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Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 5:10 P.M. (Inner Woodland; Deserted Island)
The woods were filled with peace and quiet now that the raging gunfire coming from the northeastern seas has silenced at last. It was insane…it lasted for over a half an hour. Camille was off in the woods hunting with Katniss' bow in hopes to nag a bite for dinner ever since the gunshots stopped. Strangely, Camlle had a knack for archery…it amazed everyone how diverse the drama queen really was.
Katniss sat there fiddling with Jake's decorated laptop; her gray eyes narrowed at the screen as if she were glaring at it as the glow from the screen bathed her gently. She was finally getting somewhere with these hacks. It wasn't easy but she was finally getting them done. She had downloaded at least five illegal files from the government vaults since she's been on here as well. It's insane how much information these rebels are carrying around and the fact that Jake was one of them baffled Katniss to no end.
Katniss' hair fell smoothly around her olive toned shoulders as she sat there fiddling with the computer with her fingers rapidly tapping the keys in a million different patterns. Her dress shirt and red tie were lying on top of her bags by the crooked tree a few feet from her and her entire form looked gorgeous due to the calming sunset that was seeping through the forest from the horizon.
"Hope you're alright idiot," Katniss whispered with a tone of worry in her voice as she referred to Beck and his whereabouts. "God knows where your loud mouthed butt is…if you died on me…I'll have to bribe the Lord to send you back just so I could kill you myself."
Katniss' silver eyes shined in the sun's rays and were looking over to Tori whose form was laid out on a sheet they took from the farmhouse last night and a soft red blanket was covering her from top to bottom as she slept soundly on her side. It took a while, but Katniss finally convinced the frantic Latina to get some much needed rest only ten minutes ago. After hearing all those gunshots go off…it took more than force to get Tori to sleep.
"Katniss! What if those were directed at Beck!" or "Katniss what if he's dead right now! He said he'd meet up with us last night and..and My God! It's been over twelve hours!"
It only made the single braided girl laugh in astounding amusement instead of freak out and worry like Tori. Katniss surveyed her slumbering form with calm eyes before placing the laptop down by her bags in a crouched state and going over to her. She tilted her head over to the side as she smiled down at Tori…until she spotted something that is. Underneath Tori's flat pillow, something was poking out like a crumpled bit of paper.
"Well, Well…what have we here. A love note perhaps," Katniss grinned mischievously before delicately picking up the crumbled corner of the paper and gradually pulling it out from underneath its hiding spot. Katniss opened it up and scanned it with squinted eyes as if she were expecting a sappy poem about Tori's hero Beck Oliver, but instead…
"Well I'll be damned," Katniss whispered with a chuckle as she bit the tip of her tongue. There was a mediocre drawing of Beck standing triumphantly in the center of the page with his well-known smirk coming off the lines. His hair was all shaggy and insane and his hands were placed on his hips like some victorious super hero. In bold letters on the top it read "IDIOT MAN! LOL ;P HAHA!"
'Here I am, Once again! Safe and sound! Whew, that was a close one! Almost got killed…again! Maybe I better stop and think first! I'm Beck, the amazing Idiot Man and I have the power to trust every single person no matter what! Hey there, guess I made it out alive even though I got myself into it in the first place!'
These phrases were written all over the paper in dialogue bubbles with silly faces drawn next to them causing Katniss let out a few genuine giggles. "That's just it Tor'. You nailed this fool right on the head…this is Beck all over."
Near the bottom of the page were a few girly hearts that had 'T+B' written in each and every one of them along with a few drawings of Beck in general. There were some of him looking off into the distance, him smiling brightly as if he were giving another one of his speeches…and one of him crying…crying after he lost Mike. All of these were drawn magnificently and Katniss only stared at them in pure awe before placing the sheet by Tori's hand that was gripping the pillow. Who knew Tori Vega was an artist as well?
"He'll be okay Tori…I swear to God. Beck is gonna be fine..."
9 Students Remaining
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 5:19 P.M. (Inner Woodland; Deserted Island)
Lucy had been traveling the island ever since noon with an annoyed feeling in her chest after she witnessed Josh fall to his death. She was walking along the forest trail with her sickle tightly held in one hand while a gun (the one she pillaged from Drake and Josh) was grasped securely in the other.
She still had on her little getup (a soft vest with a mink fur line hood, a solid black and stomach revealing tank top that highlighted all of her curves and a pair of really short gray shorts that had strings dangling off the sides) and she planned to have it lure in some pathetic man meat. "Where are you my pretties?" she giggled with a seductive tone before stopping dead in her tracks.
Rapid gunfire filled the air. Where was it coming from? Lucy turned around with a blank look on her beautiful face that was glowing from the sunset before she brushed a moist strand of red highlighted hair behind her cream colored ear. "Hm?" she purred while looking off into the distance in order to figure out where it was coming from making her silky red and black hair flow gently behind her.
Her high heeled boots were pressing into the damp dirt underneath her as a few more loud shots roared about the island. "Sounds like a party," she chuckled while holding all of her belongings and taking off to where the shots were being fired. After all, gunshots mean guns and guns mean people holding them and people means more kills and racking up points…it's all logic. She was off to where she would find them…the lighthouse.
