Closing

[Lord_Shadow]

((Kyle Williams continued from Earthen Spirit))

Kyle stormed through the trees, intermittently stopping to stab the ground and curse. Shawn's death was the last straw. Kyle was done trying to stave off his anger. He had watched too many friends die to stand by anymore. Now, he had to kill. The murderers would pay, and their blood would stain his hands. Only when they were all dead would he allow himself to rest and let go his hatred.

He finally stopped after travelling for a bit. "Louisa." He called out. "When you killed, was it really an accident?" He turned and faced her. "Carlyle, Shawn, and I never got to ask you. I think it's time I found out. What exactly went on in your mind when you had to take that life."

He wasn't sure why he had to know. But he felt compelled to ask.

[Laurels]

((Louisa Bloom continued from Earthen Spirit))

Louisa continued to follow Kyle through the woods. She kept her hands clasped in front of her chest as they walked. Kyle was still storming through the forest, taking his anger out on the ground with his pitchfork. Louisa felt her teeth gritting every time he did that. Kyle seemed to getting more and more unstable as they moved through the forest. She began to fear that he was coming down with PTSD, although she wasn't ready to diagnose him just yet. She didn't have the certification to do so, but she didn't want to believe her friend was becoming mentally unstable.

Finally, Kyle stopped walking and refrained from attacking the ground. He turned and asked Louisa the question she hadn't fully gotten to explain to him: just what exactly happened when she killed Brian? How did she manage to kill someone? Louisa bit her lip and eyed the ground, crossing her feet.

Shit...well, I guess I have to be truthful with him. Oh my god...

Louisa quickly cleared her throat.

"What went on in my mind? Way too much."

Louisa bent down and sat on the ground, crossing her legs. She had a lot to say, so she figured she'd better get comfortable.

"Brian killed Maxim, right in front of me. I had finally found my best friend, and then Brian took him from me. I felt so, so mad. I completely forgot about everything I believed in and felt and replaced it all with hatred towards him, hatred I have never felt towards anyone in my life. I had to chase Brian across the valley. When I found him again, Felicia had just killed herself because she was afraid of him. I was a complete mess, and I accidentally fired at him. He charged at me, determined to kill me. I beat him to it."

Louisa noticed that she was beginning to cry. She wiped her eyes and sniffled.

"When I killed Brian, I thought about all the pain he caused me and others here. He and Damien killed Yumi Nunes, then he killed Maxim, and Felicia killed herself because of him. I thought about how cruel he was back home, and I saw him as a threat to everyone's lives. I killed him because I thought it would be the right thing to do."

Louisa covered the right side of her face with her hand. Her voice was beginning to waver.

"It wasn't the right thing to do. Alex died because I left the scene immediately, and because of how I chose to wallow in self pity under a tree for several hours, Shawn and Carlyle were dragged to a spot where Robin could come in and set their deaths in motion. I've run everything that's happened in my mind, and all I can think about is how one single action caused so much chaos."

Louisa ran her hand into her scalp and grabbed a clump of hair. She quickly gulped and gasped as she let out a small cry.

"I'm such an idiot."

[Lord_Shadow]

Kyle sighed, annoyed more than anything. And he hated himself for that. Louisa was spilling her heart to him and all Kyle could focus on was how much he wanted revenge for Shawn. Louisa was crying, releasing her pent up emotions. Kyle waited until she was finished before he replied.

"Louisa, it isn't your fault all that happened. Nor is it mine. I wish I could say it was someone's fault, but I can't. None of us can! All we're responsible for here is our own survival." His blood was starting to boil again. "But survival isn't enough for me anymore. It can't be enough. Not after everyone who died. When I came to in the valley, I thought I wouldn't participate in this. But the rules are clear aren't they? No one comes out without a kill."

He stabbed the ground again, driving the pitchfork deep in the ground. "So I give. I'll play this game. I don't care what comes of it, I'm killing the people that have made this place hell for everyone else. I know you don't approve, and I'm sorry but I don't care. I can't care."

He opened his jacket, and took it off. He felt cold in the valley, the air felt good. "If I die in pursuit of this goal I've decided to pursue, then so be it. But I will die of my own volition. If it comes to it, we'll enact your plan. Until then, I'm hunting the last killers left."

He knelt down on the ground next to her. He leaned forward, and pressed his forehead to hers. "I don't know if I'm crazy, thinking this. But all I can think of is what I want to do to the people who made us go through this. But I can't reach them, all I can do is bring an end to the murders here. So I will."

He looked her dead in the eyes. "I need your help Louisa. I can't do this on my own. I know this isn't what you want, but please help me."

