Hype Horrors: A Murder Mystery IC

[SenseiofCheese]

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/Superhorror.gif

Ever want to meet your friends from the Hype?

Ever want to brutally kill them?

---

A group of members from the SuperHeroHype RPG forums have decided to do what we're told not to; meet someone from the internet. This close-knit group for role players plan on getting together and spending an entire weekend drinking copious amounts of alcohol and having the time of their lives. And, really, where better to meet up than at the airport?

Bad idea. As they all meet each other for the first time, amidst a sea of people traveling across the country, they all fall into a deep sleep. When they finally awake, they are locked inside the now-empty airport. As if that wasn't bad enough, one member of the group has murderous intentions.

The Hypesters must now band together if they want to survive, but can they really trust each other?

After all, how well do they really know these people?


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Rules & Guidelines

See OOC thread.



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List of Suspects

wiegeabo
the friendly one

Master Bruce
the MOD

Byrd Man
the mean one

Kara Kent
the chick

Syn (Mercenary)
the fighter

Catman_prb
the british one

Matt Murdock
the smartass

Spike_x1
the angry one

Venom160
the stoner

Blacklight
the kid

RGDurant
the mysterious one
--------------------------

TRUST NO ONE

[Catman_prb]

Catman woke up with a jolt, and promptly fell off the trio of seats he had been laying across. He put his hands out to stop himself connecting with the floor, and groaned as he put his hands in what appeared to be congealing coke. He considered wiping them off on his hoodie, then thought better of it and wiped them on one of the chairs. A thought occured to him and he looked around the room that he was in. When he'd walked in there it had been bustling. Now it looked completely deserted.

"Well...****e," he muttered to himself.

"Anyone here?" he shouted to the rest of the world.

[Batman]

"Over here."

By the time Cats sees Master Bruce, he's already crossing out of the airport bathroom, treading with a slow limp in each step. It was a clear result of being uncomfortably cramped inside one of the stalls for a number of hours. He didn't know how he had gotten there or why he was so drowsy, but every temptation to pique his own interest seemed to fly off of him with the continuing discomfort. With a slight groan, MB eased himself onto one of the nearby terminal benches next to Cats, evidently both tired and anxious.

The truth was, he was beginning to regret ever coming here. Something just wasn't right about all of this. He had thought a good weekend away from home would ease him of his weekly stresses and lovelife troubles, but such displeasure seemed to be increasingly welcoming in comparison with everything he had experienced since arriving for his flight. How the hell did he even manage to fall asleep?

"You look like hell. What's your story? You pass out, too?", MB asked, pressing his tired head against the back wall, still in a daze as he rubbed his aching neck. "Feel like I've gone toe-to-toe with Bane, Killer Croc, and a coked up Bill O'Reilly at the same time..."

[Byrd Man]

The truth was, he was beginning to regret ever coming here. The place gave him the serious creeps. He had thought a quick exploration of the mansion's grounds would ease his fears, but they only accelerated with every room he'd manage to uncover.

"Bad dreams, man?", MB asked, limping past him in a slow tread towards his own room's door. "I could understand why."

"I heard that." I say as I pace in the terminal, scribbling illegiblely on my notepad, giving a slight look towards MB and Cats.

"You two seen anyone else around, here? Or is just us three?"

[Catman_prb]

"I heard that." I say as I pace in the terminal, scribbling illegiblely on my notepad, giving a slight look towards MB and Cats.

"You two seen anyone else around, here? Or is just us three?"
Cats raised an eyebrow at the newcomer.

"I've literally just woken up," he said "the only other person I've seen is House here. Would someone mind explaining what exactly is happening?"

[Spike_x1]

"UuuUghhg..."

A strained voice groaned from far down the terminal, out of sight from the other Hypesters. A sudden crash blared out, a sharp sound against the eerie silence of the rest of the airport.

[Venom160]

"UuuUghhg..."

A strained voice groaned from far down the terminal, out of sight from the other Hypesters. A sudden crash blared out, a sharp sound against the eerie silence of the rest of the airport.I slowly walk down the powered down escalator spotting some of the others just as that groan echos across the terminal.

"Whoa glad thats not me...."

Clearing the last step I move over to a nearby column and lean against it.

"So what the **** is going on? I thought an airport never closes?"

[Batman]

"It... it doesn't."

MB looked off, confused and a bit worried to himself, as he placed the group's current situation together in his mind. "Are you sure we're locked in here? Who could've done that? Why didn't security check for us? ...and what the hell was that noise?"

[Byrd Man]

"It... it doesn't."

MB looked off, confused and a bit worried to himself, as he placed the group's current situation together in his mind. "Are you sure we're locked in here? Who could've done that? Why didn't security check for us? ...and what the hell was that noise?"

" I started feeling drowsy after drinking that coffee....goddamn Jittery Joe's. 'Pep and a step' my ass!"

I put my notepad away and pull out my recorder.

"Note to self: slaughter every employee of that coffee shop."

I put my recorder away and turn to my companions.

"As for the noise. I don't know what it is, and I don't wanna find out what it is. **** that ****, I ain't getting mugged."

[Catman_prb]

Cats looked around at the rapidly growing group with something bordering on dismay.

"A thought occurs," he said, picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder "has anyone tried to leave yet?"

[Batman]

" I started feeling drowsy after drinking that coffee....goddamn Jittery Joe's. 'Pep and a step' my ass!"

I put my notepad away and pull out my recorder.

"Note to self: slaughter every employee of that coffee shop."

I put my recorder away and turn to my companions.

"As for the noise. I don't know what it is, and I don't wanna find out what it is. **** that ****, I ain't getting mugged."

"Well, someone has to. Not like there's anyone else around, as far as I can see. Dude could be hurt, down there."

MB pulls himself up, as the others look at eachother, unsure of what to do. He gives them a stern look.

"Oh, come on. This isn't a horror movie."

[Spike_x1]

More crashes echoed throughout the terminal, growing louder and louder... moving from one Starbucks to the next. "Dammit, where's the f**kin' coffee?!"

Suddenly turning a corner and seeing the other members of the group, Scot's anger washes away and is replaced by a joyful grin. "Hey, you guys are finally awake! I just got up a few minutes ago, too, and began my quest for caffeine."

Scratching the back of his head for a moment, Scot resumed; "Say, any of you guys got any change? Maybe I can get a Red Bull from a vending machine or something."

[Venom160]

Cats looked around at the rapidly growing group with something bordering on dismay.

"A thought occurs," he said, picking up his bag and slinging it over his shoulder "has anyone tried to leave yet?"I turn my gaze to Catman and shake my head.

"I think it's safe to say we were all pretty much knocked out. I don't think anyof us had time to fart let alone check the doors."

"Well, someone has to. Not like there's anyone else around, as far as I can see. Dude could be hurt, down there."

MB pulls himself up, as the others look at eachother, unsure of what to do. He gives them a stern look.

"Oh, come on. This isn't a horror movie."I smile slightly.

"Wish it was...."

All the eyes turn on me.

"What? That'd be sweet."

[Byrd Man]

Scratching the back of his head for a moment, Scot resumed; "Say, any of you guys got any change? Maybe I can get a Red Bull from a vending machine or something."

"Sorry, buddy. We're a bit too busy trying to figure what the **** happened. Besides, I thought all you Canadians drunk Maple Syrup for your sugar boost."

[Catman_prb]

"I'm going to check out the noise," Cats said amiably, turning and walking in the direction of the groaning "You're free to come with me of course," he added.

[Spike_x1]

"Sorry, buddy. We're a bit too busy trying to figure what the **** happened. Besides, I thought all you Canadians drunk Maple Syrup for your sugar boost.""The last thing I remember was drinking at the bar with a few of you guys. I guess I passed out after that.""I'm going to check out the noise," Cats said amiably, turning and walking in the direction of the groaning "You're free to come with me of course," he added."You mean the sound of empty coffee pots being thrown against the wall?" asked Scot. "And my groaning frustration over the lack of caffeine after waking up?

"Yeah, that was me."

[Venom160]

"So uh when do the zombies start showing up?"

[Batman]

"Here. If you want a little change, Scot, I've got some left ove-"

MB dug around through his pocket, intently searching for any coins inside. But the more he dug, the wider his eyes, as he scanned each and every corner of the fabric for a trace of money. Pulling his pockets inside out, MB examined them, before looking to the ceiling, his eyes closed with frustration.

"Oh, no. No, you've got to be kidding me... I gave the rest of my money to the cashier! I was only gonna pay for my flight, but I paid the tab for my drinks just before we all passed out! And we didn't even get our flight!"

Annoyed, MB grabs his phone, only to realize there's no service in the area. Shaking it, he began walking around, trying to get the bars to upload and the service to go back online.

"Come on, you overpriced piece of ****, don't crap out on me now..."

[RGDurant]

"Just about fifteen minutes as usual." RG said in a deadpan tone from behind Venom. He popped two Altoids into his mouth and crutched them into mint paste.

[Spike_x1]

Watching Master Bruce fiddle with his phone, Scot reached into his pocket to try to use his own cell phone. "Jeez, I completely forgot about phones."

Looking at the nonexistent bars on his phone's display, Scot perked up as another thought occurred to him. "Cats, you were talking about trying to find a way out? You should know that I checked the doors on this floor, and they're locked. I haven't gotten around to checking the doors on the other floors, or the ones to the parking garage."

[Venom160]

"Just about fifteen minutes as usual." RG said in a deadpan tone from behind Venom. He popped two Altoids into his mouth and crutched them into mint paste."Ahh!"

I turn around and glare at the new guy. One of the few RPers I don't know. I reflexively have my hand in my pocket and on my knife.

"**** man don't sneak up on someone like that! Someone could get ****ed up!"

"Cats, you were talking about trying to find a way out? You should know that I checked the doors on this floor, and they're locked. I haven't gotten around to checking the doors on the other floors, or the ones to the parking garage."I turn back to the group trying to shake off the adrenaline.

"I'm not sure bout the upper level Spike. Looked just as empty as down here."

[Spike_x1]

"Huh," grunted Scot. "That's probably not the best news, is it?"

Looking down again to see that the bars on his phone still hadn't appeared, he closed it shut and placed it back in his pocket.

"Has anyone seen Wieg or the other guys around here?"

[wiegeabo]

The sound of an orchestral crescendo wakes me up with a start. I barely recognize the song as 'Down with the Enterprise' as I pull the headphones from my ears. My head throbs with the effort and I decide to just lay there on the floor for a minute.

Wherever here is.

And this is why I don't drink...I rub my head and sit up. "uhhh...**** me..."

Ok, looks like the airport. I crack my neck, always makes me feel better.


Has anyone seen Wieg or the other guys around here?"


"Over here." I grab one of the seats and pull myself up onto it. "So this is a hangover, huh? I didn't need a vacation this badly."

[Catman_prb]

"Huh," Cats said, pulling his phone out and checking it like the others. No bars of signal. Obviously.

"So, what's the plan?" he asked, sticking a headphone into his left ear and switching his music on.

[Batman]

"Over here." I grab one of the seats and pull myself up onto it. "So this is a hangover, huh? I didn't need a vacation this badly."

"Some 'vacation',"

MB returns from his attempts to gain service from his phone, rather obviously unsuccessful, as he angrily jams the useless device back into his pocket.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Judging by what these guys are saying, there is no plan. We're not only alone in here, but we're locked inside with no way to contact anyone who could let us out until the management comes to reopen the place. And none of us have change, so the payphones aren't an option. Our cellphones are dead. Half of us are still missing..."

Crossing his arms, MB leans against a nearby cashier's stand, noticing someone already cleared it out in search of money or emergency telephones.

"Jesus. How could this get any worse?"

[Venom160]

"Jesus. How could this get any worse?""I forgot my anti-psychotics at home."

[Catman_prb]

"Some 'vacation',"

MB returns from his attempts to gain service from his phone, rather obviously unsuccessful, as he angrily jams the useless device back into his pocket.

"So, what's the plan?"

"Judging by what these guys are saying, there is no plan. We're not only alone in here, but we're locked inside with no way to contact anyone who could let us out until the management comes to reopen the place. And none of us have change, so the payphones aren't an option. Our cellphones are dead. Half of us are still missing..."

Crossing his arms, MB leans against a nearby cashier's stand, noticing someone already cleared it out in search of money or emergency telephones.

"Jesus. How could this get any worse?"
Cats raised an eyebrow and took a step back. Unfortunately for him, Tubular Bells had come onto his iPod at that particular moment.

"Why in ****'s name would you say that?" he asked "Have you never seen a horror movie? Like, ever?"

[Byrd Man]

Crossing his arms, MB leans against a nearby cashier's stand, noticing someone already cleared it out in search of money or emergency telephones.

"Jesus. How could this get any worse?"

"It could be worse.

"How exactly?"

"We could be locked up here with total strangers we don't know or trust, but since we're all good friends on the hype, we know each other almost as well as we know our real friends."

"I forgot my anti-psychotics at home."

"Oh, ****."

"Why in ****'s name would you say that? Have you never seen a horror movie? Like, ever?"

"This isn't a horror movie. We're all fine and dandy here....with people we've never met before." I say as I start to inch slowly away from the group.

[Venom160]

"This isn't a horror movie. We're all fine and dandy here....with people we've never met before." I say as I start to inch slowly away from the group.
"You'd rather go off on your own? Yeah that'd be a smart idea. Look they can't keep a major airport completely sealed up. I say we go find the others than look for a way outta here."

[wiegeabo]

"Hey, don't worry about it. If this were a horror movie, only the promiscuous, alcoholic drug abuses would get killed."

I look around.

"Well, t was nice getting to know you guys."

[Catman_prb]

"Hey, don't worry about it. If this were a horror movie, only the promiscuous, alcoholic drug abuses would get killed."

I look around.

"Well, t was nice getting to know you guys."
Cats coughed and sat down, keeping a suspicious eye on every member of the group.

"What about the ditzy blonde chick?"

[Venom160]

Cats coughed and sat down, keeping a suspicious eye on every member of the group.

"What about the ditzy blonde chick?"

"Don't know dude. Last thing I remember was taking those shots at the bar."

[wiegeabo]

"Don't know dude. Last thing I remember was taking those shots at the bar."

"Yeah. What the hell were those things?"

[Venom160]

"Yeah. What the hell were those things?""I don't know man but they were ****ing awesome. I saw colors and shapes I never knew existed. Also I think I hit on a little old lady."

[wiegeabo]

"I don't know man but they were ****ing awesome. I saw colors and shapes I never knew existed. Also I think I hit on a little old lady."

"I thought that was a dude."

[Venom160]

"I thought that was a dude.""Nope all woman."

[Byrd Man]

"What we had was whiskey with codeine mixed into it." I say as I scribble that down on my pad.