9 Students Remaining
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 5:23 P.M. (Garcia Residence; New York City)
The sound of New York City traffic filled the air as the afternoon made its way into evening. Business men and women were hastily flagging down neon yellow taxis left and right to get home from work while citizens hustled and bustled down the crowded sidewalks. The Garcia two story household had nothing but heart break to cling onto as everyone stood around in Carlos' childish bedroom with tears pouring from their eyes. Jennifer Knight (Kendall's mother) and Sylvia Garcia (Carlos' mother) were seated on the Hispanic boy's Spongebob themed bed with their eyes glued to a scrapbook they've kept over the years.
"Oh Jennifer…look at them then. Remember? The Disney trip they took after a year of being friends?" Sylvia reminisced with a painful smile as she looked at all of the young boy's smiling faces. They all had costumes on and were crowded around Mickey in a way that seemed like they were trying to smuggle him.
Jennifer merely smiled with a weak nod before letting a single tear fall and splash onto the picture. Another one showed a smiley Logan grabbing Carlos by the hand as they both smiled excitedly and ran off to ride Splash Mountain together. Right beneath the photo were the captions 'Where is Carlos off to with Logan?'
"Just like it was yesterday…" Jennifer gasped as she felt her throat close due to all the overwhelming emotions flooding her system. She sent her twelve year old daughter Katie off to her friend's house in order to hide the fact that her brother was never coming home…she hoped he would but the chances were beyond slim considering Slyvia was hoping the same for her son as well as James' mother and Logan's mother.
"Oh God…" Rhona Diamond (James' mother) hitched her voice as she turned the page of the scrapbook and saw a photo of all four of the boys dressed up for their first day of second grade together. "Look at them."
'Uh-Oh! Looks like our little monsters are starting second grade together! So exciting!' is what it said underneath the picture.
"They couldn't stop talking about how great their day was," Slyvia laughed with tears streaming down her cheeks.
"They kept going on and on about how they found some magic stone in the slide during recess and went on an adventure…they really did have a wild imagination whenever they were together," Jennifer smiled at the photo as she said this and wiped a tear from her eye.
On the next page was a photo of the four boys in the courtyard of Garside surrounded by at least ten of their classmates from 3-C (Freddie, Carly, Kevin, Andre, Jake, Tori, Beck, Mike, True and Lulu just to name a few). They were all posing with silly faces as they looked into the camera.
'Just their first day and already so many friends? Looks like our four princes of popularity are going to have a great life at this school.' Is what it said in the captions in black sharpie.
Diego Garcia (Carlos' father) and Jonathan Diamond (James' father) were seated at Carlos' bright purple desk that had stickers of cartoon characters stuck onto it. Pictures he took in club were scattered about the surface of the desk as his father rummaged through them with a pained smile. Jonathan a.k.a. Mr. Diamond was watching the television in the room with frantic eyes in hopes that updates on the BR competition would appear.
Suddenly, as he changed the channel a scene from Friday the 13th filled the screen. It must've been a special marathon of some sort. It showed Jason ramming his machete into a couple of teens as they got onto a motorcycle causing Diego to look up with a worried expression. He frantically grabbed the remote and turned it off as fake blood began to burst from the corpses and Jason wiped off his deadly weapon.
"Diego! Is there a reason why you did that?" Jonathan asked with a hysterical tone in his voice while the three women on the bed looked over in concern. "There could be an update…maybe showing that our boys are still alive and…and maybe we'll get to see them."
Diego widened his eyes before laughing softly while placing the remote down on the desk with a few tears falling from his stressed eyes. "I know. I'm sorry…it's a force of habit I have. My little boy never liked horror movies. Said that he hated seeing people die. Said they were too scary and he'd rather watch Bambi instead…I'm sorry."
"That's right. The violence always made him upset. Here…Diego turn it back on," Sylvia gently order as she waved her hand to the television screen.
He did as he was told and everyone went back to their states of misery as the sound of the horror movie quietly played from the television. "They're not coming back are they?" Jennifer spoke suddenly with a hint of despair as she kept looking at all the timeless photos in the scrapbook. "Those bastards took them and now…now they're never coming back to us."
"Jennifer," Sylvia spoke with tears coming to her eyes as well before placing her caramel colored hand on the frail woman's shoulder. "Those boys have imagination on their side…you'll see. Imagination counts for something. Outthink them…they've always had imagination."
Jennifer gave off a warm smile before wiping her palms on the thighs of her nice fitting jeans. "Yeah…always have been quick thinkers. Especially my son. The little leader."
She stared at a picture of her son holding Katie close to him after they both went out to the movies together a few months back as a Brother-Sister outing. "He's always there for others. One time when Katie got nicked by a car as she learned to ride her bike, Kendall ran after it for blocks screaming at it for hurting her. Also when some salesman came around and kept trying to flirt with me…oh did my boy let that guy have it."
"Shut up!" He screamed while standing in front of his mother with his arms out stretched even though he was only six years old and three feet shorter than her. "Shut up and go away! Go away now and leave my mommy alone you nasty man! She has a husband!"
"Kendall has always been a little handful," Rhona laughed before falling silent once again.
"Poor Joanne…how do you think she's reacting to all of this? Logan's probably beyond traumatized at this point. All of them must be," Diego sighed with a horribly depressed look on his chiseled face as he pinched the bridge of his nose while mentioning Mrs. Mitchell who was still being hospitalized for her illness.
"Carlos must be most of all. So delicate…my little mijo will never get over this once it's over. When he was teased about his dyslexia on his first day at Garside he- poor thing wouldn't come out of his room for days. So innocent and delicate…God! Forgive me Lord…he's a lamb amongst a pack of ravenous wolves. Just an innocent lamb thrown into the pack for slaughter…force of habit. Movie violence right? He can't deal with that can he? How do I expect him to be able to handle real death? How will he react when his friends are dying around him and the blood on his hands is real?"
