David stood in a daze outside the bathroom, feeling numb all over. Gwen's sobs echoed through the door, not quite smothered by the sound of the shower. All he wanted to do was run in and comfort her, but he'd seen the look in her eyes anytime he'd touched her. Gwen was terrified. Terrified...of him. And it was all Daniel's fault.

Daniel. That monster. It wasn't enough for him to go after Max, he had to attack Gwen too? What he'd done was unforgivable. David wanted to grab the cultist and throttle him, demand some answers. Why? Why do such a monstrous thing? Gwen said—

God, just thinking about it made him want to throw up. Daniel was going to convert her, strip away everything that made her Gwen. Worst of all, the way he'd planned on doing it was absolutely reprehensible. How could any man touch a woman without her permission? Sex was supposed to be mutual, pleasurable! What Daniel had planned was a living nightmare, and now Gwen was stuck inside it. What if he'd actually finished what he started?

Before David knew what was happening, his feet were carrying him out of the cabin and across the camp grounds. He was on a mission, and only one thought was on his mind. Daniel. David had to talk to him, had to understand. Because Gwen hadn't told him everything. She'd held back, keeping something under wraps. That something dealt with Daniel. The cultist was going to tell him what it was. But David was afraid he wouldn't like the answer.

The familiar chatter of campers graced his ears, gossiping and laughing as their counselor passed by. No one seemed to notice, except Max. The teal eyed boy saw David storming through their midst, and they briefed locked gazes. To David's surprise, Max only offered a curt nod and turned back to his friends, like he knew what David was up to, and approved. That couldn't be it, of course. Max had no idea what had happened. Even so, David returned the nod and kept going, courage and ferocity turning his nerves into steel. He refused to back down. He couldn't be a coward.

Pushing through the shrubbery and suffocating foliage, David finally broke into the clearing where Campbell's bunker was hidden. An immediate chill ran down his spine. There were no cops in sight yet, despite the black and white cruiser sitting silently several feet away. The lights were off, engine long gone cold. That was..unnerving. Where was everyone? All inside the bunker? But someone should've been left outside to stand guard, in case any kids strayed too close, or if Daniel managed to elude them.

David swallowed, hands fisting at his side as he stared at the bunker entrance. He had a bad feeling about this. He couldn't stand isolation, and the lack of people around was too...convenient. Like Daniel had planned it that way. That was impossible though! He was trapped, and the cops were probably putting him in cuffs right this very moment. Yeah! If David went down there right now, he'd see for himself.

"You have a lot to answer for Daniel," David mumbled to himself, crouching down beside the heavy bunker lid. He put his hands on it, ready to twist the metal wheel. And then his skin crawled. Someone was behind him. Someone -

"Looking for me?" The tip of something sharp grazed down David's neck. Frozen in place, he bit down a fearful shriek and dared to peer over his shoulder. The first thing he saw were his own clothes, absolutely soaked in blood. And staring back at him from beneath the crimson were icy blue eyes, wide and glinting maniacally.

"Daniel," David breathed.

"Hello David," Daniel hummed. "Surprised to see me?"

A little, considering he was supposed to be in handcuffs by now. David's stomach twisted, fear making him feel nauseous. "Where are the police? What did you do?"

"I took care of them." The knife trailed down David's skin, pricking his bandana and leaving ghastly crimson streaks. "Oh now, don't give me that look! Did you really expect me to stay locked up down there? Only the great Xemug has the authority to confine me! I'm but his loyal servant, a tool by which to spread his faithful word."

"Your faithful word? Like the stuff you wanted to share with Gwen?" The words slipped out before David could stop them, dripping with scathing intent. Daniel was surprised; the knife drifted away from David's neck, moving to tap a slow, careful rhythm against Daniel's thigh.

"So. You know about my little visit then." Tap. Tap. Daniel looked at him, and then an ear to ear grin split his mouth open. "I wasn't sure if she'd tell you about that! Gwen doesn't strike me as the type to open up, so to speak. Bare her emotions. Between you and me, I was honestly counting on it! Her private nature, I mean. It would've been a lovely surprise! The look on your face when you discovered I stole your love interest away…" he drifted off, pure glee stretching his smile even wider. "But this works too. I'm nothing if not flexible!"

"Love interest?" David slowly came out of his crouch, warding the cultist off with a pale hand as he processed that particular bit of information. "You...you think Gwen and I are dating?"

Daniel rolled his eyes. "Oh please. I know you're not. Just like I know that you want to be! You're so in love with her, I'm surprised she hasn't figured it out." Thoughtful, Daniel brandished the knife, his reflection a horrific blob of red and green in its shiny surface. "Then again, I suppose it makes sense. Gwen is fixated on not letting herself get close to you, because she's afraid of change. If you admitted your feelings for her, she'd have to confess hers too!"

