Hunter straightened the lapels on the front of his black jacket. The fabric of the tired outfit hung limply around his slender chest and hips. It could have done with some tailoring, but Hunter didnt mind wearing the baggy clothing. This was one of the nicest attires hed ever gotten his filthy hands on. Squaring his shoulders, Hunter extended one of his hands, his other pinned to his back, as he bowed deeply. "Would you have this dance with me?" He asked the air in front of him, straightening up and propping his elbow at an angle. He pretended to pace in a circle with the figureless form beside of him, his chin raised at a slight tilt, to give him an air of pretentious sangfroid. "I can do this. Just put your hand at his waist... and rotate in a few circles. Dont step on his feet. Dont look like an idiot." Those seemed like simple rules to Hunter, who took a steadying breath before he ran his hands through his hair one last time. "Okay... dont be late to pick him up."

Shouldering through the door that had shut him into his dads bedroom, Hunter appeared at the top of the stairs. The cool air breezed through the open, rattling window. He clenched his clammy hands. He took the stairs two at a time, and landed hard on the floor. Pacing over to where his dad slumbered on the couch, Hunter smiled hopefully down at him. He leaned over the back of the couch and touched his dads stewing forehead. "Im off to the dance, Dad." He dragged the blankets up to his dads quivering chin. "Ill be home in a few hours. Im taking that boy with me... the one I told you about at homecoming. I wish you could meet him. If you would get to know him, things would be different... I know that for sure." He folded over the hard edge at the top of the couch, feeling it dig into his ribs as he kissed his dads forehead. "I love you." He started to pick himself up, and then hesitated, feeling the words draw from his throat, "Dad, Im going to marry him. That boy... Im marrying him. Hes good to me, and he would be good to you, too, if you let him. Were going to start a life together, but Ill still be here to care for you. Im going to give us a good life, I promise."

Turning away from the couch at the sound of the clock dinging off another hour, Hunter considered that he probably had about ten minutes to arrive at Archers home before his presence would just be considered rude. He patted his pockets to make sure that he had his keys, and then suddenly remembered the flowers that he had left on the kitchen counter. "Damn." He hurried in that direction, unsure of why he was so frazzled and forgetful on the night that he just wanted to make sure went perfectly. Since a scenario that he couldnt have helped had disturbed their homecoming night, he wanted to make sure that Archer was thoroughly pleased with him on the night of his senior prom. He pushed aside the door and searched the counter for the flowers, swiping their wrapped stems when his fingers came across them. "If I screw this up, Ill have to make up for it by giving him a circus for a wedding." He muttered, and fished his keys out of his pocket.

All at once, he became aware of a rough shout from the living room. His head snapped up, eyes wide as they flicked around the nearby area for any kind of movement. "Dad?" His voice echoed off of the empty walls. Shuffling forward, Hunter touched his hand to the cool door, and peered around it. "Dad, what happened? Say my name. Ill come get you." Gulping, Hunter alertly watched the shadowy room, his hand squeezing the flowers so tightly that he heard their stems crunch. "Dad-" Hunters eyes zeroed in on a quick flash of movement to his right, and he followed it until it melted into the even blacker shadows of the furniture. "Dad, are you alright?"

Suddenly, Hunter whipped around with an alarmed bellow jangling in his throat as he felt his figure somewhere behind him. Hunter searched desperately for his dads body, wondering when he had come into the kitchen, and if it was now obvious that Hunters attempts to see were pathetic. A couple of drawers shook open, the clashing pieces of metal utensils making Hunter grind his teeth nervously. "Dad! Stop! What the fuck are you doing? Where are you?" The noises seemed to be coming from every angle, closing in on him, and Hunter saw the swift shadow looming nearer to him a second too late. A steel-like hand clamped around his neck, slamming him into one of the counters. The edge of it pressed into his skin, bruising him. A sharp cry broke out of Hunter.

Clawing at his dads meaty hand, Hunter felt a cold, sharp blade scrape over his jaw, drawing a single slit of blood onto his drained skin. The pit of his stomach felt weightless. "What did I tell you about that boy?" His dad growled close to his ear. Hunter pried away from him. "You werent supposed to see him. Youre thinking of leaving me?"