Diego began to cry as he felt the reality of the situation sink in. "My baby boy is hurting and there's nothing I can do damn it! R-Remember the 51st season? Remember the gang rape incident? How a group of boys sexually assaulted another male classmate during the competition out of a 'You Only Live Once' mentality. What if that's happening right now?! Sylvia! For Christ's sake…I keep hearing him scream. They're taking turns hurting him and I can't do anything to stop it! Not a damn thing!"
Jonathan only looked at him with a horrified look before gazing over at his nicely dressed wife who looked like she was on the verge of bursting into tears at any given moment. Jennifer gripped the pages of the scrapbook with trembling hands as tears continued to fall onto the pictures of her four favorite boys with gleaming smiles. "He's right," she sniffled while tucking a strand of her brown hair behind her ear. "If they d-do come back to us…how much of them will come back? How mentally destroyed would they be? Would they find the strength to ever smile again like the boys in these pictures? T-The four little boys we knew over the years are going to be left there…on that horrible island even if they come back to us. Our babies…they're gone!"
Jonathan sat there with a grimace on his smug face before he felt tears falling from his beady eyes. His wife immediately flew from the bed making a creaking sound come from it as she did so and came to her husband's aid. "Honey…w-what's the matter? James will be okay…he always has been dependent and-"
"I told him I never wanted to see him again," Mr. Diamond suddenly spoke in a quiet manner with a few tears streaming down his freshly shaved face. "I told him he was a sick pervert and that I never wanted to see him ever again…that's the last he ever heard from me. Last thing he ever heard from his own father before going off to his death."
Rhona Diamond simply sat there on her knees by the chair her husband was in with her diamond ring tainted fingers placed on his broad shoulder. "No…you can't. H-He'll be okay."
"No he won't Rhona! He thinks I want him to die! That's the only thing he'll think when he's actually out there dying damn it! My little Jamie…my little boy is gonna be crying out for me…his dad, but then he'll think of what I said and…and he'll feel like he has no one there for him. God damn it! I want him…I love him and…and I can't believe I won't be able to tell him that. I won't be able to tell him that I really do love him," Jonathan blurted in emotional stress and felt his heart sink to the bottom of his chest before placing his tear stained face in his beefy hands. Rhona didn't say a single word. Instead she pulled him in for a hug while her mascara began to run due to all the tears she was producing.
Jonathan melted into his wife's gentle touch and began sobbing uncontrollably as everyone else stared at him in pity. "What if they really do turn on one another Sylvia? God damn! The rule of the damn thing is that only one survives! What will happen when it's just the four of them left? Well! What will happen?" Rhona snapped while feeling her heart break in two as she thought about her precious son. She thought back to when she first held him in her arms after he was born eighteen years ago…how precious he looked.
How evil are these people that they have to come in and steal away something so precious and expect everyone to just deal with it…maybe even enjoy it. Sylvia only stared up at the distressed woman with a saddened look as well as tears spilled from her eyes and fell onto the pages of the scrapbook in her small hands.
Look at James! Our next Michael Jordan no doubt! A picture said underneath. The picture showed a very small and smiley James throwing a basketball into a hoop in the park as his father held him up to it.
Another one said, Elvis has entered the building, how cute is he? Kendall was standing on his mother's coffee table in only his shirt and a pair of Spiderman boxers while strumming a play guitar; his dad grinning in the background while holding up a lighter.
"Only one winner…Rh-Rhona I…" Sylvia began to say with a tremor in her quiet voice as if it were about to break out of heart wrenching sadness. "No winner…there's no winner! Always a loser no matter what! No one wins damn it! No one! We just have the program! That damn TV show every year to remind us that we have no choice! That our children have to suffer thanks to past mistakes! Just the…p-program! The goddamn program! Every single fucking year and we have to live with it!"
Diego scurried over to his trembling wife who was now clutching onto Jennifer Knight for emotional support as she saw her son's smiling face within her mind. She wanted him back…her sweet little mijo. She wanted him back in her arms. "D-Diego! Our baby is hurting out there! You're right he…he's hurting and screaming. He wants us to come save him, but there's not a goddamn thing we can do is there? I understand what you've said Diego! I feel him hurting on that fucking island!"
Diego felt like bursting into tears as well when he felt his wife shaking horribly in his arms. Jennifer took the scrapbook from Sylvia's trembling fingers and placed it in her lap as she felt hot tears drip from her eyelashes. They all couldn't take it anymore. All of this crap was too much to deal with. "Why is this allowed?! D-Diego? W-Why are these bastards allowed to take our children from us?! Why does God allow this to happen!? Where is God's will?" Sylvia cried in an upset.
'Check it out! Carlos is on his favorite swing again! Look at him smile… A picture showed a tiny Carlos sitting in a baby swing while grabbing the chains holding him up with a wide smile on his face as his two parents pushed him gently. Tears were literally drenching the pictures as Jennifer continued to gaze down at them with grief in her heart. "I just want them back…all of them," Jennifer spoke with a trembling voice while digging her nails into the picture of her blonde son. "I don't give a shit whether they're damaged or deranged or they've lost a limb! I just want them here…Kendall. I want my blonde baby back in my arms!"
