Hatchetfield.

A Lautski Collection

"Welcome to Hatchet Field News by Dan and Donna! Be wary citizens of Hatchet Field, lock your doors, and stay away from the music box. A singing epidemic has spread and it is out to get you."

That was the message Peter heard on the TV this morning while waiting for Ted to drive him to school. His leg bounced on the floor trying to piece together the meaning of the broadcast.

It made no sense! Peter quizzed Ted about it in the car on the way to Beanies so he could get his hot chocolate. Inside the 'TIP FOR A SONG" card had been removed, maybe the new policy wasn't a hit, either way, he grabbed his takeaway cup and got back in the car.

"It's strange though don't you think Ted? A singing epidemic? What does that even mean?"

"I don't know Pete, your so fucking smart you figure it out yourself, I haven't seen shit so who knows, maybe the news has gone crazy." Ted pulled into Hatchet Feild High School. "Out you get. I gotta go."

"You're the one who made us both late asshole." Peter opened the car door stepped outside, grabbed his backpack with his free hand, and slung it over his shoulder. The door shut and Ted was already driving away giving Peter the middle finger. Dickhead. At least his drink tasted good.

- - - - -
The school was tense, all day all anyone talked about was how their parents started singing to them in the morning and how they ran to escape them holding them back from school, even with school being hell, anything was better than the creepiness of this singing epidemic.

No school work gets done, all the teachers are on edge and can't teach anything so students stay in classrooms doing nothing. Peter kept on drinking, the sugar kept him at ease but at the same time, there was a burning in the back of his throat. No bother, nervousness can do that to you.

Still, nothing was getting done at school it's 2 pm now. Peter just wanted to go home. That was until a chorus of students could be heard singing in the hall.

" La dee dah duh! La dee da duh day!"

A teacher scrambles outside and Peter watches in horror as she is taken away by the crowd of students, all of them singing the same lines as each other. It's horrific, the lump in the back of Peter's throat grows, and he books it out of the classroom hoping no one "infected" sees him and chases him too. He isn't a good runner. But he does run to a seemingly empty science classroom.

Expect for Stephanie.

She is sitting in the corner holding a chair up to Peter, she probably would have screamed if she wasn't worried about it alerting those things. Peter holds his hand up and a sign of no harm. Steph lowers the chair and she stands up.

"Close the fucking door Peter. Block it even!" She's desperate and quick to rush over and help Peter close the door, lock it, and barricade it with chairs, once it's all done Steph grabs him into a hug and doesn't let go. "Oh fuck Pete, you're okay! You're okay!" Her voice is still soft but her relief is like rain in a desert.

"Yeah Steph, I'm here. Shh shh. What the fuck is happening.." Peter runs a hand in her hair to calm her down. The lump is still there and it burns. It burns in his throat and it needs to come out. But he says nothing about it.

"I don't know Peter... They've all gone mad, everyone dashed for it, and now this? I tried calling my Dad but he didn't pick up, there's no service, and we can't even reach out for help?! Why is signing dangerous Peter? It shouldn't be fucking possible." Stephanie pulls away and paces the room, it's cold inside and everything looks just a little bit blue.

Peter starts to cough, he covers his mouth and buckles over onto the ground.

- - - - - -
"Pete!? Peter? Are you okay? Peter?" Stephanie is at Peter's side in an instant, she shields him as he coughs, and keeps on coughing. "Peter, do you have your inhaler on you? Do you need it?"

Blue.
- - - - -
Blue something leaves his mouth and splatters on the floor. And it burns, it's on fire it's painful, he keeps coughing and Steph is shaking him to help him throw up whatever is in his stomach. It hurts, it's agonising. It's-
- - - - -

Peter shoots up and knocks Stephanie backward. She stares at his back, he's turned around and panting.

"Peter? Peter, you're scaring me."

She reaches a hand out to him and touches his sweater, he turns around jarringly, taking ahold of her arms, and she shrieks. Out of his mouth is a blue substance. It's pouring out of his mouth and the bright blue colour falls from his eyes. It's not Peter.

"Pete? Please say something! Let go of me!" She thrashes but he has a stronger grip than is expected. She looked at the coffee cup on the floor, out of it spilled the same blue. Holy shit was Peter drinking that shit all day?

And then he smiles and opens his mouth, the notes fall out of his mouth with ease. It's not Peter anymore.

" You could call this luck. That's my perspective! One of us is in love, doesn't take a detective!"

"Fuck Peter, let go of me. I- please!"

" Let me be cool this time! Let me take the bullet! Is it really a crime if you get to-"

Another round of coughing and Peter's eyes snap wide and then return to normal he lets go of Stephanie, her arms are going to bruise. He looked horrified about what just transpired. He takes multiple steps back from Stephanie before she can say anything he's coughing and singing again. Tears are running down her face, ugly tears, she tries to run but with the door barricaded she struggles, Peter grabs her again and spins her around in a waltz.

His words are sung musings of getting Steph to join him, the two of them could be happy together and live in this singing fuck fest. Steph is still crying and screaming, she will be next and she doesn't know what to do, she can't kill Peter, that'd destroy her, but he's gonna destroy her and she doesn't know what else to do.

Submit.

Submit and join the Hive.

Join Peter and they can be happy together.

Peter holds Stephanie's waist and Steph holds her hands up to his face the slime coats her hands instantly.

He presses a kiss to her lips and suddenly she's transported to bliss.