Encore 2/?
Chapters: 2/?
Author: redmercenary
Beta: darksoulripper
Genre: Horror, Suspense, Romance
Warnings: May be a bit of manxman in later chapters, gore
Pairings/Characters: Reituki. Other pairings undetermined
Disclaimer: I don’t own The GazettE
Synopsis: The night was supposed to be fantastic, it was Tokyo Dome night, but Ruki and Reita cant put aside their differences after just breaking up. Now something seriously has gone wrong and what was supposed to be the best night of the bands lives is turned upside down when everyone but them disappears and they’re hunted them in one of the biggest stadiums in the world.
Comments: Sorry for late update!
Encore
“Where’s the door?” Aoi complained, reaching out grasping thin air. The two had gone looking for the exit, but it was harder than expected. It was too dark for even the creatures of the night. “Uruha, are you far behind?” Aoi was afraid to turn, he could end up going the wrong way. It was laughable really, going the wrong way when it was a straight line to the back. Aoi paused, not hearing his partner’s voice. “Uruha?”
Behind him Uruha shuddered and he felt the plastic of a chair squeak, signaling Uruha squeezed it. “It feels weird right now…” He admitted. Aoi stopped and took his chances to turn to Uruha.
“You’re just tipsy from alcohol.” he accused and Uruha scoffed.
“I don’t drink enough to get drunk, Aoi. You know that.”
“Well I don’t feel weird.” That statement was partially true. Aoi had felt a little wary before, but when Uruha spoke up now he felt a little freaked out. Damn Uruha’s perfect mouth. However, Uruha hardly ever felt disturbed, he was always the epitome of peace of mind. Would he note something that was just a thought only pertaining to him? No he wouldn’t.
“Lets just find the exit and get back so we can have a smoke.” Uruha spoke up. Aoi sighed and nodded, even though he knew the beautiful guitarist wouldn’t see.
“Sounds like a plan.” Aoi turned himself around and walked along. It was deadly quiet only the light thump of his shoes and Uruha’s heels were heard. In such silence it wasn’t hard to miss Reita’s cry.
“Go away!”
The two jumped and looked back, Aoi groaned inwardly. “I didn’t even think that we’d be leaving the match and dynamite together.”
“They need to get over their fight themselves, you know.” Uruha said softly and Aoi shrugged.
“I understand, but could they do it at a more appropriate time?”
“Not at all Aoi. Not at all.” Aoi sighed and turned back to his assignment, Uruha following after him. He listened to the far off voices of his friends.
“Ruki wait!”
Guess Ruki decided to walk out on the bassist again. “I wonder how far we are.” Aoi pondered reaching out again, and again he caught air. Aoi growled to himself, it was so frustrating!
“Do you want me to lead, Yuu?” Uruha offered and Aoi sighed.
“I guess if you want to.” Aoi didn’t really like the thought of loosing out like this but he, like Reita, was famous for anger. Of course it didn’t come out until he performed on stage however. The only one he couldn't bear to ‘loose’ to was this one here, the lovely Uruha. He listened as his fellow guitarist began to walk behind him and then they both stopped short hearing Reita cry out.
“… There’s no way Ruki did that, we heard him leave.” Uruha concluded quickly, worriedly glancing back. Aoi furrowed his eyebrows.
“Then who’s up there with him…?” They didn’t need anymore to begin running back to aid their friend. Aoi’s soul squirmed in its body hearing more shouts and cries emitted from the stage.
Suddenly the music crackled back on from the speakers.
--
Ruki gasped sharply and kicked the being in front of him. Instantly he felt bad, he knew the person but why were they…? The figure fell and Ruki jumped back as if he had encountered a creepy crawly bug. Ruki clasped a hand over his mouth staring down wide eyed even though he couldn’t see them anymore. That person was one of their staff, only there was one big difference.
The man looked about half dead.
Blood soaked through Ruki’s jacket where his staff’s hand had held onto just a moment ago. The spot ached and he could tell it was beginning to bruise. Was the man just panicking or had he gone insane? Before he could ponder a moment more a hand fell on his shoe, grabbing for his ankle. Like lightning itself had struck him he bolted away from his staff member and ran down the hall. Ruki had to find help, he had to find the stage. The hall was going completely straight again, Ruki grit his teeth, he knew there was a turn somewhere! He needed that turn that lead to the stage at least!
A screech like noise rose up behind him his skin tingled at the wretched sound. Without thinking or even knowing it was even there, Ruki burst into a door and tugged it shut behind him. Ruki stood still a moment his hand on the knob only sounds of his heavy breath filled the air. It was darker in the room than in the hall, all he could make out was his hand on the shiny knob.
THUMP
Ruki jumped back as the door in front of him trembled at the impact of something on the other side. Ruki regained himself quickly and locked the door, the pounding continued on. There was more screeching, so intense Ruki thought he would scream too. He clamped his hands on his ears, stepping back away from the door, terror filling him to the rim. Only after a second did the room begin to make sense. This room was the room Kai was supposed to be heading to, their dressing room.
Ruki spun around eyes scanning frantically. “Kai?!” he called hoarsely, but there was no reply. He wasn’t in here. He was supposed to be in here. Another loud bang hit the door, a loud crack in the door accompanying it. Ruki yelped, eyes turning back to the door. Ruki wanted to crawl into the deepest hole to die, if the fear of the attack didn’t kill him, the fear for his friend would. Why wasn’t Kai at this designated spot? Why didn’t he reach it to the dressing room to talk to the manager?
