Well, it's been a while, I think a month or so. I suppose I should apologize for being gone so long, but I really wanted to think this story over. Did you see how I ended last chapter? It was pretty much like "Oh, I have to kill someone now….um Abby and Jimmy!"
Now don't get me wrong it was always my intention to kill Abby and Jimmy, but they were huge characters and I killed them very sloppily, I don't think I even went over a thousand words when I killed them, no final thoughts either.
I'm disappointed in myself actually, I'm not pursuing this as a profession, I'm just doing this for fun, but even so I think I should have done a better job.
Not to mention my writing computer was broken by my family, so I'm writing on the family one, where everyone uses it, but I really felt like I needed to work on this story.
Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, I actually think some of you might be surprised by who dies, I originally had this character dying in this chapter but when I saw the poll I thought, oh this person is more popular then I thought, but they were surpassed by the three who I actually created the poll for, so the ax must come down on this character.
Speaking of which I was extremely surprised to see the three most popular choices are the ones I'm considering saving. So at the end of the chapter go ahead to my profile and vote to save someone.
My life has been mixed for the most part, so now onto chapter 11 of 13.
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to reviewer James and Sugarland76
Recommended Listens:
Bad Romance – Lady GaGa
Alejandro (Demo Version) – Lady GaGa
Dance in the Dark – Lady GaGa
Telephone – Lady GaGa ft. Beyonce
Video Phone – Beyonce ft. Lady GaGa
Chapter Title: Bleed
Chapter Warnings: Death and Language
I won't be doing the POV thing since a lot of you didn't like it.
I don't own Harper's Island
Characters Still Alive:
Chris
Erin
Jack
Josh
Kayla
Madison
Mak
Richard
Shea
Tyler
Bush, squirrel, bush, bush, tree, log, rock…….another bush. These were the things Erin saw as she sprinted through the forest in hopes to shake her pursuer. "Damn, I hate running!" Erin thought as she jumped over a bush as if it were a hurdle.
Erin scolded herself for ending up in this position, running from a killer in the woods on an island a good ways away from modern civilization. She now hated herself for making fun of the cross country team in her high school years, which in reality, wasn't too long ago. She remembered sitting with Madison and laughing her ass off as the boys and girls would run around that track for countless hours.
"What's the point?" Erin had asked, "As soon as they finish one lap they have like, thirty more to do!" she exclaimed while Madison would sip on her drink, "And they look completely ridiculous in those tiny blue shorts. Why can't they just put on some regular shorts that reach their knees? I don't particularly enjoy seeing pasty white, or hairy legs as they continue to run around in a circle."
"Then why do we eat lunch out here?" Madison would ask.
"Well why do they have to practice during our lunch?"
"Beats me," Madison said, laying back down on the ground.
Erin then picked up her drink taking one final sip, before throwing it at an oncoming runner. After it connected, spraying Dr. Pepper over the now shocked and upset runner Erin quickly pulled Madison to her feet before taking off.
Coming back to reality, Erin looked behind her momentarily to see she was still being pursued by some crazy person wielding some sort of weapon.
"Hey asshole!" Erin screamed out while she gasped for breath at the same time, "Chase scenes are too 90's, so do me a favor and LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE!"
Unfortunately the only effect this seemed to have on her pursuer was for him to pick up the pace and chase with new found determination.
"Christ!!!" Erin said, becoming frantic and picking up her pace as well, now moving deeper into the woods and becoming more lost.
Tyler's eyes darted back and forth as he inspected the surroundings. Shea was still holding Richie who had awoken from his slumber and was now playing with a stick, and Jack was still nestled between Tyler's legs blankly starring nowhere.
Tyler looked from side to side, the only movement outside of their bush created by the chilling wind that was blowing the trees and bushes. Branches groaned and falling leaves settled on the ground around them, further blanketing them.
"We should move," Tyler suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
"What?" Shea asked, half not believing what she heard, and half just not hearing at all.
"We should move from here, find somewhere where we would be able to protect ourselves better." Tyler said.
"Or maybe that's what the killer wants us to do," said Shea, "How do we know that he isn't out there waiting for us, hoping this is exactly what we'll do."
"First off who says it's a he?" Jack began surprising both Shea and Tyler, "And second, I think whoever the killer is, would have made a move by now."
"Well maybe they have good patience," said Shea.