Confess hers? Wha—that was impossible! Wasn't it? There was no way Gwen could like him that way. "We're just friends," David flushed. "You've got the wrong idea Daniel."

"No, no. I don't think so. We had a nice chat, Gwen and I. I think I understand her pretty well." Daniel took a step closer, smacking the knife against his open palm. "Believe me David. She adores you! Gwen would like nothing more than for you to wrap her up in your arms and kiss her senseless." His grin turned positively malicious, making David shudder in his boots. "She was certainly very receptive to me when I tried it."

"You mean when you violated her!" David took a step backwards, trying to find a way to get around Daniel. He had to stop him before anything worse happened! "How could you Daniel?! Not only did you trick her, but you did things no man should ever do to a woman without her express consent! Consent Gwen did NOT give!"

Daniel smirked. "Someone sounds jealous. What's the matter David? Upset that I managed to do what you couldn'? Ha! Don't be naive. You had all this time, and you spent it cowering like a child, hiding your precious feelings while Gwen suffered in silence. Do you have any idea how much she wants you? Or should I say, wanted."

Nausea made his throat constrict. David thought about the fear and horror on Gwen's face when he touched her, remembered her cowering in the bathtub when she saw him for the first time. All because of-

"It's your fault," David trembled, disgusted. "You made her afraid of me! Gwen can't even stand to look at me now! You did that Daniel!"

"Don't blame me for your inadequacies," Daniel drawled. "It's not MY fault you weren't there for her."

"It is! You tied me up! You trapped me down there!" Stabbing a finger at the ground, the redhead blinked away furious tears. "If I could've protected her from you, I would have! But you wanted me out of the way! Why Daniel? Why bring her into any of this? She had nothing to do with last time. That was all me!" And Max, not that he was going to mention that. "Gwen didn't deserve it."

Cocking a dyed brow, the cultist let out a delicate snort. "She wasn't fulfilling her potential. You're so content to keep her trapped here in this horrible negative environment, forever forced to clean up your mistakes! What exactly did I do that was so terrible, hm? Show her the light? If I'm guilty of anything, it's not trying to woo her to my side sooner. Gwen would make a valuable ally." Daniel lazily picked his nails with his knife, though unholy blue eyes never once left David. "Things might have gone very differently if she were the one here last time, not you! I was unlucky enough to be stuck with your pitiful company. It's a shame. I had no idea how tragic poor Gwen's situation truly was until I started watching you two!"

"What are you talking about? Gwen's happy here! She had a chance to stay in the city before, with an amazing job. But she came back to the camp. She belongs here just as much as I do!"

Despite the bravado, there was a noticeable quiver to David's voice. Daniel's commentary had struck home, whether he liked it or not. There'd been so many nights where David couldn't sleep, instead stuck staring up at the ceiling in bed as he worried about Gwen, and all her missed opportunities. Was he holding her back? Keeping her from her full potential?

Just like a parasite, Daniel sensed his weakness and attacked, spilling more caustic vitriol. "Keep telling yourself that Davey. It won't change the truth. You've got Gwen trapped here. She might as well be in chains!"

"S-shut up," David whispered. That wasn't true. Gwen was free to leave anytime!

"Why? Don't like hearing the truth?" Daniel laughed, high pitched and cruel. "Then here's some more for you. You and Max should've stayed out of my way! I would've been doing her a favor! At my side, Gwen could change the world! She has the power to make people obey her every waking word. I've seen it firsthand. None of the rotten degenerates here listen to you, but her? They bow and scrape as if she were a goddess descended to earth."

"That's not-the kids respect her! But she's not a goddess!" Not in the twisted way Daniel was describing. David had always thought Gwen was wonderful, of course, and beautiful, smart—it wasn't the same though! She had her flaws, he understood that. "You can't put people on a pedestal Daniel! Gwen wouldn't want that! She's a human being! She makes mistakes, just like you or me."

"That's where you're WRONG. Gwen is hardly a mere mortal." Daniel strangled the word, as if it were some unholy insult. His face lit up with a feverish mania, boots crunching through twigs and leaves as he stepped closer, closer, pointing his blade at David. "Gwen is a goddess with limitless potential. She's destined to help cleanse this world, eternally at my side! Our union is preordained! Her, the authoritarian. Judge to those who are plagued with sin! I, her executioner, heeding her decree. Gwen and I will purge this toxic planet together, as man and wife! It's Xemug's decree!"

