Dangerous Collaboration

Hiding

"What's goin' on, Mat?" Jack asked. "You feeling alright?"

"Don't I look alright?" Mat laughed. His eyes were wide open, moreso than they should have been. "I'm perfect. Just fixing up a few things around here."

"Mat, you just knocked over a full China cabinet," Amy said. "You know you're going to have to pay for that."

"Oh, I'm aware," Mat said. He looked around the group and everyone who would make eye contact immediately knew something was off.

"In fact." he stepped forward, onto the cabinet, then down again towards the group. "There's a few other things I need to fix up."

That's when Jack saw the knife.

"Mat, put it down," he said.

"You guys might want to get out of here," Mark said to the rest of the group.

"What's wrong?" Mat grinned. "Afraid of a little--" he raised the knife-- "death?"

"GO!"

No one knew who was speaking, but they dispersed anyway. Mat chuckled to himself as he watched them run. Clutching the steak knife even tighter, he wiped the grin off of his face and followed.

Mark grabbed Amy by the hand and rushed her upstairs. They ran into the master bedroom they were sharing, since they were technically the ones behind the shooting of the video. Mark locked the door, while Amy struggled to push the dresser over to block it.

"We don't have time!" Mark hissed to her.

So instead, Amy placed a chair under the doorknob, in hopes that that would keep anyone out. They quickly moved to the walk-in closet and shut the door. They were keeping their suitcases in there, so they pushed them in front of that door. And then all they could do was wait, and listen.

Pam, Tyler, and Ethan hurried into the basement, which was almost as big as the main floor. There was a wine cellar down there, amidst all the rooms used for what they could only assume was entertainment services. They all went for the cellar, which had some doors they could close. They shut off the lamp that always seemed to be on and crouched down, hoping they were out of sight.

"What is going on?!" Pam whispered.

There was a pause as they listened. It sounded like Mat had knocked something else over, and it was right above their heads. They were almost too afraid to speak.

"It's like something's possessed him, or something," Tyler muttered.

Ethan let out a shaky groan. "I freakin' hope not."

Back upstairs, Jack, Robin, Dan, and Thomas ducked into Jack and Signe's bedroom. She was hiding with Pentatonix, so it wasn't unfair that they took over. Jack and Thomas pushed the vanity in front of the door, and placed a few chairs in front of it. Then they hurried into the en suite bathroom.

"Isn't this kinda weird?" Robin asked, climbing into the big bathtub. He ducked his head down so that he wouldn't be seen if Mat somehow did get in.

"I don't think that matters at this point," Dan said, stepping into the shower and pulling the curtain closed.

Thomas ducked in the corner in front of the counter. Running out of places to hide, Jack squatted next to the toilet that was on the other side of the room.

"What is wrong with him?" Dan whispered.

"Is he always like this?" Thomas asked.

"Only when he's acting," Jack answered.

"Maybe that's all he's doing," Robin hissed. "Is he supposed to go all psychopath for the video?"

"Honestly, I've forgotten what the video's even about anymore," Dan muttered. "With all the time we've lost, and things that have gone wrong--"

"Plus, that doesn't explain all the property damage he's causing," Jack added. "Other than that Five Nights At Freddy's video, he's usually pretty good at not destroying things."
 
 
Nate dashed into the first room that he found that was safe. Of course, it was the bathroom. He locked the door and looked around wildly for a hiding place. There was a linen closet in there, so he dove in.

He could hear the others running up and down the halls, trying doors that were already locked. A few doors slammed, and then all was quiet.

Barely able to hear over his own breathing, Nate listened carefully for anything else. Within minutes, he heard stomping; it sounded like someone was coming up the stairs.

"What is wrong with him?" Nate asked himself quietly.

The stomping continued and it seemed to get closer. Nate could only assume it was Mat. It sounded like Mat was trying a few doors, then pounding on them with his fist.

"I know you're in there!" Mat called.

He sounded like he was starting to move on. But then the footsteps got closer to Nate. He held his breath and hoped that his heart was only beating so loud in his ears and that no one else could hear it.

Mat tried the doorknob, first twisting it normally, then more aggressively. "I know you're there!"

Nate inches himself to the back of the closet. When the door wouldn't open, Mat began to pound on it, then kick it. Nate's stomach lurched when the door started to pull away from the hinges.

"Here's Matty!" Mat shouted like a psychopath as he broke the door open.

Nate tried to scoot back more, but he hit the wall. It was too late anyway. Mat's green eyes locked with his and, before Nate could try to get away, he grabbed onto him.

Mat raised his knife and prepared to strike. Nate grabbed his arm and tried to push him away. It wasn't going well for either side, though. Nate could feel himself losing grip, but he was still preventing Mat from stabbing him in the face.

A few of the others, having heard the commotion, came running to Nate's rescue. Mark and Ken grabbed Mat by the arms and pulled him back. May didn't go without a fight though. He fought against the two men and gripped the knife even tighter--until all of the sudden, his facial expression completely changed, and he fell back.