"Well here we're open to attack from all angles, we should try to get to a place that will offer us some side protection."
"And where would that be?" asked Shea.
"I think the Candlewick would be our best bet," Tyler said.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?" Shea screamed, but was silenced when Jack quickly put his hand over her mouth.
"Think about it, the killer has already been there so they most likely won't come back. Plus there are a good amount of rooms there, and anyone alive is going to go back there first." Tyler said.
"Which also means the killer could be there waiting for anyone to be stupid enough to walk into a trap!" Shea exclaimed.
"Well it's our best bet!" said Tyler standing, "Now who's coming?"
Jack stood causing Tyler to turn to Shea and Richie, "Coming?" he asked.
Shea looked down, not willing to answer.
"Let's go then," Tyler said as he ran off into the woods back to the Candlewick.
Jack looked to Shea, "Come on Shea, you two aren't safe alone," he said.
"Just go," Shea said not looking at him, only running a hand through Richie's hair.
"Shea, think about this," Jack said.
"Just go!" she said again.
Jack looked at Richie and offered him a smile before running after Tyler.
"Mommy?" Richie asked looking up at Shea, "Why don't we go with them?"
"Because….it's not safe," Shea said.
"But what about Madison?" Richie asked.
"I……" Shea began, "She has Josh,"
This seemed to silence Richie for the moment, "Mommy, I'm scared," Richie said.
Shea didn't know how to respond, "I am too sweetie, but I don't know what to do."
"We could go to Tyler and Jack," Richie said.
"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" Shea asked her son.
"Uh huh!" he said, nodding his head like an optimistic child would.
"Well then," Shea said pulling herself and Richie up, "Let's go," she said before running off after the two boys.
Tyler and Jack reached the Candlewick in no time. They stood together as they cautiously approached the front entrance, only to stop in their tracks at the sight before them. Ashlyn's corpse and blood littered the ground around them.
"Shit," Tyler said, looking over Ashlyn's mutilated corpse.
Jack bent down beside him to survey the hole in her chest and the blood that had dripped down her mouth and from her wound.
"How long ago do you think this was?" Jack asked.
"What's it matter?" Tyler said, looking away in disgust.
"It matters because the killer could either be lurking around the corner, possibly behind the front door, or they could be long gone by now." Jack said.
Tyler was about to respond when a rustling from behind them caused them both to whip around suddenly to come face to face with Shea and Richie.
"You came?" Tyler asked bewildered.
"Yes, now if you don't mind I'd like to go inside," Shea said walking forward before stopping in her tracks at seeing Ashlyn's corpse.
Shea let out a scream as she brought Richie into her chest to shield his eyes from the horror before them. "Much good it'll do, the boy's probably scarred for life already." Jack thought.
"Come on, we don't need to spend anymore time out here. The sooner we get inside the better," Tyler said, grabbing Shea and Richie leading them inside.
Jack stood outside as the group entered the inn. He looked down to look at Ashlyn one last time before walking up the steps to enter. Jack stopped on the last step however, feeling a set of eyes upon him.
He quickly turned around to look out at the forest, his eyes darting back and forth to catch any sign of human life. He was shocked to say the least when a hand was placed on his shoulder, causing him to yelp and whirl around, only to come face to face with Tyler.
"What are you doing? Come on!" Tyler said dragging Jack inside.
Jack was speechless as Tyler led him up the nearest flight of stairs to the second story, where Shea and Richie were waiting.
"Which room should we use?" asked Tyler.
"Madison's, if she comes back here then it's a good bet that she'll head there to get something." Jack said.
"You mean when she gets back," said Shea.
"Right, when," said Jack.
"Let's go," said Tyler walking down the hallway.
The group was walking down the hallway when Jack paused causing the others too as well. They soon all paled, and Richie buried his now teary face in Shea when Neil's corpse came into view.
Jack grimaced as he relived Neil opening the door only to be shot right after. As the group walked around the body, Jack looked down to see the hole located on his forehead, and the shocked look his eyes held.
Tyler had to regain his balance when he nearly slipped on the blood that pooled on the floor, the inn's carpet not fully able to absorb the blood.
The group soon found themselves at the door to Madison's room, slowly turning the handle peaking their heads in before entering and locking the door behind them.
