Chapter Seventeen: Dark Alleys
The Big Bad Wolf turned to Prairie Dog.
"You betrayed me, you betrayed us."
"No, please, I'm begging you, I didn't tell Agent Bob anything!"
The Good Wolf looked down with pity. His friend, no, his schoolmate, was bleeding heavily. Even back at the Institute this amount damage was considered excessive. It was so painful that even Prairie Dog's training to ignore pain was not enough. The puddle of red liquid underneath the youth just kept growing and growing.
The Big Bad Wolf sniffed the air, "This agent, Bob, does he know the plan?"
Prairie Dog gasped, "No, I swear, I didn't tell him! Why would I? It's not like he'd believe me!"
Good Wolf stepped in, "We don't even know the plan! My- I mean," he stopped himself before saying, 'my mom', which would have betrayed his emotional weakness, "My target is dead. I killed her. Mad Dog here has yet to take his." Mad Dog snarled. His prey was stronger than she looked. Besides, it was a personal vendetta, "What is our goal?"
The Big Bad Wolf smiled, "You'll see… In the meantime, Mad Dog, you're on."
Mad Dog hopped to as Sam Puckett strolled up, "Oh, it's Nubs R Us!" She absently noticed the crazed look in Mad Dog's eyes, "And Jonah, if you keep looking like that, your eyes will pop out!"
Jonah growled and lunged forward. The two wrestled for a moment, but there was no doubt in Freddie's mind who would win. In a few seconds, the guy was flying through the air. Sam panted with exertion, "C'mon… it's harder to eat my breakfast!"
Freddie actually laughed, "I know Sam."
He stepped out. The blond made a joke about how he was so skinny; she did not see him 'til now.
"Well, I'm a little bigger than the last time we fought," He circled her, "What else have you noticed?" She made a comment about why he and Jonah were in the dark together.
"I guess you two are stuck trying to come out of the closet at the same time," She tensed, ready to strike. Freddie relaxed. A smooth punch knocked him in the shoulder. The boy leaned back, then forward, ready again.
"C'mon Sam, harder," He egged her on.
"Isn't that what you asked from Jonah?" She thought he would flinch into the path of her last punch. But given the fact that he did not move and was unfazed at its impact, the blond recalculated just how tough Freddie was.
"Better, Sam, but where're the comment about Carly and me?"
Big Bad Wolf shifted angrily. There wasn't supposed to be a 'Creddie' anymore. The girl was distracted, allowing her friend to land one on her stomach.
"Take it, stupid slut, just like you do for anybody with a pulse!"
She lashed back, but her heart was not in it. Indescisen was holder her back. Did she really want to hurt Freddie? Did he really deserve all the comments she had made over the years? Was he right? Did she really go for anybody?
"I- am not- a slut!"
Her words came with fists. Freddie had learned a long time ago how to take a punch. He took this moment to thank her for toughening him up, "I know Sam." She paused. He went on, "I know it was you. You told my mom. I don't know why; loyalty to Carly, annoyance at me for not seeing you for what you are." She tackled him. He rolled her over and off, "I know you do care for me! But I do know that you're a scared little girl with no daddy, no real momma, and nothing to live for. And when you see Carly happy, you know she has what you never will!"
Sam's blows became uncoordinated. Her focus was off as her emotions set in. Prairie Dog watched with interest; The Good Wolf was killing her from the inside out. Using psychological warfare, he cut into her heart, seeding it with doubt. Though a strong girl, Sam was not unbeatable. The power of her strength came from her knowledge of her desires. Sam, unlike Carly, always knew what she wanted and how she wanted it. Putting that kind of drive into a girl gave her strength. Made her determined.
Right now, Sam did not know what she wanted. Although Freddie was her friend, he was hurting her, and though he was doing that, he letting her hurt him. Who really ought to win this? Did Freddie hate her because she loved him? The confusion weakened her until she did not know why she was fighting at all.
Jonah came in, adding to the confusion; was he really the bad guy, or was she so sick she made a good boy go crazy? He lashed at her violently. The girl tried to fight back, but her strength was ebbing away. Freddie had stolen it.