"We need to have faith!" Diego spoke boldly with his wife still clutching his arms for comfort. "All of us! We need to have faith that they'll see this through. God will provide…he must and he will. They'll be there for each other like they always are…God will provide!" Diego shouted with a laugh as a smile came onto his face in order to lighten the room.
Happy 16th Birthday Logan! Here we all are to celebrate you being brought into the world, a picture read with all four boys huddled in the middle while Logan stood in the middle of it all. Carlos was tugging on Logan's arm with a party hat on while Kendall stood behind him with a determined smirk on his face and James was on the opposite side with a party blower in his mouth. Logan had nervous smile on his face as his mother stood by the boys in a wheel chair looking weak and feeble, but she had to be there to celebrate her biggest miracle as she blessed the camera with a beautiful smile.
"They won't be alone! For God sake when are they! They'll never leave each other…they'll never let each other be hurt. They've got each other and they've got God! They won't be alone," Diego continued to shout in praise. Jonanthan and Rhona merely looked at him with tears still streaming down their faces as they thought about this. Jennifer stopped her sobbing and looked up at Mr. Garcia with a look of hope emerging upon her face.
Uh-Oh! Teddy got hurt, but don't worry! Dr. Logan Mitchell will take care of it! A picture gleamed showing Logan (at only seven years old) wearing a pretend play doctor's coat with a stethoscope hanging around his neck as he smiled at Carlos' teddy bear wearing a bandage on its furry head that seemed to have gotten ripped open. Carlos was crying a bit right next to it in hopes that Logan would be able to fix it.
"M-Maybe you're right Diego…they have more friends too from their class. Maybe they can all team up. Our boys have always been so giving…so sweet. People respond to that don't they?" Jennifer whispered with a glimmer of hope in her eye as Diego began to nod fiercely.
"Y-Yes! I think if…I know they'll do the right thing! We raised our boys right…when it all comes down to it they'll make the right decision. They'll stand by each other no matter what. We need to have faith. We taught them well…kissed by God. Our amazing boys…kissed by God," he beams causing his wife to stop trembling like crazy. Rhona and Jonathan had relieved grins on their faces along with hope in their eyes as they listened to the Hispanic cop intently. "They'll stand by each other…you'll see. All four of them…and when that time comes…only one winner…they'll make the right decision. They'll do the right thing! I'm sure of it!"
Everyone began to cheer while an emotional Jennifer Knight placed the scrapbook next to her on the bed with a page flipping open.
'Just their first day and already so many friends? Looks like our four princes of popularity are going to have a great life at this school.'
9 Students Remaining
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 5:30 P.M. (Lighthouse; Deserted Island)
The sound of the heavy winds filled Beck's ears as he sat there clutching the gleaming bars of the railing; shaking like a rattle. He was shaken beyond belief at the things he just witnessed…he kept looking down at Carlos' awkward looking body as splattered blood covered the rock's surface underneath him. His sparkling eyes were continuously staring up at Beck as if he finally found something he'd lost forever.
Beck let go of the bars with trembling hands with his eyes filling up with devastated tears as he sank backwards until his bandaged back was leaning against the curved lighthouse wall. James was only a few feet to his right with a peaceful look on his handsome face and his gleaming eyes reflected the beautiful ocean horizon. The wind was sweeping through his sandy brown hair causing his bangs to sway a bit as Beck sat there looking at him with an exhausted look on his face.
"James…C-Carlos…" he whispered with his brown eyes fluttering slowly as if he were blinking in slow motion. All was quiet except for the occasional echoing of the ocean waves washing up against the side of the tall building and the calls coming from the pesky seagulls flying all around the beach.
Beck could hear the sound of another song drifting up from within the lighthouse in an echo making him scrunch his face up in sadness. It was God Help the Outcasts from Hunchback of Notre Dame…
I don't know if you can hear me, or if your even there
I don't if you would listen to a gypsy's prayer
Yes I know I'm just an outcast, I shouldn't speak to you
Still I see your face and wonder, were you once an outcast too…
Beck slowly rose to his feet while the winds shoved him in all directions as he hobbled back to the door with a few tears falling from his eyes, but his face looked calm and plain. He couldn't handle all of this emotional damage…it was bound to destroy him one way or another. He looked out at the gorgeous orange ocean that was twinkling like a sea of stars. He knew…he knew he had to get back to Tori.
"You really are a great guy Beck. I actually feel kinda privileged to have known you for so long. Tori's a lucky girl…real lucky…take care of her okay? Some of us wish we had with the ones we loved…be with her always," Kendall stated.
"Kendall…wait? T-Tori!' Beck hissed with his eyes still fixed on the horizon that held the sinking sun.
"Remember the grove? This morning where we first met up? You guys head over there. Katniss you protect Tori…Camille, you keep the fort held down! I'll meet you guys there later."
"Beck…Please be careful." Tori spoke with care.
"Got to get back to them," Beck whispered with his voice nearly breaking before turning his head back over to where Carlos fell; the crimson red handprints still stuck on the railing. Beck's shiny, black hair was flying wildly all around his head as he walked with gradual steps over to the spot where he left Kendall's Handgun in order to get away from James. He stared down at the glimmering piece of metal with a stiff look on his face before leaning down and grabbing the shining handle with his bloody, moist fingers.
"All dead…need guns," Beck sighed with a horrible look of pity as he straightened his back and examined the used gun in his bandaged hand. "Unarmed and…need weapons. Wounded…need to protect myself out there."
