The sunlight glinted off the metal in the lab, splintering into rays that danced across the cages, and the faces inside those cages, awakening them to yet another morning in this life. Another morning of tests. Another morning of pain. This morning, the light woke Kevin first, nearly blinding him with its brightness.
There were many rabbits in this lab; there was Kevin, who had lost his family in the woods to a fox and never wanted to open up again. But he did, eventually, to one of the Special Seven, named Ellen. She was Number Four, and she loved him for all he was. She knew, inside, he was a good rabbit, even if he had a surly attitude at times, she knew that inside he really did care about others. He just was afraid to show it after having lost what was once so important to him. And when Ellen finally died, she was afraid he'd return to being that closed off, but he didn't. He kept going, to be better, because he knew that's what she'd have wanted him to do. There was Number Six, another one of the Special Seven, who mostly spent her time with Gerald. He was the first rabbit she really became friends with when she was brought here, and he never asked her much about her work, which she appreciated. Hard enough to do it without having to dwell on it, he figured. Six was intelligent, and quiet, but she was caring, especially about Gerald, because he'd opened himself to her when she needed a friend the most, and she did the same for him. Six felt great shame, for she knew her work was helping people, and she liked it for that, but she hated what it did to her. She never felt comfortable sharing these things with Gerald, no matter how close they became. She just didn't know if he'd understand or not. Of course, there was Steve. Steve, the one who got the shortest stick of them all. The nicest rabbit you'd ever hope to meet; lighthearted and funny, always a ray of sunshine to his best friend, Kevin, and his rather gloomy moody self. Steve didn't get to stick around long enough. Steve wound up being a message, more than anything else. A message of fear, at first, but eventually a message of hope. Where once sat a story of "see what happens if you don't cooperate", now sits a story of "see what happens if you don't fight back". Steve was a martyr, no doubt, but they all knew that, really, that'd be perfectly fine for him. After all, all Steve had ever really wanted, as he'd once told Kevin, was to inspire those around him. There was Doug. Doug hadn't been utilized in a lot of tests, but he always lent a kind ear, when he could. Doug was part of the group that always stayed on the fringes, enjoyed the others company, but never really became one of them. Richardson was like that too, at the start, but he wound up becoming more valuable than anyone could've imagined, and in the end, more helpful than they ever could've expected. Mipsy, a friend of Richardsons, was another rabbit; slightly brain damaged by a test gone awry, but she didn't let it stop her, she didn't let it slow her down, and nobody around her, much less Richardson - and eventually Kevin - ever told her she was anything less because of it. If anything, the both of them always saw her as much more than they ever would be. Gerald, he was there a long time, and he'd seen all these horrors. He'd watched it happen, time and time again. A kind, introspective rabbit who only wanted better for the animals he called his friends. Gerry would do anything for you, within reason, within his power, and he was always there if you needed him. He'd lay his life on the line time and time again to save those he cared about, even if it meant nearly losing that life himself. And of course, Number Two, another one of the Special Seven, or Paul as he later asked to be called. Paul was logical, calculated, cold and almost seemingly emotionless, but as Paul watched Gerry from afar, simultaneously admiring and being confused by his strength and strong personality, his nonstop ability to keep trying even in the face of total uncertainty, Paul found that, after a while, he grew to like Gerald. Grew to like him more than he ever expected. And thankfully, Gerald felt the same way back. Now, plodding along by his side, best he could be despite all the smoke inhalation and the blazing fires around them, Paul finally, finally understood how Gerald had felt about the others all these years. Why he'd fought so very hard to protect them and save them, and give them something better. The bodies of rabbits he barely knew lay in the bloody grass around him, some shot clean through the head, others burned to death, their body barely recognizable as a body anymore, Paul finally got it. You don't do what's right because you're expected to. You do it because you're supposed to. He felt the tip of his half ear singed and he groaned, as Gerry helped him along through the field, almost at the treeline. "Gerald," Number Two said, I never understood you. I admired you, I...lord knows I admired you, but I never understood you. I don't think until seeing this amount of brutality firsthand did I really grasp how you felt. I want you to know, everything I've done, I've done for you." "I know, Paul, that's why I'm getting you out of here. We're both getting out of here," Gerry replied, both their fur covered in ash and soot, dirt and blood, stinking to high heavens of sulfur; Gerry sighed and nodded, not looking away from the treeline ahead, "We're getting out of here. That's what I promised, and that's what's happening." Number Two smiled, feeling his strength come back a bit. Gerry had in fact accomplished everything he'd set out to accomplish, and as they reached the treeline, the fire spreading around them into the forest now, Gerry started to turn and look back at the lab one final time, but Number Two touched his paw and shook his head at him. "Don't," Number Two said, "THEY aren't worth it." *** Nickel was waiting upwind a ways, spotting the fire coming at them at an alarming rate. She laid her ears back, and somehow knew Stone wasn't coming home. She sighed and looked at the rabbits behind her, the ones simply waiting for her to lead them. It was up to her now, she knew this, and she would do it to the best of her abilities. She had to. She'd promised Stone that much. "We're going to keep moving," she said loudly, "They'll find us, don't worry. Lorna will circle around, eventually we're all run into eachother. But we need to keep ahead of this fire, so keep on going. Don't stop for anything. There's a road up ahead we'll need to cross, okay? Just stay brave and we'll be fine." The group mumbled to one another, to themselves, as they turned and headed up towards the continued trajectory, while Nickel looked back towards the fire and shook her head. She wiped her eyes with her paws and exhaled. "Thanks Stone," she said softly, "I'll never forget you." *** "This smoke and smog is making everything black as hell, as if it weren't black enough already, being night!" Minerva said, "How are we gonna find our way? We can't see, and all I smell is fire! What do we do?" "We keep moving," Gerry said, as he approached them coming through the brush, Number Two at his side, "No matter what, we just keep moving. We have to get away from the fire. Has anyone seen Lorna?" "I saw her circling at one point," Dice said, "But then...but then she was shot. Last I saw her, she dove to the ground. I don't know if she ever got back up." "Christ," Gerry muttered, "Alright, well we need to-" "Where's Stone?" Number Two asked, and nobody said a thing. Not because they were sad, but because nobody, outside of Lorna, really knew what Stone had done. That she'd openly sacrificed herself for the sake of the Collective, and their freedom. "We have to move, guys, we can't wait around. That was the plan, remember? Keep going, no matter what, and eventually we'll all meet up. We always do," Gerry said, "We just have to keep-" "Gerry?" a small, weak voice cried out in the nearby darkness. They all stopped and Gerry perked his ears up. It was Mipsy, she was coming through the bushes, and she was black as ash. She didn't appear to be burnt, just colored by the remains of what was burning around them. Gerry looked at her, Number Two as well, both surprised to see her out here, alone. "Mipsy, thank goodness," Gerry said, "Paw Paw never would've forgiven me if-" "Wait, why are you...where's...where's Kevin?" Number Two asked, and Mipsy looked at the ground. Nobody knew what to say. Gerry, despite all his irritations towards his friend, had to bite his lip and ignore his grievances, to keep himself from sobbing. Not Kevin. God not Kevin. Kevin had come so far. He wanted to know what had happened, but he'd ask later, he couldn't bear to know now and they didn't have the time as it was. "We'll mourn when we have to, when we can," Gerry said, "Right now, Mipsy, you come with us and we'll get out of here, we'll...we'll go home." "What home?" Minerva asked, almost angrily, "Look around you, Gerald. There's no home anymore!" "Then we...we'll find a new home, we'll make a home!" Gerry said, "Make a home far away from all of this! But that's later! Right now we need to get out of here!" Nobody could argue with that, though Minerva and Dice certainly wanted to. So, the bunch of them together headed deeper into the burning woods, and didn't look back. Kevin was unaccounted for, hell Gerry didn't even know where Six was. He knew she'd gotten out, but where had she gone since then? God, all his friends were going. But not Mipsy, and not Number Two. No. Those ones he wouldn't allow to be taken from him, no matter what. Sad thing about life, however, is that's often not a choice you get to make. "I can barely fucking see!" Minerva said, "I have to squint just to make out the nearest rock! This is insanity, there's no way we're going to get out of here!" "There's a road a ways up," Number Two said, "Stone told me about it, she says if we just follow the edge of the woods, past where The Hollow was, we'll eventually come to the road, and if we can cross it, we'll be fine. We just need to listen for vehicles." "Great, because outrunning fire wasn't enough," Minerva mumbled, "Now I have to cross a road full of cars." A loud crack came from somewhere nearby, and they all turned to listen, then continued. Number Two, still being helped by Gerry, glanced up towards the front, where he could barely spot the orangeness of the foxes ahead of them, and he smiled. "Ladies, I know this isn't the best situation to be in, but let's try and stay civil until it's over, alright?" he asked, "For the sake of me, if nobody else?" Minerva smirked. She had to appreciate Number Two's calmness in a disaster. He was right, after all, she couldn't deny it. There'd be plenty of time to bicker later, right now, even if just for his sake, she'd keep her snide remarks to herself. Another crack, and this time the feeling of something landing nearby, the ground beneath them shaking somewhat. "These trees are old and starting to fall!" Gerry shouted, "We need to get ahead of this thing as fast as possible!" The group started running, to the best of their physical ability at this point, and swerved to avoid falling limbs and branches, sometimes entire husks of what once were trees. The cracking around them louder, the earth continuing to shake as they came down with brute force from all directions, until Number Two finally stopped and started coughing. Gerry stopped and looked at him, going back to his side and patting him on the back. "Come on man, just a bit further," Gerry said, "I know it's hard to breath right now, but we need to-" Another cracking, and this time Number Two could see it. A large tree coming down, right over the foxes. All time seemed to slow down. His heartbeat tripled, his breathing stopped in his chest, as he glanced from the trees the foxes couldn't see because of the smoke and fire, and landed his eyes on Gerrys. Number Two grabbed Gerrys face with his paws and kissed him, then took off towards the foxes. "Minerva!" he screamed, "Minerva, fucking move!" Minerva stopped, perking her ears up, and looked back at him, completely unaware of the horror about to, quite literally, befall her and Dice. Number Twos paw pads were cut and blood, tears streaming out of his eyes as he raced with all the strength he had left in his body up to them and shoved himself against them as hard as he could. The tree came down with a mighty crash, and Mipsy and Gerry stood there, aghast. "...paul?" Gerry asked, "Paul!" Gerry raced up to the tree, pushing his way through the branches, cutting himself on twigs and bark, until he came face to face with a yellow pair of eyes and screamed. It was just Minerva. She was getting up, coughing, her tail waving the dust and smoke out of their faces as she scanned the area. "Dice?" she asked, and Dice came out of the smoke behind her. "Paul!" Gerry screamed, climbing up onto the tree, ignoring the burning wood on his paws, and clambered about, looking voraciously for his friend, his lover. Minerva and Dice started nosing about, but came up empty. Gerry sat on the tree and stared off at the fire beside them, unable to form words, or even a cohesive thought. He'd just been there. He was just there. How could he be gone? Then he heard coughing, and his ears shot upright as he slid off the tree and down to the ground, racing around to the side where Paul's front half was not buried by the trunk of the tree. "Paul!" Gerry screamed, touching his face, "Don't worry, I'm...I'm gonna get you out of here! I'm gonna get you-" "Gerald," Number Two said, half chuckling, "Don't even think about it, I'm pinned. My organs are two dimensional. Besides, you don't got the time." "No, I am not leaving without you!" Gerry screamed, "I won't leave you behind." "You don't have a choice," Number Two replied, "Gerald, this isn't one you get to choose. This one was decided for you. I did what I had to. Minerva probably saved my life after going off that waterfall, and I was just returning the favor." Number Two started coughing, blood trickling down his lips, his eyes growing weaker. "You need to go, not because you can't save me, but because I...I don't want you to see me die," Number Two said, his voice turning into a shaky whisper, "...please, Gerald, I got you out of the lab, that's what I was there to do, was get you out safely, and I did it. Now please, just go." Gerald rested his forehead on Paul's, holding his paws tightly as he could. "You're the bravest rabbit I've ever known," Gerry said softly, his eyes tight, tears rolling down his face, "you...nobody will ever replace you. I don't know what I'll do without you." "You'll do what you've always done, you'll live," Number Two said. "I love you Paul." "I love you too," Number Two said. Minerva kissed Paul's forehead, Dice doing the same, and then Mipsy came up. Her eyes were watery, and she didn't know what to say or do. She looked at Gerald but some sort of cue, but he was too far into his own pain to help her. Finally, after a few moments, Mipsy cleared her throat, her voice cracking and weak, and spoke. "I...I may not be very smart," she said, "but I know one thing for sure. You are hero." Number Two smiled. "That a fact no one can tell me not true," Mipsy said, hugging him and then looking in his eyes, "Goodbye, Paul." Paul looked back at Gerry, and they hugged again. Gerry didn't want to let go, but eventually Paul started to push him off a bit, laughing lightly as he did. Gerald turned and started off with the group, continuing on their way, but he took one look back. Paul was lying there, trapped beneath that husk of a tree with the fire on all sides, and he and Gerald both hoped he'd die before the fire engulfed him. Whether or not that's how it went down was not for Gerald to know. But he did take that one look back. That one final glance, at his best friend, his lover, his partner through and through, and he smiled. Mipsy was right. Paul was a hero. *** The fire raged and raged, and seemed neverending no matter how far they got. As they got closer to where Paul had said Stone told him the road was, they could hear the cars, but it just always seemed to be a bit further than they thought it would be. This forest seemed eternal, the fire immortal. Finally they saw the light of morning through the treeline, and knew they'd made it. They all started running, laughing, knowing they were inches from freedom. "We're there!" Minerva shouted, "We're almost there! Get on my back!" She knelt down and Mipsy got on top of her back, and as they approached the treeline, they spotted a somewhat burnt Six sitting there, breathing heavily, as Nickel and the others had already crossed the road. Gerry couldn't believe his eyes. Six was here, she'd made it after all. But before he could get to the treeline, he heard it. That scream. "Gerald!" Gerry came to a screeching halt, his ears thrown upright, his head snapped back as he turned and looked towards the forest. It wasn't a hallucination, he couldn't deny what he'd heard...Kevin. Kevin was alive! Gerry turned and looked back at Minerva and the others getting ready to cross the road, and then turned back and looked at the deeper woods, then gritted his teeth but felt Mipsy grab his paw. "Mipsy?" he asked. "You no go back! You not die too!" she shouted, tears in her eyes, "Not you!" "I have to do one last thing, just go with them," Gerry said, ripping his paw away from her and tearing off back into the deep, flaming woods. As he dodged falling trees and burning bushes, he could hear the voice screaming in agony. Whatever had happened to Kevin had been bad, he could tell. Despite all their differences, their arguments and disagreements, their leadership styles clashing, he wasn't going to leave Kevin behind. Kevin was really all he had left. He would see him make it out, no matter what it took. "Kevin!" Gerry screamed, coming to a stop, coughing as he shouted again, "Kevin, keep yelling! I'm following your voice!" "Gerald?!" Kevin shrieked, and Gerry took off once more. When Gerry finally came to a large thicket of tangled branches and weeds, he found Kevin stumbling around, rubbing his face into the ground. Gerry stood there for a moment, perplexed, until he spoke and Kevin looked up. His eyes...there were black. "Kevin, what...what happened?" he asked. "I ran through the fire, I took Mipsy and ran through the fire!" he screamed, "I can't see! I can't fucking see!" "Here, grab my paw, I'm gonna lead you out of here," Gerry said, taking Kevins paw as he moaned and cried, and together they started racing back to the treeline. They could see the break of morning just moments away, the cars rushing by; the other group had already crossed the road, and they were shouting for him to join them. "Gerald, my eyes burn! I can't see anything!" Kevin screamed, sobbing in agony. "We're almost there! We're almost there!" Gerry shouted, until Kevins robotic leg snapped, and wouldn't unlock. Gerry turned back, and raced back to his side. He grabbed it with both his front paws and tugged at it, screaming loud as he could. He looked around, then spotted a good sized rock nearby. Gerry raced to the rock to grab it, deciding he'd bash the robotic leg against it until it unlocked, but as he headed back towards Kevin, rock in hand, another tree fell in between them, trapping Kevin between it and a wall of fire behind him. Kevin scrambled left and right, bumping into burning leaves and branches poking his face. "Kevin, I...I don't..." Gerry stuttered, unsure of how to fix this. "Gerry, don't leave me! Don't leave me, please!" Kevin screamed, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything! I know we fought, I know I was mean at the end, but please god don't leave me here to burn!" Gerry looked back at the road and back at Kevin, his face, ashen and burnt, peering through the snagged leaves, and then another tree came down, cutting off their view of one another entirely. Gerry stood there for a moment, before slowly setting his rock down and looking back at the tree. "Goodbye Kevin," he said, and headed towards the road, knowing there was nothing more that he could do. As he came to the roadside, he glanced at the group across the way, in the field and he took off. Halfway across the road, he swore he heard Kevins voice again, and stood up on his hind legs, glancing back, and that's when everything went wonky. For a moment, Gerry wasn't sure what happened, all he knew was he was suddenly flying through the air, his side felt crushed, and when he finally landed and rolled, he could barely move or keep his eyes open. He managed to crawl until he felt Minerva's jaws on the scruff of his neck, dragging him further into the field. Gerry was rolled onto his back, looking up at the sky, lying there in the field. His breathing was pained, his ribs felt broken, his eyesight blurred. He was losing consciousness. He could hear them making out words around him, but he couldn't tell what was being said. He looked up and saw a bird flying overhead, and he remembered his dream. The dream he'd been having for years, ever since he was in the lab. He started laughing, laughing almost damn near maniacally, and then everything went black. Kevin, meanwhile, was backed between a rock and a hot place, unsure of where to go, what to do, and all he knew was the end was closing in on him. He broke down and started sobbing, wishing it would just be over, wishing he could just see Ellen again. He punched and kicked at his robotic leg, and it finally came unsnapped, and he collapsed into a heap of sobbing inconsolable sadness. Gerry had left him. He knew it wasn't intentional, he had had no choice, but it'd still happened. Kevin backed away from the heat, or tried to, but it seemed like the heat was coming at him from every direction, licking at the edges of his fur. "Kevin?" a voice asked, and he stood up. "Who's that?" he asked, abject terror in his voice. "It's Jasmine," she said, "It's me, it's Jasmine. I got you, come on. You're gonna be okay. Just hold onto me, I can lead us out of here. When you've been blind as long as I have, you kind of need to rely on your other sense, and thankfully, I got a nose like a bloodhound." Kevin held tightly to her tail as she lead them through the fire, and eventually towards a part of the forest that, somehow, wasn't on fire. He collapsed and sobbed, as Jasmine sat and rubbed his back, rubbed his ears. "You're okay," she said. "I'm blind," Kevin whimpered, "I can't see." "Well then, looks like you'll be needing someones help teaching you how to live like that, won't you? Good thing I came along," Jasmine said, as Kevin sat up and sniffled, rubbing his paw against his nose. "You...you'll help me?" he asked, and she said she would; he continued, "I promised...Richardson...that I would find his Sister Rabbits and take over for him. Would you...would you help me do that?" "Of course, Kevin, nobody should have to be alone," Jasmine said, and for the first time in days, he smiled, genuinely, then threw himself around her, squeezing her tight, making her laugh. Gerry didn't know it, but Kevin didn't die in the woods that day. He managed to get help, and together, he and Jasmine would spend the next few weeks finding the Sister Rabbits and bringing them back to a new home they'd make together, one where they could all lead, collectively. *** Gerry opened his eyes, and saw a pair of eyes staring directly into his. He screamed, understandably, and tried to back away, but he quickly saw it was only Mipsy. She started jumping around and laughing, repeating "he's awake! he's awake!". Gerry didn't know how long he'd been out, nor where they were. They seemed to be inside a building somewhere. He sighed and tried to talk, but his voice felt hoarse. Nickel entered the area, dragging a bowl of water by a string. "You must be parched," she said, "Go ahead, this is for you." Gerry stumbled down, with some help from Mipsy, to the bowl and took a long, long drink. It was refreshing, it was almost like he'd never tasted water before, like truly tasted it. He savored every second that the cool liquid slid down his gullet, and afterwards, he finally looked around. "Where are we?" he asked, his voice low and brittle, like he hadn't spoken in weeks, "Where is this?" "We're on a farm, it's someplace Salt and Lorna found, they take care of their animals here," Paw Paw said, coming in, "Hey buddy, it's good to see you're up." "...everyone is...here? Six? Minerva?" "Everyone that made it, yeah," Paw Paw said, feeling Mipsy cuddle against her, "...seems like you came back with a lot less than what you went with. Stone never showed up, Richardson never came back." "Richardson gave his life for us," Gerry managed to say, "He...he was a good rabbit." "I know he was," Paw Paw said, "...Minerva, she...she told me what happened to Number Two. Gerald, I am so sorry. I can't imagine if something had happened to Mipsy, and I was alone now. Thank you for getting her back safely. I owe you my life." "It was nothing," Gerry said, smiling a little, coughing a bit, "...I couldn't save Kevin. I heard him, I found him, he was blind and in screaming agony but I...I couldn't save him in time." "Kevin's fine," Nickel said, surprising Gerald, "He's come by a few times to check up on you. He and Jasmine, they gathered up Richardsons Sister Rabbits and made a whole new home for themselves. He's fine, Gerry. He knows you tried, he doesn't hold any ill will against you." "God thank god he's safe," Gerry muttered, shaking his head, "...I think I need to be alone." Everyone nodded and headed out, but as they did, the young rabbit they'd met in the woods came in and looked at him. Gerry climbed back onto the haystack and nestled in as she approached. "I'm glad you came back," she said, "Sorry about your friends." "It was always a possibility they wouldn't make it, they knew that going into it," Gerry said, "...i miss him though. I miss him so much." "I miss my parents, so I know how you feel," she said. "What's your name, anyway?" Gerry asked. "Paula," she said, surprising him, then she asked, "Some rabbits were calling you a pioneer. What's a pioneer?" Gerry smiled, laughing hard deep inside at the irony of being asked this so long after asking it himself, and he stood back up. "Why don't we go ask Number Six," he said, and together, Gerry and his new adopted child Paula, headed out into the bright daylight of the farm. *** A few weeks later, after Gerry had had time to heal, he, Kevin, Six, Mipsy and Jasmine all gathered around a small mound in the middle of the forest. Kevin had taken up Steve's fourth foot from the dirt, and put it with the others, but now it was time to lay them all to rest, together, collectively. So the five of them headed along their way, to a new spot he'd picked, and together they said their goodbyes to Steve. Kevin buried Steve's feet in the cold wet ground, and patted the grave with his feet, smiling. He'd kept his promise. He'd gotten Steve back together, and out of the lab. Some say the lab was eventually rebuilt, others say THEY tried to rebuild it but ultimately figured it wasn't worth the risk. Either way, the Collective never went back. They never wanted to know what happened. The past was in the past. Gerry and his group lived on the farm, being fed by the owners, having their own children, and, Gerry personally, raising Paula and telling her all about Number Two. She really took after his personality, he found. She took it upon herself to be the best continuation of him she could be, while still being herself. Some days Gerry would go into the woods and meet with Kevin, and the two of them would walk, and talk, and laugh. Sometimes they'd visit gravesites (they'd even made one for Paul, despite not having his body), and sometimes they'd take Paula out and tell her all about their lives. They were, in fact, pioneers. THEY had, ironically enough, been right about this. They just happened to be pioneers in ways THEY hadn't expected them to be. And some say, that sometimes, really late at night, if you try hard enough, and you know the right places to go, you can see them sometimes. A group of rabbits, living their lives, enjoying their families and friends. You just have to know where to look. They might be hard to find, but they're there. Other Hollows heard the stories, the tales, the legacy they'd created, and they sought them out. Gerry finally had what he'd always wanted. A real family in a nice home. And if you so wanted, and were a rabbit, you too could join them. You just needed to know where to look. They're out there. Somewhere in the woods.
