Enjoy the new chapter...now what will happen?
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 4:36 P.M. (Deserted Island: Lighthouse)
"Cat…Cat's d-dead?" Kendall nearly whispered as his emerald green widened in horror after surveying the motionless girl who was now covered in red splotches. He couldn't believe this…actually he didn't want to believe it. How could this have happened?
"But how?!" Carly nearly screamed in distress as she rushed over to Cat's body with haste. Frantic sobs were leaving her trembling lips as she fell to her knees and splashed in the puddle of crimson liquid that was surrounding her silly friend. Her light purple skirt was becoming stained from it, but Carly couldn't care less. "How!?" she screamed again while placing her frail hand on Cat's small back slowly as she stared up at Kendall for an answer with tear filled eyes.
"I…I don't know? This can't be food poisoning right? It doesn't cause this right?" Kendall stammered with his face turning pale out of fear.
"No," Logan gasped with his eyes cast up so that he could keep his tears in. "Food poisoning is never this severe or graphic. I learned that in a course I took during the summer on the gastrointestinal tract! I-I mean…I tasted and I was fine! I-I tasted…oh my God do you think she was allergic!?"
Carly quickly shook her head 'No' in response to Logan's hysterical question with tears falling from her kind brown eyes. "No! I've made this a million times before and Cat's always been fine after she's eaten it! I always use the same ingredients each and every time I make them too! There's no way she was allergic."
Cat's face still looked horrendously hideous as she laid there with her hands still tightly grasping the fabric of the table cloth that was now drenched in blood. "Wait…" Kendall began with a shaky tone in his voice as he narrowed his eyes in terror. "Do you…do you think it was-"
"Poison," James finished with his mouth free of the food as he rushed to the sink and began scrubbing the meal from his tongue while he gagged incredulously. "Shit! I ate some too! You don't think…fuck! What will happen to me!? Does that crap kill instantly!"
"James! Calm down! We all took a bite of our spaghetti…but only Cat seemed affected. Do you think only her bowl was poisoned?" Kendall raised his voice with confidence as he spoke with curiosity.
"How do we know that?" Logan's voice was nearly on the verge of breaking down into a fit of sobs. "W-We could all be victims for crying out loud! What if Cat really was targeted but…but now one of us is next!"
"Logan shut up! Everyone just shut up for Christ sake! Let's all just stop and think for a moment!" Kendall roared as tears began to form in his determined eyes as everyone looked at him with panicked expressions.
No…Carlos thought as he backed away towards the counter with a terrified look on his face. I didn't want this to happen. I was…I was gonna get rid of it before anyone could get hurt. This isn't what I wanted! Why God!? Why! What are you trying to do!?
He stood there with his legs shaking out of suspension with the bowl still tightly held against his muscular chest while the entire situation began to play frame by frame like a slow motion scene out of a fast paced film. Everyone looked at one another hesitantly with dazed looks before backing away from one another carefully. Even Kendall began to suspect his friends as he locked his eyes onto the dead girl on the tiled floor whose hair was blending in with the velvet red puddle around her. James was beginning to lean on the counter by the door for support as he began to feel his legs go numb.
"It's kill or be killed…survival of the fittest my little warriors," he heard Mr. Eikner's cheery voice resonate within his mind as looked around at Kendall, Logan and Carly with paranoia rising within him. He knew Carlos would never do something like this…boy was he wrong. James' brown, gleaming eyes were darting all over the kitchen which was now glowing with orange from the setting sun. "Kill or be killed…trusting…comes at a cost."
"No," James felt his tears roll down his cheeks as he covered his mouth with one of his hands in denial.
"Today's lesson…You kill each other off…until only one victor is left standing."
No…not them. Not Kenny or Logie or Litos! They would never do this…we're best friends! Carly wouldn't either…but what am I supposed to do now!? James cried in his cluttered mind as the disgusting scent of vomit and blood filled his nostrils making him want throw up himself. Trusting…comes at a cost.
"Alright!" James barked suddenly causing everyone in the room to jump in shock. "Which one of you did it damn it! Which one of you assholes poisoned the food!? One of us…One of us is fucking playing! One of us is a goddamn liar!" he screeched while pounding the counter top with his clenched fist making everyone look at each other in confusion.
Kendall nearly stood there in shock as he began to smile courageously at his friend with his hand out reached in order to console the shaky brunette. "James…you don't believe one of US would do something this horrible do you?"
"Honestly Kendall…I don't know what to believe right now! There's a dead body right there by the table and someone in this room is responsible! One of you must be playing! The question is…who?" James growled with his entire body trembling while he leaned against the shining countertops.
Logan held his pale, cream colored hands together as tight as he possibly could while muttering to himself as snot ran freely from his nose; tears sliding down his flushed cheeks. Carly sat there on her knees with a terrified look on her pale face and blood was coating her shins like a horrific layer of paint; her hand still rested on Cat's back. "Ngh! What the hell James! We don't even know if it was poison or not! We all need to just stop and think-" Carly spoke with a trembling yet strong voice before being cut off harshly by James.
"Think?! Think about what Carly?! Someone just fucking murdered Cat and you want us all to stop and 'think' about it!? Bullshit! I say we kill whoever it is to make sure they stop at Cat!" James trilled with his auburn eyes narrowed at Carly in a glare.
"Kill? James! Who are we gonna kill? Who? We still don't even know if it was poison! Just like Carly said. We all just need to calm down and figure this out together," Kendall calmly spoke with a tone of leadership as he gave James a reassuring smile. "Come on James."
"Oh would you shut the fuck up! You and your damn obsession with playing leader! This isn't a backyard adventure Kendall! This is life or death! Someone murdered Cat! Murdered! No amount of pep talks and motivational speeches can change that!" James boomed again with a more shaky voice that revealed how scared James really was. His eyes were freshly coated with sparkling tears that gleamed in the setting sunlight. The window showed the sea sparkling beautifully as the sun sank into the horizon. "DO you really think they'll stop at Cat? Well? Do you!? Our lives are in danger Kendall! All of our lives!"