"Codeine is the stuff they put in cough syrup and all other kinds of asprine. It's an opiate and Schedule III or IV drug, depending on if it's in the pill form, or in the liquid form."

Everyone looks at me blankly, I just shrug and keep writing.

"Obviously, you've never recieved a press release from the Elbert County Sheriff's Department."

[Spike_x1]

"If this were a horror movie, I'd be really scared if I were black."

[Venom160]

"What we had was whiskey with codeine mixed into it." I say as I scribble that down on my pad.

"Codeine is the stuff they put in cough syrup and all other kinds of asprine. It's an opiate and Schedule III or IV drug, depending on if it's in the pill form, or in the liquid form."

Everyone looks at me blankly, I just shrug and keep writing.

"Obviously, you've never recieved a press release from the Elbert County Sheriff's Department.""I gotta get me a prescription for that ****."

[wiegeabo]

"Codeine. No wonder I feel like crap. I'm allergic to the stuff."

"If this were a horror movie, I'd be really scared if I were black."

I check my phone hoping for an internet connection and get nothing. "Or a woman...Um, maybe we should find Kara..."

[Venom160]

"Codeine. No wonder I feel like crap. I'm allergic to the stuff."



I check my phone hoping for an internet connection and get nothing. "Or a woman...Um, maybe we should find Kara...""Alright back to the bar!"

[wiegeabo]

"Alright back to the bar!"

"I'm surprised you don't carry a supply with you."

"Seriously though, It's only, what, eight o'clock? What airport is closed at eight?"

[Venom160]

"I'm surprised you don't carry a supply with you.""Stupid airport lost my party bag."

"Seriously though, It's only, what, eight o'clock? What airport is closed at eight?""What airport is closed at all? Thats whats worrying me. An airport is like a hospital theres always people there. Yet...."

I motion toward the completely empty terminal.

[wiegeabo]

"Yeah...that's a little ****ed up. And no internet. No cell service? Where are we, Soviet Russia?"

I point at Byrd. "And no 'In Soviet Russia' jokes."

[Byrd Man]

"Yeah...that's a little ****ed up. And no internet. No cell service? Where are we, Soviet Russia?"

I point at Byrd. "And no 'In Soviet Russia' jokes."

"In Soviet Russia, jokes make you!...sorry, I couldn't resist."

[Venom160]

"Wow......I need a Codeine slammer."

[Batman]

"You need continuous rehab, dude. What we really need is a pick-axe. One way or another, there's a door in this place that's coming down."

Everyone looks at MB.

"What, really? I'm the only one that just thought of that?"

[Spike_x1]

"In Soviet Russia, jokes make you!...sorry, I couldn't resist.""That's going on my facebook quotes list."

[Venom160]

"You need continuous rehab, dude. What we really need is a pick-axe. One way or another, there's a door in this place that's coming down.""Rehab is for quitters. And who needs a pickaxe? Just get me one of those people carriers. I'll get one of these doors open."

[SenseiofCheese]

They share jokes and chuckles, but the group of Hypesters are more frightened than they let on. A hundred questions race through their minds. Where is everyone? Why are they locked inside the terminal? And the one question nobody would dare ask; who locked them inside the terminal?

But that would be crazy, right? After all, like they've said, this isn't a horror movie.

As one of the confused members of the group takes a look around the massive terminal, seemingly going on forever in both directions, he doesn't notice the liquid pooling at his feet.

"I wish at least we had some light. I can barely see you guys." he says, to which the rest agrees.

tap

tap

tap

"Wha...what's that noise?" he mutters, more to himself than the others. He takes a quick look around before realizing it's coming from under him. He looks down on the floor and sees the dark pool growing bigger.

"Uh..guys?" he says tentatively. He takes a step back. "Guys?"

He grabs his cellphone out of his pocket. He kneels and squints, unable to see what's on the floor. He presses a random digit on his phone, and it responds by bursting to life with a bright, white light.

"WHAT THE ****!?" he shouts out loud. In his surprise, the young man stumbles backwards, his phone dropping to the ground. Eluminated by it's light, the pool of deep red blood tremors as a single drop makes contact with it.

None of them dare. They've seen more than one horror movie, they know full well what they'll see if they look up. But they have to.

Some of them scream. Some swear. Some look away and cover their mouths in disbelief while other can't look away.

Suspended high up in the air, limbs outstretched, the body of a man. His face frozen in terror, dead, pleading eyes looking down at the group. Drops of blood fall in quick succession from the massive gash across his stomach. Intestines writhe as they slowly but surely begin to emerge from the wound.

Those that stare up at the bloodied corpse in wide-eyed terror soon realize there is something written across the dead man's chest.

OnE dOwN

"Oh God." one says, a shiver of realization running through his body. "I ...Is...is that Sensei?"

[Byrd Man]

They share jokes and chuckles, but the group of Hypesters are more frightened than they let on. A hundred questions race through their minds. Where is everyone? Why are they locked inside the terminal? And the one question nobody would dare ask; who locked them inside the terminal?

But that would be crazy, right? After all, like they've said, this isn't a horror movie.

As one of the confused members of the group takes a look around the massive terminal, seemingly going on forever in both directions, he doesn't notice the liquid pooling at his feet.

"I wish at least we had some light. I can barely see you guys." he says, to which the rest agrees.

tap

tap

tap

"Wha...what's that noise?" he mutters, more to himself than the others. He takes a quick look around before realizing it's coming from under him. He looks down on the floor and sees the dark pool growing bigger.

"Uh..guys?" he says tentatively. He takes a step back. "Guys?"

He grabs his cellphone out of his pocket. He kneels and squints, unable to see what's on the floor. He presses a random digit on his phone, and it responds by bursting to life with a bright, white light.

"WHAT THE ****!?" he shouts out loud. In his surprise, the young man stumbles backwards, his phone dropping to the ground. Eluminated by it's light, the pool of deep red blood tremors as a single drop makes contact with it.

None of them dare. They've seen more than one horror movie, they know full well what they'll see if they look up. But they have to.

Some of them scream. Some swear. Some look away and cover their mouths in disbelief while other can't look away.

Suspended high up in the air, limbs outstretched, the body of a man. His face frozen in terror, dead, pleading eyes looking down at the group. Drops of blood fall in quick succession from the massive gash across his stomach. Intestines writhe as they slowly but surely begin to emerge from the wound.

Those that stare up at the bloodied corpse in wide-eyed terror soon realize there is something written across the dead man's chest.

OnE dOwN

"Oh God." one says, a shiver of realization running through his body. "I ...Is...is that Sensei?"

"Sweet Jesus and doggy-style loving mary!" I say as I stare down at the dead body.

I pull my pen and pad out and start scribbling again.

Stopping my writing and pushing my glasses up, I pull out my recorder and shove it into MB's face.

"Excuse me, what's your first reaction to seeing this?"

[Batman]

In one instant, the mellow worry in the room is transformed into sheer terror.

Everyone stands in silence for a long instant, eyes widened, unable to see what is ironically infront of their very eyes. For MB, it is no different than to everyone else in the room. He can't believe it. He honestly, truly cannot believe it. For the first time in his life, he sees death directly before him.

He cannot move.

He doesn't breathe.

He only utters the one phrase that he hopes makes any sense of this nightmare that's started.

"O... Oh my god..."


"Excuse me, what's your first reaction to seeing this?"

Even with Byrd's persistent light humor of the situation, MB's eyes do not leave the corpse.

He doesn't answer. He can't.

[wiegeabo]

"HOLY...!!!!" *RALPH*

I lose whatever was in my stomach. The image is still in my head, so I lose it again.

"This is...this is beyond ****ed up!"

For the first time since waking up I'm glad for the dark. I swore I'd never see a dead body, but this...

"Who the hell..." Things start clicking into place. "Oh ****. Oh ****ing ****. This is a ****ing horror movie." Everyone looks at me as the sick joke sinks in. "We're trapped. No memory. Sensei..." I force down a dry heave. "Are we...are we really being hunted?"


"Wait...waitwaitwaitwaitwait..." My eyes go wide. "Where the **** is Kara?!"

[RGDurant]

RG steps away from the hanging corpse, some more of it's intestines fell out and plopped into the blood puddle, splashing his boots.

Feeling sick, RG ran to the nearest garbage can and ralphed into it.

[Byrd Man]

"Who the hell..." Things start clicking into place. "Oh ****. Oh ****ing ****. This is a ****ing horror movie." Everyone looks at me as the sick joke sinks in. "We're trapped. No memory. Sensei..." I force down a dry heave. "Are we...are we really being hunted?"


"Wait...waitwaitwaitwaitwait..." My eyes go wide. "Where the **** is Kara?!"

"She isn't the only one who is missing..." I mumble as I flip through my notes.

"We're missing Murdock and Syn too."

[Spike_x1]

"Jesus Christ!"

Taking a few steps back before backing into one of the Starbucks' countertops, Scot breathes for a moment before starting to search around for a ladder. "Somebody help me get him down from there! He doesn't deserve to be strung up like that!"

[Batman]

Wiegeabo's reaction and accompanied questions don't even register in his mind, as MB slowly climbs to the floor. As people begin to shake off the initial shock of seeing Sensei's mutilated body, he can only grasp his knees in fright. Sensei... a man he knew, a man he knew, was now dead. And someone killed him. Someone in this airport killed him.

They killed him.

The very idea of it didn't even sit with MB, as he sat, catatonic on the floor, his shoes now stained by the puddle of Sensei's blood.

"I... I'm not moving."

Some of them looked at him, as he felt nothing but ice cold chills run down his entire body.

"I'm just not moving. I'm gonna... I'm gonna stay here, until someone comes to help us. I'm gonna stay here, and I'm gonna just... I'm gonna just wait. I'm gonna just..."

"Hey man, just-"

"NO! NO, DON'T ****ING TELL ME ANYTHING! I'M NOT MOVING!", He screams, refusing to even look Byrd in the face. "DO YOU SEE THAT?! DO YOU ****ING SEE THAT?!?! HE'S DEAD! HE'S GONE! SOMEONE GUTTED HIM AND WE'RE ALL NEXT! THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN... nothing we can..."

And finally, he breaks down. Burying his head into his knees, MB lets it all hit him at once... and breaks under the strain.

"We're dead. We're all... we're all dead..."

[Venom160]

"Jesus Christ!"

Taking a few steps back before backing into one of the Starbucks' countertops, Scot breathes for a moment before starting to search around for a ladder. "Somebody help me get him down from there! He doesn't deserve to be strung up like that!"My good humor joking dissolves as I try to hold back the bile that rises in my throat. Truth be told I've seen dead bodies before but not so.....opened up.

"Somebody help me get him down from there! He doesn't deserve to be strung up like that!"

"Yeah....yeah lets get him down...."

[Byrd Man]

Wiegeabo's reaction and accompanied questions don't even register in his mind, as MB slowly climbs to the floor. As people begin to shake off the initial shock of seeing Sensei's mutilated body, he can only grasp his knees in fright. Sensei... a man he knew, a man he knew, was now dead. And someone killed him. Someone in this airport killed him.

They killed him.

The very idea of it didn't even sit with MB, as he sat, catatonic on the floor, his shoes now stained by the puddle of Sensei's blood.

"I... I'm not moving."

Some of them looked at him, as he felt nothing but ice cold chills run down his entire body.

"I'm just not moving. I'm gonna... I'm gonna stay here, until someone comes to help us. I'm gonna stay here, and I'm gonna just... I'm gonna just wait. I'm gonna just..."

"Hey man, just-"

"NO! NO, DON'T ****ING TELL ME ANYTHING! I'M NOT MOVING!", He screams, refusing to even look Byrd in the face. "DO YOU SEE THAT?! DO YOU ****ING SEE THAT?!?! HE'S DEAD! HE'S GONE! SOMEONE GUTTED HIM AND WE'RE ALL NEXT! THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN... nothing we can..."

And finally, he breaks down. Burying his head into his knees, MB lets it all hit him at once... and breaks under the strain.

"We're dead. We're all... we're all dead..."

"Listen, man." I say as I bend down and put my arms on MB's shoulders.

"Everything is going to be okay, all we have to remember to do is stick together, no matter what. We all stay together in this, and we can't be killed by whoever is out there, I mean eventually someone will come for us. Now, come on and try to get up."

[Batman]

"Listen, man." I say as I bend down and put my arms on MB's shoulders.

"Everything is going to be okay, all we have to remember to do is stick together, no matter what. We all stay together in this, and we can't be killed by whoever is out there, I mean eventually someone will come for us. Now, come on and try to get up."

For once on this cruel, unusual night, something actually begins to make a little sense.

MB looks up, his eyes now red and welled with terror, afraid to die at the hands of some maniac possibly roaming the territory even as they speak. But beyond the eyes, he isn't afraid. Byrd's point about them sticking together is the one thing that resonates, for once, and MB's fears are quickly subdued.

"I... I don't... You're right,", He says mostly to himself, but to his friend aswell. "Goddamn it, you're right. I don't know what got into me. I just... I just don't wanna die, I guess. Not like this."

He glances at Sensei's lifeless face. "Not like... him."

The focus of MB's mind shifts from panic and terror to the most obvious question on everyone's minds.

Who killed Sensei?

[Blacklight]

BL's never really experienced something as horrible and psychologically damaging as someone he cared for dying. He's been to two funerals, yes, but he barely knew the ones who were mourned. So what he was about to experience when he was about to see his dear friend dead, brutally murdered no less, BL would never be the same...

He woke up from his deep sleep, looking around to see the airport was emptied, but the sound of yelling and arguing from his fellow Role-Players had caused him to follow the voices that echoed through the empty halls.

What he saw when he finally reached them? One of best friends from the Hype!, SenseiofCheese, covered in blood, a slit in his abdomen the size of the grand canyon, covered in rope marks... BL couldn't help but close his eyes. The first reaction? Denial...

"Very funny, guys... You almost had me. He's okay, right?"

Noone answered. Something that didn't sit well with him. Despite the obvious evidence that Sensei really was dead, BL continued to hope that this was still just a really good prank.

"...Right?"

[Spike_x1]

"Does it look like he's okay, kid?" As Scot lashed out at the younger role player, he bolted into the back room of the Starbucks. "Now someone help me find a damn ladder!"

[Byrd Man]

"Does it look like he's okay, kid?" As Scot lashed out at the younger role player, he bolted into the back room of the Starbucks. "Now someone help me find a damn ladder!"

"I bet there's one in a janitor's closet, somewhere...."

I look around at my "friends" and narrow my eyes.

"I'd go look for it...but who knows what's out there....I would say someone come with me, but I know now that I can't trust any of you."

