Chapter 9
The Scavenger Hunt, Part 4
-Finn-
The cars pulled into Hobby Lobby a few minutes later. Quinn exited Kurt's Navigator and the group into the front of the store. Again the booth was easy to find, for it was right there in the front. They walked up to the table where they were greeted by a red headed lady.
"Hello, I know that you guys must be the Glee Club, I recognize you anywhere Quinn." The manager said.
"Thanks, Sandy. It's always good to see you too!" Quinn said. Quinn then turned to the group. "Sandy had come to watch us both at sectionals and Regionals last year."
There was a collective 'oh' from everyone and Sandy smiled. "I am pleased to see you guys here tonight and the song that has been selected for you guys is Love Potion No. 9 by The Searchers."
Everyone looked at each other confused, except for Finn. Finn had a lopsided smile on his face. "I know this song. It's one of my mom's favorites."
"So why don't you sing it then, Finn?" Rachel said in a slightly snobbish voice.
Finn noticed that Kurt glared at Rachel for a second before turning his attention back to Finn. Kurt smiled and nodded and then Finn stepped forward and nodded to Sandy to begin the music.
Finn:
I took my troubles down to Madame Ruth
You know that gypsy with the gold-capped tooth
She's got a pad down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
Sellin' little bottles of Love Potion Number Nine
I told her that I was a flop with chicks
I'd been this way since 1956
She looked at my palm and she made a magic sign
She said "What you need is Love Potion Number Nine"
She bent down and turned around and gave me a wink
She said "I'm gonna make it up right here in the sink"
It smelled like turpentine, it looked like India Ink*
I held my nose, I closed my eyes, I took a drink
I didn't know if it was day or night
I started kissin' everything in sight
But when I kissed a cop down on Thirty-Fourth and Vine
He broke my little bottle of Love Potion Number Nine
On the line of 'I started kissin' everything in sight.' Finn did the duck walk dance over to Kurt and started kissing him. There were giggles that erupted from everyone who was watching Finn's antics as he bounced between kissing Kurt and singing and dancing.
Soon enough Finn was done singing and the song was done. Sandy gave them their music note and their next clue card. The group then filed out of Hobby Lobby and gathered in front of the store for the light to read the next clue. Santana opened the card and then read it. "If your car needs some minor work done to it, you may go to this locally owned business for tires, wheels, oil changes, brake services, and car repair."
"Oh this clue is way too easy." Kurt said. "We're going to my dad's business."
"Why do you say that?" Mike asked.
"My dad's auto business is the only locally owned business. The other shops in town are all owned by people from Dayton and Columbus." Kurt replied.
"So let's get going, because after Kurt's dad's place we only got two more businesses left." Artie said as he started rolling to the parked cars.
"Maybe your dad can rotate Artie's tires while we're there." Puck said.
"Somehow I don't think that my dad will have extra tires for him." Kurt said with a small frown.
"Oh well, I think we should totally pimp out Artie's chair and get him some big ass tires." Puck said.
"Yeah, and even get a mini fridge added onto it." Mike said with a small smile.
"Oh and a television with an X-Box 360 added on it too." Finn said.
"Boys, no, we're not turning Artie into the portable all-terrain-sports-bar-meets-arcade!" Quinn said with a slight irritation in her voice.
"Oh come on, Quinn, us guys could really bond with Artie then." Sam said jokingly only to have Quinn smack him on the arm.
Everyone piled into the cars quickly and got on the road and arrived only minutes later at Hummel Tire and Lube.
-Kurt-
Kurt lead the club into the store holding Finn's hand and seeing his dad behind the counter with probably the biggest smile that the group had seen all night. Burt greeted everyone and gave them all warmed up apple cider that was served up by Carole.
Carole was also there with a camcorder ready to tape the performance. "So what song do we have to perform dad?" Kurt asked.
"Oh right, I forgot." Burt said and then he started going through some papers before he found a sheet with some information on it. "You guys need to perform Swamp Witch by Jim Stafford."
"If you guys don't mind I'd like to do this one." Mike said as he took a hesitant step forward.
"Nope go ahead Mike." Finn said as everyone else cleared the way for Mike to have the floor, as Burt cued up the music.
