in front of him were walking closely by each other, and in between their bodies, two flippers held each other firmly. The strategist now wanted to know the events of last night even more, and was about to ask about it, when they arrived at the main hall.

Kowalski and Rico didn't have to ask before they saw the blood stained wall. The taller penguin looked around the entire room, confused.

"Skipper? Where are we?" He asked, still staring at the dark writing on the wall. "We're at the main hall." He heard from behind him. 'No, that couldn't be,' Kowalski thought. 'There was a door right here, this can't be the same room.'

"Are you..sure, sir? The main doors would have been right here.." He stated, now looking back at the leader. Skipper looked at him like he was missing the easiest clue in the world.

"Exactly.." He said, looking down and comforting the smaller penguin beside him. That was illogical. No, it was impossible. The door couldn't just up and walk away. Kowalski took out his clipboard and began scribbling something down, when it was flung from his flippers by Skipper.

"Fish and chips, man!" He barked out. "it's always with that notepad! There's no way to explain what the hell is going on!" It grew silent, and the leader, who realized he shouldn't have been so angry like that, began to calm down again.

"Look," He said. "Right now, we need options. We're not gonna make it the night if we don't find food or get out of here, and I'm not looking to stay any longer than I have to." Kowalski nodded and turned around, contemplating what to do next.

All of this was unbelievable. None of this was rational in the least bit, but something definitely was happening, and he needed to find them a way out. He went to pick up his clipboard, when suddenly, a loud scream overcame the room.

Private jumped and clung to Skipper, who held him tight. Kowalski nearly leaped out of his skin and looked back at the direction of the noise.

"W-What was that?" Private asked in a shaky voice, holding Skipper even tighter.

He turned to the others, fear rushing through his blood. He noticed something wrong with what he was looking at, but couldn't see any difference with the penguins in front of him. He looked around once more, and that's when he realized it. He slapped himself and ran right in the direction of the scream, down a dark hallway, leaving the others alone.

"Where the hell are you going?" Skipper yelled after him, but he never heard a reply.

"Dammit, Kowalski.. Okay, Rico! Give me a weapon, we're going after him." He commanded. But no response came. The leader called out for his team-mate, but there was still no reply.

"Oh, no.." Private gasped out, turning to face Skipper. "Rico's gone, too!"

Sorry if this is extremely late haha, I got caught up in schoolwork and I could not find the time to write. But, hopefully this, and the new story I should be uploading soon, will make up for it :) Plz review!