A/N: well, I have some comments, but not many.
Jennifer Duesbee: Thank you for following the story even though you think that people who write about Holes are freaks! Just kidding, but I do not obsess over Holes, I write about it because it has a plot that can be stretched and taken to various levels of both interest and comedy. I have now changed my genres to Drama/Angst because of the fact that, yes, there is no romance what so ever at the moment, so if a romance does sprout later on, well, then there will be a romance and everyone will just have to deal with that fact that there's a little romance but its not one of my genres. Everyone reading this, do not think Jennifer is a Holes hater, she just loves Harry Potter, so if you are like her and like Harry Potter too, go read her fanfics, their full of action, romance, ferrets, and most importantly…HARRY! GO NOW, or after you read mine!
LeMoNsOuR: thank you so much for your kind reviews, and the kind shout outs I have read from you in your AWESOME STORY! Everyone reading this must, must, must go and read HIDDEN by LeMoNsOuR, because it is an amazingly cool and hilarious story. READ IT OR ELSE! Thank you again LeMoNsOuR! Your stories inspire me to write more and more because some day I hope to maybe write 20 or 30 chapters like you have done. My whole goal for this New Year is to finish one story, whether it is FanFic or original, I want to finish ONE! You have given me the inspiration and the supportive comments that have vigorously helped me along the way, if it wasn't for you, I don't think I would have gotten past chapter 1, which I usually don't. But you, along with many of my friends, have driven me toward writing, and having given me both critical and praising comments. Thank you very much LeMoNsOuR, and if you can't tell, I'm very emotional today.
Fangirl: thank you for your critical review. Yes, I know that was very predictable, but it was supposed to be. I appreciate your critiquing, and thank you for being nice to me, since you said you're usually meaner. I feel special.
Okay, finally on to the story! GO!
Chapter 5The world seemed to stop revolving as Elizabeth slunk quietly off her cot and even more carefully out of her tent. She walked slowly toward the kitchens, her breath steady, yet her hands shaking. Her eyes looked past the kitchen, and her mind began to wonder. But there was no turning back, it had to be done.
The back door was locked, but that wouldn't stop her. She was on a mission, and her mind was determined to finish it. Her heart was not in this, but ever since the shooting, her heart was drowned away by the commands of her mind.
With all the strength she could muster, she began to rip away the screening of the kitchen door. The staples fell onto the dry dirt, making no noise. She finally made a gap just big enough for her to slip through, but once she was inside, her feet started to become cold. She thought it wasn't worth it. She wasn't sure this would solve anything. But despite her protests, her feet continued to move to the cupboards, and her hands opened each and every one until they grasped their treasure; a sharp, large cutting knife, carelessly left in an unlocked door.
A smile slid across her face and her eyes became flooded with an insane glint. She laughed quietly to herself, as she wrapped the knife with a towel from the kitchen and slipped it safely into her pocket, then continued to retreat back to her tent.
She lay down this time, smirking manically, looking at the knife's hiding place, between two of the wood boxes close to her cot, and fell into a deep sleep for the first time in weeks.
The next morning, cooks and counselors were confused at what had happened in the kitchen, but the first thing they saw, were the cupboards wide open, and a knife missing. They searched every tent and camper, but found nothing. Their minds eventually assumed that an animal of some kind had broken into the kitchens, and the knife was just lost.
Digging was quiet. The campers did not seem so eased by the disappearance of a kitchen knife. They knew there had been no animal break-in, one of the campers had it, but no one was confessing.
The morning slowly morphed into the scorching afternoon. The sun was high above them, burning down on their necks, threatening to melt their skin. Mr. Pendanski drove the lunch truck that day, but there was no smile on his face. Even he was not convinced that the knife was lost. He looked down suspiciously at all of the campers, and when Magnet swept by Pendanski, he practically sniffed him, like trying to grasp a sent of the kitchens.
"I think they've all gone psycho man." Magnet muttered just loud enough for the rest of D-tent to hear. "I didn't steal no knife. What would I do with the thing anyway?"
"I know what you mean, dawg." X-ray commented softly, and then nodded his head toward Pendanski, he added, "Their just all paranoid."