Mike (Spoken):
Black water Hattie lived back in the swamp
Where the strange green reptiles crawl
Snakes hang thick from the cypress trees
Like sausage on a smokehouse wall
Where the swamp is alive with a thousand eyes
An' all of them watching you
Stay off the track to Hattie's shack
In the back of the Black Bayou
Way up the road from Hattie's shack
Lies a sleepy little Okeechobee town
Talk of swamp witch Hattie
Lock you in when the sun go down
Rumors of what she'd done
Rumors of what she'd do
Kept folks off the track of Hattie's shack
In the back of the Black Bayou
After the song everyone stayed inside this time as Burt handed Finn the music note and the next clue card. Finn opened the envelope and then read the clue. "If you like the outdoors, then this business is for you. Here you can get quality outdoor gear for hunting, fishing and camping supplies."
"Awesome," Brittany squealed. "We're now heading for Wal-Mart!"
There was a collective group face palming action at that moment. Burt looked at Brittany confused. "Where do you get that idea?'
"Easy, Wal-Mart is famous for its multiple use items." Brittany said. "They have those hamburger flippers that can become fly swatters."
Finn leaned over and whispered into Kurt's ear. "Remind me not go camping with Brittany."
Kurt elbowed Finn in the ribs hard. Kurt then whispered back. "Don't you ever plan on taking me to the outdoors."
Burt shook his head. "Don't tell anyone that I told you this, but I honestly think that you guys should try Cabela's. It's the only camping and hunting store that I know of."
"Thanks, Mr. Hummel." Mike said. "Let's go we're going to have to drive clear back across town for Cabela's."
The group headed out of the shop and Kurt and Finn stayed a moment and said goodbye to their parents and promised to be home after the scavenger hunt. They then quickly joined the others in the car and then started their trip back across town.
-Tina-
After pulling into Cabela's after a ten minute drive across back across town they arrived at their destination. The group got out of the cars and went inside. Tina heard Kurt mumble. "I don't see the appeal of animal heads on a wall. Let alone the whole thing stuffed."
Tina moved to be closer to Kurt. "What are you going to do if Finn decides that he wants to mount animal heads on your wall?"
Kurt glanced sideways at Finn who was busy talking to Puck. "Let's just say it won't be pretty."
Tina laughed. "You are seriously going to fight him on that?"
Kurt looked at Tina as if she uttered a really bad swear word. "For all the love of Gaga, Tina I am not going to have my future house's rooms horribly decorated with that; Let alone have the house look like it's Bambi's worse nightmare. "
Tina laughed some more. "Just think of all the ways you could design for it?"
Kurt looked at her mortified. "Tina! No, I don't like the idea of killing animals, whether they're pets or not!"
"Kurt calm down before you blow up." Tina said with a smile. "I'm pretty sure that Finn isn't a hunter. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body; and when he is mad he is over it quickly, well with the exception of the whole baby gate thing last year."
Kurt sighed. "You're right. That is a good thing, plus he doesn't hold grudges either."
Kurt and Tina had been following the group through the store until found the booth. A gentleman was sitting at the table and he looked up and gave a small smile. "Hello kids."
"Hello," Artie said, "We're the William McKinley Glee Club."
The man nodded. Tina noticed that his name tag read Dillon. "Alright the song that I have been told to give you is Liar by Emilie Autum and ASP"
Tina perked up when she heard this. "I'll sing this one."
"Go ahead Tina I have no clue what the lyrics are." Rachel said, as Quinn, Santana, Brittany, and Mercedes all nodded that they agreed with Rachel.
"The song is a duet. Do any of you guys know it?" Tina asked.
None of the guys said anything, but Artie raised his hand. "I know it."
"So it's settled Gothic Gal and Wheels are singing this one. It should prove to be interesting." Puck said.
Artie rolled forward and intentionally ran over Puck's foot, who howled in pain. "Oops sorry, Puck, I guess you should watch where your feet are."
Tina and Artie took positions and nodded to Dillon to start the music.
As the music started, Tina started to do some harmonizing that was at the beginning and wailed in between Artie's spoken words.
Artie:
Willst du mich leiden sehen?
unendlich leiden sehen ?
Tina:
I want your suffering !