Hunter shook his head, "N-No..." He didnt know if he was answering his dad or not. "You were asleep... You werent supposed to hear any of that. Dad, let go! Youre sick!"

"Am I." Those two words werent a question, and Hunter swayed as a nauseating feeling rushed up his throat. Karofsky laughed throatily at his queasy reaction, "I might have been at one point, but maybe Im just tired now. That doesnt mean that you can just wander off on your own, though. Youre not going to get married, Hunter. When I took you in thirteen years ago, I swore that I would keep you all to myself. And Ill do that... even if it means I have to cut your limbs off." He leaned closer to Hunter, his acidic breath blowing in his wincing face. "You wont get away like Blaine did."

Tears pricked Hunters eyes as Karofsky lowered the knife to the hollow of his neck, pressing the flat of it into his tingling skin. "Please... Please." He begged, knowing that if he moved, he would die. He stood completely still, until something registered inside of him, and he violently bent over as an image came rushing into his head. It collided inside of him, and his brain burst into flames as he screamed.

His small eyes swept over the black haired boys worried face, and he heard him screech noisily, dimpled hands stretching out for him as Hunter was lifted from the safety of a pair of soft arms. "No!" Another voice piped up, the figure desperately flinging himself at the woman running away with Hunter bouncing along in her arms, before it was cut off by the dark haired girl swinging a hand out and slapping him across the face. "No! Hunter! Wait! Dont take him away! Santana, please! Karofsky will kill him if you do this!"

The woman didnt care, and didnt reply to his pére, or even turn around to acknowledge that he had spoken. Chomping down on his lip so he didnt cry, Hunter turned his gaze up to the soft part under the womans jaw. And then he lowered his eyes back to Archer, who was shrieking as he grabbed for his best friend. It was all a moment of chaos, and it seemed to be moving very slowly around Hunter. Looking down at his teddy bear, Hunter widened his eyes, considering dropping it so Archer could keep it during his absence, whatever was going to happen to him now, but for some reason he hugged it closer.

Other memories came crashing down on Hunter, all of the seconds that hed spent confused inside of his new home, and the moment that Karofsky told him that he had to stay in his bedroom while the woman returned to check up on him. Silencing his unnerving roar, Hunter slammed his elbow into Karofskys stomach. "Its you! Its your fault! It was them all along! I should have just let you die!" Intent on leaving Karofsky behind and never returning, Hunter pounded past him and slammed through the door. He didnt know what any of this meant, but he never wanted to forget again. Abruptly, a hand seized his arm, and Hunter jerked away so hard that his shoulder popped. "Let me go, you fuck! You wont have another second with me! Youve kept me hostage for the past thirteen years! How could I have been so damned stupid? How was it not clear to me?"

Karofsky overpowered him with his piles of muscles, and yanked him against his large chest. Tipping Hunters head back with a firm hand, he whispered coolly, "Didnt you hear me the first time? Youre not going anywhere." Before Hunter could retaliate, Karofsky smashed his neck in one hand, making Hunter choke as he was helplessly thrown to the ground. His head smacked the wall at an angle that made his neck bend backwards, and he sank to the floor like dead weight. Gasping, Hunter reached up for his head, everything so clear to him as he felt something watery coat his hand. He lowered his hand, and that was when the sounds and smells around him started to blur together. Hunters head rolled back, clunking against the floor, as his body was scooped up. He let out a pained groan as his limp body landed over a hard shoulder.

Archer tapped his heel to a rhythmic beat against the leg of the couch, head resting on his knuckles. He idly flickered his eyes back up to the clock, which showed that it was already fifteen minutes past the time that Hunter was supposed to pick him up. To any other couple, that would have been a sign of disrespect and neglect, but, to Archer, it meant so much more than that. He sucked his lips in, pretending that it wasnt getting so late, and that Hunter still had twenty minutes to make his appearance. He played with his hair, ruffling the brushed curls back into a frizzy mess. He heard his parents voices calling from upstairs, where they had retreated to ready themselves for bed. Knowing they would be coming downstairs any time now, he took no further prompting to click through his contacts and dial Hunters number.

