"This isn't fair! We should be out helping with the search!" Lyon was practically yelling in Jellal's face. The situation was beyond tense in the boys cabin.
"I've already told you Lyon. We have 2 boys missing already we can't risk any more of you getting lost. The entire staff is searching but ALL campers are to remain in the cabins until future notice." Jellal placed both hands on Lyons shoulders, "We will find Gray and Leo I promise but please do as we ask."
"So what we just sit in here doing nothing?" Lyon's voice cracked his anger giving way to worry and sadness. His eyes fell to the floor the icy facade he'd had up the last 2 weeks crumbling under the new circumstance.
"Pray, talk, meditate, whatever you need to do but look at me Lyon," the boy looked up and Jellal could see he was on the verge of tears. "I promise you we will find him, Ok?"
Lyon simply nodded then went to sit on his bunk.
"Alright I'm going to help search. Laxus please escort Lucy back to her cabin. After that report to the home base we've set up and they will let you know where to begin searching. Boys please leave this to us. We can not risk any more getting lost." With that Jellal turned and left the cabin.
The phone in Laxus's pocket buzzed. He pulled it out and answered. "What….yeah I know…..Now? Seriously?...No no I get it…...I'll make it happen." He hung up and looked her dejected.
He sighed before he spoke, "Ok Blondie lets go and Freed walk with me keep me company will ya?"
Freed looked confused but stood up, "Should I not remain here with the others? That's the orders Jellal gave right?"
"Yeah but I'm staff so I'm sure you're fine as long as you are with me."
Lyon stood up, "I wanna come too then! If Freed can go with you so can I."
"No just Freed and Lucy sit back down."
Lyon clenched his fist, "No fuck that. If he's going I'm going too!"
Laxus moved so fast Lyon didn't have time to react. He grabbed the camper by the front of his shirt and shoved him to the back of his bunk. The force with which Laxus shoved him enable a loud smack to be heard when Lyons back hit the wall. The shock was audible by the many gasps in the room.
"I fucking said NO." The blonde's voice was almost a roar, "Now unless you want me to explain it with my fist keep you mouth shut. Freed and Lucy with me NOW!" Laxus didn't wait for any reply as he turned his back to them and made for the door.
Lucy squeezed Natsu's hand before letting go and gave Freed a cautious look as they slowly followed Laxus out the cabin door. Freed eyed the back of the large blonde hoping it was just the stress of the situation that set him off.
Lyon inched his way off the bunk and rubbed his shoulder once he stood. Laxus was incredibly strong the ach in his shoulder proof enough.
Natsu watched from the window til the 3 were out of sight, "Guys I've never been good at sitting still but I've never felt the pull to move more than I do now. I can not stay cooped up in this cabin while my friends are out there."
Gajeel walked up beside Natsu, "I actually agree with ya pinkie. And what the he'll was up with asshole? He's never gotten physical before. I got a feeling something's up. My mom use to call it my dragon sense because it was always right and always destructive."
"So what are we saying then?" Lyon raised an eyebrow to the 2 boys.
It was surprising though because it was Zeref who spoke next, "We are done sitting on our asses let's go find our friends."
The 3 boys turned to the usually quiet boy standing by the door with a new resolve. Natsu walked over to his brother, "That's it then I'm fired up now! What's the plan Zeref?"
"We need to get Mavis."
"Why do we need your little girlfriend?" Lyon questioned.
"Because she knows these woods like the back of her hand. We don't want to end up lost too. Trust me she can get us anywhere and back on the camp property. She's our best chance at finding Leo and Gray without ended up lost ourselves." Zeref actually made eye contact with Lyon as he spoke. For once Lyon didn't question anymore or try to prove himself superior.
"Ok we let's get Mavis." They all nodded in agreement.
The four boys closed the cabin door behind them as they went to retrieve Mavis.
Gray shivered while wiping the last of the tears from his eyes. Leo had fought up with him hours ago but it had taken time before Gray was even in a state he could communicate efficiently. "It's like I heard the loud crack and I was right there in that moment again Leo. I couldn't handle it, I couldn't be back there again. Seeing it all like it was happening again and there was nothing I could do to snap out of it."
The boy were hiding out under a fallen log with their backs to a steep mound of earth making them a small haven away from everything else. Leo rubbed the ravens back reassuringly. "It's over now Gray we are right here right now ok?" The raven just sniffled and nodded. The sat in a few moments of silence before Gray spoke again.
"Sometimes I wonder why I was left. Why they were taken and I wasn't. Sometimes I think maybe it was a mistake and fates just waiting for me to figure it out and fix it."
Leo looked at Gray eyes wide, "I completely know that feeling. Like its not fair that they had to go and you were left. Like you should if went with them."
Gray nodded and reached in his pocket. He pulled his hand out and opened it up. In his hand Leo saw almost 2 dozen small pills of a couple different varieties. He looked at Gray concern suddenly present on his face. Gray spoke, "I take something in the morning like a mood stabilizer, 2 pills in the afternoon for stress and anxiety and one at night to help me sleep. Elfman has no reason to not think I've not actually swallowed them. Once I'm out of the nurses station I pull it out from under my tongue. No one's even noticed! Isn't that funny! Lyon hasn't even noticed." Gray laughed.
Leo asked the loaded questions, "Gray why aren't you taking them and why are you carrying them around with you?"
Gray sniffled, "My exit plan." He smiled sadly at Leo. "It's too much. I tried the meds and the therapies. They help for a while then I'm back to feeling like I can't breath through the pain. It's so strong it's almost physical. I don't want to feel like this the rest of my life Leo. Alone, depressed, anxious, and the worst part the guilt."