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It took a moment for Stone's eyes to readjust to her surroundings.
How long had she been unconscious? How had she even become unconscious? She groaned and tried to stand, only to find she was pinned down by something. She could hear the blaring sirens, the alarms, the screams of whom she only could assume were her friends, all around her like a cascading waterfall of noise. Stone sighed and tried once again to move, only to, once again, fail at doing so. Suddenly she heard voices, THEIR voices, and realized if she didn't get out of there she'd be hurt, or worse. She heard a door open and she glanced in THEIR direction, watching two of THEM, in full body suits, enter the room. THEY stopped over a scared, injured rabbit sitting near a table, and watched as THEY pulled a small gun and shot them in the head. Then THEY did this to another one. And another. And so on and so forth. Realizing if she didn't get out now, she wouldn't be getting out at all, Stone tried again and again to get up, only to find that she couldn't move. She could hear THEIR boots approaching, and she sighed. At least she'd told Nickle what to do, and at least she'd said goodbye. This had always been a possibility, she knew, this plan had always had a high risk factor to it. She just...didn't expect it to end so unceremoniously, and then, without warning, THEY began to scream. Stone turned and looked as a large creature snapped at THEM, tearing at their faces until they were sure THEY were dead, and then quickly came to her side. Stone looked up, her eyes watery from the smoke, but she knew. "Thank god for you," Stone said. "God has nothing to do with it," Minerva replied, "Let's go." *** The sounds had become overwhelming to Mipsy, who'd found solace in hiding between a cabinet and a wall, where nobody could see her. This was all her fault. She was the map, she was supposed to lead them to safety, and now...now look at her, cowering here while her friends all died horrible around her. She shut her eyes and thought about Paw Paw, thought about the Hollow, thought about the life she'd never get to have. What could've possessed her to be so gullible as to believe Gerry would actually get her out of here alive? He rarely got anyone out of anywhere alive, she felt. She heard footpads on the floor nearby, and recoiled in fear. Somebody was coming closer, a guard dog perhaps? She didn't know what to do, she didn't want to do anything. She just wanted all of this to end. And then, without warning, a voice. "Mipsy?" it asked in a hushed voice. "Kevin?" she responded, as a small little mouse face peeked in through the crevice and smiled at her; Mipsy grinned, "Salt!" "Sweetheart, Kevin's in the room, we need to get the rest of the rabbits and get out of here," Salt said, "Which means we need you. You're the only way around this place, especially now in the chaos." "I'm scared. It loud, bright, too warm, much too warm. So much scream," Mipsy said, beginning to cower again, until Kevin stuck his head through. "Mipsy," he said, "Mipsy, I know you're scared, I'm scared too, but you haven't seen what I've seen. I need you Mipsy. You wanna be the hero? Now's the time. Please. Let's do what we came here to do and finish this once and for all. We'll circle back, collect everyone, lead them all to the vents and get the hell outta dodge." "...you promise nothing hurt me?" Mipsy asked and Kevin nodded. "I promise nothing will hurt you," he replied. This seemed to be enough to finally coax Mipsy out of the spot she was crunched between, and bring her into the fire lit room they were standing in. Kevin smiled at her and together they turned and headed onwards. Mipsy couldn't believe all the horror that surrounded them as they traveled through empty rooms; screams as far as the ear could hear, fire as far as the eye could, and both seemed impossible to avoid no matter what direction you went. The whole thing made her incredibly uneasy. She hadn't expected things to go down like this, then again, Gerry hadn't either. "Where everyone else?" Mipsy asked. "No idea," Kevin said, "Gerry was back in the hall, but I haven't seen anyone else in ages." This did not give her confidence. *** Stone and Minerva peered around a corner and waited, waited until they saw nobody else coming, then headed across the hall into another room. Once inside, Minerva pushed a few chairs together with her head up against the door, creating a weak barricade. It wouldn't hold but it at least gave them peace of mind for a moment. Stone finally exhaled and coughed, feeling the smoke inside her lungs. Minerva shook herself, blood splattering onto the ground around her. "What in gods name happened to you? Where's Dice?" Stone asked. "Dice got out," Minerva said, "She's waiting at the exit of the vents. I'm only still in here to defend anyone else from being hurt, but I...I couldn't risk losing her. I already lost my pups. I couldn't lose Dice too. You're lucky I came along when I did, you were about to be put down. How'd you end up in there?" "I don't really remember. I remember the explosion, I remember Gerry and Paul taking off somewhere, and then we...we were headed to the holding area when everything sort of blew up. Suddenly there was fire and screaming and rabbits being plucked left and right. I have...I have no idea where Mipsy is..." Stone said, realizing she might be responsible for her possible death, "...oh god, I should have known this wouldn't work." "It isn't over yet," Minerva replied, "We can still get out. We just have to meet up with the group and head to the vents." "I don't even know where the holding area IS, not without Mipsy, she's the map!" Stone said. "Luckily for you, then, I'm an expert tracker," Minerva replied, sticking her nose in the air and sniffing. "...whose blood is on you?" Stone finally asked, her voice wavering. "Some of mine, mostly a guard dogs," Minerva said, licking her paws, "Plus some of THEIR blood, when I ripped THEIR faces off to save you. It might take weeks before I get all this blood off my fur, but if I got all this blood by saving others, then I suppose to trade off is worth it." Suddenly a slam against the door, making Stone jump in surprise and Minerva quickly picked her up by the scruff of her neck and pulled her under a desk as two scientists entered the room, quickly locking the door behind them. THEY panted, just catching THEIR breaths for a moment, until one finally spoke. "This is ridiculous!" he said, "The whole goddamned place is going up in flames! What do we do?" "I'm voting with leave," the other said, "And kill as many of these fucking rabbits as you can on the way out. I knew all along they were getting smarter, I knew this would likely be a possibility. I just didn't expect it to be so coordinated. We have nobody to blame but ourselves for this. We brought this upon ourselves for the horrors we conducted upon them." "They're animals, Rob, that's ridiculous to think." "You think animals can't feel pain? Regret? Remorse? Terror? Bullshit Stanley, you and I both know full well these are not just animals anymore. We made them into what they are today, and now we're paying the price for it." Stone tapped Minerva on the paw and pointed at an open vent in the wall. Minerva nodded and, Stone still in her jaw, began to slink under other furniture through the darkness and head towards the vent. As the two men argued, Stone held her breath, terrified that even the slightest change in air pressure from exhaling would alert them to their presence. They reached the vent, and Minerva set Stone down, nudging her into the vent with the tip of her cold nose. She was only a little ways in when she heard the shot, and heard Minerva cry in pain, then force her way into the vent behind her. Minerva shoved Stone further with her snout until they were around a bend, out of line of sight, and she could assess the situation. "Are you okay?" Stone asked. "It's just in my back right haunch, I'll be fine, but it burns like hell," Minerva said, "Goddamn these bastards." "We need to..." Stone started, before her ears perked up, "I can hear them, I can hear Mipsy! Come on!" And with that, they headed towards the sound of salvation. *** Gerry and Number Two were finally back on track, heading towards the containment area, dodging hellfire and violence all around them. As they got further and further into the lab, thankfully, things seemed to have died down a bit, and they didn't need to be as overly cautious. Most of the mayhem was taking place in the early halls, and not deeper in the holding rooms. Number Two pushed a door open with his paw and let Gerry enter, then followed him in. The room was pitch black, and Number Two struggled to get up on a few boxes, until he finally managed to reach the desk and flip the light switch. The overhead lights illuminated the room, filled with birds, all kinds of birds. "...holy hell," Number Two said, "THEY didn't just bring in new rabbits, THEY brought in new everything." "We have to let them out," Gerry said, climbing up and beginning to unlatch the cages, Number Two nodding, right behind him following the same procedure. The more birds they let out, the emptier the room became, as they soared through the doors or pulled the windows open with their talons and squeezing through that way. Once the birds were all gone, Gerry stopped and took a long, deep breath. "You okay, champ?" Number Two asked, and Gerry nodded. "I'm as okay as I can be, I suppose," he said, "...Richardson is dead, because of me." "Not because of you, for you, there's a difference. He gave up his life to save yours, and frankly, given what he did to us before, it was a rather noble thing to do," Number Two said, "None of what is happening is your fault, Gerry. THEY prepared somewhat, THEY figured we'd come back. We should've known that, we just...didn't, I guess. Or didn't think it'd be this severe, at least. But nothing that's happening is happening because of you." "No, see, that's not fair. In order to be a hero, I have to be a villain. I can't just take the wins, I have to suffer the losses as well. A hero isn't just purely good. They make mistakes, the fuck up, they cause deaths. Richardson died because of me. I brought him here, he's leaving behind his entire Sister Rabbits because of my actions. I have to take responsibility for that. To only take the success is unfair. I have to own up to the failures. That's the thing Dodger never did. That's what makes me better than him. I don't think I'm infallible." Number Two smiled. "All I've ever wanted to hear was you think you were better than that dirty little rat," Number Two said, "Thank you for giving me at least that before this ended." "Hah, no problem," Gerry said, "Thanks for making me believe it." They got up and, side by side, the partners they'd always been, continued on their way to free the rabbits. *** Stone wasn't sure how much further Mipsy would be, as sound echoed throughout the vents, meaning she could be near or far, depending. This aggrevated her, she didn't have the time to waste just crawling through air ducts all night. Before long the smoke would encompass the entire compound, choking everyone to death, and the fires would burn whoever was left inside. She needed to get out of here, and fast. Suddenly she stopped, Minerva stopping behind her, her ears up. "What is it?" Minerva asked, and Stone waited, her voice hushed. "...I don't know, it sounds like...wings," she said. Without warning, the vent grate beside them burst open and a dozen tiny birds fluttered in, feathers flying everywhere, scaring both Minerva and Stone half to death. After a moment the birds were gone, and Stone shook her head in annoyance. "This is bullshit," she said, Minerva chuckling. "Stone?" a voice asked, and when they glanced toward the end of the vent, they spotted Number Six. "Six!" Stone said, "What are you...how did you-" "I figured there might be some stragglers left in the vent, so I stayed behind to find them. Guide them out of here. I know where the containment room is, I know were we're going," Six said, "I'm sure that's where Mipsy is headed, I could hear her voice." "Yeah, us too, we were following it," Stone said, "We should keep moving, the smoke is getting thick. I'm afraid we won't be able to breath pretty soon if we stick around much longer." The three of them continued crawling through the vent, their ears on high alert for the sound of Mipsy's voice drawing ever nearer. As they went in silence, Stone thought about her life. How it had all changed since the Collective had come to her Hollow. How, somehow, despite all odds, this other group of rabbits had escaped and found her, the one Special Seven THEY had released willingly into the wilds. She'd taken them in, she'd helped them kill their enemies, and in turn, they'd given her a bigger family than she could've ever dreamed of. Things had turned out quite alright for Stone, in fact. At least up until this point, when she found herself crawling through a burning smoke infested air vent. The irony of being in an air vent, yet being unable to breath properly, was indeed not lost on her. "You know," Six said, "I used to think the whole idea of being part of a 'special' group was ridiculous, but now I see it more as a noble effort, to take the most horrible of experiments so those below you don't have to be subjected to them themselves. If I could take anything back, it would be to put myself in place of everyone who got hurt by something in this lab." "You can't live in the past, especially not right now, because if you do, you might not have a future," Stone said, "You're right, all I want to do is protect those who couldn't protect themselves, who didn't deserve to have these horrible things happen to them, but really there's no way to go back and fix that. We just have to live with what's happened and try and do better every day." They finally came to a vent and could see, through the slots, Mipsy and Kevin standing side by side, speaking to the rabbits in the cages. Six tapped on the vent, and Salt scurried up, unscrewing the front end and letting them into the room. At the sight of Minerva, all the rabbits in the cages tensed up, somewhat understandably, but Kevin immediately reassured them. "There's no reason to be frightened, I know she's tall and covered in blood, but I can attest that she is our friend," he said, "She's here to protect us and get us all out of here. Salt here is going to open up each and every one of your cages and then you will follow Mipsy, single file line, to the exit we've prepared. Once outside you will hurriedly approach the treeline, and wait there for the rest of us. Is that clear and understood?" The rabbits all murmured in agreement. Having a fox on their side seemed to help keep them in check. Stone was, admittedly, impressed with Kevins leadership. She'd seen him be somewhat of a leader before, but now he was really putting his efforts on front display, and she liked what she saw. She could finally understand what it was Gerry had seen in him, and of course, what Number Four had fallen in love with. Kevin turned to face the others as Salt did her duty and Mipsy led them all into a line. "Nice of you to join us," he said, jokingly, making Stone, Minerva and Six chuckle. "It wasn't easy, trust me," Stone said, "Nearly died a few times over just trying to reach this place." "Yeah, you're not the only one," Kevin said. "Where's Gerald?" Six asked, and Kevin shook his head. "Last I saw of him, he was in a hallway, facing down a guard dog," Kevin said, "He told me to get everyone out. I have no idea if he's still alive. Haven't seen Number Two either." "Yeah we got separated fairly early on," Minerva said, "And when I rescued him from a dog, perhaps the same dog Gerald found himself faced with, I lost Paul even more. I can only hope he's okay." "I'm sure if they're alive, they're together, and if they're together, they'll be fine," Stone said, "Those two make a great whole rabbit when working with their two broken halves." Once all the rabbits were out of their cages and lined up, Kevin approached Mipsy's side and elbowed her, making her smile. He nodded at her. She was, just like him, a leader. Her disability didn't stop her, it didn't even slow her down, if anything her disability made her all the more powerful, and she was beginning to finally revel in it. She shouted at the rabbit to follow them, and away the group went. The walk back to the exit, thanks to Mipsy, was fairly easy. She was their map, after all. Single filed, the newly released rabbits began pouring out of the exit through the vent into the side of the lab where the Collective had entered, and Lorna took note. She swept down from her tree branch and soared quickly over to her bundle of sticks, clutched one in her talons and then headed for the fire. She caught both ends and then circled, waiting for the last of the rabbits to come out. Staying there in midflight, the wind beneath her wings, she couldn't believe the sight she saw. An ocean of white and brown and black and grey fur beneath her; her beak curved somewhat up, grinning, shaking her head. They'd actually done it. Against all odds, they'd done it. And then a shot rang out in the night, and she felt a piercing pain through her left wing. She dropped the stick, and cried out in pain, diving into the thicketed forest below. She landed in the dirt and mud, and looked at her wing. Someone from atop the lab had shot her. THEY were sniping anything that tried to leave. That's when something caught her eye...the sight of fire on the ground. The stick she'd dropped had ignited the dry grass they'd laid around the lab far too early, and was spreading quickly. Soon all the rabbits would be trapped in a ring of burning death with bullets hailing down upon them. Lorna grimaced, pecked into her wing and pulled the bullet out with her beak, spitting it onto the ground beside her. "I've had enough of this," she said, then, even with all the pain shooting through her wing, took flight once more, heading toward the lab. She circled overhead, and cawed, trying to grab the snipers attention, and draw their fire away from the rabbits on the ground. In the vents, Kevins ears perked up. He knew that shrill cry. Something had gone wrong. He'd heard the shot, and he knew from personal experience in the woods with the hunters it was a gun, but he didn't know what had happened. Now he was worried. As the last of the rabbits hurried through the hole, Kevin looked at Minerva, who was licking her hip where the bullet had entered. "You need to get out," Kevin said, "I'll wait for them as long as I can, but you need to get out now and get back to your mate. You've done more than enough here." Minerva nodded, and headed through the hole. Six followed next, and all that was left was Mipsy and Stone. Kevin looked at Mipsy, but she backed up and shook her head. "I no leave until you leave," she said, "I refuse!" "Mipsy-" "No! You my friend, we stay together!" "...Mipsy, come on, don't do this, THEY could blow these vents up any second now, you have to get out, Paw Paw is waiting for you. Don't die on my account, alright? Go home. Be with Paw Paw. Please..." Kevin begged, but she wouldn't budge. "Oh fuck this," Stone said, turning heel and racing down the vent, disappearing from sight. As she came out of the vents and into a room, she slid across the floor and found a staircase, which she quickly ascended, heading upwards towards the roof. She could hear where the gunshots were coming from, and she knew she needed to do something. The door to the roof was propped open, and she dove out onto the roof, jamming her teeth into the mans ankle. He screamed and kicked at her, his boot connecting with her face and skidding her across the rooftop until she hit a wall. He then picked his rifle back up, stood up and approached her. He cocked it as she looked up at him, and he aimed. After all this, she'd be shot in the head anyway. Well, if nothing else, she bought the escapees some time. But he didn't fire, instead he began to scream. When she opened her eyes, she saw Lorna was scratching at his face and pecking at him. He'd dropped the rifle on the ground, trying instead to wave her away. Stone sat and watched, in sheer terror, unsure of what to do, or if there was anything she even could do. The man reached down and grabbed a small knife on his hip, pulled it off and lunged for Lorna's side. Stone raced at him and jumped up on a small box he'd left there with ammo, then leapt up onto the slightly raised wall of the roof and, just as he lunged again for Lorna, Stone leapt onto his face, screaming and clawing at him. The mans knife barely grazed Lorna, only cutting her mildly near her leg, and she backed away, watching him flail at Stone as she dug her teeth into his nose. Lorna felt time slow down, as she watched the man jam his knife into Stones side repeatedly, but Stone just shut her eyes, and ignored the pain. The man stumbled over his ammo box and toppled over the side of the wall, falling to his death, Stone still attached to his face, along for the ride. As they headed for the ground, Stones life flashed before her eyes. Her brief time in the lab, her sanctioned release into the wild, her efforts at starting the Hollow, her friendship with Nickle, the arrival of the Collective, and everything else. She thought about Gerry, about Paul, about all the other rabbits she'd been lucky to have known. She smiled. She had done what she'd set out to do in more ways than one. Save a life. She didn't even feel it when they hit the ground. Lorna landed on the side of the wall and looked down, tears rolling down her face as she cried into the night. After a few moments, she looked out across the vast scope of the land between the lab and the treeline, and she did what Stone would've done. She picked herself right back up, she ignored her pain, and she went back to work. *** Kevin and Mipsy waited as long as they could, neither one speaking a word. They didn't know where Stone had gone, they didn't even know she was dead. All they knew was that they were waiting on two rabbits now, Gerry and Paul, and that they didn't have much time left to wait. Kevin sighed as he looked at his robotic foot and pawed at it momentarily. "I've survived so much," Kevin said quietly, "...the fact I'm still alive is remarkable, considering the horrible things I've been a part of. But, all those horrible things paled when compared to the happiness knowing Ellen brought me. That's why I need you to promise me, Mipsy, that if it comes down to the wire, you will leave. You will leave and you will go home to Paw Paw. Don't let her become as broken as me. Love is worth surviving for." Mipsy sighed and nodded, "Okay Kevin," she said, "I promise, I go home if it get too long. Thank you for caring. Thank you for being my friend, and believing in me. You know I'm not stupid." "You're not stupid, Mipsy," Kevin said, "And anyone who says you are are the stupid ones, I guarantee that. You alone have helped us accomplish more than we ever did on our own. You're remarkable, and I'm glad someone else, like Paw Paw, sees that in you, enough to love you. Don't turn your back on that kind of love." Just then Gerry and Paul came scooting around the corner. "Where the hell have you two been!?" Kevin shouted. "It's a long story, we gotta go!" Gerry shouted, "This place is burning to the ground! I presume you got the rabbits out?" "Yeah, I did my job," Kevin said sternly. "Hey," Number Two said, "Now is not the time. Belittle one another later, right now let's survive." The four of them headed out the vent, surprised at the blinding fire raging all around them that had now even caught some of the treeline on fire as well. Kevin had told the new rabbits to run north if they needed to, so he wasn't worried about losing them, but his main goal right now was to get Mipsy back to the Hollow, or wherever they were. To get her out of here alive, no matter what the cost. Number Two pointed up in the sky at Lorna, who was struggling to fly, still dropping burning sticks to the ground to obscure any of THEIR views as THEY too tried to scramble for an exit. Kevin grabbed Mipsys paw and turned her to look him in the eye. "Do you trust me?" he asked. "Why?" "Do you trust me?" he repeated, and she nodded; he continued, "Shut your eyes, and hold on. I'm getting you out of here." Kevin pulled her onto his back, and then ran headfirst through the fire, leaving Gerry and Number Two speechless. They looked at one another as the circle of flames began closing in, and they felt trapped. Number Two finally didn't have a plan, and he felt sick. He looked at Gerry and Gerry looked at him. They didn't need to say it, their eyes said enough. Suddenly, they heard a voice behind them, and were shocked to see Crisp and Melvin standing there. "It's really hard to walk when you're attached like this," Crisp said, "But we're here." "Oh my god," Number Two said, "How did you-" "Jasmine," Melvin said, "Jasmine wandered into our area and helped us out. Now we're going to do the same for you. We're going to lay down on the flames and you're going to walk out over us. We...we didn't stay, and we should have. Let us do this for you." "You guys have a group to lead," Crisp said. Crisp and Melvin waddled, best they could, to the edge of the fire and collapsed onto it, feeling it burn them from underneath. Number Two and Gerry were quick, heading over their back fast and stopping on the other side to look back at them. "Thanks guys," Gerry said, "I'll tell your story." "Of course you will," Crisp said, "It's the same as yours." Gerry smiled and, with Number Two, headed for the now blazing treeline. Crisp held Melvins paw and the two of them rolled off the fire, burned to a singe on their underside, but happy they managed to make up for their mistake. As they lay there, the fire burning bright all around them, soon to completely overtake their body, the lab burning brightly behind them, they looked up at the night sky. Crisp sighed. "I'm glad that, if I have to die attached to someone, it's you," she said. "Right back at you." "The stars are beautiful," Crisp said weakly. "There's no stars out, and even if there were you couldn't see them through the smoke," Melvin replied. "There's so many stars, you just have to shut your eyes," Crisp said, and Melvin did just that. She was right. He saw the stars. And they were indeed beautiful. Smoke.