He looked back over at James with his lip trembling madly while the boy he's known since the sixth grade sat there bleeding from his chest and mouth. "James…so sorry. So sorry. You're right…if I hadn't of shown up…n-none of this…damn it! Why does this keep happening? Every time I show up…people wind up dying! It's like I'm fucking cursed or some crap!"
Beck wiped his eyes with his weak wrist and gave James one last look of sorrow before grabbing the M16 at his side and headed towards the open metal door leading to the rusty stairway. He made his way down the spiral steps making each step sound as if it were a weight being dropped due to how quiet everything was now.
No one was talking…all of the happy voices that filled this lighthouse were now silenced forever. All Beck heard was that depressing song along with some popping and simmering coming from the 1st floor. Possibly from the pot of spaghetti Carly left on due to all the chaos from the poisoning mishap.
Beck finally made it to the second floor and walked down the glistening hallway that looked brilliantly lit up from the sunset coming from just outside the end of the hall. It outlined his figure as he trudged down the wrecked corridor that had gunshot holes in every wall imaginable and he stepped over the torn up door he busted down. He looked into the room he was in and saw his water bottle lying on its side near the bed with clear water formed around it in a puddle.
He smelt the sweet aroma of shampoo and other bathroom essentials drifting from the bathroom as he walked past its creaking door that was hanging open. He stumbled down the rusty steps leading to the first floor as he gripped both of the deadly guns in his hand. Beck's trembling legs stumbled through the sitting room causing his footsteps to echo off of the hardwood floors. His dress pants were stained completely from dirt, his and other people's blood, dust and even still felt damp from falling in the sea last night.
He almost wanted to run out of the lighthouse as he looked at the doorway leading to that barbaric looking kitchen. He didn't want to go in there…he'd rather be beaten to death than have to look at all those disturbing things known as bodies ever again. However, he knew he had to in order to collect some more much needed weapons along with some other things (water, food, flashlights).
As he slowly walked in holding the guns in his hands he almost felt like falling to the ground and bawling like a pathetic baby. Four of his friends were still lying all around the kitchen in the same state. Blood was dripping from the ceiling as well as from the demolished countertops and golden bullet casings were all over the ground like confetti. "N-No…c-can't break down yet. N-Need to get weapons…need to go back to Katniss, Tori and Camille. Protect them."
He looked all around the ruined kitchen in search of weapons and eventually spotted a small table holding four of them. A large skewer stick, a sock full of butter (weird, but okay), a set of darts, and a pair of brass knuckles that fighters would usually use. Beck picked up each and every one of them and placed them in his duffle bag that was hanging loosely from his unharmed shoulder.
He then turned around and looked straight at Kendall's slumped form only making his heart feel like it was going to break. He walked over to the blonde, courageous boy making splashing sounds as he did so, and plopped down in front of him. He took the glock pistol from the blonde boy's stiff fingers and placed it in his bag as well, but immediately gave Kendall's corpse a terrific hug. "I'm sorry Kendall…I'm so sorry!"
Beck felt his chin wrinkle from the feeling of Kendall's hair tickling against his skin and slowly let him go. Beck felt his nose burn from the overwhelming, reeking stench of iron that was radiating from the blood all around him and looked at the other three corpses in the room. Beck observed them with tear filled eyes before gritting his teeth together out of pure anger. "Bastard…" he growled referring to Eikner. "Cold hearted bastard…I won't let you see them like this. Never. I won't let anyone get their fucking sick pleasure out of looking at them…I won't."
He stood up making the blood from the ground spill from his pant leg and he limped over to the doorway making occasional hisses filled with pain. He walked through the sitting room up to the clanging metal front door and forced it open even though it felt like the door of a gigantic metal vault instead. He felt the ocean breeze greet him warmly as he staggered out onto the beach and felt the ocean spray hit him perfectly.
"Not gonna let you look at them…they were my friends and…and…fuck you bastard," the motivated boy known as Beck Oliver grumbled in fury while limping all the way to the rocky shores. It was risky, but he managed to make his way over to the rock Carlos was laying on by carefully climbing over to it. He grasped Carlos' body by the hands and dragged him into the ocean in order to get him to the shores. Beck swam with Carlos held underneath his arm making him gasp in pain while the waves threw them to the sandy beaches.
Beck swam onto the cool grains of golden sand and put the Hispanic boy's body on the sand soaking wet. Carlos still had that same smile on his face along with his eyes glimmering up at the sky while his Donald Duck sweatshirt stuck to his skin from the salt water. Beck staggered to his feet and wandered back into the lighthouse to retrieve the other five bodies as well, including James' (lugging him down those stairs, however, was the biggest pain Beck has ever had to endure). He even grabbed a few white, soft towels that the alliance had kept stacked in the cupboards right near the front door and a plethora of water bottles before heading back outside. Carlos even had some pictures in his backpack…Beck grasped those as well.
All six bodies were lined up by the shore being bathed in the sunset, and Beck stumbled over to them while pouring water from a bottle onto one of the towels. He plopped to his knees and began wiping the blood off of all of them and closed their eyes to make them look at peace. Blood trails were leading all the way up to the group of bodies…but Beck couldn't care less. He sat right by them with a look of remorse mixed with joy on his bloody face as he wiped his forehead with his limp wrist. He then took the joyous photographs that Carlos had taken and placed them all around the bodies.
