Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Ben's Note of Sheer Awesome: This arc is officially over! Darn shame, I had fun writing it, despite a lot of it not making a whole ton of sense. I'm wrapping up a few things here and nothing major will be started for the next arc. Here we go!

KCL: I'm sorry to hear you haven't been doing well. I hope things get better for you. I'm glad you finally figured out it was me :). And Her Number will be fun. I'm thinking of expanding this universe, actually. The EAH Benverse, each story about a different couple. Then, I'll send it off with one last fic. But hey, it's still in the beta, so we'll have to see about that. Anyway, thanks for reviewing! You may not review a lot, but I know you'll be there to support me! Enjoy the chapter.

Prompt 46: Unnerved

It had been a week since the kidnapping, and Kitty still hadn't woken up.

After they got out of the cave, the managed to get back to the school in time to save Kitty. Harry and Maddie had been treated as well… but they didn't sustain the amount of physical damage Kitty had. Kitty had slipped into a coma, one she didn't seem to want to wake up from.

(Day 1)

The first day after they had gotten back to the school was a simple one. Giles had questioned both Harry and Sven about this group Slender had organized. They both answered honestly (even if Sven was reluctant and nervous about the whole thing) and Giles found no reason to believe anyone else was aligned with the group.

Bunny had visited Harry a few times that day, just chatting with him. Nothing major seemed to happen between them, but it seemed as though the friendship had been rekindled between the two of them.

Alistair hadn't left Kitty's side since she was brought into the infirmary. He watched her chest heave up and down, staring blankly at the bullet hole in her chest. It was his fault that it was there. It sickened him.

(Day 2)

Giles had organized a search party to retrieve both Peeta's and Neb's body. It wasn't what Giles had intended to do, but Lizzie made a pretty strong argument against him. Since Neb had no known family and no one knew his last name, Lizzie took responsibility for his funeral. She was his girlfriend after all. She was the only person he had.

Upon returning to the school, Giles sighed. He approached Lizzie, who was waiting anxiously for any news. "We've recovered what appears to be Peeta's body," he told her. "But as for Neb… there was no trace of him."

Lizzie nodded, looking distant. "I figured he wouldn't be there," she said, a tear trickling down her eye. "He was never one to stay in one place, dead or alive."

(Day 3)

Harry smiled as Bunny came up to him for the fifth time that day. He was lying in the infirmary, resting up. "Don't you have class or something?" he asked her.

"I've been excused, along with all the other Wonderland students," she told him, sitting next to him. "How have you been doing?"

Harry shrugged. "I've been healing. I guess that also means I'm bored as heck, but what is a hare to do?" he chuckled. "I'm… sorry I got you involved in all of this. I didn't… I was so bitter that I lost you… you were my only friend growing up Bunny. When we were separated…"

Bunny put a finger on his lips. "I understand," she said. She bit her lip nervously, and gently, she pecked Harry on the lips. Harry's eyes widened in shock as Bunny pulled back, blushing. "I'm still upset about what you did," she said. "But… after I got over my silly crush on Alistair…"

"You crushed on me?" Harry said, his eyes widening.

"Just a little one," she said, growing a deeper shade of red. "I'm willing to forgive you Harry… just try and not threaten to kill me again in a jealous rage, ok?"

Harry smiled. "Trust me, never again," he promised.

(Day 4)

Harry and Sven stood in front of Headmaster Grimm, who was glaring down at them. Maddie and Bunny were standing toward the back of the room. "You two should have come to me first," he growled. "I would have been able to set you guys up in the school and your destiny's. You were foolish to think otherwise."

"Sorry! Peeta said not to risk being killed! I don't understand social ques… gah, you're scary!" Sven yelped.

"It's ok Sven," Maddie giggled. Sven took a breath and nodded nervously, returning his gaze to that of the Headmaster.

"I'll allow you to attend Ever After High," Headmaster Grimm said, "so long as you are monitored. I don't trust you two and I believe you'll off-set the destinies of some students. Bunny, as you know Harry, I'm assigning you to him. As for Sven…"

"Maddie!" he practically yelled. He gulped and covered his mouth. "Sorry, sorry! I don't mean to be rude! Oh, was that rude? Sorry!"

Headmaster Grimm glared at the blue haired boy. "Shut up, you blubbering hooligan!" Headmaster Grimm shouted. Sven jumped nervously and bite his tongue. "Maddie, please watch Sven, at his request," he muttered.

Maddie saluted and walked Sven out. Harry and Bunny did likewise and walked off. "See? You did fine," Maddie told him.

"Nope! No, no, he yelled! He doesn't like me! I'M GOING TO DIE!" Sven screamed in panic.

Maddie rolled her eyes playfully. "You aren't going to die, silly willy," she said. "I'll help you through this. Ok?"

Sven gulped, but slowly nodded. "Maddie… friend?" he asked her.

Maddie smiled. "Yes. I'm your friend," she told him. Sven offered her a shaky smile and nodded.

(Day 5)

Lizzie was calm on the outside as she walked down the hallway. On the inside, she was still miserable and heartbroken at Neb's death. But no one knew they were dating, so she had to keep appearances. She couldn't let his death bother her… even though it did.

"You can cry about me, you know," came a voice. Lizzie froze and stiffened. "I may not be the nicest guy, but at least I can, and I quote, 'care about you more than a hockey puck on a croquet field'. Like I speak Riddlish."

Lizzie spun around and dove onto Neb, who was leaning against the wall. She furiously smashed his lips onto his. "Only one person I know is that sarcastic," she said when she parted.

"I'm not that sarcastic," Neb said. Lizzie playfully slapped him.

"How did you… survive?" Lizzie asked him.

