Blaise Zabini (Boy 20, Slytherin) kept his shotgun trained on Hannah Abbott (Girl 1, Hufflepuff). Whether it bothered her or not, it was hard to tell. The moon was once again directly behind her, making her little more than a silhouette.
"I've been so scared..." Hannah sobbed. "I'm so glad I found someone..."
"Just like you found Ron?" The voice of Hermione Granger (Girl 8, Gryffindor) was harsh enough to make Hannah take a step back.
"I... I never saw anyone!" Hannah shook her head, letting tears fall down her face. "Please listen to me!"
"Lying bitch."
Hannah brought her hands down, waving one in front of her as she slowly reached for her gun with the other. "I'm not lying! I never saw anyone!"
"LYING BITCH!"
Before Blaise could stop her, Hermione grabbed the shotgun out of his hands and fired at the other girl. Hannah fell to the ground, and Hermione pumped the shotgun.
"Hermione, no!" Blaise shouted behind her as she advanced to the fallen girl.
Even though she was hurt badly, Hannah still had the foresight to reach for her gun as quickly as possible once she hit the ground. Before she had the chance to aim it properly, however, she could feel the cold barrel of the shotgun push against her nose.
Hermione kicked the gun out of Hannah's hand. "You killed him," she said softly. "And now you will die for your lies." She pulled the trigger of the shotgun.
The gunshot echoed through the forest. The rain poured down over them as Hermione held the still smoking gun, and Blaise stood where he had been catching his breath. After a very long pause, Hermione dropped the shotgun and fell to her knees.
"He's really gone..." she whispered in a small voice. "I thought... Maybe... That he might come back... But he's really gone..." She looked down at Hannah. "I killed her..."
Blaise took a few steps toward her, not knowing what to say.
Hermione turned to him. "This is really real." He stopped moving, and she continued, her voice shaking. "She killed Ron, and I killed her." Tears welled up in her eyes. "So why do I feel so empty inside?"
Blaise held out a hand to help her up. "I don't know. Maybe vengeance is just supposed to feel that way."
Hermione nodded, not bothering to wipe away her tears. "Maybe..."
Neither of them spoke as he helped her stand. Before they left, he collected the fallen guns and Hannah's pack. He handed Hannah's gun to Hermione.
"I wonder..." she spoke softly. "I wonder if this was even the weapon she was supplied with..."
Blaise shook his head. "Don't dwell."
Hermione nodded as she tucked the gun away, and the two made their way to coast once more.
14 students remaining
September 3 -- 3:12 a.m.
Vicky Frobisher (Girl 7, Gryffindor) sat up straight, eyes wide. The big explosion had awakened her 15 minutes ago. At first she had felt rather confused and disoriented as she struggled to remember where she was and why she was sleeping on the ground. But then as her mind woke up, she began to remember.
She hadn't meant to fall asleep. No. She was supposed to stay awake, make sure that no one approached, and listen to the midnight announcement to mark off the new forbidden zones.
She glanced at her watch in a panic. It was well after midnight. She had missed it. No no no...
She touched the collar around her neck. The fact that she still lived proved that G-1 hadn't become forbidden at either 1 a.m. or 3 a.m. There was no guarantee about 5 a.m. however...
She stood up, taking a few steps south, but then froze. What if she was trapped? What if H-1 or H-2 had become forbidden? The moment she walked into either, she would die.
But if she stayed where she was, she would die. G-1 could become forbidden at 5 a.m. Or maybe later. Either way, she would die.
She sank to the ground, sobbing hysterically. She had half a mind to turn the gun she held onto herself. If she was going to die, it might as well be on her terms, not because she got caught in a stupid forbidden zone. But as she stared at the gun, she realized that she couldn't bring herself to take her own life.
She let out a scream of frustration, not really caring if anyone heard her or not. After all, if someone came to her, that would mean that the pathway was clear. Then she could shoot them and take their map. She was sure that everyone else had already marked the forbidden zones, so she could avoid them.
