Heat Haze

Not Surviving The Gene Pool

A/N:

This chapter dragged me down into the basement and put me on a meat hook. I had a serious writer's block on this one, mainly because this wasn't in the planned chapter list. This was originally going to be the next chapter, but I realized that I needed to expand the number. Anyways, I'll try not to leave you guys hanging anymore, all 20 of you that read my trash!

Don expected to feel the softness of his bed instead of the cold, hard concrete. His hair was messy as usual and most of it was on his face. Don wasn't one for appearances, but he sometimes wished he had his counterpart's tame hair.

"Aw, shit," he muttered, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes. At least he wasn't on fire this time. The covers were strewn from his footboard and his blanket was on the floor. He blindly reached for his phone before playing the message.

"Good morning, Don! I have some excellent news! I've invited everyone to the park for swimming. Please come in swim wear, at meet me at Matthew Lake," 

Shit. Duni wanted the group to go swimming? That was strange. Doesn't Duni know that Richard can't swim, and that DDawn can't touch water without proper treatment? And Matthew Lake? That was the deepest lake in the park! Nobody except him and Duni could even reach the bottom of that! But then again, he probably doesn't care. Was he going to drown in this cycle? That seemed the most likely. But, that might be too obvious. No, he couldn't over think this. He just needed to be careful.

If there was one thing that Don needed, it was clothes covering him at all times. He hated going swimming, mainly because that usually required him to go without a shirt. And because Dashlie liked to push his head underneath the water. The rash guard that squeezed against his torso was less than comfortable, but at least it covered him. He could already see Duni's pale figure at the dock leading to the lake. However, he didn't expect to see everyone else there too. Could there be more than one person per cycle? Well, it didn't matter. He just needed to get it over with. 

"Hello!" Duni greeted, awfully too happy. Don approached the group, standing next to Dashlie. The albino was wearing a navy blue one piece. Both DDawn and Richard were still in their normal clothing, and Duni was only wearing a pair of orange trunks. Dashlie breaks character, giving him a small wink before regaining her composure.

"What do you want me here for?" Don asked the red head. 

"Well, I was just hoping we could bond together!" Richard openly groaned.

"Cut your bullshit, Duni. We all know you're doing this so you can get something out of it, it's like that with everything for you," he responds.

"Well, first off, profanity is strictly against the rules, secondly, I don't have an ulterior motive. I just want to spend time with you guys, mainly because we haven't gotten together like this in a while," the Brit states, grinning. Everyone hated that smile.

"Whatever. Just count me out of it." he finishes. 

"I, for one, was not told of this activity and was not able to properly prepare myself either. I will have to sit out on this one. As long as you have my remote, I should be fine, " DDawn spoke up.

"Oh, alright! But you two have to go in with me," Duni commands, pointing towards Don and Dashlie. 

"Fine. I guess I'll do it," Dashlie responds. God, he hated that voice. Don only nodded in agreement.

"Great! I didn't put on sunscreen on yet, and seeing how Don isn't paler yet, I know you haven't. We'll meet you in there, Dashlie!" the albino slides into the lake while Duni pulls Don to the side. He can hear a splash and a yell for Richard. The young man looked behind him to see that Richard was standing on the dock, talking to Dashlie. DDawn was under a nearby tree, watching their every move. It was only then that Don realized how far away he was from them.

"Where are you taking me?" he asked Duni.

"Oh, no where," Duni responded, before sitting down under a tree. He pats the grass next to him. Don sits down while his "friend" pulls out a bottle of sunscreen. The shorter male squeezes some out and rubs his hands together. He rolls up his sleeve and applies it onto his arm.

"So how's it like to die six times?" Don froze. Did he hear Duni correctly? 

"I'm sorry?" he asked him.

"I know you heard me. You've died six times already. You were hit by a truck, poisoned, crushed by falling construction material, burnt alive, and pushed off a building. So I must ask again. How's it like to die so many times?" How did Duni know? There was no way he could, no one else remembered the incidents before.

"I don't know how you know, but it's been just f-"

"I know a lot of things about you, Don. More than you let on. I know that you're afraid of failure, that you cherish your friends more than anything, and that you've become functionally immortal. So friend! Are you aware how important this is?" What was Duni talking about? What does this have to do with his deaths? 

"Duni, it doesn't work like that. I don't know how it works!" he protested. The Brit frowned.

"You don't know? Or are you just trying to protect them? Don, you can't be this stupid. Don't you know? With you, any mistake I make can be reversed. Our plan can finally be completed!" No, Duni couldn't be talking about the Mother Free project? Even though Don didn't know what it was, he knew that if was completed, something horrible would happen.

"I am not helping you! I already suffer enough being forced to work for you while you reap the benefits! I'm not helping you anymore!" Don raised his voice. He had done some terrible things in his life, but he could never help Duni willingly. This stupid fucking contract kept him bound, and that was all! There was a light chuckle, which grew into full on laughter.

"You won't help me? FINE!" Duni pulled out DDawn's remote and sp

"DDawn? Push him in." Push him in...? The realization hits Don. He should've known. Why else would Duni take them to the deepest lake? DDawn was clearly in on it and Dashlie couldn't dive that deep!

"No! What the fuck are you doing, you psycho? You'll kill him!" Don protested, watching as DDawn creeped up on Richard, who was still talking to Dashlie.

"And your point is? I don't loose much if he dies, and I don't loose anything if he doesn't," Duni simply states.

"STOP!" he yells, breaking away from Duni before running towards the dock. The red head stood there and smiled. He knew exactly what was going to happen.

"Hey?! What're you-!" Richard yells before the robot shoves him into the lake. 

"Oh my fucking god!" Dashlie screams, diving underwater. After a second, she bobs back upwards, unable to maneuver herself down to the bottom. DDawn stands there, staring as the girl futilely attempts to rescue her friend. 

Don jumps into the lake, the cold water hitting his skin painfully. There wasn't any time. He sank further down, his vision going blurry. Why didn't he bring goggles?! He  feels his feet touch the bottom of the lake before frantically looking around. Where was he? He swims around for a few seconds until he notices a blurry figure. He can barely make out the pale red shirt in the tinted green water. Grabbing Richard by his waist, Don starts to swim upwards. 

He's halfway there when his breath starts to run out. Not now! His legs grew tired, unable to propel himself forward. Stupid Duni and DDawn! If they hadn't done this, he wouldn't be holding a nearly unconscious Richard in his arms. He was almost there, just a few more kicks! Just a few more! He hears voices above the water. Suddenly, it breaks and Dashlie's face pops through. She reaches her hand out to him. He passes her the body. Without the extra weight, he should make it, right? He was almost there!

Don should've known better. His legs immediately give out as he sinks below.

A/N

LONG CHAPTER HORRAY! Okay but seriously, I can seriously relate to Richard in this, mainly because I actually can't swim. And I'm super proud of the title, cuz' y'know! People who don't swim don't survive the gene pool!

I should be sleeping now, what am I doing.