Chapter 23: I Can't be in Georgia

Kurt is driving his car and sees a man in the middle of the road. He slams on his brakes but hits the man. His car rolls over and over. He is stuck in his seat. The man somehow recovers and starts walking towards his car. Kurt screams. The man runs away. A second later, Puck appears.

"Ah!" screams Kurt.

"How ya doing in there?" asks Puck.

"Puck?"

"You look stuck," Puck says obviously.

"It's my seat belt. I can't get it!" says Kurt hysterically.

"Shh. Shh. Shh. Let me get you out of there. I want you to put your hands on the roof." Kurt, does it. "Just like that. You ready? 1, 2, 3." Puck ejects Kurt's seat belt. "I got you." Puck picks Kurt up. "Are you ok?" No answer. "Can you stand?" No answer. "Is anything broken?"

"Uh-uh," replies a weakened Kurt.

Puck puts Kurt down but he can barely stand. Puck catches him before he falls to the ground.

"Woah, you're fading fast, Kurt. Kurt look at me." Puck grabs his face. "Focus. Look at me. Okay."

"I look like him…" mutters Kurt.

"What?" asks a confused Puck.

Kurt faints. Puck grabs him and slowly puts him on the ground. He brushes Kurt's face with his hand.

"Upsy-daisy," says Puck as picks Kurt up and carries him away.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Mr. Shue is seated at his desk at home. He's typing on his computer: I found one. After years of research and study, there it was right in front of me. I was terrified. As I stared it in the eyes, I drove a stake through its heart. I was right about Lima. There is evil here. I can sense it. Fell it. It's everywhere. He then looks at a photo of a young woman.

FLASHBACK

William kisses Terri on the forehead. She wakes up.

"Ohhh. It's not even seven yet," says Terri groggily.

"Which means you shouldn't be awake for at least six hours," Will says in a joking manner.

Smiles. "I hate morning people," she replies.

"I'm going to be home late," he informs her.

"I love you," she says.

"I love you too," he replies.

END OF FLASHBACK

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

In Puck's car, Kurt wakes up.

"Morning," says Puck as he looks over.

"Where are we?" asks a groggy Kurt.

"Georgia," Puck answers simply.

"Georgia? No, no. No, we're not in Georgia. Seriously, Puck. Where are we?" asks Kurt freaking out.

"Seriously, we're…we're in Georgia, how ya feeling?"

"I… I…"

"There's no broken bones. I checked."

"But my car…there was a man…I hit a man, but then he got up, and…who was that?" asks Kurt trying to piece everything together.

"That's what I would like to know."

"Where's my phone? Ok. We really need to go back. Nobody knows where I am. Pull over. I mean it, Puck. Pull over! Stop the car!" yells Kurt.

"Oh! You were so much more fun when you were asleep." Puck pulls over. Kurt gets out of the car, he limps weakly and Puck rushes over to him to help him. "Hey. You ok?"

Looking at Puck strangely. "I'm fine. We have to go back."

"Oh, come one. Look, we've already come this far…"

"Why are you doing this? I can't be in Georgia. I wrecked my car. I have to go home. This is kidnapping."

"That's a little melodramatic, don't you think?" asks Puck, trying to lighten the mood.

"You're not funny. You can't do this. I'm not going to Georgia."

"Well, you're IN Georgia. Without your magical little necklace, I might add." Kurt touches his neck. The necklace isn't there. "I can very easily make you…agreeable."

"What are you trying to prove?"

Kurt's cell rings in Puck's pocket. "That's my phone."

Puck looks at who's calling. "Mmm. It's your boyfriend." Kurt just stares at him. Puck answers. "Kurt's phone!"

"Where is he? Why do you have his phone is he ok?" asking Blaine finally getting ahold of someone.

"Kurt? He's right here. And, yes, he's fine."

"Where are you? Let me speak to him."

"He wants to talk to you," Puck offers the phone to Kurt. Kurt shakes his head no. "Yeah. I don't…I don't really think he wants to talk to you right now."

"Puck, I swear to God of you touch him…" Blaine attempts to threaten.

Smirks. "You have a good day. Mm-hmmm. Bye now."

"Argh!" screams Blaine as Puck hangs up on him.

"Look, no one knows where I am. Can we please just go back?" pleads Kurt.

"We're almost there."

"What is there?!"

"A little place right outside of Atlanta. Oh, come on, Kurt. You don't wanna go back right now. Do you? What's the rush? Time-out. Trust me. Your problems are still gonna be there when you get home. Look. Step away from your life for five minutes. Five minutes!

"Am I gonna be safe with you?"

"Yes."

"You promise not to do that mind control thing with me?"

"Yes."

"Can I trust you?"

"Get in the car. Come on."

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Will is at his car in the parking lot, searching for something in the seats. Finn sees him.

"Hey, Mr. Shue!"

"Hey, Finn. I, uh...can't find my ring. I took it off for the gym, and thought I put it...there it is! Losing family heirlooms...bad. How's your extra credit coming? You pick a topic yet?"

"Lima, the Civil War era."

"What's the angle?"

"My family. I found a journal of an ancestor who lived in the 1800s. And the Hummels were one of the original Founding Families of Lima. So..."

"That sounds good."

Blaine sees Mercedes walking toward the school's entrance and goes over to her.

"Mercedes."

"Blaine…" replies Mercedes in a confused tone.

"Hey."

"Hi."

"I haven't seen you lately. How are you doing with everything?"

"I'm fine. It's all fine," replies Mercedes wanting to end this conversation.

