Gerard let his eyes trail over the dark, looming buildings of Battery City. The Game Master was in there. Answers could possibly be there. His escape could be there.

The others rested around him. Northern hadn't woken up since he had passed out earlier. Demonic laid next to him, sleeping with his arm outstretched so he could hold onto Northern's hand. Ghosted Disturbance sat against one of the cars, sleeping silently as Silent leaned against him and snored softly. Jet Star slept on the ground with his limbs completely spread out. Rebel was curled into a ball not so far away from Jet Star. Fun Ghoul rested beside Gerard, beginning to stir.

Gerard looked down at the sand. He knew this wasn't home, but this certain scene felt like home. It was almost reminiscent of some of those 'study nights' that turned into movie marathons lasting long into the night. Gerard was always one of the last to sleep, always imagining up new storylines and characters.

He had to shut his eyes as the memory began to blend with that of the Killjoys around them. They weren't like how they looked now... They were Ryan and Frank and... Gerard shut his eyes tighter, struggling to march names to faces. Silent Strike wasn't his name there... What the hell was his name!?

"Party, you should be resting."

Gerard opened his eyes. He looked down to see Fun Ghoul propping himself up on his elbows. The killjoy looked up at Gerard and flashed a tired smile. "Big day tomorrow, Party."

"Yea..." Gerard half smiled for a second before letting it fade. "Tomorrow we invade Battery City."

Fun Ghoul chuckled. "Pretty small invasion." He noted, nodding his head back to acknowledge the others.

Gerard shrugged as hell turned his gaze back to the city in the distance. "Better than nothing."

For awhile after that, silence hung in the air around them. The only interruption came from occasional snores or bodies shifting positions.

"You really should sleep, Party." Fun ghoul encouraged, softly.

"I'm fine."

Fun Ghoul looked up at Gerard with sorry in his brow. "You took a pretty hard hit today. You need to rest up. Here," Fun Ghoul pushed himself upright and scooted himself beside Gerard, "let me look at your bleeding spot."

Gerard had almost forgotten about the bandana wrapped around his head. He felt Fun Ghoul struggle with the knot for a moment before it released. The material fell, except for one spot on his forehead, where it had stuck. Gerard winced as Fun Ghoul carefully peeled it away from his healing skin.

"Does it hurt?"

Gerard shook his head. "Is it bleeding?"

"No."

"So, I guess that means I'm fine."

"Party..."

"If you're going to be driving, I suggest you get some sleep, Ghoul." Gerard said, looking down at the ground as he said it. He wanted to do the opposite. He wanted to kiss Fun Ghoul. He wanted Fun Ghoul to wrap his arms around him and just hold him in the darkness.

He almost wanted this affection that Fun Ghoul was showing him to be real.

It wasn't fair, though. It wasn't fair to Frank. It wasn't fair to Jamia. It wasn't fair to Gerard's emotions. He couldn't let himself fall deeper into this trap, or whatever it was. Who knows how much time had passed back home? What if they were all attracted to IVs in hospital beds?

He needed to escape. He needed to free his friends from this sick game. He wasn't sure how much more Ryan could take... He wasn't sure how much more he himself could take.

"Will you at least lie down?" Fun Ghoul asked.

Gerard bit his lip. He wanted to. Part of him really wanted to just fit into his character's role and live as the brave Party Poison, the fabulous killjoy leader. Instead, he fought it. "That was an order, Fun Ghoul."

A pause hung in the air.

"Yes, sir." Fun Ghoul finally responded. Gerard listened as the killjoy resettled on the ground and stilled. Eventually he may actually follow the order and fall asleep.

Gerard, on ths other hand, wasn't sure if he would get anywhere close to sleep tonight as he, once again, turned his gaze to the outline of Battery City.

The game master thought you needed better living.

He was ready to show the game master what he really wanted.

---

A few hours of sleep is all that Gerard managed. Despite that, he felt wide awake as Ghosted Disturbance finished the preparation needed to fix the working vehicles. Only two were savable, and one just barely passed the savable threshold.

"Sir, I'd prefer you in our car." He told Gerard, swiping grease through his blue curls.

"Is that the safer of the two?" Gerard asked, looking between the two cars left standing. Demonic's windshield had been severely cracked. The glass looked as though a spider had carefully crafted it rather than the night of the storm throwing it around.

"Yes, sir." Disturbance nodded. "It took the least damage and looks like the most dependable."