Holding the phone up to his ear, Archer chewed a hole into his lip, "Pick up." He whispered to no one but the ringing on the other line. He numbly set the phone back down when Hunters voicemail picked up, somehow knowing that something had gone terribly wrong. This time, he wasnt going to have his fiancé be the one to drag his bloodied body to Archers doorstep. If Karofsky really was as dangerous as Hunter claimed, there was a chance that fighting fire with more fire would just get all of them burned. But he had to try. A life without his fiancé wasnt much of a life at all.

He stood, dragging himself to the bottom of the stairs, which his parents meandered back to the top of. They were chatting about things of no importance, but their voices dimmed when his daddy saw the expression on his face. "Sweetheart, whats wrong?" He asked unassumingly, even though Archer was sure that he already had his assumptions.

"Nothing." Archer pasted a fake smile onto his lips, certain that his parents could see right through it. As they descended the stairs, Archer took a few steps back. "I... I have to drive to the dance on my own. Hunters going to be late. Hell meet me there soon. Ill spend time with my cousins until he arrives-"

His daddy blinked at him, "Honey, do you want us to drive you?"

"No." Archer shook his head a second too quickly. His eyes swelled with a blanket of tears. "Daddy, dont trouble yourself. Im capable of driving." At the worried looks on his parents faces, Archer reached out for their hands and squeezed both of them. "S-Spend time with each other this evening, okay? Enjoy each others company. Ill be home by midnight, just like we promised." He leaned forward and kissed their cheeks, "I love both of you. Thank you for retrieving my outfit for me, Pére. Its more beautiful than I remember."

Archer backed away from both of them, taking reassurance from the blank looks on their faces, and slipped through the door. As he climbed into the front of his car, which he was only given permission to drive on special occasions since hed just recently gotten his license, and shrugged out of his jacket, he remained oblivious to his parents, who had slipped over to the window. Blaine watched his son through the window, eyes slitting as he struggled to buckle himself and key the car on. He turned his head to his husbands touch, "You dont believe him, Blaine."

"Youre damned right, I dont." Blaine grumbled, going over to the counter to fetch his own keys. "Somethings gone wrong. His voice was shaking. Im going to follow him. Keegan, I want you to stay here with Kurt and make sure that hes okay."

Kurt was unaware of the confirmation that Blaine had gotten, after so many months of wondering, "Do you think something bad will happen, Blaine? That I will get hurt? I want to come with you."

"Absolutely not." Blaine shrugged into his jacket, "I know that its something bad, and thats why you need to stay here, where its safe-" He hesitated when Kurt touched his sleeve, gazing up at him with a pair of big, blue eyes. Sighing, he drew him close and kissed the top of his head, "Honey, I cant put your life in danger."

"But is that what a marriage is?" Kurt questioned into his shirt, "Were supposed to be together, Blaine, no matter what happens. How will I ever know that youre safe if Im not with you?"

Blaine realized that his husband was too stubborn to back down, so he groaned deeply, pushing away from him. He yanked off his jacket once more and draped it over Kurts shoulders. "Fine... but youll stay in the car. Keegan, can you come with us and-?" Keegan nodded before Blaine finished his statement. "Were going to bring our son back, safe and sound. But Hunters coming back with us, too, and hes not going back to that place."

Archer pulled up into the gravelly driveway at Hunters home, which no lights were beaming out of. It was nearly an hour into the dance, but Archer couldnt have cared how many kids, miles away from him, were talking and laughing with each other. He stayed in his car for a half of a second, wondering what he could do to ease this situation for Hunter. He had seen Karofsky, who easily towered a foot and a half over Archer, and tripled his weight. Licking his lips, he started to lean over to turn the engine off, when he jumped backwards because a streak of lightning bolted in front of the car. He placed his hand on his thumping heart, his eyes growing wider as what he once thought were irrational fears all came swirling around him. Suddenly, Archers head whipped around to the grappling he heard off to the left. He smashed himself into the back of his seat when Karofsky thundered into his line of sight, looking much bigger and more vital than he had in the hospital.

