Author's Note: Shoutout to Miranda for being an awesome beta, especially this week. I thought we wouldn't make it 'till the scheduled update day but she had used her magic and here it is.

Hythe Memorial Hospital

Hythe, Crystalvale

03-Oct-2019

02:01 PM

"I'm sorry Puck but he doesn't want to see anyone." Mr. Evans told the group as soon as he came out of his son's room. He appeared stressed. Sam was supposed to be discharged earlier today but, after the news about Mercedes's death had been aired, his son almost lost it. They were afraid he would act out on his grief so they had decided to keep him in for awhile. Today, Sam was detached all together.

"We understand Louis. He needs time to process everything and… please look after him these following weeks." Puck didn't have the courage to say it, not that everyone wasn't already aware of where this grief might lead to. He looked at Tina who was tense on his left and then to Santana who barely said a word. "Please tell him we're sorry for his loss."

"I will. Take care on your way back to Dalton. You never know what's out there to get you." The adult warned. There was an unclear story as to what had happened to Mercedes, more so now that Protectors were tight-lipped and wouldn't cooperate with the media.

"Will do." The mohawk haired boy nodded. Santana and Puck bid their goodbye to Louis while Tina remained motionless.

By the time the adult disappeared into Sam's room, Santana yanked Tina by the arm. "Snap out of it, will you?" Her nails dug painfully in Tina's skin.

"I-I-I-"

"Give her a break Santana." Puck stood between the two. His eyes dangerously narrowed at the latina. "Can't you see she's struggling already?"

"Cuddle her even more and the next thing we'll know we will be attending her burial." The latina gave the meek asian girl a once over.

The junior stood stock-still. He convinced himself to believe Santana didn't mean it, that she was just frazzled with everything that was happening lately. "You're angry and exhausted so you're saying such things. We don't know what really happened here."

"I'm realistic, but what can I say, ignorance is bliss." Her voice condescending. "Now get your ass moving and make sure to tow that crazy with you." Santana started to leave. There were two places Santana would stay as far away from as possible if she could, first were hospitals and second were cemeteries. The ambience of both locations were like a cocaine to her gift, making her want nothing more but to let go. However Santana wouldn't gamble for it. If she could restrain herself until they got out of here, then she would do it.

As they made their way to the long winding hallway, Santana's eyes were flickering around. She was observing their environment, something she had learned to do by being in the company of Sebastian and Kurt. She had to double the effort when around Puck and Tina because she knew how easy they could be consumed with their emotions. It also meant making themselves more vulnerable. If there's something she had learned over the years, it's that danger was everywhere.

While waiting for the elevator, Santana noticed a rather large crowd exiting a doctor's clinic. Most of them in wheelchairs, crutches, casts, and arm slings. As like any other doctor's clinic, a hologram projector was positioned at the right side of the door. Santana couldn't recall where or when but the 3D image of a stunning lady with wavy locks and in her lab coat was awfully familiar to her. She read the information below the image but still couldn't place it; Ingrid M. Vaughn-Donovan. Orthopedic Surgeon. OUT

"Santana."

She looked at Puck and Tina who were already inside the elevator. She rushed in, mind completely forgetting the scene in favor of focusing more on their real intention. Visiting Sam only came second to the one in the basement.

Even when they were the only ones in the elevator, no one seemed to like the idea of talking. The stifling silence between the three made them even more aware of how scared they were. This fear wasn't because of the stunt they were about to do but because of what they would find out. The three teenagers were a bundle of nerves as the elevator descended to the ground floor of the hospital. The ping of the elevator was like a switch for them. When Puck raised his gaze from the floor to Santana, they both shared a look. This time, even Tina had it, the look of pure confidence.

"Show me what you've got." Santana challenged. Her eyebrow cocked as she gave Tina one last look before strutting out of the elevator.

Puck shrugged at Tina and walked coolly as he followed Santana. His steps were bigger until he walked past her with a discreet, "Two are at the fire exit and another three on your right near the vending machine." Puck blended into the crowd, not looking over to see if Santana understand it. He needed not too, because this was Santana. She was perceptive. She would easily spot those Protectors who were trying to be incognito by dressing as civilians. It's not her gift, it's her talent.

Santana lagged a bit to fall into step with Tina. She found the three Protectors Puck had pointed out. The ripped muscles in those V neck shirts were discreet so she had a hard time pointing them out. If this was the kind of security they had to deal with, then Santana could do this in her sleep.

As she looked beside her, Tina wasn't there. Her eyes scanned the people in the lobby but Puck wasn't there either. She knew then that this was her cue that they had started.

Tina weaved an illusion to make them disappear from everyone's sight. It wasn't as detailed as her other illusions but it would do for now. Santana had smoothly made her way towards the fire exit without jostling anyone. Puck stop walking to wait for the two girls. Like usual, he could see right through Tina's illusion.