Gerard nodded, feeling as if a different size of his brain was taking over. "Then you'll take it with Silent, Jet Star, Demonic, and Northern."

"What?" Disturbance's eyes went wide for a moment, obviously not expecting Gerard's response.

"You're all more important than this mission." Gerard said, pulling his hands behind his back. "I'd send Fun Ghoul with you too, but he'd never go for it."

"But, sir-"

"Don't make me give you an order, Ghosted Disturbance." Gerard's tone became more stern as he spoke. His eye brow raised as well, though he didn't think he meant for the action to take place.

Ghosted Disturbance frowned, but nodded. "Yes, sir, Party. I'll tell the others."

When he turned to walk away, Gerard brought his hand to his head. It kept getting worse. He didn't want to order around his friends. He felt better with them in the safer car, but he hated how his tone shifted to 'convince' Disturbance to listen.

Sand crunched as someone approached Gerard. He turned in enough time to see Northern's worried expression before he spoke. "Party, we need to be in your car."

"Why?" Gerard's brow raised again. Damn it, stop!

Northern shook his head. "We need to. Demonic knows the city. He's been there before and he can help us get to the mad man."

"Mad man?.. Game Master?"

Northern snapped his eyes shut & nodded.

Gerard sighed. "The other car is safer."

Northern shook his head. "We need to be in your car."

"Look," Gerard lowered his voice and stepped closer to the killjoy, "you're my best friend, and I love you, but I'm getting real sick of this back and forth shit! I don't even know who I'm talking to half the time! Ryan or Northern? My friend or my ally? Who are you right now?" Gerard demanded through his teeth, flexing his fingers at his sides. He didn't want to be angry with his friend, but this whole thing was taking a toll.

The killjoy looked back at him with unsure eyes. It was almost as if he didn't even know himself who was talking. Really, he looked scared.

Gerard relaxed, feeling guilty bubble in his stomach. "I'm sorry."

The killjoy just stared back at him. "Can we join you in your car, sir?" He asked with a quiet voice.

Gerard sighed with a nod. The killjoy repeated the motion back to Gerard and stepped back.

"I'm sorry." Gerard reached out to the killjoy, but he was already walking away. What was going on in Ryan's head? How much of Ryan was left?

How was Gerard going to save everyone from this?

"If I can live through all of this, I can do anything." Gerard told himself, clapping his hands together. He had to believe that. He had to believe something.

He made his way back to the group. They were all splitting up between vehicles. Silent, Disturbance, and Jet Star were all standing by one car, while thr other...

"Rebel, what are you doing?" Gerard asked the girl climbing into the back of his car behind Fun Ghoul.

She shot him a determined look. "With all due respect, sir, you saved me from the desert, so I owe you."

"You don't owe me-"

"I'm not one of your killjoys, Party Poison, so I'm not required to follow your orders." Rebel declared, refusing to back down. "I'm a hell of a shot and can prove my worth in your car."

"I like her." Demonic grinned before sliding into his spot in the backseat.

Gerard didn't let it show, but inside he was smiling. Lyn-Z was always strong. There was a reason she was the school's top debate student two years running. He had to admire that about her. "Fine. Hope your shot is as striking as your argument."

Rebel Princess grinned. "Twice as good, Party Poison."

Gerard turned to the three others by the second car. "Follow close." He instructed, "Guns ready and stay alert."

Silent smirked. "Sir, yes, sir."

Jet Star nodded. "Noted."

Disturbance pulled out his laser gun. "Always ready, Party."

Gerard nodded. He then stepped back so he could address everyone. "This is where it gets dangerous." He raised his voice so everyone could hear him, "I thank you all for coming this far, but I want you to know that the future is unclear beyond this point."

"The future is bulletproof!" Fun Ghoul yelled, bringing a fist to the air.

Gerard grinned.

"The aftermath is secondary!" Jet Star yelled next, raising his fist in the air as well.

Silent pulled his weapon out of his holster and spun it on his finger. "It's time to do it now and do it LOUD!" He jumped with his exclamation, tossing his laser gun in the air and successfully catching it after it flipped through the air three times.

"KILLJOYS!" Gerard boomed, feeling his heart swell with pride. The words he wrote in the world he created were really being brought to life. As much as he wanted to escape this world, that was a feeling he had never felt before.

Everyone, minus Rebel who remained quiet, loudly finished the cheer. "MAKE SOME NOISE!"