The smell of coppery blood was choking him. It covered his boots and seeped through the bottoms of his pants, making them cling to his legs. The smell grew worse with every deep, panicked breathe he sucked in.

“William,” A horrible voice made him freeze, mouth dry.

Blaine turned, heart pounding wildly, to see Gallaway standing in the doorway. He held the axe in his hand and took a step into the gore filled room. With a gasp, Blaine staggered backwards and slipped slightly in the congealing blood. 

“Come now boy,” He said soothingly. “It’ll be over soon.”

“No,” Blaine shook his head, eyes wide.

“This is the way it is going to be,” Gallaway raised his axe above his shoulder and moved towards the teenager. Spurred on by terror, Blaine dodged the swinging blade and sprinted out of the door. He could hear the axe smack into the wooden bed frame and Gallaway curse as it got stuck.

His feet slipped on the steps but he managed to stay upright by holding on to the banister. Blaine let out a soft groan of pain when his ankle twisted but the sound of Gallaway reaching the stairs made him sprint to the front door.

It was the first time he had ever gotten this far. In all the other dreams he had ended up on his back choking on his own blood but this time he was going to get out. Blaine tore open the door and stumbled through, slamming it behind him.

Panting, Blaine leaned against the door and took a deep breath. He allowed himself a small smile before opening his eyes and taking a step forward. To his absolute horror he found himself facing the inside of the house again.

He tried several times to leave through the front door but every time he did he would just end up inside where he had started. With a sob, he slid down the door and sat on the bloody floor.

“You can’t leave,” He froze, staring up at the monster standing near the staircase. “This is the end William.”

“I’m not William,” Blaine snarled.

“That doesn’t matter to me,” Gallaway cocked his head to the side and smiled as Blaine staggered up to his feet.

“Don’t come any closer,” Blaine hissed.

“Or what?” Gallaway laughed loudly and waved his axe. “There is no scenario where you win. You’re going to die.”

“No I’m not,” Blaine shook his head, eyes narrowed.

“This is new,” The older man grinned at him with discolored teeth. “Usually people are begging me for mercy by now.”

“I won’t,” Blaine felt a wave of rage rush through him.

“It is mercy you know,” Gallaway’s eyes flashed. “No one will miss you. Hell, they might even be happy that you’re gone.”

“They wont,” Blaine snapped, pressed against the door.

“You are a coward. Your family is afraid of you and embarrassed that you chose such a revolting way of life. Your parents can’t be in the same room as you and your brother left when you needed him most because he couldn’t stand the sight of you.”

“You’re lying.”

“It’s true. You tell your family you’re gay and everyone leaves,” Gallaway shrugged. “I mean…you’re little boyfriend doesn’t even want you. You think anyone wants to spend their life with someone like you?”

“Kurt loves me,” Blaine tipped his chin up.

“He’s with you because he has no other options,” Gallaway smirked at him and came even closer. “You think the moment he leaves for someone grander he wont find someone better? Someone without so many issues?”

Blaine swallowed thickly and clenched his hands into fists.

“I was there for all those nights you sobbed in despair because you were so terrified of what you were. I was there when everyone abandoned you. I was there for those nights when you planned how you were going to end your life,” Gallaway lifted his axe. “Let me help you.”

The axe whistled as it fell towards Blaine’s head. The teenager leapt forward and scrambled on his hands and knees past Gallaway before sprinting for the stairs.

“You can’t run,” Gallaway snarled. “You are going to die regardless.”

“I’m not going to die,” Blaine said, slightly hysterical. “I don’t want to die.”

He landed a strong kick to the back of Gallaway’s knee, making him crash to the ground and jumped to his own feet. Ignoring the twinge of pain in his ankle, Blaine ran for the stairs. He didn’t know where he was running but knew that he had to get away.

As he ran up the stairs, a hand twisted around his leg and he fell. Winded, Blaine struggled against the hold and reached his hands out to grab at other steps. He dragged himself a little farther and felt his hand curl around a metal bed post.

“Blaine?” Kurt’s voice, regardless of how terrified he sounded, was like water to a man dying of thirst. “Sweetheart?”

“Kurt,” He choked, feeling those fingers squeezing his ankle. “No, no, no, no.”

“You’re alright,” Cooper soothed, sounding relieved that his brother had finally broken out of his daze. “Blaine you did it. You’re okay.”

“No,” He ground out, chest feeling like it was caving in. “He’s not gone.”