That's what all Gerry could make out. Smoke as far as the eye could see. His ears pierced with the screams of the rabbits around him, hurling themselves down the halls, hoping to escape the fire that was engulfing the building around them. Gerry's eyes watered, and he pushed his way through the thick smoke, coughing, wanting to blink but knowing it would hurt too much. He passed by a room and saw the body of a lifeless rabbit, likely having succumbed to smoke inhalation, but nobody he knew. His lack of personal attachment didn't alleviate his guilt, however, but he didn't have the time to focus on it. Gerry pushed his way through the smoke, spotting the dented railing, where they had gone over. Gerry approached the spot and glanced over the edge, spying their body lying on the floor below, their neck broken. A sickening sight, but not undeserved. He turned and spotted the others body lying there, lifeless. He sighed and shook his head. After all that, they wouldn't live to see a world without the lab after all. Gerry wanted to shout their name, hoping they would respond, but he was afraid to open his mouth, the ashy taste in the air choking him instantly. Then he felt a pair of paws on him, turning him around, and he was face to face with Number Two. The two locked eyes. "We have to leave," he said, his face smeared with blood and soot, "Now." *** It was dark outside when The Collective began gathered, waiting to head towards the lab. Everyone was murmuring, their voices low, somewhat wavy, the sound of fear present in many of them. Stone was waiting at the front entrance of The Hollow, looking out at the group, her eyes welled up with tears. She heard someone approach and stop beside her, also looking out in the same direction. It was Nickel. "I hope they know what they've volunteered for," she said. "I think they do," Stone said, "Most are from the lab, or are Richardsons Sister Rabbits. They follow orders, they feel a community they have to protect and defend. They know what they signed up for." "...this isn't going to end well, is it?" Nickel asked, and Stone shrugged. "That's not up to me to say," Stone replied, before sighing, adding, "Nickel, you have one job; when this group leaves, you're taking our group, the remainders from the Hollow, and you're heading the opposite direction. Do not stop even when the sun comes up. Because if they fail at what they're about to do, we need to be as far fucking away from this area as possible." "Yes ma'am," Nickel said, "You're not coming?" "I'm going with them," Stone said, "You forget, I was one of the original Special Seven. I feel just as obligated to torch the place as everyone else out there." The two stood there momentarily, not speaking, until Stone sighed and turned to face Nickel. "Whatever happens," Stone said, "Don't stop running. And if I never see you again, it was good knowing you." "You too, ma'am," Nickel said. Stone hugged her friend, and then turned and walked out of the Hollow, leaving Nickel there to watch. She didn't want to be pessimistic, but she certainly couldn't help but feel like this was the last time she'd ever see her friend. And she wasn't the only one having this feeling; inside the Hollow, in a burrow towards the back, Mipsy was preparing for her own exit while Paw Paw watched. Paw Paw had only known her for a matter of weeks, but it had felt like a lifetime, and now she may never see her again. So many things she still wanted to say, but unsure of how to say them. After a bit of packing her satchel, repeating map areas to herself under her breath, Mipsy finally turned to face Paw Paw, and her face fell. She didn't know what to say either. The two stood there, staring at one another for a moment, until finally Paw Paw broke the silence and spoke. "You'd better come home," she said. "I will," Mipsy said, "And then we find better home. All of us. Beside, I'm the map. Gerry won't let anything happen to me." "That's probably true, knowing him, but still, I felt it needed to be said," Paw Paw said, "...before you and your friends came looking for Gerry, before you all found the Sister Rabbits, I had a lot of trouble making friends. Even now I feel like I don't really fit in here with the rest of you. Except for you. You made me feel like I fit in." "That good, prolly cause I don't fit in neither," Mipsy said, "That way, we not fit in together." "Sound reasoning," Paw Paw said, smirking at this logic, "Still, don't you lie to me and tell me you'll come back and then not. I couldn't handle that kind of loss." "I promise," Mipsy said, standing on her hind legs, putting one paw over her heart, "Cross my heart. I come back." "...i love you," Paw Paw said, and Mipsy nodded. "I love you too," she replied. Outside, Number Two approached Minerva and Dice, who were sitting under a tree, waiting for Gerry and Kevin to lead them. Gerry was still in the Hollow, but where was Kevin? That was the question. They couldn't leave without him, after all, the fire had been his plan originally. Number Two stopped by the foxes and look up at them. They both looked down and smiled at him. "You seem chipper for what's about to go down," Number Two, "What's got you two so happy?" "I think it's a mixture of the relief we'll feel when this is all over and the terror we feel before that relief," Dice said, making Number Two chuckle as Minerva nodded. "She nailed it," Minerva said, "That's exactly what it is." "Have you two seen Kevin?" They hadn't. Nobody had, it turned out. This didn't worry Number Two, exactly, as he knew Kevin wouldn't have gone ahead of them, but...he'd be lying if Kevins sudden absence didn't make him somewhat unsettled. He'd been spending more and more time alone these last few days, and while he'd always been a bit on the introverted side comparatively to the others in the Collective, this was a bit much, even for him. Number Two glanced around and spied Six and Gerry coming out of the Hollow, followed by Mipsy and Paw Paw. Richardson was talking to some of his Sister Rabbits, and everyone seemed to be accounted for... ...except for Kevin. Kevin, as it turned out, was at the only place he really wanted to be anymore. Number Four's grave. Sitting beside it, his eyes shut, his breathing shallow, he knew he wanted to say something to her, but what, exactly? He sighed and opened his eyes a bit, speaking softly. "Ellen, I may not come back," he said, "I may see you sooner than we thought. We're leaving to bring the fire to THEM today. I'm doing this for you. I just...I wish you were here, to see what I've accomplished. But, I'm also glad you're not, because if something happened to you now, or something happened to me and you survived, I don't think either of us would like that. Maybe this is the way it had to be all along, I don't know. But I may not come back here, so if you never hear my voice again...that's why. But please don't think it's because I abandoned your resting place, because I never would. I love you, even if you're gone. I always will," he said, tears rolling slowly down his face. Kevin then picked up his stick in his mouth and headed back towards the Hollow, glancing only once back at her headstone, unsure whether he'd ever see it again or not. When Kevin finally arrived, he found Number Two, Richardson, Mipsy, Gerry and Stone all standing in a circle in front of The Collective. "Does Nickel know what she's to do?" Gerry asked, and Stone nodded. "Yes, I told her," Stone replied, "She won't deviate from my orders." "Good," Gerry said, looking at Kevin, "Are we ready?" "...yes," Kevin said, "I'm ready." "Light it!" Gerry shouted, and with that all the rabbits lowered their sticks to the ground, lining up before a small fire pit the rabbits had built the night before, where Salt had, using flint she'd stolen from the lab, started a fire. The rabbits walked by, one by one, lowering the end of their sticks into the fire pit and getting the tips ignited. Once all the sticks were lit, Stone and Gerry tied each of the sticks to the backs of the rabbits, so they wouldn't have to carry them in their mouths to the lab. Gerry and the leaders lit theirs, and Gerry headed to the front of the group. He looked out at the sea of faces peering back at him, and he sighed. "Let's move!" he shouted, "Let's burn THEM!" *** Walking through the woods, heading towards the lab for, presumably, one final time, Number Two couldn't shake something in his head. He jogged up a bit to catch up with Gerry, and walked alongside him. Gerry looked over at Number Two and smiled. "What's our exit strategy?" Number Two asked, "I mean, sure, in and out of the vents, no problem. But what's our actual exit strategy provided we manage to get back out?" "We run. That's it, that's all I've got," Gerry said, "I know that it's not well thought out or prepared or anything but...to be quite frank, Paul, I don't know that I thought we'd need one." "Jesus, that's not the answer I wanted to hear," Number Two replied, making Gerry chuckle. "We'll run, we'll run as far and fast as we can. Stone has Nickel moving the rest of the group upwind from where we were. We'll head that direction, and we're likely to come across them at some point. No matter what, just stick by my side and we'll get eachother out of there, alright?" Gerry said, Number Two nodding in agreement. "You got it, chief," Number Two said, sighing, "...Gerald, I...I want to apologize. I didn't believe in you in the beginning, and I...I fought with you constantly about whether leaving the lab was not only possible but even the right thing to do. I want to apologize for that. I was...so scared of being anywhere else that I let my fear cloud my judgement, and that's not okay. I'm sorry I didn't support you sooner." "You had every reason to be cautious, and your cautiousness is what saved us time and time again," Gerry said, "Only when you began throwing caution to the wind did you start risking your life for reasons you never understood before, but neither was a bad way to live." "Thank you," Number Two said, trying not to cry, "I trust you now. I have for a long time." "And I trust you," Gerry said, "So let's finish this thing, side by side." Further back, Kevin was walking with Mipsy, but he wasn't paying attention to anything she was saying. After a bit, she nudged him in the shoulder and he finally looked over at her and smiled. "Sorry," Kevin said, "I wasn't purposefully ignoring you, I hope you know." "I know," Mipsy said, "You say bye to Number Four?" "...yeah," Kevin said after a pause, "I did...now I only hope I can say hello to her again." "Don't worry, I get you out of lab," Mipsy said proudly, "I'm the map. I know where go. Stay with me, you be fine." Kevin smiled. He knew he at least still had a real friend in Mipsy, and he appreciated that. But he also knew he had something to do before he could leave, and that was get Steve's feet from the garden. He wouldn't be able to stay by Mipsy's side, so he only hoped she would wait for him if he needed her to. He was depending on Mipsy to save all their asses. He hoped that that much responsibility wouldn't be too much pressure, but he also knew Mipsy could handle it. She was, after all, one of the ones who came up with the plan to finally put Dodger down, when nobody else could. As they marched ever onwards, most of the walk was silent. Nobody really spoke much, and when they did it was often in hushed whispers and shallow voices. Finally, after what felt like hours, they reached the lab. There it was, standing tall and menacing as ever, across the field from the treeline. Everyone stopped and looked ahead at it. Gerry told everyone to wait, and then he, Number Two, Kevin, Mipsy and the foxes walked up into the field and waited. Salt was sitting on Kevins back, holding gently onto his ears so she wouldn't slide off. After a few moments, a large shadow loomed overhead and finally landed in front of them. "Lorna," Gerry said. "Gerald," she replied, "I see you have brought almost everybody." "We're gonna need all the help we can get," Kevin said, "You know what you're doing, right?" "Yes," Lorna said, "I have been collecting sticks all afternoon. Salt set fire to another pit only a minute away from here. After you all exit the lab, I swoop down, grab stick, light it and drop them all one by one around lab in circular motion. This way it prevent anyone else from exiting." "Exactly," Gerry said, "We don't know what direction we're going to run in, but rest assured, it will be away from the fire." This made everyone chuckle; a much needed moment of brevity to ease the anxiety and dread. "I'm going to go ahead," Salt said, "Unlock the vents, and then we're going to get everyone in, one at a time. Once everyone is inside, it's a free for all. They can light wherever they can find a flammable surface, of which I guarantee there are many. Not to mention some of the compounds I'm sure THEY work with are flammable as well. This place is going to explode like a barrel of dynamite." "Remember," Gerry said, turning to face the others, "When we exit, just run back towards the Hollow. Don't stop, don't wait for anyone, just run. We'll all convene and find one another after the fact, okay? I know it sounds selfish, but it's the only way to make sure enough of us get out of there alive. Salt, get to the vents." Salt slid down off Kevin and looked at him, nodding; they'd made an arrangement that he'd be the first one in, and once he was, she and Kevin would leave to find the garden while Gerry and Stone got everyone else in through the vents. Salt was the only one who really knew where the place was, as she'd only taken them to it once before, so he needed her direction. Salt hurried across the field and got to the vent nearest the ground, taking her small tool from her pack and unscrewing the covering, carefully lowering it to the grass so it wouldn't make a sound. She then looked back, nodded, and the rabbits began their approach, Kevin first. Kevin slid into the vent after Salt and they scurried ahead, leaving Gerry and the other "leaders" to help the other rabbits inside. Lorna, meanwhile, flapped her wings and took off into the sky, heading to her group of sticks she'd bundled nearby, so she'd be ready when she was signaled. Kevin and Salt were gone before anyone even noticed, except Gerry, who merely grimaced and shook his head, turning back to continue helping the other rabbits into the vent. After everyone had gotten in and gotten through, he and Number Two led them all down the vents to the nearest room they could find. Salt had already unscrewed the inside vents so they could just push their way in without her help. As Gerry pushed the screen off the vent and poked his head into the lab, he was surprised to find it was...empty? Had they taken a wrong turn? He lowered himself down and looked around as another rabbit, one named Maurice, dropped next to him and squinted. "Where are the other rabbits?" Maurice asked. "I must've gotten it backwards, we need to go the other way. I've only been in their area once, so forgive me," Gerry said, heading back in as he spotted Number Two sniffing the air. "Do you smell that?" Number Two asked, and Gerry looked back at Maurice pulling his torch off his back. The light illuminated the room, filled with black snakes, gas exiting out of every hole. Gerry wanted to scream, but before he could even speak, the gas emitted from the black snakes were lit by the fire of Maurice's torch and the whole room went up in a blaze, exploding, shaking the vents. Gerry coughed and opened his eyes, trying to see through. "Jesus christ!" a rabbit screamed, "Jesus christ!" "Is everyone okay?" Gerry asked, "Is everyone..." He turned and looked at Number Two. "How did THEY know?" he asked. "Because we've come back before," Number Two said, "THEY'RE merely protecting themselves. THEY knew we'd come back again. THEY has us all figured out, Gerald." "Nobody else pull your torches until I say so!" Gerry said, "We're heading the other direction!" "That explosion is gonna cause someone to come look," Stone said, sounding worried, and at that moment the alarms blared. Everyone looked scared, but Gerry stepped up to the plate. "Alright, everyone, ignore the sounds, head the other direction, just follow Stone! She'll lead you to where you have to go!" Gerry said, "I'll meet you there!" He turned and headed past Number Two. "Where are you going!?" Number Two asked loudly. "To get Jasmine," Gerry said. *** Kevin and Salt were halfway to the garden when the sound of the explosion resonated throughout the vents. They stopped, momentarily taken aback by the slight shaking sensation it caused, and glanced at one another before heading onwards. Salt looked at her feet as they walked and sighed. "Why are you doing this instead of helping them?" she asked. "Out in the woods one day, I was chased by a hunter. During this chase, I wound up somehow back at the lab, and the hunter shot one of THEM by accident. On THEIR person, THEY had a keychain with one of Steve's feet. The fourth foot, the one we never recovered. When THEY blew him up, they handed out his feet like fucking prizes and used them as keychains. I buried it in the woods, and I promised it that one day I'd come back, I'd get his other feet and I'd bury them with the fourth one. Gerry has his promises, I have mine, and just like him I intend to keep it. Steve was my best friend, and he doesn't deserve to die twice in this miserable fucking place." "...you're a good friend, Kevin," Salt said, "I'm sorry he died." "Yeah, me too," Kevin said. They arrived at the vent for the garden and Salt undid the covering. They made their way in, and looked around. It looked untouched, just like they'd seen it last time. Kevin smiled, remembering the nice time he'd had here with Ellen, and after allowing himself a moment of peace, he pushed onward. He remembered exactly where they'd buried Steve's remaining feet, and quickly headed to that spot. As he began to dig, Salt sat and watched. "...I admire what you're doing, you know," she said, "Everything you've done. I know the others probably don't say it as often as they should, but you've really managed to hold this group together until Gerry got back. Now look at you, still doing things for the dearly departed, because you believe they deserve better. That's admirable as all hell." "Thank you," Kevin said, pulling Steve's feet out of the dirt and tucking them into his pack. He sighed, turned and headed back to the vent. He helped Salt back inside the vent as well, and together the two headed down, back to the rest of the group. *** Gerry entered a room, Number Two at his side, just the two of them, as they searched for Jasmine's cage. Gerry knew where she was, he just wasn't exactly sure what part of it she was in. But he'd recognize the room the moment they entered it. He shook his head, he should've brought Mipsy with him, but she was more needed with the group. "This is ridiculous," Number Two said, "I know she's a friend, but she never wanted to leave to begin with, you said so yourself. Why go through all this trouble for one rabbit who doesn't care about leaving than help rescue the whole group that does?" "She may not want to leave, but that doesn't mean she deserves to be burnt to a crisp in here," Gerry said, "She should at least get a chance to make that choice. That's what I'm giving her, that last chance. If she decides to stay, then so be it." Gerry nosed open another door, and grinned. This was it. He looked up at the shelves above and pulled his torch, holding it up so he could see in the darkness. Number Two stopped and watched, sighing. This was ridiculous, even if he did understand Gerry's reasoning. Gerry finally found her cage and tapped it with his torch. "Jasmine!" he said in a hushed shout, "Jasmine!" "You really came," she said, coming to the side of her cage, "You're a fool, you know that?" "Jasmine, I'm just here to give you an option, do you want to-" "You shouldn't have come here, they're here," she said softly, and as Gerry whipped his torch around, he was face to face with the guard dogs snarling teeth. He stopped, frozen in fear, suddenly unable to move. The guard dog, Richards, grinned as he approached, pushing Gerry back against the cabinets. "How nice of you to come," he said, just as a torch jabbed him against the side of the face, and he yelped in pain before snapping his head to Number Two, holding his torch. "That was for my fucking ear," Number Two said, his brow furrowed, glaring at him, "You leave us alone, and I won't burn the rest of your goddamned face off your skull. Back away, NOW." Richards chuckled and looked back at Gerry, still grinning. "I've waited a long time for this, and there's no lab dog to save you now," he said, opening his mouth, ready to attack, when suddenly there was an orange blur and Minerva was on top of him, biting at his neck. Number Two, shocked she'd followed them, grabbed Gerry and pulled at him, leading him away back into the darkness from the fight. In the struggle, they bumped the shelf, and Jasmine's cage fell to the floor, smashing open. She climbed out and took off in another direction. Richards rolled over atop Minerva and grinned looking down at her, snarling. "How nice, they got another friend to fight their battles for them, the cowards!" Richards said. "They're braver then you'll ever be," Minerva said, and with that she lunged up and attached her jaw to his throat, ripping at it. Richards shrieked in pain, as Number Two and Gerry took off, out a door and into the main hall. The alarm began to blare, and smoke began to fill the surrounding area. The group must've found their targets and began burning. Number Two looked at Gerry as smoke billowed out into the halls and began to surround them. "Paul-" Gerry said, but Number Two hugged him and looked into his eyes. "Don't die," he said, before heading back to help Minerva, disappearing into the black of night. Gerry turned around and around, confused about where to go next. Things had already gone so off track, he wasn't sure he knew how to get them back on track. He paced in circles momentarily, before spotting one of THEM coming out of a room and shouting at him. Gerry turned and took off, THEM hot on his heels. He weaved throughout the halls, passing other screaming rabbits wielding burning torches, until he came to a room and dove inside. Once inside he backed into a corner, hoping to be ignored, as THEY pushed the