Cat was lying there with a warm smile on her face while clutching her Fantasia Mickey Mouse plushy close to her chest while holding Carly's hand with her other. Carly lied there as well with a peaceful look on her face and her head was cleaned off completely with her hand holding Logan's pale one. Logan still had a gaping hole in his throat but other than that he looked like he was resting as he held Kendall's hand. Beck had wrapped Kendall's entire stomach with bandages in order to stop the horrific bleeding, but his midsection still looked soaked with blood. James had that same look of content on his handsome face as he lied there next to his blonde best friend. At the far end holding James' strong hand was a smiling Carlos with his eyes closed making a stream of tears glisten on his cheeks.
Beck stared at all of them with tears pouring from his gleaming eyes, but a joyous smile was on his face. "I loved you guys," he whispered while taking in all of their peaceful faces and tangy ocean water was dripping from his drenched body.
Beck's POV
It's the least I could do for them…I need to give them the respect they deserve. I wasn't going to leave them looking like that for these damn cameras to gawk at. Hell to the freakin' no! I have to do what I can to make sure they aren't forgotten. I'll make sure whoever does tune into this twisted show… (God help them) sees how fucked up this all really is, but first…
I look over at all of my friends bodies feeling a pang of hurt in my chest. I don't know whether I'm dying out of heartbreak or just straight up dying. One thing's for sure though, I need to give these guys a proper funeral. I have to…I have to let them know that their deaths weren't in vain.
Okay…first up. Logan…I look at him with a grin remembering everything he did for me. How he helped me with my homework whenever I was stuck or just didn't get it. I mean come on! Trigonometry is some dumb stuff. Logan, you always were there no matter what. Sure, sometimes you came off as a buzz kill, but I understand…you were just looking out for your friends. You always kept to yourself though like the little nerd you always were, but you never hesitated to step up whenever someone needed a friend. Like when Owen was struggling with English sophomore year…you came up to him after class and offered him a book on how to understand it more. You even offered to tutor him on the weekends if he needed it. You smiled…you made him feel like he had someone to count on Logan. Logan…the brainy nerd who always wanted to be a doctor, but always had a great heart.
Next…Carly. Where do I begin with you? There's so many things I have to say, but I guess I'll have to keep it short and sweet huh? Just like you…short and sweet. The nicest girl to ever roam the halls of Garside. You were always so kind and giving to everyone you knew Carly. You were a best friend and loyal sister to every single person in our class…you even offered Lucy a bit of you kindness even though she shrugged you off… You stood up for Tori when Ryder from Class 1-B was using her for his own benefit freshman year when they were working on a singing project for Choir class. Remember? You called him out just before he and Tori were going to sing their big duet on stage. You always kept Sam under control even though she would sometimes end up disliking you in the end…you were always the ideal best friend Carly…the cheerleading girl next door.
Alright…Cat. Man, even looking at you makes me laugh. Cat, I know you could sometimes get annoying and you'd even make me want to jump off a cliff at times, but overall…I really loved you as a friend. You always brighten everyone's day with your silly laugh and your dimwitted jokes. Even when you had those bruises…I remember seeing you come to school with them…you still had the spirit to make others laugh. Your home life might have been hell but you always made everyone feel happy. Yep that's you alright huh Cat? No one's allowed to be sad around Cat Valentine. The girl with the gorgeous red hair…thank you for making me smile no matter what.
James…Can I please tell you how awesome you are!? I mean I am kinda pissed that you shot at me, but I knew why you did. You were scared and I get that. I heard by the way…I heard you talking to Carlos up there. You idiot…you know I love you bro. I always have and…and the fact that you always had a bright smile on your face every single day really baffles me. You always made everyone feel so special…so important James. Gibby, you always offered to hang out with him. Do you know how big of an impact you have on others? Y-You obviously didn't if you thought no one would support you…I'm sorry you had to go through all of that James. G-Guess we won't be having that basketball face-off at the park like we promised huh. You would have beaten me anyways. You're like a wizard when it comes to that sport. Oh, and your welcome…I know you and Carlos have a little thing for each other so I put you right next to him. Good-bye dork…love ya.
Now…shit. I look at Kendall with pained eyes. I can't…damn it. I have to…I owe him that much. Ken'? I love you man. I really loved having you as one of my closest friends over these past seven years. I cherish all of those times we went out to the arcade together or when you always included me in your little quartet at lunchtime with your three best friends. You always were a fearless leader no matter what. You cared about everything and everyone, and you always made an effort to put them first…I know you probably can't hear me, but we'll always be friends…always. I'll miss seeing your confident grin…I'll miss hearing your priceless guitar playing skills and watching you jam out in the parking lot. I'll miss everything Kendall…good bye bro.
C-Carlos…oh man…I see his goofy grin and can't help but start bursting into a fit of sobs.
I lit the fuse…the little runt in the group…they were friends Beck, my brothers…
I hear his voice echo in my throbbing head like a nostalgic cassette tape that keeps playing over and over in my mind. Carlos? I want to hate you…I want to. I want to hate you so badly, but the truth is…I just can't Car'.
You always had a smile on your face along with enough energy to power a skyscraper. You always made friends with every single person you met…even if they did nothing but make your life a living hell. You didn't care though…you had God on your side right? You always made sure to make others smile whenever you came into a room. You made life so much brighter because you just had that aura about you…you gave off a cheery vibe like some ray of sunshine. I know, it sounds lame and corny but it's true. We knew how crazy you could be, but none of us cared. Your dyslexia didn't matter to any of us…we knew but we cared about you and what you were Carlos. We all loved you…James, Logan and Kendall cared the most though. They were the ones who loved you the most.