Kendall merely looked down at the tips of his checkered vans as he let the reality of the situation sink in. "I hate to say it," Carly sobbed with her swooping bangs covering one of her teary eyes, "But James is right Kendall! That could have been you…that could have been me. Could have been any of us!"
"C-Could have been all of us," James grimaced with a low whisper before whipping his gaze over to a troubled Logan who looked like he was about to go crazy out of fear. "Logan!"
Logan jumped with a loud shriek as his eyes welled up greatly with upset tears. "No…James! It was fine when I t-tasted it! Really! I swear to God! It was okay…I would never."
"Logan…did you taste it after you put the poison in or before?" James asked with a menacing look on his face causing Logan to widen his eyes in disbelief and he felt like his chest was going to explode from all of the pressure. "You're an expert when it comes to drugs right? A medicine extraordinaire. Hmph…you were all over that spaghetti. Plus you know which drugs could kill a person right? A cook and a drug know-it-all? Looks like we've got ourselves a prime suspect!"
"James shut up!" Kendall barked with an angered expression as Logan stood there with his eyes leaking streams of salty tears.
"N-NO! Jamie it-it wasn't m-m-me! You h-have to believe me!" Logan wailed with a few choked cries as he threw his gaze all over the room until the fell upon the nurturing girl known as Carly Shay. Someone else to blame… "Carly! She…she was the one cooking it for crying out loud! It could have been her for all we know!" he screeched with his teeth clenched as he pointed his finger violently in her direction. Carly only gave him a stern look of annoyance before standing up on her two feet proudly.
"I would never stoop so low Logan! You should know that! God! What the hell is the matter with you! Trying to pin it all on me!" she seethed as blood dripped down her legs and her high heeled boots became covered in thick layers of congealing blood. "James is right anyways! You were the only one besides me who had full on access to the food!"
"That's right…you were putting all kinds of shit into that spaghetti weren't you? Damn Logan," James cried in hopes that he would be wrong.
"Uh sure! Why not just toss in everything. I might even add a special ingredient of my own."
"Special ingredient huh? What would that be Logan? Cyanide? Draino? Heard you say that right before I left the room to talk to Kendall."
"I…I was talking about paprika! Paprika James! That's it! My spe-special spice! You know that!" Logan practically ringed with horror as he stomped his foot crazily while clenching his hands together so tightly that the color began to drain from them.
"Paprika? Hmph…God knows what else you slipped in Logan while we were gone," James gave off an intimidating stare before looking over at Kendall who still looked shock to say the least. "So what do you say Ken' should we kill him?"
"What? James! What the hell has gotten into you!? This is Logan! The boy we've known our whole lives and now you're saying we should gun him down?! Fuck You James!" Kendall screeched with horrified eyes as he walked over to the boy with the neatly done faux hawk and enveloped him warmly.
"No…No Kenny I-I…you can't believe them can you? You all can't believe it can you?" Logan sobbed as he buried his face into the tall blonde's lean shoulder for comfort.
"Shhh…Shhh. It's okay Logie…I would never believe that okay? None of us would," Kendall softly spoke as he held the back of Logan's head in order to comfort him. Kendal glared at James and Carly with anger etched in his emerald green eyes. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? What happened to trust? What happened to our promise of being there for each other until the end? We have no one else but each other! We have to work together and figure this out! Not fight and point fingers God damn it!"
Carly soon looked over at James with a look of suspicion before backing away from him carefully. "Aren't you a part of the drama club James? Yeah with Camille…you were in the spring production of Macbeth right? Camille a.k.a The Psycho played Lady Macbeth…you played Macbeth."
"What!? Carly what the hell does that have to do with anything!?" James snapped with an arched brow while she gave off a terrifying glare.
"Is this just another character? A raving paranoid with only a few strands of sanity left. Perfect way to divert suspicion away from yourself eh?" she spoke lowly causing James to tremble with a look of fear as he swallowed dryly. "I mean…we all were at the pot at one point which means any of us could have done it. What about Carlos," Carly suggested as she looked over her shoulder to spot Carlos standing there like a frozen solid statue in the doorway with tears falling from his brown eyes. They were rolling down his caramel colored cheeks and splashing around his purple shoes like light raindrops. "He hasn't really been acting himself lately…"
"Damn it Carly! That's enough!" Kendall barked while holding Logan close to his lean body.
"God Kendall! Cut the leadership crap already! Truth is…any of us could have done it. That includes you," Carly spoke with a few tears dripping from her chin and onto the blood red floors underneath her.
Suddenly…a simple phrase floated in the tense air causing everyone to give each other suspicious looks as Cat continued to lay there by the table with food and broken plates around her.
It's Kill or be Killed My Little Warriors…Trusting…Comes with a Price.
"Huh!" James raised his voice as he glanced all over the room. "So here's the deal…I'm saying it was either Carly or Logan…any other ideas."
Carly's eyes opened as wide as can be before she shot James a furious look of betrayal and stomped her foot on the ground making the heel of her boot splash the blood around her. "Fuck You James!" she shrieked in anguish. "You and your perfect little life! Everything is always squeaky clean with you isn't it!? Always the innocent little Diamond boy!"
"Shut it Shay! You wanna know why I'm innocent?! Cause I didn't do it! Easy as that!" James retorted as he slammed his fist down on to the counter making it crack a bit.
"Neither did I damn it!" she howled back with her face as red as a ripe tomato.
Logan only stood there after releasing himself from Kendall's body and kept trembling like he was standing out in the bitter cold. He couldn't believe it. The one person he considered to be his brother…was convicting him of murder. "They think…I did it!" Logan hissed while biting his nail anxiously. His eyes were glued to Cat's body which only seemed to heighten his anxiety levels. "Cat is d-dead and…and they think I did it!"