The screech became inhuman, and the door would be broken down within seconds. For all Ruki knew; this would be it, but Ruki was nobody if not stubborn., he couldn’t just stand there and let this thing take him without a fight. Or without using his wits at least. Not without knowing where his previous band mate was. Ruki stood and ran to what he his wits concocted. Hide in a cabinet. Yeah, that’s it, but what else did Ruki really have?! There was no other doors that would lead him out, if he hid in an individual dressing room, it would be a dead give away. Obviously he would hide there, and that thing would just tear down another door. What else, a vent? Too damn high. Maybe under the couch, but isn’t that also an obvious hiding spot?
Ruki chose the cabinet under the first make up studio, the one closest to the door. As soon as that thing got to looking and had its back turned, Ruki would make a run for it. It had to work, there was no other option. Ruki climbed into the small compact space. Just as he closed its small doors he caught wood cracking open and flying across the room, breaking a couple of mirrors, some large splinters embedding themselves into the couch. Ruki concealed himself quickly holding his legs close to his chest, his hand covered his mouth to quiet his panic. What kind of thing would have the kind of power to make a door explode?!
Grunts were heard and loud foot steps. Ruki knew that couldn’t have been the staff member he encountered in the hall, no way could he have done any of this. Ruki tuned into the sounds, hearing, hoping to hear whatever it was venture into one of the rooms so he could make his escape. The things breathes were heavy accompanied with a bit of his own voice. Ruki jumped hearing something crash, had that thing just thrown the couch?! He wanted to look but he couldn’t, he couldn’t risk that. Ruki continued listening to things being tossed and broken, when finally the foot steps were far. Finally, it had gone into a room.
Silently Ruki climbed out of his safe haven. The room was an utter disaster, everything turned upside down. Ruki however was more concerned with the couch, the couch that had been thrown to block the door. Now what?! In one of the small dressing room additions Ruki could hear things being smashed and thrown all over again. Ruki would have to act fast, really fast. A plan formulated in his mind and he had no other choice but do it.
Ruki worked quietly, sneaking over to the dressing rooms, looking in carefully to see which one it was in. It was the last one, Ruki didn’t even have to look, from inside he heard the grunting, and a foul smell emitted from it. Ruki was fine with his other senses finding that out, he didn’t want to look at it. He didn’t want to know. His eyes clenched closed and quickly he grabbed for the door handle jerking it shut, but his eyes betrayed him, looking before it shut.
A scream tore from his throat and a loud roar came from the creature as Ruki successfully got the door closed. Terrified Ruki locked it and ran over to the standing couch. Most of the cushions were already thrown about the room with the pillows that had accompanied them, whatever was left Ruki pulled off throwing over his shoulder. Ruki’s whole body shook hearing the anger and pounding from the monster he had witnessed.
Ruki tore through the thin fabric that lay under the cushion, underneath it a wood structure presented itself. Ruki grabbed a plank and pulled, breaking it, he threw it to the side and continued with other planks, pushing, pulling, punching, anything he could to get them broken. The door began to crack again behind him, a horrible vision of him getting skewered by a large splinter like the couch made him work harder. Soon the end was in sight, he was in the hollowed part of the couch, and one more plank stood in his way. Sweat beaded from his forehead, his sore, bloodied hands gripped it when that door gave in.
Ruki slid into the side of the structure quickly as pieces of wood flew. Ridged pieces of wood scratched his arms, pulling and ripping his clothes. A large stake from the door flew and skimmed Ruki’s stomach and stuck right in front of him. Ruki was stuck, just like a kid who got the bar pulled down on a roller coaster he didn’t want to be on. The beast screamed, and so did Ruki. Ruki struggled behind the piece off wood, its brethren stabbing him in result of his efforts. As he began to hear the foot steps coming towards him, the piece of wood gave out. Relieved, he slammed against the one that stood between him and the hallway.
Ruki successfully broke it and fell against the floor. Being in the hallway was like a new breath of air. That is, if it hadn’t been knocked out of him when he fell on his stomach. Ruki began to scramble to his feet to get the hell out of there, when he was grabbed up. The music over the intercom stopped suddenly, leaving Ruki‘s scream naked to silence. One thing filled his head all at once with desperation.
“REITA!!”
--
“Reita!” Uruha shouted at the stage, Reita wouldn’t answer him however. The two made good time getting to the stage, running, Uruha had watched Reita’s figure and another paler, yet darker colored, mingle onstage. “What is that?!” Uruha cried alarmingly. Whatever was terrorizing Reita wasn’t human, Uruha could tell from where he was. It wasn’t like Uruha automatically thought of ghosts or monsters as explanations, not on the dime. Uruha was pretty rational. But no doubt in his mind did he believe that thing was human.
“What’s what?!” The entire time they were running Uruha kept screaming that ‘What is that!’ ‘What is that!’ and Aoi didn’t know what he was talking about. Uruha however, was terrified. That was his best friend up there, and Aoi knew he had to get there for at least Uruha’s sake. Seeing the usually calm man in distress made him feel sick to his stomach.
“Why don’t you see it?!” Uruha cried frustrated. As soon as they got to the stage the two practically leapt onto the stage. Aoi to Reita and Uruha to somewhere Aoi wasn’t sure of.
“Uruha stop!” Reita grabbed out for his friend. Aoi stepped in and took Reita by the shoulders.
“Reita what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Reita didn’t answer him and shoved him back and grabbed Uruha by the wrist. The thing had stopped moving when the two guitarists had arrived. It just stared, his eyes had become rimmed with blood. It was looking at Uruha, the stare was hungry. Its razor teeth hung over his lips and it took a step forward. Reita jerked his friend back, pulling him back into Aoi.