Taking a deep breath, Archer squinted at the man who crunched across the lawn, heading toward a small, rickety shed. It was tipping slightly to one side, and the wood was frayed at the edges. As Karofsky turned slightly, Archer noticed another form dangling from his shoulder. This body was long and lanky, but completely powerless as it swayed from side to side in Karofskys grip. "Hunter!" Archer whispered to himself, watching Karofsky pry open the door to the shed. It took some effort, since the nails had rusted, but he finally dragged it open. Its harsh squeal made Archer flinch. The noise seemed to stir Hunter, who groggily started to move on his own, his hand rising to a swollen bump on his head. "No... he cant put him in there. Do something, stupid!" Archer brought his hands up to his head, digging his fingers into his hair, as he stared, feeling utterly helpless.

Then it all seemed to come together for Archer, who decided to act without thinking, and shift the car back into the driving position. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands, the pink color in his knuckles fading. "Dammit." He grumbled, and then he threw caution to the wind, stamping his foot down on the gas pedal. His car jerked forward, making Archer suck in a deep breath. Chunks of grass flew up under his spinning tires as he angled the car toward Karofsky. Because his car wasnt meant to go off-road, the engine grinded violently, and the tires became flatter every time they bounced over a small hill. Karofsky noticed this cacophony of noises a second too late. From the way that he was standing, Archers car plowed into his back. Archer let out a terrified sound as he felt his body smack into the front bumper, the resistance making Archers car lean backward. "Oh, no." To his relief, his car corrected itself, and plunked to the ground with the sharp movements of adjusting metal.

Knowing that the tires and engine probably looked the worse-for-wear, Archer clambered from the front seat because he couldnt use the car to his advantage anymore. He climbed to the ground on shaky legs, darting around to the front of it. Karofsky had landed just in front of the wheezing car, his arms tucked beneath him and his legs bent at awkward angles. The blow seemed to have at least stunned him for long enough that Archer could run past him to Hunter, who had been thrown off of Karofskys shoulders from the blunt force. He was several feet away, wriggling around on his back as he tried to orientate himself to his surroundings. "Hunter!" Archer cried, flinging himself to his knees beside of the groaning man. Putting his hands under Hunters head and shoulders, he lifted him onto his lap and surveyed the damage. He inhaled sharply as he realized that the bruise on his head was surrounding a spot that had been split open. He didnt know if Hunter had a concussion or not, but he assumed not because he was able to make somewhat logical sentences.

"Archer?" He seemed to be asking, flinging his shaking hands up to his face. Archer nodded quickly, and then remembered that Hunter couldnt even see him. Tears leaked from his eyes as he whispered over and over that, yes, it was him. "Archer, you have to get out of here. H-Hell hurt you. Go. Go now."

Archer shook his head, "You have to come with me. Hunter, we have to get out of here. Come on... can you stand?"

"Im not strong enough to!" Hunter warned him when Archer tried yanking on his shoulders to pull him upright. "Archer, Ill slow you down. I cant see anything. You have to run. It doesnt matter what happens to me. Hell stop soon enough. Youll leave if you love me-"

Archers breath heaved from his lungs, "No... I cant. How do I know that hell stop, Hunter? What kind of life would you make me live thats one without you in it?" Abruptly turning a shade whiter when a hand closed around his neck, Archer stopped moving because he knew who was behind him. He hadnt realized he stood up while Archer was caring for his son. Even though Hunter couldnt see what was going on, he felt Archers body turn rigid. "Karofsky, you dont want to do this." Archer said in as clear of a voice as he could manage, "Hunters injured. Let me help him."

Hunters mouth fell open, and he tried picking himself up from the ground, only to fall backwards when his head pounded so hard that he lost all use of his senses for a brief moment. A rough noise broke out of him, and he covered his wound with the palm of his hand. "Dad, no! Back off of Archer!"

Karofsky dragged Archers head backward, making him stare at his dark face upside down, as he squeezed the short length of his neck. He chuckled deeply, pressing his other hand to Archers chest and letting it roam down his stomach. "You feel like Blaine. You have his body type." Archers eyes became huge as Karofsky bent over him, his whiskey-scented breath making Archer pucker his face up. He whipped it to the side, becoming squeamish as the tip of Karofskys nose touched his cheek. Knowing that he was about to kiss him, Archer threw his hands out and dug his blunt nails into Karofskys cheeks. Even though he couldnt dig in very far, Karofsky still jolted backward, and he slapped Archer so hard that his body instantly collapsed to the ground. He rolled closer to Hunter, watching Karofsky rub at his face, "You bitch! Ill kill you for that!"