"Come and get me, you bastards!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. "You hear me? I'm in G-1! So come and get me!"
Tears fell from her face onto the ground. If no one came, she might only have an hour and forty-five minutes left to live. Or maybe twenty-four hours. It was quite possible that there was only one student left besides her, and they might be prevented from reaching her to kill her.
No. She doubted that there would be only one left by now. However many of them were still alive, she doubted that the numbers would have dwindled down that much in the past nine hours since she heard the last announcement. There were nineteen of them left back then. Still, if two students died each hour...
She shook her head. She couldn't think like that. She had to hold on to the hope that someone had heard her, and would come to investigate. She wished that she had a megaphone, like that girl earlier had. Then people were bound to hear her.
At this point of time, she would even welcome that awful shooter with open arms. And a bullet to the head, of course, but that would be purely in self-defense.
Although the idea of shooting anyone else that came was tempting, she wasn't so sure that she could do it. After all, if they weren't playing and she really did shoot them, it wouldn't be self-defense, it would be murder. And although she and Mandy had done some pretty horrible things while working for Hannah, murder was where she drew the line. Burglary, extortion, prostitution, those were all well and good. Those didn't really hurt anyone. Not really. Sure, they'd occasionally ruined a few lives, but those people deserved it. They were perverts. But murder was taboo.
She sat up straighter and shakily took out a cigarette. Maybe nicotine could help calm her nerves. She struggled with her lighter for a minute, then grunted with annoyance, putting away her cigarette. Damn interfering rain. She sniffled, huddling up. She was pretty sure she would be coming down with something or another later. If she lived that long.
She tried not to think such thoughts, but it was hard. Her shoulder hurt from where it had been shot earlier, and she wasn't so sure that she wasn't trapped where she was. What then? If 24 hours passed without a kill, all of the collars would detonate. She wasn't so sure that she would be willing to martyr herself if she was trapped, and couldn't trust someone else to kill themselves just so she could live.
She sat there crying silent tears for a few minutes, then looked up as she heard someone approach. "Stay back!" she shouted as she aimed the gun toward the approaching figure. "I have a gun and will use it!"
The figure in the distance stopped moving and raised their hands. "You really shouldn't shout," he called back. "I'm probably not the only person who heard you."
Vicky lowered the gun slightly, recognizing the voice of the Ravenclaw prefect, Anthony Goldstein (Boy 8, Ravenclaw). But remembering how Hannah had somehow become Hufflepuff prefect, she raised the gun again. "Then stay where you are and don't try anything!"
She slowly stood up, picking up her pack while keeping her gun aimed at the boy. Cautiously, she advanced toward him. "What zones were announced at midnight?"
"I'd have to check my map for certain," Anthony called back. "I don't have them memorized or anything."
Vicky nodded as she walked to him, never taking her eyes off of him. "You do that. Slowly!"
She was pretty sure that he rolled his eyes as he dropped his own pack to the ground and bent over it. She could see him better now as she drew closer.
He stood up straight as he drew a piece of paper from his pack. "H-4, E-9, and J-5. In that order."
Vicky nodded. "So it's all clear here, right?"
Anthony shrugged. "I suppose. Can I put my map away so it doesn't get wet, or would you shoot me?"
Vicky frowned. "Put it away." She was close now. "How many dead? I mean... We're not the last ones left, are we?"
Anthony shrugged. "Not unless everyone else was at the site of that explosion. Only two announced at midnight. Theodore Nott and Ron Weasley."
Vicky blinked and lowered the gun. "Ron's dead?"
He nodded. "According to the announcement." There was a pause. "Are we just going to stand here? I'm sure that others heard you, and I don't want to be here if anyone shows up."
"Huh?" She looked to him. "Oh. Uh, yeah. Just don't try anything or else."
He rolled his eyes and picked up his pack. "I'd say something sarcastic here, but you'd probably shoot me, wouldn't you?"