“Get away!!” As soon as he uttered the comment the speakers overhead began to crackle and stumble over the record, and an echoing laugh filled the stadium. All heads lifted up as if they would be able to see the man laughing in between the music. Then abruptly it stopped. The laughing, the music, the annoying crackling, there was no more sounds over the intercom. Reita’s eyes darted back to his enemy to find it disappeared.
“Where did it go.” Uruha whispered, he gripped onto Aoi’s sleeve. Aoi furrowed his eyebrows and set his friend straight, since Reita had shoved Uruha into his arms.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about.” Aoi stared at the spot the other two had been looking at. The two turned their looks to him incredulously.
“We both saw it, Aoi.” Uruha defended. “It was trying to get Reita.” Aoi shook his head, eyebrows furrowed.
“No he-”
“REITA!!” They all froze, eyes wide. Especially Reita’s.
“Was that… Ruki?” Uruha questioned unsurely. Could Ruki’s voice ever be so unrecognizable? So fear stricken? Reita didn’t even stop to question it before bolting to backstage. “Reita!” The two ran after their bassist. The three plunged down into the darkness of the backstage halls. Uruha and Aoi had trouble keeping up with Reita, who they were sure was just running blindly. It got darker and darker, they were sure they would loose each other, the blackness of it all was mixing and smoothing into one black.
“Ruki!!” Reita screamed desperately. There was no answer. Reita cried his name again, and again. How long had they been running? No one was sure but, they came to a stop when Reita slipped on something. The guitarists caught his arm before the bassist fell. They turned their attention the floor. There was a pile of blood, and across from it a door, or rather, a couch door that was beat all to hell. Reita’s eyes rounded and he inspected the broken down couch retrieving a small piece of fabric. It was definitely the fabric of an encore outfit. But whose was it? Kai’s or Ruki’s? It was too much fabric for Kai's. He had a vest and white shirt. This had to be Ruki's. Before the other two could fit it together Reita had it in an instant. “Kami-sama…” He whispered clutching the fabric.
Aoi thought his stomach would turn over, he was sure the other two felt the same if not worse. Ruki was the youngest of them all, everyone tended to take care of him. Ruki was like their little brother, their precious little brother. To Reita it was more, he could tell by the glint in his eye right now, that glint looked so dangerous it could cut throats.
Reita licked his lips looking back and around. There was no way Ruki would be in that room, it was more like he dug his way out. Where was he taken to? Reita grit his teeth in frustration. This was all his fault, there was no ‘oh no it wasn’t’. Reita had broke his baby’s heart and forced him to look away from him. If he hadn’t done that Ruki would be at his side right now. Safe. Reita turned away from him however, and when he should have run after him on the stage, he didn’t. He failed to protect his chibi vocalist and he was suffering greatly for it. The piece of cloth in his hand was soaked with sweat and blood, something Reita never would have wanted Ruki to be dampened with. Reita fisted his hair in frustration. “Damnit Reita! Damnit!” He screamed kicking the wall.
“Reita-” Uruha began.
“No!” Reita looked his friend in the face, but all he could see was Ruki, Reita could look at the wall and he’d see him, close his eyes and see him. What had he done? Did he send Ruki off to his death? “Just no! Damnit!!” Reita pounded on the wall some more and the other two stayed quiet and tense.
“Reita stop! We can't just stand here, we might be able to still find him!” Uruha grabbed his friends hands to stop him from breaking his knuckles on the wall. Uruha was right of course. Somewhere Ruki was bleeding and hurt and Reita was just standing here having a fit over it. Fail number two, way to go Reita. Reita grit his teeth and took a deep breath. Reita finally decided to observe the crime scene in front of them. “He had to have gone that way.” Reita looked down the black corridor, if Ruki had ran the other way, wouldn’t they have run into him by now?
“No.” Uruha and Reita looked at Aoi who crouched down. “There’s foot prints here.” Aoi dipped a finger in the foot shaped glob of blood and shuddered. The pink haired guitarist stood and looked at the two wiping the blood off on the side of his pants. “We must have run past him without knowing it.” He suggested and Reita shook his head furiously.
“No, there’s no way I would have missed that. No way.” Reita argued. “He had to of gone the other way.”
“But the foot prints lead-” Aoi began.
“No! I would have been able to tell Aoi! Don’t you think I would have been able to tell?!”
“I know Reita but how else do you explain those foot steps?!” Aoi cried pointing a finger at the prints.
“…. Maybe they’re Kai’s.” Uruha put in, his face becoming even more worried. They all became quiet, it was a guilty feeling. They had been so worked up about Ruki they forgot that Kai was completely missing as well, and this was the room he was heading to.
“…. They probably are.” Reita said finally and the two looked to him. Reita’s features were hard as he looked at them. “You two follow those steps and find Kai. I’ll look for Ruki.” Aoi’s mouth dropped.
“Reita!”
“You can't just go off by yourself, it's dangerous! Don’t you see that?!” Uruha pointed to the room. Even though it was dark and there was only a small hole to look in, the room was torn apart. How many people did it? How strong were they? Were they even human? Reita said nothing and broke into a run. “Reita!” It was too late, the blonde disappeared into the darkness. Uruha cursed under his breath and turned to Aoi. “Come on. Kai needs our help.” He said through grit teeth.
“We’ll catch up with him.” Aoi assured his partner but Uruha ignored him stepping past him. “Kai needs us too.” He added, Uruha still said nothing. Aoi sighed and followed Uruha.
--
It took longer than anticipated to get to the stage than getting off it, but the two made it. The bloody steps lead right up to the middle of the stage, then abruptly stopped. “What the hell? He couldn’t have just vanished!” Uruha threw his arms up. Aoi remained silent and went to investigate the foot print. The prints worked with both feet, one in front of the other like normal. The blood never lessened like ink does on a pen you when you have to redip it to work. The last print was just one foot, still in the process of walking, the other foot missing. Aoi’s eyebrows furrowed and he looked around.