door open and entered slowly, cautiously. Gerry didn't know what to do. He shut his eyes and hoped for the best, and suddenly a bright light lit up the room and THEY started to scream. When Gerry opened his eyes, he spotted Kevin standing on a shelf, his torch against THEIR face, searing them. He then dropped his torch, looked at Gerry and nodded. "Thank god you showed up!" Gerry said. "I didn't do that for you," Kevin said, "That was the one who got Ellen sick. I did it for her." And then as they got back into the hall, they heard the clickety clack of nails on the floor, and turned to see a bloody, angry Richards standing there. Number Two and Minerva were nowhere in sight. He snarled and then lunged at them, the both of them taking off down the hall with him right after them. As they passed by other rabbits, Richards was very clearly uninterested in hurting anyone except them. He wanted their blood, and he was out to get it. They stopped on a catwalk, a rail next to them. Kevin peered over the edge to see if they could survive the fall, but it looked rather high up. "What do we do?" he asked Gerry and Gerry shook his head. "I...I don't know. Kevin, just go, just run, run okay?" Gerry said, "Just go. Find Mipsy, find the others, get some sort of control back under all this. Lead the group back to the vent and get them out, no matter what, alright? I'll deal with this." Kevin nodded and took off, leaving Gerry alone to face Richards. Richards shook his fur, blood splattered onto the walls and Gerry's own snow white fur. As Richards approached, his sharp teeth glinting in the torch light of the hall, Gerry felt this was the end. He'd come this far, and if a fox couldn't take Richards out, what chance did he have? Gerry backed away, Richards getting ever closer with each step. "You have been a pain in my neck since the day you arrived here," Richards said, "Your pathetic little escape attempts have only shown you only care about your own species survival, just like THEM! You're no better than THEM! You got Fern killed, you've gotten your own friends killed, and now you're gonna get yourself killed!" "Please, come with us...you don't...you don't have to be here anymore," Gerry said. "Too fucking little too fucking late," Richards said, "You didn't offer me or any of the other dogs that chance every other time, so why should I give you the option now? Do you have any idea what kind of horrors we have seen? We have been subjected to? No. If I'm going to burn to death in this miserable hole, I'm going to eat you before I die." And without warning, Richardson was on top of him, biting and kicking at his face. Richards screamed, slamming himself against the wall. Gerry was taken back by surprise at Richardsons sudden arrival, but in the midst of all the screaming and the rampage, he wasn't that surprised he'd wind up in the same place as he was right now. Gerry backed away and shouted. "Richardson, get off him and let's go, man!" Gerry shouted. "He's only going to keep coming if you let him!" Richardson shouted, "Gerry, go! Get out!" Gerry backed away, wanting to run, but he couldn't. He found himself caught in time, a time he was unable to move or think of even breath. The smoke was getting too dense, too heavy, and his breathing was becoming labored. He looked around, spotting so many of THEM on fire, so many of THEM trying to flee, and he knew this was all his doing. This was his legacy now. Richards stumbled and slipped on the catwalk, gripping the edge with his front paws with Richardson hanging onto his back. Gerry stood, staring. "Richardson!" he shouted, rushing up to the edge as Richards attempted to bite at his paws, "Richardson, climb up, I can get you back up!" "Gerry..." Richardson said, chuckling, "...why? I did what I had to. I made up for my mistakes. I owned up to my sins. I righted my wrongs. Now it's your turn to do the same. Go, Gerald, get them out of here, make a new, better life for them, for yourself. Tell Kevin to take care of my Sister Rabbits." "Richardson, you don't have to-" But Richardson was done. He bit Richards on the legs, then leapt up onto the ledge, with Gerry grabbing at him, as Richards paws gave way, letting go of the catwalks edge, sending him plummeting to the floor. Gerry heard a loud clanging sound, and when he looked over the edge, there they were. Richards had clearly broken his neck on a pipe on the way down. Gerry stopped and stared, tears welling up in his eyes. This wasn't supposed to happen. It wasn't supposed to go like this. Even for all that dog had done to them, he still felt bad they had to die like this. Gerry then turned his attention to Richardson, who was limping and collapsed on the floor, coughing up blood. "Richardson," he started, "We can get you out of here, I can, I can-" "No, just go, just go man, I did what I had to do," he said. "No! This wasn't supposed to happen! You were supposed to come back with us! With me!" Gerry shouted, finally losing it, "Richardson, just stay awake, okay? I know it's...it's hard and the smoke is a lot and...and..." He looked at Richardsons stomach, a large gash in it, likely from Richards paws, and blood spilling out. Richardson smiled and touched Gerry's face with his paw. "Don't cry," he said, "I couldn't...I couldn't protect my sister...but I did protect you." Gerry started sobbing, and shut his eyes, simply repeating, "no no no". When Gerry opened his eyes, Richardson was gone. His eyes were wide open, but the life was gone from them. Gerry began to finally wail openly, his cries filling the hall. Time itself seemed to slow, and nothing else matter. He couldn't figure out just how long he stayed there for, but it must've been a while. When he felt he was done grieving, the hallways were filled with smoke so much so that he could barely see. Smoke. That's what all Gerry could make out. Smoke as far as the eye could see. His ears pierced with the screams of the rabbits around him, hurling themselves down the halls, hoping to escape the fire that was engulfing the building around them. Gerry's eyes watered, and he pushed his way through the thick smoke, coughing, wanting to blink but knowing it would hurt too much. He passed by a room and saw the body of a lifeless rabbit, likely having succumbed to smoke inhalation, but nobody he knew. His lack of personal attachment didn't alleviate his guilt, however, but he didn't have the time to focus on it. Gerry pushed his way through the smoke, spotting the dented railing, where they had gone over. Gerry approached the spot and glanced over the edge, spying Richards body lying on the floor below, their neck broken. A sickening sight, but not undeserved. He turned and spotted Richardson lying there, lifeless. He sighed and shook his head. After all that, they wouldn't live to see a world without the lab after all. Gerry wanted to shout their name, hoping they would respond, but he was afraid to open his mouth, the ashy taste in the air choking him instantly. Then he felt a pair of paws on him, turning him around, and he was face to face with Number Two. He couldn't believe it, he was alive! The two locked eyes. "We have to leave," he said, his face smeared with blood and soot, "Now." Gerry had asked Stone to gather the Collective, their own, and Richardsons group, so he could speak to them all at once about the upcoming plans, but he couldn't deny that he was extremely nervous about this. Standing in his little room, pacing and wondering what exactly he was going to say once Stone was ready for him, he heard someone enter, and, expecting Number Two, turned only to find instead the young girl rabbit who'd escaped her own burrows genocide standing in his doorway.
"Oh," Gerry said, "Hi. I wasn't expecting you." "...what's going on? Everyone is gathering outside," she said. "I'm going to speak to the whole Hollow, talk about what's going to happen in a few days, things we've discovered, that sort of stuff. How are you doing? Is your head feeling better?" he asked, and she nodded. "I think so," she said, "...can I...can I stay with you once we get out of here? I don't have any family anymore, and you seem to know how to care about others. If not it's okay, I just wanted to asked." "Uh, that's a big request, I don't know," Gerry said, "Mostly because I don't know that I'll survive what's about to go down. How about this, ask me again later. Maybe when I feel more confident I'll still be around to take care of someone, alright?" "That sounds fair," she said, turning and leaving as Stone and Number Two entered. "Gerry, they're ready," Stone said, before turning and leaving again. Gerry approached Number Two and took a long deep breath before looking him in the face. "You're gonna do fine," Number Two said, "Comparatively to other things you've had to do? Yeah, this'll be a breeze." "Thanks," Gerry said, chuckling, "...walk with me out there?" "Always." The two headed out the room and down the long now empty hall of the Hollow. Halfway down, Gerald stopped and sighed, looking around. Number Two stopped and looked at him, raising an eyebrow at this behavior. "It's so quiet..." Gerry said, "I can't help but think this is one of the last times I'll ever be here. That I won't come home in a few days. I don't think I ever realized just how much I loved this place, how much like a home it came to feel like, until now. Now, when I may not come back to it. I don't want to leave it. I don't want to die. Especially not in that lab. I fought so hard to not die in that lab, and ironically enough, it might be how I go." "You're not dying in that lab," Number Two said, "I can promise you that. I have one goal. Get you in and out of there, and god dammit I'm going to see that I accomplish both halves of that, no matter what. You're going to be fine, Gerald, you always are." "...thanks Paul," Gerry said, "Let's do this." The rabbits were gathered outside, in the early evening sunset, all murmuring, unsure of what was about to happen, when Gerald and Number Two finally exited the Hollow and headed up to the small speaking area made of rocks Stone and Nickel had pushed together for him. Number Two stayed right by Gerry's side as he climbed atop the rocks and looked out at the crowd. After a moment or two of silence and preparing himself, Gerry looked out at the crowd and spoke. "Hello," he said, "As you all likely know, my name is Gerald. A few years ago, I made a decision to get my friends out of a lab, a horrible lab, where the people who ran it were performing awful experiments on us in the name of 'science'. It took a good few tries, we had a few tough setbacks, but ultimately we all managed to escape, thanks to the help of rabbits like Number Two and Kevin. But...when I think about thanking the rabbits who're here, I also think about thanking the rabbits who aren't. The rabbits who gave their lives for us to get out of here. Rabbits a lot of you likely never got to meet. Like Doug. Doug was my first friend in the lab, and he was such a funny guy. Always willing to make me smile to cheer me up. Doug gave his life for us to escape the first time, and his efforts, his sacrifice, allowed Kevin and Number Two and a lot of other rabbits to finally feel freedom. Feel grass, not steel, beneath their paw pads," Gerry said, before pausing and taking a long deep breath. He looked around at the rabbits, looked at Number Two, who nodded at him to continue, which he did. He turned back to the crowd and kept speaking. "Then there was Steve. Steve never managed to help us, because THEY killed him long before we ever tried escaping, but...honestly, Steve's death was the catalyst to everything, I realize now. Had we not witnessed his end, an end so violent and unnecessary, then we likely would never have actually attempted escaping in the first place. Steve deserved better. Moreso than any other rabbit I've ever known, Steve deserved better. Then there was Fern. She wasn't a rabbit, she was the lab dog, but she...she was our friend, and THEY were using her just like THEY were using us. In the end, Fern saved our lives, and gave her own so we could continue. I tell you this because...because in a few days, a lot of us may not come back. In a few days, a lot of us are going to the lab, and we're going to set it on fire, and finish this war THEY started once and for all." Gerry took a long deep breath and exhaled, then looked back out at the crowd. Small children, Sister Rabbits, faces he barely recognized yet felt so obligated to protect. He continued. "THEY have been carrying out genocides on burrows nearby. Sticking black snakes that emit a gas into them that kill any and all rabbits. Some have been lucky to escape it, myself included, and our friend Richardsons group, but others not so much. THEY think we're a threat, and THEY'RE right. We are a threat. Now the time has come to show THEM just how much of a threat we actually are. You are family, whether you lose some of us or not. You will always be family. There's nothing better in the world than having those around you that you care for, that care about you, and this is why we're doing this. Because if we don't, nobody else will, and someone has to protect you all. A few years ago, I made it my mission to get out of that lab to protect my friends. In a few days, I'll be going back to that lab to protect my friends. To protect all of you. You are all part of this Collective, and I...I wanted to thank you for giving me a purpose lo these many years. I wouldn't have made it without any of you. Thank you." Gerry stepped down as Stone took his spot and began her own speech. As Gerry passed by the young rabbit, he stopped and looked at her. "You can stay with me," he said, and she smiled before he continued back towards the Hollow, Number Two right by his side. Off a bit, aways from the Hollow, Kevin found himself alone with Number Fours grave. He wasn't speaking. He was merely sitting beside her, thinking. Thinking about what Gerry had said, thinking about how much faith Gerry had put into him all those years ago, thinking about how he'd managed to even make it this far. He'd survived because he had someone to survive for, but now she was gone, and all that mattered to him was taking THEM with him when he went. Kevin sighed and knew he'd made a potential promise to Richardson, but he wasn't even sure he'd survive long enough to keep it. He laid his head on Number Four's grave and shut his eyes. All he wanted was for THEM to feel the pain THEY had made her feel. And he was going to make sure that happened. *** Number Two arrived back home late that night, where he found Dice already asleep and Minerva waiting up for him, chewing on a large bone she'd found in the woods. He stopped and looked at her, and she stopped chewing, looking at him. She cocked her head and he sighed, heading back outside. She quickly stood up and followed. "How did it go?" she asked. "It went fine," Number Two said, "...I need to ask you for a favor." "Anything." "...I need you to watch over Gerald if anything happens to me," Number Two said, "None of us know what's going to happen when we bring the fire in a few days, but...but I need to know that if he survives and I do not, that he'll be protected. Please. Can you do that for me?" "Paul," Minerva said, "You risked your life to save me, you swore vengeance on the mouse that took my kits, and you know that I'd do anything for you. You're my friend," Minerva said, "I know that we...we only became friends because of extremely negative dire circumstances, and that we started as enemies ultimately, but that doesn't change the fact that you're here, and I'm here, and we're friends now. Who cares what we started as. So of course I'll do that for you." "...I think it'll be fine, but I just needed a contingency plan, you understand," Number Two said. "Of course I do." Number Two sat there for a moment, until Minerva nuzzled his good ear and then went back into the tree. Number Two looked up at the sky and thought about what life might be like after THEY were gone. In just a few days time, it'd all be over, and they may finally be free of THEIR tyranny. The idea excited him, but, truth be told, also terrified him with his overwhelming possible outcomes, a lot of them negative. He didn't want to have come so far only to have this fail. He sighed and laid down under the stairs, shutting his eyes, and thinking of Gerald, and what they'd do when this was finally all over. *** Stone found Gerry the following morning, early, helping Six and Mipsy and Paw Paw gather good sticks to use for the fire. The girls were bringing him sticks and he would inspect each and every one, deciding whether or not it was worth it. A bit wet? Wouldn't work. Too short? Potentially hazardous to the user. The sticks had to be just the right thickness, the right length, the right amount of dry to be worthwhile. Gerry was standing on a small hill just outside the Hollow, watching the girls gather sticks, this is where Stone found him. She walked up to him and sat beside him, yawning. "It's early," she said quietly, "You must be having trouble sleeping." "I've been having these dreams," Gerry said, "Ever since I can remember, ever since I was in the lab, I've been having these dreams. I'm in a field, I've got blood on me, and there's a large bird overhead. It feels...safe, yet also final. I don't know what it means, and maybe it means nothing, but it's begun to unnerve me so much that I'd prefer not to sleep." "Well, considering what's about to go down, considering what you'll need your strength and energy for, you could probably use the sleep, so I'd suggest getting some. I could do this for you," Stone said, "...your speech was good, by the way. I don't think I told you that yesterday. Every single one of your friends who hasn't made it didn't die for no reason. Their death had a purpose, and that's nice. I mean, it's not nice they're gone, but it's nice it wasn't pointless." "I'm worried about Kevin," Gerry said, "I don't know what he's going to do when we get there, he's become somewhat unhinged, and I'm scared he might screw everything up. I knew he's got rage inside of him for what they did to him, for what they did to Number Four...but...at the same time, I'm concerned that rage is going to overtake his logic and force my hand in doing something I don't want to do, but will do, if it means protecting everyone else." Stone nodded, knowing what Gerry meant. She sighed and twitched her nose, her whiskers wiggling. "When I first started the Hollow," she began, "we had a rabbit here name Jeremy. Jeremy was smart, he was strong, he was kind. Jeremy was like my right hand man. He made a lot of the decisions, hard decisions, with me at the beginning...decisions I was somewhat afraid of making on my own. I relied on him. And then, one day, Jeremy just...snapped. Something inside of him broke, and he became vicious and cruel, stating his entire personality was a hoax, stating that he was angry because of what he'd been through." "What had happened to him?" "He'd been part of his own group, met a rabbit, had some children. Then winter arrived and nobody could find any food. In an act of desperation, the group turned on one another, began eating children to survive the harsh winter. His children were no exception. He left one night, didn't even say goodbye to his lady, he just...vanished. He was, justifiably so, outraged. But he tried to move on, he tried to form a new life with his own group, with me, but once that rage returned...once it boiled to the surface...there was no stopping it. So I took him for a walk and we talked about his anger, he told me what had happened to him, and I gave him as much pity as I could muster. I'm not heartless, I really did feel genuinely bad for him, but...but he was a liability now to my group. So I pushed him off a hill, watched him roll down, break his neck on a rock." "...jesus," Gerry mumbled. "...it wasn't something I liked doing, and I've lived with that guilt ever since, but...I wasn't about to let him jeopardize my life, my friends lives, because of his unresolved anger. Anger he'd rather express than work on. I did what had to be done," Stone said, before glancing from the girls to Gerry and adding, "...when the time comes, I know you will too. Because we're not different, you and I. We both do what needs to be done to protect those that we love, even if it means losing one we thought we once cared about." Gerry and Stone locked eyes briefly, before she turned and headed back inside, leaving Gerry alone to think about this. He looked back out at the girls and sighed. Stone was right, and he knew it, and he knew that Number Two would have his back if anything went down, and he found himself at the end of Kevins brutality. When had it all come to this...when had things broken down so much that friends he'd once trusted, friends he'd once built up into leaders themselves, were now willing to turn on him just so they could relieve their sorrows? Everything was splitting apart, and Gerry knew this splintering wouldn't end. It would only worsen, until one of them were eventually gone. He just hoped that, however it went down, it wasn't too painful for either of them. *** Back in the lab, back in the very beginning, none of these rabbits really knew one another. Oh sure, they were friendly, but they weren't friends. They took to one another because they were scared, they needed companionship, and they were all in the same situation, even the Special Seven. And over time, Gerry and Kevin, Number Two and Six, Number Four and Doug, Melvin, Crisp, Mipsy and Richardson even, they'd all slowly come to trust one another. Trust that the other would put their life on the line for the others, if necessary. And now, after all that time, after all they'd been through, it felt like it had become "every rabbit for himself", despite Gerry's upstanding belief in doing this all for the sake of other rabbits. That lab, with its shiny metal counters and their well kept cages, with its high end security systems and it's guard dogs, that lab that they'd once called home because they didn't know what home truly was, became a house of horrors, not comforts. And in a day or twos time, it'd be a pile of ash, and who knew who would be left standing. They had survived because they'd had one another, they got out because they worked together. This was not going to be any different. They'd all come together to survive once...Gerry just hoped they could manage to do the same one more time. Because they were going to need all the help they could get. *** The lab was quiet, but Jasmine could hear Salts breathing as she approached the cage. She turned and looked in her direction, smiling, smelling her. Salt put her hand through the cage and sighed as Jasmine touched her paw. "They're coming," Salt said, "They're coming any day now, and I'll make sure you don't get left behind." "It's not going to go well," Jasmine said, "I may be blind, but even I can see this is a terrible idea." "They won't budge," Salt replied, "And we're all gonna get out of here, once and for all, and this place will finally be gone. I won't be around to guide you though, you'll have to rely on them, okay?" "Where will you be?" "I have to take Kevin to find something," Salt said softly, "He asked me personally, and it's the last thing he needs to do for closure." The two sat silently together, listening to the deafening stillness that surrounded them. Neither said a word, but each knew what the other was feeling. This may be the last time they get a moments peace, and they each wanted to savor it. Salt had promised herself she wouldn't see Jasmine left behind, and she'd make sure that promise was kept, but she had made another promise, to Kevin, and she was going to make sure that was kept too. "What does Kevin need?" Jasmine finally asked, neither one looking at the other. "...he's going to get Steve's feet," Salt said, "Whether it kills him or not." The night was quiet, the crickets easily heard chirping into the cool sky, a slight breeze wafting through the trees. It was from back here, near the treeline, that Gerry was watching the lab from. He shut his eyes and took in the soft sounds of the night, letting them relax him before he finally turned back and looked at Six and Salt, both of whom who were sitting behind him, waiting. They all glanced at one another, none of them saying a single word, just waiting patiently, until Lorna swooped down and landed on a rock beside them.
