Kurt woke up at 6AM with Blaine still in his arms. It was a little too warm under the covers but he didn't really want to move. Peering at his arm (which now said "Blain"), he imagined the things he and Blaine would do together later that day, and next week, and next year. He let himself drift off into lovely dreams of their future. They would live together in New York, they would go to Broadway shows every week and sing karaoke in the middle of Washington Square Park. Maybe they would have kids. Blaine must want kids too, right? If they were soulmates they had to have those things in common, he was pretty sure.

Kurt woke up again at 10AM, and Blaine wasn't there. He checked his phone, and saw 5 texts and 3 missed calls. Forcing himself to wake up more quickly, he started stretching his legs and arms as he read the messages on his phone.

8AM. Blaine: Kurt, we need to talk about something important. Call me when you're up.

9AM. Blaine: Kurt, call me ASAP.

9:30AM. Blaine: Call me before you talk to Adam, okay?

9:35 AM. Blaine: You know that I'm in love with you, right?

9:45. Blocked Number: Call Blaine.

Perplexed, and a little nervous, Kurt dialed Blaine's number.

"Kurt, thank God! How did you sleep through my calls?"

"Um...I don't know. Well I'm getting back to you now, right? What happened, I woke up and you weren't here." A bit of gloom was in his voice. Kurt had been looking forward to waking up together.

"Kurt, Adam challenged me to an official competition. A competition for you."

"That's ridiculous. Those don't even happen anymore. I think one time Adam told me about a second cousin whose soulmate was foreign, and their customs were pretty different, but Adam is from here. Just refuse him. I already chose you, Blaine."

"I can't. He came to my door this morning, broke my nose, and threatened my life. I have been looking into it, and there are actual locations for competitions that still go on even in modern times. It's just rare and kind of taboo. Kurt I think he could actually kill me. Listen, I brought Adam here, but you have to be here for it to begin."

"WHAT?! You are there right NOW?! Then get the fuck back here where you are safe and I will take care of Adam."

"No you won't, Kurt. Adam isn't going to listen to you. I don't even blame him, I have barely begun to be your soulmate and I think living without you could already make me go crazy. This way we won't kill each other. Get dressed and go outside. Sebastian will pick you up."

"Sebastian? Why Sebastian?"

"He is my new candidate counselor."

"Blaine this is really fucked up."

"Get dressed, and get in the car. We can't do this unless you are here."

"That's right I'll come over there, Blaine. I'll come over there and drag your stupid naive young ass back home before you make a horrible mistake!"

Kurt hung up the phone, and was completely paralyzed by shock for a few minutes before he bolted into action. He didn't bother showering, just put on his clothes from the night before and met Sebastian, who was waiting outside in a car.

They sped to a location about 15 minutes away, slightly outside of town, near an old bowling alley. But when they got out of the car, two men in suits holding blindfolds walked out of a small black van, and invited them both in. Kurt knew this felt wrong, but Sebastian seemed to know about this process and calmly put on his blindfold and sat in the car, so Kurt followed suit. Loud classical music was playing, which prevented them from speaking to each other very much during the short ride.

Their blindfolds were removed and they emerged with the two men in suits into a parking garage. They were led to a nondescript metal elevator, which brought them to a strange room that looked like small nightclub. The walls were black, there were weapons hung on the walls, and a circular white shape was painted in the middle of the otherwise black floor. Kurt thought darkly of the movie Fight Club. This was ridiculous.

Kurt's breath caught in his throat as he spotted Blaine and Adam speaking to each other on the far side of the room. He began to stride over to them, feeling like he needed to be touching Blaine in order to start breathing normally again. But one man in a suit stopped him.

"Mr. Hummel, you need to sign the consent form in order to enter the arena. You too, Mr. Smythe."

Sebastian began to read through the form thoroughly and thoughtfully, but Kurt just scribbled his signature and ran toward Blaine, almost violently grabbing him away from his conversation with Adam.

"Kurt, I told you. This is the only way that we can-"

Adam interrupted him. "I withdraw from the competition, Blaine. Kurt is yours."

"What?" Kurt asked.

"WHAT?" Blaine yelled.

Adam and Sebastian made eye contact across the dark room. Sebastian slowly walked over, his arms crossed over his chest, with a determined glint in his eye.

Then he looked at Kurt.

"Kurt, I officially challenge you to a competition to be Blaine's final soulmate."