Chapter 14 - The Monster Emerges.

I was quietly laying in the abandoned clearing, pine trees and leaves surrounded me. I slowly rose from my position. I glanced around the clearing, without a clue as to where I was. I rubbed my head, a subtle headache still there. What was the last thing I remembered? Judging by my surroundings it was close to the summer months. But wasn't it September?

"What happened?" I groaned. I got up and stumbled through the forest. I halted once I saw a river. I looked into the surface and crumbled backward after seeing my reflection. I hadn't noticed the large bullet hole in my forehead nor the tattered remains of my lab coat. Was I dead?

I thought back to before. 2Fort, the fire, Lawrence, the chase and then blackness. I killed them all! I started to panic, I span around and ran back towards the clearing. But when I entered the clearing I continued to run. I tripped over a branch near the edge of the forest and landed sprawled on the ground. I looked up and noticed a building and the red colouration. Then I noticed the small clunky van sitting a few yards away. I grinned before strolling towards it.

Scout woke up later than normal. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes before quickly scanning the room. He spotted his clothing and scrambled upwards, grabbing the clothing and stuffing them on. He heard a slight tapping on the window and turned. Sitting quietly on the window seal was a jet black raven. Scout opened the window and allowed the bird to hop onto his forearm. It held out its foot, a small note tied onto it. He removed it and unrolled it.

Dear Jay,

Something terribly grave just happened. Overnight half of BLU has vanished and one horribly wounded. Meet me at the Double Cross at 8 am.

From

Cat.

Scout rubbed the back of his neck in worry. He slipped his shoes on and ran out toward the common room. He entered the room and everyone was there, minus Sniper and Engineer. He clutched the note tightly before sitting down. Engineer entered, a piece of paper in his gloved hand. Scout noticed Demo looking up from his books and Heavy turn the TV off. "You got news, Herr Engineer?" Medic asked, who was sitting next to Scout.

"Something happened overnight at the BLU base." He began.

"What 'as happened zhis time?" Spy said, lighting a cigarette.

"Five of the BLUs have completely vanished while one has been wounded."

"Who vanished?" Soldier asked.

"Their Scout, Spy, Heavy, Soldier and Demoman. Their Sniper was wounded badly."

"I vounder how zheir Medic is cooping." Medic pondered out loud.

"Badly," Scout stated. He looked up at the clock and noticed that it was seven-fifty-five. He grabbed two pieces of toast and ran out of the base without a second glance.

He sprinted towards the lower bridge before stumbling down the steps and landed on the lower bridge. He peered across and noticed no one was nearby. He walked into the center and sat down, dangling his legs off of the edge and biting into his toast. He heard footsteps approaching and looked up. The BLU Medic grinned before sitting down next to him. Scout noticed the dark circles around her eyes, her disheveled hair and messy outfit. "Are you alright? Want some toast?" He asked, holding the piece of toasted bread up.

"Thanks and no. People are going missing, Jay. My Sniper almost died and I've never been this tired since before I joined BLU." She replied, biting into the food.

"Do you know what happened?"

"Not much but Sniper told me they had all gone hunting for deer last night. He said they saw a bright purple light and went to investigate, leaving Sniper to watch the one deer they had caught. Sniper said he was attacked by something but he was knocked out before he could find out what. They didn't return by midnight so Engineer and I went looking for them. I didn't expect what we found." Scout wrapped an arm around her, noticing her beginning to shiver.

"What did you see, Katie?"

"Something had ravaged where they set up. The deer corpse was dangling from the trees and blood was everywhere. Sniper was lying by the dying campfire, knocked out and his clothing torn, blood streaming from a wound in his side. We couldn't find a trace of the others. Not even their weapons they had brought with them."

"No one on RED has vanished yet."

"You're lucky then," She said wiping the slight tears that had begun. "You don't have to keep your teammates alive and when you can't you don't have to carry that burden with you for the rest of your life."

"But we have Respawn."

"My Sniper's Respawn chip got badly damaged in the attack and the rest of my missing teammates are out of Respawn's range. Have you ever noticed the river flowing outside the boundary of this place? That river is the border of Respawn's range. We found Sniper at the edge of it."

"Even I forget that we can die sometimes."

Casey sat, watching, in a metal fold-out chair that was sitting in Sniper's van. She watched as he woke up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. He looked over in her general direction and he let loose a small gasp of surprise. "Bloody hell. I must be dreaming still." He murmured. He got up and walked over to where Casey sat. She watched him absentmindedly, not saying a word as he waved a hand in front of her. He snarled in frustration before slamming a fist onto the countertop. "Why are you here you witch!? I thought you were only in my dreams!"

"I believe you are false. I only awoke in this form recently. Please remove your hand it is uncomfortable." She calmly stated.

"How are you like this and here?!" Sniper desperately asked.

"I do not know. I have a question for you, Lawrence. What day is it?"

"Friday, June 28th, 1968…. God no." He gasped in horror finally remembering what day it was.

There was a quiet knock on the base door of RED. Engineer opened it and was surprised at the fact that a group of BLUs was standing outside. He welcomed them inside unsure if anything was amiss. They gathered on one side of the common room with harsh glares from the majority of RED. Their Medic stepped forward first and motioned for Engineer to follow her. He followed after her, shutting the door behind himself.