"Would you two just shut the fuck up!" Kendall screamed at Carly and James while gripping the patches of his dirty blonde hair on the sides of his head. "We all just need to calm down!"
"Why in the hell would we all just calm down! Was it you Kendall? Were you just trying to have us trust you so that you could kill all of us in the end?" James cried in distress.
"What? God James…listen to yourself!" Kendall cried back while letting out a few laughs that were overcome with pained sobs. Logan's head swerved over to Cat's body once more causing him to sniffle quietly.
"Cat? You have to know that I would never…I didn't do it. But they don't know that! They'll think I did it if James…he'll convince them!"
"C'mon James!" Kendall pleaded, "We're all scared okay? We need to calm down and talk it all over. I know it sounds crazy, but…but maybe it was all just a big mistake."
Logan's eyes slowly looked over to the table of weapons to his right and his fingers literally trembled in anticipation. His frantic eyes were locked onto his M16 machine gun and his tears began to get into his mouth every time he parted his lips. The snot above his mouth glistened due to the sunlight seeping in through the window pane over the kitchen sink and he felt his heart pounding mercilessly against his tightened chest. They'll kill me! All of them! All because of James! I-It's not fair! I can't die…I can't leave my mom all alone! I need to save her!
These thoughts boldly spoke up inside Logan's mind before he grasped the handle of his machine gun hastily with both hands and brought the intimidating nozzle up in level with James' head. The gun was huge and it made Logan look tremendously small, but it still made everyone's hearts sink like bricks. "NOT ME! Never Me! Now it's my turn to talk Jamie! UH-HUH! I don't wanna die! Not today damn it!" he literally cackled like a psychotic freak while James eyes went wide at the sight of the gun pointing at him. "Now they'll know! They'll know because it's my turn to tell my side of the fucking story! IT WASN'T ME!"
Carly stepped back from the entire scene with a look of horror before screaming like a tortured banshee. "It was him! He…Oh God! Kendall! He'll kill us all!" Logan only felt his heart sink as he heard this and screamed in anger.
"Shut UP! C-Carly you…you shut up NOW! I didn't do it! I already told you! Uh-huh! Uh-huh! Not me!" he screeched as he whipped the nozzle right over to her with a crazed look in his eye making her cower in the corner of the kitchen by the pantry.
Kendall didn't know what to do…everything was moving so fast like some action film. He felt the gun tucked in the waist of his jeans scratch his hip horribly making his eyes go wide in realization. He had to do something before things got out of hand. He had to be the leader and he had to protect his friends like he was supposed to. He brought his pale fingers up to the waistband of his skinny jeans with a determined look on his face. His eyes were leaking tears as he quickly grasped the handle of his designated weapon and unhinged it from the clothing. Kendall was the only one who was actually allowed to really have his weapon considering he was the most trust worthy…thank God.
I'm so sorry Logie…Kendall sobbed in his head as he brought the nozzle of the gun up to Logan's shivering body. I'm not gonna hurt you…maybe if I just scratch you with a bullet or something or…or if I just startle you. Then we can figure this out, but I'll never hurt you buddy!
Logan's insane eyes caught Kendall's gun out of the corner of them and he almost felt his remaining sanity snap like a thin, wore down twig. "HUH!" he hissed in hysteria as Kendall began to pull the trigger. "No! NOOO! NOT ME!" he wailed like a siren before spinning around so that the nozzle was pointed straight at Kendall's stomach and pulled the trigger as hard as he could.
The ear shattering sound of bullets tearing through the air filled the room making everyone clasp their ears in horror. Logan felt the rebound of the shots go through his limbs like a damaging earth quake and cartridges were spilling from the side of the gun like discarded golden wrappers. A bright red fiery spark was spewing from the nozzle and Kendall's green eyes looked as if they were in a daze as he stared wide-eyed at Logan in disbelief.
Kendall felt the gun fly from his hand as the bullets tore through his stomach violently and his groin felt like it was being burned over a fire. He was flung backwards with his mouth opening as if he were about to say something but all that came out were streams of red liquid. He tried to twist his body around in order to catch himself but he felt everything go numb like they were falling asleep. His stomach was nearly ripping open as he tried to turn around and a bloody mist sprayed from his abdomen and his entire mouth was coated with thick, dark red fluid.
Logan stared at Kendall's falling form with wide, tear filled eyes as his entire face became illuminated by the flashing light that was coming from the machine gun's nozzle. Everyone else watched in utter horror as their leader fell onto his back with a thud which erupted throughout the entire lighthouse. The air went dead and silent only leaving the ringing echo of the gunshots fired only seconds ago and the sound of some Mulan song (A Girl Worth Fighting For) playing from the Pearpod dock. James only stared at his blonde best friend who was covered in blood and a large red pool was forming around his tattered body. His stomach now resembled a black pit with dark crimson red liquid spurting from it profusely and his striped V-neck was now sticking to his sweaty flesh due to the blood seeping from the bullet holes.
A few gunshot wounds were present around the inside of his thighs and around his chest. His eyes were staring up at the ceiling as if he were pondering something depressing and his blonde eye brows were arched out of sadness. Blood was splattered onto the cupboards behind him and it even dripped endlessly from the edge of the counters causing Carlos to shake horribly, His eyes were literally trembling as he stared helplessly at his best friend who he considered to be his brother. "K-Kend-dall?" he whispered with a few choked sobs.
