Survival Of The Fittest

(OOC: They're inside the building, in the back Solitar.)

((Edited))

"Did somethin' happen?"

Heath turned his head over to a particularly normal of the female variety.

Damn, the cast keeps on getting larger in this story line, it'll hard to keep it all straight!

He answers the question along with a perplexed look, "I have no frackin' clue." He motioned towards the way that Brad went. "I believe a girl named Serenity got hurt or something. I was going to check up what the hell is going on." He gulped up the phrase a bit near the end, but nonetheless, he ran to finally see what's going on.

Nothing but the floor in front of him. Thats all that filled Steve's vision. A slowly forming pool of blood made its way into the picture, causing to Steve to look up.

He'd really done it. He had pulled the trigger atthe request of a girl he loved. No turning back now. He'd killed someone and everyone would know it within the next few hours. Steve didn't feel guilty so much as frustrated with the situation.

If I only could have found her too. I could have stopped that from happening, god damn it.

His fist clenched as he looked around the room once more. Terrie and Ianto seemed frozen in place, almost in complete disbelief that what happened, had just in fact, really happened.

Steve heard a bunch of footsteps making their way quickly towards the door to the kitchen, and decided it was probably best if he left the scene. No one would actually believe him when he told them he'd shot Serenity at her request. No one would believe that she was truly ready to die, and that he hadn't just outright killed her with no reason. No one except,

Gabe, Evan, Viki...

In light of recent events, Steve had forgotten about all three of them. He had no idea how Viki and Evan were making out, and he knew Gabe was still out there seeking his revenge.

Steve rose up, picked up his bag and rifle, then looked towards Ianto and Terrie.

"I'm sorry."

Steve turned and exited the kitchen, nearly giving the hard shoulder to Brad who looked baffled.

"Move." Steve growled at the girl making her way to the kitchen. Once she was out of the way, Steve continued out the door of the Mess Hall. Once again, he found himself with no idea where to go. Steve reached a trail that led into the jungle. He stopped and turned, taking one last long look at the Mess Hall, before turning back to the trail and moving on.

((Steve continued elsewhere))

Margaret glared at Steve and stood aside as he left. "You're welcome, jackass," she mumbled, then followed rattail boy into the kitchen.

What she saw was one of the most sobering experiences of her life. One of the girls from school was dead, lying on the floor in a pool of blood. Her eyes had clouded over, appearing dull and lifeless to Margaret. And yet for some reason, she didn't appear to have suffered. Her face was not contracted in a rictus of pain and misery like she expected from the dead students, but this girl was smiling. Margaret could only hope that she would go out this way, if she couldn't leave the island instead.

"I'm sorry," she said to those in the room, not taking her eyes off of the corpse.

Before Heath was just a student, exactly like him. And that is what really crawled through his skin. After getting over seeing the other corpse in the marsh, the fact that it comets with every being into his principals.

Heath was empty. His mind, his understanding stood blank before this finality. Even weirder, he felt like all his emotions ceased, like they didn't want a part of it at all.

Maybe as a nervous reaction, Heath started to snap his fingers, over and over again. In his mind, he thought of the sound visually resonating, like waves. It was reoccurring thought, one that he had for the longest time.

This is just so...unfair. Why is it like this? Why? It-it's not right. We are suppose to be going on with our lives. We are suppose to be with the people we care for. Our family, our-our... I don't know. I j-just don't know... Why? )

Despite choking up a bit, let out a whisper of a suggestion, "we need to bury her."

It wasn't anything he'd ever figure himself to witness in his life time.

One minute he had been smiling and greeting Serenity, though she looked worse for wear than he remembered for some reason Ianto had figured that everything would get better. And what a wonderful thing that would have been, though somewhere in the back of his brain that dark little feeling was berating him that his whole ‘make sure to protect everyone' hadn't gone off in the most brilliant of manners and now he was standing here basically watching a friend at the last end of her life. Though he felt little will he had left in him breaking at the sight of the girl begging for someone to end her like that… breathing in a small sound as he allowed himself to slowly glance toward Steve as he entered the kitchen area.

It was hard to hear the girl continue like that… turning toward Terrie to perhaps ask her something, what he wasn't to sure because his thoughts might have just as well been shot as well when that loud crack of a gun going off. Ianto's ears ringing at the silence that followed, but he swore he could hear the last drag of air leave her body, feeling something wet run down his cheek and found that he was unsure if it was the blood from the gash on his forehead or if it was actually because he was crying. Struggling to say something as Steve moved away from the body, muttering words that he almost didn't hear, as he left the kitchen and seemed to say something to someone else. He didn't really listen to the sounds of other people entering; though felt a small well of annoyance at the damn snapping that was suddenly feeling his ears push up.

