Chapter 5: "I Guess We're Both Pretty Stupid"

"Well, at least we're finally outta the dungeons," said Abby. They were now in one of the hallways of the mansion. The floor was covered in a musty red carpet, and the halls were decorated with disturbing paintings and dusty suits of armor. "Though this place is giving me the creeps too. Pretty weird, huh Hoagie. Hoagie?" Hoagie had stopped a few feet behind Abby. He was panting heavily, and had turned even paler than what he normally was.

"Are you all right?" asked Abby.

"MacGregor will stay a skeleton forever if I don't kill him. I...I have to kill him now. I have to. I promised," squeaked Hoagie. "Abby...Abby, I don't think I can do this. I'm afraid."

"Hoagie, you don't have to–"

"Yes. Yes, encourage the coward. Encourage him to live in fear." Hoagie and Abby turned to see Alcarin standing before them, in front of a pair of large double doors. This time, his mouth was moving, and normal sound came out of it.

"Alcarin," muttered Abby distastefully.

"You pathetic worm. You don't have the courage to kill me. You don't have the courage to do anything," he continued. "Just like your father."

"Shut up," whispered Hoagie, trembling. "You don't know anything about my dad."

"I certainly do. He was a mongrel too weak to care for himself. He died a coward's death, just as you will, Hoagie." Alcarin smiled. "I wonder, will you scream like your father did? It won't be quite as much fun if you don't."

"Hoagie, don't listen to him," cautioned Abby.

"Just shut up about my dad!" shouted Hoagie, tears streaming down his face. "You're lying! He was brave! He was a hero!"

"He died by my own hands. Trust me, worm. He did not die a hero," taunted Alcarin.

"You killed him?" asked Hoagie, his voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't kill vermin, Hoagie. You exterminate them. Vermin don't really die, because they never had a life to begin with."

Hoagie choked. His hands shook, and there was a gleam in his eye of all the fury and rage he had ever felt. He couldn't even think. The anger flowing through him shut off his mind.

"Hoagie, don't do anything," pleaded Abby.

"Silly girl. Your little boyfriend couldn't even kill a–"

A shot rang through the hall. Alcarin's widened his eyes in shock, and gurgled Hoagie was breathing heavily, and the hand holding his gun was shaking like mad. His sunglasses had fallen on the floor, and blood red tears were streaming from his hazel eyes.

"Don't tell me what I can't do," growled Hoagie. He sounded more beast than human. Alcarin grimaced at him and clutched the bullet hole at his gut.

"Didn't see that one coming," he groaned. With the speed of a vampire, Alcarin flew towards Hoagie, pulled a long knife out of his pocket, and stabbed him in the chest. "Though it's not as if it matters."

"Hoagie!" screamed three voices at once. Kuki and Wally had just arrived, and joined Abby in her scream.

Hoagie leaned his head back and gave a little smile. "H-hi, guys." A trickle of blood ran down his chin. "Don't miss me too much." Alcarin pulled out the knife; Hoagie's eyes twitched and then rolled back into their sockets. He collapsed on Alcarin's shoulder.

Wally whipped out his gun and was about to fire at Alcarin when the sorcerer grabbed Abby by the throat and held her in front of him. "I don't think so, lad," he smirked. "One down." He dashed over to the double doors and somehow ghosted through them, taking Hoagie and Abby with him. "Don't follow me, or I'll launch the warheads," he ordered, craning his head back.

"This can't be," whispered Kuki, disbelief on her face.

For a moment, Wally stood completely still, as if he was still comprehending what had just happened. Then the sweet anger he had known all his life surged inside him, greater than it ever had before. "He's dead."

Wally strode towards the double doors, gun raised high. "Wally, you can't!" shouted Kuki, pulling at the sleeve of his orange hoodie. "You heard what he said, he'll launch the warheads!"

"Hoagie's dead, you stupid bitch!" screamed Wally, hysterical. "Get the hell off of me! I'm going to kill that bastard and send him straight to hell!"

Kuki had never seen Wally this deranged in her entire life. She was afraid he was going to kill her. But that wasn't going to stop her. "No! You already killed Himmler, and I'm not going to let you kill anyone else!"

"Just SHUT UP! You don't know what you're talking about!"

"I know that you're a filthy murderer! How many more people do you plan on killing? Am I next?"

Wally's anger was replaced by shock. He felt a mixture of shame and confusion. But his fury returned quickly, and his face turned demonic. "The only thing I care about is killing him," he snarled. Wally could hear footsteps pounding from a short distance away. He ignored them. He started walking to the door and drew his gun.

"Stop right there, Wally!" shouted Kuki. She pulled out the handgun Crow had given her and held it in her quivering hands, pointing it right at Wally. "Stop, or I'll shoot!"

Wally turned and scoffed. "You don't have the strength to pull that trigger." He continued walking towards the door.

"I said stop!" screamed Kuki, now just as hysterical as Wally. The tears were pouring faster now, and she could hardly see. Her hand's kept shaking, her aim was all over the place.

"I'm going to count to three!"

Wally ignored her and kept moving.

"One!"

He was much closer now, just a few feet from the doors.

"Two!"

His hand reached towards a doorknob.

"Three!"

The gun fired. Both of them stood still, and for a while, the only sound was Kuki's heavy breathing and the sounds of footsteps coming ever closer. Then Wally collapsed on his back, blood pouring from his heart.

"Oh no," whispered Kuki. "Wally?" she asked softly. "Wally?" She dropped the gun and ran to him. She knelt at him and clutched his shoulders, ignoring the blood staining her hands.

"Wally, Wally, get up! Wake up, Wally!" she screamed.

"H-hey, Kooks," he smiled weakly. "Wot's with all the shoutin'?"

"Wally, don't die! Please, don't die!"

"I think it's a little late for that, Kuki." He coughed a little and spat up some blood. "You're so strong. I'd have never thought you could do that. You're amazing."

"No! No, I shouldn't have done that, Wally, I'm so sorry, please, don't die. I won't let you!" she cried.

"Kuki, I love you. More than anything else. Sorry I was such an idiot. Don't blame you for leaving me. Try to forgive me," he croaked.

"It's all my fault," she whispered. "Wally, I love you too. I never wanted to leave you, I was such an idiot. You can't die on me, Wally. You're the only person I'll ever love."

"I guess we're both pretty stupid, then," he chuckled. "Sorry, Kooks, but I really think this is the end. Thanks for stayin' by me. No one should have to die alone."

"Wally," sobbed Kuki. Tears of blood trailed down her cheeks and fell upon Wally's face.

"So these are the tears of blood," said Wally, his lips curved in a small smile. Kuki clutched him a little bit tighter, and let out a small sob as she felt him die.

(A/N) And the body count's just started.