Warning: this chapter contains a description of a stampede and crush.

I don't own Lab Rats or anything you recognize.


"…Oh god, so much panic! The crowd was manic! With everybody screaming and shoving and shouting and slapping, and everyone's frantic..."

In The Heights, "Blackout"


Chase

Something changed.

When that sword drew Apollyon's blood, we all felt the blow. It was like essence itself was recoiling from it. It was an impossibility. An unstoppable force and an immovable object. A sword that could cut anything, and a demon that couldn't be hurt. It shouldn't have happened at all.

Demons were panicking all around me as Bree vanished, safe from me, safe from Apollyon, safe from the crowd. That was one problem solved, at least. Mine very much wasn't. I clamped my hands over my ears as demons roared and screamed, each echo throbbing just that much harder in my skull. I let out another roar, my eyes squeezed shut. I was being jostled, shoved along with the crowd, but I couldn't do anything about it. There were too many of us going for the entrance of the lair, going to where Apollyon shook one of his heads. The other heads were roaring with the rest of us, their massive eyes rolling.

I forced my eyes open again and pressed forward to keep myself upright. Each pounding heartbeat was another nail in my skull, my short, rasping breaths not enough to stop my head from spinning. Someone's claws dug into my wing, piercing through the membrane as they tried to shove their way past, but I barely felt it. I had to get out of there. I had to get out of there! Bodies on bodies pressed closer around me as we ran. I could hear training in the back of my mind, drilled into me for years. Deep breaths. Don't panic. Take deep breaths. Think.

I couldn't draw in enough air. It was like my lungs refused to cooperate. Even as I was consciously trying, too many demons were pressing close. I couldn't move my arms anymore. I couldn't move anything anymore. So many of us couldn't. We were swept up with the crowd, crushed into one another. An afrit's spike pierced through my thigh. An imp shrieked in front of me, louder and louder until it fell under our feet. Others started to fall around us like dominos.

Silence. Everything was suddenly silent.

I felt a sob rise from my chest, but I couldn't hear it. My bionic hearing had cut out at last. The only thing I could hear was my own racing pulse.

Something caught my foot. I dropped down on a pile of scales and fur, everyone struggling. Before I could get anywhere, more and more bodies dropped on top of me. Each panicked breath was shallower than the last. I dug my nails into the nearest thing, trying to drag myself out. I didn't care what I was grabbing. I just had to escape. Another round of bodies flopped onto our pile, slowly burying us all alive. I felt ribs crack under the weight, and I couldn't breathe anymore. I clawed harder at anything I could touch. I had to get out of there! Demons might not suffocate, but I sure could! I could feel tears streaming down my face. My chest was on fire, my heart an endless drumming in my ears, my throat burning. Was I screaming? I couldn't tell anymore.

Something was tugging at me. My vision was going dark. I couldn't even shake my head to clear it anymore. This was it. Christ, this was it, wasn't it? Dying in a demonic crush wasn't how I thought I'd go. I closed my eyes, relaxing into the pull. I was so close to getting out of there, so fucking close. Why couldn't Douglas draw the Circles faster? Why hadn't I tried harder to get to Bree? If I had beaten my wings a few times, I could have flown over the crowd, right?

Why did hindsight have to punch me in the stomach?

Everything faded away. The pressure, the heat of the cavern and demons, the pain of scales or spikes or claws digging into my skin, all of it. There was nothing now. No sense of time. No sense of place. No anything at all. Was this what death felt like? Where was Charles? Where was anybody? Did it take a while to get to wherever we went when we died? I opened my eyes, but it didn't matter. I still couldn't see anything. There was nothing to see, really. I closed my eyes again, letting myself drift.

Then my feet hit the ground.


"…But did you see the flares in the sky? Were you blinded by the light? Did you feel the smoke in your eyes? Did you, did you? Did you see the sparks, feel the hope that you are not alone? 'Cause someone's out there, sending out flares…"

The Script, "Flares"


Leo

When Chase coalesced fully in his Circle, he was a trembling wreck. He dropped to the floor, hugging his knees against his chest and rocking. His shoulders shook with violent sobs, and he buried his face in his knees. In between those sobs, he sucked in loud breaths. There was no fog, no lightning, no crystals, no demonic illusions this time. There was only Chase, crying on the floor with his tail wrapped around him.