I look up at Spike and then sensei's dead body. I slump my shoulers as I see my dead friend's body.

"I'll go get, but I swear to god if I do die, I am so haunting all of you."

[Blacklight]

"Does it look like he's okay, kid?" As Scot lashed out at the younger role player, he bolted into the back room of the Starbucks. "Now someone help me find a damn ladder!"

"H-he really is... dead?"

BL gulped, trying to keep his throat from closing as his eyed teared up. Looking for consolation, he turned to the RPer he's looked up to for guidance the most. Master Bruce...

"MB, tell me he's not... Tell me that this is a just a prank! Tell me... something..."

[Venom160]

"Does it look like he's okay, kid?" As Scot lashed out at the younger role player, he bolted into the back room of the Starbucks. "Now someone help me find a damn ladder!"I let the group convince Blacklight that this is all real while I wander down the empty terminal looking for our missing comrades while also looking for a ladder. I admit this is a very stupid move but I'm not really thinking about it.

"This is not good..."

I stop in my tracks when I spot a ladder stashed beneath a row of seats. Seems too convenient.

"Guys! I found a ladder."

I quickly pull the ladder out from under the seats and head back to the group.

[wiegeabo]

"I bet there's one in a janitor's closet, somewhere...."

I look around at my "friends" and narrow my eyes.

"I'd go look for it...but who knows what's out there....I would say someone come with me, but I know now that I can't trust any of you."

I look up at Spike and then sensei's dead body. I slump my shoulers as I see my dead friend's body.

"I'll go get, but I swear to god if I do die, I am so haunting all of you."

"Don't you move!"

I stop Byrd in his tracks. My mind is racing, but there's at least one thing I know. "No one goes anywhere by themselves. We stay in groups. Three or more. Make it hard for the killer to get anyone..."

Something Byrd says hit me.

"Wait a minute. What the hell do you mean you can't trust us? You think one of us did this? Come on, man. We joke about that kind of **** online, but this-" I point, but I can't bear to look at Sensei, "-this isn't funny. Keyser wouldn't even pull this ****."

Oh yeah, great time for a joke you insensitive bastard.

[SenseiofCheese]

It takes those brave enough to climb the ladder over 15 minutes to cut the body of their murdered friend down. Gently lowering Sensei's corpse down the ladder, the smell of blood and insides gets to the strongest of them.

Supporting Sensei's legs, Venom160 cautiously takes the final step down. But the weight of the body becomes too much, as the young man looses his grip and stumbles. His back hits the cold floor of the terminal, followed closely by a dull, sickening thud as the body collides with the tiles. Blood sprays in all directions as the intestines finally wriggle loose, spewing out onto the floor.

"Oh ****." V160 mutters, covering his mouth with his blood stained hand.

clank

From out of the gash in Sensei's stomach, a small plastic baggie slides out onto the floor. It sits in the middle of the pool of blood, inside; a CD.

[Spike_x1]

Slipping in the blood for a moment, Scot covers his hand in his long sleeve to avoid the risk of having to touch the bare organs on the floor, and picks up the CD lying amongst the gore.

"Fan-f**kin-tastic. *Cough* Does anyone have a discman, a stereo, or, hell, even a laptop handy? Anything that plays CDs?" Coughing and gagging a few more times, Scot had to step back from the mess.

[wiegeabo]

Slipping in the blood for a moment, Scot covers his hand in his long sleeve to avoid the risk of having to touch the bare organs on the floor, and picks up the CD lying amongst the gore.

"Fan-f**kin-tastic. *Cough* Does anyone have a discman, a stereo, or, hell, even a laptop handy? Anything that plays CDs?" Coughing and gagging a few more times, Scot had to step back from the mess.

"Yeah, give me a sec." I reach into my bag and pull out my laptop. "Here," I say, hand extended. Scot hands me the disc and I slide it in.

I start up the player, pushing the speaking to the max so everyone can here...

[Venom160]

I get to my feet with a grunt and move over to the others to see whats on the screen.

[Saved]

Slowly, I walk forward down the empty hallway toward the congealed group a head of me. As I move, I feel a warm feeling of a liquid under my nose. I put my finger to my mouth and discover the wet liquid to be blood, a present from my unplanned "nap". I wipe my sleeve over my mouth and wipe away stray strands of blood dripping down my lip. As I approach the group, a smirk comes across my face and I call out to them.

"Good," I say in a relaxed yet annoyed tone. "Glad to see I'm not alone here."

As I come up behind a few of the people in the group I suddenly notice something I hadn't seen before. A pool of blood reflects the bright light from the bulbs over head and the glimmer makes the lifeless body before me almost shine. "Dear Lord..." I say in horror, taken back by the grisly sight before me. "Sensei..."

[SenseiofCheese]

The group gathers around wiegeabo, his laptop held at eye-level. The machine starts to hum as it digests the disc, and before long a media player pops open.

The sound file begins with a voice. A weak, almost inaudible, raspy voice they soon realize is, or was, Sensei's.

I..I don't know why you're..d..please...I..okay okay.... the voice begins before coughing violently. It goes on, forcing itself to be louder, as if reading to a classroom. You...You can't get out. N...no one is coming for you. No one except for m.. the voice cracks, tremors of pain. "..no one except for me. What you've seen is only the beginning. It will get worse. For now...f..for now; 6969362 w..wess...."

The voice goes silent and the group listens as a piece of paper is crumpled. A low shuffling is all they hear for a while, before Sensei's voice comes on again. Trembling, gasping, wheezing, Sensei pleads. "I..I did what you asked...pp..please...gah..please can I go..wh..what..N..No..NO!..NO, DON'T..."

None of the Hypesters say a word as they sit, in the darkness, and listen to their friend being sliced open.

[Mercy]

"Where the heck am I?" I wonder. I clutch onto my bag and look around, it's dark but I manage to say a faint sign flicker in the far. It's a sign reading: GATE ONE. I'm an airport. An abounded airport. Geez, I didn't sign up to this!
"Hello!? Who's ever joke this was I'll get my Attorney on your ass!" I walk around and around, searching for any more people.

Every so often I hear scary noises. After about some time of walking around like a dazed bimbo, I manage to focus and hear the chatter of some men.
"God, I didn't sign up for this" I mutter, whilst hearing some people scream in horror. I rush to wear the noises are coming from. My heels scarping against the floors. My breathing grows rapidly faster and I sweat even more. I'm still clutching onto my bag as I run towards the noise in the dark. I freeze as I see a group of men gathered around a laptop.

"Can someone tell me what the heck's going on?" I say in my faint Northern Irish accent.

[Byrd Man]

The group gathers around wiegeabo, his laptop held at eye-level. The machine starts to hum as it digests the disc, and before long a media player pops open.

The sound file begins with a voice. A weak, almost inaudible, raspy voice they soon realize is, or was, Sensei's.

I..I don't know why you're..d..please...I..okay okay.... the voice begins before coughing violently. It goes on, forcing itself to be louder, as if reading to a classroom. You...You can't get out. N...no one is coming for you. No one except for m.. the voice cracks, tremors of pain. "..no one except for me. What you've seen is only the beginning. It will get worse. For now...f..for now; 6969362 w..wess...."

The voice goes silent and the group listens as a piece of paper is crumpled. A low shuffling is all they hear for a while, before Sensei's voice comes on again. Trembling, gasping, wheezing, Sensei pleads. "I..I did what you asked...pp..please...gah..please can I go..wh..what..N..No..NO!..NO, DON'T..."

None of the Hypesters say a word as they sit, in the darkness, and listen to their friend being sliced open.

It takes everything I have not to vomit. I write down the cryptic words sensei muttered just beforehe was killed.

6969362 wess.

wess what?

I finish jotting down in my notebook as Kara and Syn join the group.

"'What happened?' What happend was, one of our friends just got butchered like a goddamn cow, and whoever did it isn't stoping with him. They're coming after all of us, and you two just conviently show up after Sensei is dead."

[Spike_x1]

As Byrd said exactly what Scot was thinking, the big Canadian went through Sensei's words again. "Maybe Sensei didn't finish what he was saying. Is there a chance that 'wess' was supposed to be 'west'? Maybe the numbers are coordinates, or whatever you call them. Does anyone know anything about that stuff?"

After the words left his mouth, it suddenly occurred to Scot that even if those numbers did indicate a location, it probably wouldn't do them much good considering the locked doors of the airport.

"Or maybe I'm just blowing smoke out my ass," he sighed.

[Catman_prb]

"I thought that co-ordinates had to be out of 360 degrees? Like a circle, or something? So 6969362, or whatever, doesn't sound like co-ordinates. Even if it was, 6969362 west of what?" Cats said, glaring at both Kara and Syn.

He realised that people were looking at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"What? I needed to know it for my GCSE Maths," he said indignantly.

[Spike_x1]

"Hm. Guess you're right."

Looking at Byrd's notepad from another angle, Scot quickly checked to make sure that it wasn't some stupid Riddler-like clue.

"Doesn't spell anything when you turn the numbers upside down, either. ZQEBQBQ?"

[Spike_x1]

Ooc: Edit

[wiegeabo]

6969362

"It could be map coordinates. You know, like degrees, minutes, seconds? So..." I look type out the numbers and look at them. "Hmm. Doesn't really work out quite right. Maybe...69 degrees, 6 minutes north by 93 degrees, 62...no, can't have more than 60 minutes. And it would be way north anyway. Like Arctic Circle north."

I sigh. This is just all too much to handle.

"Ok...Let's go with Scot's letter idea. Um...if it's just substitution...FIFICFB?....Ok...Let's focus on wess instead. What could be wess, or have wess in it?"

[Mercy]

"Oh, guys! This thinking is making my head hurt! Has anyone actually tried to make their way OUT the airport?" Most of the men seemed to smile at Kara's accent. Kara rolled her eyes. She leaned back onto a wall whilst the man worked out the meaning of the code 6969362. Kara had gathered together that someone had just died.
"Please God have mercy on my, I mean our souls!" Kara sighed, shutting her eyes and sliding down to the floor.
"Maybe go to Gate 6 and use 969362 as a six figure grid reference!" What a dumb idea. Kara wasn't thinking properly, she rubbed her head and sighed again.
"Actually, no. Don't do that. Just ignore me" Kara searched in her bag. She suddenly gasped and picked out her iPhone.
"Woo! A fully charged phone! Is there a signal in here?"

[Byrd Man]

She suddenly gasped and picked out her iPhone.
"Woo! A fully charged phone! Is there a signal in here?"


"What if that's it? A cellphone number? No, too few numers for a proper seven digit phone and an area code...what it's a zip code? But, then again, too many numbers for an American zip code...what about around the world, do they use zip codes?"

[Catman_prb]

Cats glared at the woman.

"You're about five minutes too late to input anything helpful," he said coolly "In the mean time, we should probably try and work out why we're here. Someone's gotten rid of all the people from an airport, drugged us and locked us inside and Sensei is dead. All signs point to us being screwed. And we use postcodes in England. They've got letters in them. Any ideas?"

[wiegeabo]

"Oh, guys! This thinking is making my head hurt! Has anyone actually tried to make their way OUT the airport?" Most of the men seemed to smile at Kara's accent. Kara rolled her eyes. She leaned back onto a wall whilst the man worked out the meaning of the code 6969362. Kara had gathered together that someone had just died.
"Please God have mercy on my, I mean our souls!" Kara sighed, shutting her eyes and sliding down to the floor.
"Maybe go to Gate 6 and use 969362 as a six figure grid reference!" What a dumb idea. Kara wasn't thinking properly, she rubbed her head and sighed again.
"Actually, no. Don't do that. Just ignore me" Kara searched in her bag. She suddenly gasped and picked out her iPhone.
"Woo! A fully charged phone! Is there a signal in here?"



"No, there's no...signal..."

I look back at the screen.

"Is this a phone number?"

"What if that's it? A cellphone number? No, too few numers for a proper seven digit phone and an area code...what it's a zip code? But, then again, too many numbers for an American zip code...what about around the world, do they use zip codes?"


I shake my head. "Cats and Kara are right. We gotta get the hell out of here. If we all stick together, no way the killer can get us, right? So we try and bust through every door until we get outside. Let the cops sort it out. Problem solved."

[Byrd Man]

I shake my head. "Cats and Kara are right. We gotta get the hell out of here. If we all stick together, no way the killer can get us, right? So we try and bust through every door until we get outside. Let the cops sort it out. Problem solved."

"What the hell are we waiting for. Let's get the **** outta here. Even if the doors are locked, we can use MB's head as a battering ram, that'll blowing the ****ing hinges off." I say in an attempt to lighten the mood.

[wiegeabo]

"What the hell are we waiting for. Let's get the **** outta here. Even if the doors are locked, we can use MB's head as a battering ram, that'll blowing the ****ing hinges off." I say in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Heh." I chuckle despite myself.

"Yeah. Who can stop the Hype Basement when we start working together."

I think of Sensei and take a deep breath. I pack my laptop away. Probably should save power.

"Someone mention something about getting an ax?"

[Mercy]

"Ax? How would we get a hold of that?" I look around, just checking or any suspicious sights.
"Right. Well on all the scary horror movies if you go in a line the person who gets killed first is the one in the back. So we'll have to go in a horizontal line. Plus, does anyone know who might have a vendetta on the SHH!? Maybe it's the rival forums over at Comingsoon.net?" I laugh, thinking about the situation we're in and how odd it is. OH MY GOD KARA YOU'RE GOING INSANE! NO LAUGHING AT THIS TIME! I keep it calm as I walk over to the men.

[Venom160]

"Ax? How would we get a hold of that?" I look around, just checking or any suspicious sights.
"Right. Well on all the scary horror movies if you go in a line the person who gets killed first is the one in the back. So we'll have to go in a horizontal line. Plus, does anyone know who might have a vendetta on the SHH!? Maybe it's the rival forums over at Comingsoon.net?" I laugh, thinking about the situation we're in and how odd it is. OH MY GOD KARA YOU'RE GOING INSANE! NO LAUGHING AT THIS TIME! I keep it calm as I walk over to the men.
"Couldn't be. We arranged this party through PMs. Theres no why they could know...."

Silence falls on the crowd as the same thoughts goes through our minds.

"The killer is one of us...."

[wiegeabo]

"Couldn't be. We arranged this party through PMs. Theres no why they could know...."

Silence falls on the crowd as the same thoughts goes through our minds.

"The killer is one of us...."

"Oh come on. We're back to that already? Which one of us would do this? If we start doubting each other, we're not gonna get anywhere. Some nutjob could have seen us hanging out at the bar and decided to have some fun."

"So here we are, scared ****less, and trying not go nuts ourselves." I stand up and put my bag around my shoulder. "Now, let's stick together and get the **** out of here."

