Escape {COMPLETE}

~Chapter Twenty-four~

Hannah's P.O.V.

The sound of his voice was a mix between a deep growl and someone gurgling. The blood spurting from his neck was the same color as his skin, and it stained the grass below him easily. He cradled the knife as if it were his own flesh and blood. Well, I suppose you could say it was, because it held a fair amount of his flesh and blood on the serrated teeth.

"Now, my dear Blaze, where did that boy go?" He tsked and looked around. He was starting to turn in my direction, so I hid behind a clump of bushes before he caught sight of me. Peering out between a few leaves, I saw the demon looking in the direction I was in--if I didn't know any better, I'd say he was staring right at me. My breath caught in my throat and I froze, those hypnotic black eyes coaxing me to do his bidding. But he looked away quickly and released his grip on me.

That thing had to have been some sort of hallucination....stupid fear. Playing tricks on my mind....at least, I think that's what it was.

The demon had started speaking. I leaned in closer so I could hear.

"...guess we'll just have to go and find him, now, won't we?" He calmly chirped as he walked towards my friends. "I have a feeling you may know where he went....." He looked Anna and Rachel dead in the eye, and even from how far away I was sitting I could see their bodies trembling. I myself got the chills just by looking at that thing.

Then it hit me. He wants Blaze. He's going to kill him. I have to warn him...

Then, while the demon's back was still turned, I raced out of the bush and back towards the river. I ran so fast that I could've guessed it wasn't me running at all. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, trees blurring past as I made my way back to the river.

Nick's P.O.V.

I watched as Erin flirted with Blaze, and vice-versa. It kind of made me feel bad, because it reminded me of my ex-girlfriend, Dakota, but if it made Erin happy, I was all for it. I looked around for something to do, and spotted the scales of fish shining from the bottom of the riverbed. "I'm gonna go fish for our dinner," I announced, and walked farther upstream to give them some privacy.

I sighed and looked for something I could use to fish with; the best I came up with was a really sharp stick. "Oh, I guess this will have to do," I muttered to no one, making my way over to the water's edge. Searching for the shining scales of a fish at sunset is hard to do. Especially when you only have your hands and a stick to fish with. I sighed again and speared one right in the eye.

Huh, maybe this won't be so hard... I grinned.

Erin's P.O.V.

"Blaze, they're still not back yet...I'm so worried...." I looked to the bushes into which they disappeared worriedly. "Do you think they're alright?"

He nodded, looking sullenly into the sunset. I could tell there was something wrong. "Blaze, are you okay?"

He sighed. "This sounds crazy, but I'm gonna miss that old shit bag....." He chuckled. "He wasn't a good father, but he was the only one I'd ever had. Now I'm alone..." His voice trailed off and he looked down at the grass. I gently laid a hand on his shoulder, smiling. "There, there, Blaze," I murmured. "It's all gonna be okay....and believe me, I don't say that often."

He looked at me with cheer in his eyes for the first time since I met him two days ago. He leaned in and kissed me passionately. I'm so glad Nick gave us a little privacy.

Nick's P.O.V.

After I'd caught at least seven small trout, I started heading back to our makeshift campsite. I kept the stick--It might come in handy later.

Suddenly, something erupted from the bushes behind me. I turned around fast, startled and scared, but sighed in relief when I saw it was only Hannah. But that relief didn't last long.

"Hannah what's the matter??" The look of pure horror I'd grown sickly accustomed to lately was written all over her face. She was out of breath--she'd obviously been running. "Coming.....he'avs gonna kill......he's not......dead......" She was having difficulty catching her breath, either from exhaustion or fear, I couldn't tell.

The blood drained from my face and I knew. I bolted for the makeshift campsite and she followed.

"Blaze, Erin, he--"

They were kissing on the ground when I poked my head through the leaves and they leapt apart when I showed up. I almost laughed-almost. "He's.....he's not dead." I shook my head, clearing my mind of the image I'd just seen. Erin was blushing hard.

Then the words sank in and we all sobered up. "What the bloody hell do you mean, 'he's not dead'???" Blaze shouted. "Your father. He isn't dead!" Hannah popped up through the bushes at that moment and nodded, swallowing hard. "We were just at the house and he just stood up. He has the knife! He's gonna kill them!" Tears were falling fast down her face, making small rivulets down her cheeks. She started running back to the house and we eagerly followed, terrified for more than one reason. I dropped the fish by the fire.

Hannah's P.O.V.

I was so urgent I just wanted to punch myself. I wasn't running fast enough. I was so frantic, so scared that my heart was the only sound I could hear over my breathing. I tried to concentrate on the breathing. It sort of calmed me down...sort of. I kept trying to make myself run faster and faster but the faster I went the more the earth slowed down....

We finally arrived in what felt like an agonizing eternity. The demon whirled around to face his new opponents. Everyone was still alive but they were tied up again, this time in visible chains. No magical trickery this time around, he means business.....

"Look who decided to show!" He cried in glee, his eerie voice rising in grotesque pitch. "I bet you thought the show was over, but no..." He winked. "Now it's time for the final act." he squared his shoulders and gripped the knife in his hand tighter. I flinched and he grinned wider.

"Oh, Blaze, I need to clear up your story.....I'm not your father. Some man-whore who slept with your bitch mother while me and her were together is. He's the one she cheated on me with." Blaze stared incredulously at him, overcome with hatred. His face physically morphed into one of pure evil and he fought to hold himself together. Only Erin at his side kept him from exploding. The devil sighed quickly and smiled wide. "Alright, now that that's all said and done, let's get down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, step right up! Buy your tickets for the show! You wouldn't wanna miss it!" He cackled maniacally. I stared in disgust and hatred at his putrid mug.

"Now, any volunteers to go first?" He looked around at everyone's faces. "No?" He looked disappointed. "Hmm. Looks like I'll have to choose for you."