There were various types of illusions Tina could create which greatly help Puck hone his gift. He was a shifter and it came with heightened senses. It's the reason why he was able to locate where the Protectors were by the sound of static from their earpieces before seeing them.

As they neared the fire exit, Tina created a more detailed illusion, though a bit noisier than usual as not to tip the two Protectors who were guarding the exit of their presence. When Santana reached for the door, she weaved a very complex one, a scale that only a Master of Illusion like herself could decipher. This would for sure get Puck a longer time to adjust. She held it long enough to get through the fire exit into the basement.

They walked past four Protectors, all in uniform as said men were in the middle of changing shift. It was almost comical how no one noticed the three outsiders.

Santana took her position in front of the two, her eyeballs turned completely black. She was leading them as if knowing exactly where the morgue was, and in this case she did. A gift of mediumship allowed her to see and sense dead spirits.

Maneuvering through the basement was like a child's play to them. They used the CCTV cameras' blindsides to their full advantage. If someone had a chance to witness how the trio worked, the person would be impressed and at the same time, disturbed. These were only teenagers but they moved with precision without wasting any saliva to instruct each other. It was like they were sharing just one brain.

At the very end of the barren, concrete, and desolate hallway, they found a metal door. The only barrier separating them from the truth. The latina opened it without preamble.

A dreary white room with two stainless tables came into view, one of which was occupied. There were trays of equipment on one side, three sinks not far from them, and another door which lead to who knows where. The temperature inside the room was remarkably lower and it reeked of formalin.

Their feet were rooted in the ground seeing the covered body. Tina's focus was crumbling, making the three of them appear and disappear for anyone to see until she finally let go. She started shaking violently.

They were lucky no one was in the room to guard.

Santana crossed the room, her breathing was heavy. The sophomore grabbed a fistful of white cloth and gently revealed the person underneath it. Puck was supporting Tina as they moved next to Santana, in time to see a dark skinned, curvy woman.

Puck's trembling hand was quick to cover Tina's scream. His face drained of its color. He heard Santana scramble to one of the sinks to dry-heave but instead of checking on her, Puck couldn't peel his eyes away from the sight in front of him. There was Mercedes looking peaceful.

The peacefulness on her face didn't quite go well with her body. From her neck down to her feet said a very different story. Her skin was marred with purple and yellowish bruises as well as cuts of varying size and depth. Some of her cuts were stitched back together while others were not. Her right leg was twisted in an angle that shouldn't be.

Puck couldn't wrap his mind around this incident - murder. It was too much. He couldn't imagine how Mercedes's body had looked like before she was patched up. The mere thought made him sick to his stomach.

Santana slumped down to the cold floor, her eyes were misty. Tina was in the fetal position on the floor, her arms wrapped around her as if doing so would prevent herself from breaking.

The mohawk haired boy wiped angrily at the lone tear that rolled down his cheek. He couldn't accept this, not when someone killed a member of their dysfunctional family.

Dormitory

Doltore, Crystalvale

08-Oct-2019

04:16 PM

Three days ago…

Blaine hugged his fluffy pillow. He made sure to adjust the AC to a comfortable temperature before retreating for the night. A grin formed on his lips, eyes remained shut, and he was about to drift back to sleep when he heard a sniffing sound.

It was not until fifth period during their Comparative Government and Politics class when they became aware of the news. They were in class, Kurt didn't show up after running out of the canteen without a word. According to the media, Mercedes's body had been found in an abandoned barn on the outskirts of Hythe, Crystalvale. Whoever the murderer was and the reason behind the crime remained unknown.

He and the others tried to be there for Nick but Nick just shut down their attempts. Finn was there for his soulmate who was inconsolable. As for the Hummel siblings, they were nowhere to be seen. It seemed like whoever was Mercedes, the four older students were close to her.

Amidst the upperclassmen and his friends' grieving, Blaine had a hard time feeling the same level of sorrow. He had never met Mercedes and by the way Wes, David, Mike, and Finn shared a look, it told him they were all in the same boat. The best thing they had to offer was to be there for their friends.

Blaine spent half an hour staring at the wall, waiting for Nick's crying to subside so he could go back to sleep. He refused to ponder on the tragedy that happened. However being cooped in their room with nothing but the sound of his roommate's crying gave his mind ample time to welcome those thoughts.

He unconsciously traced the cursive letters on his wrist and imagined that he was in Sam Evan's situation. There were a lot of ugly scenarios that his mind was able to provide, from locking himself in his bedroom in Whiteridge to suicide. Blaine was a very emotional type of person and he was sure he would succumb to depression if the situation ever happened. These disturbing thoughts were enough to put him in a funk.