[Byrd Man]

"Oh come on. We're back to that already? Which one of us would do this? If we start doubting each other, we're not gonna get anywhere. Some nutjob could have seen us hanging out at the bar and decided to have some fun."

"So here we are, scared ****less, and trying not go nuts ourselves." I stand up and put my bag around my shoulder. "Now, let's stick together and get the **** out of here."

"I agree with wieg. Time, tide, and killers wait for no man....or woman. Let's get while the getting is semi-good."

[Catman_prb]

Cats gave a grimace.

"I always said that Wieg was the smartest one. Shall we find an exit?"

[Venom160]

I don't say anything more as people start agreeing with Wieg. Ofcourse we all want to hope that we know eachother well enough to rule out the possibility but the fact is we really don't. Any one of us could be the psycho that kill Sensei.

"Fine lets go find a way out....."

[Matt Murdock]

I make my way towards the other terminal, moving past an entire concourse, following the sound of voices. The tan slacks I'm wearing have a single stain on them, just above the ankle. Probably spilled my drink as I staggered back from the bar. This is what I get for being a Hypester.

I woke up about an hour ago. Alone. Heard voices. Had to come this far just to find them. The exits out of the airport on the other side of the building were locked. Not barred, not covered, just... locked. Not a single car was outside, not a single bus making routes, not a single cop on patrol. The place was deserted.

The place is deserted.

I'm partial to Ted Dekker's works, I know my fair share of Agatha Christie, and I've seen the Sci-Fi Channel special of Stephen King's The Langoliers. And I know that when innocuous things, the things you think you can count on, the things you pay no mind and assume will be there tomorrow, when they start to change, then you can't count on anything.

I pass an open, but empty, specialty bookstore and snatch a copy of one of my favorite Christie stories.

The group is close now, coming this way. They're moving as one. Behind them, I see a body, slumped, in a pool of blood.

Dead.

Sensei.

Of all the posters on the Hype!, one of the most laid back was SenseiofCheese. He had a witty way about him, one that I respected. Shoulda been here when he died. Shoulda stopped it.

"Y'all won't find nothin' back 'ere." I say in a thick, affected Southern drawl.

"Sensei?" I ask, nodding at the dead body huddled on the ground. Wieg nods.

"Damned shame." I spot the writing on his chest and smirk to myself. At this, everyone looks puzzled. "One down? Our killer sure isn't too creative."

"And what the **** would you know about it?" Venom snarls at me.

Having made an abrupt enterance, I toss the book onto the ground in front of everyone so they can see it's cover.

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/8561/andthentherewerenone.jpg

"Ten little Indian boys went out to dine. One choked his little self and then there were nine.
Nine little Indian boys sat up very late. One overslept himself and then there were eight.
Eight little Indian boys traveling in Devon. One said he’d stay there and then there were seven.
Seven little Indian boys chopping up sticks. One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.
Six little Indian boys playing with a hive. A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.
Five little Indian boys going in for law. One got in Chancery and then there were four.
Four little Indian boys going out to sea. A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.
Three little Indian boys walking in the Zoo. A big bear hugged one and then there were two.
Two little Indian boys sitting in the sun. On got frizzled up and then there was one.
One little Indian boy left all alone. He went and hanged himself."

I finish the poem abruptly, glaring at everyone.

"And then there were none." I pause and, after a breath say, "Is this the part where we begin the mandatory and rudamentary Q&A about whether or not I'm the sick son of a ***** who did this?"

[Venom160]

"No I think we're all pretty much freaked out by the poem right now."

[Spike_x1]

"Hooray for random poetry recitals after murders take place!" Scot says, mocking Matt Murdock. "I saw the movie. We're all gonna die, blah, blah, blah."

[wiegeabo]

"And to think I used to like that book."

I set my bag down and cross my arms. "Fine. If we have to play detective, we have to play detective. What does 6969362 wess mean to you Matt?"

[Matt Murdock]

"And to think I used to like that book."

I set my bag down and cross my arms. "Fine. If we have to play detective, we have to play detective. What does 6969362 wess mean to you Matt?"
I shrug.

"The numbers themselves don't mean anything to me, I don't think. Not jogging any memories, at least. They could be the combination to a lock, of some sort. As for wess? Can't say I've got a clue."

[Venom160]

"Could be a cell number? Almost everyone here have cells, maybe Sensei was trying to point out the killer?"

[Matt Murdock]

"Could be a cell number? Almost everyone here have cells, maybe Sensei was trying to point out the killer?"
I nod.

"A good idea, to be sure. But what about 'wess?' The two are clearly connected in some way."

[wiegeabo]

"Well, it's easy enough to check. What's everyone's cell number?"

[Matt Murdock]

"Well, it's easy enough to check. What's everyone's cell number?"
I pull out my iPhone and go to the System Preferences.

The display reads:

My Cell Phone Number:
603-345-5732


"In the words of the philosopher Dylan, 'it ain't me, babe.'"

[Venom160]

I nod.

"A good idea, to be sure. But what about 'wess?' The two are clearly connected in some way."I shrug my shoulders.

"I don't know bout that. Anyone here named Wess? Or know anyone named Wess?"

[Matt Murdock]

I shrug my shoulders.

"I don't know bout that. Anyone here named Wess? Or know anyone named Wess?"
I blink and make known the only Wess I've ever known of.

"The guy on Star Trek: The Next Generation who was a cadet for like 4 years was named Wesley. 'Wess' for short."

[Venom160]

".......oy."

[SenseiofCheese]

They think they'll be safe if they stick together. They believe in strength in number.

Not for long.

They stand in a circle going back and forth over the words the killer had put in Sensei's mouth, including the mysterious numbers no one seemed to understand. With each passing moment the darkness around them seems to crawl just a little bit closer, threatening to eat them alive. In the pitch black, it'd be easy for someone to get lost.

"Uh, guys?" a member of the group speaks up. "Weren't there 10 of us a moment ago?"

Everybody performs a silent head count, and their hearts collectively skip a beat when the realize someone has gone missing.

"Where's Kara?"

-----

Whatever false sense of security the Hypesters possessed was shattered the moment they saw her.

She was sat perfectly still, almost as if she was sleeping, on one chair in a row of a dozen. Multiple trails of blood slithered down her arm, merging into others as it began soaking through her shirt. Her head was tilted slightly downwards, blonde hair in dark red clumps draped down over her face.

"K...Kk..Kara?" one of the Hypesters whispered, not daring to raise his voice. Slowly he edged closer to her, his feet fighting him every step of the way. Reaching out with his hand, he spoke again. "K..Kara?"

When he was close enough, he gently put his hand down on her shoulder.

SCLHOP

The Hypesters screamed out and stumbled back in shock as Kara Kent's head disconnected from the neck. It slammed down on the ground and rolled under her chair, her eyes wide open and frozen in fright.

On the chair next to her lifeless body, a message written in blood.

3rd

"Is..is that another clue?" one of the Hypesters asked, trying his hardest not to vomit.

"Look, on the chair behind her." another one motioned to the chair directly behind the one Kara had been propped up in.

A red, silk cloth was laid neatly over it. 6 objects had been placed on the cloth.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/sw_0420copyjpg0823402c-2a76-442c-8f.jpg

Glued to the chair's back was a note.

Who do you trust?

[Venom160]

I quickly turn away trying to stare and anything except the grisly sight before us. All the while my brain screams with questions.

"How the **** could this happen? Kara was right here with us!"

Hesitantly I turn back and look to the chair beside her body.

"And what the **** is with this? 3rd? So theres another body we haven't found yet?!"

My eye wander to under the seat where the head landed, her eyes staring vacntly up at me. I quickly turn back trying to keep from throwing up.

[wiegeabo]

"No one touch the gun!"

Everyone pauses for a second. I slowly reach for it, and notice everyone shifting. "I'm just going to check it. And if the killer left their prints on here, the cops can use it when we get out."

Even though I'm starting to believe we may not. My heart's racing, but I force myself to focus on the gun and not...Kara...

I carefully push the bullets onto the chair, then pick the gun up using the cloth. I pop the cylinder open. "One shell inside. That's six bullets...I guess for nine of us?" I tilt the gun up, letting the last bullet fall beside the others before snapping the cylinder back into place.

"So...So what do we do now?

[Spike_x1]

"The gun didn't take her head off," says Scot, turning away and trying his best not gag anymore. "Whatever the murder weapon was, it's probably the same blade that was used to kill Sensei. But what the hell could do that without making enough noise to get our attention? A machete?"

[Saved]

"Maybe the gun isn't for him," I mutter, stepping into the confusion. "Maybe it's for us. The killer showing his...merciful side, his sick twisted sense of humor. Offering us one last chance to go out as painlessly as possible."

[Matt Murdock]

I step forward, doing my best impression of Sawyer from Lost.

"Well ain't that just dandy of 'im, freckles?" I snarl, and return to my regular voice. "I don't know about anyone else, but the smartest thing to do as far as I'm concerned would be to stay put. Think about it. I doubt it's a coincidence that as soon as everyone starts moving around, the killer strikes. Sit in the terminal, or in a restaurant, and wait. Someone needs to go to the bathroom? We all go with them. We'll have to wait this thing out. Together. Even if it means keeping company with this bastard."

I point to a TV mounted on the wall, turned off.

"Surely this place has cable."

[Saved]

I step forward, doing my best impression of Sawyer from Lost.

"Well ain't that just dandy of 'im, freckles?" I snarl, and return to my regular voice. "I don't know about anyone else, but the smartest thing to do as far as I'm concerned would be to stay put. Think about it. I doubt it's a coincidence that as soon as everyone starts moving around, the killer strikes. Sit in the terminal, or in a restaurant, and wait. Someone needs to go to the bathroom? We all go with them. We'll have to wait this thing out. Together. Even if it means keeping company with this bastard."

I point to a TV mounted on the wall, turned off.

"Surely this place has cable."

"Hahaha." I chuckle in an arogant tone. "Stay put? Right. Like he can't figure out a way to distract us long enough to pick another one of us off." I step back a few feet and hold out my arms, keeping them extended from my body. "You may think staying here in this godforsaken place is a good idea, but I don't. I think we'd stand a better chance partnering up and moving forward to get out of here. If someone's partner dies? Well...we'll know just who did it, won't we?" I grin.

[wiegeabo]

I rub my eyes and try not to think of the things we've seen. I force my brain to slow down. "And then there's the gun. I know I can trust myself with it, but that's obviously not gonna fly. We could split the gun and bullets up, but that just makes those holding them targets, and that much harder to defend ourselves. But we can't get rid of them either."

[Saved]

I rub my eyes and try not to think of the things we've seen. I force my brain to slow down. "And then there's the gun. I know I can trust myself with it, but that's obviously not gonna fly. We could split the gun and bullets up, but that just makes those holding them targets, and that much harder to defend ourselves. But we can't get rid of them either."
"Give me the gun," I say, holding out my open hand. "If someone dies, I'll take responsibility for it." My grin fades and my expression soon changes to a more serious and stern one. "Quite frankly, I don't trust any of you. Whatever we decide to do, I say we do it fast. It took less than five minutes for two people to die. How long will it take until the next one?"

[Blacklight]

He never really talked to Kara, but seeing her there, headless, made things worse for BL. He already couldn't handle realizing that Sensei's death wasn't the prank he hoped it to be, so to see before him yet another one of there own... Dead. It... it didn't sit well to say the least. So he did the only thing he knows how to do best...

Swear. Like a sailor.

"Jesus f***, Bruce!! We're all f***ed! Up the A**!! Teabag-f***in' b****screwed!! We're gonna get our a**es f***in' cut up like Fillet-O-F***in'-B****-D***-Fishes!!"

"BL, calm down! You're gonna be fine."

"Why, Bruce!? Why, out of everyone in the entire f***tard-planet, did we get chosen to be sacrificial mother-f***in' retardin' lambs to some crazed, bloodthirsty f***in' pervert-b******-c***!!!!"

"Jesus CHRIST, BL!! SHUT UP AND CALM THE F*** DOWN!!" The moderator of the Hype Games screamed at the young role-player that continued to fret.

"I'm sorry, Bruce... But Sensei! Kara! Maybe us next! I haven't even graduated yet! Had my first drink! Smoked weed! Gone to prom! Or even lost my... *cough* virginity *cough* yet! I haven't gotten to experience any of that, and now my intestines maybe wrapped wround my neck before I get the chance!"

"Just chill out, BL. We'll get out of here... In the meantime, we need to stick close to the others. Figure out those numbers."

"You're right, MB... Let's... go..." he hesitantly responded.

BL and MB then made their walk over to the group to discuss the plan of action.

"Psst... Where'd you learn to swear like that?" MB asked after covering his mouth with his hand to kept it unseen.

"I work at Burger King, remember?" BL joked, putting the hand he too used to block his mouth from sight.

"Wait... Wasn't one of the clues 'wess'?" the boy inquired the group.

[wiegeabo]

We look at Syn in disbelief and confusion when he asks for the gun. It sits on the chair where I left it with the six bullets, and we're too conflicted to move.

And then BL falls apart. He yells, screams, swears. I can't even look because I expect him to start crying. And it's only making all the fear I didn't know I had put aside come back. My stomach starts to twist and I suddenly feel like breaking down myself.

"Wait... Wasn't one of the clues 'wess'?"

I look up at the kid. "So?"

[Blacklight]

We look at Syn in disbelief and confusion when he asks for the gun. It sits on the chair where I left it with the six bullets, and we're too conflicted to move.

And then BL falls apart. He yells, screams, swears. I can't even look because I expect him to start crying. And it's only making all the fear I didn't know I had put aside come back. My stomach starts to twist and I suddenly feel like breaking down myself.

"Wait... Wasn't one of the clues 'wess'?"

I look up at the kid. "So?"

"So... What if that's the beginning of their home state? West Virginia? Wess-consin?"

BL didn't recall anyone coming from West Virginia in the locked airport, but one of his fellow Hypers was from Wisconsin...

[Venom160]

"So... What if that's the beginning of their home state? West Virginia? Wess-consin?"

BL didn't recall anyone coming from West Virginia in the locked airport, but one of his fellow Hypers was from Wisconsin...I feel all eyes move onto me.

"Your serious...."

No one says anything continue to stare me down.

"You honestly think I did this!?"

[Spike_x1]

"I don't buy it."

A couple of the other guys look to Scot.

"'Wisconsin' -- 'wess'? It just feels like a bit too much of a stretch." Shaking his head, he looked at the gun by Wieg. "As for this piece of crap..."

Everyone seemed to be struck by fear as Scot approached the gun, and probably would have jumped him if he hadn't have grabbed up all of the bullets instead, leaving the gun on the seat.

"...I say that we flush all these down the s**tter. No one will hurt anyone with the gun."