Finally, a loud piercing shriek rang through the kitchen like a banshee call and horrified sobs filled the air. "KENDALL!" James screamed while running wildly to his friend's body in hopes that he was still alive. He fell to his knees causing the pool of blood surrounding the blonde leader's body to splash mildly. "K-KENDALL! Oh my God! No…No…No…Damn it! Kendall please!" he frantically cried while lifting Kendall's head up and cradling him in is muscular arms like a precious toy that just broke causing the sticky red fluid to stain his hands and the sleeves of his UCLA hoodie. A single tear was streaming from one of Kendall's emerald green eyes as his friend held him. James wanted him to say at least one thing before he died...just one (even a cheesy one liner) so that he could get a good bye, but instead he was met with silence.
"Friends forever remember. All four of us. No matter what okay?"
"God no, Kendall!" James' tears were falling onto Kendall's blood stained cheek and into his blood soaked hair while Logan sank to his knees as well with a look that strongly radiated with regret.
"K-Kendall?" the smart boy hoarsely whispered in a way that seemed like he were about to have an emotional breakdown.
"I'll never hurt you Loges. You hear me? Never! We're brothers remember? We…We can band together. We can beat this Logie!"
He stared into Kendall's eyes that used to shine with kindness, but now they seemed empty…"Oh no…Oh God no. W-What have I done," he began to sob quietly while Carly began to cry with her hands clasped over her heaving mouth.
"Is this what you wanted Logan!?" James began to yell with loud sobs leaving his quivering lips. "Well?! Look! Look Logan! Look who you just killed! Look at who you just gunned down in cold blood Logan! Take a nice, long fucking look!" he howled in distress while showing Logan Kendall's agonizing face which only made him shake his head in denial.
"I didn't mean to! I thought h-he…he was gonna shoot me! I saw him grab his gun and…and I- I didn't know what to do!" Logan sobbed painfully as he stared at Kendall's face out of guilt and regret.
"Did it…" a voice whispered in horror from the pantry making James and Logan look over in confusion. It was Carly who seemed to be sobbing horribly with her hands tightly clutching her chest as if she were about to have a heart attack. "You did do it didn't you Logan? Kill or be killed…Oh God it was you. You went for the gun because you really were guilty."
"No…Carly I-I…No it wasn't me I…I don't know what I'm doing!" Logan wailed out of conflict as he gripped the sides of his head.
"Stop! You…you did it! You shot down Kendall because you were guilty and…and now you'll probably do the same to us! You've been on edge ever since last night and plus you've been real jumpy! You just don't trust us huh? You were gonna kill us out of fear is that it?" she sobbed while stepping forward making her boots slosh the blood around her. Her eyes zoomed in on James with a look that said 'What are you waiting for?' but all James could do was sit there with a lost look in his brown eyes. "James! He's guilty! What are you waiting for!? Shoot him before he kills us all! Shoot the dick!"
James only stared at her for a few moments as Logan snapped his face over to the tall brunette with a look of helplessness. James looked over at Logan with a hint of sadness in his eyes and turned his gaze to the browning nearly a few feet away from when Kendall dropped it. He then looked back at Logan's face which was now drenched in tears and his eyes were locked onto Kendall's body. He couldn't do it…he couldn't kill Logan. He wanted to, but they've practically been closer than family since they were in kindergarten. There was no way he could just turn around and shoot him just like that. However, Carly felt the exact opposite as she stared at him in disbelief.
"You won't? You know what! Fine! If you won't do it," she stood her ground while staring at her Glock pistol on the small table across the room, "Then I will!"
She took off at full speed with a look of hysteria and felt her lungs gasping for air. "Carly No!" James screeched as he placed Kendall back down and began to scramble onto his feet to stop her, but Logan broke before he could.
"Not me!" Carly shrieked as she ran to the table making her boots thump into the tile floors mercilessly. Her cherubic face looked terror struck as the glowing sunlight lit it up. "I won't die!"
"NOOO!" Logan cried in a panic while throwing the nozzle of the smoking gun in her direction. As she began to stop in her tracks to look over at him, he pulled the trigger once again causing bullets to tear through the floors sending debris into the air in a dusty fog. Carly felt the burning shots rip into the right side of her body making her want to scream from the searing, unbearable pain. Bullet cartridges were flying around Logan's frantic form as he watched his ammunition shred Carly's pale flesh making blood spray into the air like a mist.
The last and final bullet slammed into the side of her head causing the opposite side to explode sending pinkish-gray jelly like matter flying onto window panes and it felt like her head was being crushed underneath the tire of a car. The windows over the kitchen sink blew up into shattered pieces due to the gunfire as Carly's body slammed into the counters and her gentle yet blood covered hands gripped the sink spout for dear life. Torturous groans were leaving her lips that resembled a dying animal's while she slowly sank to her knees and her hands let go of the spout to clutch the edge of the countertops.
Carly's POV
Why me!? I never did anything wrong…I was always responsible. Always being the model student and doing whatever I could to make sure things stayed in order. One of the head cheerleaders and a straight A student. I never did anything to deserve this…Ah! It hurts…I can't feel the side of my body and…so much blood…how am I still alive?
I always treated people better than I did myself because it's the way I was raised and taught. My dad taught me everything I knew when I was a little girl. He raised me and my big brother, Spencer, by himself after my mom was taken away by government officials for questioning, but never came back. He gave me the childhood I always wanted…ice cream parties and he even let me play dress up with him. Man, he actually can pull off the whole cross dressing thing as scary as it sounds. I don't think he had patience for Spencer though…with all of the immature antics he would get into.
But one day…my dad was drafted to be in the Navy. Of course I was scared for him. I didn't want to lose him, but I told myself that he's doing this to protect me…he's doing this to make sure I stay safe. Well, he's been at sea for years and he hasn't visited since I was about eight or nine. Oh God…I can still remember what he used to call me. 'Snug Bug'. Haha…it still tickles me to this day. I remember him taking me to a father daughter dance for navy officers…He made me feel like a princess that night. He was going to take me again actually next week, the day after graduation. Guess that isn't going to happen huh…
I can't believe I won't be able to say good-bye to him…or to Spencer. That art crazed maniac! I feel my head start to go light like a feather as I let go of the counters and fall to the ground with my body sprawled out. How long does dying take? Seriously! It takes too long! Oh great, there I go again. The overbearing mother…I always have had that motherly characteristic in me. Maybe that's why kids love me so much. Maybe that's why I wanted to be a teacher.