I want your suffering !
I want to hold you to the sun
I want to be your faithful one
I want to show you all the beauty
You don't even know you hold
I'm hurting you for your own good
I'd die for you - you know I would
I'd give up all my wealth
To buy you back the soul you never sold
Tina and Artie:
I want to mix our blood
And put it in the ground
You can never leave
I want to earn your trust
Your faith your heart
You'll never be deceived
LIAR!
After the song was done Dillon clapped and he handed the plastic note and the last clue card to Tina, who thanked him and with the rest of the group retreated back outside. Tina tore open the envelope and then read the final clue aloud. "If this were a game of Black Jack, then the name of this card has a value of either one or eleven."
"So we have to go to a card store?" Santana asked.
"No, we don't." Puck said as he looked over Tina's shoulder. "The clue is clear. In the card game of Black Jack, every card has a value. So all the number cards are their own number so seven is seven and five is five."
"We get what you mean, mohawk boy. Get to the point." Mercedes said irritated.
"Alright, in Black Jack the king, queen, and jack have the value of ten. So the only card that can be one or eleven is the ace. The clue said that the name of the business is the name of that card so the answer is Ace." Puck said ignoring Mercedes 'outburst.
"Ace…"Finn started to think aloud.
"Finn don't hurt yourself, we need to go to Ace Hardware." Rachel said.
Kurt frowned at Rachel. "Rachel, that was uncalled for."
"What?" Rachel asked. "I was just saving Finn from thinking."
Tina saw Finn's cheeks flush. Oh boy, we're going to have another fight tonight.
Kurt crossed his arms. "Rachel, need I remind you…"
"Oh Kurt, get over yourself. I have dealt with my feelings for Finn. Let's just finish this scavenger hunt and save the bickering for another time, shall we?" Rachel said.
Kurt looked like he was going to reply with something else before he replied with a different answer. "Just remember he's mine, so back off. But I got my eye on you."
Rachel just ignored Kurt and head for the cars, with everyone following shortly after. Then they headed to Ace Hardware their last destination for the scavenger hunt.
-Kurt-
Kurt pulled into the parking lot of Ace Hardware five minutes later behind Puck. Kurt glanced at Finn who smiled at him with a small smile. Everyone once again filed out of the cars and went inside and found that the booth was at the front of the store.
The manager greeted them all with a smile. "Hello, I'm Cedric and I'm betting that you guys are the glee club, right?"
Everybody in the group nodded. Cedric's smile widened. "The song that the school board chose for you all to sing tonight is Funny Farm or as it more commonly known as They're Coming to Take Me Away."
Finn turned to the guys. "Let's sing this one together guys."
"Sure." Artie said,
"I'm down." Puck said.
So the guys all formed a line and then Finn nodded to Cedric who hit play on the boom box and the creepy music filled the room and the guys just went loose with it.
Finn:
Remember when you ran away
And I got on my knees
And begged you not to leave
Because I'd go berserk
Sam:
Well you left me anyhow
And then the days got worse and worse
And now you see I've gone
Completely out of my mind
All Guys:
And they're coming to take me away ha-haaa
They're coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha haaa
To the funny farm
Where life is beautiful all the time
After the guys had finished singing, Cedric clapped with the girls and the few customers that had stopped to watch the performance. Cedric then gave them their last music note, but he also gave them another clue card to which he handed to Sam.
"Why are we getting another clue card?" Rachel asked.
Cedric smiled. "We're technically the last stop. The location of where the school board is in that envelope where you need to go to win the scavenger hunt. If you go to the las place on the list and get the final location, you won't win because you don't have all of your clubs tokens from the other businesses. You need all 15 in order to win."
"I guess I can understand that." Finn said.
"Do you know what time it is?" Kurt asked.
Cedric looked at his watch. "It's just five minutes after eight. So if you guys are done, you did a lot better job than most. You're the seventh club to show up out of the 16 that are listed."
"Well thanks, I think that we better get going and see if we can still win this thing." Finn said and the group headed out of the store. Once in the parking lot Sam opened their final clue card and read aloud. "Now that your group has received its final item, there is but one more destination. Your group will need to go where a collection is kept, that is accessible to the public for a form of entrainment."