The rest of the guys nodded, but Elizabeth paid no attention. She acted like she hadn't even heard them. She thought to herself, and then smiled manically as she shoveled more and more dirt out of her hole.
"You alright Elizabeth?" Zigzag asked, looking concerned at the newest camper. As usual, she ignored his commented, and kept on digging, but the smile that had so recently spread across her face seemed to instantly change to a burning glare.
Digging took almost all day for Elizabeth. She did it on purpose. Yes, she wasn't nearly the fastest digger, but that didn't matter to her. She took her time, not wanting to rush and be around the rest of the campers, especially him.
Eventually, she measured her hole to be five foot deep and five foot wide. Climbing briskly out of her hole, she walked dreamingly back to camp, her shovel dragging on the ground behind her. Her mind started to wander again. Would they find it? Could they really find out what she was planning? They'd never stop her, even if they knew.
But another voice seemed to speak out. A tiny voice, small and barely heard. It said she couldn't do this. It wasn't right. If she followed through with this plan, she would not see Zack. This plan of hers would not bring Zack back to her. Impossible was the only word for what she wanted. But the other voice was stronger.
She didn't realize she had already walked into the tent, and she didn't know how her legs automatically carried her to her cot, but there she sat, her foot absentmindedly tracing the place where it was hidden. They would never have thought to look under the floorboards, now would they?
Before she snapped out of her trance, the rest of D-tent walked in from dinner. They were talking and laughing, but everything got silent when they seen Elizabeth sitting there. They thought they heard her talking to herself, but when they listened harder, she was laughing. Quietly she sat there laughing to herself, her shoulders shaking up and down with each chuckle.
The boys exchanged confused looks, and then went off to their separate cots. Zigzag, however, walked over to Elizabeth. He knew she didn't respond, but something inside him just made him feel like he should keep trying. So, he just strolled over and sat next to her. She did not look up, but kept on giggling to her own private joke.
"What's so funny Elizabeth?" he asked.
No answer.
"Are you alright?" he tried again.
No answer.
"Elizabeth, will you please say something." He practically begged, and without knowing what he was doing, he reached out and grabbed her hand.
She froze.
Her head turned slowly, and her eyes stared into his. Her eyes were full, and bright silver, but in a fraction of a second, they turned empty. Her stare seemed to narrow, and her hand even grew cold.
"Its not my fault." She whispered, her voice low and dark.
"What are you talking ab-"
"ITS NOT MY FAULT!" she shouted, and with one swift movement, she kicked up the floorboard, reached for the knife, and dived at him.
Zigzag fell back off her cot and onto the floor. He moved his body this way and that, narrowly avoiding the knife she was jabbing at him. The rest of the guys ran over and pulled her off of him, but as hard as they tried, she wouldn't let the knife go. She kicked and screamed, and once she had successfully injured Caveman and Magnet, they let her go.
But she did not try to go for Zigzag again, instead, she backed away. She backed up all the way to the canvas wall, and then looked at the knife.
"It's not my fault." She said, talking to the knife. "Its…not…my…fault." Her breathing was heavy and uneven. Her eyes gleamed insanely as she stared at the knife. Using the index finger of the hand that was not holding the knife, she caressed the blade, and barely winced as it sliced through her finger. The blood dripped down her arm, leaving a trail of red. Tears fell from her eyes, yet she did not sob.
"I love you Zack." She whispered. She lifted her free, bleeding hand to her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks, leaving blotches of red on her face like war paint.
"Elizabeth?" Caveman asked, looking wearingly at her as she stood, looking in awe at the knife she held.
She looked up at the boys, her tears catching the blood and falling. It looked as if she were crying tears of blood. There was a smile, a weak smile on her face.
"I'm going to be with Zack."
It finally registered in the minds of the boys. She hadn't planned to kill Zigzag, the victim of this plot was she.
"Elizabeth, you can't!" Zigzag shouted, at last standing up from the ground.
"But I have to." She said, her voice beginning to shake. She swallowed hard, the tears were so abundant now that they were starting to clean away the blood. "I love him."
"THIS WON'T BRING YOU TO HIM!" Zigzag shouted, he didn't even know who this Zack was, but he knew that he wasn't worth dying for.