[Laurels]

Louisa was surprised to find that Kyle wasn't going to blame her for what she did. It made sense that he could be okay with it considering he was able to forgive Carlyle for killing Gwen, but she still didn't know how he could take it easily. Yes, survival is what everything has been about in this game, but Louisa wasn't sure if survival could continue to be an excuse. Gwen put a knife to her neck and tried to rob them, so Carlyle had to kill her to protect their group. Brian had killed one and aided in killing another, so Louisa had to shoot him.

If what Shawn said was true, at most there had to be seven students left. The only other people who could be left were Dylan, Audrey, Chris, Becky, and Lenny. Everyone of them except Audrey had killed. Kyle made his stance clear: he would play and kill those who he felt had caused the misery. He was willing to die if it came to completing his goal. Louisa was amazed at his dedication.

What she was more amazed by was his determination to have her help him in this time. He needed her in this journey, even though it meant he was likely to commit murder in the process. Louisa moved back slightly so Kyle wasn't pressing his forehead to hers.

"Kyle, are you absolutely sure this is what you have to do?"

She looked him in the eyes as he did to her.

"How will you judge those who are left? Chris, Becky, and Lenny are single killers like me. Dylan's killed more than once. If Audrey kills one of them, do you now have to kill her even if she killed because one of them attacked her? Wouldn't that just be her trying to survive?"

Just then, a thought came into Louisa's mind. She reached into her cardigan pocket

"You need to be certain on how you're going to do all of this. You need to figure out what your code is. Otherwise..."

She pulled the Beretta out, turning the safety off. She grabbed it by the barrel and held it out to Kyle. Her hand began to shake as she tightened her grip on the barrel.

"...you'll have to make some harsh decisions. Let's start with this question: if you find someone you know has killed, does that mean you have to kill them? If so, then put that Beretta to my forehead and fire, because by your code, I need to be taken out. If not, then think carefully about what you are going to do. What is the line, if it exists?"

[Lord_Shadow]

Kyle was taken aback with how far Louisa was taking this. She had a point, but the action she was taking now was a little much for him. Kyle honestly didn't know what to say.

He eyed the weapon before him. "What are you implying Louisa?" He looked back at her. "Do you think I'm becoming too extreme? That I can no longer differentiate between innocent and guilty?" He reached his hand forward.

"I'm tempted, you know, to just grab this gun and bolt. I can dispense justice a lot quicker with it." He lowered his hand. Kyle then stared straight at her, his eyes not wavering. "I have standards, you know. And there is a line. The line is whether or not you've become evil. I can't say that my system is perfect..." He faintly smiled "But I can say that I won't harm anyone who doesn't deserve it."

"And you don't deserve it." He said, getting up. He dusted himself off, picked up his jacket, and put it on.

"To answer your question bluntly: no. More specifically: having killed yourself is not in and of itself a reason for me to kill you. Or anyone else. Not that I won't take it into consideration."

Kyle then pointed at Louisa. "Now I have a question for you. If for some reason I don't make it, then will you still go through with it? Honestly, I'm not sure if I can without you there. But can you do so without me? Are you really sure that you'll end it?"

[Laurels]

Kyle seemed pretty surprised at Louisa's reaction. However, if anything, it at least made it clear exactly what his terms were: kill anyone who was evil, but at least show some hesitance to anyone they come across. Louisa could agree that it wasn't a perfect code, but considering where they were in the game, it was probably the best they'd be able to go with.

"Yeah, my worry wasn't that you were being extreme," she said as Kyle stood up, "but more that you would become extreme as a result."

Kyle then decided to ask Louisa a serious question of her own: if she'd be able to go through with the plan if Kyle died. She realized that was a very good question. Louisa bit her lip and looked down, trying to think about if she could end her life to deny them a winner. Finally, she spoke.

"I want to believe I can. If the opportunity arises, I want to take it. However, I think there has to be someone with me. Even if they aren't going to do it, I don't want to be alone when it happens."

Louisa rubbed her eyes.

"I'm not afraid of dying anymore. I've seen enough of it here. I just don't want to die with no one there to hold my hand."

Louisa got off the ground and looked at Kyle, brushing her dress as she stood.

"Being alone is just so terrible."

[Lord_Shadow]

"Agreed. I just wish one of had been there for Josie. I can't imagine how she must have felt at the end. To be alone used to be something I preferred. But now I can't imagine having to be alone when I die." He checked his taser.

"The sad thing is that we don't even know if we'll even make it to the end. For all our planning, someone else could end up 'winning'. I can only hope that doesn't turn out to be the case. Lord knows too many have died to see that happen."