Blaine rolled over on his bed to face the other side. The room was dark and he simply relied on his hearing to know whether his roommate was already asleep. The soft snore was his confirmation. He then proceeded to sleep as well but the unpleasant remnants of putting himself in Sam's shoes didn't go away. He tossed and turned on his bed until he conceded that sleep wouldn't be visiting him anymore.

He blindly reached for his phone at his bedside table, wincing at the soft light when he checked for the time, 4:03am. Still suffering in a self induced funk, Blaine slowly and quietly left his bed. He tiptoed around their room, hands extended to prevent himself from crashing into something as he gathered anything warm to wear. Blaine found his Dalton hoodie which he wore over his t-shirt and a pair of knitted gloves just right on top of his study table. On his way to the door, he secured the drawstrings of his sweatpants while his feet were wrestling their way into his running shoes.

A mop of curly hair peeked through the partially opened door to scan the hallway. Blaine wouldn't risk being caught by anyone. Besides he was only planning for a quick walk, just to clear his head from those depressing thoughts. When he was certain that the coast was clear, with stealthy movements he made his way downstairs.

The freshman was thankful for those wall lamps everywhere as it was easier for him to navigate his way. Blaine's heart was hammering in his chest and he was starting to regret his decision. Even more for not reading the school's rulebook. The front door of their dorm building would open at exactly six that much he was aware of. As for the sanction of opening it before the scheduled time, well Blaine was clueless.

It was nerve wracking as he got closer to the door. The sound of the grandfather clock's moving pendulum below the staircase was adding to his anxiety. He looked over his shoulder, convinced that anytime now someone would jump out from the shadows to reprimand him just like in the movies. A minute had passed and no one came out. Fueled by that, he unlocked the deadbolt. A rather loud click echoed throughout the first floor which almost caused Blaine to have a mini heart attack. He spun around quickly to see if it had alerted anyone but the stillness remained present. And so with a clammy hand and a crazy beating heart, he turned the knob, opening the door enough to fit his body.

A rather freezing air assaulted Blaine but he ignored it in favor of walking away from the front door. The lights from the lamppost faintly illuminated the campus as thick fog enveloped the vicinity. He soon regretted not wearing more layers as the cold air seeped right through his hoodie. He blew on his gloved hands, a futile attempt to warm his cold fingers. Perhaps going out at an early hour in autumn was a terrible idea.

Blaine walked around the dorm until he found a bench at the back of the building to sit on. It was his first time to be out of the dorm so early in the morning. Usually he was in bed after curfew hours and would be up around half past seven or eight in the morning. Dalton's pretty strict with its rules and he didn't want to be in trouble. Today, he just needed a breather but he might never repeat this stunt again.

Aside from the chilly air, Blaine actually found the peacefulness appealing. Dalton during the day was often noisy and packed with hyperactive students. Yes, he liked the liveliness during the day but he much prefered this. It wasn't solemn like the state of his bedroom now nor awkward because he was all alone.

The sound of a twig being snapped and the crunch of the ground had alerted Blaine of someone else's presence. He started to panic because he would be caught and be punished. His heartbeat became erratic and his overly active brain gave all possible punishment a student would be getting instead of actually thinking of a way to escape. He was on his feet when the light illuminated those pair of red eyes.

This might sound weird but he knew right away it was Kurt. He could bet his life it was Kurt Sterling. Even if Blaine was placed in a crowd full of fire bearers he could easily pinpoint Kurt even without seeing his face. There was just something in those eyes - whether they were blazing red or his glasz eyes, that made him able to tell it was him.

"Oh God, you scared me." Blaine slumped down the bench. He took a calming breath to slow down his pounding heart. As usual, Kurt didn't respond. He stopped in his tracks when he had heard him before going to sit at the other end of the bench. His eyes lingered on the boy once he passed in front of him. Kurt was wearing a white dress shirt with gold embroidery on its collar, equally white skin tight jeans that made him wonder how in the hell the boy managed to fit into them, a pair of mid-calf combat boots, a black printed skull scarf, leather gloves, and a wool black pea coat. His chestnut hair was again perfectly coiffed. Blaine had a distinct taste in fashion, something which involved a lot of bow ties and not as out there as Kurt. The latter boy always dressed like he was walking on a runway outside his school uniform, not that Blaine was complaining.

"You know, for an early morning walk you dressed rather nicely." Blaine was trying to start a conversation and he was certain Kurt had heard him because he glanced at him before focusing on the stone wall of the dorm building. He crossed his legs as well as his arms, something Blaine dubbed as Kurt's normal posture while sitting.

The silence stretched out longer. Blaine was simply content to sneak a peek at Kurt once in awhile as the other had his head thrown back with his eyes closed. The silence between them was somehow comfortable and for once his mind didn't act creepy by worshipping every small detail he found about Kurt. Just sitting there with him seemed like enough.