[Matt Murdock]

"I don't buy it."

A couple of the other guys look to Scot.

"'Wisconsin' -- 'wess'? It just feels like a bit too much of a stretch." Shaking his head, he looked at the gun by Wieg. "As for this piece of crap..."

Everyone seemed to be struck by fear as Scot approached the gun, and probably would have jumped him if he hadn't have grabbed up all of the bullets instead, leaving the gun on the seat.

"...I say that we flush all these down the s**tter. No one will hurt anyone with the gun."
"Sounds like a plan to me." I say, slumping into a seat.

[Catman_prb]

"Do what you like," Cats said, looking at everyone "But I want to find a door to escape from. Anyone coming with me?"

[Byrd Man]

"Wait, wait, wait. What the **** happened to us getting the hell out of here? We stay here we are dead, all of us are dead. Sitting ****ing ducks, nobody is coming to get us, except the killer. I don't want to play goddamn detective, I want to get the hell out of here as soon as ****ing possible."

"But I want to find a door to escape from. Anyone coming with me?"

"Let's get the hell out of here."

[Matt Murdock]

I look at Cats and Byrd Man. Their plan of action, namely getting the **** outta Dodge, makes logical sense. It's smartest to get out of the company of the killer instead of trying to figure out which one of us is it.

"I'd love to say that we're gonna get out, that we'll find a way, but think about it. Whoever got us in here had a plan to do so. They've got resources, clearly. I doubt that they'd be so careless as to leave a door unlocked or window ajar. After 9/11, airports practically became fortresses. I'm betting that every door and window is reinforced, bulletproof plexiglass." I shrug my shoulders at both of them. "Plus, I don't want to risk walking with the killer."

[Byrd Man]

"I'd love to say that we're gonna get out, that we'll find a way, but think about it. Whoever got us in here had a plan to do so. They've got resources, clearly. I doubt that they'd be so careless as to leave a door unlocked or window ajar. After 9/11, airports practically became fortresses. I'm betting that every door and window is reinforced, bulletproof plexiglass." I shrug my shoulders at both of them. "Plus, I don't want to risk walking with the killer."

"I just like how you came outta ****ing nowhere and start with this "advice". Look, you *******s can do what you want to, apparently strength in numbers doesn't mean **** because Kara got her head chopped off. So, you can follow fearless leader here all the way to the grave, but I'm pretty sure these windows in the airport will break when I run a ****ing baggage cart into them."

[Matt Murdock]

"I just like how you came outta ****ing nowhere and start with this "advice". Look, you *******s can do what you want to, apparently strength in numbers doesn't mean **** because Kara got her head chopped off. So, you can follow fearless leader here all the way to the grave, but I'm pretty sure these windows in the airport will break when I run a ****ing baggage cart into them."
I blink.

"Baggage carts are all outside, used for taking bags from the terminals, conveyor belts, and check-in counters to the planes. The best you're gonna get in here is a people-mover, which is basically a glorified sit-on lawn mower."

[Byrd Man]

I blink.

"Baggage carts are all outside, used for taking bags from the terminals, conveyor belts, and check-in counters to the planes. The best you're gonna get in here is a people-mover, which is basically a glorified sit-on lawn mower."

"Whatever. I soon take my chances by myself than with you, at least I know I can trust myself. So, **** you and the horse you rode in on." I say as I leave the group and walk into the dark.

[Matt Murdock]

"Whatever. I soon take my chances by myself than with you, at least I know I can trust myself. So, **** you and the horse you rode in on." I say as I leave the group and walk into the dark.

"You'll come find us if you find a way out, right?" I holler, confident in the assumption that he won't.

[Catman_prb]

Cats looked between the group and the rapidly vanishing figure of Byrd, and then back again.

"That actually sounds like an idea," he muttered "worst comes to worst, I'll barricade myself inside a supply cupboard and wait it out until the police get here,"

He started walking off into the dark, using the lantern on his phone as a torch to guide himself.

[Batman]

Still reeling from Sensei, and now, Kara's death, MB focuses his efforts on a plan. Obviously, there was tension among the group already. With Matt Murdock's logic going against Byrd's impulsive strategy, it was hard to choose a side. And the moment Byrd and Cats walked away, it seemed as if everything was falling apart rather quickly.

Then, he realized something.

"Wait a minute. Hold the phone,", He interjects, his eyes widening with realization. "I get that we're all looking to escape before another one of us is next, but have we forgotten something here? This psycho has killed two of our friends. Two innocent people, for godsakes. And for what, just to **** with us? This is exactly what we shouldn't be doing."

Everyone looks at him like he's crazy, but MB doesn't let up on his point.

"I know we usually save this heroic crap for the RPG's, but I'm seriously not going to let myself just stand by while this ****er gets off light for what he's done. We were the targets, here, and that really hits home. If we're gonna let this guy kill us off, we're just letting him play us even further."

His fists clench together.

"Screw an escape. We can't die if there's no one to kill us. I say, we hunt this guy down, make him let us out of here, and toss his ass over to the cops."

[Spike_x1]

Still holding onto the bullets, Scot watches Byrd Man walk away. "Can't really blame the guy for taking his chances by himself."

Looking back to the rest of the group, Scot's eyebrows rose inquisitively. "Don't suppose anyone wants to come with me to flush these puppies?" He held up the bullets and started walking down towards the washroom located far into the blackness of the terminal.

[Matt Murdock]

Still reeling from Sensei, and now, Kara's death, MB focuses his efforts on a plan. Obviously, there was tension among the group already. With Matt Murdock's logic going against Byrd's impulsive strategy, it was hard to choose a side. And the moment Byrd and Cats walked away, it seemed as if everything was falling apart rather quickly.

Then, he realized something.

"Wait a minute. Hold the phone,", He interjects, his eyes widening with realization. "I get that we're all looking to escape before another one of us is next, but have we forgotten something here? This psycho has killed two of our friends. Two innocent people, for godsakes. And for what, just to **** with us? This is exactly what we shouldn't be doing."

Everyone looks at him like he's crazy, but MB doesn't let up on his point.

"I know we usually save this heroic crap for the RPG's, but I'm seriously not going to let myself just stand by while this ****er gets off light for what he's done. We were the targets, here, and that really hits home. If we're gonna let this guy kill us off, we're just letting him play us even further."

His fists clench together.

"Screw an escape. We can't die if there's no one to kill us. I say, we hunt this guy down, make him let us out of here, and toss his ass over to the cops."

"Doesn't your plan assume that the killer isn't one of us?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose. "After all, if we decide to go killer-hunting, what's to stop the killer from sitting quietly in our group while we look for him?"

[Batman]

"Doesn't your plan assume that the killer isn't one of us?" I ask, pinching the bridge of my nose. "After all, if we decide to go killer-hunting, what's to stop the killer from sitting quietly in our group while we look for him?"

"It'll stop him from killing, for one. It's not like he can pull a murder if we're staying together at once. If he does, he risks outing himself and he knows he's screwed. Strength in numbers tends to tell him that,", He begins. "And to be honest, what if it isn't one of us? We don't know who the hell it is for sure, or what his motive is. Before the bodies started piling up, we were all speculating he was just a random guy from the bar last night. What happened to that?"

MB looks off, contemplating the situation at hand. "Look, if we stick together, no one dies. And if this guy is one of us, we'll know for sure by the fact that he hasn't made a move. If he's not one of us, then we go hunting for his ass. As a group. He wouldn't stand a chance if we're all-"

Then suddenly, he stopped.

"...Oh... damn. Cats and Byrd. They just made themselves easy targets! We need to find them and bring them back!"

[Matt Murdock]

"It'll stop him from killing, for one. It's not like he can pull a murder if we're staying together at once. If he does, he risks outing himself and he knows he's screwed. Strength in numbers tends to tell him that,", He begins. "And to be honest, what if it isn't one of us? We don't know who the hell it is for sure, or what his motive is. Before the bodies started piling up, we were all speculating he was just a random guy from the bar last night. What happened to that?"

MB looks off, contemplating the situation at hand. "Look, if we stick together, no one dies. And if this guy is one of us, we'll know for sure by the fact that he hasn't made a move. If he's not one of us, then we go hunting for his ass. As a group. He wouldn't stand a chance if we're all-"

Then suddenly, he stopped.

"...Oh... damn. Cats and Byrd. They just made themselves easy targets! We need to find them and bring them back!"

"I'm not going after them." I say simply.

Everyone stops and stares at me for a second.

"Every second this 'could be one of us' killer spends hunting them is another I stay alive. They made their beds. Now let them rest in them."

[Batman]

"I'm not going after them." I say simply.

Everyone stops and stares at me for a second.

"Every second this 'could be one of us' killer spends hunting them is another I stay alive. They made their beds. Now let them rest in them."


"Of all the selfish things I've ever..."

MB throws his hands up, in anger. "You know what? Fine. Condemn them both. No scrape off of your conscience, I'm sure. But I'm not letting someone else die if I can help it, even if it means I'm next. I'm going with Scot to flush the evidence, then we're going to get them and bring them back. You in, Scot?"

[Matt Murdock]

"Of all the selfish things I've ever..."

MB throws his hands up, in anger. "You know what? Fine. Condemn them both. No scrape off of your conscience, I'm sure. But I'm not letting someone else die if I can help it, even if it means I'm next. I'm going with Scot to flush the evidence, then we're going to get them and bring them back. You in, Scot?"

I stare at MB.

"What sort of idiotic quest are you getting yourself into, anyway?" I snap. "Would you people think for one God-damned second? This killer eviscerated Sensei and decapitated Kara. Right under our noses. And you think you're gonna go get him with, what? Good intentions? A big moral compass? He ripped the guts out of Sensei. You think I want more people to die? I don't. I just don't want to make the killings any easier than they should be. Byrd Man and Cats left on their own. Nobody forced them."

[Spike_x1]

Scot is barely visible to the rest of the group as he's retreating into the darkness, heading to the nearest washroom, when MB starts coming to him.

"I think I'm with MB on this. As soon as these bullets are down the crapper and the gun is effectively useless, I'm going to search for Byrd."

[Batman]

I stare at MB.

"What sort of idiotic quest are you getting yourself into, anyway?" I snap. "Would you people think for one God-damned second? This killer eviscerated Sensei and decapitated Kara. Right under our noses. And you think you're gonna go get him with, what? Good intentions? A big moral compass? He ripped the guts out of Sensei. You think I want more people to die? I don't. I just don't want to make the killings any easier than they should be. Byrd Man and Cats left on their own. Nobody forced them."

MB shakes his head. "He killed them when we weren't even sure what the hell was going on. I mean, really, was the first thought that came to any of our minds when we woke up, 'Hey, there must be a killer out there!'. Hell no. But now, this guy's made it pretty clear to us what his intentions are. We know someone's out to kill us, so we're prepared enough to keep ahead of ourselves. And with a little luck, maybe the killer, too."

He looks directly at Murdock, after looking at the group, realizing he's still not going to buy into the idea.

"Look, I hate to admit it, but there's no guarantee that we're gonna make it out of here in any direction we go. We wait for the police? He could pick us off like we were nothing. We break out of here? He could find us. Kill us in our sleep. We find him? I'll admit it, he could kill us then, too... but our chances are sure as hell greater."

[Byrd Man]

"****!" I blurt out as I stump my toe on a chair. I've been on my own for three minutes now, but I have no idea where I am or how far I am away from the group.

Feeling against the wall in the dark, my hands feel a door and nob, it's locked.

Squinting my eyes, I see a red sign on it.

RESTRICTED! AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

I start the put my shoulder into the door, leaning against it as hard as I can. Slowly, I start to hit it harder and harder, the bangs of the door echoing throught the empty terminal.

KRAK!

The door's hinges give and I stumble head first into the room.

[wiegeabo]

"Everyone just shut the hell up and stop moving for one ****ing second!"

And at the sound of my outburst, they do just that.

I rub my head like I'm trying to get extra blood flowing to my brain. "Just...just think about this for a minute. You see what Byrd and Cats just did. They just made themselves prime targets and prime suspects."

"This is exactly why we have to stick together. It's too easy for us to get picked off one at a time, and too easy for the killer to go off by himself and get ready for us."

"Scot's got the right idea. The gun's too dangerous to keep around. And as Matt pointed out, it'd probably be useless in opening locks with the security upgrades airports have now. But, if we're gonna flush the bullets," I pick up the gun, pop open the cylinder, and remove it, "we might as well make sure the killer can't give us more to use."

"Now, are we sticking together?" And we do. Long enough to go to the restroom and flush the bullets and cylinders away. We walk back out together and-


"****!"
Bang
Bang
KRAK!

"That was Byrd!"

[Venom160]

"Ah ****. Come on!"

Some of us tear off after the sound leaving the others behind. Personally I'd go anywhere to get away from the grisly scene.

"Look..."

I jerk my head toward the busted in door. Without thinking I pull out my knife as I advance.

"Byrd! That you dude?"

[Byrd Man]

"Ohhh...." A moan escapes from the room, the few hypsters look around worried.

"Ohhh...." I pop my head out of the door way and look at them, chocolate all over my face.

"I found the room where they keep the candy bars before they stock them in the machines, I shouldn't have eaten them so fast..."

[Spike_x1]

"Any Red Bull in there?"

[wiegeabo]

"You jerk," I say to Byrd for scaring the hell out of us. "And how do you know the killer didn't tamper with the food?" I think he turns a little more green at the thought.

"Still, we have no idea how long we'll be here. If Byrd doesn't die soon, I guess it's ok to eat." I start packing some of my favorites into my bag.

"Serious question though...what do we do about Cats? If he's the killer, we can't let him run around, can we? And if he's not...he's pretty much a dead man."

[Venom160]

"You jerk," I say to Byrd for scaring the hell out of us. "And how do you know the killer didn't tamper with the food?" I think he turns a little more green at the thought.

"Still, we have no idea how long we'll be here. If Byrd doesn't die soon, I guess it's ok to eat." I start packing some of my favorites into my bag.

"Serious question though...what do we do about Cats? If he's the killer, we can't let him run around, can we? And if he's not...he's pretty much a dead man."I follow Wieg's move and stuff some of the junk food in my pockets.

"No we don't abandon anyone. We'll take Byrd back to the others and try an get acouple volunteers to help find Cats. If we stay in a group of three or something we stand of good chance of staying safe."

[Matt Murdock]

I stand up and look at the group, half-grinning, half-frowning. My natural defense to situations that make me uncomfortable is either be stubborn and a jackass, or just a jackass. The people around me all know this.

