Safe Haven

The Missing Meals

The sun rises, and the group is rudely awoken by a Wildcat, shouting at them to get up before he's forced to enter the cell with them.

"You, against us four? I'd love to see that," Griffin chuckles.

"You think you're fucking funny?" The Wildcat yells, pressing his face against the cell's gate. "How about we see who's laughing when I cleave your fuckin' head in like you did to your pretty girl, huh?"

Griffin glares at him, but keeps his mouth shut.

"Not so funny now, are you?" The Wildcat throws two M.R.E.s into the cell. "Since your friend wanted to be a fuckin' smart ass, you can share those two meals. I hope you fucking choke on it." The Wildcat walks away, getting back to his business.

"The moment we're let out of this cell, I'm going to find that piece of shit and rip his fucking throat out," Griffin states in a disturbingly calm voice.

"No, Griff, you're not. We're abiding by their rules until we find a way out of here," Nathan says.

"So are we just gonna let Xander live? After all he's done to us? To these people?" Griff throws an M.R.E. at the wall. "Fuck that shit. He said I'll get a chance to fight him, and god dammit, I'm going to fight him, and I'm going to kill him."

"Griff, you know he's not going to give you the chance," Jillian opens and M.R.E. and splits it with Chloe. "He was just being an ass."

"He killed Kate. I'm definitely fighting that motherfucker," Griffin calms down, and let's out a deep sigh. "I'm so sorry, Kate."

Xander walks up to their cell, seemingly out of the blue.

"Talking about last night's thrilling conclusion, are we?" X smiles, and meets Griffin's stare. "That was a very, very heartbreaking fight, Griffin. I've gotta say, I was rooting for the underdog, but the way you executed her? Marvelous! Absolutely brilliant, she didn't even see your betrayal coming! I'd love to pit more lovers against each other..." he shifts his eyes towards Nathan and Jillian. They look at each other nervously. "...but that would just be boring, we can't have the same theme twice in such a short period of time. No worries at all, you adorable couple, you. There's nothing to be afraid of, for today is going to be very exciting. A few of the Wildcats and I decided that it would be very entertaining to pit one man against several Wildcats. Oh what an underdog tale that would be, should they survive! If they don't, then my men get a nice little activity to help alleviate their anger. It's quite the perfect idea, if I do say so myself. You folks enjoy your meal- wait a second, two M.R.E.s? Is that all Vince gave you?"

"The Wildcat that came to wake us up? Yeah, that's all he gave us," Nathan says, holding the last remaining M.R.E.

"Unbelievable, let me fetch Vince, hang tight," X power-walks away from the cell, towards the same direction that Vince went.

Xander returns minutes later with Vince, the same Wildcat they woke up to.

"Vince, it's my understanding that you gave these folks half of the rations that they're entitled to," Xander says, placing his arm around his shoulders.

"Well, yes. They're supposed to have meager meals anyways, and that fuck with the white hair threatened me," Vince points to Griffin.

"Yes, meager meals on days that they won't need the energy. A couple of them are fighting today, and you're not going to allow them the necessary sustenance they require? Additionally, what's this about you feeling threatened? Griffin is sitting in a corner, locked behind this cell, you honestly think he can harm you?"

"Well, I-" Vince is cut short.

"Give them two more M.R.E.s, right now."

Vince reaches into his bag, and reluctantly throws two M.R.E.s into the cell.

"That wasn't so hard, now was it?"

"I'm sorry, boss, it won't happen again," Vince sighs.

"Oh," Xander reaches into his pocket. "I know it won't." He quickly unsheathes a knife and stabs Vince in the throat multiple times. Vince clutches his neck, but cannot successfully stanch the bleeding. He falls to his knees, reaching for Xander's knife. X takes a few steps back, smiling and waving at Vince as he struggles to survive. "What a shame," Xander leans over to strip Vince of his bag. "I always told him that his short fuse would spell his demise, but he never listened to me."

Xander smiles and waves to the group as he walks away.

"What. The. Fuck," Jillian exclaims.