Scars and Stones: Chapter 1 (Klaine)

Chapter 18

Quinn struggled desperately against her captor, but he had her trapped. No matter how much she squirmed and twisted, he managed to hold onto her.

"Why are you doing this? Why can't you just leave me alone?" She screamed into his back as he lifted her into a fireman's hold. Her fists pounded into his back but he ignored it, as it didn't really bother him. They continued to walk further and further into the forest, as the sun light became hidden by the dense canopy. Quinn looked up at Nathan ,who traipsed behind them. He looked like a soldier, ready for a mission. She felt her heart go cold, realising not for the first time that she was the mission. Just seeing his face reinforced in her that she was going to be executed. It wasn't a game. She knew they would do it.

Suddenly, Dean stopped and dropped her on the ground. She didn't put her hands out to stop the impact shattering throughout her body - inside she was dead already.

Her vision was dulled; Every single detail in the trees, the grass, Dean's face was blurred. Her senses were numbed, she couldn't even feel the bruise on the cheek, or the marks that Dean had left on her. She felt suddenly very light, like there was nothing tying her down. She could feel her heartbeat all over her body; in her head, her legs, her chest. She could even feel the tingle in her extremities. Boom boom boom. It was all she could hear - it drowned out the boy's voices.

"Now, Nathan, this is the next phase. It's slightly different from what we planned originally. I wasn't counting on them being with a girl, or anyone else. Anyhow, we just need to deal with her, then we move back to the plan. Ok?" Nathan nodded slowly. Dean pulled out the gun from his coat pocket, and gently placed it into Nathan's hands.

"Here you go. She's all yours." Nathan turned it over slowly, weighing up the weapon. Quinn, suddenly feeling more alive, began to cry quietly. Right now, she wanted to hold Beth again. She didn't regret the adoption, she knew her daughter was having a better life. But, a small part of her wanted Beth all to herself; she was the person she loved most in the whole world, and she barely knew her. Her daughter would now be motherless; biologically anyway.

She turned directly to face Nathan from her position on the floor. Although she was crying, Nathan could see the strength in her eyes. She was being brave, taking everything that they gave her. He knew she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of screaming. He was glad. He was sick of himself as much as he could be. At least Dean wouldn't be fully satisfied.

Quinn closed her eyes, breathing deeply. She didn't want her last moments to be spent looking at the most despicable people on Earth. She pictured Beth, her Mom, her friends. Glee club, school, home, childhood, tears, laughter, love. Lastly, she thought of Kurt and Blaine, and how sorry she was she couldn't do anything to stop their inevitable demise. Her heart filled her ears, more intense than before. This was it.

BANG.

…

Everything moved so fast. The sound resonated off the trees, and bounced around the area. All Quinn could see was the darkness. But there was no pain. Had they killed her outright? Hadn't she suffered at all? Experimentally, she tried opening her eyes. Light flooded her sight. The scene before her revealed Dean and Nathan in the exact same positions as before, standing above her. Nathan still had the gun in his hand, but it was pointed at one of the trees. She blinked, unsure about what was reality.

"What - what's going on?" She was so confused.

Nathan looked down at her, no expression on his face, whereas Dean was smirking.

"Well Blondie, we don't generally go around killing girls. Especially ones as pretty as you." Quinn blinked in shock, still trying to comprehend that she was still alive. 'I'm still alive.' She realised. She should be jumping in joy. However, the look on Dean's face made her realise that there was more to come. Maybe she would have been better off dead.

"What's going to happen to me? Why use the gun?" Dean thought for a moment, as he began to walk around her, circling like a vulture. Nathan trained the gun on her again, while Dean began talking.

"I'm a fan of what girls call 'mind games.' You know, where you become paranoid and imagine that something is happening when really it isn't. I find it is especially effective when it is my enemies on the receiving end of my games. I tend to get a little creative." Quinn's jaw dropped in shock, taking in all he was saying.

"So - you were going to pretend to kill me to - get off on my fear?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Dean stopped for a moment.

"You, see, although your fear was delicious, it's not enough. I was aiming more for the secondary fear. You got in the way, but you being there just made my game more fun." Secondary fear?

"What do you mean 'secondary fear?'"

Dean began to circle her again, obviously divulging his plans and loving it.

"Watching your enemies crumble is one of the most exhilarating feelings in the world. Their anguish feeds me, and God, does it fill me up!" It took Quinn a moment.

"I still don't understand." Dean stopped walking and knelt on the ground next to her, coming right into her face.

"Let me spell it out for you. That revolver makes a lot of noise, especially with the added echoes. No one ever comes to this wood. With the exception of us and those queers. So, we're the only ones who will hear the gun shot. Imagine Fairy and Anderson's reaction if they see you taken away, and then hear that sound. They'll put two and two together, don't you think?" And so did Quinn. The realisation hit her at full force. She put her hand over her mouth in shock.

"They - they think you killed me?" Everything around her suddenly zoned out. All she could see was Dean's gloating face. She wanted to look away, but he wouldn't let her. He began to clap his hands sarcastically.

"Give the girl a medal, she's finally got it. Oh well, you know what they say about blondes." Quinn ignored the comment, cleverer than to play his game.

"What are you going to do to them?" She asked through gritted teeth. Dean looked a little surprised at her response, but took it in his stride.

"That's for me to know, and you to never find out." He stood up, gesturing for Nathan to give him the gun. Nathan handed it over without protest. Dean held it in his hands, turning it over as he glanced at Quinn.

"What's going to happen to me?" She asked weakly, hating herself for sounding pathetic. Dean looked from her to the gun, to Quinn again. Before she could register what had happened, she felt the gun connect with her head, as everything snapped to blackness.

She fell to the floor in a heap. Nathan looked at Dean in surprise.

"I thought you weren't going to kill her." He said simply. Dean smirked his signature grin.

"Check for yourself." Dean gestured for Nathan to check Quinn. He knelt down, taking her wrist in his hand. Blood began to trickle down her face, but he could feel a weak pulse. She was breathing slowly, but breathing none the less. He stood up, and nodded to confirm Dean was right.

"She's alive."

"And now we leave." Dean moved off, but Nathan stood still. Realising Nathan wasn't with him, Dean stopped.

"Nathan, come." Nathan threw one last glance at Quinn, before following Dean back to the car. He had never been so disgusted with himself.