Archer didnt know where the spark of fearlessness had ignited from, but he let out a high pitched screech when Karofsky bent to scoop him up, his hands grabbing Karofskys head and pushing it away. Hunter weakly pushed himself up to his knees, trying to follow them. Archer watched his fiancé bow over the ground, head pulsing against all of his jerky movements. Squirming, Archer ducked under the doorway that Karofsky took him into, finally giving him a view of the inside of his home. He left the lights off, so Archer took what he could from the glimpses that the reflective moon gave him, noting the lack of furniture. The home smelled strongly of stale cigarettes. No wonder Hunter had gotten out and settled into his cellar. Archers body wobbled as Karofsky stomped up the stairs. Suddenly hearing a door swing open, Archer turned his head over his shoulder, seeing his shaky fiancé enter the house. He leaned heavily against the wall, as if those few steps had worn him out. "Let him go, Dad!" He yelled up to the top floor, "Let him go! Ill never see him again! I wont try to go anywhere!"

Karofsky ignored his son, and gripped Archer tighter around his waist. The pain of his muscular arm digging into him made Archer grunt lowly. He stared blankly at the can of sloshy gasoline that Karofsky pulled out of the closet. Karofsky unscrewed the lid, filling the air around them with the rancid odor. Archer turned his head to the side. "What are you doing with that?"

"Ive always hated it here." It was in that statement that Archer realized just how crazy his own life had driven Karofsky. He wasnt sure if he was referring to the home itself, or to something bigger, that Archer couldnt even wrap his head around. Shaking the can out above the carpet, Karofsky leaned over the staircase and dumped the rest of the fluid out. Archers stomach rolled nervously. Turning back to the closet, Karofsky shoved a few jackets to the floor, as well as a couple of glass ornaments that shattered upon impact. He found a box of matches near the back, and he smiled darkly, using his good hand to shake one of them out.

Before Karofsky could swipe it over the grainy strip on the side of the box, Archer uncertainly touched his hand, which could have crushed his without much force applied, "W-Wait. Karofsky, dont you want your son to have a happy life? Do you think this will do much good for him?"

Karofskys blank eyes stared at his face, "I cant make him stay with me if hes alive. But well be together if were dead." He said that with so much confidence that Archer whimpered, feeling sick at his gut. Karofsky laughed deeply at the expression on his face, "You try to do things the reasonable way if everyone in your life was trying to leave you." At that last sentence, he struck the match over the sandy paper, and Archer shrieked as he dropped the tiny, wilting flame into the dark, oily spots on the floor. Covering his face, Archer felt a rapid explosion of heat hit him. Karofsky staggered back, and then started to shake with maniacal, heaving laughter as soaring flames burst out of the ground, instantly punching holes into the framework of the house. "Yes! Something is finally going my way!" He screamed, his wild eyes snapping over to Hunter, who was weakly climbing the stairs. "Youre too late, Hunter! You cant escape me now!" He carelessly tossed Archer to the ground, and Hunter, hearing the clunk of his body, hurried over to him, narrowly missing the streak of fire that rose up beside of him.

He dropped next to Archer, gathering him in his arms, and checked him over for any injuries. "We have to get out of here, Hunter." Archer reminded him, turning his head and watching the fire quickly consume the top floor of the house. Suddenly feeling his body rock to the side, Archer flicked his eyes down as the floor slanted, the boards getting eaten up by the raging flames. "Hunter, we have to hurry! The floors going to give out!" Pushing himself up, he took his fiancés trembling hand, and he pulled him along after him. The floor that he walked over yelped up at him, warning that it was about to collapse under their feet. Behind him, Karofsky kept booming with loud mirth, and Archer glanced back only for a second to see him standing there, hands raised to catch the specks of ash that fell into his palms. Turning back to his fiancé, Archer led him down the stairs, narrowly escaping. He noticed all of the differences between Hunter and his dad, who no longer looked so similar as he took hilarity out of the devastating situation.