"Good. Yeah."

"Are you back in school?" asks Mercedes.

"No. I came here to find you. I was hoping you could help me with something. A spell."

"Blaine, look, I know Kurt's okay with all of this, and I appreciate what you did to help me. But I'm not ready to dive into it with you just yet."

"I understand that. But I need your help. It's Kurt. He's with Puck. I have Kurt's necklace. I was just hoping you could use this to make some sort of a connection. I just need to know that he's okay."

"How do you know I can do this?"

"Because I've known a few witches over the years. I've seen what they can do."

"I'm still new at it," warns Mercedes.

"It's okay. Give it a shot," says Blaine to encourage her.

"Okay. All right."

Mercedes takes the necklace and closes her eyes trying to make something happen. "There's nothing. Nothing's happening. Usually there's an image or…tell me if anyone's looking."

"Okay." Blaine looks around for second to make sure no one's looking.

Mercedes picks up a leaf and tries to make it float. It doesn't work.

"What is it?

"Something's wrong.

"With Kurt?"

"With me. There's something wrong with me." She grabs her things. "I should go. I'm sorry, Blaine. I can't help you."

Mercedes walks away quickly, while Blaine watches her.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

"So, where's my car?" asks Kurt as he and Puck are still driving somewhere in Georgia.

"I pulled it off to the side of the road. I don't think anyone will bother it."

"What about that man in the road? Was he a...?"

"From what I could tell, yeah…"

"You didn't know him?"

"If I've never met him, I wouldn't know him. I mean, it's not like we all hang out together at the Vamp Bar & Grill."

Puck pulls up in front of a bar named "Bree's Bar".

"You brought me to a bar? Puck, I'm not old enough. They're not going to let me in."

"Sure, they will." They get out of the car and enter the bar.

"No. No, it can't be!" exclaims Bree when she sees Puck walk through the door. "Puck. My honey pie." Bree grabs Puck's face and kisses him. "Listen up everybody! Here's to the man that broke my heart, crushed my soul, destroyed my life, and ruined all chances of happiness!" Bree pours shots for everyone. "Drink up!" Puck and Bree shoot their alcohol. "Ahh. Whoo! So, how'd he rope you in?" she asks Kurt. She pours Kurt a shot.

"I'm not roped in. I'm dating his…" Kurt is interrupted by Bree.

"Honey, if you're not roped, you're whipped. Either way, just enjoy the ride. She smiles and pours more alcohol.

"Okay. So, how did you two meet?"

"College."

"You went to college?" asked Kurt incredulously.

"I've been on a college campus, yes."

"About twenty years ago, when I was a sweet, young freshman, I met this beautiful man, and I fell in love. And then he told me about his little secret, made me love him more. Because, you see, I had a little secret of my own that I was dying to share with somebody."

"She's a witch," explained Puck.

"Changed my world, you know."

"I rocked your world," clarified Puck.

"He is good in the sack, isn't he?" Kurt has a shocked look on his face. "But mostly he's just a Walk-Away Joe. So, what is it that you want, Puck?" asked Bree leaning on the counter.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Finn is at the library, looking for a book. Suddenly, some books fall in front of him. A girl appears from the other side of the bookshelf.

"Oh, my god. I am so sorry. There was this one book wedged between the other, and so I pulled and then kaplunk, kaboom. Are you ok?" she asks, feeling bad for him.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

They both kneel to pick up the books at the same time and knock into each other's heads.

"Ow! Uh…I'm Anna," says Anna, introducing herself nervously.

Finn rubs his own head and laughs. "I'm Finn," he answers back.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Mercedes is looking through old spell books at her Grams' house, when she enters.

"Thank God you're back," said Mercedes with a sigh of relief.

"And hello to you, too. What's the matter?"

"My powers are gone, Grams. I can't do anything, even when I concentrate. And there's nothing in in any of these books that can tell me how to get them back."

"Hang on, now. Just calm down. Tell me what happened."

"I can't," replies Mercedes guiltily.

"We keeping secrets now?"

"I have to. I'm sorry. I promised. Please, help me."

"Well, first, there's nothing in any of these that's gonna help you. If you're blocked, it's in here." She points to Mercedes's head. "You gotta clear it out, then you're back in business."

"Clear what out?"

"Whatever's got you so scared, Darlin'," explained Grams.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Kurt is out by Puck's car. He calls Emma. "Hi, Jenna. I'm so sorry."

"Where are you? Why didn't you call?" asks a worried Emma.

"I was so tired last night. I fell asleep at Mercedes's. And then this morning, I just wanted to get to school."

"Are you okay?" asks Emma, knowing Kurt is lying.

"You know, Blaine and stuff."

Inside Bree's Bar

"Come on, there's gotta be another way," reasons Puck.

"After all these years, it's still only Kristian. How do you even know he's still alive?" asks Bree annoyed at Puck.

"Well, you help me get into that tomb, and we'll find out."

"I already did. Twenty years ago. Remember? Three easy steps: Comet. Crystal. Spell."

"There's a little problem with number two. I don't have the crystal."

"That's it, Puck. There is no other way. It's Emily's spell.

"What about a new spell with a new crystal that overrides Emily's spell?"

"It doesn't work that way, baby. Emily's spell is absolute. You can't get into that tomb," explains Bree.

NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB~NKB

Mercedes is at the old Fell's Church, where Emily destroyed the crystal and Puck attacked Mercedes.

"Hello? Anybody here?! Aah!"

The ground below her feet gives away and Mercedes falls into a hole.