Leo didn't hesitate to drop the Circle's hold on Chase. He swallowed, watching his brother as words sprang to his lips. It was amazing how much he still remembered. He hadn't summoned anything since his apprenticeship with Hall. He had no idea how to release Chase's will from his control, but he could figure that out later. Right then, there were more important things for him to worry about. For starters, Leo had no idea what was going on. Bree was nursing a burn in the shower still, the running water a constant background noise. Leo could hear her talking to Trevor, trying to figure out just who he was and where they were. Leo hadn't gotten a chance to ask questions; she had insisted that he summon Chase right that instant, and her expression left no room for disagreement.

Looking at Chase now, Leo could see why. Whatever situation they were just in, it had to be horrifying to unravel them both.

The Circle's barrier fell away. Leo stepped out of his Circle, his hands outstretched towards his brother. His voice was an octave too high for his liking. "Chase? What's wrong? What happened?"

Chase didn't even acknowledge him. His ears remained pinned, unmoving.

Leo could see blood running down one of Chase's wings, staining the feathers. In fact, the closer he got to the distraught djinni, the more blood he could see. Scratches, scrapes, and gashes were everywhere. Some blood even pooled on the ground from a puncture in Chase's thigh. Leo sucked in a breath. "Chase, come on. You're safe now."

His ear twitched this time. It shifted up and around, pointed at Leo to listen. Chase himself sniffled heavily, but looked up at last. His face was tinted purple, but the color was fading back to normal. He stared at Leo for a long moment, his sobbing quieter now. At last, he turned his face to wipe it on his shoulder, sniffling loudly. He started forcing himself to take deep breaths at last.

Leo sat down by Chase, his shoes scuffing the chalk outlines around him. He reached out to scratch between Chase's wings, then swallowed down a wave of nausea. The blood on the feathers was coming from a wound Leo could see through completely. Something had pierced Chase's wing. Leo found himself speaking fast, his eyes widening. "Jesus, man. What happened? Why is Bree burned? Why are you injured? Where have you guys been?"

Chase rested his chin on his knees now, closing his eyes. "'S a long story." He wiped at his eyes with the heel of his palm this time. Leo couldn't help but notice the blood under Chase's fingernails and staining the tips of his fingers. "Where's Bree? Is she okay?"

"She's in there." Leo pointed towards the bathroom. "She's fine."

Chase nodded, swallowing. "Good." He closed his eyes again, mumbling. "Gimme a minute."

Leo nodded. He gathered his legs under him and stood up, letting Chase pull himself together in peace. He needed to find a bunch of bandages, anyways. He didn't know just how badly the two were injured, but wrapping things was a good start. He could ask Chase what the words were that released his will after that.

Bree was still sitting in the bathtub, the shower soaking her when Leo stepped into the bathroom. Trevor was sitting on the toilet, his eyes darting between the two. Leo had demanded Trevor stay with Bree just in case Chase freaked the kid out with his appearance. He didn't think a djinni generating a bunch of illusions would mix well with someone orphaned by demons. Even though the illusions didn't happen, Leo was still grateful that Trevor hadn't seen Chase just yet.

God, there was a long talk they all had to have. Leo wasn't looking forward to it.

Bree sat up, clutching the side of the tub as she did. Her eyes bore into Leo. "Was that Chase?"

Leo nodded and pulled the mirror open. There were only a few bandages, but they would have to do for now. "He's back."

Bree's shoulders dropped as she let out a breath. Closing her eyes, she relaxed back into the shower spray.

Leo offered one of the bandages to Trevor. "Here, hold this until Bree's ready to wrap her arm."

Trevor took the bandage, nodding vigorously. He liked helping others, Leo found. "You got it."

Leo nodded, holding the rest of the bandages as he stepped out of the bathroom again. Chase was still sitting in his Circle, but his ears were perked up. He had pulled himself together enough to notice his surroundings at last. He looked around the room, frowning as Leo approached. "So, I have a question: where are we? Where's everybody else?"

Leo sat by Chase again, pulling a bandage open. He couldn't help a small smile. "It's a long story."