Oh well…that dream's dead obviously. Just like me…Sam…and Freddie. Here I come guys. Looks like we can finally be the three musketeers…once again.
Normal POV
Carly fell to the ground with glass shards all around her as blood continued to flow from her shredded side like a waterfall making a huge puddle form around her petite body. Her sad eyes were looking straight up at the ceiling as the dust made from the debris began to clear; revealing an unstable Logan who sat there with heaving breaths leaving his throat. Drool was dripping from the corner of his mouth as he looked at Carly's body with crazed eyes. He killed two people…no, he killed two friends.
James sank to his knees with a look of horrendous despair as he looked at Carly's sprawled out body that was riddled with bullets. Bullet holes were embedded in the counters, cupboards and floors as well with shattered glass shards scattered about the floor leaving a rough gaping hole in the window. "No…" James whispered as he began to feel himself break down for good.
"What about you James? You gonna try and kill me too?" Logan giggled as he pointed the gun at the handsome, golden skinned boy. "They all tried to kill me! Uh-huh! Uh-Huh! All of them, but I got them first…"
James felt his stomach lurch, but he didn't know if it was from the terrible stench that was radiating from the flooding pools of blood or from the fact that there was a machine gun pointed right at him in the hands of his deranged friend. "Logan d-don't-"
"SHUT UP! YOU WANTED TO KILL ME FROM THE BEGINNING! Thought it was me…y-you…you were wrong though Jamie. Wasn't me…IT WASN'T ME!"
"Then what about Kendall and Carly!? You shot them down didn't you? Why? Why?! Oh yeah…you knew they were onto you so you shot them down before you knew! You wanted to kill them…you wanted to and you did Logan! Who's the murderer now!" James screeched while wiping his face with the sleeve of his blood stained hoodie.
"No! SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU ASSHOLE!" Logan wailed in an outrage while pulling the trigger. However, James managed to luckily dive to the right with a look of panic as the bullets tore along the tile floor.
"Shit!" James screamed with tears running from his eyes as he landed on his stomach letting the blood seep into his hoodie and splashed onto the side of his face. Kendall laid there still with a look of hope that only made James feel like his heart was about to break. "Damn it…K-Kendall," he whispered while holding the blonde boy's head up until he spotted the Browning pistol once again which was submerged in the scarlet red liquid.
Smoke, debris and the smell of burning metal and iron filled the air causing Carlos to fall to the ground with his hands covering his ears tightly and began humming loudly to ease his tensions. He almost felt like he was going to puke from the putrid odor that was coming from the three bodies in the kitchen and the sound of gunfire wedged its way into his ears.
James, on the other hand, had grabbed the browning with a frantic motion and began to point it at Logan's staggering, rising body. Logan pulled the trigger once more causing James to stop his actions and rush for cover behind the leather chair making the bullets rage down the floors and through the chair; sending bloody mist and white fuzz into the air.
"Get out here FAG!" Logan screamed in anger as he continued to sob out of distress. James sat there with wide eyes as he listened to what Logan had just called him…Fag. "It's…It's always the fag huh?! Always the homo!"
James felt tears sting his eyes as he felt the names pierce through his skin like knives. "No," he spoke with broken voice.
"Not if you're a disgusting fag! I will not have a gay filthy son!"
"You're a disgrace to our family!"
"I hope I never have to look at you again!"
"Ngh! N-No…" James felt his heart shatter as these phrases circulated in his head. "E-Everyone…Everyone hates th-the homo."
James' teary eyes looked over at Carlos who was shaking horrendously and he was still clutching his ears for dear life while humming rather loudly. "Carlos…I…I love you. Y-You probably hate me though…everyone does."
Why do I feel this way? I know it's wrong but…I just can't help it. It feels good in a way. I don't really understand it, but i-it… it feels right.
"Feels right…yeah. I have to protect you Carlos…I've always loved you and…and you have to know that. I have to let us live so that we can be together!" he hisses before rushing out into the open with his gun raised to Logan's tear stained face. James let out a magnificent cry like a warrior going into battle while his Logan widened his paranoid eyes in horror. "I won't let you take him Logan!"
James pulled the trigger causing an orange spark to burst from the tip and a loud ringing shot filled the room. James felt the ringing vibration run through his arm making his fingers feel numb and as he opened his tightly closed eyes, he saw something he never wanted to see. Logan was wavering back and forth as he sat on his knees with a gaping hole present in his throat. Blood was gushing from it horribly as he stared at James with a blank stare. His throat felt like it was burning as if he'd swallowed scorching hot coals and he fell backwards with his mouth parting slightly letting sticky red liquid fly from it. His eyes were flooding with tears due to the pain, emotional stress and fact that his best friend just shot him.
Logan's POV
He shot at me…James actually shot at me. My throat feels like it's on fire as I fall backwards with nothing but grief in my heart. He gave me a tracheotomy! A tracheotomy…a surgical procedure performed on a patient whenever a blockage is occurring in the trachea. Medical terms…that's all I know. Knowledge is my strong point. Mathematics, science, English writing…I'm just a walking library. I guess that's why I'm such a goner in situations like these. I'm not that physically talented unlike Carlos, Kendall and James who always seemed to shine in P.E.
Not me. I always sat at the bench for becoming exhausted after running a few meters in the mile. I always was picked last along with Felix whenever we played sports in P.E. I even had an anxiety attack in the 8th grade when I was climbing the rope for gym. Heights freak me out too I guess. Surprise, surprise.