Blaine wasn't aware how long they sat there until out of nowhere he started getting nervous. He recognized this familiar pull, this itch that wouldn't go away since the big fail introduction in the cafeteria. His hands twitched at his sides but he didn't move, there was a need for him to reach for the boy sitting beside him but he resisted. Whatever was wrong with him, he wouldn't drag Kurt into it. He was lucky enough for him to stay despite Blaine being there. So Blaine fisted his hands and ignored those urges.

"If I give you five seconds to tell me whatever you please before I disappear to oblivion, what would it be?"

Blaine wasn't prepared at the sudden interruption of the silence between them. He looked at Kurt who kept his eyes shut and head thrown back. Without any clue where this conversation was heading, he stumbled to formulate an answer. "Um… Uh… I-"

"Your five seconds is over."

"But-Wait!" Blaine freaked out when Kurt stood from his seat. He wanted to say he was caught off guard by his question but the way Kurt stared at him had caused him to shut up. Kurt's eyes were empty. Blaine might have worshipped those captivating orbs a few times, and he also noticed how Kurt stared blankly at anyone aside from Jeff and Brittany, which was why he instantly knew something was wrong. This was a different emptiness in Kurt eyes. "Wait."

"You can't stop the time nor bring it back."

The curly haired boy hated how he became mute whenever Kurt spoke to him. He even hated how he just let himself get easily intimidated by the boy. When Kurt started to walk away he swallowed thickly and pulled himself together. "...But it doesn't mean for you to just watch on the sideline simply because you just had one misstep." Blaine took a step back when Kurt stopped in front of him. "I-I m-mean you could make something good out of it."

"Sometimes it only requires that one misstep to make a fatal blow." With that said, Kurt walked away. As he was nearing the corner of the building he spoke, "I locked the front door so you have to wait here until six."

Blaine's jaw dropped. It was impossible for him to stay here any longer without freezing to death. He was already missing the comfort of his bed. In his head he thought Kurt must absolutely loathe him by suggesting something so crazy. "No-" He sneezed. "No way." He said quickly before sneezing. "How did you even manage to lock the door when you're here?"

Kurt huffed, he grudgingly walked back to where the other boy was.

Blaine blushed a bit when he noticed Kurt gave him a once over. Kurt was his usual dreamy self while Blaine was rocking his hobo style. He totally forgot his electrocuted bed hair and, to at least save himself from further humiliation, he tugged his hoodie in an attempt to hide his product free hair. Kurt seemed to not notice or if he did he never commented on it. Blaine watched Kurt stop yet again in front of him though this time he was removing his scarf and pushed it to Blaine's chest. On instinct Blaine grabbed the article.

"Guards have their rounds inside the dorm around five and stationed in front of the building until six. Don't even attempt to grab the knob earlier than six because they'll think you're picking the lock. They'll leave at six sharp."

"How do you even know all that?" Blaine asked curiously.

Kurt turned his back without answering.

Blaine once again saw the boy leaving but he wouldn't let him get away without a proper answer. "Why are you like that? You leave in the middle of a conversation. When someone tries talking to you, you brush them off as if they don't exist. I don't get you at all. One minute you're cold then the next thing I know you're all nice."

"No one asked you to understand me." Kurt kept walking. Eyes never looked back.

"I want too. I think there's more layers beneath this aloof facade you have." Blaine wasn't thinking. He let his mouth take the lead. His itch for Kurt had intensified, his body was crying to hold Kurt right then and there yet his mind was way behind to comprehend what was really happening. He felt like he was stuck in quicksand, the more he attempted to find an escape the more he was sucked in.

"You thought you had me all figured out? I'm sorry to disappoint but I'm not a puzzle for you to solve."

Blaine was frustrated because Kurt continued to leave. The mocking tone of Kurt's voice was also poking him the wrong way. "Will you stop walking for a second?" When he was ignored, Blaine stomped his feet. "Your scarf." He remembered the soft fabric in his hand.

"I don't need it."

"Then-"

"I'm not the one who's about to freeze."

"I will return-"

"I said I don't need it."

Blaine hurried to chase Kurt when the latter rounded the corner of the building to ask where was he going, but he couldn't find him anymore. He squinted his eyes to see better through the thick fog, he wished to see the insufferable yet beautiful boy for the last time. However his surroundings were empty.

Carefully, Blaine wrapped the scarf around his neck and smiled when his nose was filled with Kurt's perfume - vanilla with a hint of something citrusy. All of a sudden he felt better. Kurt just had that kind of effect on him no matter how pissed he was. Blaine couldn't stay mad at him for long.

He took a lungful of air, almost instantly getting addicted to it. He went back to the abandoned bench and somehow, the idea of waiting in cold weather wasn't as bad as he had previously thought.

