MAVERICK: Back in the Game (TBZ)

Chapter Eleven

"What is your next move?" G-Dragon sneers, glancing at Sangyeon, Haknyeon and Eric.

"I vote we kill Hwall and then kill him!" Haknyeon growls, cracking his neck to one side.

"I agree!" Sangyeon snaps. "But we make it slow and painful since they manipulated Q and the others!"

Eric whirls around and lets the arrow in the bow fly at Hwall, sticking him in the ribs. Blood gushes from the wound as the ex-member of the group staggers backward. "Take that, two-timing little brat! Glad we moved on without you!"

"Nice one, Eric!" Sangyeon says and pulls back on the trigger. "This is for making me out to be the bad guy!" He shoots Hwall right in the stomach and then again in the leg. More blood gushes forth.

Shockingly Hwall stays up and fights through the pain, laughing dementedly.

"And this is for killing Sunwoo!!" Haknyeon yowls and rushes at Hwall. Before he can drive his new pencil into him, Hwall staggers back and crashes against the wall. He skids to a halt, watching as Hwall slides down, blood smearing behind him.

Haknyeon's eyes shoot to the arrow sticking out of his side. He steps back with a shrug as something snaps in his head. They didn't even let me have a piece of him! He whips around to Sangyeon and Eric.

G-Dragon steps back out of the room and vanishes from sight, leaving the small box behind in the doorway.

Haknyeon realizes at once what it is.

The key to the doors!

Sangyeon and Eric notice it too and figure out what it is.

Sangyeon points the gun at Eric, who aims the bow and arrow at Haknyeon. Haknyeon points his pencil at Sangyeon.

"So, it's coming down to this, is it?" Sangyeon whispers. "One of us survives."

Haknyeon glares at him. "Yeah. And you two didn't even let me have a piece of Hwall's death. I couldn't avenge Sunwoo!"

"What would that cute pencil have done anyway?" Eric snarls. "Nothing."

"Way to bring a pencil to a gun and bow and arrow fight, Haknyeon," Sangyeon grumbles. "Cute, you thought a little pencil could win the war!"

Haknyeon holds his ground. "I know where your weak spot is, Sangyeon."

"Which one will win in the Russian Roulette," Eric says.

Sangyeon suddenly steps back, shaking his head. His eyes soften and tears collect in the corners. "I can't do this! I can't kill anymore of you in this horrible sadistic game. I just can't. Whoever makes it out, remember your brave leader for the goodness in him and his ability to put others first!"

Sangyeon points the gun to his chin and in one quick move blasts a shot right into himself. He drops to the ground at once.

Haknyeon and Eric move to him, their anger subsiding into shock and horror.

"NO!!! SANGYEON!!!" Eric screams and drops down to Sangyeon. Tears gush from his eyes. "Sangyeon! Don't leave me!" He sheds the bow and all the arrows, lunging to grab onto the leader's hand.

Sangyeon pales over as life leaves him.

Haknyeon sniffles, wiping his eyes. Too much death. Jacob, New, Sunwoo, Younghoon, Hyunjae, Juyeon, Kevin, Q and now Sangyeon. Tears build in his eyes from the loss. He doesn't want to kill anyone. He throws his pencil down to the ground.

Eric looks at him through glassy eyes, tears sparkling in them.

"This isn't fair!" Haknyeon screams. "I won't kill you!"

"I won't kill you!" Eric responds, still holding Sangyeon's hand in his own.

They both glance at the key.

"I'd rather die here with everyone else," Eric mutters. "You take the key and leave."

Haknyeon gasps. "No way! I couldn't!"

Eric lets go of Sangyeon's hand and snatches one of the arrows from the ground. He gets up to his feet. "You can!"

Haknyeon shakes his head.

Eric lunges at him and seizes his hands, shoving the arrow into them.

Haknyeon freezes in place, his blood running ice cold.

Their eyes meet, both bloodshot and glittering with tears.

Haknyeon tries to yank his hands away, but Eric's grip is too strong on him. "Eric...please..."

A tear slides down Eric's cheek as he manages to choke out, "Hak, you're more talented than I am. You'd make a much better soloist in K-Pop. When it comes down to it, you HAVE to be the one who survives."

Haknyeon squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head. "I can't. I can't."

Eric brings his hands forward with the arrow.

"ERIC, PLEASE!!" Haknyeon screams. "I'M NOT KILLING YOU!"

More tears trickle down Eric's face and then, with a surge of energy and power, he pulls Haknyeon's hand forward, driving the arrow right into his chest.

Into his heart.

"I...forgive...you..." Eric chokes out, pain suddenly filling him. His grip loosens and he staggers back, away from Haknyeon.

Haknyeon sobs, watching as Eric crashes to the ground, landing right beside Sangyeon. "ERIC!!"

Haknyeon drops down to him, grabbing the maknae's head in his hands.

"It's...so...cold..." Eric whispers, blood spurting from the corners of his mouth and trickling over onto Haknyeon's legs and hands.

"Shhh, shhh, don't..." Haknyeon mutters, stroking Eric's head. "I'm not going anywhere."

Eric shudders, coughing up a thick clump of blood and then his body goes limp in Haknyeon's hold.

Haknyeon's head hangs down, the tears coming in full force. He hated G-Dragon and Hwall for this.