Seeing Maroon alive and well wasn't on Purple's list, but it was enough for him.
Enough crazy things had happened in the past couple of days.
He'd have to thank Sage for teaching him how to hotwire. It was currently saving his life.
Maroon was also, very understandably, confused as hell.
"Okay, how in the name of fucking hell are you still alive?!"
There it went.
"You people really need to understand that just because my legs have been through as much trauma as I went through during childhood, does not mean I can't swim. And you're lucky I can, because that saved my life."
"Oh…you've been alive this whole time?!"
"Yeah. I have. But in the past few days, I've been kidnapped by Moon's drug addict girlfriend, committed murder and arson, and gotten kidnapped AGAIN by the psycho that tried to kill me!"
What a grand way to start the final stretch of summer vacation, right?
"You're wanted for arson and murder?"
"PROBABLY!"
Maroon flinched. Purple stepped on the gas just a tad bit more. "Sorry, it's been a rough few days, I'm stressed, exhausted, and fucking starving."
"Aren't we all. I haven't seen King in…I don't even know how long."
Green answered the question for him. "If I had to guess, dead or in Rocket Corp."
"He IS in Rocket Corp." Purple snapped back. "Got in touch with Hunter, and they're all stuck somewhere in Rocket Corp, I just don't know where."
"They contacted you?"
"Victim has waterproof technology, and it's a damn good thing he does."
Maroon slumped back in the seat. "And what exactly is your plan?"
"I don't know, I'm making it up as I go."
"PURPLE!"
"DO YOU FIVE HAVE ANY BETTER IDEAS?!"
The group fell quiet.
For a grand moment, there was silence before Red spoke up.
"...Are there supposed to be giant snakes in the middle of the road?"
Most of the group(all except for Purple, who was probably the only sane person there by that point) screamed bloody murder as the teenager in question slammed on the brakes mere feet away from it.
"Jesus fucking Christ-"
Green and the others backed further into the back of the truck. "KILL IT PURPLE! KILL IT WITH FIRE!"
"Would love to if you people would shut up and let me think!"
"KILL IT WITH FIRE!"
"FOR THE LOVE OF ALAN, WILL YOU PEOPLE SHUT UP?!"
Maroon flinched, staring at the child in shock. Purple and screaming?
A recipe for straight disaster.
…And certain death if you pissed him off enough.
Purple sucked in a breath, trying to keep himself as calm as he could. "Can everyone please stay calm, I will handle this."
"You will die, and then I will die because King will kill me."
"Have faith, Mar. I know you weren't there when I set one of these bastards on fire, but your here now."
He pulled out a small light, flicking it open.
"How do you get away with that?"
"Don't ask questions you don't want answers to."
In reality, it was a weapon. Like a good majority of his blades, he used them for weapons against the enemy.
He wasn't that depressed.
He had King. King made everything better.
King is fine.
Everyone is going to be fine.
Purple carefully stepped out of the car, lighter in hand, diligently walking towards the Meat Snake. This would either be the best or worst decision of his life.
Make or break this entire mission.
Live long enough to see King get out of this alive.
That's your goal.
Live long enough to see King.
"LOOK OUT!"
Purple flicked the switch, catching the tip of its tail. Almost immediately, the creature burst into flames, hot enough to where Purple felt it more than the sweltering heat of the summer.
Maroon dragged him away, throwing them both back into the car before making a U-turn and speeding off.
"Cornflower can ticket us later, we're getting to Rocket Corp. NOW!"
Green and the others watched behind as the creature bellowed. Purple winced, slamming hands over his ears at the noise.
"Jesus FUCK-!"
"Hang on, kids, we're almost there!"
The kids around him scream before the car lurches to a stop, and everything goes black.