"It looks like everything is shut down for the night," Lorna said, "I can still keep lookout though, circling, cawing if I see something I deem potentially dangerous." "That sounds good. This will be a good practice run for when we bring the fire, too," Gerry said, "But this has to be quick, and quiet. We need to be in and out in no time. We're simply gathering information, letting the new rabbits know that we're coming, and preparing them for what's about to happen. If we do this right, everything will be fine and nobody will get hurt." "Why am I coming and not Mipsy?" Six asked. "Because she's our map, I can't risk losing her. Not to say that you're worth risking either, but, I need you with me. You've been by my side since the very beginning, and you're a very calming presence. They'll listen to you if they won't listen to me," Gerry said, before turning and looking at Salt, asking, "You ready?" "Ready as I'll ever be, I suppose," Salt said, "You say the word, chief, and we'll do it." Gerry turned back and looked at the lab, recognizing this was their last shot to prepare the new rabbits before shit hit the fan. He couldn't afford to waste this opportunity. He sighed, shut his eyes and nodded. "Let's go," he said. *** "You cannot be serious," Number Two said, "You're going to go in before the attack?" "We have to inform the rabbits about what's going to happen, we discussed this," Gerry said. "Why not just send Salt, then? She's small enough to get in and out undetected, why risk yourself?" Stone asked. "Because she's not a rabbit. They need to hear it from another rabbit," Gerry said, "Besides, no offense to Salt but...I trusted a mouse, and look how it turned out." Nobody could argue with that, much as they may have wanted to. "Then I'm coming with you," Number Two said, and Gerry shook his head. "No way, out of the question," Gerry said, "I need you here. I need you helping Kevin keep the peace. And if something does happen to me, I need you to take control. Not that I foresee anything happening to me, but still, it helps to be prepared." "I think something that needs to be questioned," Richardson started, "Is if this one trip is going to be enough time. Are we certain you won't need to go back? Will you be able to tell them everything they need to hear, and clarify it well enough within that time limit, that they'll understand and be ready for when we return?" Everyone looked at one another, each knowing Richardson was right but nobody really wanting to state it. They'd all thought it, certainly, that one solo trip would not be enough, but it was likely their only chance. They were running out of time. Especially after The Black Snakes attack at the Sister Rabbit Hollow, the Collective knew THEY were getting ever closer with each passing day, and if they didn't bring the fire soon, they might not get a chance to before they too were gassed like all the other burrows out there. "I'm going to have to try and hope for the best," Gerry said, "I don't have a choice." "Gerald," Number Two started, "This is an incredibly risky plan. What guarantee do I have that you'll come back?" Gerald smiled warmly and replied, "If I don't come back, I give you the job of keeping my memory alive." "Gerald-" "Paul, we have to do this." He was right. There was no way around it. So Number Two simply too his job offer, and accepted Gerald's decision. Besides, he knew he'd come back, he always did. Why should this time be any different? *** Salt slipped in through a slot in the vent, and then pulled out the small screwdriver she'd stolen from the lab in order to let the rabbits in. Once she got the screws undone, letting them fall to the floor, she pushed the vent open and let Gerry and Six inside. Gerry stopped, and sighed, realizing this was the first time he'd been back inside the lab since he'd gotten out, and how weird it was to return here. To return and feel like he was coming home, despite it never really being a home. He quickly gathered himself and continued down the vent, Six by his side, Salt leading the both of them. "God this is eerie," Six said softly, "I never in my life expected to be back inside here." "I know, it's like some sort of bad dream," Gerry remarked, "But hopefully we can do what we came here to do in no time flat and get out lickety split." "They're in your old section, so try not to freak out too much when you see it," Salt said, "It's really surreal seeing it full of rabbits again. These are all fairly young rabbits too, most of them children or teenagers. Makes them more malleable to THEIR desires, makes them easier to control." "That's sick," Six said, Salt nodding in agreement. "Extremely. I mean, I understand that line of thinking, but that doesn't by any means prove I condone of it," Salt replied. They turned a corner in the vent and continued down another stretch, until they finally came to the vent that lead into their old room. They all took a collective sigh, and then Salt undid the bolts, and they pushed on through, unaware that what was on the other side wasn't actually their old room, but instead another section of lab. As they came through, they quickly realized they'd taken a wrong turn somewhere. Salt groaned and shook her head. "See, this is why Mipsy would've been useful," she said under her breath, trying to regain her sense of direction. This was a section that seemed somewhat familiar. That's when it hit him...this was where Number Two had taken Gerald to see the original Number Seven. A memory Gerry had long since tried to repress came flooding back to him in a visually gruesome spectacle only his head could see. God...seeing Number Seven on that table, half rabbit half machine, parts of him missing entirely...Gerry never wanted to come back to this spot, and when he realized this was where they were, he immediately suggested they leave. As Salt opened the vent back up and they started to head through, Gerry stopped. "Gerald?" a voice croaked, hoarse and soft. "...he...hello?" Gerry asked, turning back, "Who's there? How do you know my name?" "Gerald..." the voice repeated, weak and low, "It's me...it's Crisp." Gerry's eyes widened and he quickly scrambled to find the origin of the voice. He headed up to a table where he thought he heard it coming from, and there, staring back at him, was Crisp...and sewn to her side, was Melvin, fast asleep. Gerry stood there, his knees buckling, his eyes watering...this was what had happened to their friends. Gerry had let this happen by allowing them to leave. All this time...Kevin had been right to be wary of their departure, and Gerry now felt personally responsible for their outcome. "What the fuck happened to you?" Gerry managed to ask, his eyes walking over their new arrangement. "THEY caught us in a field....a field of dead rabbits," Crisp said, "...THEY used these...these..." "Black Snakes," Gerry and Six said in unison. "Yes, and THEY knocked us out. When we woke up, we were back in the lab, in separate cages. Melvin was inconsolable. I tried to calm him down, but he wouldn't listen. For a while, we just sat here, completely unacknowledged and seemingly unimportant. Until one morning when we woke up, and we were like this. THEY sewed us together..." "Jesus christ," Salt muttered, a sick feeling rising in her stomach. "Why...why would THEY do a thing like this?" Six asked. "Why do THEY do anything THEY do?" Crisp responded, "To see if THEY can. From what we managed to learn, the purpose of this was to see if we could share a circulatory system. Now we just have more trouble breathing. You'd think double the lungs would help, but it really doesn't...Melvin...he can barely breath as it is, and we certainly can't speak at the same time. He spends most of his time asleep these days. Did you...did you come to get us?" "We had no idea this had even happened," Gerry said quietly, "no...we...we're here to inform the new recruits that we'll be coming back shortly, bringing fire, rescuing them." "Gerald," Crisp said, lifting her eyes to his, locking onto them, "Don't come back here. Not even for the new recruits. I know it sounds harsh, but get out, get as far away from here as you can while you still have the time. If THEY did this to that field we found, then THEY are clearly doing this to everyone else." "THEY are...we...we found Richardson, and while we were there, his place was smoked out," Gerry said, "I almost got caught. But I can't just leave these new rabbits to be treated like you two. This is sick, it's inhumane, it's...it's not...if I let this happen I'm no better than THEM." "For as long as I've known you, you've been comparing yourself to those around you who were worse, always worried that you'd turn into them. Dodger, THEM, well...you never will, and the reason is because you care. You can recognize right from wrong and follow a clear line dividing the two," Crisp said, "Don't let that get you and everyone else killed too, Gerry. We got lucky. Lightning doesn't strike twice." Gerry turned away and shut his eyes, tears flowing down his face. This was his fault, he knew it, and he knew if Kevin ever found out about this, he'd never let him live it down. It'd always be an "I told you so" to fall back on. Another "remember when you trusted Dodger?" moment to pull rank with. Gerry shook his face clear of tears and turned back to Crisp. "Can we get you out of here?" he asked, and she smiled. "Gerry, just go home," she said, "Go home, get your friends and find a new home. Get as far away from here as you can, because-" "It won't...matter...the distance," Melvin said, rolling his head back so they could hear him weakly speak, "...THEY won't stop. No matter how far...you run....it will never be...far enough. THEY will keep coming....THEY will always....keep....coming. You have to kill them." "The biggest irony about our situation," Crisp said, "Is this is what we get for trying to be independent. Now we're forever codependent." "Alright, we're gonna get these off you and-" Gerry said, referring to the straps holding them down, but they both laughed, best they could. "Gerry," Melvin said, "Save them. Do what you....came here to....do. Then burn this....fucking nightmare factory....to the ground." Gerry buried his face in Crisp's fur and apologized, but she assured him it wasn't his fault. Despite this, he knew he'd never believe otherwise. He backed away and looked at them, looked at the rabbits who'd once depended on him, once been his friends, and realized Melvin was right. This had happened because he'd become lethargic and not done something. He hadn't acted, and this was their punishment. He had to do what he came here to do. "Maybe when we come back, to burn the place, we can get you out," Gerry said. "Perhaps, but with extra lungs we'll likely only die of smoke inhalation all the quicker," Crisp said, trying to lighten the mood. They all smiled weakly at this joke, and then headed back to the vent. As they climbed through, Gerry took one last glance over his shoulder at the table where his friends were, and swore to himself, then and there, that no matter what from this point on, he wouldn't lose another friend. He'd die before he saw that happen. *** Number Two was laying in Gerry's area, waiting for them to return, when Paw Paw walked by and stopped, glancing in, spotting him curled up on the pile of leaves Gerry used as bedding. She entered and looked down at Number Two, who merely glanced upwards at her with his eyes. "You okay?" she asked. "They're supposed to be back by now," Number Two said. "They'll be back, man, don't worry. Gerry can take care of himself," Paw Paw said, "You really care about him don't you?" "He's my best friend. We weren't always on the same page, but...I've always respected him, and admired him. He's got guts I never had, never will have, and he's got the bravery I could only ever wish I could have. If he doesn't come back, there's no future for any of us, especially me." "...if he doesn't come back, we'll all simply move. We'll find a way to keep going. From what I've heard from Mipsy, you guys always do," Paw Paw said, " Number Two smirked, nodding. This was true. No matter how bad things seemed to get, they always did manage to keep on going for one more day. But Number Two had always somewhat attributed this survival to Geralds ability to keep them grounded, and without him gone...there was no way he could do what Gerald did, and even less a chance that he'd trust Kevin to try. Kevin was passionate, certainly, but irrationally quick to anger, and that only spelt disaster. "Guess you're part of the family now," Number Two said, "I have a family too, away from this one. I live with a couple of foxes a few miles from here. I should be there tonight, but...I have to wait and see that he comes home." "Well, a home is wherever you feel most comfortable, so you can always have more than one home," Paw Paw said, "Like Sister Rabbit was my home, but now I'm here, and I'm with Mipsy, and she's my home." "That's sweet," Number Two said. "You don't have to pretend not to feel the way you do, you know," Paw Paw said, getting up and touching his paw, "Especially if things are this close to ending. Now's the time to really be honest with yourself. With those you care about. I know for me it was the best decision I ever made." She had a point, he had to acknowledge. Number Two had always been rationally driven, living by logic, but ever since he'd decided to help run the Collective after the escape, ever since he'd helped Minerva survive her fall from the cliffside, ever since he'd opened himself up, he'd felt more real than he had ever before. But he also recognized that acting that way, with emotion, is often what got others killed. He'd seen it time and time again. With that, they noticed Gerry standing in the entrance way to his room, staring at them. Paw Paw quickly excused herself, as Gerry walked in and Number Two sat up. Gerry stopped in front of him, looking at the ground. He wouldn't raise his eyes to Number Two. "What happened?" Number Two asked, "How'd it go?" "It went fine. We did what we went there to do. The new rabbits know. They know what to do, what to expect," Gerry mumbled, "...I saw Crisp and Melvin. THEY had sewn them together, trying to get them to share their lungs, a circulatory system. It was despicable." "Jesus, are you okay?" "Paul," Gerry said, "...it's not my fault, right?" "No, of course not. They made the decision to leave, that wasn't on you. Even if you'd tried to argue against it, which you somewhat did if I recall correctly, they wouldn't have listened. They wouldn't even listen to Kevin. Gerald, what happened to them is not your fault. Nothing bad that's ever happened to any of us has been your fault," Number Two said. "I'm so tired of pretending that I'm capable of doing this on my own," Gerry said, starting to cry, burying his face into Number Two's chest, "I'm so tired of pretending that it's all going to be okay in the end. I'm so tired of pretending that I don't love you." This hit Number Two like a mack truck. "...I...yeah....me too," Number Two said softly, rubbing Gerry's ears with his paws, "Me too. And shit, even if you were responsible for some of the bad things that have happened, even involuntarily so, none of that would matter to me now, because for all the bad shit that's surrounded us, you've given me personally so much more good shit to think about." Gerry cried harder, letting Number Two hold him. "It's not gonna be okay," Gerry whimpered through his sobs, "It's not gonna be okay." "Who cares about how it might be later, let's worry about how it is right now," Number Two said quietly, nuzzling the side of Gerry's head, the two of them embracing, pretending like the rest of the world didn't exist outside of this burrow. Number Two was right anyway, Gerry knew; tomorrow would come, next week would come, the day when they brought the fire would come... ...but not right now. Even with encroaching potentially devastating moments that were right outside their home, it didn't matter, because it wasn't right now. Right now was about love. Right now was about peace. Right now they were together, and that was all that mattered. "I did a bad thing," Kevin said, his voice low and weak, his eyes glued to the ground, his ears laid back, "...I didn't...it wasn't intentional, I swear it wasn't, but I...I nearly let Gerald die. That made me sick afterwards, and what makes me feel even worse is I don't think they believe that it wasn't intentional. I was angry at him, yeah, but I would never...I would never do anything to hurt him. Unless perhaps he did something absolutely unforgivable but I don't see that happening. That rabbit's a damn saint."