I look at some of the pictures gleaming around them in the soft sand. A picture of Andre and Kevin making faces while standing in front of the school…one of Jake and Freddie doing whatever it is they do on those laptops they have with grins on their faces…the one of me, Tori, Mike and Trina on the bus for the trip. One had a few words scribbled onto it in bright purple sharpie saying 'My best-friends! They actually like me! Thanks for caring guys!' The picture showed the four inseparable boys holding a tiny dog…this must have been taken when they all first met.
I hear the sound of the Disney song playing faintly from the lighthouse making me close my eyes as tight as I possibly can before clasping my hands together to pray. I usually never pray…but this is a definite exception.
"Dear Lord…I know…I know I haven't talked to you in a while, but please…help me. Help me get through this…help us all get through this! The six people I have next to me…they were some of the greatest human beings I've ever come to know…they were just a few of your greatest creations and now they're probably up their right now with you. All of my friends who died on this island are probably up there right now…Mike is probably up there right now. I just need you to know that I need you…I may seem like I know what I'm doing, but reality is that I don't have a damn clue- sorry! A dang clue. Please protect all of us…protect us and get us through this horrible game. In Jesus' Name…Amen."
I open my eyes feeling the calming light from the ocean fill them gently while the ocean breeze caresses my tattered face. I can still hear that same song from the Hunchback of Notre Dame playing from inside the lighthouse as I bring out a bright white table cloth I found in the cupboards as well.
I ask for God and his angels to bless me
I ask for nothing, I can get by
But I know so many less lucky than I
Please help my people, the poor and down draught
I thought we all were the children of God
God help the outcasts, children of God…
I cover the bodies of my six friends with the brilliant white tarp giving them privacy while falling to my knees with tears falling from my tired eyes…hearing the song come to a close as I look out at the sea's breath taking horizon one last time. I wasn't kidding God…please help them all. Help those who still are alive. Help my friends…
I get back onto my feet feeling the sand crunch underneath me and I hoist my bags up until they are hanging from my shoulders. I have my dress shirt and tie tucked into my duffle bag and my eyes continue to stare down upon the covered group known as the Lighthouse Alliance.
I can't…it's this fucking game. All of it is because of the fucking game…and I…I can't do anything but watch my friends die. No, I'll stop it. I'll stop this from happening to any other kid. No more…this is going to be the last season of Battle Royale! Bet your damn ass! Better enjoy it while it lasts fuckers because it's the last one you're ever going to get.
I begin trekking off along the shore before feeling the urge to look back at them…no Beck. You can't…you'll break like glass if you keep thinking about them. You have to move on…you can't break down now. You just can't…they're dead and you're still alive. It's a cold hard fact but it's true. You need to move on…you need to so that you can avenge them.
With that, I leave along the shore of the beach after drawing a simple word in the sand in big letters…the word 'HOPE'.
9 Students Remaining
Monday: June 3rd, 2010 – 5:48 P.M. (Inner Woodland; Deserted Island)
Beck's POV
I keep hearing the sound of mockingbirds singing beautifully within the trees as I trudge past the towering trees surrounding me. The grass patches are horribly damp thanks to the rain pouring endlessly since noon and water is trickling from the lanky branches as well as the shining leaves covering them. I'm starting to get sick of nature to be honest…It was great the first few hours, but now it makes me want to start a wildfire no matter what that damn ranger bear says.
I can still smell the scent of the sea drifting through the forest thanks to the breezes coming through the island. It makes me want to cry…it only reminds me of Kendall. It reminds me of everyone in that damn lighthouse. I can't lose it now…I have to try my best to keep it together. I have to escape for them.
The skies are beginning to turn a dark bluish color as the sun's light begins to turn dull and fades into the horizon of the sea. I can faintly hear the waves crashing onto the shore as I continue my quest to find Tori, Katniss and Camille. Oh man! Maybe I'll see Kacey and Zander too! I hope they're doing okay…wait? There was only…16 of us left after the noon announcement so…
Six are dead now so that means…ten left. Including Felix and Lucy. Shit…We'll have to face them again sooner or later, but I'd rather concentrate on escaping until then. Then there's me, Tori, Katniss, Camille, Kacey and Zander which leaves…two. Drake! Oh shit! The electric rock star! I wonder if he's still okay! Damn, probably not good obviously. He lost Josh for Christ sake.
Hopefully he hasn't been sucked into this game…and then there's Lulu. Oh man…True. Guess we've all lost someone in this damn game so far. I have to find everyone so we can all team up and escape. I won't let anyone else die. Not on my watch!
I look over my map and can only frown at it…so many danger zones! How the hell am I gonna get to the grove from here? I'll have to go all the way around the island…so be it. I sigh in exhaustion before taking off in the dense shrubbery with my leg nearly dragging behind me thanks to the wounds in it being reopened. The three gunshot wounds made in my shoulder burn like hell…all thanks to James I may add.
I hold the map tightly in my moist hands that are still bright red with blood splattered onto them and keep limping deeper into the forest. I look around at the scenery and can only grimace as I see a familiar sight standing proudly in the distance. Past the trees, standing high on a mountaintop was the viewing platform…the one Moze and Susie got gunned down in.
"We don't want to fight! We know some of you guys must feel the same way…hopefully at least!" Moze continued to wail in protest. "Let's not let Mike Fukunaga's death be in utter vain! Remember what he said 'If we band together…we can beat this!'"