"I'm going to clean Richie up for a little bit," Shea said, leading him to the bathroom, "You two should look around the room, see if there is anything that could help us," she said, before shutting the bathroom door behind her.
Tyler looked back at the bathroom door before walking up to Jack and kissing him on the lips. "You okay?" Tyler asked.
Jack seemed taken aback by the sudden gesture of affection but Tyler knew he had enjoyed it when Jack reached his hand up to his lips and smiled slightly.
"Jack?" Tyler asked.
"Huh?" Jack answered looking up, a slight flush adorning his face.
"I asked if you're okay?" Tyler said.
"Oh….well, I guess not," Jack said looking down, "A lot of people are dead, we don't even know if people who were alive even an hour ago are alive now, and just because we think we're safe here doesn't mean that we're out of danger. The killer could be lurking anywhere in this inn right now."
Tyler frowned at his response, hoping that his potential lover would be a little more optimistic, "Jack, I wanted to talk to you about something." Tyler said.
"What is it?" Jack asked sitting down on the bed and removing his shoes.
"I know with everything that's been going on you haven't really had a chance to think about this, and I don't even know if I should ask you about this due to the current situation but…." Tyler trailed off.
"What?" Jack asked placing a hand on Tyler's shoulder as he sat down.
Tyler turned to Jack to look into his eyes, "What do you think about…..us?" he whispered.
Jack eyes widened slightly, but smiled then looked down, "Well….I'd imagine if we both survive this…" Jack paused watching Tyler out of the corner of his eye, "It would only bring us closer together, and I'm turning eighteen soon, and we could go from there."
Jack turned to see the disappointment in Tyler's eyes, "But I mean there's no way I could ever go without you in my life, after all of this, and you being there for me when I lost Heather…..there's no way I could ever shut you out Tyler," Jack said.
Tyler weaved his hand through Jack's and gripped it tightly as the two sat on the bed. "Do you think we'll make it?" Jack asked.
"I'll make sure that we do," said Tyler drawing Jack into him.
The two sat together for about ten minutes, listening to the sounds of the outside and the running water and murmurs coming from the bathroom.
"Do you think we should look around, see if there's anything we can use?" asked Jack.
"Like what? It's Madison and Josh's room, unless we can use clothes to defend ourselves I think we're out of luck." Tyler said.
"Well there might be something," Jack said standing.
Tyler watched as Jack walked over to the dresser in the corner and opened it. Tyler watched as Jack paused and held up a pair of green boxer-briefs. "You know, I've known Josh since I was a little kid, but I never took him as the type to wear boxer-briefs."
"I don't think I like the idea of you thinking about what Josh would be wearing underneath his pants anyway." Tyler said standing.
"Oh please, he's like a brother to me, and he's marrying Madison," Jack said.
"Sooo," Tyler said drawing it out.
"And he's straight," Jack said.
"I don't know, I've seen the way he looks at you," Tyler said coyly, enjoying teasing Jack.
Jack turned back to him rolling his eyes, but grew concerned when he saw Tyler looking heatedly at something, "What?" Jack asked.
Tyler stepped forward and brushed him aside to start flinging underwear out of the dresser.
"What are you doing?" Jack asked as Tyler stopped and grasped something he couldn't quite make out from where he was standing.
Jack's mouth hung open when Tyler turned back to him, holding a knife with dried blood, staining the blade.
They were both at a loss for words as they just starred at each other, then at the knife, and then back at each other.
"What's that doing there?"
"Hell if I know, but I could offer you one good guess!" Tyler exclaimed.
Jack thought for a moment and then in dawned on him, "You don't think Josh is the killer do you?"
"Well the knife speaks for itself," Tyler responded.
"That's outrageous, what motive would he have for doing all of this?" Jack said.
"Hell! I don't know, but Madison and him came back to this island for a wedding, something is too strange about that, and isn't a little strange how Shea and Richie have never been in danger once yet?" Tyler asked, lowering his voice.
"Well if Josh and Madison are such big suspects then so is Shea. Don't you think it's a little strange that she just happened to show up after the killer vanished from my room."
"And how Richie has never seemed too worried," Tyler began, continuing on Jack's idea, "I mean sure he's screamed and cried, but in the forest he was so quite, not like a normal kid would be."
Jack sat back down on the bed holding his head between his hands, "But still that doesn't give any three of them any reason to do this," Jack said looking up at Tyler.