Kevin glanced at the marker on Number Four's grave and he sighed. "God, Ellen, things are so messed up," he said, "Everyone is so on edge and tense, THEY are committing complete and total genocide on every burrow they come across, and now my own friends think I'm some sort of traitor or something. I just want it all to be over. I wanna take fire to the lab right now, not whenever our supposed plan is ready. I realize that's impulsive, but I'm just so ready to be done with all of this. I wish you were here, god I miss you. I don't feel like I know what to do without you guiding me." Kevin laid down on her grave and shut his eyes, crying quietly to himself. He never allowed the others to see him cry about Ellen, but when he was alone with her, he couldn't help himself, it just came out like a tsunami he couldn't hold back anymore. A dam of emotions that had finally cracked. Kevin thought more about Gerry, and he swore up and down that he didn't want him to be taken, that he hadn't intentionally stood by and done nothing while Gerry was so close to being taken by THEM. ...but despite all the times he told himself this...why didn't he believe it himself? *** "We're running out of time," Number Two said. He, Gerry, Richardson, Stone and Six were sitting in Stone's living space, and none of them looked too pleased to be having this discussion. "You all know it, even if nobody wants to openly admit it, but I will," Number Two continued, "We're running out of time. We have to act, and we have to act fast. If THEY'RE able to find Richardson's burrow, then THEY'RE getting too close to our hollow for comfort. THEY need to be dealt with, before it's too late. We took out Dodger, now it's time to finish the job." "Nobody is disagreeing with you, Paul," Stone said, "But we...what is our plan, ultimately? I mean, really?" "I'm thinking I take Salt, and we go into the lab, we figure out where everything is, we figure out a plan of attack, ins and outs, and then we torch it. Simple as that. A line of rabbits, bringing in stick and stick of fire and torching whatever we can, until the place is soaked in flames," Number Two said. "You don't need to go in," Six said, interrupting, "Mipsy knows the layout. She knows exactly where everything is, she can tell you what every square inch contains." "Well good, that makes things easier then, doesn't it," Number Two said, "All we have to do is key out a plan of attack from here and carry it out." "I still think we should go in first," Gerry said, surprising Number Two as he added, "I...I think it's important to tell the new group what's gonna happen, so that when it happens, they aren't shellshocked. They need to know we're coming to get them, that way they'll know what to do when it all goes down." "Smart thinking," Number Two said. "I'll go, and I'll take Salt, since she knows every entrance and exit to the place," Gerry said, "We'll be in and out in no time." "I'll go with you. You'll need me," Six said, and Gerry nodded, agreeing to this. "Lorna can drop fire from the sky too, dousing them overhead with flaming sticks," Number Two said, "And Minerva and Dice can make sure no attack dogs interfere, though frankly I think we should try and get them out as well. Nobody deserves to die in a fire like that, except THEM. Even if our history with the dogs is...sketchy, at best, I maintain that it's the right thing to do." "It sounds like we have things pretty figured out then," Stone said, "I say we treat Richardson and his ladies to a nice meal, and a good nights sleep. Sounds like what you all experience was harrowing to say the least." The group adjourned, everyone following Stone out into the hall and towards the main eating area, but Number Two stopped Gerry from leaving, stepping in front of him and putting a paw on his chest. "Why are you gonna go in?" Number Two asked, "Let ME go in, you're too important to risk losing over what boils down to an information delivery. They're gonna need you for when it actually comes down to it." "I...I need to see it, one last time, before we set it ablaze," Gerry said, "I know that must sound absolutely nutty but I have to put some ghosts to rest, if you know what I mean. It was our home for a long time, like it or not, and I wanna say goodbye, even if the place harbors horrible trauma for us all." "No, no, I...I get that, I do," Number Two said, "Just promise me you'll come back." "Don't I always?" Gerry asked, smirking, as he passed by Number Two, nuzzling his neck a bit. Together the two rabbits turned and walked out, heading to have their dinner. *** Mipsy was sitting alone, eating, away from the rest of the group. She usually ate alone, chewing on berries and whatever other pleasant tasting flora and fauna the scroungers could dig up to eat. She could hear them all, laughing and talking, and all she could think of to herself was how horrifying what she'd just been through had been. She'd nearly died, they'd all nearly died, and yet...here they were, back again, like nothing had ever happened. But then again, what did she really expect them to do? Dwell on it? They may as well enjoy what pleasant downtime they had, since most of their uptime was bathed in constant abject terror. "Enjoying your meal?" Paw Paw asked, coming around to her side and sitting beside her, holding a big leaf with her own dinner collected on it. "I...guess," Mipsy said. "Eating alone?" "Not now," Mipsy replied, making Paw Paw laugh, before continuing, "I eat alone cause noise bother me. They all too loud. Ears very sensitive." "Ah, I understand," Paw Paw said, "Well, I'll do my best to be quiet then." "You okay. You nice to listen to," Mipsy said, immediately blushing after saying it, making Paw Paw smirk as she started eating her own dinner. Mipsy and Paw Paw sat in silence for a bit before Mipsy finally blurted out, "Thank you for carry me." "It was my pleasure," Paw Paw said, "Not often I get to show off my extreme strength to a pretty rabbit." "Yes, you very strong," Mipsy said, "We all impressed." Paw Paw laughed loudly and nodded, "Okay, sure, it's not really the most impressive thing, but hey, it helps in a pinch, obviously. But even with that to brag about, I'm not the one who, from what I've heard, orchestrated a plan to kill your most dangerous and elusive enemy." "...yeah," Mipsy said, lowering her ears, the wire between her right ear and her temple wiggling as she did, "Yeah...I come up with plan, and it was good, but I don't like killing. I don't want burn lab down either, I want just leave." "Well, you can just leave, can't you? Didn't some other rabbits leave here recently?" "Melvin and Crisp, yeah," Mipsy said, "They not come back neither. They must be okay. But...I need stay, they need me. I'm key to lab." "You're key?" "I know design of it inside and out," Mipsy said, "I study blueprints and I have photographic memory of everyplace I saw while there. I...I too important to leave. They my friends...I may not agree with burning lab but...but I wanna help my friends." Paw Paw smiled sweetly and touched Mipsy's paw. "You're a real sweet gal," Paw Paw said, "That's really nice of you to help them even if you don't agree with it." "Plus, THEY make me stupid, so THEY do deserve it," Mipsy said. "You're not stupid, Mipsy, trust me," Paw Paw said, "In fact, you might be the smartest one here." Paw Paw turned back to her food and kept eating, as Mipsy smiled at this compliment and then continued eating her own dinner as well. The two rabbits sat in silence for a bit, until Paw Paw finished and picked up a small tomato with her paws, admiring it. "Look at that," she said, "Some real vegetation. Huh. Lucky me. But you deserve it more," she said, putting in on Mipsy's leaf plate, and then whispered, "I'm staying just down the hall. Come see me tonight if you want." Mipsy had never been that touched by another before, and she really appreciated it. But...she felt she'd also learned her lesson. She'd watched so many other rabbits lose their families and loved ones, and especially after seeing Kevin lose Ellen...she really wondered if it was worth it getting close to someone romantically, if the risk of losing them was forever so prevalent. Still, she did give her a tomato. How could she say no to that? *** Kevin woke up with a start, wiping the drool away from his lips as his eyes focused and he realized he'd fallen asleep, once again, on Ellen's grave. He sighed, shifted his weight and managed to stand up before his metal leg locking up behind him and he groaned. He started kicking it gently before hearing a voice behind him speak. "What did I tell you last time?" Richardson asked, "Don't damage it. You're gonna need it. Let me help." "...it's weird having you back," Kevin said, "I never honestly thought I'd see you again, and then we ran into you in the woods and you looked so....so fucking pathetic I just couldn't stay angry at you. But having you actually back here, in the Hollow? That's wiggin' me out, man." Richardson smirked, nodding, "Indeed, it's wigging me out too. Kevin...I'm so sorry. I've regretted what I did ever since I did it. I didn't do it because I didn't like you guys, you guys were my friends, but he...he offered-" "Yeah, I know how it is. He offered you something. That's what he did. He always offered, and rarely came through," Kevin said as Richardson toyed with his leg, "I know it wasn't you who made that decision, that you were only doing something to get your little sister back, and as someone who was also trying to protect one they loved, and has lost the one they loved, I think you and I are pretty much par for the course at this point in terms of relating to one another." "There you go, should be good," Richardson said, stepping back as Kevin wiggled his metal leg and sighed a breath of relief. "Thanks," Kevin said, "You're good for maintenance, I'll say that." "Kevin," Richardson said, "I need to ask you something. Soon we'll be going to the lab. A scouting mission, to check things out, make sure our plan, if followed through with, would go swimmingly. I'm planning on going into the lab when the time to bring fire to THEM comes." "Well, I mean, so am I," Kevin said, "I have unfinished business." "I need to ask you for a favor, and I understand if you don't want to give it to me, after everything I did. You have every right to say no, but I need to ask anyway. I don't...plan on making it out of the lab. I'm not saying it won't happen, but I certainly don't expect it to. And if that time comes, where I have to give up my life to save others, I need you to lead my group." "...what?" Kevin asked, astounded. "Kevin, Gerry built you up into a leader, and you basically kept this group together while the Collective was splintered for a while. Half in the lab, half out here, not to mention all you did trying to save Ellen, and then...you're a leader. Gerald was right. I see it now. I didn't before, but I do now, and I have to ask if you'll do me the honor or looking after my group if something happens to me. I need this, please, I need this reassurance that my Sisters will be okay if I'm gone. With you in charge, I know they would be. They'll help you rebuild The Order and everything." "...I...I don't know what to say, man, I really...wow," Kevin replied, nearly stuttering, a look of complete and total awe on his face, "I just...wow." "You said it yourself. We both have felt the same loss, the same pain, so who better to be my successor except you, honestly," Richardson said, "That is...if you'll have the job." "I'll have to think about it," Kevin said, "Hell, who knows, we both may not survive." And they laughed at this, despite realizing it was very well possibly the truth. After they finished chuckling about their upcoming potential demise, Kevin lowered his ears and looked Richardson right in the eyes. "I wanted to kill you," Kevin said, "I swore I was going to, but...now I'm sorry for feeling that way. I'm sorry for what happened." "I'm sorry for Ellen," Richardson said, "I know the pain you've felt." "I know you do," Kevin replied. "...Kevin," Richardson said, "trust me...when you get there, THEY won't know what they're up against. You have the strength to finish this. Gerry, Paul, sure, they're gonna be right there beside you, but only you can really bring the fight to THEM, because of all the things THEY did to you personally. THEY took your leg, THEY took your girl, and now it's time to take something back." "...you're goddamned right it is," Kevin said with a sneer. *** Paw Paw was sleeping, curled up in a corner of a burrow, nestled underneath some large pieces of soft bark. She was breathing easily, dreaming of what life might be like soon enough, without all this drama, when she felt a presence near by. She woke and opened an eye to see Mipsy tiptoeing into the area, and taking a seat right beside her. Paw Paw shut her eye again, and Mipsy nestled right into her side, shutting her eyes too, exhaling quietly. "I feel safe with you," Mipsy said in a hushed voice, "Thank you." "I'm glad," Paw Paw whispered back, "All I want is for you to feel safe." And she did. For the first time in a VERY LONG TIME, Mipsy felt 100% safe. Even with the looming threat of THEM gassing entire burrows and colonies left and right, all around them, in what made it seem like they were zeroing in the Hollow very quickly, she felt safe and completely at ease. Because that's the one thing Mipsy continued to believe in that all the other rabbits seemed to forget. Love. She allowed herself to be close to those around her, and even when it brought pain, she appreciated that she'd done it, because despite how much the pain might have hurt, she felt it was worth the cause. Number Two, Gerry, Kevin, even Ellen had all allowed themselves this brief opening of their heart to others, and eachother, but the thing about Mipsy was that with her brain the way it was, this was all that mattered. Not revenge. Not closure. Not anything else. All that mattered was that she had another to love and be loved by. Because everything else in life was uncertain, that she was certain of, but love? Revenge is temporary. Love is forever. Richardson has sworn up and down after he created The Order of the Hare that he would never let any harm befall his group of misfit female rabbits, and he was dedicated to keeping that promise, no matter what it took. Even if it meant rationing his own food intake when they couldn't find enough for everyone, he would gladly give his shares to another simply so they could eat. Richardson could barely live with himself for, not only what he'd done, but what he'd lost as well, and he was going to make sure that, no matter what, he didn't lose anyone else ever again. Sitting here with Gerald, the room filled with female rabbits too, all of them eating together...Richardson was as happy as a rabbit of his problematic nature could be, given his shame. He'd tried to right his wrongs, and by the end of the day...
...he'd really be put to the test. *** "Are we almost there?" Kevin asked loudly, sounding irritated, "My feet are starting to cramp. The ones I still have, anyway." "We're almost there, yes," Paw Paw said, answering him over her shoulder before looking back at Mipsy and continuing their conversation, "So you and Richardson were friends before he left?" "Kind of," Mipsy said, stuttering, "We kind of friend, he always nice to me." "He said you got brain damage from an experiment in the lab," Paw Paw said, "Sorry to bring that up if it's a sore subject, I just wanted to clarify it was true. Not that I have any reason to disbelieve him, he's never been anything but honest with us." "Yeah, I got brain damage," Mipsy said, looking at the ground as she walked now, almost as if ashamed of this fact, "I not happy 'bout it, but I do okay. I not talk real good no more, but I...I still have thing to say, you know? I still have a voice and opinion." "That's right, and you should never let what happened to you make you feel bad about yourself. It was out of your control, and frankly, you seem perfectly capable to me. Much more than Wingus and Dingus back there. I mean, you're the one up here holding a conversation with me, so that says a lot right there. I think you're perfectly fine." Mipsy blushed and looked away. She'd rarely had the chance to speak to any of the female rabbits in the lab before her accident, and afterwards she was so afraid any of them would always make fun of her that she essentially steered clear of them entirely, only really participating in conversations with Ellen and Six. But Paw Paw...she was different. She was kind and open and very funny. Mipsy liked her more and more as the minutes passed. "You think Richardson be happy to see me?" Mipsy asked, and Paw Paw nodded eagerly. "Definitely! He always spoke very highly of you. I think he admired your strength, which I certainly now, having met you, understand," Paw Paw said, "You're quite inspirational. Don't ever let anyone tell you otherwise. The Order is all about lifting up other female rabbits, but I'm not being nice to you because of The Order. I'm just doing it cause I like you." Mipsy blushed harder and looked away again. She was starting to really enjoy this day. Just then, they all stopped and looked over the crest of a small hill. "There it is," Paw Paw, as Kevin and Number two approached. "There what i...whoa," Kevin said, surprised. Whoa, indeed. Below them was the field that surrounded the burrow that The Order had built together under the guidance of Richardson, and it was like nothing they had ever seen before. Certainly Stone's Hollow was impressive, but it had nothing on this. This was on a whole other level. Paw Paw smirked and jerked her head in a 'follow me' motion, leading them down the hillside. "Welcome to The Order of the Hare," she said. The rabbits continued down the hill, now knowing for certain that this was clearly not a trick of some kind, and were in utter awe at what they saw around them. They had all worked so hard together to create The Collective, to work merging their group into Stone's and moving into The Hollow, and here, Richardson had done it all by himself. What kind of sick irony was this, actually? Walking through the field, heading toward the main entrance, Kevin and Number Two exchanged concerned, but hopeful, glances. "Please don't be afraid," Paw Paw said, "This is a safe place. This is a place for friends. You are all more than welcome here. Please come inside with me. I'll take you to Richardson and your friend. I believe everyone is about to eat, if you're hungry." The three followed Paw Paw inside and were astounded by how grand the inside was, once more feeling outshone by the rabbit they'd essentially exiled. Inside, everyone was bustling about, just as happy as everyone outside had been. Ironically enough, this only made Kevin and Number Two feel even worse about their efforts. Hell, it had only been mere weeks before that Melvin and Crisp had left The Collective because they were tired of the drama and were unhappy. "It so pretty in here!" Mipsy said. "We wanted to make it cozy and inviting," Paw Paw replied, "I think we achieved that." "It feels like hug," Mipsy said, making Paw Paw chuckle. "This is a huge fucking bummer, dude," Kevin said to Number Two as they walked a bit behind the girls, and Number Two nodded. "Yeah, I...uh...I feel it, man, it's kind of a reminder of how bad we are at what we do," Number Two said, "I really hope Gerry's actually here. We need to bring him back and show him how important to us he still is. He isn't useless." "Nobody ever said he was," Kevin replied, "It's more that...that he thinks he is. And that he hasn't been fighting as hard to keep everyone together as he used to and that he doesn't seem to believe in an eventual happy outcome. He gave us all hope and now he's making us question that hope because he's questioning it himself." "You're not wrong, and I do agree and understand, but we need to make sure that he knows he's needed," Number Two said, "We need Gerry. We need him to finish this with us, not for us." Just then they heard the sound of laughter, and as they turned a corner and into another deeper burrow, they saw it. The feast these rabbits were having; laughter filled the cavern and warmed their hearts, as everyone seemed so blissful and happy. And there, smack dab next to Richardson, was their friend. Laughing, eating, and enjoying himself like they hadn't seen him do in ages. Number Two smiled, because simply seeing Gerry be happy was more than enough to make him happy, but Kevin...Kevin grimaced. How could he be so okay here and not okay at home? "Gerald," Number Two said, catching his attention. "Paul!" Gerry shouted, "Paul, come here! Kevin! Mipsy!" The four rabbits wandered past everyone else and sat around Gerry, all each giving him a hug. "What are you guys doing here?" Gerry asked. "What are you doing here?" Kevin asked coldly. "We came looking for you," Number Two said, "We were worried about you. You haven't been very okay lately and we just wanted to make sure that you were alright. Kevin grew concerned when he couldn't find you, and nobody else had seen you, so he came to get me because he knew I could track you down. Lo and behold, it wound up being this nice rabbit here who did the job for me." "Paw Paw, you're back!" Richardson said, giving her a hug as well, "Yes, Paw Paw is the best tracker we have here. If someone needs to be found or needs something found, she's the gal for the job!" "We need you to come home," Number Two said.. "Do we, though?" Kevin asked, catching a glare from Number Two as he said it, "I mean, he seems so happy here. Why not just let him stay here?" "What the fuck is your problem, man?" Number Two asked, turning to face Kevin now. "Hey, hey, calm down," Richardson said, stepping between them, "There's no need to be angry or upset. Everyone just cool it. This is my home, my girls home, and you will not bring this attitude of negativity into it. Hasn't there been enough anger between you all to last a lifetime?" "Oh that's rich coming from the guy who got my girlfriend killed," Kevin said, "Coming from the guy who nearly got Number Two killed on a waterfall, coming from the guy who sold us down the river to a mouse all because he wanted his own family back. Yeah, no, there's never enough anger, because none of us ever talk about the problems we have with one another. We just accept things, we just think 'oh, we're a family, we have to work together' but guess what you can't work together if you have too much unspoken pain between you. So, Gerald, Richardson, you guys wanna stay here or what? I'll lead the goddamned Collective myself if you want to stay here, I don't care anymore." "I know you will," Gerry said, surprising him. "Wh...what?" Kevin asked. "I said I know you will," Gerry repeated himself, "Because I taught you to be a leader. You lead them really well when I was still stuck in the lab, and look, you got Number Two and you managed to find me. I have no doubt that you'd finish what's been started if I were to choose to stay here." "...you can't...just leave," Kevin said, stuttering, "You...you started this. You started all of this. You can't just-" "I don't intend to leave, Kevin. Actually, after the bit of conversation I had with Richardson while being here, I think I fully acknowledge that it's my responsibility to, yes, see it through to the end. I made myself in charge of everyone, I put our plans of escape into motion and I agree with you that we need to save the new rabbits and take THEM out once and for all. So you and me, we're gonna make fire, and we're gonna burn THEM to the ground and we're gonna leave. And then it's all gonna be over." Nobody spoke for a moment as the rabbits stared one another down. Paw Paw leaned into Mipsy and lowered her voice. "Boy, are things between you guys always this tense?" she whispered. "Yeah, kinda," Mipsy said back. "But what if you hadn't run into Richardson?" Kevin asked, "What if you hadn't? You would've killed yourself, or left, and nobody would've ever admitted it but we all would've known that you just gave up on us." "Suicide is rarely that simple, and you know that," Number Two said. "Abandonment is abandonment!" Kevin said loudly, "He abandoned us, and without Richardsons surprising help, he likely would've stayed abandoning us!" "Kevin, just calm down. It doesn't matter what I would've done because I'm not doing it, so who cares," Gerry said. "I care! Because you put so much trust in me! You..." Kevin looked at the floor, "...you're not the rabbit I once knew or admired. I don't...I don't know who you are anymore, but I do know that I don't like whoever it is you've become." And then, breaking everything up, a rabbit raced into the area, out of breath and covered in dirt. Everyone turned to look at her. She waited for a few moments, then inhaled and screamed at the top of her lungs, "RUN!" And with that multiple black hoses pushed their way through the ceiling. The rabbits screamed and scattered. Richardson turned and shouted loudly to this flock to use the emergency tunnels, and most did just that. He then turned to Gerry and told him and the others from the Collective to follow him. They did. As they raced down through the tunnel, taking one turn after another, more hoses were breaking through, and behind them, they could see rabbits starting to collapse. Richardson stopped and started to go back, but Gerry grabbed him and pulled him. "You have to get out! There's nothing you can do!" he said, "Just keep going!" Richardson nodded and they took off again. Kevin and Number Two were at the front of the pack, dodging falling debris from the roof of the tunnel as it collapsed all around them and arms had begun to reach in, grabbing for, and pulling out, rabbit after rabbit in every direction. "This is it!" Number Two said, "This is what those rabbits were talking about! The one at the Hollow and the one I met in the woods!" "What?" Kevin shouted back. "The black snakes! These are the black snakes!" Number Two replied, and Kevin understood, yes, he was right. These were indeed the black snakes. Just then a large rock fell and separated them, leaving Kevin in a more collapsed part of the tunnel with Gerry and Paw Paw. The three of them, now shrouded in darkness and unsure which direction to go, quickly began digging as fast as they could, pushing through to a nearby tunnel. When they broke through, Paw Paw jerked her head in one direction, motioning for them to follow her. Kevin did, but soon heard Gerry screaming behind him, and turned to see Gerry had been grabbed by an arm. "Kevin!" Gerry shouted, "Kevin, help! Help me!" Kevin stood there, and watched. He waited, and watched, hoping this would rectify itself. Paw Paw raced back to his side. "What are you doing!?" she screamed, quickly racing past him to grab Gerry's paws and tugging him until his body broke free of the gloved hands and together they tumbled back down the tunnel. She quickly got back up, helped Gerry back up and they continued down the tunnel. As they passed Kevin, Gerry slowed down and they locked eyes. "You didn't help me," Gerry said. "I thought you could help yourself," Kevin said. "You better watch it," Gerry said, snarling, "You better watch your goddamned back." "I better, because I can't trust you to, it seems," Kevin replied, and with that they continued down the hall. As they reached the end, they broke free and into an exit of the woods. The Order of the Hare's tunnels had run long, and rabbits were scattering all around them into the woods. Paw Paw, Gerry and Kevin stopped and looked around. Some rabbits were slowing down, throwing up, collapsing, their eyes or noses bleeding profusely, while others held them in their last moments, sobbing as their friends drew their final breaths before them. "This is THEM," Gerry said, "This has to be THEM." "Where's Richardson?" Paw Paw asked, "And Mipsy? Where's Mipsy!?" she walked forward a bit, stood on her hind legs and shouted loudly, "MIPSY?! MIPSY, WHERE ARE YOU?!" No answer came. Number Two was also nowhere to be seen. Finally, from a nearby brush, Richardson emerged, and hissed at them to follow him, which they did. They continued through and hid within the bushes branches and leaves, catching their breaths. "You tried to kill me," Gerry whispered to Kevin. "I didn't try to kill you," Kevin said. "You certainly didn't spring to help," Gerry replied, "That was a deliberate pause, you were debating whether or not to save me." "I...I was mad, I would've helped you," Kevin said, his voice cracking, clearly feeling bad now, "I would've-" "It doesn't matter what you would've done," Gerry hissed, "What matters is what you did do." "We need to gather as many of my girls as we can and head to your home," Richardson said, "We need to return everyone back to The Hollow, where they'll be safe. Then we can discuss what to do about THEM at greater length." Just then, Number Two stumbled into the brush, dragging Mipsy behind him. Paw Paw quickly turned her attention to Mipsy, nudging at her with her nose, but Mipsy wouldn't open an eye. Number Two laid her down and looked around at everyone. "She's fine, don't worry, she didn't breath any of that stuff. She got hit in the head with a rock. She's just unconscious. Gerald, those were them, those were the black snakes. THEY are trying to kill us. THEY'RE trying to kill all rabbits. It's...genocide." "Let's just get Richardsons group and head home," Gerry said, "Once we're home we'll be safe." Paw Paw had Number Two put Mipsy on her back and she, Number Two and Richardson headed out of the brush. While Kevin tried to leave, Gerry grabbed him and pulled him back, their pink noses a mere inch apart. "If you ever do that to anyone else," Gerry said, "You'll be with Ellen again, do I make myself clear?" "You better not make threats you have no intention of keeping," Kevin said, shaking free of his grip and leaving the brush. Gerry sighed, and followed suite. *** Walking through the woods, in the dark, heading back to The Hollow (having gathered a good majority of Richardsons girls), Gerry just couldn't shake this feeling that the final problem wouldn't in fact be THEM like he'd always presumed it would be. That the final problem would, actually, be one of his closest friends. He'd need to keep a closer eye on Kevin from now on, that much he acknowledged. Mipsy eventually woke up lying on Paw Paw's back, being carried through the night. "You save me?" Mipsy asked, slurring her words. "Naw, Number Two saved you. I just was insistent on carrying you home," Paw Paw said, "Just go back to sleep. We should be there soon enough." "Okay," Mipsy said, snuggling her face into Paw Paw's fur, shutting her eyes once again, whispering, "I like you. You nice." "I like you too," Paw Paw replied, blushing. Number Two fell back to join Gerry, having been leading Richardson towards The Hollow for a while now. As he and Gerry walked side by side, he could tell something was bothering his friend, and he lowered his voice so nobody else could hear. "Everything okay? I'm glad we found you," Number Two said. "Paul," Gerry said, "You're my best friend, you're...well, more than my friend, as you're aware." "Well aware," Number Two said, smirking. "...whatever happens, however this ends, make sure Kevin doesn't kill me," Gerry said, "And if he does...kill him." "...you got it," Number Two said. It was a promise he intended to keep, no matter what the cost. "The hell do you mean a grave marker?" Kevin asked, stepping off the mossy mound and walking toward Number Two, who, for whatever reason, refused to look him in the eye.