Her friend sat in the corner, sore and bleeding. The Big Bad Wolf hovered over him. The leader commended the boy and sent him home. Prairie Dog asked what the plan was. To answer, Big Bad Wolf and Mad Dog smiled.
It was going to be a rough night for Samantha Puckett.
Chapter Eighteen: A Day in the Sun
"Hasn't it occurred to you yet that people who get between you and Freddie end up hurt?"
Carly lay down on the blanket. Her bright yellow sundress was perfect for the early fair weather. For once, Seattle was not overcast at the end of January. (A.N. the beginning of this takes place at the beginning of the school semester. Cut me some slack if it's off.)
Agent Bob was keeping an eye on her. He was speaking to her via earpiece, "And remind me again why we're having this picnic?"
She sighed at him, "Look this doctor guy told me I had a shot at helping him. So… this is what I give him. Sunshine, warmth, someone to rely on." She petted her dress. Some research revealed that using sex as a tool was a huge no-no.
Typically in this sort of situation Carly could show a bit of body to get what she wanted. According to the books and the online summaries she read, provoking a sexual response in an unstable male was a very, very bad idea. So she decided to keep things light.
Sam had been gone for a few days now. Normally, Carly would not be worried, but given the way that people in her life were dropping like flies, she decided to try and ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.
Freddie appeared. He was wearing the same jacket as always, but his expression was different. The boy seemed totally at peace. Carly wondered about him. If he had killed his mother, why was he now so calm? If he had set Spencer on fire, why would he agree to eat with her?
The two ate together in relative silence, enjoying the quiet. Neither could say much; Carly due to the fact that her life had been completely flipped upside-down and Freddie because he had flipped her life. Finally, he checked his e-mail on his pear phone.
"I have to go," He whispered.
"Carly," Agent Bob muttered, "You have to keep him here. The Institute is going to use your friend to kill someone important. We need to find out who it is, stop him, and take down the Institute once and for all, do you understand?"
"Freddie wait!" She ignored the fear building in her stomach and foolishly grabbed him. He lashed back with unbridled fury. The two stared at each other, now aware of the gaping hole in their friendship.
Carly lied to herself; Freddie would never hurt her; the red mark on her face was from something else. Freddie hated himself, loathed Fredward Benson to the very core of his being, throughout every fiber everywhere.
"I love you so much." They both said it inside, but were afraid to say it out loud. The boy turned and left. He wondered in his heart if there was any way he could ever return to her. He hurt the girl he loved. Little Freddie, the one that went to a real school and had cool friends, was crying inside. But the Good Wolf said that they had someone to kill, and the wolf knew how to survive without love. Once Freddie was gone, Agent Bob rushed in.
"Great! Now we don't know anything at all! How am I supposed to stop him now!?"
Carly rounded angrily on the agent. She had been confused up until now, but suddenly things were becoming clear, "Listen, the only reason we're doing this is to help him!"
He smacked her. She hit the ground with surprising force. The girl came around again, "Let me ask you a question; what do you think is going to happen to you when Freddie finds out you hit me?" He paled. Carly pushed on, angry that it took her so long to defend her friend, "I don't know what he has or has not done; but I know what those boys are capable of!"
"You know nothing!"
She laughed, "I know a guy. He told me everything! And by the way, Dr. Hammond has been right about everything so far, so I if I were you, I'd start running."
The silence clicked, "Dr. Hammond is in Washington?"
Carly sighed, "Yeah, I met him on this site. He said he knew what was going on inside the school."
Agent Bob started advancing on her, "Let me get this straight; a girl connected to two psychopaths finds the world's expert in training and reversing the effects of militarizing male children, and you don't think to mention it?!"
Her mind clicked, "That's their target! They're going after Hammond!"
Agent Bob took off. This was the break he was looking for. With this proof, he could finally shut down the Institute once and for all.
Too bad it was a trap.
A.N. Dun dun duuuuun...! Thanks for the reviews!