"-aine! Blaine! Are you still there?"

Blaine was jolted back to reality by his father's angry voice. His right hand was deep in his pocket while his left hand was holding his phone. Eighth period was a free period for everyone in High School division, giving enough time for the students to prepare for their ninth period - Electives. Since it was Tuesday their class had a back to back free period because Physical Ed was scheduled on M-W-F.

Play time wasn't even on the table for anyone lately. The impact of Mercede's death could be felt everywhere. The usual brightness around the campus from the students couldn't be found. Blaine would witness at least ten students crying in one day. Others, like himself, were stuck on their phone appeasing their parents' worries.

"Yes dad. I'm listening." He answered calmly.

He could see in the distance his group of friends gathered on their dorm lawn busy finishing their homework. Well, save for Rachel who never stopped crying and Finn who might cry anytime by simply watching his soulmate. Nick looked the worst, his eyes were bloodshot but not as bad as the previous days. Brittany, who was adamant to befriend them, was locked in her room most of the time. It was Jeff who notified them when either one or both wouldn't make it to their study group.

"Listen B. I've was a teenager once and yes we easily get curious but please don't be reckless. I'm talking to you because I want to appease your mom as well as trying to be a more reasonable father. We've been through this, I let you attend Dalton despite being against it, with Jones's and everything, of course I'm worried sick everyday. Your mom even wanted you to drop out of D.I.A-"

"Dad! I'm not-"

"I know B and this time I got your back. Just promise me I'm not going to regret this decision. Knowing nothing about this girl's murder is unsettling for us."

"It happened in Barmwich, that's too far from Crystalvale Dad." Blaine groaned a little.

"Her body was found in Hythe! It's two hours away from D.I.A and also it doesn't mean those murderers wouldn't move to another place. This is a murder of a kid with a gift Blaine. Who knows what is in these people's heads."

"Okay Dad. I promise to take care of myself and behave while I'm here." He started walking back to their small group. He watched Jeff stand up from their picnic blanket.

"Call your mom tonight. Love you B."

"Love you Dad." Blaine ended the call and pocketed his phone. He started picking up his pace when Jeff had blocked Tina, Puck and Santana on their way to the dorm. The three students weren't wearing uniforms but instead were clad in all black ensembles.

"Where is Kurt?"

Blaine heard a very distressed Jeff asking the three. He had the same question himself because after his early morning Saturday encounter with Kurt he was nowhere to be found. The said boy wasn't showing in class either which garnered him a bad reputation from their teachers.

Puck met the lanky senior's pleading eyes. He felt sympathetic for him because he was always the one looking out for Kurt and Brittany. It was like he was programmed to look out for everyone. "I would tell you if I knew but I don't. If it makes you feel better then you should know he comes back every day. But Jeff you should remember he is old enough to look after himself, don't you think?"

The senior studied the group. Puck was sporting stubble, Tina was shaking, and Santana had her top notch bitch glare. Jeff didn't want to think about what they were up to, although he could breathe better knowing that Kurt and Sebastian weren't with them. "You don't understand Puck. You don't know Kurt."

"How dare you!" Santana snarled. "You may be blood related but it doesn't mean you know everything about him. Even if we knew where Lady Lips is, right now you're the last person he wants to see. So you can take your scrawny ass out of our sight." The sophomore might have used more venom than intended but she wouldn't apologize. It was not out of character for her to spout hateful words.

Santana was well aware that Puck was lying. Of course they knew where Kurt was. He was somewhere where they frequently went to when things had been overwhelming. It's their safe haven.

Jeff looked at Santana in a dubious way until a hollow laugh escaped from the blonde. "Brittany needs you and you're here antagonizing people." The senior tried to catch Tina's eyes when she had looked at him but she quickly averted her eyes. "As for Kurt, you don't-"

"Jeff watch out!"

Jeff heard Nick yell before he was rolling on the ground with the boy. There were also voices from their friends but he couldn't see them because Nick was hovering above him with a worried expression.

Santana did five back flips to dodge the five flying icicles which were now impaled in the ground in a straight line. Santana stood rather proudly a few inches away from the icicles, she wasn't fazed by the sudden attack.

Puck ran as fast as he could to avoid three thick, meter long icicles.

Tina's eyes almost popped out of their sockets. She blanched as numerous sharp icicles suspended above her. She didn't notice when exactly these icicles came flying in her direction or that everyone dispersed to dodge them. She was still shaken with the image of Mercedes's dead body for days and no matter how hard she tried to tamper it with a beautiful illusion, she couldn't. She couldn't focus long enough to recreate any image in her head.

The icicles burst into water drenching Tina's clothes. Her knees gave out, she hopelessly hugged her middle. This time it wasn't because she felt cold or fear but because she knew she had failed.