"Maybe one of them finally snapped!" Tyler said throwing his hands in the air.
"It can't be Josh, I've known him too long, and there is no way he could ever do anything like this. He could hurt someone to defend Madison or me, but to kill someone, his friends let alone, it's out of the question." Jack said.
"Maybe you don't know him as well as you thought," Tyler said causing Jack to look at him, "In case you forget, this was with his underwear."
"Maybe it was planted," Jack said standing up, "The killer was absent for a period of time when Shea found us, they could have planted it during that time!" Jack said.
"But then that rules out Shea being a suspect, but I still have a bad feeling about her," Tyler said quietly, hoping Shea and Richie weren't listening in, "And the knife being planted would be a convenient excuse for Josh to make!"
"I don't want to think about this any more!" Jack said.
"Well we have to, this is going to be the difference between life and death. If we can figure out who the killer is we'll be able to separate ourselves from that person and keep ourselves safe."
"That's so selfish though!" Jack said looking at him with unbelieving eyes.
"Is it?!?!" Tyler asked questioningly, "Think about it, you're second, at best, to Madison in Josh's eyes. Shea is protecting Richie at all costs….and Heather…Heather is,"
"Dead…I know," Jack said sorrowfully, "I just can't imagine turning our backs on people who might need us."
"Hopefully we won't have to," said Tyler depositing the knife back in the dresser, "Our future together is to important to give up though," Tyler said as he picked up the underwear on the floor.
Jack just looked down at his feet sadly, not feeling like talking anymore. "You know, I think you would look pretty sexy in a pair of these....and just these," Tyler said trying to cheer Jack up and lighten the mood.
"Thanks…." Jack said rather blankly.
Tyler sighed as he put the last garments back into the dresser and closing it. He looked out the window wondering what the hell was happening out in those woods.
Kayla was growing extremely pissed off as continued to run blindly through the lush forests of Harper's Island. She had stripped herself of her jacket quite some time ago, and her blonde hair as well as her black tank top were now plastered to her body with sweat due to the non-stop running.
Fatigue set in and soon Kayla found herself become sloppy. Haphazardly jumping over obstacles, her feet crossing as she continued her pace, in hopes to find any human contact.
With her lack on energy Kayla was unable to clear a fallen tree limb and was spent sprawling down a slope to end up at the bottom, surrounded by hundreds of cool, small, smooth pebbles.
Kayla placed her hands at her sides and weakly pushed up to survey the scene before her. She was laying before a lake and she grew paranoid as the eerie silence rolled in with the fog that blanketed the bank and the surrounding trees.
"Where did this fog come from?" Kayla asked.
She looked around fearfully as trees and bushes contorted forms and shapes to form much scarier images in her head.
Kayla, deciding she no longer wanted to stay here, slowly and weakly started to crawl up the semi-steep slope in hopes to getting back on the main path. She wasn't concerned at all that the main path would lead someone right to her. She was focused on now finding her way back to the inn and hiding out in the darkest corners there until some sort of help would be able to be reached.
Kayla was starting to walk, now favoring her left arm. It was only slightly scraped, but due to current circumstances Kayla felt completely defeated and was no longer in any mood to run. "I'm going to rip Madison apart when I see her; I'm going to make that bitch pay for bringing us here for a damn wedding."
Kayla stopped when she heard someone off in the distance, Kayla looked around for somewhere, anywhere to hide, but after finding nothing on the ground Kayla quickly turned her attention to the skies and the shelter they offered.
Kayla quickly found a suitable tree and began her climb to submerge herself in its foliage and wait for this ordeal to be over so she could go home to her family.
Kayla reached a firm, sturdy branch in no time and her plain of view was now increased as she looked out all around her, and the sound from early had a source.
It was Erin, and she was being chased! Kayla covered her mouth as she saw Erin continue to run. Kayla really wanted to help her friend she did so, so much, but with no weapons and being completely drained all she could do was hope Erin could outrun her pursuer, and cry for her friend if she didn't.
Madison and Josh were still running, and Madison was becoming increasingly fed up with all the route changes Josh was making. They should have been back at the inn by now, something Madison was about to voice, but was halted when Josh stopped suddenly in front of her.
"What is it Josh?" Madison asked.
"I want you to hide?" he said.