"What about the movies?" Quinn asked.
"I'm not so sure about that." Mercedes said.
"I could see maybe one of the video stores." Josh said.
"We could try Santana's bedroom." Puck offered.
"Screw you Puck!" Santana yelled at him. "We could all just as easily go to your place, or wait we could go to your favorite place on the edge of town."
"I really don't want to hear about this." Rachel said.
"Oh please Berry, like you really care." Santana said.
"OK!" Kurt said loudly. "As much as we know that your sex lives are very public for you two, the rest of us don't care who's more public than the other."
"Wow," Santana said. "Someone is having male PMS."
"I'll show you male PMS." Kurt said as he started towards Santana, But Finn grabbed him.
"I think we should just figure out the clue." Finn said as he struggled to keep a hold of him as he tried to get to Santana.
"How about the library, guys?" Tina asked. "It contains a collection and it's accessible to the public; plus reading is form of entertainment."
Kurt stopped struggling in Finn's arms. "You know you're right Tina. Now do we go back to school or go to the public library?"
"Since the clue says that it is publicly accessible I would say the public one." Josh said.
"Alright let's go win this thing!" Rachel said enthusiastically.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I kind of need to use the bathroom." Kurt said.
"I do need to use it too." Mike said.
"We'll stop over at the new gas station on the way."
"That sounds good to me, thanks." Kurt said as he and everyone else loaded up into the vehicles and drove off.
-Finn-
Finn was currently waiting outside of Kurt's navigator keeping an eye on it. Everyone apparently needed to use the bathroom as well, all except Finn. So he said that he'd stay and keep the car running. After another ten minutes the others were out and ready to load up.
Kurt couldn't possibly take this long to pee could he? Finn thought as he watched the inside of the store. Finn then saw Mercedes come out.
"Is Kurt still in there?" Finn asked.
Mercedes looked around and noticed that Kurt wasn't outside. "I thought that he was already back out here. He left the bathroom before the rest of us girls."
Finn frowned. "I don't know, let's double check."
Mercedes nodded. Finn then turned to Sam. "Sam, keep an eye on Kurt's car ok? Mercedes and I are going to look for him real quick."
Sam nodded a look of concern starting to show on his face but he didn't say anything.
Finn then followed Mercedes back into the store and headed to the restrooms. Mercedes went back into the women's as Finn went into the men's room. Finn checked all the stalls and there was no sign of Kurt in there. Finn even checked the immensely small trash can just in case.
Finn came out and waited for a moment before Mercedes reappeared. "He's not in the women's."
Finn shook his head as the panic set in. "He's not in the men's either."
They went to the front where the cashier was. The boy looked up and smiled. "Can I help you?"
"Umm," Finn started to say. "Have you seen a guy in here oh about so tall," (Finn held his hand out to show Kurt's height. "He was wearing a Robin costume."
"Yeah, when he came back out of the restrooms, he was met by some guy and they left out the other door." The cashier said as he pointed over Finn's shoulder at another set of doors.
Finn and Mercedes moved to that door and as they moved through it Finn's panic increased ten times what it was before. Finn saw a car move out of the parking lot fast, but there was no mistaking Kurt in the back as he was screaming for help.
Finn and Mercedes ran around the store to where the others were as another car pulled up and they shoved somebody out of the side. That person rolled until they were out of the car's way before that car took off as well. Everyone had moved to Finn and Mercedes when they appeared running around the corner.
The person stood up and everyone recognized Jacob Ben Israel. He then cautiously approached and walked up to Finn. "I am supposed to give you a message from Karofsky."
Finn paled even more. "What is it?"
Jacob seemed to be really frightened. "Karofsky told me to tell you, that if you want to see the flaming fairy again then you need to go to the hockey arena alone. He also said if you showed up with the others, then Kurt is going to get hit several times for every person that shows up."
Finn looked at Mercedes and then to the others. Everyone's eyes were wide with shock and fear in their eyes.
Finn then looked back at Jacob. "Is Azimo, a part of this too?"
Jacob nodded.
Finn's breath hitched as he went to go slightly pass out, but he made it to sitting on the curb before falling over. But his panic kept him from totally blacking out. I have to save Kurt! But how am I going to do that?