Vicky sighed. "Just shut up. Where are we going, anyway?"
Anthony led the way south through H-1. "We? I'm your hostage now?"
She gave him an annoyed look. "Well, unless you'd rather be alone." Her face softened and she ran to catch up to him. "And let's face it." She lowered her voice. "Two's better than one."
He shrugged. "Can't argue there."
14 students remaining
September 3 -- 3:53 a.m.
"Do we really have to stay here?" Hermione asked as she looked at the corpse of Theodore Nott. Blaise looked over at her. "I mean, it just seems rather... morbid."
Blaise shrugged, and turned back to look at the smoking forest. "It's better than moving around. I'm not so sure the fire's gone out completely."
Surprisingly, the rain had been able to contain the fire, and most of it had been put out as well. Although they weren't quite sure if it was completely out or not, it didn't look like the whole forest would burn down as they had feared it would.
Hermione shivered. "Even so, it's still gross."
Blaise shrugged. "I've seen grosser."
She gave him a look. "You are not helping."
He chuckled. "I could hurl him into the sea if you want."
"You're such a charmer," she said sarcastically.
He laughed and took out a cigarette. Due to the wind and rain, it was hard to light, but finally he managed. "Damn weather..." he muttered as he exhaled some smoke.
"I thought you were quitting."
Blaise smirked. "Quit running. After this is all over."
Hermione shook her head. "Git."
The minutes passed as they sat in silence. "So..." Hermione began. "So whose handiwork do you think this is?"
Blaise shrugged. "Dunno. Try not to dwell."
She turned to him. "You keep saying that. Why shouldn't we dwell?"
He exhaled some more smoke, then looked at her seriously. "Because it's a good way to end up dead. You're lost in your thoughts, thinking of what happened in the past or what might have, and end up losing your focus. Someone sneaks up on you, and that's it. Before you can react, you're dead. Or dying." He looked back to the forest. "Once this is all over, you'll have all the time to dwell. Until then, you have to stay focused. We all do."
Hermione sighed and leaned back against the boulder. "So just react. Don't bother to think and find out who's playing, right?"
He shrugged. "That'll just get you worked up and make you paranoid. We have to stay calm."
She sighed again. "When's the last time you slept?"
"Uh... Back at the clinic?"
She nodded, then stood up straight and turned to him. "You sleep now. I'll keep watch."
"Do I have to?"
Hermione nodded. "You want your mind to stay sharp, right? Sleep. Don't make me hit you over the head with a rock to knock you out."
Blaise saluted her as he jumped off the boulder he was sitting on. "Sir, yes, sir!" She gave him a withering look and he grinned. "Will you read me a bedtime story as well?" He chuckled as she glared at him. "I'll take that as a no."
"Just get some sleep. I'll wake you for the announcement."
14 students remaining
September 3 -- 4:34 a.m.
"First time, huh?" Vicky asked as she straightened her robes. She glanced over her shoulder to Anthony, who was fastening his belt.
"That was uncalled for," he said, scowling.
She laughed. "Yeah, but it's true, isn't it?" She laughed again as he glared at her. "Although maybe it'd just due to the cold. Or the rain. Take your pick. I'm really not used to doing it outdoors, so I wouldn't know."
He continued to glare at her. "It's still uncalled for."
She shrugged. "Maybe. So shall we get to one of the houses up ahead? I'd like to deal with my shoulder sometime soon. It's really starting to ache."
"Huh?" Anthony walked over to her and looked at her hurt shoulder. "You're hurt!" He frowned. "When did that happen?"
She grabbed his hand as they picked up their packs. "Sometime yesterday afternoon. What, you think the occasional whimper of pain was due to it being my first time, because it wasn't." She grinned. "And for the record, you weren't the worst." She laughed as he turned red, and led him eastward toward the residential section.