"What why?" Madison said becoming immediately alert as well as terrified.
"I see something up ahead, and I need to check it out." Josh said.
"Then let's go!" Madison said.
"NO!" Josh said rather sternly, his patience visibly wearing thin, "I don't need to put you in danger. Just get out of sight and stay put until I come back!"
Madison was about to respond until Josh suddenly ran off, leaving her behind and all alone, "Shit!" she cursed quickly looking around, finding a bush to camouflage herself in, waiting for her fiancé to make his return quickly.
"What did he see?" Madison wondered as she sat there also on the lookout.
Erin burst through a bush, flinging herself into a clearing and tumbling down to the ground. Erin quickly looked behind her to see a person come flying in right after her.
Erin quickly picked herself up and was about to start running again, when she was grabbed from behind by her hair and pulled back. Erin screamed in pain as her feet left the ground and she fell back onto her back.
Erin hit the ground with a thud and a groan as she closed her eyes, the pain in her head and back not doing anything to better then current situation, but in her eyes the fight wasn't over and she could still escape.
The person pulled her up by the air, eliciting a scream from Erin who laughed at her. Erin grew frustrated and started flailing around trying to free herself from the person's grasp.
"FUCK YOU!" Erin screamed as she flung her leg up, kicking the person in the gut, causing him to drop her. Erin quickly scrambled on the ground and was soon up and running. She took a glance back at her attacker, but while looking back, she took her eyes off of what was in front of her and ran squarely into a chest, sending falling back onto the ground.
Erin rubbed her head as she rested on the ground, dazed from her latest hit. "Sorry Erin, seems you forgot one thing," the person said once again from behind her, grabbing her hair and playing with it between his hands, "I've got a partner," the person said before plunging a knife into her chest.
Erin screamed out in pain as the person repeatedly plunged the knife into her flesh opening several wounds, allowing her to bleed freely, staining her shirt with her crimson blood.
The person carelessly let Erin fall to the ground, cleaning the knife on her shirt, and as Erin lay there dying she was able to mutter once last sentence.
"Fuck you…..Chris," Erin said, before shutting her eyes and letting the pain consume her.
"Thanks for your help!" Chris said before watching someone run off.
Back in her bush Madison was shaking. Josh had been gone for a while and she was completely alone. She contemplated going after Josh when a crackle and snap from very nearby ended that. She screamed as someone yanked her out of the bush she was hiding in.
Madison opened her eyes to come face to face with Mak. "Mak!?!" she cried throwing her arms around him, "Thank god!" she said.
"Madison! What are you doing alone??" he asked desperately.
"Josh had to go ahead for a second, he'll be right back," she said.
"I would never leave you alone like this," Mak said bringing Madison closer to his chest.
"Mak?" Madison asked bewildered.
"Madison….I don't know if I'll get another chance to say this, but….I still love you Madison, and I want to be with you. I know you're marrying Josh, but please, please just give me another chance." Mak said burying his head in Madison's hair.
Madison's eyes widened, how was she supposed to react to that, thankfully she didn't have too because in that moment Josh reappeared before them.
"Josh!" Madison cried.
"What's he doing here?" asked Josh.
"Does it matter, what did you find?" Madison asked, trying to ignore the two men who loved her.
"We need to go around," Josh said
"Wait, why?" Madison and Mak asked.
"We just do okay," Josh said before taking off again.
Madison looked on in shock, before Mak grabbed her hand and led her forward back to the inn.
End of Bleed
Deaths:
Erin
Remaining Killers:
Chris
And
?
Meaning for chapter title: I couldn't think of anything clever to title the chapter, but the word bleed just called out to me, so I chose it.
Yah I'm sure most of you knew Chris would be a killer, but whose the other killer?
Sorry Erin had to go, she didn't get enough votes for me to change the whole story to save her, so I'm sorry, but at least she got to go out revealing a killer. I also know this chapter is shorter then others, but I think you guys are happy to just get a chapter, and I also didn't edit this chapter too much when I uploaded it, but I'm going to be gone today, and I wanted to give you guys a nice Saturday treat.
Head over to the poll to vote and save someone.
Read and Review if you have the time and I'll see you guys soon hopefully for chapter 12 of 13.
Oh and if you wouldn't mind checking out my story, The Adventures of a Beta Wolf, it would really mean a lot to me.
