Game On

Chapter Twenty-Four: Escape Route

Tearing his eyes away from Mark's torso, Sean mumbled out. "What will happen to us if we can't get out? What if we get buried alive...?" Mark snorted, straining out as he fussed with the lid. "There are plenty of people looking for us. Good or bad... We'll be found." Dropping his head down onto his arms, Sean groaned and whined out. "Mark, can you stop a minute. I... I can't breathe." Mark's restlessness was making his heart race until his breathing was shallow. Laying over him, Mark carefully wrapped his arms around him and purred into his ear. "Ok. I will snuggle with you." Sean rolled his eyes, mumbling out a bit muffled. "Mark... That's not..." Mark nibbled the point of his ear, making Sean blush. Hugging him tight, Mark exhaled out in a deep relaxing voice. "It's actually kind of cozy. Here we are. Snuggled up. Safe and hidden. No one knowing where we are." Peeking up at Mark, Sean smirked reluctantly as he said. "This is a turn on for you?" Bringing his lips closer to Sean's, Mark whispered to him warmly. "No. I just enjoy having you all to myself."

Pressing his lips to Mark's, Sean let himself get lost in the taste and smell of him. In that moment his racing heart slowed to keep in time with Mark's. Eventually, allowing it to slow back down to normal as Mark hummed softly in his ear. Sean caught himself dosing off with the help of Mark brushing his warm lips over his cheek. As much as he tried to resist it, Mark purred to him. "Go ahead. I'll stay up. I'll get us out. Rest." Sean shook his head, but his eyes were already closed. Sleep was just starting to pull him in, until a woman's muffled voice called out. "Damn it, Murphy! I told you they fucked with it!" Mark stilled and Sean opened his eyes. From a distance, a muffled older man's voice answered. "So, they did. Nothing we can do about that now. Help me get it up." Sean tensed, uttering out in a tiny voice. "Mark...?" Mark rubbed Sean's arm, telling him coolly. "Easy." The coffin jerked and gears squealed as it was pulled up slowly. The moment the coffin stopped moving, the woman's voice spoke casually. "Doesn't look damaged. Just scuffed a bit here and there."

Mark braced himself better as the coffin lid clicked and bounced a little. Outside, the older man's voice asked curiously. "How does the inside look?" The woman's voice was calm when she replied more clearly now. "Don't know. Let me-" The moment she lifted the lid, she gasped and froze in place. Mark's hand had shot out to grab her throat. While he couldn't hurt her, he could keep her from screaming or running away. The older man moved closer, raising a shovel as he stammered out in a panic. "Clare?" She raised a hand to stop him from advancing, before quickly telling them. "We don't have any gold or gear." Pulling her closer to the coffin, Mark told her in a stern tone. "We don't want any of that. Just let us go." The woman raised an eyebrow, mumbling to herself. "Us?" Sean eased up as her eyes met his. Taking in Sean's appearance, she breathed out slowly. "Oh... You're the one they were looking for." Slowly rising on all fours, Sean pleaded to her as he grabbed Mark's arm. "Please? We need help."

From somewhere outside the cemetery, a man called out to someone sternly. "Any sign of them?" Someone answered but it was too muffled to hear clearly. Clare glanced in the direction of the person, before quietly telling them. "Lay back down inside." Sean started to obey, but Mark tightened his grip, asking uneasily. "Why? So, you can lock us in?" Wincing, Clare straightened herself up and retorted bluntly. "You want my help or not?" Mark didn't move until Sean touched his hand, pleading hopefully. "Mark? We don't have a choice. We'll be caught either way." Releasing her, Mark sighed and quickly laid back down over Sean. Clare slammed the lid down and locked it quickly. Which made Mark tense, but Sean hugged his arm for comfort. Listening closely, they heard Clare and the old man talk about loading the coffin onto a cart. Transferring them onto the cart took time, but it was the trip across the graveyard that sucked. The ground was uneven and bumpy, causing them to hit their heads on the lid and sides.

Just when Sean thought he might start losing life over such rough treatment, the cart came to a stop. Outside, another voice piped up. "HEY! What are you doing?!" Clare's voice sharply retorted. "My job!" The other voice drew closer, grumbling sarcastically. "Your job? Bodies in the game vanish. What good is your job?" Clare's voice took on a dark tone as she scolded the person. "Empty or full. We give people peace of mind. A place to mourn loved ones lost to this game." Clare's voice rose in volume as she added heatedly. "And you, Jackass, are wasting my time! Look what has happened to this coffin! All because people like you only care about yourselves! Now I've got to fix this before my client shows up in an hour to bury little more than the memory of her boyfriend!" Sean bit his lip, practically feeling her anger through the coffin. While the other person cautiously stated out. "Open it. I wanna see inside it." Clare's voice broke in frustration as she fumed out. "You wanna...! Did you not just hear what I said, Boy?! It's fucking broken! I don't have time to sit here and explain to every jackass what I'm doing!"