The only way Leo could describe it was an absolute cleshay. It was like getting hit with a ton of bricks. He suddenly felt the worry and stress his mom must of felt. The fear that someone you care about felt so low that taking their own life was the only option they saw. The desperation while trying to help and understand. Each new emotion and realization hit him like a continuous wave. He was absolutely terrified that Gray was thinking of taking his own life. A new kind of guilt swam to the forefront of his thoughts. Not the kind you drown in but the kind that tells you that you can do better than you have been. He had a lot if making up to do to his mom his friends and most importantly to Karen. She would've expected more from him than letting her death be his undoing. She only ever wanted to live to the fullest and he was tarnishing that legacy by his recent behaviors. He wasn't fixed he knew that but he was going to do better.
"You were planning on ending your life? Gray I didn't even realize you were going through all this. You've hidden it so well. Do you know when you plan on ending it?"
"Honestly tonight. I finally think I might have enough to do the job."
Leo sucked in a breath. Tonight?! Gray would of just fell asleep and not woke up. No one would've even noticed until the morning. Leo felt his hands start to shake as he reached and took Gary's hand. He enclosed the hand that held Gary's 'exit plan' with both of his hands.
"Please Gray don't do this." Gary looked away and Leo could see the tears starting again. Leo was on the verge himself. "Please listen to me. I know where you are at. I'm practically there myself. I had a plan too." Gray finally looked at the orange haired boy who could no longer hold his tears back. "I really did but now I think maybe I need a new plan and you do too."
Gray shook his head, "I've been trying Leo. I can't pretend to be happy anymore."
"Then let's not pretend anymore together ok? Ill stop pretending to not give a shit about anything and you stop pretending to be happy. Then maybe together we can get the help we really need. I was ready to end it all too Gray I really was. But I can't walk away from a friend that needs help. So please just hand me the pills and we will go back together and both of us will tell them what we've been hiding ok. I will try with you every step of the way. Please Gray, let's try it one more time ok?"
Gray started sobbing and put his head on Leo's shoulder. Leo felt Gray's hand release its grip and he sighed in relief as the pills fell into his own hand. As soon as he was sure he had them all he threw them all to scatter on the forest floor then wrapped his arms around the sobbing boy next to him. "It's ok Gray we are going to be ok I promise. We are going to fight for our lives back ok? Both of us together and this is the start."
Grays sobs had turned into sniffles after sometime. Leo was about to suggest they head back to camp when the sound of a twig or branch snapping caught the boy's attention. They looked at each other when they heard unfamiliar voices. Leo put his finger to his lips and Gray understood.
"Listen Laxus now is the perfect time…
..Yes i'm serious they are out looking for those other brats get the ones we need and come on. By the time they realize they are also missing we will be long gone…..do you got it. And Laxus do not disappoint me ok?"
Leo and Gray glanced at each other when another voice spoke.
"You think that kid of yours will come through Ivan?"
"Of course he will. He'd stand in a lightning storm with a metal rod if he thought it would make me proud of him." Ivan chuckled darkly, "Of course I do think in the end we will need to dispose of him with the other two. He will screw it up somehow he always does."
"That's cold that's your own kid man."
The voice was unmistakably evil it sent a chill down Leo's spine. "Please tell me you are not getting soft also Jose? If hate to lose another comrade."
"No sir. I'm with whatever you decide."
Gray shuddered and leaned back as he did the foliage they were on made a slight rustling noise.
"You hear that Ivan?"
Both boys closed their eyes and held their breath.
"Probably just the wind Jose."
"Yeah your probably right."
Leo exhaled and opened his eyes, then he screamed. Grays eyes popped open and both boys fell back in their now not so hidden haven.
Jose chuckled, "Looks like we found what was lost huh?"
Ivan crouched down and look at the boys. He sighed, " We will have to bring them with us now. Can't have them going back and letting on about our little plan now can we."
"I'm not going anywhere with you." Leo held firmly.
"Me either." Gray was as seriously as his friend.
Jose laughed darkly. "Well," he pulled a gun from the back of his pants. Gray sucked in a breath and started to shake. "My little friend here says you're going to do exactly as I say understand." Both boys nodded, "Good now get out here and get to moving."
The boy came out from their spot, "I've got not rope but I'm a good aim got it?" The boys nodded again. "Good walk 2 pages in front of us in that direction," Jose pointed in said direction, " if we want you to change direction we will let ya know otherwise just keep walking and we will all get there safely. Any questions." The boys shook their heads no. Leo's heart was racing faster than it ever had before and he was sure Gray wasn't fairing much better. "Good then get moving."
The boys did as they were told Gray couldn't help but notice the sick smile on Ivan's face. This would be a whole new set of nightmares he was sure.
They had been walking for almost 45 minutes when an old cabin came into view. It was decrepit like in a scary movie. The door was on the ground beside the farm and most windows were busted out.
"Home sweet home boys," Jose joked.
Ivan just started at them sinisterly for a moment before he walked inside the cabin and come back with zip ties. When he spoke his voice still carried a chilly effect. "Both of you put your hand behind you. If you do exactly as you are told and cause me no grief you MIGHT make it out of this alive. I will have you know I have no qualms with ending your sorry existence if you disobey." He smile as the boys did as they were told.
After their hands were secured behind their backs they were led into the cabin and sat in a corner. "Now me and Ivan have nowhere to go. So we WILL be sitting right outside there. So don't think of running for it. You won't make it 10 feet and if you somehow do remember it's getting dark and you ain't got your hands."
Jose and Ivan laughed as they walked outside the cabin.
Leo turned to Gray, "Well this puts a whole new spin of fighting for our lives huh.?"
Gray stared at him for a minute before he smiled and shook his head.