“He probably took off his shoes or something.” Aoi suggested running fingers through his own hair. Uruha just glanced around pursing his lips. It was evident that he was worried, his beautiful features screwed up in a way Aoi never thought he’d see them.
“If you’re worried about Reita, just go after him. I’ll look for Kai.” Aoi opted and Uruha looked to him sharply.
“I’m worried about Kai you idiot. Reita’s strong, but Kai…” Uruha’s voice trailed off. Aoi was thoroughly surprised, no one ever thought that Uruha really cared for Kai much. Sure they were friends but the only time Uruha ever really wanted to spend with Kai was on stage and while playing video games.
“Runs more than a mile everyday and does weight training. Kai can fare just as well as Reita, I mean it's not like he’s weak in the body or mind. Kai's more confident then he seems, you know that.” Aoi pointed out, but Uruha’s look didn’t waver.
“Does that stop me from worrying about something that was strong enough to lift a couch against the door from hurting him?” Aoi went quiet. It was true, whoever or whatever tore that room apart wasn’t someone to underestimate. Aoi figured it probably was more than one person if anything, no one person could have done so much damage. “Kai has a gentler mind, I don’t want it to be scarred..” Uruha bit his lip. It was true that Kai was the most innocent out of any of them. Aoi understood what Uruha meant when he said he didn’t want him to be scarred, Kai didn’t even want to ever watch scary movies, and yelped at scary games. Whatever was happening was much like a horror story, could Kai handle this kind of situation? Probably not alone.
“We have to find-” Then, the world began slipping away from him. An unbuckling kind of noise and metal clanging, where was it coming from? It all happened so quickly, something shifting beneath him. Aoi watched Uruha’s shocked features, the black and red blur, and the weightlessness, the feeling of air. Then blackness, and crack, Aoi hit the floor hard, so hard his consciousness slipped away quickly the only things filling his was mind blackness and Uruha’s screaming.
--
“Aoi!” Uruha cried. A moment ago the two were talking, or was it an argument? Were they fighting about who could take care of themselves' best? It didn’t matter, Aoi suddenly disappeared before him. They were talking and then, the floor opened up underneath him and down he fell. Uruha ran over to the gap in the floor at the instant. His hand darted in to try and grab Aoi, to try and reach him.
The trap doors flapped back with a mighty force, knocking Uruha’s hand back. Uruha cried out, falling back, holding onto his wrist and grit his teeth to stifle a scream. The pain shot up and down his arm and centered around his wrist. Uruha took deep breathes trying to calm down and settle his nerves. When it got as good as it was going to get he released his wrist to have a good look at it, the action made new streams of pain. Uruha’s wrist was bloody and the bone poked at the inside of his skin, obviously popped and broken out of place, a bit of the other piece penetrating his skin. The sight of his flesh and bone exposed was enough to make Uruha feel sick to his stomach. Right now however, was not an option.
Uruha tried flexing his fingers, only to gain a tremendous amount of pain and they wouldn’t even move anyways. Hissing, he used his good hand and ripped off his jacket and wrapped up his hand as best as he could, his best being pretty terrible, unfortunately. With only one hand he couldn’t tie it very tight, and compress the blood from pouring out. Uruha turned his attention back to the floor that looked like there was no trap at all, the bloody foot print was now accompanied with his own blood.
Uruha ran his fingers over the smooth wooden surface smearing the blood. How to open this damned thing? Hesitantly, he laid his head against it, trying to hear his comrade. “Aoi! Can you hear me?” No answer. “Are you down there?” Still no answer. There was no way of knowing. How thick was this floor? How far down? Did it knock Aoi unconscious? There was absolutely no creases in the floor boards, there was no way to pry this stupid thing open.
‘Then I’ll have to find my way down’ Uruha thought to himself and stood. Uruha was skeptical about his plan, could he find his way down there? The answer was he had to, Aoi was for sure in trouble, he didn’t know about Kai or Ruki, but Aoi was definitely in trouble. Trap doors aren’t accidents, they’re activated on purpose. Someone did that because they wanted his accompanying guitarist. Kai and Ruki were, yes, probably in trouble. But odds were they were together, they both went to the same room. Reita would get them.
Aoi was Uruha’s priority.
C-crickkkkK
Uruha froze and looked up. The intercom was coming on again, and surely enough, more music began playing. Old cheesy, creepy, damned music. It was like a mockery to Uruha, I mean, surely someone was doing it because he just lost. Whoever was messing with The GazettE would definitely see their ass handed to them by Uruha.
Growling to himself he turned on his heel to go find a way to the bottom level Aoi must have been. Instead of being greeted with the setting of the stairs leading backstage and the dark corner of the stage, he was greeted with a pale face. Uruha jolted back, the figure from before was back. This time its teeth were completely bared, and the rim of its mouth was dyed red from blood. Its hood was drawn back revealing an open skull. It’s taloned hands outstretched in a fast forward motion digging into Uruha’s shoulder and throwing him into the speakers. Uruha felt his head knock against the edge of the hard surface, and blood gathered into his senses.
♦♦♦♦♦♦
A.N. : Oh gosh guys. I'm so sorry, i went from fast updater to 'see you in a couple of months'. So sorry, I got really busy, I got into a play and I'm graduating soon so its just been soooooo hectic and I've had little to no time to update or anything. So the next chapter will come, but it will be later because I still have three weeks of school and hopefully i need to get ready for college as well. So wait for me!!