I wince as I remember it all too clearly. The hopeful cries of peace that were blaring from that megaphone yesterday morning. "No…Moze, Susie. A lot of people didn't feel the same way…truth is, there are people out there who actually are fighting."
Moze…
"Hey…I think I'm gonna change," Moze says with a sparkle in her eye. "I'm gonna make a change in the world…I'll be the one to end world suffering," she always says with a pump of the fist.
Suzie…
"Is this him Beck?" Suzie asks with excitement.
"Yes! Suzie how did you do that?" I exclaim at how amazing her photography talents have gotten. She had given me a photo of the one and only…Red Power Ranger. Sure I'm a little too old but hey, Power Rangers will never die. Suzie even took the picture herself and it looked amazing. "Suzie you rock!"
"Thanks! I try," she laughs uncontrollably at how excited I become and even lets out a little snort. It was cute…
I clench my fist as I feel all of those hopeless emotions circulate in my chest. I can hear them again. The gunshots…so much rapid fire. So much death. Screw all of it. Screw it!
"Urgh!" I hear Moze cough violently into the megaphone followed by it clashing to the ground with her.
"AAAAAHHHH!" Suzie screamed at the top of her lungs after even more shots blasted over the megaphone.
…-It would…It would have been great i-i-if Beck had come…
"Susie, I couldn't…I would have died if I…I should have helped you though. I-I…no, Beck you can't! You have to stop thinking and starting walking!" I scold myself before shaking the memories from my head. I jerk my eyes from the gleaming viewing platform with pained eyes before heading back off.
As I walk down a steep slippery slope near the farmhouse, I spot the same exact road I was on when all of the insanity went down. Jade…Damn it all! Jade why the hell did you have to run off like that? You could have lived Jade…I still care about you. Why did you have to be all stubborn as always?
"God…You're all crazy. You know that right?" Jade laughed in a high-spirited way while shaking her head.
J-Jade…
"Well, Good crazy though. I can totally relate with that style of crazy!"
I see the gunshots made in the barn due to True firing at us out of a delusional state. She's gone too…all my friends. I look further down the moist, black road as winds sweep peacefully down it and spot her body lying there just like it did after Katniss shot her. Damn it True…the girl with all the right moves.
"W-Will Smith? Jam…party! True's best moves? That…s-s-sounds like the b-bestest thing ever t-to True!" True's tired face quickly lit up in excitement as she looked at me with a twinkle in her eye.
Yeah True…bestest ever right? I feel a smile come onto my face as I think about her. I look behind me with a feeling of regret as I do so. It's so tiny compared to when I was looking at it up close, but off in the distance being accompanied by the ocean was the lighthouse.
Katniss' words of wisdom fill my mind for the first time as I think about the horrific experience that I witnessed over in that building.
"Paranoia Beck. That's the one and only thing that can tear a strong bond apart unless you fully trust that person with your life…"
I only feel my eyes well up with tears as I think about them again. The laughing red head…the sweet, kind brunette with the silly school webshow…the nerdy doctor in training with the faux hawk…the lovable Hispanic boy with a passion for photography…the tall charming basketball star with sandy brown hair…and the good natured, fearless blonde leader. All dead…damn it all!
That's just it though…only one survives. Play to win right? Wrong! These fuckers know it just as well as I do…nobody wins in this sick as hell game. Nobody! Ha! That's the secret behind this fabulous little governmental affair. No one wins no matter what. I mean think about it. If you win, you're basically scarred for life…rather die to be honest with you than have to live with THIS for the rest of my life. I mean look at Katniss! She's a perfect example…goddamn it! She has to go through all of this shit again for crying out loud.
Can you imagine how she probably felt when we all woke up in that classroom with collars on our necks…it was her second time. A nightmare revisited.
I feel my brain start to spin as I think through all of these bits of info. I'm dissecting and analyzing too much…I must be close to losing my mind huh. Hear that boys and girls? Beck Oliver is going crazy! Yay! That's what they want though isn't it. Another cuckoo for cocoa puffs contestant going off on a killing spree…yeah not my style.
Jade already called it…I'm the good kinda crazy…that's right. Good! Already got to me a long time ago…lost my mind a long ass time ago. All that's left is me and my dedication to put an end to this damn game. No more thinking…no more using your head. Katniss always got pissed at me for not thinking, but who the hell cares anymore? It's down to the wire and we don't have much time left now do we?
I take off down the remaining soggy hill that seems to be damp with mud. It's caking onto my shoes as I come onto the long winding black tarred road that is bathed in calm lights from the skies. According to the map, the grove is just around the barn…not too far away. I should be able to make it in about fifteen, maybe twenty minutes tops. I begin starting off down the hill with my heart set on defeating these government controllers. I have to after all…no more kids should have to suffer this crap any longer.
Did you hear that folks? Better tune out now and for good you hear? Game's over…yep, early game over. No more deaths. Not on my watch…cause I'm crazy right? Good crazy though. "No more killing. Hear that Eikner? No more killing you sick piece of shit. No more dying and no more-" I cut myself off as I look right in front of me with my heart literally stopping out of shock. No fucking way. I see a girl standing in front of me (probably a few feet away) and I almost want to scream. It's her…Lucy with a gun held at her side and a scary looking smile on her pretty little face.
Only one thing comes to mind now…and that's this, Oh Shit…
9 Students Remaining