"Pull your sorry ass together." Sebastian towered over Tina. His blue irises went back to green. He regarded her with nothing but pure disgust.

"That's uncalled for!" Rachel screeched, her voice breaking from the strain as she marched towards the two. She looked past them and saw Jeff and Nick getting on their feet. She noticed Nick's blazer turning darker on the left shoulder. "Oh God! Nick you're bleeding."

Nick looked at his shoulder and found his blazer torn, he touched the soaked garment and winced in the process. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned half of his shirt enough to expose his injury. The wound wasn't too deep because his blazer took most of the hit but he could see the slight parted skin. He grimaced at the pain. "It's not that bad Rach. There's no need to freak out." Nick touched it gingerly and slowly his wound was closing. "See."

Jeff only watched Nick and didn't even thank the younger boy who was injured because of him.

"I forgot you can heal yourself." Rachel sighed, her eyes started to water yet again. "You should stop assaulting people Bas."

"Yeah, it's not cool man." Finn stood behind his soulmate with the others.

"Using a gift to bully other students is prohibited." Mike controlled his emotion although his voice sounded grave. He didn't like Sebastian picking on Tina.

"Who are you, my parents?" Sebastian spat. When he saw Puck and Santana striding to them he smirked. "I never thought you would run, Paws."

"Sorry to disappoint." Puck shrugged. He would make a fuss for the name calling but he just wanted to leave and probably get a nap. He offered his hand to Tina. "C'mon."

"Told ya. You need to tone down the craziness." Santana ridiculed while Puck was helping Tina get to her feet.

The four of them headed back to the dorm turning deaf ears to Rachel's shouting.

"Hey! About Kurt!" Jeff called to the four but he was also being ignored. He didn't want to be the source but he was left with no choice. Jeff didn't want for Kurt to be alone, especially today. "It's today." Still no one paid attention to him. "Today is Kurt's birthday." Jeff ignored the reaction from the people behind him, rather he paid more attention to the people walking away. Tina looked over as well as Puck. Santana cursed in spanish while Sebastian continued to walk away. However the brief stutter on his step didn't escape Jeff's sight.

Dalton Institute Of Arcane

Doltore, Crystalvale

08-Oct-2019

04:50 PM

Ten years ago…

"Is that little Mercedes I see?"

An eight year old, chocolate skinned, pudgy girl with long bob curly hair lit up upon seeing the speaker. She persistently tugged her hands from her parents hold to no avail.

"Mercedes, don't forget your manners." Eleana Jones held her daughter's hand tighter to prevent her from running away.

"She's just a kid El. We both know you're just as hy- omph!" Zakari Jones, a tall african-american man wasn't able to finish his sentence when his wife quickly covered his mouth. However it was the right diversion his daughter needed to escape from her mother's grip. He gave his daughter a wink which made her giggle.

"This is a good time to teach Mercedes how to behave appropriately around people." Eleana shook her head as she watched her run away. "Sweetie, remember Mommy and Daddy are here for work." She hollered when her daughter pounced onto the older man waiting for them.

The old man laughed heartily, he barely even moved with the impact of her hug. He was six feet tall, his brown hair was cut short with some of it already gray just like his well kept five o'clock shadow, and for a man in his late fifties, he was rather fit which caused people to mistake him as younger than his actual age. It didn't help that he had all these refined manners and friendly attributes which everyone, including children, seemed to like about him. "Kids."

Eleana groaned, defeated at constantly teaching her daughter to be more feminine and not barrelling onto someone every time. Her husband took her hand, chuckling at his pouting wife.

"Hi Big Old Bear!" Mercedes finally released the old man, she took a step back and waved at her parents' client. The little girl's neck ached a little simply by staring up at the towering old man.

"Oh dear God." She covered her face in embarrassment. Their client wasn't that old, he was still working and wouldn't retire for a few more years.

Zakari didn't bother to hide his laughter. He knew how tactless their daughter could be but he had often dismissed it as just being a kid. Although he would apologize if his daughter would say it to someone else, this specific client was hands down the nicest person he had ever met and he knew he wouldn't mind any of Mercedes's actions. They had only brought their daughter once but when she found out they were going to visit him, Mercedes insisted in coming with them.

"Hello there, beautiful." The older man leaned in a little to bop a finger on her nose making her giggle.

"I'm sorry Damian." Eleana started but Damian stopped her almost immediately.

"It's okay. You don't want to know how many names my first grandson came up with. Apparently I'm his Wrinkly Pop now. He has this list which ranges from bad to worst." He saw Mercedes become distracted with watching the bed of tulips in front of his house.

Zakari winced at the mention of the said grandson. He had the pleasure to meet him and before that, he had always wanted a boy, now he was grateful he had a girl. The kid was always on a sugar high, it was crazy.

"Mercedes, do you want to go see those tulips?"