Coughing as smoke billowed in front of his face, Archer heard the poles that held up the top floor bust in half. He darted off of the last few steps, pulling Hunter against him as the top floor slanted downward, and then collapsed, pieces of wood and devoured furniture all hitting the ground. Among the mess that landed in front of Archer and Hunter was Karofsky, buried deep among the turmoil that he had caused. Realizing that the fire was sneaking over to the gasoline that Karofsky had poured onto the bottom floor, Archer whirled around, grabbing the door and yanking it open. Instantly, fresh air hit his sweating face. He pulled his fiancé out with him, and the two of them crumpled onto the grass, exhausted and panting. Archer hid his weeping face in the crunchy grass, staring at his fiancés discolored face, which he reached out for and smoothed his hand over. He brushed a smudge of ash away from Hunters winged brow. "Hunter?" He asked weakly, nudging him with his elbow. "Hunter, open your eyes."

To his relief, Hunter cracked his eyes open, peering at Archer with an emotional gaze. He suddenly lunged toward him, taking him into his arms and crushing him against his chest. "Im so sorry." Hunter hissed, and Archer cried harder as his fiancés tears spilled into his messy hair. "This is what I didnt want you to see." Kissing him firmly, Hunter listened to the crackling fire eat his house piece by piece, and wondered if this was really what his dad wanted for himself. It was too late to take it back. The thought made Hunter sniffle, because he hadnt been able to save his dad.

Hearing the windows on the bottom floor shatter from the pressure of the swelling smoke, Archer raised his head back up and saw the entire house crumble until nothing was left of it but a portion of the roof, suspended in the air by a few supports. Some of the top floor-maybe a section of the hallway-had been salvaged, and left to hover in the air, but the bottom floor was in shambles, and all of it was crumpled over one humans body. Thinking that he or Hunter could have been in that mess, Archer clung tighter to Hunter. He would never let his fiancé go again.

As Archer watched the fire take what was left of the house, he noticed a faint sign of movement from within the home. Archer wiggled uncomfortably, yanking on Hunters arms. "Hunter-" Hunter raised his head just as a heavy table flew across a damaged room-maybe the kitchen, smashing into a wall and breaking into five different pieces. Gasping, Archer tried to get up and take Hunter with him, but Hunters body had become mushy. "Hunter, the fall didnt kill him." Suddenly, a growling man appeared from under mounds of rubble, his face bloodied from sharp edges and hard objects falling on top of him. He clumsily pulled himself up, shoving away from where the fire had started to burn steadily on the bottom floor. "Hunter!"

Karofsky emerged from the remnants of the fire, leaning over and digging through the blackened items for something. Archers eyes widened as he pulled up a knife. "Hunter!" Archer scrambled to his knees, dragging his fiancé up. Hunter torpidly followed him, but couldnt attach himself to reality. He sluggishly let himself be dragged across the yard, as if he couldnt make his body move fast enough if he tried. When he got far enough away, Archer turned back around, feeling his fiancé prop himself up and reopen his eyes. The shuddering home exhaled plumes of gray, thick smoke, the fire gnawing on the shingles on the roof and making wider gaps for it to escape through.

Whipping around at the sound of something approaching them from behind, Archer widened his eyes as his parents car pulled up at the end of the driveway. His daddy and Uncle Keegan were slack jawed, sitting in the front seats, while Archer caught a glimpse of his pére in the back. Before he could spend any more attention on them, he whirled back around to the house, which Karofsky was staggering out of. He held the knife in front of him as he stumbled in the direction of his son and Archer. While Archer could have easily climbed into the car with his parents and driven off, he knew that Karofsky had to be stopped, once and for all, or else he would never stop trying to attack them. Leaving Hunters side, he bolted in the direction of the house, hearing his daddys frantic shout echo behind him. Karofsky noticed his sudden movement and prowled after him.

"Archer! No!" Hunter started to go after him, his movements rocky and hesitant, because he couldnt get a grip on how close or far away anything was from him. A sturdy hand on his shoulder stopped him, and he found himself sitting down on the hood of a car.

"Stay here." Blaines firm voice hit his ears, "You cant do much for anyone right now." Blaines hand left him as quickly as it had lain across him, and Hunter heard Kurt cry anxiously after his husband.