"If you guys want to go out and look for Catman, that's fine." I say, reassuringly, "Nobody here is really an overlord and there isn't a person here who has a right to tell others what to do. I will, however, suggest that some of us establish a stronghold. It's evident that we're not getting out of here, not yet, at least. We should establish and fortify a position as a group. Then, anyone who ventures out will at least know that somewhere is safe. colon up colon."

[SenseiofCheese]

"Wait. Goddamnit, wait." one of the group calls for attention.

"Where's....Oh no." his heart sinks as it hits home.

---


His body lies huddled against the wall. A foul-smelling pool of blood underneath him, soaking his clothes. His face is a grizzly mess. His eyes closed, as if deep inside he has found peace, the outside has been brutalized. Black, blue and red, he has been beaten mercilessly. For most of the Hypesters, it takes a while to recognize who lays before them. Teeth are scattered on the ground, taken by force. In the body's hand, a bloodied baseball bat.

A single trail of blood lies, leading from the pool it originated from to the word someone has spelled out.

pRaY.

"Oh God..."

"BL..."

[Matt Murdock]

I stare at Blacklight. He's dead. Gone.

"My god." I whisper.

In short, I'm shocked. I tend to keep an iron curtain around my personality, around my thoughts. Now, though, that curtain is down. Everyone on the Hype! knows me to be a person who's rigidly sarcastic. There's no sarcasm now. No jokes. No asininity. Now I'm just a person. Vulnerable. Alone.

And they know it.

[Catman_prb]

Cats staggered into the midst of the group, looking visibly pale and shaken.

"Hey guys," he gasped "I've found a door but it's -"

He stopped, staring at the bloodied and battered body of BL.

"Jesus Christ, what the hell were you lot doing? He was right under your noses?" he whispered.

[Byrd Man]

I follow Wieg's move and stuff some of the junk food in my pockets.

"No we don't abandon anyone. We'll take Byrd back to the others and try an get acouple volunteers to help find Cats. If we stay in a group of three or something we stand of good chance of staying safe."

"Come on, we might want to get back. I thought I heard something."

Wieg, V, and myself see everyone huddled around. Right off the bat I know what it is.

"Jeusus H. ****ing Christ. Another one?" Peeking over Spike and MB's shoulders, I see the beaten body of BL lying bloody and broken on the it's back.

"Goddammit! This is getting out of control, he was just a kid, man. A ****ing kid!"

[wiegeabo]

I let my bag slide to the floor.

"Mother****..."

I spin around and slam Cats to the wall, pinning him there. "Mother****er! Why?!"

Cats is shocked and struggles against me. But I'm in too much of a rage to notice. "You weren't with the group. Were the hell were you?"

"Byrd, get your damn notepad out and lets figure out how these clues point to Cats."

[Catman_prb]

I let my bag slide to the floor.

"Mother****..."

I spin around and slam Cats to the wall, pinning him there. "Mother****er! Why?!"

Cats is shocked and struggles against me. But I'm in too much of a rage to notice. "You weren't with the group. Were the hell were you?"

"Byrd, get your damn notepad out and lets figure out how these clues point to Cats."
Cats struggled with Wieg, trying to pull his hands off of his hoodie.

"Get the **** off of me," he growled, throwing a left hook that knocked Wiegeabo backwards.

"You think that I ****ing did this? That's BL! He was my friend! I can't have done this. I found a door, but it's locked. I heard someone shouting so I came running," he said, panting heavily.

He looked at the group, all who were staring at him like he had blood on his hands.

"You really think I did this? You're insane!" he shouted, backing away from them.

[Batman]

Five minutes had passed since MB silently towed along with the rest of the group, still eager to get everyone back together before the killer could grab another victim. Waiting on Scot to flush the evidence had all but distracted him by the time the group heard Byrd. His first instinct was that another victim had popped up, sending MB into a nervous wreck, particularly because he and Byrd had always been close. Thankfully, he was wrong, and the noise was just a result of clumsiness.

But where one was spared, another was condemned. MB couldn't believe the sight before him whenever BL's lifeless corpse turned up before him. At first, it was a clear denial in his eyes, as he tried to avoid looking at it. But as tensions built, so did his. And finally, a slight tear began to ran down his face.

"W-What the hell,", He muttered, his head resting against a wall. Then came a hard punch, nearly cracking the paint off of the tile of the wall. "WHAT THE ****ING HELL?!"

The slight tear turned into a few more, as he feverishly began pacing along the wall, trying his best not to break down like before. But as memories of his and BL's friendship stewed among his mind, MB found it harder than ever to keep a rational thought.

"He didn't deserve this,", He kept telling himself over and over, before elaborating. "None of them deserved it, but he especially didn't. He was the youngest of all of us. He had a great life ahead of him! And the way we used to treat him... he... he didn't deserve it. He was a good guy, for godsakes. Never meant us any harm! Goddammit, he didn't! Any one of us should have been lying where he is now! It's not fair!"

Stopping at the wall, MB hit it even harder, bloodying his own knuckle as he slid to the ground.

"It's not fair."

[Byrd Man]

Cats struggled with Wieg, trying to pull his hands off of his hoodie.

"Get the **** off of me," he growled, throwing a left hook that knocked Wiegeabo backwards.

"You think that I ****ing did this? That's BL! He was my friend! I can't have done this. I found a door, but it's locked. I heard someone shouting so I came running," he said, panting heavily.

He looked at the group, all who were staring at him like he had blood on his hands.

"You really think I did this? You're insane!" he shouted, backing away from them.

"Let's look at the last clue.'pRaY' wasn't it? The R and Y capitalized. Now, who among us here currently plays Robin on the hype? And the clue on Kara's body "3rd" awfullyclose to cat's catchphrase 'Seconded' is it not? I know these clues aren't very convencing and maybe I'm just reaching for straws here, but all that remains is the fact that everyone was with someone else when BL died....except Cats."

[Catman_prb]

"Let's look at the last clue.'pRaY' wasn't it? The R and Y capitalized. Now, who among us here currently plays Robin on the hype? And the clue on Kara's body "3rd" awfullyclose to cat's catchphrase 'Seconded' is it not? I know these clues aren't very convencing and maybe I'm just reaching for straws here, but all that remains is the fact that everyone was with someone else when BL died....except Cats."
Cats paused and turned as white as a sheet.

"You're condemning me based on the letter R, and the fact that 3 comes after 2? That's ridiculous! That's ****ing ridiculous. You're insane!"

[Byrd Man]

Cats paused and turned as white as a sheet.

"You're condemning me based on the letter R, and the fact that 3 comes after 2? That's ridiculous! That's ****ing ridiculous. You're insane!"

"That's exactly what the killer would say! I propose we beat a confession out of this murdering piece of ****!"

[Catman_prb]

"That's exactly what the killer would say! I propose we beat a confession out of this murdering piece of ****!"
"So you want to beat me half to death? You're starting to sound awfully like a killer to me Byrd," Cats growled.

[Batman]

"Wait. Wait a minute,"

Wiping his nose and picking himself off of the floor, a still-distraught MB immediately moves next to Cats, ready to hold wieg back from doing something he might regret.

"Now just hold on. I know you're upset, wieg, but think about it. No matter how it looks, we still don't have enough to accuse anyone of anything."

"But the notes-"

"Yeah, I heard you. Third and 'R'. But it's not hard to pin those 'clues' to anyone else. Take for instance,", He begins, looking over at Syn. "He plays Ravager, which starts with an R, and the second letter in his name is 'Y'. His name is three letters long. He holds just as much, if not more suspicion for this than Cats does. And while we're at it?"

MB looks over at Murdock. "He's played Daredevil in all three major Marvel RPG's. Sensei played Hank Pym at one point, who's also known as Yellowjacket in the 616 universe. I've played Robin, too. Do you see what I mean? Any of those clues could lead to any one of us! The killer's ****ing with our minds."

[RGDurant]

RG stepped out of the airport bathroom where he spent close to two hours in. He carried magazines with to where the other Hypesters were arguing.

He approached them and saw the pile of bloody meat that once was Blacklight on the floor.

"Aw ****! When did this happen?"

[Venom160]

RG stepped out of the airport bathroom where he spent close to two hours in. He carried magazines with to where the other Hypesters were arguing.

He approached them and saw the pile of bloody meat that once was Blacklight on the floor.

"Aw ****! When did this happen?"I take my eyes off BL's body for the first time and turn to RGD. Wait a minute.....where the **** has he been all this time? Was he with the group when Kara was killed?

".....aw ****."

[Matt Murdock]

I blink, still staring at BL's body.

It's then that I hear the commotion coming from behind me.

"Hey. Hey, HEY." I say, vaulting over a row of chairs and grabbing Wiegabo as he slams Cats against the wall. I'm 6'3" and 265 pounds, starting Center on my High School's football team. With the element of surprise, I separate the two. "You think Cats is the killer? Fine. Find some zip-ties in a security booth, slam him in a chair, and zip his hands behind his back."

[Catman_prb]

I blink, still staring at BL's body.

It's then that I hear the commotion coming from behind me.

"Hey. Hey, HEY." I say, vaulting over a row of chairs and grabbing Wiegabo as he slams Cats against the wall. I'm 6'3" and 265 pounds, starting Center on my High School's football team. With the element of surprise, I separate the two. "You think Cats is the killer? Fine. Find some zip-ties in a security booth, slam him in a chair, and zip his hands behind his back."

"You can go **** yourself you crazy ass bastard!" Cats shouted, panic edging his voice "You're going to tie me up with a murderer about? I'll end up with my guts looped around the chair you bastard!"

[Spike_x1]

Having found a Red Bull in the food storage before BL's body had been discovered, Scot now cracked it open and used the energy drink to wash down several of his pills. Rendered speechless, he simply backed into a wall and sat down on the floor, attempting to ignore the group as it began tearing itself apart. "This is ****ing insane," he said to himself, staring off into space and trying not to think about the situation.

[Matt Murdock]

"You can go **** yourself you crazy ass bastard!" Cats shouted, panic edging his voice "You're going to tie me up with a murderer about? I'll end up with my guts looped around the chair you bastard!"

I punch Catman in the face. Hard.

"Shut up."

I look at Wiegabo.

"He's the only viable suspect we've got right now, I'll agree with that." I say, putting a hand on Wieg's shoulder. "But we can't beat the crap out of him. We have to stop playing his games."

[Venom160]

I can see Cat recovering from SSF's punch and getting ready to retaliate. Moving fast I get between Cat and SSF.

"Alright enough. This crap sure as hell won't help matters at all."

I focus my attention to Cats.

"We're not tying anyone up."

I turn my gaze to SSF and Wieg.

"And we're not beating a confession out of anybody cause frankly the clues (if that what they actually are) are too circumstantial and can be twisted to fit any one of us. This is exactly what the killer wants to happen and we shouldn't give him the satisfaction."

[Batman]

"No one really listens to me at all, do they?"

MB rolls his eyes as Murdock begins an attempt at an obvious macho-routine by hitting Cats. It's not a help, it's a waste of time. Everything's a waste of time, as long as that killer is out there. And MB isn't sure that they're looking at him.

"Oh, for godsakes! Venom's right. Don't hit him again. Cats is no more a suspect here than that guy, who I don't even know well enough to vouch for. At least Cats is somebody we're a little familiar with.", He continues, after indicating RGDurant.

[Matt Murdock]

I can see Cat recovering from SSF's punch and getting ready to retaliate. Moving fast I get between Cat and SSF.

"Alright enough. This crap sure as hell won't help matters at all."

I focus my attention to Cats.

"We're not tying anyone up."

I turn my gaze to SSF and Wieg.

"And we're not beating a confession out of anybody cause frankly the clues (if that what they actually are) are too circumstantial. This is exactly what the killer wants to happen and we shouldn't give him the satisfaction."
I glare at Venom.

"Oh, so your idea of keeping everybody safe is to make sure our most likely suspect isn't tied up. Right. Who's Catman best known for playing? Tim Drake? The third Robin? Circumstantial? Right." I pick up a plate from a nearby table and hurl it against a wall. "God damn it. What the hell are we supposed to do? Wouldn't a psychotic killer want to implicate one of us? One of the people we trust? Capital 'R' and 'Y' in "pray?" There's only one of us here with the letters "r" and "y" in succession in their name."

I know Byrd Man isn't a killer. At least, I think I know he isn't.

"Oh, for godsakes! Venom's right. Don't hit him again. Cats is no more a suspect here than that guy, who I don't even know well enough to vouch for. At least Cats is somebody we're a little familiar with." MB Chirps up.

"Get a grip, man!" I roar. "We're all suspects. None of us knows anyone here that well. We're names on a screen that finally have faces. You think anyone is familiar with anyone else? We don't know each other."

[Batman]

MB sneered.

"Hey, speak for yourself, man. I know I can't speak for everyone, but I think some of you know me better than any of my own family does. The internet aspect of it doesn't matter. Infact, it liberates. There's a liberty in being a 'name on the screen'. And I know I can't be the only one that feels that way."

His hands clench tightly, as he looks away. "That's what sucks about all of this. I don't feel like I'm losing random strangers to this psycho son of a ****. I feel like I'm losing friends."

[Venom160]

Edit.

[Matt Murdock]

MB sneered.

"Hey, speak for yourself, man. I know I can't speak for everyone, but I think some of you know me better than any of my own family does. The internet aspect of it doesn't matter. Infact, it liberates. There's a liberty in being a 'name on the screen'. And I know I can't be the only one that feels that way."

His hands clench tightly, as he looks away. "That's what sucks about all of this. I don't feel like I'm losing random strangers to this psycho son of a ****. I feel like I'm losing friends."
"I know how you feel, Bruce. Believe me, I do." I slide to the ground and put my face in my palms. "But people are dying. What would you have us do other than losing our emotional attachment?"

[Byrd Man]

"What the **** happened to us trying and find a way out of here? Are we supposed to wallow in self-pity until one by one we're all killed? **** NO! I suggest we all sit our asses down right now on the floor, everyone in plain sight. Spike, you still got that gun? I want you to keep watch on everyone with that gun, first ****er who flinches in the wrong direction you shoot them. How do I know Spike is no the killer? He's ****ing Canadian! Name the last two big things that came out of Canada? Jim Carrey and Pam Anderson. I rest my case. "

[Saved]

"I'm for whatever option leaves us all alive." I say with a stern and cold tone. "Tie him up and have someone watch him at all times. He doesn't have to be stuck to a chair, just keep him restrained. He can still come with us. After all, he was...is still our friend."

[Matt Murdock]

"I'm for whatever option leaves us all alive." I say with a stern and cold tone. "Tie him up and have someone watch him at all times. He doesn't have to be stuck to a chair, just keep him restrained. He can still come with us. After all, he was...is still our friend."
"Sounds like a plan to me."

[wiegeabo]

"Sounds like a plan to me."

"Only one problem. Well...two."