She turned around to look at the adults, her eyes sparkling and she giddily nodded. "Yes please, Mr. Hummel."

Her parents' shook their heads because apparently their daughter only remembered her manners when wanting something.

Damian smiled. "Okay, but before you go maybe someone could join you?"

Her mouth resembled an O shape.

"Kurt." Damian Hummel looked behind him to see his five year old grandson. The small boy was clutching his grandfather's pants like his life depended on it while his face was buried into his small fists.

The poor boy remained silent in hopes that granddad would somehow forget he was there. He was doing a good job hiding from everyone until he heard his name. He gingerly peeked out, seeing Eleana and Zakari had alleviated his nervousness.

Mercedes's eyes went wide when she saw a glimpse of the boy. His smooth looking brunette hair was styled rather nicely, his skin was paler than usual though not the sickly type, and despite hidden behind Mr. Hummel, she could tell the boy was dressed better than half those kids in her class. What enchanted her the most about this boy was his breathtaking eyes, the ones she also liked about Mr. Hummel. They had the same set of eyes with their fascinating quality to change between blue, green and gray.

"Hi! I'm Mercedes Jones." She beamed, facial muscles pulled as far as it would allow her. Her body was vibrating with the prospect of a new friend, a beautiful friend.

Kurt immediately hid behind his granddad. His heart was beating so hard. Damian rested his big hand on Kurt's hair making the boy look directly at his granddad. Damian could see how his grandson was terrified but he knew Kurt needed this. He knew his grandson was ready. "I heard Little Mercedes here likes tea parties."

Eleanor and Zakari smiled in encouragement. Mercedes miraculously behaved, she waited until the boy stepped out from hiding. He tried to match her smiling face but it only came out awkward. "I'm Kurt." He spoke in a timid way. Kurt was terrified around strangers.

"You look beautiful." Mercedes said breathless, eyes unable to peel away from the younger boy.

The simple compliment brought color to Kurt's entire face down to his neck. It appeared that the boy was an insanely shy person.

Distinct footfalls against the rickety bridge pulled Kurt out of his reverie. His eyes remained shut, savouring the lulling sound of the stream beneath the bridge and the soft rustling of dried leaves. The air was filled with the smell of moss and damp soil.

The footfalls stopped beside him and he had an idea who it was. Kurt was well acquainted with that not too heavy but a tad bit slow walk. The silence was short lived as another series of movements were followed by a rather heavy thud. He opened his eyes to see a brown paper bag beside him and a cup of coffee. Just then, his stomach growled in protest. He had totally forgotten that he skipped every meal of the day. He grabbed his coffee and sipped it - medium drip. He dug into the bag and found sachets of brown sugar as well as a chicken sandwich. Kurt did all of this without acknowledging the person who had brought it.

Sebastian pocketed his phone and glanced at the boy. There was no point in rushing to Electives now because either way he would be late. He wasn't the type of student to skip a class because of trivial matters but this situation had reached its limit.

He could understand Mercedes's murder was a big blow to them. No matter how hard Sebastian had denied it, he was still affected. Being the King of Douchebaggery didn't make him exempt from the grief so he had assumed the others were heartbroken, including Kurt.

It was hard to guess how Kurt was taking the news. He was still his usual self, playing dress up and skipping classes although this time the skipping had escalated early in the school year. Sebastian hadn't had much idea about the younger boy. It was true they were around each other since early grades in Dalton but he barely knew Kurt. All he knew for sure was he had a bad case of being reclusive.

Sebastian's back was comfortably pressed against the old wooden railing. He was seated on the wooden floor a small distance opposite from Kurt's side so he had a better view of him. The younger boy had finished his sandwich and was sipping his coffee with a faraway look. Sebastian decided his task was done and rose to his feet ready to leave.

"She was always hidden, never in the front line." Kurt mumbled. His eyes trailed to the junior's retreating back.

Sebastian sighed and looked above. The sun was setting which gave a beautiful orange tinge on the horizon. His hands were deep in his pockets. "We assumed it was enough to keep her safe during our… escapades." His mocking tone evident. "If you think about it, she never really learned how to defend herself from potential danger." He spoke softly in a manner only Kurt had the privilege to witness.

Kurt stretched his legs and had that faraway look again. "Do you have any idea who did it?"

Sebastian chanced a look over his shoulder to see this rarity. Kurt Sterling with slumped shoulders and lower lip between his teeth. The freshman sure was excellent in hiding his emotions with an impassive face whom even Sebastian had struggled to see right through. However he believed that over the years of being subjected to each other's company he finally earned it, his pass to have a glimpse of who really was Kurt Sterling without having to listen to rumors.

"I don't. Satan, Paws, and Crazy went down to the hospital five days ago and do you want to know what they found out?"