"Gerald asked me to help him make one, okay? I...I did it so he could have peace of mind," Number Two replied quietly, "He felt terrible about having Dodger killed, and...and while you and I recognize it had to be done, as did he, he had a much different relationship with Dodger than we ever did, so I can't blame him for it." "That tiny bastard does not deserve a single piece of remembrance!" Kevin shouted, "Does Gerry come here to talk to him, the way I do with Ellens grave? Because if so, that is SICK. Dodger was a monster, and now he gets regular visits from the rabbit who's supposed to be our leader? What's wrong with-" "Hello," a voice said from behind them, making all three rabbits scream and jump back in surprise. As they turned to look, they saw a female rabbit, a brown piece of fabric covering her, standing between them and the treeline behind them. She backed up, feeling bad for having startled them, and shook her head, adding, "Sorry, I...I didn't mean to spook you." "Can we...help you?" Number Two asked, stepping in front of Kevin and Mipsy, taking a protector sort of stance. "I see you're here looking at the lab," the rabbit said, "I'm sorry, where are my manners. My name is Paw Paw. What are you doing out here?" "We're from the lab," Number Two said, "We were, anyway, before we managed to escape. We're looking for our friend. What are you doing out here?" "Just taking a walk outside of my community," Paw Paw said, "If you'd like, you can come with me back to my home and talk to our founder, he might be able to help you find your friend." "...I suppose that couldn't hurt," Kevin muttered, walking past Number Two, who tried to stop him and whispered. "How do you know we can trust her?" he asked through his teeth and Kevin shook his head. "Man, at this point, we can't afford not to trust someone," Kevin said, continuing past, Mipsy following close behind. Number Two exhaled and followed close behind, keeping a keen eye fixed on Paw Paw for any instance of suspicious behavior. "So, who founder?" Mipsy asked. "His name is Richardson," Paw Paw said, and this stopped everyone in their tracks with shock. *** Gerald followed Richardson through the enormous burrow that had been constructed, and was still being constructed in some places, gawking in awe at their efforts. Female rabbits passed him nonstop, and Gerry realized this was what he'd hoped The Hollow would become one day if only he worked hard enough. He began to imagine if he could just somehow migrate everyone over here, they might not even have to worry about THEM or The Black Snakes or anything else ever again...just a life of peace. "You're so lucky," Gerry said softly, making Richardson chuckle. "I suppose, sure," he replied, "But it didn't come without great pain. Every wonderful thing comes at a price of one kind or another. That's why, if you want to be safe and protected, you need to pay that sort of price, Gerry. It doesn't happen without payment." "I still have work to do," Gerry said, nodding, "I know. I just...I wanted so badly to be finished with it, but I know that I will be, soon enough. We're going to burn the lab down, burn THEM to death inside of it, after we get all the new rabbits out of it." "Are you sure that's wise?" Richardson asked, "Aren't you afraid you'll be just as bad as them if you go down that road?" "Sometimes you have to pay a price," Gerry said, making Richardson nod in response, "Sometimes you have to do something someone else may consider unthinkable to be free of the horrors done unto you. THEY don't deserve mercy. We're past mercy. THEY did enough horrible things to us that, at this point, THEY'LL be getting off pretty easy, all things considered." "You realize if you do this sort of thing, you can't take it back, you know that right?" Richardson asked, stopping in the tunnel and looking at Gerald. "I killed Dodger," Gerry said, surprising Richardson; he continued, "I lied to him, I laid a trap for him, and then, using his trust, I betrayed him and led him directly to his death. I...I hate myself every single day for what I did, but it's what I had to do. But Dodger was only the stepping stone to the rock in the pond, you know? I had to do that to him, so I could do this to THEM." "Seems you've made up your mind. So long as you can live with yourself," Richardson said. "I can. It's whether or not the others can, too. I'm going to do what I'm going to do to protect my friends, and my family. And once that place is ashes on the dirt, we'll turn around and we'll walk away and we'll never have to think about it ever again." "Then it sounds like you know what's best for you," Richardson said, "That's how you get a community like this, Gerald. You...you do what you have to, you protect them at any cost, but you also don't be a leader. You be a guide. There's a difference. A leader gives off an idea that you're somehow in control of them, and people don't like to be led, they like to be taught to lead for themselves. So the real question is, are you a leader, or a guide?" Gerry had never considered this. He'd always told himself he was a leader, because he didn't realize there was any other option. He'd conditioned Kevin to believe he was a leader too, and Kevin had done what it took to keep The Collective safe once outside, even if he made mistakes. But a guide? That...that sounded a lot more palatable. "Leadership is just another form of ownership, you just don't feel guilty about it," Richardson said, breaking Gerry from his thoughts, "To be for the people, you need to be with the people. Leadership removes you somewhat from their actions, because you can claim they misconstrued what you said. You can shift and assign blame. You're not a leader, Gerry. You're a guide. You've only ever taken the blame for the things that have happened, even when they weren't your fault, even when...even when they were my fault..." Richardson looked at the floor and sighed, shaking his head. "I've felt so bad for possibly letting Number Four die," he mumbled, continuing, "Had we not gotten in your way, maybe Kevin would've-" "Don't, just don't. She was gone before we even had left the lab again, I guarantee it. There was nothing anyone could do for her, it was all well wishing, and, as you said, you'd do anything for the one you loved. Kevin was acting out of heart, not mind. He was doing the right thing, certainly, but he also didn't recognize that the time to do the right thing had long since passed. You wanna blame someone for Ellen's death? Blame THEM for making her sick in the first place." "Thanks Gerry," Richardson said, smiling a little, "That makes me feel better." "What are friends for, right?" Gerry asked, smiling back. *** "What do you mean your 'founder' is Richardson?" Number Two asked, "Founder of WHAT, exactly?" "Our home," Paw Paw said, "The Order of the Hare, where all the Sister Rabbits live together in peace." "I...am I having an aneurysm?" Kevin asked, making Number Two chuckle. "He lost his sister," Paw Paw said, "And in the process, feels he had a hand in killing another female rabbit. Since then, he's repented, shunned his past acts and sworn to dedicate his life to helping female rabbits be safe in this world, no matter what it takes." Richardson...felt bad about Ellen? Kevin genuinely didn't know how to handle this information. But if that's where Gerry was, and what Paw Paw was saying was true, then they had to take her word for it and follow her to The Order of the Hare, wherever the hell that might be. Number Two was having trouble buying it himself, as the last time they'd seen Richardson, he was an absolute muddy mess, cowering in the bushes, begging for forgiveness. He could see Richardson coming to terms with what he'd done, maybe even bettering himself because of it, but leading an entire colony of female rabbits? That...that part Number Two was having some real trouble wrapping his head around. Mipsy, however, wasn't really thinking much about any of this, and was instead focusing on Paw Paw's coloring, and how pretty her eyes were. "How much of this are you buying?" Number Two whispered to Kevin, slowing them down a bit so they could talk further away from the girls, and Kevin shrugged. "At this point in my life, it's hard to know what to question and what not to, if we're being honest," Kevin said, "Haven't we been in this sort of situation before? You, me, a female rabbit leading us to a group of rabbits?" "Hah, yeah, real deja vu there, huh," Number Two said, "Kevin, whatever happens, just follow me, okay? I'll make sure you two get out if something goes down." "You got it, chief," Kevin said, not one to argue with Number Two when it came to lying his life on the line for him. "Really does feel like old times," Number Two said, "Wonder how many times we'll do this again." Kevin thought about it. How very true it was. How often they had just blindly followed someone under their word that they would be lead to something better, somewhere safer. Dodger, Nickel, and now Paw Paw. Hell, even Gerald, to some extent. And while most seemed to keep their word, the Dodger incident had affected them all so tremendously that those involved could never be anything other than wary and cautious, erring on the side of suspicion. Understandably, as anyone involved would tell you. Mipsy hopped up right alongside Paw Paw, keeping pace with her. "So you from Order of Hare?" Mipsy asked, "How you meet Richardson?" "I was lost, alone, and stumbled across him back when he had just started up the group," Paw Paw said, "He needed help keeping the place going, and I was more than happy to volunteer my time for a safe place to live, it was the least I could do. I would often find other lost rabbits in the woods and bring them to the Order, so they could see for themselves if it was something they too would like to be a part of." "It safe there?" Mipsy asked, "Richardson hurt us." "He acknowledges what he did, he admits how wrong it was, and he mentioned you specifically, by name and markings and speech pattern," Paw Paw said, making Mipsy feel self conscious, before Paw Paw added in a low sweet voice, "But he never told me just how pretty you were." It took everything she had not to giggle. *** "Dodger and I, we would stand at the treeline, looking out at the lab, and we would fantasize about saving all these new rabbits and taking them somewhere safe, somewhere like this, though I don't think the two of us could've managed what you've accomplished here," Gerry said, as he and Richardson made their way into the largest chamber of the burrow and sat on the padded moss covered floor. "You're never really sure what you're capable of until you do it and find out. Take me for example. Sure, the argument could be made that I'm capable of great things because I created the Order, but the argument could also be made that I'm capable of heinous things because I betrayed you all. Until you're pushed to make that decision, you're never really sure what the outcome will actually be, and if you're able of following through on it or not." "How the hell did you get so wise?" Gerry asked, the both of them chuckling at this statement. "I guess when you spend a lot of time on your own you do a lot of introspection, and you learn a lot about life and yourself," Richardson said, "You must be hungry, I'll have someone bring in dinner for everyone." Richardson turned and, about to leave Gerry alone, stopped at the doorway when he heard his voice. "Richardson," Gerry said, "Thank you." "...we're family, as you said," he replied. *** "I'm just saying, what if he doesn't WANT to come back?" Kevin asked, and Number Two scoffed. "Listen, I know the boy's been weird lately, kinda mopey and stuff, but he wouldn't just upright abandon y'all, you know?" Number Two said, "He just...I know him well enough to know he wouldn't do that, out of anything else." "You can always claim you know what someone might do, but you're not them, so you don't really know what they-" Kevin tripped and fell face first into the dirt. After Number Two regained his composure and stopped laughing, he helped Kevin up. "You alright?" he asked, and Kevin shook himself free of dirt. "Goddamn, I guess, thankfully I tripped on it with my metal leg instead of anything real," Kevin said, "Looks like some kind of big black log." "Well, we don't have time to inspect it, we don't wanna lose the girls, come on," Number Two said, and the two of them turned tail and rushed to keep up with the ladies. But if only they'd inspected it. If only they'd taken the minute to see. To see just how very close they were to The Black Snakes. No matter what he did, Gerry simply couldn't shake the story Number Two had told him about the rabbit he and Minerva had encountered in the woods...the one who'd willingly thrown himself off a cliff edge, into the jagged rocks below, simply to escape a terror he didn't even understand. Gerry too couldn't begin to comprehend it, because as of right now, all he had was a mere phrase.