Neither of them spoke as they neared the houses, then turned north. They had to avoid the main section of houses, as it was located in a forbidden zone, and the northern detour wasn't anywhere near as long as the southern detour. Although it was rather close to the smoldering forest, but there was enough open space for that not to really matter. Even if the flames had gotten to the edge of the forest, they wouldn't quite be able to reach the residential section. Not without anything to burn, at least.
Vicky ignored the occasional glances Anthony shot her way as they finally reached a house in G-6, which was still safe and non-forbidden. She raised an eyebrow as he opened the door for her. She really hoped he wasn't going to get all needy and clingy. Maybe they should have parted ways afterwards. Oh, well.
She looked around the foyer as he followed her inside. Apparently someone forgot to take their shoes with them when the inhabitants were evacuated. She smiled slightly, then turned around sharply as the door slammed shut behind her. "Don't be so loud!" she scolded. "What if someone else is hiding out here?"
Anthony smiled apologetically. "Sorry."
Vicky sighed, walking out of the foyer and into the living room, aiming her gun in front of her. One could never be too careful. She made sure to watch Anthony out of the corner of her eye as well. She didn't quite trust him, although she was sure he would do whatever she wanted. When it came to girls, men would usually let their hormones do their thinking for them, and he was no exception. And if you gave them a taste, they would become your slaves. A nice system, really. One she rather enjoyed.
Convinced that there wasn't anyone hiding out in the living room, she relaxed and sat down on the couch, dropping her pack to the floor in front. She looked over to Anthony, who was just standing there. She raised an eyebrow expectantly.
He gestured to the staircase. "What if someone else is here? Shouldn't we check the rest of the house? And I thought you wanted to deal with your shoulder."
Vicky sighed. "Don't concern yourself with me," she said. She pointed at her gun. "And if someone else is here, let them watch."
He blinked. "Eh?"
She laughed, then stood up. "I can tell that you're not thinking very straight right now. I suppose that's my fault." She walked towards the staircase. "I'll check to make sure no one else is here."
He followed her. "Shouldn't I do that? I mean, you're hurt, and... Well..."
"I'm a girl," she said flatly. She sighed as he nodded. "The other girls might be weak and in need of protection, but trust me when I say I can take care of myself." She ignored the look he gave her and began to climb the stairs.
He watched her as she ascended the stairs, then sat down on the couch as she disappeared. He wasn't quite sure why he even bothered. She didn't need him, and both of them knew it. After glancing at his watch, he stood up and silently made his way to the front door. It was probably for the best that they part ways.
Just as his hand was on the doorknob, he heard a gun go off upstairs. After debating with himself on what to do, he opened the door and ran outside. There must have been someone else inside, for he doubted that Vicky would fire her gun and alert others to their position if there weren't. Or maybe whoever else was inside fired their gun. Either way, it was too dangerous to stick around, regardless of who won. His supplied weapon was a short sword. It might be useful in melee combat, but it was useless in comparison to the guns he had been hearing in the last 24 hours.
It was probably too dangerous to run out into the open. Due to the explosion earlier, and the fire it had started, he figured that his classmates would likely be along the coastline, avoiding the forest. So if he went to the forest, he could wait it out. Ground zero seemed like a good place to go to. Chances are nobody would be around there. Well, nobody living.
His mind set, he ran into the yard. Before he could clear it, another gunshot fired, and he could feel his leg burn with pain, and then give out. He fell hard to the ground. Before he had the chance to turn around, he vaguely heard the sound of a rattling machine gun. He screamed in pain, then fell silent.
Neville Longbottom (Boy 11, Gryffindor) stepped away from the window, holding the smoking Ingram in his left hand, and Kevin Entwhistle's Beretta in the other. He calmly pried the gun out of Vicky's cold hand, then exited the bedroom he had been sleeping in. He supposed he was lucky that he was a light sleeper, and had heard the front door slam and the two students enter. If he weren't, well, there was no telling what might have happened if he had been found asleep.
Nonchalantly, he walked downstairs to collect the packs of his latest victims.
12 students remaining