Unaware of exactly what was happening around him, Hunter spun his head around when Kurts tiny form huddled against his side. "Blaine!" He tried again, his voice a soft peep. Sliding his arm around Kurt, since he could do little for his own fiancé, Hunter brought him against his chest. Shutting his eyes as the ground beneath them trembled, Hunter drew Kurt closer, hearing another person join them.

"Kurt! Hunter! Watch out!" Keegan called, moving his body in front of theirs as an enormous eruption from inside of the house sent debris spewing all around them. He yelped as something hit his back, so Hunter quickly moved him to the side. As soon as the aftermath slowed, Hunter tried to look out at Archer, but could see nothing. His lack of vision was driving him insane.

Feeling Kurts trembling body sag against his, Hunter pulled him close once more. "Keegan, Im going to take Kurt somewhere safer. I have a place for him. Please... go help my fiancé. Get him out of there." Without waiting for Keegans approval, Hunter picked Kurts light form up and slung him over his shoulder. He moved as quickly as he could across the lawn, heading in the direction of his cellar. Stepping over tree limbs and weeds, Hunter stopped in front of the slab of wood. He let Kurt sink to his feet as Hunter pulled it up, and he dropped into the black hole. Holding his arms up for Kurt, Hunter scooped him back up when he set his delicate hands onto his shoulders. He lowered both of them into the cellar and shut them in, then left Kurts side so he could light a lantern for him. Once the room was illuminated, Hunter lowered to his knees beside of his dresser, "Youre going to be safe in here. Stay here until I come back to get you." He warned Kurt, who he could hear moving closer to him.

Kurts voice sounded unsure, as if he didnt really know what he wanted to say, "Who... Who are you? Youre not who I thought you were."

Hunter pulled his gun out of the drawer, and he dug around for the spare bullets he kept next to it. Picking one of them up, Hunter swore noisily as it slipped through his fingers and pinged to the floor. He patted for it, not able to move quickly enough, when he felt Kurt tap his shoulder. He looked up at him, and he felt him press the bullet into his hand. He knew how much that action meant to Kurt, who he was sure had never been involved in killing a man before. "Come back quickly." Kurt whispered to him, looping his arms around his neck. "And be safe."

Hunter nodded, leaving Kurt once more as he returned to the slab of wood and pushed up on it. He boosted himself out, shutting Kurt inside and hurrying into his yard. A few yards of distance in front of him, Blaine clambered into the piles of rubble. The fire had slowed, leaving the home as nothing more than a skeleton. He peered up at his son, who had brought Karofsky up to what was left of the top floor. When his son took a step onto a narrow piece of wood that led to nothing, a chunk of it snapped off under his weight, and Blaine yelled as his son lost his balance. Archer swung his fists at Karofsky, who stalked after him. "Karofsky!" Blaine screamed at the man hunting his son, and at the sound of his voice, Karofskys head whipped around. His eyes widened at the sight of Blaine, who shook his head at the man he never expected to see again. "Karofsky! Dont hurt him!"

An unsettling smile spread onto Karofskys face, and he jabbed his hand out, snagging his quivering son around his hips. "Blaine." He muttered, holding the hand that had the knife up to Archers head as he dragged his fingers through his curls. "I knew it. He is related to you. What is he? Your nephew?"

"Hes my son." Blaine turned his head when Keegans blond form appeared beside of him. Both of them stared up at Karofsky. "Please... let him go."

Karofsky gawked at Blaine, pinching a piece of Archers hair between his fingers and pressing it to the flat side of the knife. "Your son. So, you and Kurt got married and had a kid? And I wasnt invited to the wedding? But we were so close at one point, Blaine." He turned to Archer, who was holding his hands out so he wouldnt tip back and forth. "Weve fucked before." He informed him, and Archer briefly glanced at him before returning his gaze to the ground.

"It was a mistake, Archer. He manipulated me. I thought I loved him." Blaine pleaded, and before he could go on, Karofsky interrupted him shortly.

"A mistake?" Karofsky laughed once more, "Thats not what you said when you used to kiss me." Grabbing Archers nape, Karofsky flung the upper half of his body forward, making Archer cry out as he stared down at the floor below him. Blaine jolted forward, arms outstretched. "Would it be a mistake if I shoved him right now? Could you forgive me for it?"