The Black Snakes. And the worst part was, not that Gerry couldn't escape the thought of this poor rabbit hurling himself to his own demise, but that he could totally understand wanting to do so, even without the context for The Black Snakes. The last few weeks, Gerry hadn't been feeling too great. Actually, ever since Dodger's death, he hadn't been feeling too great, and the rest of The Collective had definitely taken notice. He was mopey, he spent a lot of time alone, watching the lab from afar, and he overall just didn't seem too interested any longer in fighting to keep the group together. And thus, Gerry too found himself staring at a cliff edge, looking at the large flowing river below, thinking about how freeing it would be to simply give in to his urge and no longer feel responsible for all the horrible things that had ever happened to his friends, mostly because of his association with others. He knew, deep down, that he wasn't completely responsible, but he'd trusted Dodger time and time again in one manner or another, and he'd failed to get the serum back to The Hollow to save Number Four, and he'd hurt Number Two by not letting him into his heart and he'd built Kevin up to believe that he was some kind of hero and now was questioning if Kevin had an ego that was going to become more of a problem than it was a bonus. Gerry felt like everything, in some weird minor way or some strange large way, was his fault, and now all he wanted to do was escape it. He wanted to leave it all behind, leave his friends all behind, knowing they were perfectly capable without him. Hell, Kevin and Number Two alone could lead The Collective, especially with help from Stone and others. They had Minerva and Dice as added protection and...and really, what use was he to them anymore... Tears welled in his eyes, and he looked out through the tree branches above him, seeing the sunset slowly lowering deeper and deeper into the horizon, bringing with it the blackness of night, a darkness he felt all too often even without the actual moon being present. If they wanted to be free of problems, if they wanted to succeed, either way, they needed Gerry gone. Kevin had been giving him grief, Crisp and Melvin had bailed and Number Two had decided to live at the foxes tree...everything was falling apart, after so long of working hard to keep it all together. Gerry knew that for things to get better, they'd have to lose him first. He stepped forward, a few pebbles rolling off, bumped by his paws, down to the water below. He shut his eyes and exhaled. "Gerald?" a voice asked, and his eyes shot open, his ears perked up, surprised. He turned to see a rabbit standing behind him, some sort of shawl fastened around them. They stepped forward, a dash of the dying sun splashing across their face. Gerald couldn't believe his eyes. "Rich...Richardson?" he asked. "Gerald, what are you doing out here?" he asked. "I...I was just going to leave," Gerry replied, trying to hide the tears on his face. "The only exit I see is right off that edge and into the water. That the sort of 'leaving' you were thinking about?" Richardson asked. "Nobody needs me anymore, all I've done is cause pain and I...I'm never going to be satisfied with my accomplishments until it gets everyone I care about killed. There'll never be an end to this. I...what...what are you even doing out here?" Gerry finally asked, and Richardson smirked. "I'm going to give you something to live for," he said. *** "Have you seen Gerald?" Stone asked, surprising Kevin, who was sitting and watching their guest sleep, making sure nothing worse happened to her while she slumbered. He shook his head and she sighed, continuing, "He hasn't been responding to me much, and I'm beginning to worry about his state of mind. Has he seemed okay to you?" "No, he hasn't," Kevin replied coldly, "And it's bothered the hell out of me, quite frankly. He doesn't seem to care about keeping everyone together anymore, and it makes all his grandiose talk of rescuing the new rabbits feel somewhat hollow in comparison. It doesn't come across as sincere." "Yeah, I know what you mean, he's felt off for a while. I wanted Nickle to bring him to me so we could talk about things, but she couldn't find him. Turns out nobody has seen him since last night." This, admittedly, worried Kevin. He perked up and looked back at the sleeping rabbit before looking again at Stone and sighing. "I'll go look for him," he said, "Just make sure nothing happens to her while I'm gone. I know someone who will be able to find him no matter what." "Who's that?" Stone asked as Kevin passed by her and out of the doorway. "Number Two," he responded. *** Gerry couldn't believe his luck. Just when he'd finally accepted his failures and was ready to fully embrace the sweet nothing of death, here came Richardson, out of the clear blue sky, and was telling Gerry he had something worth living for. Richardson wouldn't tell him what that something was, rather, he insisted on showing it to him up close. Following Richardson through the woods, Gerry couldn't help but have a feeling of general unease about trusting the guy, considering he'd sold out The Collective in the past. Even with his apology to Kevin and Number Two, Gerry still felt Richardson was a tad shady. "So," Gerry said, "Where we going?" "You'll see when we get there," Richardson said, "Trust me, it's worth it. How're things back at The Hollow?" "Not good," Gerry said, "A rabbit showed up traumatized by something, and then Number Two told me ran into another rabbit traumatized by, seemingly, the same thing. They called it The Black Snakes. We have no clue what they mean by that though, so it's all guesswork right now. Melvin and Crisp took off, and I just...I feel like I'm running out of steam to keep everything going." "That's understandable, given everything you've been through, but Gerry, trust me, what I'm about to show you will get you back on the right path." "Well, forgive me if I'm slightly distrustful towards you," Gerry said, "After the whole, ya know, trying to kill us thing." "I made a terrible mistake. I admit to it. I lost everything. Not only my sister, after all that, but all my friends too. Even if I'd wanted to come back, nobody would ever let me, even with my apology. But it's been a blessing in disguise, turns out, because I was needed elsewhere. That's the one thing I've learned from everything that's happened, Gerald. You're always needed somewhere. If you think you've run your course in one place, find a new place." This actually made Gerry feel better. He'd never really considered it. Maybe Richardson was right, after all. Maybe it was time to not quit, just move on. He knew The Collective would be fine. He knew Kevin and Number Two and Stone and everyone else could manage things without him, hell, they'd done it for a while when he and the others were still stuck in the lab. They'd survived, so why couldn't they again? Gerry was starting to warm up to Richardson, and feel a sense of trust. "So where are we-" Gerry began, when he stopped. Standing in front of them were two female rabbits, also wearing the same sort of fabric Richardson had slung around himself. They smiled at the both of them upon approach, and Gerry felt a sense of warmth fill him up. The three of them continued over the hill a bit and once at the top, Gerry couldn't believe his eyes. In front of him was an enormous burrow, made with interconnecting tunnels, and what looked like a hundred rabbits or more. A community. Richardson had built something special, here. "Welcome to The Order of the Hare, Gerald," Richardson said, "Please, come inside." *** Number Two was sitting outside with Minerva, watching Dice lay in the sun and warm herself. This life...this quiet life, this was what Number Two realized he'd always been missing. He reveled in the fact that he was so fortunate to have met these ladies, and that they'd graced him with their friendship, and allowed him to build a new home with them. This life, away from his friends, away from the problems that constantly plagued The Collective...this was the life he dreamed he'd one day have after everything was said and done. "It's quiet today," Minerva said, "There's not even birds out. Somewhat unusual, but I prefer peace over noisiness, even if the noise is from beautiful birdsong." "Fair enough," Number Two said, "It's nice to have the chance to just relax and wind down, not always having to be afraid all the time. I cannot tell you how much I don't miss being constantly terrified." "Number Two?" Kevin asked, approaching from between the trees, coming out of a bush. "Well, that feeling's gone," Number Two muttered, making Minerva snicker before turning his attention back to Kevin and asking, "What're you doing here? Is everything okay? Surely you aren't here for a nice quiet visit. That's never the case." "Gerry's gone," Kevin said, and this got Number Twos attention, as he knew it would. He'd chosen his words carefully. He knew just these two put together would be enough to jumpstart Number Twos interest in the situation. "What...what do you mean he's gone?" Number Two asked. "He's missing. He hasn't been back to The Hollow since, presumably, last night, at least with how Stone tells it." Just then they heard the bush rustling again, and turned, frightened for a split second, until they realized it was merely Mipsy coming out behind them. Kevin and Number Two sighed a breath of relief, as Kevin turned to face her. "You too fast," she said. "You need to stop following people," Kevin said, "One day I hope instead it's me following you." "Where we going?" Mipsy asked, coming up to the others, shaking the leaves and twigs from her fur. "We're going to find Gerry," Kevin said, "He's missing." "I think I know where to look," Number Two suddenly said, quietly, surprising the both of them, "I think I know where to find him." *** This place...was amazing. Richardson had taken in any and all female rabbits who'd needed help, safety, security or just somewhere to be and had given them a home. Everywhere Gerry looked were happy female rabbits enjoying themselves, feeling comfortable and happy, and for the first time in ages, he felt like he was witnessing something truly worthy of being alive. He could recall now the feelings he'd always had regarding keeping The Collective safe, and why it always hurt so much when he failed to do so. "How...how did you-" Gerry started, but Richardson just laughed. "I don't even know, honestly," he said, "It just sort of happened, one by one, until it grew into what it is now. Word of mouth spread I suppose, but most of them just find their way here, almost like they need to find it when they need it most. I failed to keep my little sister safe, so now it is my mission to keep any and all female rabbits safe. Nobody is in charge, it's a communal situation, and anyone can leave anytime they wish. I just want to give them somewhere to be. Somewhere they don't have to worry." "This is incredible," Gerry said. "Now they're all my sisters. They can leave whenever they want, return if they so want, the choice is up to them. That's the one thing we were never given, Gerald, was choice. That's why I asked you to come with me. You could've ignored me, jumped anyway, ended everything...but I gave you a choice, and you took it. Because, what I've found, is that when presented with a choice, one will usually take that choice, especially if it can make things better." "Aren't you...aren't you worried about predators or THEM or anything? God, I know I'm always on edge about whether or not someone can find us, even by accident," Gerry said. "Sure I am, man. You bet I am. But I can't let that fear keep me from living, either. That fear is what ate so many of us alive. That fear...that fear is what pushed me to do what I did to The Collective. Because I would've done anything to get my sister back and protect her. You have to understand it wasn't personal." "Oh, I understand. Doesn't mean I condone it, but...I understand, more than you'd know," Gerry said, thinking of Dodger as he spoke. "This is a safe place, Gerry. A safe place for happy rabbits. There's no pain, there's no evil, there's no horror. There's just peace. So you see? You don't have to die to be one with bliss. You just have to find a better place to be," Richardson said, "Anyone can be a Sister Rabbit. Because anyone can be loved." Gerry wouldn't admit it, but he wanted to cry. How hard Richardson achieved such calmness in the time since they'd seen him last? How had he gained this semblance of inner joy? How had he created this community? It didn't matter, ultimately. What mattered was that he had. And Gerry loved him for it. *** "Where the fuck are we going, man?" Kevin asked. "It's just up here," Number Two said, "Right through this clearing." "Kevin?" Mipsy asked, catching up to him as he followed a bit of a ways behind Number Two, "um...what we do if Gerry not come back?" "He'll come back, don't think like that," Kevin said, "He'll come back. He...he always comes back." And that's when Kevin bumped into Number Two, who had stopped at a small mossy mound with a pile of rocks on top of it. Kevin looked down at the mound and then out past the trees, and realized they were at the forest line, across the field from the lab. All the lights were off, and nobody was there. Kevin furrowed his brow in annoyance. "Well?" he asked, "I don't see him! He comes back here?" "Often, to watch the lab and think," Number Two said, "He thinks nobody knows, but I have followed him at times and watched him. He sits here, in the dark, and he cries. I want him to tell me what he's feeling, but I know he never would. No matter how much I want him to open up to me, he never will. He's too closed off, thanks to others hurting him, lying to him, betraying him. I just thought this might be where he went." "Well, he isn't here, so we need to-" Kevin said, stepping on the mossy mound. "Don't walk on that," Number Two said, and Kevin looked down, cautiously stepping off. "What is that?" Kevin asked, and Number Two lowered his ears, looking away. "That's Dodgers grave marker," he replied quietly. The cool wind against their fur, the warm sun against their face, the lack of any responsibilities whatsoever; yes, it made Crisp and Melvin wonder just why exactly it'd taken them so very long to finally work up the nerve to break with The Collective. Wandering through this small wooded area, the sounds of birds chirping and streams bubbling, they couldn't help but occasionally glance at one another and then chuckle to themselves. They were finally, truly, free.
"I'm so glad we decided to do it," Melvin said, "That place was...just...not for us." "Thank you for convincing me," Crisp replied, "Lord knows without a friend like you, I might still be there, embroiled in the midst of whatever ridiculous thing they're dealing with now. It's always something with them. And here I'd assumed Dodger's death would've been the end of it, but I guess not. There's always an extra mile to go." "Well, now we can go any amount of miles we want," Melvin said, making them laugh. They laughed and snacked and carried on, stopping here and there to look at the various leaves on the ground or pick up new berries, and it was like they'd never been a part of The Collective to begin with. They'd wanted to escape, certainly, and they were happy that The Collective had given them that chance, but they just never really understood why they'd continued to rail against the lab and the people who ran it. They sort of understood it, they recognized the yearning for vengeance certainly, but to put their own lives on the line time and time again, after all the failures they'd faced...it boggled their minds. "How far are we gonna go?" Crisp asked. "As far as we want, honestly," Melvin replied, "This is our life now, we can do whatever we want. We're best friends and the world is open to us." "I feel sort of bad, I admit," Crisp continued, "I mean, they want to save these new rabbits and I...I get why...and I feel bad for leaving before at least trying to help with that. It's a noble cause, certainly. I just...I can't shake the feeling that for everything they try to do, all they're really doing is walking one step closer to the edge of destruction." "They need a purpose," Melvin replied, "They don't have the lab anymore, they don't have THEM, or the tests, so they need something to fulfill their lives, and apparently they've made saving new rabbits their purpose. You're not wrong, either, it IS noble, but it's also incredibly risky to attempt time and time over. One day they're gonna regret it, and by then it'll be too late to try anything different." Melvin stopped and sniffed at something on the ground, nudging the fallen nut with his nose as Crisp continued up the hill, finally cresting the top and stopping in her place. "Oh my god," she whispered. "What? What is it?" Melvin asked, hopping up after her, gasping as he reached her side. Before them lay a gorgeous sun dappled field filled with flowers aplenty, and between those flowers...between the rays of beautiful sunlight...were what looked like hundreds of dead rabbits. "What the fuck," Melvin whispered, as Crisp started to head down the hill, Melvin bounding right after her; "Hey!" he called, "What are you doing?! Is this not creepy enough for you? You need to get a closer look?" "What...happened, here?" Crisp asked. The rabbits were covered in dirt and mud and their fur stained with blood. Some of the rabbits, their eyes had tears of dried blood streaming down their faces, others their mouths simply agape at whatever horror had befallen them. Crisp walked past some and looked into a burrow. "It's full of other dead rabbits," she whispered, "My god there's so many children in here." Her voice cracked, like she was going to cry, but she fought it back, not wanting to do that here. She'd cry later, in private, where the souls of dead bunny children couldn't hear her. Melvin continued and finally came to a large, long, rounded black tube with ridges all the way around it. He put his paw against it and sniffed it cautiously, quickly recoiling in disgust. "Fuck that smells awful!" he said loudly, "Whatever this...this black snake is...it smells terrible, my god, no wonder they died. I'd have died too if I had to smell this god forsaken thing." "There's so many babies," Crisp muttered under her breath, the tears coming on now in full, "There's so many babies. How could this have happened? What happened here?" "I...I don't know, but we'll keep looking, we'll figure it out, we're smart," Melvin said, "We're no Special 7, but hey, we'll get it. Just try to keep yourself together, alright?" Melvin continued into the field, looking at every body he could, pawing at some and sniffing at others. They were all dead alright. Some of them stank to high heavens, just like the stench wafting off the black snake he'd stumbled upon. He finally leaned down and smelled another rabbit; a once beautiful female rabbit with large black spots all over her, like a dalmation. He sighed and shook his head, before turning back to face Crisp, who was staring at him in disbelief. "This is wretched," he finally said, "This is just...beyond wretched. Whatever happened here, it wasn't pretty. This was a massacre of some kind, and I-" And with that, the female rabbit lying beside him screamed. This, in turn, made Melvin and Crisp scream, purely startled by the fact that one of these rabbits happened to somehow be alive. She took in large gasps of air and looked around frantically, before her eyes fall on them. She opened her mouth, like she was trying to speak. "You...no, you need to not talk, okay?" Melvin said, "Just relax, and uh...Crisp, go get some water or something, somehow!" The rabbit mumbled something, but he couldn't hear it. He put his ear closer to her lips, and she repeated herself. "Death...is here," she said, "Run! RUN!" Melvin looked at her and then heard Crisp scream from behind. He whipped his head back to see her running towards him, tears flying off her face, and what appeared to be a human in a full body suit, with a pure black reflective visor over their face chasing after her. "RUN!" Crisp screamed, and Melvin looked back at the female rabbit, who nodded. He took off with Crisp and together they weaved in and out between corpse after corpse, the human in hot pursuit. Finally they found a large rock and hid behind it, no longer hearing the humans pounding footsteps nearby. Melvin peered around the rock and saw the human had stopped and was pulling up the black snake from the ground, tossing it over their shoulder, before looking down at the rabbit Melvin had been talking to. Melvin furrowed his brow, wondering what this person wanted with her. The human opened what appeared to be a pocket on their hip and pulled out a small black pistol, aimed it at the rabbit and fired, with no remorse whatsoever. Melvin was frozen with fear as he quickly ducked back behind the rock. "Oh my god," he whispered, "He killed her, he...he killed her. We have to hide. We have to find a burrow or something to hide in, Crisp." "There, right there," Crisp said, nodding at a burrow only a few feet away from them. "Okay. They seem to be looking around, I don't think they've seen us, on the count of three, we'll go. If something happens to me, just keep running, okay? Get to safety," Melvin said, and Crisp nodded. He counted, and they took off as fast as they could. Within seconds they could hear gunshot after gunshot echoing through the air, dirt clumps nearby flying into the sky around them, showering them with debris. They were so close, so very very close, and that's when he felt it. That blinding red hot pain, as he stumbled into the burrow after Crisp and looked at his back right leg, a hole shot cleanly through it. He winced at the pain from touching it, and decided it was better to leave it be. It hurt, but he could manage. "What if they...what if they saw us?" Crisp asked, "What if they saw us??" "There's a hundred or more other rabbits out there, there's no way they could tell exactly where we wound up. We just have to be quiet and keep moving through the tunnels, eventually we'll find safety, okay?" "I'm so scared, I'm so fucking scared," Crisp whispered, and Melvin nodded, touching her paw. "I...I know," he said, his eyes squinting from the pain of his gunshot, "But it's okay, we're together and we'll be fine, alright?" "We shouldn't have left," Crisp said, "We should never have left, why did you make us leave?!" "Keep your voice down!" Melvin said in a harsh hushed tone, "Keep it cool, okay? We will discuss who's fault all this is later, right now there's a man out there willing to put a bullet through our heads, and I don't know about you, Crisp, but I don't intend to die in a fucking hole in the ground, alright?" She nodded, and he nodded. They seemed to have an understanding. He walked ahead of her, Crisp now noticing the wound in his leg but not saying a thing about it, lest she upset him even more. Besides, it's not like there was anything they could do right now for it anyway. They had to climb over so many dead rabbits to continue down the path, and they weren't even sure which direction was the right direction to go. This wasn't their burrow, they didn't know where they were, and nobody else knew where they were either. "It's so dark down here," Crisp said. "Yeah, it's...uh, not really the best," Melvin replied, "But there seems to be light up ahead, so that probably means there's another opening that we can get out of and head into the woods from there." "This field was enormous, it wouldn't be that close to the woods already," Crisp whispered. "Well, we don't really have a choice, now, do we?" Melvin responded, "We either stay here and argue about distance or we-" And with that, an arm broke through the dirt overhead and grabbed at Melvin. Crisp screamed as Melvins scruff of his neck was tugged, and he reached for her paws. Crisp held onto him for dear life, watching the fear overtake his face. "Don't let them take me!" Melvin screamed, "Crisp! Don't let them take me, I'm sorry! I'm sorry, this was all my fault! Oh jesus, I'm sorry, you were right, we never should've left!" "Melvin, bite him!" she shouted back, and he tried, but his teeth wouldn't go through. "It's...it's too thick! Whatever he's wearing, it's too thick! Crisper!" Melvin said, his voice now a smidge more restrained, his breathing normalized, "Crisper, I'm sorry. Run. Go back to The Hollow, go back to The Collective. You don't deserve to go like this." "I'm not leaving without you, you're my best friend!" Crisp yelled, "I...I won't go without you!" "Crisp, we shouldn't both have to die down here! Now when you let go of me, and his hands are occupied, run for that hole, get to the woods and somehow make your way back to them. Tell them what you saw here, okay? Tell them what happened to all these rabbits, to ME." "Melvin, no, we can still-" "I love you," Melvin said, "You're my best friend and I love you, man. Now go." And with a push of his last bit of strength, he shoved her away from him, their paws no longer connected, and he vanished through the dirt above. Crisp stood there, dumbfounded, in shock that her best friend was now gone. It was quiet, no gunshot, so whoever this was, they hadn't killed him she figured. She picked up her satchel and his and quickly took off down the burrow, fast as her haunches would carry her, sprinting to the other hole. Tears streamed from her eyes, she was going to make it back, for him if nothing else. She'd make it back, and she'd tell Gerry and the others what just happened, and they'd rescue him. When they attacked the lab, she was sure that's where he'd be, and they'd rescue him, and she'd be his hero. She leaped at the burrow entrance, but couldn't grasp it with her paws. She was frustrated, how did these rabbits ever get out of these things? God, they'd spent so long in the lab they didn't know how to get in and out of burrows properly. Suddenly she heard the sound of dirt shifting around her, and glanced over her shoulder. The black snake had been shoved through the dirt, and she screamed, trying desperately to grasp the edge of the burrow entrance and pull herself up. Thick smog like substance began pouring from the black snake, filling the burrow and heading right for her. She sobbed. No, it wasn't going to end like this. She wasn't going to die in this fucking hole, as Melvin had so eloquently put it. Suddenly, when all hope seemed lost, success! Her paws connected with the rim of the opening and with the last strength she had, she pulled herself up onto the ground. She felt the sunlight on her again, the air was clear and clean, and she started coughing from the smoke in the burrow that the black snake had spewed out at her. She couldn't believe it, she'd made it. Crisp rolled her head to the side and nearly shrieked. A rabbit, their eyes missing, clearly eaten by the birds, was staring directly at her. She backed up a bit and then felt a hand grab her back legs and pick her up, lifting her into the air. She couldn't fight anymore, she just stared in abject terror at her reflection in the black visor covering their face. Time seemed to stop. She couldn't hear anything else, her vision beyond her reflection seemed blurred, and she held her breath. Suddenly she noticed they were lifting a hand towards her, and gripped in their hand was what appeared to be a very large needle. She cried silently, realizing whatever was going to happen, there was no stopping it. She felt the point of the needle slide into the side of her neck, and she began feeling woozy. She was then put into a small metal cage, where she spotted Melvins unconscious body. With what energy she had left, with what last working braincells she could manage to use, Crisp crawled across the cage and collapsed up against her friend. As the person turned and headed off, picking up the black snake and tossing it back over their shoulder, the last sight Crisp saw before she lost all consciousness was that field. A beautiful, sun drenched field, filled with flowers.... ...and filled with death. |
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The Rabbit Collective follows a group of lab rabbits struggling with their purpose, and hopeful eventual escape. Archives
October 2020
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