I'm such a dork sometimes, but they still loved me. My three brothers still put up with my whininess and my habit to never want to try anything exciting. They just loved me…brains and all. I killed him though…I killed the one person that always gave me a reason to smile. He always was there for me no matter what and how do I repay him? I-I…I shoot him in the stomach. Carly too…she's one of the nicest girls I've ever known and I killed her. It's all because of this damn game…
My mom would have been so proud of me. I was valedictorian for our senior class! I was graduating at the top and she would have been so proud of me. I could have gone to Med school just like I've always wanted, and became a doctor. Then I could have saved my mom…I could have saved her just like I promised. I can't leave her now. S-She'll die without me…just like dad did.
I remember it being a cold, snowy Christmas Eve in 2001 and my mom was being hospitalized for treatment. I was staying with my grandmother at the time and that very night…my best friends did something I'll never forget. I still can't shake it off.
It was 10:00 at night and I was lying in my bed reading another almanac I checked out from the library; reading a section on medieval arts. It was actually pretty fascinating…anyways, I heard a light tapping on my window which of course made me a little jumpy. I got out of bed in a hurry and opened the window in fear that my grandmother would yell at me or something. Instead, I see those three faces that light up my world.
"What are you guys doing here?" I asked with a nervous grin. All Kendall did was smile that same smile that made everyone have faith in him and he slipped his hands into the pockets of his blue heavy coat.
"We're here for you. Now c'mon!"
"What? Where are we going!" I whispered a little violently as I leaned a bit out into the harsh cold. The snow was falling beautifully; coating the entire city of New York in a nice blanket of white.
"To see your mommy!" Carlos beamed with his monkey beanie snuggly fit onto his head as he jumped up and down in an excited fashion.
"My mom?" I asked a little confused.
"Yeah. We thought you'd want to see her for Christmas Loges," James gave off a cheery smile while letting the tips of his solid black boots sink into the slushy snow.
All I did was stare at them in disbelief before breaking into a smile. "You…are you serious? Won't we get in trouble?"
"Will you just get your coat on and get out here," Kendall laughed as he rolled his eyes. I did as I was told and grabbed my dark blue snow coat and slipped into my green rubber boots. I snuck down the creaky steps of my grandmother's old fashioned home with my shadow creeping on the walls thanks to the dim glow of her scented candles that were sitting near the gorgeous Christmas tree.
I don't remember the details of when we got there, but I do remember the nurses getting upset with us tracking snow in the office. 'Why aren't you boys on leashes already?' they would sigh with exhausted smiles. I always visit her late so they never got annoyed with us for that.
I went into my mom's hospital room alone with a cookie I managed to get from the cafeteria and smiled as wide as I could. "Your biggest fan is here!" I laughed cheerfully.
"I see," she laughed with a warm smile as if she were beyond happy to see me as well. I love her laugh…it was so beautiful in a way. "My biggest and most important admirer! How could I forget? I must be the luckiest woman alive to have such a gift."
"Look! I got you a cookie…I know you probably won't be home tomorrow so I decided to get you something," I whispered bashfully. She took the soft chocolate chip cookie from my hand graciously and set on her bedside table.
"Maybe I should save it for tomorrow so that I can make all the other patients jealous," she whispered with a wink making me laugh. "Is grandma treating you okay? Are you taking your medications like you're supposed to?"
"Yes ma'am!" I replied with a nice, big smile. "Mommy! There's another present too! Kenny, Carlos and James helped me make it! You have to come see!"
"Another present! Oh Logan, sweetie…you being here with me is the best present I could ask for."
"But I want you to be happy mommy…I want you to see how much I love you," I spoke with a tone of desperation while tugging on her gown. She finally caved in after a few minutes of me begging her and we began to trek outside. We had to be careful though…we didn't want to get caught or anything. My mom's pink, fuzzy slippers hid her petite feet as she walked carefully behind me in the dark halls of the hospital until we reached the back exit.
As soon as we stepped out into the brute force of the cold, my mom shook horribly but soon smiled at the sight before her. All constructed out of snow was me, my mom and my dad all close together with smiles made from pebbles I found on the way here. Carlos, James and Kendall were standing around snow people with broad smiles and cheered, "Merry Christmas Mrs. Mitchell!"
"Oh my…" she whispered with tears coming to her eyes as she gazed upon the precious gift I made for her. "Logan…baby you…it's beautiful."
"Merry Christmas mommy. You know what I asked Santa for? You wanna know?" I giddily asked as she took me into her warm arms for a hug.
"What did you ask Santa for this year darling?" she asked with her eyes glazed with tears as she looked straight into my eyes with a gentle smile on her face.
"I asked him to make you better. I even asked if he could give us daddy so that we could all be a happy family again," I cheer with a grin causing her to break down into a fit of joyous giggles.
"You think he'll really give you that?"
"Of course. I've been a real good boy this year! I've gotten straight As all year too."
"Then he doesn't have a choice now does he? You're too much of an angel. But you know what?"
"What?"
"As long as you have me and I have you…we have nothing be upset about."
Yeah…that's all I wanted that year, but it never happened. Nobody could save her…I knew I had too. I had to be there for her no matter what, but…but now I can't. She's going to have no one once I'm gone. First dad…now me. She'll have no one.
She won't have me anymore…she will have something to be upset about.
I loved her…I loved her and my three brothers…
Uh-oh…everything's starting to turn red now. I guess it's over for good.
Kendall…James….Carlos…thank you…f-for being best friends with a wimp like m-me…
Normal POV
Logan's body looked as if it were trying to do a sort of limbo as his back laid flat against the ground limp with his knees bent; his shins flat against the floor. His neck was craned up so that his eyes were gazing up the floors until they met the jittery Carlos who still stood in the doorway humming crazily. Logan and Kendall…both dead and he was the cause.