Author: redmercenary
Beta: darksoulripper
Genre: Horror, Suspense, Romance
Warnings: May be a bit of manxman in later chapters, gore
Pairings/Characters: Reituki. Other pairings undetermined
Disclaimer: I don’t own The GazettE
Synopsis: The night was supposed to be fantastic, it was Tokyo Dome night, but Ruki and Reita cant put aside their differences after just breaking up. Now something seriously has gone wrong and what was supposed to be the best night of the bands lives is turned upside down when everyone but them disappears and they’re hunted them in one of the biggest stadiums in the world.
Comments: Sorry for late update!
Encore
“Where’s the door?” Aoi complained, reaching out grasping thin air. The two had gone looking for the exit, but it was harder than expected. It was too dark for even the creatures of the night. “Uruha, are you far behind?” Aoi was afraid to turn, he could end up going the wrong way. It was laughable really, going the wrong way when it was a straight line to the back. Aoi paused, not hearing his partner’s voice. “Uruha?”
Behind him Uruha shuddered and he felt the plastic of a chair squeak, signaling Uruha squeezed it. “It feels weird right now…” He admitted. Aoi stopped and took his chances to turn to Uruha.
“You’re just tipsy from alcohol.” he accused and Uruha scoffed.
“I don’t drink enough to get drunk, Aoi. You know that.”
“Well I don’t feel weird.” That statement was partially true. Aoi had felt a little wary before, but when Uruha spoke up now he felt a little freaked out. Damn Uruha’s perfect mouth. However, Uruha hardly ever felt disturbed, he was always the epitome of peace of mind. Would he note something that was just a thought only pertaining to him? No he wouldn’t.
“Lets just find the exit and get back so we can have a smoke.” Uruha spoke up. Aoi sighed and nodded, even though he knew the beautiful guitarist wouldn’t see.
“Sounds like a plan.” Aoi turned himself around and walked along. It was deadly quiet only the light thump of his shoes and Uruha’s heels were heard. In such silence it wasn’t hard to miss Reita’s cry.
“Go away!”
The two jumped and looked back, Aoi groaned inwardly. “I didn’t even think that we’d be leaving the match and dynamite together.”
“They need to get over their fight themselves, you know.” Uruha said softly and Aoi shrugged.
“I understand, but could they do it at a more appropriate time?”
“Not at all Aoi. Not at all.” Aoi sighed and turned back to his assignment, Uruha following after him. He listened to the far off voices of his friends.
“Ruki wait!”
Guess Ruki decided to walk out on the bassist again. “I wonder how far we are.” Aoi pondered reaching out again, and again he caught air. Aoi growled to himself, it was so frustrating!
“Do you want me to lead, Yuu?” Uruha offered and Aoi sighed.
“I guess if you want to.” Aoi didn’t really like the thought of loosing out like this but he, like Reita, was famous for anger. Of course it didn’t come out until he performed on stage however. The only one he couldn't bear to ‘loose’ to was this one here, the lovely Uruha. He listened as his fellow guitarist began to walk behind him and then they both stopped short hearing Reita cry out.
“… There’s no way Ruki did that, we heard him leave.” Uruha concluded quickly, worriedly glancing back. Aoi furrowed his eyebrows.
“Then who’s up there with him…?” They didn’t need anymore to begin running back to aid their friend. Aoi’s soul squirmed in its body hearing more shouts and cries emitted from the stage.
Suddenly the music crackled back on from the speakers.
--
Ruki gasped sharply and kicked the being in front of him. Instantly he felt bad, he knew the person but why were they…? The figure fell and Ruki jumped back as if he had encountered a creepy crawly bug. Ruki clasped a hand over his mouth staring down wide eyed even though he couldn’t see them anymore. That person was one of their staff, only there was one big difference.
The man looked about half dead.
Blood soaked through Ruki’s jacket where his staff’s hand had held onto just a moment ago. The spot ached and he could tell it was beginning to bruise. Was the man just panicking or had he gone insane? Before he could ponder a moment more a hand fell on his shoe, grabbing for his ankle. Like lightning itself had struck him he bolted away from his staff member and ran down the hall. Ruki had to find help, he had to find the stage. The hall was going completely straight again, Ruki grit his teeth, he knew there was a turn somewhere! He needed that turn that lead to the stage at least!
A screech like noise rose up behind him his skin tingled at the wretched sound. Without thinking or even knowing it was even there, Ruki burst into a door and tugged it shut behind him. Ruki stood still a moment his hand on the knob only sounds of his heavy breath filled the air. It was darker in the room than in the hall, all he could make out was his hand on the shiny knob.
THUMP
Ruki jumped back as the door in front of him trembled at the impact of something on the other side. Ruki regained himself quickly and locked the door, the pounding continued on. There was more screeching, so intense Ruki thought he would scream too. He clamped his hands on his ears, stepping back away from the door, terror filling him to the rim. Only after a second did the room begin to make sense. This room was the room Kai was supposed to be heading to, their dressing room.
Ruki spun around eyes scanning frantically. “Kai?!” he called hoarsely, but there was no reply. He wasn’t in here. He was supposed to be in here. Another loud bang hit the door, a loud crack in the door accompanying it. Ruki yelped, eyes turning back to the door. Ruki wanted to crawl into the deepest hole to die, if the fear of the attack didn’t kill him, the fear for his friend would. Why wasn’t Kai at this designated spot? Why didn’t he reach it to the dressing room to talk to the manager?