I look at Byrd and Durant.

"Cats wasn't the only one to leave the group."

[Matt Murdock]

"I bet there's enough zip-ties for two people." I note, half-heartedly.

[Saved]

"I bet there's enough zip-ties for two people." I note, half-heartedly.
"The more the merrier right?" I grin.

[wiegeabo]

"I bet there's enough zip-ties for two people." I note, half-heartedly.

"Why stop there? We might as well tie all of us up. And then to each other. And then we actually get to hope that one of us is the killer because if we're wrong, we've just served ourselves up to the sick bastard doing all this."

I glance over at BL and swallow done bile. I notice it's getting easier to look at my dead friends. The thought gives me chills.

I rub my forehead, trying to get rid of the thought that I could be next. "Way I see it, we can really only do two things. Figure out what these clues mean, and get the hell out of this airport. Preferably before anymore of us wind up...like our friends."

[Saved]

"Why stop there? We might as well tie all of us up. And then to each other. And then we actually get to hope that one of us is the killer because if we're wrong, we've just served ourselves up to the sick bastard doing all this."

I glance over at BL and swallow done bile. I notice it's getting easier to look at my dead friends. The thought gives me chills.

I rub my forehead, trying to get rid of the thought that I could be next. "Way I see it, we can really only do two things. Figure out what these clues mean, and get the hell out of this airport. Preferably before anymore of us wind up...like our friends." "Being cautious never hurts, Weig." I say with a frown. "I don't think having a few members on lockdown will make the situation worse."

[Venom160]

"If one of them is infact the killer. Otherwise your just making it easier for whoever the **** it is."

[Saved]

"If one of them is infact the killer. Otherwise your just making it easier for whoever the **** it is."
My jaw clenches and I lower my head slightly. I swallow hard and let out a hard and heavy breath as I drop my arms to my side. "I'm willing to take that chance." I say in a terrifyingly apathetic tone.

[Venom160]

My jaw clenches and I lower my head slightly. I swallow hard and let out a hard and heavy breath as I drop my arms to my side. "I'm willing to take that chance." I say in a terrifyingly apathetic tone."Oh I'm so glad your willing to condemn others. Let me ask you this. What if you're the killer? Or you SSF? What if your simply manipulating the group to isolate your next victim?"

[Matt Murdock]

"We don't have to offer them like sacrifices. If we tie them up and watch them like hawks and nobody else dies, then we have our answer."

[Saved]

"Oh I'm so glad your willing to condemn others. Let me ask you this. What if you're the killer? Or you SSF? What if your simply manipulating the group to isolate your next victim?"
"Don't think the thought hasn't crossed my mind." I growl, angered by his insinuation. "Some of us here are very charismatic figures. It's not as hard as you'd think to be fooled," I say looking over to BL's mutilated body. "Clearly...it's not that hard." I sigh in sorrow. "But three people are dead. And so far, no idea tried has worked. I say we try a new strategy, one a little harsh I'll admit, but at least it'll lessen the range of suspects if nothing else."

[wiegeabo]

"Anyone else getting the feeling the killer's getting off on all this fighting?"

"Watching each other like a hawk didn't save Kara. She was with the group, and then..." We all look at the floor. "Let's grab as much food as we can hold, and go. Cats said he found a door. We could always try it. If it's a trap...well, we'll know who the killer is."

[Venom160]

"We don't have to offer them like sacrifices. If we tie them up and watch them like hawks and nobody else dies, then we have our answer.""And what if someone else does die? What will you do? Single out acouple more and tie them up?"

[Matt Murdock]

"Anyone else getting the feeling the killer's getting off on all this fighting?"

"Watching each other like a hawk didn't save Kara. She was with the group, and then..." We all look at the floor. "Let's grab as much food as we can hold, and go. Cats said he found a door. We could always try it. If it's a trap...well, we'll know who the killer is."
"Bring it on."

[Saved]

"And what if someone else does die? What will you do? Single out acouple more and tie them up?"
I walk forward toward Venom, tensing every muscle in my body as I prepare myself for what I must do. "If that's what is takes to keep the majority safe...then that's what will be done." I step up to my friend and stare him down, my fingers tight with adrenaline. "I've noticed you're particularly opossed to our ideas, V. Any reason?"

[Matt Murdock]

"And what if someone else does die? What will you do? Single out acouple more and tie them up?"
"What do you suggest?" Now growing irritated by Venom160's 'trust people and leave them untied' attitude. It's halfway between idiocy and spinelessness. "How about we all take a hit from a bong and just wait for the killer to get us?"

EDIT: In a sign of solidarity, I take a spot next to Syn. Together, each of us tall, and athletic, we must be the personification of resolve and unity.

[Venom160]

I walk forward toward Venom, tensing every muscle in my body as I prepare myself for what I must do. "If that's what is takes to keep the majority safe...then that's what will be done." I step up to my friend and stare him down, my fingers tight with adrenaline. "I've noticed you're particularly opossed to our ideas, V. Any reason?"I don't even flinch at Syn's show of aggression. Typical nature in some people. "Do what I say or else I'll hurt you." Please.

"Because it's a stupid time wasting idea. Tie up a few and see what happens? Wow."

"How about we all take a hit from a bong and just wait for the killer to get us?"

I focus my attention to SSF who has taken a stance beside Syn.

"As opposed to your "Wait around and see who the killer kills next?"

[Saved]

I don't even flinch at Syn's show of aggression. Typical nature in some people. "Do what I say or else I'll hurt you." Please.

"Because it's a stupid time wasting idea. Tie up a few and see what happens? Wow."

"How about we all take a hit from a bong and just wait for the killer to get us?"

I focus my attention to SSF who has taken a stance beside Syn.

"As opposed to your "Wait around and see who the killer kills next?"
"I don't see you coming up with any good ideas," I sneer. " Way I see it, you're just shooting down any idea that comes up that could possibly lead us to the killer...sounds suspicious to me, 'bro'."

[Venom160]

"I don't see you coming up with any good ideas," I sneer. " Way I see it, you're just shooting down any idea that comes up that could possibly lead us to the killer...sounds suspicious to me, 'bro'.""Be suspicious all the hell you want. I know I'm not the killer. But these shows of aggression isn't helping you two at all. Maybe we're dealing with more than one killer....."

[Saved]

"Be suspicious all the hell you want. I know I'm not the killer. But these shows of aggression isn't helping you two at all. Maybe we're dealing with more than one killer....."
"Ha, that would be something I'd do, wouldn't it?" I ask in a sarcastic tone. "Deflecting the situation, hm?" I ask with malice. "It doesn't matter if you know you're not the killer. We don't..."

[Venom160]

"Ha, that would be something I'd do, wouldn't it?" I ask in a sarcastic tone. "Deflecting the situation, hm?" I ask with malice. "It doesn't matter if you know you're not the killer. We don't...""Thats' your problem . Unless your forgetting I was with Wieg looking Byrd when BL bought it. So unless I have telekinesis and can kill someone with my mind I...didn't.....****ing.....do it. Maybe your look at the wrong person."

I turn to SSF.

"Right SSF? BL was beaten pretty bad and as I recall you didn't hesitate to rearrange Cat's face. Have ourselves a little anger management problem?"

[wiegeabo]

"Stop this!"

I step between them because it's about to get ugly.

"What the hell good is fighting amongst ourselves going to do? There's eight of us. If one of us is the killer, then odds are you guys or going to beat up the wrong people. And then they'll be even less of us able to fight the bastard off."

"And," I say turning to Syn and Murdock, "if you're so high up and zip tying everyone, you want to go first? What if they last one to get tied is the killer. And what happens if no one comes to rescue us? How long can we last without food and water? If the killer's good enough to clear out an airport, he's probably good enough to clear it out for a while."

"As long as we stay here, we're dead. You understand that?! We stay, we die. So let's get the hell out of here!"

[Byrd Man]

"I agree with wieg. From the way it looks, we're all going to die. I'd rather die trying to find a way out of here than to be killed like this, scared sheep squabbiling amonst each other....oh, and anyone tries to tie me up, I am whooping their ass."

[Spike_x1]

"I'm with them. I'm not tying anyone up, and no one is tying me up." Scot stands up and tosses his empty Red Bull can at a recycling bin, only to have it bounce off of the rim and onto the floor. "We're gonna find a way out of here."

[Batman]

"Then what the hell are we waiting for?", MB asks, the first half of a smile on his face in hours. "Cats, you're the one who mentioned a door. Where'd you find it?"

[Catman_prb]

"Then what the hell are we waiting for?", MB asks, the first half of a smile on his face in hours. "Cats, you're the one who mentioned a door. Where'd you find it?"
"Down this corridor," he muttered, pointing "But like I said, it's locked,"

[SenseiofCheese]

Tensions have run high, tempers lost and trust....misplaced.

The remaining survivors make their way down the empty corridor, towards the door Cats had seen earlier. None of them feel particularly safe, making sure no one is behind them. On their way, one of the group steps on something sharp. Stopping and lifting his foot, he sees a key placed on the floor.

-----

"He's right, it's locked." a member of the group laments as he tries opening the door. A wave of realization and relief hits RGDurant.

"Oh! I found a key!" he announces, ushering the others out of his way. Bending down and reaching into his pocket, RGDurant produces the key and excitedly jams it into the lock. With a silent prayer, he turns the key.

click

"It worked!" he shouts as the lock opens. He immediately grabs the knob and rushes inside the ro-

KA-BLAM

The trap springs into action. The string tied to the other side of the door is pulled when RGDurant opens the door. The trigger of the shotgun placed directly facing the door is forced back, and the shot tears through RGD's clothes, ripping into his flesh and claws at his organs.

The blast knocks the young man off his feet and his back slams down onto the floor. His eyes go wide as he realizes what's happening. He tries to speak, tries to scream for help, but nothing but violent coughs of blood escape. Writhing in pain, the man claws at the floor until finally his eyes stop moving, and so does his body.

------

On the inside of the room, a shotgun has been rigged to go off and kill the first one to enter the room. It sits in a wooden chair. On the chair's back,a message has been carved with a blade.

I am BatmaN?

[Byrd Man]

My jaw drops open, I look at the dead body then at Catman.

"You goddamn son of a *****!" I grit my teeth and hit the brit hard across the face.

"You murdering piece of ****!"

[Catman_prb]

Cats takes the punch hard on the cheek, and staggers backwards.

"Oh ****," he breathed, backing away from the body "oh ****, oh ****, oh ****,"

[Matt Murdock]

Cats takes the punch hard on the cheek, and staggers backwards.

"Oh ****," he breathed, backing away from the body "oh ****, oh ****, oh ****,"
I stare at Byrd Man. If he can hit Catman the killer, surely I can, too.

I slam a fist into Cat's face.

[Saved]

I lunge at Cats in a furious rage. Tackling him to the floor, I grip his arms and pull them back around behind his body. I slip through my arms and get him into a powerful headlock. Quickly, I take away any leverage he could gain and I pull him up to his feet, keeping him restrained. "What did I tell you people?" I growl, the saliva spewing from my mouth in my frenzy. "Now look what happened! LOOK!"

[Venom160]

While the predicted violence ensues I move into the rigged room and inspect the shotgun. Whoever rigged this knew what they we doing. As the screams get loader outside I cut the shotgun free from it's strings and check the chamber. A single empty shell and no extras loaded into it.

"Damn...."

Finally spotting the chair and the clue cut into the wood.

"Son of a *****."

I pick up the chair and gun and head back to the others.

"Now look what happened! LOOK!"

"And what did I tell you?"

Syn's glare dissolves when he sees the gun in my hand. Without another word a place the chair infront of me for all to see.

"Cats never played as Batman. But who here has?"

[Matt Murdock]

Disregarding the situation at hand, I vomit. Catman is a person whom I've considered a friend, as much as I might hate to admit it, for the better part of two years. Even the idea that he could be a killer is enough to make me ill, and watching my other Hype! associates hit him is enough to drive me over the edge.

I vomit again, and the acid singes the back of my throat.

For a third time, bile surges from my mouth, staining the carpet. I grip my knees, hunched over and fall to the floor.

Panic ensues. What if I'm next? What if I've been poisoned? What if this is... it?

[wiegeabo]

While the predicted violence ensues I move into the rigged room and inspect the shotgun. Whoever rigged this knew what they we doing. As the screams get loader outside I cut the shotgun free from it's strings and check the chamber. A single empty shell and no extras loaded into it.

"Damn...."

Finally spotting the chair and the clue cut into the wood.

"Son of a *****."

I pick up the chair and gun and head back to the others.

"Now look what happened! LOOK!"

"And what did I tell you?"

Syn's glare dissolves when he sees the gun in my hand. Without another word a place the chair infront of me for all to see.

"Cats never played as Batman. But who here has?"


"Well don't look at me!" Which, of course, makes them look at me.

"Hey now. Look. It says 'I am Batman?' with a question mark. As if it's not the real Batman."

I look at MB and Cats.

"So who plays an 'unreal' Batman?"

[Saved]

While the predicted violence ensues I move into the rigged room and inspect the shotgun. Whoever rigged this knew what they we doing. As the screams get loader outside I cut the shotgun free from it's strings and check the chamber. A single empty shell and no extras loaded into it.

"Damn...."

Finally spotting the chair and the clue cut into the wood.

"Son of a *****."

I pick up the chair and gun and head back to the others.

"Now look what happened! LOOK!"

"And what did I tell you?"

Syn's glare dissolves when he sees the gun in my hand. Without another word a place the chair infront of me for all to see.

"Cats never played as Batman. But who here has?"
"He played a Batman..." I snarl.

[Venom160]

"He played a Batman..." I snarl."Yeah but so did others." I mimic his snarl.

[Spike_x1]

"So who plays an 'unreal' Batman?""Not me," Scot chimes in briefly.

[Saved]

"Yeah but so did others." I mimic his snarl.
"Well then, we have a list of suspects now don't we?" I say with an angry stare. "What the hell is your problem, man? Do you want more people to die?" I say, struggling to keep hold on Cats.

[wiegeabo]

"Yeah but so did others." I mimic his snarl.

"The question mark man! What about the question mark? Hell, it might mean that the killer didn't play a Batman."

Hey...wait a sec...

"Um...is the shotgun still loaded?" I ask, a new wave a fear passing through me.

[Venom160]

"Well then, we have a list of suspects now don't we?" I say with an angry stare. "What the hell is your problem, man? Do you want more people to die?" I say, struggling to keep hold on Cats."I simply don't want to treat someone like a monster until we're a hundred percent! The real question is what is your problem? This is the second time in five minutes you've been ready to jump down someone's throat."

"The question mark man! What about the question mark? Hell, it might mean that the killer didn't play a Batman."

Hey...wait a sec...