Blood was splashing from the gunshot wound in Logan's pale, torn neck and the sticky red substance was bubbling from his mouth like a boiling pot of water. His entire head was surrounded with a pool of bright red blood that seemed to shine from the glowing orange sun rays pouring in from the gaping hole made in the window. The four bodies in the kitchen continued to lay motionless with red liquid leaking from them and James sat on the blood infested ground with the smoking nozzle of Kendall's browning still raised as he stared at Logan's body with wide eyes. "Safe…" he sputtered before he started to form a smile. His bloody lips were parting to reveal his perfectly white teeth as he looked slowly up at his beloved Carlos. "All safe now 'Litos…you don't have to worry anymore. Jamie will protect you okay? All of them are gone now 'Litos…Just you and me. Uh-huh…They would have killed us. Yeah…everyone hates the homo…yeah, would have killed me because of that."
Carlos only sat there with his hands gradually coming from his deafened ears with a terrified look on his innocent face as he felt tears pour from his eyes. James slowly stood up onto his two feet like a hopeless drunk just coming from a toxic party. His brown eyes were wide as he staggered to his feet and grasped the M16 with his blood tainted fingers. He pried it loose from Logan's tight grip before looking back up at the trembling Hispanic with a look of deranged relief. "All okay now Carlos…all okay now. Got him good…Logie won't hurt you now…none of them will. Yeah…no one can poison us now. No one can hurt us now."
The handsome brunette who was now covered in blood was stumbling over to Carlos with the nozzle of the M16 scraping against the tile floors of the kitchen and the browning was clutched to his chest like a prized possession. "Everybody is gonna be okay now…right? All okay? Yeah…I'll protect you. I'll keep you safe…because…because I love you. Uh-huh. You are everything to me and…yeah…I have to keep you safe."
Wait? Love? Me? Carlos thought with a look of confusion as his best friend kept attempting to walk over to him. Carlos only felt his mind spin endlessly as he looked around the scarlet red room that was dripping with iron scented blood. It used to be clean and white as snow…now look. He didn't know what to do or say after being told that out of the blue. He only stared at James with a look of fear as he continued to advance towards him.
The song from Mulan was nearing its end as it played from the dock over by the pantry.
…What do we want?
A girl worth fighting for!
Wish that I had…
A girl worth fight for!
James, on the other hand, had found a boy worth fighting for.
"I can protect you Carlos…I've always loved you and…I just want you to be okay. Beck…we can get him next okay? Can't be trusted. None of them can…they'll kill me for sure. Always the homo right? Yeah…you even said that he can't be trusted Carlos…killed Kevin remember?" James smiled with tears forming in his eyes.
A girl worth fighting-
As soon as the song cut off at the end, three ear splitting gun shots filled the air in rapid succession causing Carlos to jump backwards in shock. James' eyes went wide in disbelief as he heard them and he felt his chest burn intensely before dropping the two weapons he had in his cradling arms. Blood was spurting from three rough holes made in his chest that went out through his back.
His mouth opened wide causing a spray of crimson red fluid to hit Carlos right in the face and James felt his white hoodie stick to his skin due to the blood seeping from the wounds; staining his clothing. Who…Who j-just- James thought in frantic confusion as he slowly turned around with his eyes still wide from the immense pain in his chest. His mouth was covered with blood as he looked at a slumped body that was leaning its back against the cupboards right by Carly. It was Kendall Knight.
His left eye was rolling backwards and his lips were quivering horribly as he sat there barely propped up with his arm raised and Carly's glock tightly grasped in his hand. He looked deeply remorseful as he stared right into James' eyes with his stomach still gushing with extremely dark (almost black) blood. His blonde hair was roughly tousled on his head as he held the gun with his spastic arm. The tip of the glock pistol was hot and smoking from the barrel and he felt his breaths hitch in his throat. "S-S-So…s-sorry J-Jamie…s-s-so s-sor-rry" he whispered painfully as James' eye shed a single tear before he tripped backwards and collapsed onto his backside with his head resting on Logan's stomach barely.
Kendall shakily looked up at Carlos with a sparkle in his good eye before letting out a pained laugh. "N-Not this time 'Litos…c-couldn't p-p-protect you this time."
Kendall felt his arm give out and the pistol fell into his lap which was sopping with blood. "Couldn't save or protect a-anyone…I-I…I-I let you guys down…I let all of you d-d-down. I'm sorry C-Carlos. Maybe…maybe Beck can still h-help you…"
"No…Kenny you can't!" Carlos cried from the doorway with tears pouring from his eyes. Kendall only gave the tiny boy a pure smile that radiated confidence and pride.
"I've got to…" Kendall hoarsely whispered.
Kendall's POV
I don't know how it happened, but right when I came back to my senses…I saw James shoot Logan right in his neck. I saw him get the gun too and go after Carlos. I had to stop him, but…God! Why did it have to come to this damn it! I hate being the leader…I wish I could just rewind everything and save everyone from even going on this stupid trip. We would all still be alive if that happened. All forty-two of us…
I look at Carlos' pleading eyes and can't help but feel like I'm betraying him. He needs me…I can't die. I have to stay with him…I was supposed to protect them. All of them. But now it's too late. I was supposed to keep us all together…they believed in me. I feel like a mess…all this blood hee-hee…it's starting to make me feel kind of gross you know?
I always had that guardianship mentality ever since I was little. When my dad had to leave for the Navy just like Carly's dad when I was five…he made me promise to look after my mom and baby sister. I promised to protect them.
"Alright little rascal. I'm leaving which means you get to be the man of the house alright" my dad speaks with a strong voice with a confident gleam in his eyes that resemble a greenish color.
"You got it dad! I'll protect them and keep them safe no matter what! Just like spiderman or batman! I'll never let them get hurt!" I reply with a strong, loud tone and my fists are pumped in eagerness. I must have made him proud…
"That's the spirit little man," he laughs good heartedly before getting his things together by departing bus that would take him all the way to port. "Always find the justice within the act okay?"