"I faked the first bullet," Neb said. "Peeta always was a lousy shot. When you guys escaped, I distracted Peeta long enough for you to escape the cave. I found a special pocket that managed to shield me from the wreckage."

A tear streamed Lizzie's cheek. "You impossible boy," she said and hugged him fiercely. After a few moments, she asked, "Are you… staying?"

"No," Neb responded bluntly. "You have appearances to keep, after all. Me coming here… people would question it. Besides, I have a job that's important."

Lizzie nodded, gripping Neb harder. "Visit then," she said. "I… missed you more than you could imagine."

"Not as much as I missed you," Neb said. Lizzie nodded, and, reluctantly, let go of Neb. With one parting nod, Lizzie went about her business, smiling a bit more than usual.

"How'd you really escape?" someone asked him. Neb chuckled as Maddie appeared out of nowhere.

"I was honest when I said I dodged the first bullet," Neb said to her. "But when Peeta shot me the second time, I reverted to author form before I could die. After the explosion, I turned back into Neb and made my way here."

Maddie smiled. "Glad you survived," she said.

"Well duh. I'm the author. I can't be killed that easily," Neb chuckled. They stood in silence for a moment. "Keep an eye on Lizzie for me?"

Maddie grinned. "Anything for my best friend," she said.

(Day 6)

Alistair stared at Kitty's still lifeless body. Up and down. Her chest kept moving, but Alistair stopped noticing. His eyes stared at the bullet scar on her chest. His eyes didn't leave it.

My fault.

"Alistair?"

Alistair didn't look up as Maddie approached him. His eyes continued to stare at Kitty's scar, practically unblinking. "It's funny," Alistair said. "You got out with a bullet in the leg and you were there since the start. Kitty's in a coma… and she wasn't even kidnapped."

Maddie sat next to Alistair, looking at Kitty's unconscious body. Unlike Alistair, she didn't see the nastiness of the scar. She only saw a friend who wasn't awake. "She did it for you," Maddie said.

"What if I didn't want her to?" he said angrily. "I didn't want this! I DIDN'T WANT HER TO DIE FOR ME!" Maddie jumped, startled at Alistair's tone. Alistair sighed, gripping his hair. "I wanted to save everyone… it's unnerving… because Kitty getting shot is my fault…"

Maddie looked at her crush and sighed. She put an arm around his shoulders. "You help her. Every day. She… wanted to return the favor," she said. "I know she loves you Alistair. Don't hate her for loving you."

Alistair stared at Kitty's body. "She's… so innocent, lying there," he said. "She doesn't know the pain I feel for making her like this. She doesn't know anything about what happened after she was shot."

Maddie was silent as she stood up. "She doesn't know about what happened since she was shot," Maddie said. "But she knows she saved her boyfriend. That's all she'd ever want to know." Maddie left, leaving Alistair with his thoughts.

(Day 7)

Kitty smiled and sighed happily as she nuzzled her head against Alistair's chest. This was the life. No worries, no problems, just living with her boyfriend. Nothing could be better than this. "I love you," she said to him.

Alistair smiled down at her. "I love you too," he said to her. "Hey, I have something I need to do. I'll be right back, ok?"

Kitty smiled up at him. "Ok. Hurry back," Kitty said. Alistair nodded and stood from the bench and walked off. Kitty sighed with a smile and leaned back on the bench.

"None of this is real," came a voice. Kitty flinched and looked to see herself walking toward the bench. The difference was she looked decayed, with blood stains all over her clothing. She sat next to Kitty, smiling evilly.

"I know," Kitty said, shocking the other version of herself. "I'm… taking a vacation."

"You can't run away from your problems," the other Kitty sneered.

"Funny. You tried to get me to commit suicide," Kitty said. "I think that would be considered running away."

The other Kitty glared. "You've #$% grown up," she growled. "You're going to be harder to persuade than I thought. But whatever. While you've been in here, Alistair's been beating himself up. I suggest you wait a little longer and he'll probably kill himself in guilt."

Kitty sighed, standing up. "You don't know how love works," Kitty said. "I'm waking up right now. That's why you're here. You're trying to keep me asleep."

"Don't be absurd!" the other Kitty hissed.

"I know it's true," Kitty said. "You're a defense mechanism to keep me away from Alistair. I figured it out earlier, when you came back in the woods. But I overcame you and did the impossible. I didn't know where Alistair was… but the thought of him being in danger and needing me brought me too him. It was impossible… but I did it because I loved him."

"He despises you!" the other Kitty spat.

"Does he?" Kitty asked her. "I'm waking up… because Alistair needs me. I'm subconsciously able to do things now because I almost threw him away. If he needs me, I'll be there. And nothing you say will tear us apart."

The other Kitty looked at Kitty and growled. "Mark my words Kitty Cheshire: I'm not done with you yet. You may have won this battle… but I'm still in your head," the other Kitty warned and vanished. The world around Kitty started to swirl until Kitty was blinded with a flash of light.

Alistair sighed and stood up. She wasn't waking up today either. He walked away from her bed, sending her one last longing glance before he pushed the door open to head to his room.

"Al…is…tair…" Kitty wheezed.

Alistair stopped. "Kitty?"

BN: And the Kidnapping Arc is over! Dang… this is probably my favorite arc as of now. Maybe it's because I got it out so fast, maybe it's because things are heating up. Either way, I love this story! This chapter was to establish Bunny/Harry, Lizzie/Neb (you'll see Neb around in later chapters), and a Maddie/Sven friendship. It was also to show Alistair feeling guilty because he thought Kitty's coma was his fault. Like I said, I pick on Kitty a lot. Alistair needed a turn. I hope you guys loved this arc as much as I have, and I'll be seeing you guys in the next arc, prompt 47: Dance Floor.

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