The screech became inhuman, and the door would be broken down within seconds. For all Ruki knew; this would be it, but Ruki was nobody if not stubborn., he couldn’t just stand there and let this thing take him without a fight. Or without using his wits at least. Not without knowing where his previous band mate was. Ruki stood and ran to what he his wits concocted. Hide in a cabinet. Yeah, that’s it, but what else did Ruki really have?! There was no other doors that would lead him out, if he hid in an individual dressing room, it would be a dead give away. Obviously he would hide there, and that thing would just tear down another door. What else, a vent? Too damn high. Maybe under the couch, but isn’t that also an obvious hiding spot?
Ruki chose the cabinet under the first make up studio, the one closest to the door. As soon as that thing got to looking and had its back turned, Ruki would make a run for it. It had to work, there was no other option. Ruki climbed into the small compact space. Just as he closed its small doors he caught wood cracking open and flying across the room, breaking a couple of mirrors, some large splinters embedding themselves into the couch. Ruki concealed himself quickly holding his legs close to his chest, his hand covered his mouth to quiet his panic. What kind of thing would have the kind of power to make a door explode?!
Grunts were heard and loud foot steps. Ruki knew that couldn’t have been the staff member he encountered in the hall, no way could he have done any of this. Ruki tuned into the sounds, hearing, hoping to hear whatever it was venture into one of the rooms so he could make his escape. The things breathes were heavy accompanied with a bit of his own voice. Ruki jumped hearing something crash, had that thing just thrown the couch?! He wanted to look but he couldn’t, he couldn’t risk that. Ruki continued listening to things being tossed and broken, when finally the foot steps were far. Finally, it had gone into a room.
Silently Ruki climbed out of his safe haven. The room was an utter disaster, everything turned upside down. Ruki however was more concerned with the couch, the couch that had been thrown to block the door. Now what?! In one of the small dressing room additions Ruki could hear things being smashed and thrown all over again. Ruki would have to act fast, really fast. A plan formulated in his mind and he had no other choice but do it.
Ruki worked quietly, sneaking over to the dressing rooms, looking in carefully to see which one it was in. It was the last one, Ruki didn’t even have to look, from inside he heard the grunting, and a foul smell emitted from it. Ruki was fine with his other senses finding that out, he didn’t want to look at it. He didn’t want to know. His eyes clenched closed and quickly he grabbed for the door handle jerking it shut, but his eyes betrayed him, looking before it shut.
A scream tore from his throat and a loud roar came from the creature as Ruki successfully got the door closed. Terrified Ruki locked it and ran over to the standing couch. Most of the cushions were already thrown about the room with the pillows that had accompanied them, whatever was left Ruki pulled off throwing over his shoulder. Ruki’s whole body shook hearing the anger and pounding from the monster he had witnessed.
Ruki tore through the thin fabric that lay under the cushion, underneath it a wood structure presented itself. Ruki grabbed a plank and pulled, breaking it, he threw it to the side and continued with other planks, pushing, pulling, punching, anything he could to get them broken. The door began to crack again behind him, a horrible vision of him getting skewered by a large splinter like the couch made him work harder. Soon the end was in sight, he was in the hollowed part of the couch, and one more plank stood in his way. Sweat beaded from his forehead, his sore, bloodied hands gripped it when that door gave in.
Ruki slid into the side of the structure quickly as pieces of wood flew. Ridged pieces of wood scratched his arms, pulling and ripping his clothes. A large stake from the door flew and skimmed Ruki’s stomach and stuck right in front of him. Ruki was stuck, just like a kid who got the bar pulled down on a roller coaster he didn’t want to be on. The beast screamed, and so did Ruki. Ruki struggled behind the piece off wood, its brethren stabbing him in result of his efforts. As he began to hear the foot steps coming towards him, the piece of wood gave out. Relieved, he slammed against the one that stood between him and the hallway.
Ruki successfully broke it and fell against the floor. Being in the hallway was like a new breath of air. That is, if it hadn’t been knocked out of him when he fell on his stomach. Ruki began to scramble to his feet to get the hell out of there, when he was grabbed up. The music over the intercom stopped suddenly, leaving Ruki‘s scream naked to silence. One thing filled his head all at once with desperation.
“REITA!!”
--
“Reita!” Uruha shouted at the stage, Reita wouldn’t answer him however. The two made good time getting to the stage, running, Uruha had watched Reita’s figure and another paler, yet darker colored, mingle onstage. “What is that?!” Uruha cried alarmingly. Whatever was terrorizing Reita wasn’t human, Uruha could tell from where he was. It wasn’t like Uruha automatically thought of ghosts or monsters as explanations, not on the dime. Uruha was pretty rational. But no doubt in his mind did he believe that thing was human.
“What’s what?!” The entire time they were running Uruha kept screaming that ‘What is that!’ ‘What is that!’ and Aoi didn’t know what he was talking about. Uruha however, was terrified. That was his best friend up there, and Aoi knew he had to get there for at least Uruha’s sake. Seeing the usually calm man in distress made him feel sick to his stomach.
“Why don’t you see it?!” Uruha cried frustrated. As soon as they got to the stage the two practically leapt onto the stage. Aoi to Reita and Uruha to somewhere Aoi wasn’t sure of.
“Uruha stop!” Reita grabbed out for his friend. Aoi stepped in and took Reita by the shoulders.
“Reita what’s wrong? What’s going on?” Reita didn’t answer him and shoved him back and grabbed Uruha by the wrist. The thing had stopped moving when the two guitarists had arrived. It just stared, his eyes had become rimmed with blood. It was looking at Uruha, the stare was hungry. Its razor teeth hung over his lips and it took a step forward. Reita jerked his friend back, pulling him back into Aoi.