Rather surprised that he didn't snap at the two, because damn it this wasn't a show where everyone could come and stare at the girl. Managing to get an arm around Terrie, unable to even wonder what might have been going through her mind… hell and poor Steve, but he had marched out of here already leaving him now trying to move Terrie out of the area and back out to where the dining area was. Finding that he was now looking at the two that were blocking the doorway and staring at all that was left of Serenity, tisking somewhat at the suggestion from Heath and moving forward slightly, "Well that's really going to have to wait for the weather to stop pouring down a damn torrent on us. Now get the hell out, this isn't a damn side-show to stare at her." He said, tired and bleeding he really didn't want to deal with this damn annoyance right now.

Margaret would have probably helped them bury Serenity. She couldn't dredge up the usual feelings of resentment towards her, no matter how much she tried. No matter what Serenity had done in the past, it couldn't have merited this.

The announcement further cemented in her feelings of impotent rage. Danya epitomized everything she despised: a wealthy plutocrat playing games with the lives of 'lesser' humans. His anti-American rhetoric was merely an excuse to cause misery and ruin, Margaret told herself. I'll show him. He'll pay for playing God. I swear by all that is good that I will face him at the end of this sick game, and I will finish the job Adam Dodd started. Lord help anyone who gets in my way.

"We've overstayed our welcome," Maragaret said tersely to the others in the room. She felt disgusted by the fact that they wouldn't even be able to bury their dear friend. "That rat-bastard..." She calmly left the mess hall and tried to keep a rein on her emotions. She would need all the determination and rage she could muster for what lied ahead.

((Margaret Tweedy continued elsewhere))

It was like time had stopped completely. For the moment, the only thing Terrie could think about were Serenity's horrible words, her horrible request. At the same time, Terrie almost felt obligated to oblige that request, if only to end her friend's suffering. Thankfully, it wasn't a choice she would be forced to make. Instead, Terrie's line of vision shot toward the door as it quietly opened, revealing Ianto. A relieved sigh escaped her lips at the sight of her friend. Aside from a rather painful looking gash across his forehead, he looked more or less unscathed. In this place, it was the best she might have hoped for.

She could only nod in acknowledgement to Ianto as he entered the room and knelt beside Serenity. Seconds later, the door once again swung open, causing Terrie to do somewhat of a double-take when she immediately realized that it wasn't Brad who had stepped through the doorway, but instead Steve Digaetano. The tears in his eyes were already apparent as he looked upon Serenity's half-lifeless form, and Terrie couldn't help but look away to keep herself from crying as well.

And just as suddenly as that brief flicker of joy and relief had come, it passed.

Serenity began begging for release once again, but this time to Steve. Terrie rose to her feet and backed away from the scene slowly in some vain attempt at giving the two some sort of privacy. The imminence of Serenity's death was beginning to weigh on her shoulders, and despite all her attempts at keeping her emotions in check, Terrie could feel the hot tears beginning to well up in the corner of her eyes for the millionth time. When Steve finally rose from Serenity's side and pointed the rifle at her, Terrie couldn't watch, instead, diverting her eyes to the floor and praying for the moment to be over.

Why? Why are we all fighting... dying... killing? Why does it have to be this way? Nothing... nothing makes sense anymore.

The deafening gunshot caused her to jump involuntarily, and then, it was over. A loud clatter echoed out as Steve's gun fell to his side and the normally intimidating football player fell to his knees in tears. Part of her wanted to comfort him, to offer him some sort of solace from his grief, but she simply couldn't stop crying long enough. Instead, all she could do was run her hand across her face in an attempt to wipe away some of the tears. Serenity, who moments before had been crying, talking, alive... she was now silent, and somehow, Terrie felt some sort of unfillable void welling up in the pit of her stomach.

Serenity Halos, the girl she had travelled with for the past five days -- no, her friend -- Serenity was now dead, and she could never be brought back.

"Steve..." Terrie choked out quietly as the football player rose to his feet and clambered out the door.

The door immediately squealed open once again, revealing a new girl whose name Terrie couldn't quite place. She squeaked out a quiet apology to Terrie and Ianto, but Terrie couldn't find the words to reply, instead finding her gaze tranfixed on Serenity's lifeless body. Immediately behind her came another new boy, who chimed in that Serenity should be buried. While Terrie might have agreed, she couldn't force herself to speak.

Ianto's arm falling over her shoulders and guiding her to the door provided some sort of solace, although it was too little, too late. She didn't say anything as Ianto chastised the two newcomers for coming in to observe Serenity's corpse and demanded they move. Instead, she simply allowed herself to be moved through the kitchen door and out into the mess hall, where it finally registered in her mind that the rain was still pouring down, just as hard as ever. In a way, it was befitting of this day... Serenity's funeral.