"Yea, you'll see him once you get out of here, right?" Squid said, then by the look on Elizabeth's face, he regretted speaking at all.
"This is the only way," she paused, gulping again, "to see him again."
"What, is he dead or something?" Squid laughed. Laughed. He laughed.
"SHUT UP!" Elizabeth screamed, she started to shake slightly, fighting off her sobs. "IT'S NOT MY FAULT!" And with that, she raised the knife, and thrust it hard into her forearm.
The boys all knew her scream would echo in their heads for as long as they lived. Time seemed to stop as Elizabeth sank to the floor. Without being told, Zero and Caveman ran, crying as loud as they could for help. Zigzag rushed forward, followed by Squid and Armpit. They did not touch her, but Zigzag was trying to speak with her.
"Elizabeth, you need to stay with me." He said sternly, trying to look into her eyes. Her only response was to scream as she pulled the knife hard out of her arm. Pendanski, Mr. Sir, the Warden, and about all the other counselors ran one by one into the tent, closely persuaded by Zero and Caveman. The blood covered her orange jumpsuit, dying the dry material a sickly dark red.
Zigzag ripped off his shirt and rapped it around her wound, putting pressure on the bleeding cut. She was too weak now too fight, and even to speak, but he kept on trying to talk to her.
"ELIZABETH! YOU WILL MAKE IT! JUST DON'T GIVE IN! IT'S NOT WORTH IT!" He shouted, knowing she couldn't give up. She was so young, and yet her life was more troubled than anyone's he'd known. He did not know what had happened in her life, but this was not the answer for anything.
"CALL 9-1-1! GET A CHOPPER IN HERE! HURRY!" The Warden yelled to Mr. Sir. He ran awkwardly from the tent toward the Warden's Cabin.
"Elizabeth?" Zigzag looked at her. Her head had fallen into her chest, and he couldn't tell if she was breathing. Her skin was white as paper, but she couldn't give up. Pendanski sat on the other side of her limp body, his fingers trying to find a pulse.
"GOT IT!" He shouted. "Its weak. That chopper better hurry."
Zigzag pressed harder on the bloody shirt.
"HELP IS COMING ELIZABETH!" He shouted. Pendanski lifted up her head and opened one of her eyes.
"She's passed out." He declared, gently putting her head back down. Zigzag found his own breath going short. Seconds seemed to pass like days as they waited for the sound of the helicopter. The other campers were now gathered outside their tent, trying to look in and see what was going on. Their voices seemed so unimportant, Zigzag almost couldn't hear them. All he heard was his own heart pounding hard in his ears. Pendanski kept his fingers around her wrist, monitoring her pulse as best he could.
After what seemed like years, the blades of the emergency helicopter landing outside, drowning out the voices of the campers. Two men and a woman in gray jumpsuits ran in, the men carrying a stretcher and the woman lugging a bulky medicine bag.
They ran straight over to her and practically shoved Pendanski and Zigzag out of the way. Within minutes they had stuck an IV in her and lifted her up onto the stretcher. The men took her immediately out of the tent and toward the still running helicopter. The woman motioned for the Warden to come with her, and after they jumped into the chopper, it rose into the air and was off. Just like that, she was gone, and her fate was no longer in his hands.
Pendanski and Mr. Sir didn't waste anytime herding the boys back into their tents. Zigzag laid down, his stomach uneasy. Would he ever know if she was okay? What if she wasn't? He hadn't even known her that long, but he knew he would not sleep that not. How could he, when Elizabeth was miles away, struggling between life and death, without him.
Author's Note: Well, was that what you predicted to happen? Her main reason for getting the knife was suicide, not killing Zigzag, that was just because he touched her. Just a reminder to everyone, this character is not modeled after me, though I have been rushed to the hospital by ambulance, it was because of asthma, not suicide. I do not want to kill myself and I never have and never will.
I hope you all loved this chapter. It was very intense to even write this, I hope reading it gives you the same feeling. I would also really appreciate what you thought, Fangirl. So, even if you're not Fangirl, review and tell me what you thought. All comments are welcomed and appreciated. Thanks so much for reading.
Next Chapter: How will Zigzag handle life without knowing about Elizabeth's condition?
PS: next chapter may not be too exciting, but the action should pick back up soon.