“Get away!!” As soon as he uttered the comment the speakers overhead began to crackle and stumble over the record, and an echoing laugh filled the stadium. All heads lifted up as if they would be able to see the man laughing in between the music. Then abruptly it stopped. The laughing, the music, the annoying crackling, there was no more sounds over the intercom. Reita’s eyes darted back to his enemy to find it disappeared.
“Where did it go.” Uruha whispered, he gripped onto Aoi’s sleeve. Aoi furrowed his eyebrows and set his friend straight, since Reita had shoved Uruha into his arms.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about.” Aoi stared at the spot the other two had been looking at. The two turned their looks to him incredulously.
“We both saw it, Aoi.” Uruha defended. “It was trying to get Reita.” Aoi shook his head, eyebrows furrowed.
“No he-”
“REITA!!” They all froze, eyes wide. Especially Reita’s.
“Was that… Ruki?” Uruha questioned unsurely. Could Ruki’s voice ever be so unrecognizable? So fear stricken? Reita didn’t even stop to question it before bolting to backstage. “Reita!” The two ran after their bassist. The three plunged down into the darkness of the backstage halls. Uruha and Aoi had trouble keeping up with Reita, who they were sure was just running blindly. It got darker and darker, they were sure they would loose each other, the blackness of it all was mixing and smoothing into one black.
“Ruki!!” Reita screamed desperately. There was no answer. Reita cried his name again, and again. How long had they been running? No one was sure but, they came to a stop when Reita slipped on something. The guitarists caught his arm before the bassist fell. They turned their attention the floor. There was a pile of blood, and across from it a door, or rather, a couch door that was beat all to hell. Reita’s eyes rounded and he inspected the broken down couch retrieving a small piece of fabric. It was definitely the fabric of an encore outfit. But whose was it? Kai’s or Ruki’s? It was too much fabric for Kai's. He had a vest and white shirt. This had to be Ruki's. Before the other two could fit it together Reita had it in an instant. “Kami-sama…” He whispered clutching the fabric.
Aoi thought his stomach would turn over, he was sure the other two felt the same if not worse. Ruki was the youngest of them all, everyone tended to take care of him. Ruki was like their little brother, their precious little brother. To Reita it was more, he could tell by the glint in his eye right now, that glint looked so dangerous it could cut throats.
Reita licked his lips looking back and around. There was no way Ruki would be in that room, it was more like he dug his way out. Where was he taken to? Reita grit his teeth in frustration. This was all his fault, there was no ‘oh no it wasn’t’. Reita had broke his baby’s heart and forced him to look away from him. If he hadn’t done that Ruki would be at his side right now. Safe. Reita turned away from him however, and when he should have run after him on the stage, he didn’t. He failed to protect his chibi vocalist and he was suffering greatly for it. The piece of cloth in his hand was soaked with sweat and blood, something Reita never would have wanted Ruki to be dampened with. Reita fisted his hair in frustration. “Damnit Reita! Damnit!” He screamed kicking the wall.
“Reita-” Uruha began.
“No!” Reita looked his friend in the face, but all he could see was Ruki, Reita could look at the wall and he’d see him, close his eyes and see him. What had he done? Did he send Ruki off to his death? “Just no! Damnit!!” Reita pounded on the wall some more and the other two stayed quiet and tense.
“Reita stop! We can't just stand here, we might be able to still find him!” Uruha grabbed his friends hands to stop him from breaking his knuckles on the wall. Uruha was right of course. Somewhere Ruki was bleeding and hurt and Reita was just standing here having a fit over it. Fail number two, way to go Reita. Reita grit his teeth and took a deep breath. Reita finally decided to observe the crime scene in front of them. “He had to have gone that way.” Reita looked down the black corridor, if Ruki had ran the other way, wouldn’t they have run into him by now?
“No.” Uruha and Reita looked at Aoi who crouched down. “There’s foot prints here.” Aoi dipped a finger in the foot shaped glob of blood and shuddered. The pink haired guitarist stood and looked at the two wiping the blood off on the side of his pants. “We must have run past him without knowing it.” He suggested and Reita shook his head furiously.
“No, there’s no way I would have missed that. No way.” Reita argued. “He had to of gone the other way.”
“But the foot prints lead-” Aoi began.
“No! I would have been able to tell Aoi! Don’t you think I would have been able to tell?!”
“I know Reita but how else do you explain those foot steps?!” Aoi cried pointing a finger at the prints.
“…. Maybe they’re Kai’s.” Uruha put in, his face becoming even more worried. They all became quiet, it was a guilty feeling. They had been so worked up about Ruki they forgot that Kai was completely missing as well, and this was the room he was heading to.
“…. They probably are.” Reita said finally and the two looked to him. Reita’s features were hard as he looked at them. “You two follow those steps and find Kai. I’ll look for Ruki.” Aoi’s mouth dropped.
“Reita!”
“You can't just go off by yourself, it's dangerous! Don’t you see that?!” Uruha pointed to the room. Even though it was dark and there was only a small hole to look in, the room was torn apart. How many people did it? How strong were they? Were they even human? Reita said nothing and broke into a run. “Reita!” It was too late, the blonde disappeared into the darkness. Uruha cursed under his breath and turned to Aoi. “Come on. Kai needs our help.” He said through grit teeth.
“We’ll catch up with him.” Aoi assured his partner but Uruha ignored him stepping past him. “Kai needs us too.” He added, Uruha still said nothing. Aoi sighed and followed Uruha.
--
It took longer than anticipated to get to the stage than getting off it, but the two made it. The bloody steps lead right up to the middle of the stage, then abruptly stopped. “What the hell? He couldn’t have just vanished!” Uruha threw his arms up. Aoi remained silent and went to investigate the foot print. The prints worked with both feet, one in front of the other like normal. The blood never lessened like ink does on a pen you when you have to redip it to work. The last print was just one foot, still in the process of walking, the other foot missing. Aoi’s eyebrows furrowed and he looked around.