Kurt lifted his head with a dark expression. "...and no one thought to ask me to go?"

Sebastian raised his brow. "You're coming back early in the morning and gone when the sun is out-"

"They should have texted me. You should have called me."

The junior watched those red eyes looking ready to set him on fire. He shook his head as he couldn't believe how bad Kurt's state was. "You didn't realize you left your phone in your room. It was ringing nonstop today."

Kurt was about to argue when Sebastian continued. "I didn't go and I didn't want to know what they found out. Right now what's important is for us to move on. One day Kurt, just one day. I'll give you that but after one day you better have collected yourself. We don't have the luxury to grieve and the earlier we move on the better it will be. You know this better than anyone else. Mercedes is gone and no amount of tears can bring her back." His steely eyes bore into Kurt's own. Sebastian wouldn't cuddle Kurt simply because it was his birthday.

Kurt stood to his feet. His eyes were devoid of emotion and he had a sickening smile. "Do you honestly think I don't know that?"

Sebastian's maniacal laughter rang out through the forest where they currently were. He doubled over, hand clutching his stomach. When he raised his head to stare at Kurt, he had that same terrifying smile. "Oh! I know you do."

A pause from the two. Sebastian saw Kurt start playing with his ring. The ring he had wore as a necklace when they were younger then started wearing it as a ring when he was big enough to fit it on his right pointer finger. "Whether you like it or not, the world isn't going to stop for us to catch up. We need to move on."

Kurt was silent as he gazed at the flowing stream. Sebastian lazily stretched his arms above his head and said one last time. "It won't end unless you let go."

He descended on the four wooden steps of the bridge. It was time to leave this place which gave them the safety in Dalton. This was theirs, somewhere no one could touch and find them.

"Thanks Seb."

Sebastian whirled around to see Kurt standing in the middle of the bridge with his typical impassiveness though this time his eyes held a lot more meaning than the words. He couldn't think of anything to say aside from, "Don't fall for me now."

Kurt snorted, "Don't worry, your brand of love totally sucks."

Dormitory

Doltore, Crystalvale

08-Oct-2019

11:00PM

Kurt put the manila envelope on his study table as his eyes caught a rectangular gift wrapped in emerald green with white ribbon. He frowned when he couldn't find a card from the sender. The freshman sat at his study table as he started unwrapping it. As soon as he lifted the lid off the box, he immediately slammed it closed. His face heating up. Kurt threw the box on his table causing it to open and its contents to roll out. He groaned, not wanting to ever touch the object, he used the lid to push it right inside the box, only to notice a small card.

Something to commemorate your 15th birthday. Now you may replace that stick shoved in your ass with something more pleasurable. -Seb P.S. It's 8 inches just like the day of your birth.

Kurt shouldn't expect much less from Sebastian. When he decided to do something, he would make sure to go all out. The question of who and how did he find out didn't even matter anymore. It wasn't like Kurt was hiding it from anybody, no, it just happened that no one had asked him. Kurt wasn't going to broadcast his birthday like it was a big deal, and honestly the appeal of celebrating was long gone for him.

He opened the bottom drawer and hid Sebastian's gift in there. He retrieved a velvet black box right next to it before closing the drawer. Kurt moved to his huge bed, removing his shoes and socks before crawling in the middle of the bed.

Kurt stared at the black box sitting in front of him while his fingers played with his ring. Before going back to school, he made a special trip down to Elijah, a jewelry store in a business area of Merfield, Crystalvale's capital. The velvet box had two silver intertwining tulips which was the store's logo.

He reached for the box before hesitating. He had the whole summer to contemplate his decision but it still wasn't enough. Whatever his decision would be, he knew it would bring a big change to his life. A very big change that he wasn't sure if he was ready to take. It's a selfish decision, especially to his soulmate, but for him it felt like the right thing to do. He had seen people go to great lengths for their soulmates and for Kurt he wasn't sure he could handle the responsibility.

Kurt looked at the wall clock indicating 11:24pm. He took a deep breath and took the box. As he opened it, there, sitting delicately was a copper and niobium helix designed cuff bracelet. There was an alternating pattern on the bracelet, a copper helix followed by two niobium helix. As Kurt lifted the item, a small silver key pendant necklace was attached in the bracelet lock. He made sure that this cuff bracelet would fit snugly around his left wrist without cutting his circulation. As he secured his new accessory, his left wrist started to itch. He worked the lock back into place before laying on his bed.

The itchiness was soon replaced with a burning sensation. He knew what was happening behind his bracelet. A few minutes from now, his soulmate's name would be there for him to see or rather for him to hide. He had to hide it from everyone's eyes, and most of all he had to hide it from himself. Kurt wasn't ready. He wasn't ready to meet the person who had the power to break him even more.

Author's Note: Feedback? I would appreciate one.