Cold fingers dug into his chest and he cried out in pain. Blaine gritted his teeth in agony, kicking out at nothing.

“I don’t want to die,” He snarled to Gallaway. The fingers crept further up until they felt like they were digging into his very soul, twisting into him and ripping him apart.

No.

No.

No.

Blaine gasped and kicked out, landing a kick at Gallaway’s head and grinning to himself as the man let out a shout.

“I’m not dying here,” Blaine scrambled up some stairs, panting.

“Why not just let me do it?” Gallaway snarled at him. “You’re just delaying the inevitable.”

“Fuck you,” Blaine spat in his face and jumped to his feet.

He tried to run past him again, but Gallaway’s hand tangled in his shirt and threw him down the stairs. Blaine yelped as his head cracked painfully on every step. He gasped and stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore the stars bursting in his vision.

Gallaway appeared above him and lifted the axe, glaring. The axe whistled as it swung down but missed by mere inches when Blaine rolled away. He scrambled into the living room and let out a shrill scream when the axe slammed into his side.

He fell with a whimper and continued crawling forward. Gallaway laughed softly, kicking Blaine in the chest to make him sprawl on his back in front of the fireplace.

“It’s over,” Gallaway said, raising his axe over his head.

The lights dimmed, the windows slammed shut, and the fire blazed so brightly Blaine winced at the heat.

“Now, hush,” The axe began to swing down and Blaine scrambled him hands backwards, closing on something thin and metal.

He thrust it forward and the axe froze. Blaine opened his eyes to see wide, pained eyes staring back at him. The end of a fire poker was lodged in Gallaway’s chest and he choked slightly, axe falling to the ground with a loud clatter.

Blaine twisted the poker and rolled to the side. With a pained groan, Gallaway fell forward, landing face first in the fire. The man screamed in pain and tried to force himself up but Blaine shoved a nearby bookshelf and watched as it fell onto his back.

Howling in pain, Gallaway thrashed but was well pinned in the fire. Blaine fell backwards, gasping and watched as the man’s struggles grew weaker and weaker. When he went still Blaine pulled himself to his feet and whimpered in pain.

He limped to the front door, holding his side, and opened it before falling through.

Blaine took in a huge gasp, arching his body off the floor. His chest ached as he drew in gulps of air and his mind grew less foggy. His fingernails scrambled on the metal bed post as he tried to get his bearings.

“Don’t move,” He heard Cooper say sharply and Finn knelt down by him, handing him a pillow case. “Blaine can you hear me?”

Blaine let out a scream of pain as Cooper pressed the pillow case into the deep wound on his side. His vision grew blurry as blood continued to soak the cloth and he moaned softly.

“Please talk to us,” Kurt sounded like he was crying and Blaine became desperate to touch him.

“Untie me,” He whimpered hoarsely.

“We can’t do that,” Cooper tightened the pillow case.

“He’s gone,” Blaine whispered, staring at Kurt’s face. “Please, untie me. I swear it’s me. Untie me.”

Finn leaned forward, despite Cooper shaking his head. His quickly untied the now bloody ties and let Blaine’s ripped up wrists fall to the group. Kurt pulled him up so he was half laying in his lap and stroked his hair.

“He’s gone,” Blaine let out a slightly hysterical sounding laugh. “I can’t…I can’t feel him anymore. I’m alone.”

“You’re not alone,” Kurt said vehemently, tightening his grip and Blaine smiled.

“I know…but I’m alone in here,” His vision blurred more and his hand reached weakly to touch his temple. “It’s good Kurt.”

“Call 911,” Cooper hissed to Finn who stumbled away with his phone.

“I’m not William,” Blaine gasped, no longer able to feel the pain. “I’m not. I’m just myself.”

“I know,” Kurt sniffed and Blaine reached up to brush a tear off his cheek with a trembling hand. “I love you.”

Blaine smiled shakily and took Kurt’s hand in his own. The calm in his mind was amazing and he felt himself relaxing more.

“Stay awake Blaine,” Cooper rested a hand on his brother’s chest, shaking him slightly. “Talk to me.”

“’m tired,” He slurred, eyes drooping. “Wanna sleep.”

“I know, the ambulance will be here soon,” Cooper glanced over to Finn, feeling tears spring to his eyes as the boy spoke hurriedly to the 911 operator. “Stay with us until then.”

Blaine smiled softly as his eyes slid shut. He could hear the others in the room speaking to him but the exhaustion was overwhelming.