"What are you in sam hell are all doing here?" He asked.

"We were driven out of our own base this morning. I left to go on a break and when I arrived back the whole place was in pandemonium. Something or someone attacked our armory and set off bombs causing half of our base to explode. Luckily, my team was in the infirmary which was on the other side of the base. But our sleeping quarters were completely destroyed and we have nowhere to go." She blurted.

"Woah, Woah, slow down! You just need a place to stay? I gotta ask Helen first but otherwise, you can stay here for now." He replied.

"I'm guessing you're the one in charge around here, eh?" She chucked.

"Yep. Now go back to your teammates. I'll go make a phone call." He ushered her away before heading towards the payphone. He slipped a coin in and dialed the number that was permanently written on the side of the machine.

"Hello, Mr. Conagher. What is this time?" A female voice said through the transmitter.

"Well, Miss Pauling, this morning the BLUs showed up at the RED base asking to stay due to their base being blown up." He began to explain.

"Hmm. Did they explain how?" She coldly asked.

"Their Medic explained to me that after returning from her break, the base was destroyed. Miss Pauling, they have nowhere to go." He pleaded.

"Fine. But if anything happens it will be on your paycheck, Mr. Conagher." She said before hanging up.

"Now, now Lawrence. There is no need to panic. No need at all."

"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Just get out of my life, you bloody witch!" Sniper yelled as he clutched his head in pain and knelt on the floor. Casey stepped forward and stroked his head like a parent would their child.

"Now that isn't ever going to happen, deary. Not when I've got you right where I want you."

"Just stop it, Casey. I've given you what you want." He sobbed, the pain in his head becoming incredibly unbearable.

"Not everything." She whispered into his ear.

Scout quietly read a comic in his room before he heard a knock on his door. He looked up and got up. He opened the door rapidly. Standing there was Katie. "Hey. What you doin' here?" He asked.

"The BLU base was destroyed. Your Engineer told me I could bunk with you or your Medic. I'd rather take the first option." She grinned.

"Oh… Right y-yeah. C-Cmon.. in!" Scout stuttered, his face beginning to blush. He held the door open and she entered she sat down on the bed and folded her hands over neatly.

"You've got quite a neat room, Jeremy." She stated.

"Uh yeah. Snipes normally helps me keep it clean." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'll just grab the mattress." He ran out of the room leaving her behind. She glanced over at the desk and noticed a stack of papers. She got up and picked the first one, it was a letter dated from last week. She smiled when she noticed her own handwriting before frowning. All his replies were in her room which was a pile of rubble now. She wiped back tears as Scout reentered the room, a large mattress with him. He plopped it down onto the floor before setting the sheets up.

"Let me do that." She demanded, grabbed the sheets and placing them down herself.

"N-No no... Let me do it." He contested.

"You don't normally stutter. Is everything okay?" She asked, placing a hand calmly on his own.

"Just a little nervous. Ya know... With everyone on your team goin' missing.."

"Well, that's fair. Are you worried about... Me?"

"Of course I am! Cat, ya know that I'm always worrying 'bout you." He grinned.

"Well, what do we 'ave here?" A voice said from the doorway. Scout swung his head around and saw the BLU Sniper in the doorway, a bandage around his waist and his silver hair thinning.

"Nothin'. Just helping her set up." Scout casually stated. The Sniper's eyes darted from him to the Medic and back.

"Rrrrright... Anyone seen my counterpart? I wanted to share some snipin' tips with him." Scout looked back at her before speaking.

"Sniper is normally in his van. Least that's where he's been this whole week."

"Thanks! And I'd shut the door if I were you." He chuckled as he left to head towards his counterpart's van.

"It will end once the moon rises otherwise you could always listen to me," Casey said, sitting on Sniper's bed. She watched as he withered in pain on the ground, too overcome with pain to shout for help.

"Just…. S-stop.." He pleaded.

"It isn't my doing. It's your own mind's doing. Face it. You've lost."

"N-No.." He cried. A loud banging came from the door and Casey vanished into the darkness.

"Anyone home?"

"M-my… counterpart?... H-Help.." He groaned, trying to get the attention of his counterpart.

"I'm coming in!" The BLU opened the door and then gasped in shock. "You okay, mate? Hold on let me help." He crouched down and helped lift Sniper onto the bed with a thumper.

"W-Why... Are you... Here?" Sniper asked.

"I'll explain later. I'm gonna go get the Medics. Stay put." He ordered before rushing out of the van. He returned a minute later with both Medics in tow.

"My god, is he okay?" Sniper heard the BLU Medic ask her counterpart as Medic placed a hand over Sniper's forehead.

"He doesn't have a temperature. Herr Sniper, vhat is vrong?"

"G-Get... Demo.." Sniper groaned, slowly blacking out due to the pain.

"You," Medic said pointing to the BLU Sniper. "Get our Demoman! And, vhat time is it?"

"Almost sunset." The BLU Medic stated. Sniper got up and raised his head.

"Nein! You must lie back down, Herr Sniper." Medic ordered, noticing Sniper getting up. Sniper shrugged him off and left the van, running towards the forest. Medic tried to run after him but was held back by a BLU Medic.

"Let him go. The fresh air will do him some good."

"I hope you are right.." Medic gulped.