Over the next few days, as Harold, Katie, Justin, Trent, D.J, Bridgette, and Heather readjusted to the world of the living, Duncan began stocking up for the final showdown with Dorian. He was now consumed with the desire to kill Dorian and end this war. He was obsessed with getting it done before anyone else could get hurt.
Duncan's obsession with the end was beginning to worry Courtney, but she knew nothing she said would deter him. Still, she wouldn't let him just blindly follow his suicidal tendencies. She cornered him one day and asked him one, all important question, "Why is it your duty to see thing to the end? Why can't you allow the rest of us to carry the burden too?"
"Because, I've always done things myself." Duncan replied. "It's not that I don't want your help Courtney, it's just something I have to do alone." He smiled and kissed her. "Don't worry, I will still be here at the end." He then walked away to continue his work.
"I know you will." Courtney whispered. "And I also know you don't fight alone."
Duncan's obsession was not the only thing on the minds of the former campers. Tyler and Cody were still in the hospital, though they were improving by the day. And there was also the issue of when, or if, Owen, Ezekiel, and Eva would return to them from the other side. However, the campers realized that they had no control over whether or not that would happen. Justin still remained convinced it would, basing his assumption on the evidence. Every one of them that had previously died had come back, so logically Owen, Ezekiel, and Eva should as well; it was only a matter of time.
A week after the mass return, Duncan received another message from Thomas. It read, Duncan, meet me on the roof of the tower across the street from your hotel. We have much to discuss. TL.
Duncan stared at the note a moment, not believing what he was reading. Was Thomas really that stupid? Did he really think Duncan would fall for this? Duncan considered the possibilities for a moment. On the one hand, Thomas was a traitor, who was still in league with the enemy. On the other, he may actually have information that could be valuable. Finally Duncan decided to go against his better judgment, and take the risk that this was a trap. He left the hotel and went across the street to the tower, hoping he wasn't walking into a trap.
Meanwhile, Courtney was looking for her husband. She bumped into Trent and Gwen, outside her room. "Hey, you guys haven't seen Duncan, have you?" she asked. They shook their heads, and followed her into her room. Trent found the note and read it. "Oh, shit. He's gone to meet with Thomas." he said. Courtney and Gwen looked at him, horror on both their faces.
Duncan reached the roof of the tower, to find Thomas waiting for him. He approached the man, keeping his eyes on him. "So you wanted to talk?" he asked.
"Yes." said Thomas. Duncan tried to read his face, but Thomas did not show any signs of deception.
"What did you want to discuss?" Duncan asked.
"The terms of your death." Thomas replied, drawing a gun, and aiming it at Duncan's head.
"Shit." said Duncan, realizing he had been tricked.
"I must say, I didn't expect you to come Duncan." said a voice behind him. He turned to find Dorian standing there, with one guard.
Duncan sighed. "Let's just get this over with." he said. "I don't have time for games."
"Oh come now Duncan, don't take the fun out of this." said Dorian. "Let us talk before I kill you. It could spare your friends."
"Yeah, like I believe that load of shit." said Duncan. "You never stop, do you Dorian? It's all just a game to you isn't it? Well I don't want to play, so you might as well kill me, cause this isn't doing anything to fix my mood."
"Have it your way then. Thomas kill him." said Dorian. Thomas aimed at Duncan, but did not shoot. "What are you waiting for, shoot him!" Dorian bellowed.
"No." said Thomas, turning the gun towards Dorian.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Dorian shouted, drawing his own gun.
"Something I should have done eighteen years ago." said Thomas. Before he could fire, the guard shot him twice in the chest. Duncan grabbed Thomas' gun and fired back, hitting the guard in the head and Dorian in the side. Dorian ran before Duncan could shoot again. He turned to Thomas and lifted him off the ground.
"Stupid bastard." Duncan growled. "What the hell did you do that for? I could have taken him."
Thomas laughed and coughed up blood. "Still think you're all that, don't you?" Duncan didn't answer. "Listen to me Duncan, I'm dead, there's nothing you can do." said Thomas. "Before I go I want you to understand why I did what I did. I made a deal with David Luminous, years ago. I was dying and I would never see my daughter again, so I asked for more time. Luminous gave it to me, provided I never killed again. See, Luminous has been after my soul for years, so I had to give him something in exchange for letting me live."
He paused a moment, and coughed up more blood, then continued, "I left Dorian, but I couldn't forget what he had done to me. I went to back to him, hoping I could find a way to kill him without breaking my deal. But I couldn't. He convinced me to help him with his plans for you and your friends. I knew it would be my death, but I did it, cause I still believed he could get Abigail. But he didn't even know where she was. I was tricked, just like you. And when I killed Gwen and Noah, I broke my deal with Luminous. After Gwen's funeral I contacted Luminous again and made another deal with him, if he allowed all of you to come back from the dead, should you die, for any reason, then I would give him my soul and Dorian's. Luminous agreed. That's why your friends are coming back, and they'll stay alive when this is all over. You must make sure you kill the DuValls before you kill Dorian. As long as one of us is alive, you're all safe from death. But the DuValls will hunt you, even if Dorian is dead. If they kill you, and he's dead, you stay dead."
He fell silent for a moment, before reaching into his pocket and retrieving a disk, which he handed to Duncan. "Take this." he said. "It contains the answers to all of your questions. Remember to kill the DuValls first, promise you will do-" Thomas fell silent once more. He was dead.
Duncan stared at him, feeling tears burning in his eyes. "I promise Thomas, I will avenge you. And I will remember."
Just then, Courtney, Gwen, and Trent arrived. They stopped short, seeing Thomas' body. Duncan turned to them, the look on his face telling them all they needed to know. Thomas Locke was gone.
A/N: Well, that's that. I don't know how many of you were actually big fans of Thomas Locke, but if you were, just remember my statements from the previous two chapters. His death WAS neccessary. Also, I should point out, we're nearing the end folks, and it's gonna go out with a bang!