"Um...is the shotgun still loaded?" I ask, a new wave a fear passing through me.I look down at the shotgun and shake me head.

"No it's not."

I toss the shotgun to Wieg.

"It was never fully loaded. Those kinds of shotgun could hold up to eight shells. There was only one in the chamber."

[Saved]

"I simply don't want to treat someone like a monster until we're a hundred percent! The real question is what is your problem? This is the second time in five minutes you've been ready to jump down someone's throat."
"Gee, I'm sorry." I say in a mocking voice. "I just, oh, I don't know, don't want to die. And, quite frankly? I'm sick of watching my friends die too! So excuse me for wanting to prevent any more deaths, Venom. Surely, I am the crazy lunatic."

[wiegeabo]

"I simply don't want to treat someone like a monster until we're a hundred percent! The real question is what is your problem? This is the second time in five minutes you've been ready to jump down someone's throat."

I look down at the shotgun and shake me head.

"No it's not."

I toss the shotgun to Wieg.

"It was never fully loaded. Those kinds of shotgun could hold up to eight shells. There was only one in the chamber."


I grab the rifle out of the air and quickly pump it. But no more shells come out. "You're right."

Matt loses it all over the floor, and it makes me also lose it too. Could never take the sound or sight of someone throwing up. Luckily, I'm still empty after hurling over Sensei's body.

"Well, we can't really flush this." I rub my eyes. "Okay, it does no good to do something to the wrong perosn. We've got four clues. How do we apply them to each of us?"

[Venom160]

"Gee, I'm sorry." I say in a mocking voice. "I just, oh, I don't know, don't want to die. And, quite frankly? I'm sick of watching my friends die too! So excuse me for wanting to prevent any more deaths, Venom. Surely, I am the crazy lunatic.""Do you think I like seeing my friends die! I'm just trying to keep a cool head and figure out these clues. As for the crazy lunatic, well you do have one of are friends in a headlock and snarling like a animal...."

[Matt Murdock]

I pull myself to my feet, shaking. It's not like me to hit someone out of the blue. It's not like any of us to be acting the way we are. Everyone's out of their element. Everyone's purely in survival mode. And that means that everyone's proverbial claws are out.

There's a bar nearby, and I make my way over to it. I grab a bottle of scotch, tear the top open, and take a long drag from it. With some effort, I force myself to breathe deeply and relax, to center myself.

I look at everyone.

"Guys. Stop it." In a few books I read for a dime-store, pop psychology class I took in my junior year, I learned that when people panic, the best idea to calm them down isn't to get louder and try to prove your point, it's to get quieter. The idea is that one should centralize what's going on and give everyone else a pillar, foundation, to build off of. "I know I haven't been the voice of reason, really. But, just... pause. And look at what's going on. Wieg's got a gun, Syn's got Cats in a headlock, Byrd's ready to strike. We're all chasing our tails. Just... pause for a moment, and look at yourselves, at each other. This is... insane. We need to think for just a minute. I'm not asking for us to sit and wait, or to become sitting ducks. Let's all just... center ourselves for a minute."

[Byrd Man]

I thought hitting Catman in the face would help me, but it doesn't.

I'm still scared, I'm still afraid of death. On the hype, I act like the big badass, not taking **** from anyone. Fact of the matter is, I'm just a chicken-**** pussy. All my life I've been afraid. Doesn't matter if it's the fear of the unknown, or the fear of rejection, or scared of what people think, fear has dictated my life.

That's why I've always liked the hype. I'm able to hide behind a username and monitor, I don't give a damn what people on the internet think of me because, I'll never have to meet them. That's what I thought, anyway.

Now, here I am watching my friends getting picked off one by one and I'm too afraid to do anything about it.

While everyone shouts and continues beating Catman, I find a wall and lean against it, slowly sliding down to the floor.

I'm too afraid to move, too afraid to do anything.

What about the clues?

I pull my notebook out and look at the clues left with each body.

RG: I am BatmaN?

BL:pRaY.

Kara: 3rd along with the gun, bullets and the note "Who do you trust?"

Sensei: OnE dOwN along with his cryptic clue in the message "6969362 w..wess...."

I stare at them for a long time while I hear everyone talking and fighting.

These clues mean something, and I'll find out. I manage to push myself up off the floor and stand up on my wobbly legs.

For the first time in my life, I'm going to do something without fear.

[SenseiofCheese]

The group stands outside the now open door. Slivers of wood litter the ground beneath them, strewn in the pool of blood forming under RGDurant's limp body.

Most have been pushed past their breaking point and the stench of vomit begins to mix with the rusty scent of blood.

"Hey, come with me." one Hypester says to another. "There might still be something that can help us inside, and I don't want to go by myself." he says, motioning to the now safe doorway.

The second Hypester thinks for a moment. He knows they should all stay together. Strength in numbers. But it couldn't harm going inside. There's two of them, and even then, all the others are just outside the door. "Sure, okay."

----

"Nothing...nothing.." one says, going through drawers on a desk littered with useless papers, while the others looks around the room. His eyes scan the walls, the ceiling. Nothing.

"I don't think there's anything in here."

The other begins to think he's right. There's nothing in here worth--

"Wait. MB, I think I found something."

"What? Wh...SYN, DON'T!"

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g173/BDagur/lobby-explosion.jpg

[Byrd Man]

I'm staring at my notebook when the explosion rocks the terminal, sending me flying back against a wall and my notes flying off to the side.

"No!" I cry out as the airport's sprinklers kick on and start to douse the fire out.

Not MB. Syn was an okay guy, I liked him. But MB was my best friend on the hype. We had a lot in common and got along so well, worked so well together.

"He's dead! He's ****ing dead!"

I turn my attention to the group of survivors left, pure rage and hatred in my eyes.

"One of you ****s killed him! I'll ****ing kill you all!" I growl as I leap off my feet and stare at the five other remaining men.

[Spike_x1]

"Hoooleeey sheee-iiiit!!

The world slows to a crawl as all of the role players are blown back by the force of the explosion. Everything is a complete blank for the next few moments, and Scot doesn't even remember when the blood and body parts started falling on them.

"Sweet jesus," is all Scot can manage to whisper, not yet even noticing the gore splashed all over his body. "Dear God in Heaven."

[Matt Murdock]

I fly backwards and plow through a glass map of the airport. I feel a shard of glass wedge itself in my side as I slam on the ground in a heap. Blood pours out of my back quickly, and I feel the sprinklers kick in. MB is gone. So is Syn.

I'm at the end of my rope, here.

[Byrd Man]

While carnage and chaos enuse, I turn away from the group and start to head towards the darkness of the terminal.

"Can't trust anyone. Only myself. One of them is the killer. Or maybe all of them are responsible. Blood is on their hands and I will return in kind."

I know I'm talking to myself, and I'm pretty sure I've snapped. I don't care anymore, I'm not in it for survival anymore. I'm in it for revenge. I don't care if I love or survive, as long as I take that son of a ***** down with me.

[wiegeabo]

My ears are ringing and I start coughing. I push myself up to my knees, and my back complains about it.

That...that was...too big. Too close...

"This...is *cough* getting insane," I say to no one in particular.

There's six of us left. Just six. Half of us are gone.

"I'm not going to die today." I look around and see Scot and Matt.

"Where...where are the others?"

[Spike_x1]

"I-I-I don't know," Scot stammers as he tries to wipes some of the hot blood from his face, but only managing to spread it around more. "I don't know where they went."

Struggling to stand up, he slips once before finding his footing. An absent look covers Scot's face as he takes in his surroundings. Barely recognizable pieces of two of his fellow role players were now scattered all around. Some pieces were on fire, others embedded in the walls from the force of the explosion, and some were still sticking to his clothes unnoticed.

[wiegeabo]

"I-I-I don't know," Scot stammers as he tries to wipes some of the hot blood from his face, but only managing to spread it around more. "I don't know where they went."

Struggling to stand up, he slips once before finding his footing. An absent look covers Scot's face as he takes in his surroundings. Barely recognizable pieces of two of his fellow role players were now scattered all around. Some pieces were on fire, others embedded in the walls from the force of the explosion, and some were still sticking to his clothes unnoticed.


Coughing, I help Scot up and get back out into the main terminal. "No-No sprinklers. No fire alarms. This guy has the whole place rigged. We're not going to be able to get out of here."

I look around. "We have to figure out who the killer is...and kill him ourselves..."

[SenseiofCheese]

He's alone, now. Even though he knows it's a bad idea. He knows the killer is out there somewhere. Waiting. Probably for this exact thing, for someone to wander off from the group. But ton of good that did them, staying together.

So now, he'll do it by himself. Find a way out. Find the killer. Whatever. This needs to end.
-----

The others found his body a few minutes later. For a moment, they didn't recognize his blurred face. The plastic bag over his head was fogged up from deep, panicked breaths, blood staining it. His hands, terrifyingly frozen in the shape of claws, were on his chest. His bloodied neck, most of the skin shredded, indicated he'd been scratching wildly at it before he died.

On MM's shirt, written in deep black, a message.

I AGREE

[wiegeabo]

I see the body and slump against the wall. "And then there were five..."

Matt had to bring up that poem, didn't he?

"Guys!"
I call out. "In here!"

While they come, I look at the clue.

The pieces are starting to come together...

[Byrd Man]

"There goes one of my main suspects." I say coldly as I stand over the body.

"But he's not my prime suspect."

I point a finger at Catman and snarl. "The clues all point to him. That son of a ***** has been cutting our friends!"

[Catman_prb]

Catman let a grin slowly spread across his face, loose bits of dust and debris drifting gently from his hair.

"Hmm?" he asked mildly, slowly walking over to the opposite wall "oh, yeah that was me,"

He picked up the fire extinguisher from the alcove where it was bracketed and weighed it in his hands. Without another word, he swung round with the fire extinguisher and into Byrd's chest with a satisfying crack.

"Still, the clues were fun weren't they?" he said brightly, still grinning.

[SenseiofCheese]

Byrd collapses on the floor, clutching his chest in pain. The others don't know what to do, stunned and motionless. But they all know they have to do something. They can't just stand there and let Catman get away with murdering all of their friends.

They surviving Hypesters feel rage fill them, as they...

A) Turn and make a run for it

B) Attack Catman

C) Talk to Catman

[Byrd Man]

Catman let a grin slowly spread across his face, loose bits of dust and debris drifting gently from his hair.

"Hmm?" he asked mildly, slowly walking over to the opposite wall "oh, yeah that was me,"

He picked up the fire extinguisher from the alcove where it was bracketed and weighed it in his hands. Without another word, he swung round with the fire extinguisher and into Byrd's chest with a satisfying crack.

"Still, the clues were fun weren't they?" he said brightly, still grinning.

I stand up, still clutching my chest in pain.

"YOU GODDAMN MANIAC! Why did you do this?! They were our friends, and you butchered them! WHY?!"

[Spike_x1]

Scot begins charging at Cats when one of the other surviving role players grabs him and holds him back. "I'll kill you for what you did!" Scot shouts, trying to break free and get at Catman-prb. "You f**king sicko! What did they ever do to you?!"

[wiegeabo]

Scot begins charging at Cats when one of the other surviving role players grabs him and holds him back. "I'll kill you for what you did!" Scot shouts, trying to break free and get at Catman-prb. "You f**king sicko! What did they ever do to you?!"

Scot gets two steps before I grab him from behind. "No! Wait!" Half of me wants to join in, or at least let Scot go to town on Cats. The half in control, though, is scared ****less and paying close attention to the weapon Cats holds in his hand.

"Just stop. Think for a second. He's got the whole damn place rigged. You kill him, we might not get out of here." I notice that Venom wants a piece of Cats too. Especially after just defending him.

"Tell me, Cats. Why should I let Scot beat the **** out of you? Why the hell did you do this to our friends?!"

[Catman_prb]

Cats smiled.

"I'll be honest with you," he said "It was really, really fun,"

He put the fire extinguisher down on the floor and took a step back from the group carefully.

"But seriously, do you really think you're going to get out of here alive? Just how deluded are you people?"

[Venom160]

Cats smiled.

"I'll be honest with you," he said "It was really, really fun,"

He put the fire extinguisher down on the floor and took a step back from the group carefully.

"But seriously, do you really think you're going to get out of here alive? Just how deluded are you people?"I don't say a word as I stare down Catman. I don't know how someone can do something like this and not seem to care. All that I know is that Cats isn't gonna be leaving this airport alive.

"But seriously, do you really think you're going to get out of here alive? Just how deluded are you people?"

I reach into my pocket and pull out my switchblade taking some small hint of pleasure from hearing the blade snap into place.

"Almost as deluded to think that you'll get away with this. Rest assured you son of a ***** that you will pay for you did. I'll personally make sure you suffer for every friend you killed tonight......

[wiegeabo]

"Oh, I think we'll get out of here just fine." I let Scot go.

"Because you're coming with us. And if we don't live, you can be damned sure you won't either."

[SenseiofCheese]

Enraged, the four survivors begin approaching Catman. The man, having killed their friends and his own, simply smiles. The fire extinguisher in his hand falls to the floor with a loud clank, momentarily stunning the survivors. In that moment, one of them decides this has gone far enough.

With a snarl, he jumps towards Catman, hands outstretched and ready to choke the life from the murderer. In a swift motion, Catman reaches behind his back and produces a large gun, identical to the one he had left for the victims.

Catman lets out a sinister chuckle as, once again, the survivors back slowly away from him, they eyes glued to the barrel of his gun. The killer begins to back away, the gun trained on his victims, before finally he disappears around a corner.

Their hearts pounding furiously, the four survivors

a) chase after Catman
b) try to find a way out
c) head for the communications room, to call for help.

[Catman_prb]

With a startling burst of speed, the survivors bravely chased after their friends' murderer. As they rounded the corner a chunk of plaster exploded from the wall as a bullet collided with it. Out of the corner of their eyes the Hypsters could see Catman standing down the corridor firing at them aimlessly.

One of the survivors sprinted towards the killer, grabbing him by the shoulders and smashing him into the ground. The two scrambled around on the floor, throwing punches. Catman pistol whipped the young man across the face with a sickening crack. He shoved the gun up against his face and grinned. Without saying a word, he fired the trigger and splattered the brains of Weigeabo over the walls.

"Next," he shouted, grinning at the last three survivors.

[Spike_x1]

"Get down!" Scot shouted to the others as several more bullets whizzed by. Ducking behind a trash can, he instinctively covered his head and began looking for the nearest escape route.

[Spike_x1]

Just as Scot finally spots an Exit sign above an unlocked door, he has a heart attack from drinking so much coffee and Red Bull, and eating too much greasy food. His heart literally explodes in his chest and he dies in horrible agony. "R-remember me... as a hero.."