Kyle frowned and tugged at the arm of his jacket. He wasn't sure where to go from here. But they had to leave soon. The end was in sight, and all eyes were on them. He prayed that victory would favor himself and Louisa.

"We have a lot left to do, but... I kind of don't know where to start. Any ideas on where to go next? Or should we plan for a fight before we move on?"

[Laurels]

Louisa nodded as Kyle spoke. She had to wonder how many of her classmates had to die alone in this valley. There were quite a few kids who had died in the Danger Zones, and she wondered how they felt. Tori was one of them. Louisa wondered if Tori even knew what she was going through in that place when her collar began to beep.

God, I never found Tori's body. Maybe it's better that way. Seeing Maxim dead was hard enough. Maybe that should be one left to the imagination.

Kyle then asked what they should do now. If the end was drawing close, they'd probably have to get ready for the complete mayhem that came from the final battles. He was right, anyone left could be trying to win, and they could stand in Kyle and Louisa's way of truly screwing with the people behind the game.

"I guess we should form a plan," she said. "If everyone left is likely to play, then we need to be ready for anyone who decides to play. Between us, we've got one gun, a taser, and a pitchfork. I'm pretty good on ammo since I haven't had to use it that much. We might need a second gun though. At this point, probably everyone left is collecting the guns they issued."

That's when a thought occurred to Louisa.

"Hey, did Shawn have a gun with him?"

[Lord_Shadow]

The situation was most definitely against them. Louisa was probably right. The other students would probably be collecting firearms. Those would be the decidng factor in the coming batlles. He was a bit worried about how they would fare against well seasoned with much more firearm experience than Kyle and Louisa had.

"I'm not sure if Shawn had one. Maybe he did, I can't remember." Kyle grimaced. "You're not suggesting what I think you are Louisa, are you? Because I don't know if I can handle going back there right now."

He waved his taser around. "I think I'll be fine with this and the pitchfork, but if you really think we need another gun then I'll support yout decision. But.. well I'd rather not go and see Shawn."

[Laurels]

Louisa was disappointed that Kyle couldn't remember if Shawn had a gun or not. However, she knew she had to put that aside since Kyle was a bit more upset with the idea of going back to Shawn's body. She could understand that feeling. It was probably hard to revisit certain places where their friends died. She knew she didn't want to go back to see where Maxim died any time soon.

Still, Kyle admitted to being fine with the taser and pitchfork. Kyle then told her that she could go back and check, but he wouldn't go. Louisa shook her head.

"No, if you can't remember, I won't waste our time," she told Shawn. "If you think you can last with those items, then I guess you should stick with them."

Louisa then pulled the Beretta out and looked at it. It had been nearly four days since she first pulled this gun out of her issued bag. How terrified she felt to hold such a device, yet so attached she grew to it. It was amazing how much one object could change her. She put the gun back in her cardigan pocket, tired of looking at the handgun.

"I mean, what do we really have to lose at this point?"

[Lord_Shadow]

"You mean aside from our lives?" Kyle sarcastically answered. But Louisa was right, there was nothing really to lose by going on. Nothing to gain either, he thought. Kyle shook his head.

"Now is the time for action. Now comes the end of this nightmare and we'll face it head on. No more running away." He readied himself, carrying his weapons out. Anger still filled him, but it was a purposed anger now. To be directed at those who deserved it.

"Louisa," he smiled at her, "when all this is over do you think maybe we can just take a moment and take in the sights? Maybe head up the slope and enjoy the view?" By the end that would most likely be a dangerzone, but he wanted it to end where all the craziness began for their group.

He hoped she would understand what he was asking. He prayed he would have the strength to do it.

He began his trek out of the trees. Somehow, he knew exactly where he was going.

((Kyle Williams continued in The Hate of Men Will Pass.))

[Laurels]

It looked like they were settled now. Louisa and Kyle would be smart from here on out, only ensuring that people who directly threaten them are the ones they would kill. Louisa wasn't pleased about killing again, but with so few people left, she was sure it would be easy to know who might play and who might not. She didn't have to kill, but she knew she wanted to protect Kyle, and she was going to make sure she did.

"Yeah, I'm fine for taking everything in," Louisa said. "I think the Slope is still a danger zone though, probably will be for the rest of the game. But you know what? I still have two cans of cola Dylan gave me back on the first day. If we really do become the last two, let's crack them open and enjoy some real peace for once in this damn valley."

Louisa readied her bag and followed Kyle out of the woods. She'd spent too much time in the forest, and she needed to see some open spaces.

((Louisa Bloom continued in The Hate of Men Will Pass))