First Exam: Part 2

The hard, concrete ground before changed into thick mud as the examinees ran through Swindler's Swamp. The fog closed in around the runners, getting thicker and thicker as they progressed.

"Gon, we should move up ahead," Killua said through breaths, his arms pumping at his side.

"Yeah," Gon agreed. "Gotta keep the examiner in sight!"

"Not only that," Killua spoke darkly, looking over his shoulder, eyeing Hisoka warely. "But that guy is behind us. He's just killed and it looks like he wants to kill again."

"How do you know?" Stasy questioned him. Maybe it was his insulting tone at Hisoka's name, or the cocky way he talked, but something about this boy got on her nerves.

"Because," Killua answered lazily, "I'm just like him. I can smell it in him."

"Hey, LEORIO, KURAPICA!!!" Gon shouted to the back. "YOU BETTER HURRY UP TO THE FRONT!!!"

Screams echoed through the bog, and the kids looked over their shoulders, but the fog blocked all view.

"Seems someone's been tricked," Stasy giggled. "That lessens the competition, I guess!"

In the rear of the marathon, cards flew out from seemingly every direction, killing most, but only landing itself in Leorio's arm, Kurapica, however, managed to block it with his weapon, two sheathed swords chained together at their hilts. Leorio let out a yelp, which alerted Gon and his sensitive hearing.

"Leorio!" he shouted and then began to run the other direction.

"Hey! Gon!" Killua shouted, surprised at his friends, behavior.

Stasy, however, only laughed, which confused Killua. "That kid never ceases to amaze me!" she chortled, holding her sides. "Don't worry, Killua. If Apathy says he'll come back alive, then he will."

"'Apathy'?" Killua was baffled. He just couldn't understand this girl's words.

"It's a S-E-C-R-E-T!" Stasy chuckled, holding a single finger to her lips.

"Bastard!" Leorio cussed at the advancing Hisoka. "What do you think you're doin'?"

"Heheh," Hisoka chuckled, shuffling his cards from one hand to the other. "Playing examiner."

There was still a large number of other examinees crowded around Hisoka. They had their weapons out, and they were pissed.

"I was thinking of holding off until the second Exam, but this first one is so boring! I just couldn't wait," Hisoka whined ironically, still shuffling his cards back and forth.

"You idiot!" One of the examinees shouted at him in anger. "Now we've lost sight of the examiner. We failed and you have failed also!"

"That's where you're wrong," Hisoka chuckled. "A magician never runs out of tricks."

"A homicidal maniac like you has no right to be a hunter!" One of them shouted back at him.

"This will be your last exam!" Another growled.

All at once, they lunged forth, weapons in the air. Hisoka didn't look the least bit phased at him being outnumbered. He even had the guts to smirk. With only the four of hearts, Hisoka single-handedly took down the entire group of angry hunters-to-be, laughing maniaclly the entire time.

"Only three left," he chimed, his murderous eyes set upon Leorio and Kurapica, along with Number 76.

The last three survivors backed away, huddling together and whispering a plan among themselves. Hisoka calmly made his way towards them, and then suddenly, number 76 shouted, "Three!" and each of them ran off in different directions.

"Smart move," Hisoka smiled. "For that, I'll grant you ten seconds." He began to count down, while his prey ran for their lives. "..9, 10. Now let's see which one will be first to die."

"Sorry, but I'm not the type to just run away," Leorio said as he walked through the shadows with a stick in hand, "without a quick payback!" He leapt forth, swinging the large stick at Hisoka, who easily dodged it.

Hisoka was about to attack Leorio when the end of a fishing line that held a pink orb smacked him in the face. Gon stood across the field of grass holding his fishing rod, breathing heavily.

"Not bad," Hisoka was truthfully impressed with the small bow. "A fishing rod. How original. Can I see?"

"Hey, aren't you forgetting something?!" Leorio shouted as he jumped up to attack Hisoka.

However, the magician landed a fist deep in his cheek, sending Leorio flying back. Gon instinctively swung his rod at Hisoka, but the homocidal prankster already had his hand around the little boy's neck. "Here to help you're friend?" He spoke softly into his ear. "There's a loyal lad. Don't worry. I'm finished with him; he's passed."

The magician smiled lecherously, as he stared at the bug-eyed, innocent child. This one's a cutie, he licked his lips. I just can't wait to rape him! "As have you," he continued, his perverted smile disappearing. "You'll be a fine hunter." He picked up Leorio's unconcious body. "Can you make it back on your own?"

Gon nodded.

"Good." Then he disappeared into the fog.