Blaine was hardly aware of Keegan moving away from him as Karofsky suddenly pushed his son, sending his flailing body over the edge. Jumping to the place where his body would crash to the ground, he let out a rough noise as Archers body slammed into his arms. Archer made a shaky, weak sound, his trembling body curling into Blaines chest as he slowly knelt to the ground. Rocking his son back and forth, Blaine whispered, "Ive got you. Daddys here now."

"Daddy, I-I dont understand-"

Archer stopped speaking when, from above them, Karofsky teetered forward, a horrid sound ripping from his throat, as Keegan withdrew a shard of glass from his bloodied side. The tearing sound of flesh made him wince, and he watched Karofsky fall forward, only to be caught by Keegans long arms. "Youre the man who took Evie from me." Keegan said gutturally, slamming his knee into his lower back. Suddenly removing his arms, Keegan pushed Karofsky off of the creaking piece of wood. Keegan stood on the unraveled, blue carpet as Karofsky fell to the ground with a hard thud, and then he jumped down after him, landing on the heels of his feet. He slammed the toe of his shoe into Karofskys hurt side, making him yelp, before he balled up a fistful of his shirt.

Karofsky let out an inhuman noise as Keegan restrained him. Pushing upright, Karofsky slammed his body into Keegans legs, making him fall backward and hit a wall. Blaine suddenly picked himself up and grabbed Karofskys chest, so he was held in place from both sides. Turning his head, Blaine screamed at someone Archer didnt see, "Hunter, shoot him!"

Archer spun around to face his fiancé, who appeared from the enveloping blackness. The expression on his face was one of impassiveness. He dragged himself over to his writhing dad, who sneered at him and spat at the ground he stood on. Rubbing his thumb over the trigger on the gun that he was holding, Hunter made a weak sound, his eyes brimming with tears as he turned his head, unable to see his dad like this. "Hunter! Do it now!" Blaine demanded, tightening his grip as Karofsky hurled himself from side to side. "He isnt your dad anymore! Hes barely human!"

When Hunter hesitated for another second, Keegan held his hand out, "Let me do it. I feel nothing toward him." Hunter pressed the gun into his thigh, unwilling to surrender this duty to another person.

He shook his head, coming closer. When the light streaked over his face, Archer saw that tears were leaking down his cheeks. "No... I have to be the one to do it. Hes my dad." He stood in front of Karofsky, who snorted at him, and pressed his hand to his cheek. "Youve caused a lot of people pain, Dad. You took someones loved one away from him. You nearly killed my fiancé. And you hurt my other parents. Is that really what you wanted?" When Karofsky didnt reply, Hunter sobbed weakly, pressing his face into his dads shoulder. "Archer, turn your head."

From the ground, Archer widened his eyes, and he slowly shifted around until he faced the other way. He felt cold and uneasy as he realized that his fiancé was going to kill a man. He couldnt see what was happening, but he heard his fiancés wavering voice, "I would shoot you in your heart, but you dont have one." After that statement, Archer jumped at the sound of the air splitting in half as a bullet raced through it. The bullet plunged through Karofskys skin, and Archer shuddered as he made throaty noises, gargling and huffing, before everything became silent. Hunter made a distraught noise as the two men let Karofskys body go, and it sagged to the ground. He followed it down, and he laid his head over its stilled chest. "I love you, Daddy." Hunter whispered, and at those words, Archer twisted back around, watching Hunter embrace the dead body that had once been his dad. Karofskys head lolled backwards, revealing the blood that dripped from a hole in his neck-an unnoticeable place that would have been easier for Hunter to shoot than his head.

His daddy and uncle slowly sat down beside of Hunter, their eyes glancing upward at the sky, which started to sob. Rain dripped down on the smoking house, and over their dusty bodies, making their hair fall into their faces. Archer scooted closer to his fiancé, placing a hand on his back. Hunter lifted himself, facing Archers saddened face, and he bundled him in his arms. Abruptly, another form wandered over to them, cautiously stepping over the remains of the house. Blaine rose onto his knees, holding his arms out for his husband. Kurt slowly placed himself in his lap, tears jiggling on his lashes as he stared at the dead body of the man who had ruined all of their lives. The hiding was over now.