Symbol of Terror

6b. - Ending: Find Mark

A/N: Only choose this part if you decided to find Mark, or you are done reading the part you chose initially.

The two faces blinked at Wade sadly when he left the room.

"Don't worry, I'll be back soon," Wade said, almost sounding disembodied to himself. He walked out of the hallway, feeling good to be out of that room, then composed himself to go to Mark.

He checked in the living room, the kitchen, he looked out the windows. He headed up the stairs, looking in the room where he first woke up, and the upstairs bathroom as well. Entering the other bedroom, he finally found someone standing there, in the midst of white sunlight.

"Mark!" Wade said, and almost continued, but a click resounded in the silent room. Mark was holding the shotgun, and had presumably loaded the last of the ammunition. The gun shook with his hands, and Wade's heart sunk. He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"W-Wade I--" Mark said, voice breaking. He looked into Wade's face, eyes no longer yellow, but normal, though his dark eyes were hollow. Dark streams ran down his face from splotches of the same shade on his temples and forehead.

"Mark we have to--"

"It's far too late," he whimpered, taking a deep, shaky breath.

"No, it's not! Stay with me here, it's the only chance we all have!"

"I-- well-- it's-it's-- Shut up!" Mark yelled, backing up and holding the gun possessively. "Just SHUT UP!"

"Mark, think. Please--" Wade took a step towards him.

"Ehh!" Mark interjected, taking a small step backwards. Wade had to physically intervene. He followed a very defensive Mark around the room, gradually increasing speed, until he was able to grab the gun.

"Mark, please, settle down! I'm taking this!"

"No! Shut up, I'd kill you all if I don't--"

"Mark! Do you remember what you said to m--"

"LET GO OF MY GUN!"

The struggle continued for a few moments longer, and Wade kept rambling to him through his irrational shrieks. Wade was so focused on ripping the gun from his hands, he shut his eyes and pulled with all his strength, but Mark didn't let go, presumably because of Antimonos. When he opened his eyes, the lines of tears on Mark's face shone in the white light, his eyes looking up, filled with grief.

Before Wade could speak, he saw where the barrel of the gun was lodged.

Mark flicked his gaze directly into Wade's eyes with the quietest, yet loudest cry for help and a sense of deep regret.

Wade felt him trembling again and going weak as well. He yanked the weapon out of his hands, Mark staying open-mouthed and breathing heavy. He looked off into the distance and fell to his knees, sobbing. Using the time he had, Wade set the gun down far away from them, then rushed to the kneeling man. He crouched beside him, taking a moment to breathe after witnessing the ordeal.

"You... it's..." Wade could hardly speak to him, and he doubted he could even notice the world around him, face in hands and crying hysterically. For a moment, the two stayed in the same spot. After a while, Wade remembered he still had something to do to finish this. He took the lighter out of his pocket quickly, then looked over at Mark.

He swiftly tackled the man, who shouted in surprise as his eyes glimmered yellow again. Wade clawed his jacket open, spying the odd, almost serpentine tattoo, and flicked the lighter on as quickly as he could. Mark firmly grabbed onto the arm that was holding the lighter, trying to shove it away, but the more human part of him must have weakened Antimonos, as Wade slowly brought the flame to his chest. The tattoo immediately caught on fire as soon as the flame touched his skin. Mark shoved Wade away in an act of defiance before screeching inhumanly. He writhed on the ground as if in great pain, whining. The small fire died down soon enough, leaving a splotchy scar.