"Okay dad…I love you."
"I love you more little man," my dad said with a smile as he hugged me as tight as he possibly could. He smelt like cologne and cigars then. God I miss it.
He's the reason I am who I am today…he taught me that being a leader comes with great responsibility and it is defined by protecting those you love. I failed big time…I look around at all of the dead bodies in the blood covered kitchen. I definitely failed…
Jo's dead too. I failed everybody…J-Jo…I wish I could have saved you. I left you all alone and…I'm sorry.
"Kendall…you don't need to apologize," I hear a familiar voice speak with a gentle tone in its voice. It sounds like a girl…wait, it sounds like a particular girl that I- Jo? I look up and see her standing there in a bright white sleeveless sundress with her golden hair decorate in two ponytails. "You've done more than enough for me."
"J-Jo I…I can't believe you're here," I whisper with a half-smile due to how exhausted I'm becoming.
"I would never leave you…you should know that. I'll always be with you no matter what."
"R-Really? Y-You promise me?"
"Yes. I promise," she giggles and I see something glimmering around her neck. It's the necklace I gave her! The one I gave her for valentine's day after she told me about the baby…she kept it? I see her place one of her pale hands over the locket as it dangles in front of her chest. "This was always special to me you know?"
"Why? I-I thought you h-hated me after we fought about y-y-your abortion…" I say with a quiet voice causing her to shake her head .
"Never would I hate you Kendall. I was just…opinionated that's all. You care so much and it broke my heart. You would've made a great father Kendall. A great husband too, sure I would be beyond worried as your wife…but still."
"You would have made magnificent mother…not to mention a breath taking wife," I sigh with a genuine grin making her smile sadly at me. I can feel head begin to grow weary as if I'm blacking out…not now though! Please not now…
"I saw her you know…our baby. She's up there right now waiting for you. She's a girl Kendall."
"No way…a g-girl?" I can't believe it…my baby. My precious baby girl.
"Yeah. She's perfect and she has your eyes too. The eyes of a fearless leader," she speaks with motivation in her voice as she sits down in front of me with a few tears coming from her brown eyes. How can spirits cry?
"S-Seriously? S-She w-would have b-been an amazing young woman huh?" I stutter after feeling a jet of surging pain go through me. Jo merely nods while holding my hand with hers.
"Just like her amazing father," she laughs sweetly while caressing my cheek lightly. I'm probably crying right now. I can tell. I can feel them spilling from my eyes…and for the first time since I've been on this island, I can tell they're tears of joy.
"And her…amazing mother," I reply with a beaming smile as I try and feel her face as well, but I feel nothing. She is a ghost after all.
"Kendall…let go. Come with me…we can both see her and all be happy together."
I only look at her with a sad grin before looking over Carlos who still stares at me with a desperate look in his eyes. I can't leave him…I have to protect them.
I remember all of us sleeping over at my house during the summer and we were all up late in my mom's room watching a Power Rangers marathon as my mom did Katie's (my little sister's) hair for the next day.
"Whoa!" I gasped as I stared at the glowing television screen showing four power rangers fighting against the evil forces. "Way cool!"
"Definitely cool!" James beamed with his ranger gun tightly gripped in his hand while he jumped up and down on the bed.
"It looks a little dangerous," Logan whispered with a shy, quiet voice as he sat next to my mom with his hands in his lap.
"Dangerous?" Carlos laughed. "No way! Power Rangers always laugh in the face of danger Logie."
"Yeah, but it's still dangerous," he whispers with a nervous grin.
"You boys need to settle down before I decide to have you all in bed an hour early," my mom scolded while swiftly moving her fingers through Katie's brown locks of hair as if she were braiding it.
"Guess what mom? I'm going to protect you!" I burst out with a confident ring in my voice causing her to look at me as if I were the cutest thing in the world. I probably was but… "Just like the power rangers! I'll keep you and little baby sis safe! Cause that's what men do…I'll be just like dad and be a hero!" I look over at my three best friends and grin at them with my eyes shining as always. "I'll protect James, Carlos and Logan too. I'll always be there…I'll protect them all no matter what because they're my brothers. Heroes always protect the ones they love."
They smiled back at me with a look of appreciation as my mom tilted her head to the side and my sister started to get restless in her arms. Squirming and starting to whine for food. "Glad I have my own little group of power rangers to look out for me."
I feel Jo's hand squeeze mine once more and I've made my decision…I feel the pain finally end. It all ends and everything begins to go white. I'm sorry Car'…I couldn't be a ranger like I promised. I'm so sorry…I'll miss you Carlos…you have to win. Win for me…win for all four of us. I smile up at the bright white light that consumes me and can't help but think of our brotherhood one last time with a feeling of bittersweet joy.
The four of us…best friends…forever…
Normal POV
Carlos watched as Kendall began to slide a bit to the right with his head beginning to hang low which made it look like he was falling asleep. His eyes were still open a bit in a sad state, but he had a peaceful smile shining through. Tears were staining his face and Carlos only stared at him with a few sobs leaving his trembling lips before he scanned the entire kitchen that looked lightly flooded with blood. "No…t-this…not like this!" he wailed as he burst into tears and grabbed both sides of his head.
He began to rock back and forth in hopes that it would calm him down, but it did nothing for him. "All my fault…all my fault…God warned me and…and I- All my fault!" Carlos cried softly as he stared at the corpses that were all over the kitchen like positioned mannequins.
Girl # 12: Carly Shay (ELIMINATED)
Boy # 2: Kendall Knight (ELIMINATED)
Boy # 6: Logan Mitchell (ELIMINATED)
11 Students Remaining
Well, what did you think? What will Carlos do now that he has technically massacred all of his friends? What will Beck do after realizing a horrific war has just been fought just a floor below him? Find out in the next chapter of the 61st Annual Batte Royale Competition!