The events that had transpired might have felt as though they'd made time stop, but even though Serenity had just died, time kept on rolling, and Terrie was reminded of that fact as the speakers of the island's public access system squawked to life over the rain, bringing an end to the seemingly endless night. Bringing in a new day. She wanted to shudder at the thought of Danya's voice bringing anything good, but the previous day had been so horrible that nothing could've possibly been worse... or so she thought.

He prattled on in his usual manner, and the feelings of nausea started to build in Terrie's stomach as she listened blankly to his announcement. Nineteen had died in the past day. So many bodies. So many friends. She winced visibly as Danya announced Serenity's murder as though it had been nothing. She didn't have time to mourn, though. Immediately after he finished announcing yesterday's deaths, he declared the mess hall a dangerzone, causing Terrie's eyes to widen. Her gaze jolted from Ianto to Brad, and for the first time in what seemed like hours, she managed to squeak out a few quiet words.

"That... bastard."

It wasn't like Terrie to swear, although the situation certainly merited it. It only took a moment to gather up her belongings and once again, she was off into the pouring rain and away from the dangerzone... away from Serenity... away from everything she'd just witnessed. In a way, it was almost a relief, although she felt a tad anguished at the fact that they weren't able to bury their friend. As she ran from the dangerzone, the pouring rain drowned out the sound of Danya's "revenge" against S.A.D.D. If nothing else, Terrie was glad about that.

((Continued elsewhere.))

After a moment longer Ianto just didn't bother anymore and pushed his way past the two, emotions to high-strung and on edge to care about being nice right now. Not after just having to stand there and watch something he had spent a large amount of time on this island with, after all Serenity had been around since day one… expect for that short time they had been separated after what happened at the hospital. But that in itself had been the worst thing that could have happened… he couldn't help but wonder if things might have been better if he hadn't let her run off like she had, or maybe had managed to catch up—maybe he could have prevented what happened from happening and then maybe she'd still be alive. Biting his lip he quickly shook his head because he couldn't think about that right now, breathing out as he glanced back over toward Terrie.

Though once again before he had much of a chance to say anything before he was interrupted again but this time by the familiar sound of the intercom system coming alive still able to hear it over the hard pounding of rain against the mess hall. Though he was just about to put it off, not bother to listen because he figured it would be that mousy sounding guy but instead he was greeted to the voice that they hadn't heard for a few days… freezing up as if the damn guy was in the fucking room with them. Swallowing somewhat as he lifted a hand to press against the bleeding wound on his forehead, already feeling woozy from the blood loss he had already had to suffer through. Closing his eyes and trying to ignore the onset of nausea that was settling in the pit of his stomach from not only the sudden blood lose but still finding himself replaying the images of his friend dying over and over in his head.

Still the names of the dead were a dull roar in his ears, finding himself happy that at least her name hadn't popped up yet… that was good considering though he couldn't help wondering what had happened to the girl in these past six days that they had been stuck on this island. Though he had to admit some shock at the sound of Danya mentioning how someone he hardly expected anything of the sort from to suddenly go and kill six people in the span of a day… it was insane really. There was probably a whole lot of other words to express how he felt but he didn't have all the time in the world anymore to do so—instead though he allowed himself to focus to the best of his abilities as the danger zones began to be mentioned and let out an annoyed breath when the current location they where in was mentioned. Glancing to Terrie as she to briefly come out of her shell-shocked state to mutter those two words…

"Tch, don't think he deserves that nice of a term."

He couldn't say anything more because in those few moments after the girl that had waltzed into the kitchen area was taken off and Terrie was soon to follow, not to sure if her just rushing out was the best but they had no choice right now besides getting out of the danger zone as quickly as they possibly could before their heads were blown off like—

Well like what he was currently listening too.

Having to listen to the sounds of someone dying… no multiple people being killed, and for what? Some broken cameras… Ianto just couldn't wrap his thoughts around why someone could do such a thing. Breathing out somewhat as he glanced to Brad, hopefully praying they wouldn't run into anyone with his rifle currently out of ammo and what was left in his day pack. Though Terrie, someone else in the group had a gun so they should be alright. Most importantly they needed to get out of here before they ended up like the girls in the announcement. Taking another look toward the other boy before dashing out of the mess hall himself and toward where he was sure Terrie had disappeared moments before.

[[ Continued elsewhere… ]]

"Jesus Christ..."

Those were the first words out of Brad Kavanagh's mouth. Two words, and yet they weighed so much. He felt like they were almost impossible to say, even when he had been saying it so many times before. Trying not to look at Serenity like she was in some freak show was the hardest bit of all. Her pretty face, her beautiful face would never smile again, never frown, never anything. She had a smile on her face but it was as empty as her eyes. That was not the Serenity Halos that he knew.