“He probably took off his shoes or something.” Aoi suggested running fingers through his own hair. Uruha just glanced around pursing his lips. It was evident that he was worried, his beautiful features screwed up in a way Aoi never thought he’d see them.
“If you’re worried about Reita, just go after him. I’ll look for Kai.” Aoi opted and Uruha looked to him sharply.
“I’m worried about Kai you idiot. Reita’s strong, but Kai…” Uruha’s voice trailed off. Aoi was thoroughly surprised, no one ever thought that Uruha really cared for Kai much. Sure they were friends but the only time Uruha ever really wanted to spend with Kai was on stage and while playing video games.
“Runs more than a mile everyday and does weight training. Kai can fare just as well as Reita, I mean it's not like he’s weak in the body or mind. Kai's more confident then he seems, you know that.” Aoi pointed out, but Uruha’s look didn’t waver.
“Does that stop me from worrying about something that was strong enough to lift a couch against the door from hurting him?” Aoi went quiet. It was true, whoever or whatever tore that room apart wasn’t someone to underestimate. Aoi figured it probably was more than one person if anything, no one person could have done so much damage. “Kai has a gentler mind, I don’t want it to be scarred..” Uruha bit his lip. It was true that Kai was the most innocent out of any of them. Aoi understood what Uruha meant when he said he didn’t want him to be scarred, Kai didn’t even want to ever watch scary movies, and yelped at scary games. Whatever was happening was much like a horror story, could Kai handle this kind of situation? Probably not alone.
“We have to find-” Then, the world began slipping away from him. An unbuckling kind of noise and metal clanging, where was it coming from? It all happened so quickly, something shifting beneath him. Aoi watched Uruha’s shocked features, the black and red blur, and the weightlessness, the feeling of air. Then blackness, and crack, Aoi hit the floor hard, so hard his consciousness slipped away quickly the only things filling his was mind blackness and Uruha’s screaming.
--
“Aoi!” Uruha cried. A moment ago the two were talking, or was it an argument? Were they fighting about who could take care of themselves' best? It didn’t matter, Aoi suddenly disappeared before him. They were talking and then, the floor opened up underneath him and down he fell. Uruha ran over to the gap in the floor at the instant. His hand darted in to try and grab Aoi, to try and reach him.
The trap doors flapped back with a mighty force, knocking Uruha’s hand back. Uruha cried out, falling back, holding onto his wrist and grit his teeth to stifle a scream. The pain shot up and down his arm and centered around his wrist. Uruha took deep breathes trying to calm down and settle his nerves. When it got as good as it was going to get he released his wrist to have a good look at it, the action made new streams of pain. Uruha’s wrist was bloody and the bone poked at the inside of his skin, obviously popped and broken out of place, a bit of the other piece penetrating his skin. The sight of his flesh and bone exposed was enough to make Uruha feel sick to his stomach. Right now however, was not an option.
Uruha tried flexing his fingers, only to gain a tremendous amount of pain and they wouldn’t even move anyways. Hissing, he used his good hand and ripped off his jacket and wrapped up his hand as best as he could, his best being pretty terrible, unfortunately. With only one hand he couldn’t tie it very tight, and compress the blood from pouring out. Uruha turned his attention back to the floor that looked like there was no trap at all, the bloody foot print was now accompanied with his own blood.
Uruha ran his fingers over the smooth wooden surface smearing the blood. How to open this damned thing? Hesitantly, he laid his head against it, trying to hear his comrade. “Aoi! Can you hear me?” No answer. “Are you down there?” Still no answer. There was no way of knowing. How thick was this floor? How far down? Did it knock Aoi unconscious? There was absolutely no creases in the floor boards, there was no way to pry this stupid thing open.
‘Then I’ll have to find my way down’ Uruha thought to himself and stood. Uruha was skeptical about his plan, could he find his way down there? The answer was he had to, Aoi was for sure in trouble, he didn’t know about Kai or Ruki, but Aoi was definitely in trouble. Trap doors aren’t accidents, they’re activated on purpose. Someone did that because they wanted his accompanying guitarist. Kai and Ruki were, yes, probably in trouble. But odds were they were together, they both went to the same room. Reita would get them.
Aoi was Uruha’s priority.
C-crickkkkK
Uruha froze and looked up. The intercom was coming on again, and surely enough, more music began playing. Old cheesy, creepy, damned music. It was like a mockery to Uruha, I mean, surely someone was doing it because he just lost. Whoever was messing with The GazettE would definitely see their ass handed to them by Uruha.
Growling to himself he turned on his heel to go find a way to the bottom level Aoi must have been. Instead of being greeted with the setting of the stairs leading backstage and the dark corner of the stage, he was greeted with a pale face. Uruha jolted back, the figure from before was back. This time its teeth were completely bared, and the rim of its mouth was dyed red from blood. Its hood was drawn back revealing an open skull. It’s taloned hands outstretched in a fast forward motion digging into Uruha’s shoulder and throwing him into the speakers. Uruha felt his head knock against the edge of the hard surface, and blood gathered into his senses.
♦♦♦♦♦♦
A.N. : Oh gosh guys. I'm so sorry, i went from fast updater to 'see you in a couple of months'. So sorry, I got really busy, I got into a play and I'm graduating soon so its just been soooooo hectic and I've had little to no time to update or anything. So the next chapter will come, but it will be later because I still have three weeks of school and hopefully i need to get ready for college as well. So wait for me!!