This was Brad's fault, all his fault. He had just let Steve wander into the back, and he knew that it was him who put Serenity out of her misery. Brad could tell that it was a mercy kill but Steve had the coldest look on his face. Brad would love to believe that Steve did this to save Serenity, but he didn't he even cry. He was so cold. He apologized, but it sounded insincere and it made Brad even madder. Of course, he would be furious if he weren't already overburdened with a large feeling of sadness. He was fighting the tears creeping out of his eyes, wiping them away.

"Fuck burying her." he cursed, feeling his legs give way and collapsing onto his knees. "That isn't the Serenity I know. That's just meat. We shouldn't waste our..."

He felt himself tear up. He wasn't even trying anymore.

"God... damn... it... Why is all of this happening?"

The question of the year. Why was all of this, all of this happening? Well... from the looks of it, Serenity was about to find out what everyone else was desperately wanting to know.

No.

He had to stop it.

Brad had to shapen up.

Okay Brad, stop crying. Please, PLEASE stop crying. Go-God damn it Bradley William Kavanagh, stop being such a fucking pussy and man up. All you ever do on this island is follow people and cry. Walking and crying and getting your ass kicked. You stupid pussy, you wanna know why Serenity died? Take a wild guess. It's because you didn't stop Steve. He killed Serenity and just walked out, and you didn't do shit to stop him. She could still be alive. It's all your- Okay, no, now you're crying even harder. Oh shit, I'm sorry Brad. Please, stop crying. It wasn't like it was your fault this happened. It was STEVE. He was the one who killed Serenity, he didn't do it to spite anyone, he just wanted to end her suffering. Now, could you stop? Please? God... is this what your mom and dad would want to see, huh? You crying like a baby? Please.... Fuck, everybody's staring at you. They're probably laughing, pointing. Jesus, you're such an embarrassment Brad. That's it, I'm done. You can go fuck youself, I'm going to bed.

Even Brad's consciousness had given up. The one thing that woke Brad up from his trance was the sight of Terrie walking past him, followed by Ianto. "Wait, guys, it's raining outside! Wh-Where are you going?" He heard the screaming from the speakers, oh lord how he heard it, it pierced his ears like a knife going through his chest. As soon as he was finally calming himself down, he was back to holding back his long line of tears. He picked up his bag and with a sniffle he ran after them, Ianto's gun in tow. "No, wait guys, WAIT! Don't leave me here!"

(Contined elsewhere...)

"Yeah..." that was all that Heath was able to respond with. His mind was still a blank, an empty space. He sighed out for a bit, hoping the world slides by him. It did and all he could hear was a slight murmuring.

Then Heath realized it was the announcements, realizing around the time fellow classmates' were being named off. His imagination, striving to not think of the images but failing to do so, was running rampant with vicious images of the murders mentioned.

Ha, we are killers, us all. Shit... shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. What? Is this for real? God...

Shaking slightly, this became almost spastic as soon as the deadzones were announced. Guess which one was the last one? Heath's psyche was at it's limit by this time. I mean how could Danya top this atrocity.

He did so well within a couple moments. At first, he thought it was all a joke. A prank. This was dismissed the moment Heath realized that well, that's the point. That is the game. It is death, in it's most disturbing manner. Within him, Heath's body was laced with in confusion, as if an impossible task was set before him at sudden. Like finished puzzle ripped in a shredder and then asked to put it together in an hour.

All justifications, all those principals, they didn't matter anymore. Justice, truth, honesty, respect, all distant. Why not just shove that into a box and wrap it all up and toss it off a cliff? It won't serve a single soul, won't save a one, won't redeem either. So why...

Heath crawls pathetically downwards, as the rest of the room leaves with great haste. His hands clasped to his head. It throbbed with unnecessary recession.

So why not kill? Why not take a life? Why not cripple and mangle? Mercy isn't going save a single, much less you. It's-it's easy. Take the rod, and slam into an eye. Slit a throat. Smash in a head. So why hold on to useless principals in a land of no morals, no love? Why hold on?

With this thought, Heath with every measure of strength and hatred within his body, slams his arms onto the floors. Heath could've sworn he broken something. He looks over at the girl he barely knew, Serenity. For a brief moment, he thought about carrying her, he thought of being the one to offer her, a human being , at least something instead of rotting away. But he knew his limitations. He couldn't lug her around, as much as he wanted.

He got up, realizing he was the only one left in this forsaken building. It didn't help his pace, knowing that he'd die if doesn't get out of there. As he nonchalantly pick up his gear and rod, as he reached the door, and exited the soon to be dangerzone, his mind only thought of a single idea.

I will never resort to murdering a fellow student. Never. I won't give that fucking Darwinist prick that satisfaction... but I WILL stop these murdering bastards. I'll fight for justice, I'll fight for hope. I'll...be a hero. A savior. Yeah... that's it. I promise you this, Serenity. I swear that I'll see his comeuppance for you. I swear.

(Heath Trennoby continued elsewhere)