David's ears suddenly filled with cotton, white noise crackling like distant lightning in his skull. Wife. WIFE. Not some run of the mill cult follower, blindly obeying Daniel's whims, like he'd believed. Oh fuck, it all made sense now! Why didn't he see it before? There was no reason to put in all this effort for one more cult member. And the purification ritual via sex Gwen had described? Inappropriate, unless reserved specially for someone close to him. Someone Daniel wanted at his side, eternally. As a wife.

David felt his stomach roil. This was worse than he could've imagined! So much worse.

"You.." David struggled to speak, emotions welling up inside him. Anger drowned everything else out as tears ran down his face. He couldn't breathe."This is what Gwen was hiding, isn't it? ISN'T IT?! You deranged, corrupt bastard!" David yelled at the top of his lungs, pouring every ounce of frustration, sorrow, and bitterness into it. "How DARE YOU! She's not yours! You can't—can't claim her, as if she were a piece of meat! Gwen deserves to make her own choices in life! She's a beautiful, unique person, and you want to rip all of that away from her! And for what Daniel?! HUH?! Because some insane, made up deity of yours said to?!"

Watching him spit and rant with what was clear enthusiasm, Daniel burst into a round of gasping, hysterical giggles. "Such fury! I'm impressed! I didn't think you had it in you! You're always so….soft. Weak. You didn't behave like this when I threatened Max. Why is that David? Does Gwen really mean that much to you?" The laughter cut off, and Daniel's cold gaze shot up to David green, completely smothering his rage with impenetrable ice. "You have a funny way of showing it you know. After all, this is all YOUR FAULT. You let this happen. You let me in, David. If you'd claimed Gwen when you had a chance, maybe she wouldn't have been so desperate to believe I was you! Maybe she would've beaten me. But instead, it took me revealing myself for her to realize what was even happening!" Daniel bared his teeth. "And do you know what? I think she was disappointed, if only for a split second. Because I gave her the one thing you never would. YOU."

David's heart stopped. Daniel could've stabbed him, and it wouldn't have hurt so much as his words. "That's not true," he moaned. It wasn't! He refused to believe that!

"Isn't it?" Daniel hissed. "She'd be happier with me David! You can't deny it." Leering, he twisted the dagger in his grip, sunlight flashing off the blade. David was blinded. He never saw Daniel shift his weight, preparing to pounce, but his final threat rang crystal clear. "With you out of the way, all my plans will come to fruition. So why don't you do me a favor and make this easy, hmm?"

Several things happened after that. Daniel rushed at him, blade poised in the air. David cried out and stumbled, catching the cultist's wrists mid attack. His brain kept repeating Daniel's accusations on loop, refusing to let him think as he struggled to keep himself from getting stabbed. Vision blurred by his own tears, gasping cries poured from David's chapped lips, mingling with Daniel's determined grunts.

"Stop! Daniel, stop!"

The knife's point wavered, then jabbed at David's sternum, piercing his skin. "Just—DIE," Daniel spat, struggling against David's grip. "Once you're gone, Gwen will be free! I can make her mine! She'll never have to think about you again!"

'Your fault, your fault…..' the voice whispered in David's head, growing louder with each fresh rivulet of blood that stained his counselor shirt. 'If you'd confessed your feelings sooner, this wouldn't be happening. Gwen would be safe. She'd love you, want you. You ruined everything!'

David whimpered, feeling his arms begin to buckle. Fiery pain burst across his chest as the dagger slipped an inch, carving a deep gash into his skin. It was agony. God, was this anything like what Gwen had felt? How much did she suffer because he didn't help her?

Fuck. David went pale with horror. If Daniel killed him, what would happen to her then?

"Stop….fighting-!" Daniel spat, pushing all his weight into the blade. David screamed, shoving back, newfound energy coursing through his limbs. He'd messed up enough. He couldn't let Daniel hurt Gwen! He'd protect her, here, now, no matter what!

"NO! You're won't get the chance to lay a single finger on her again! Not EVER!" Teeth gnashing, David ignored the pain and ducked down low, slamming his head against Daniel's and smashing his nose flat. Just like Gwen had done.

It was the perfect spot to aim for. Whatever makeup Daniel had used to hide the damage didn't actually fix anything. Blood immediately coated his face as he dropped the knife and screamed in pain, giving birth to a monstrous reflection. Distorted, crazed; this is what he'd looked like for Gwen. The thought was infuriating.

"You—you ruined EVERYTHING!" David shouted, driving a fist into Daniel's gut. Daniel coughed, collapsing to the ground. David followed him, pinning him down with bony knees as he kept pummeling Daniel's face, chest, shoulders; anywhere he could reach. "Even if it takes the rest of my life, I'm going to fix what you've done! Gwen deserves the world, but you don't get to be a part of it! You're going to rot in prison, where you belong! You selfish-!"

Punch.

"Arrogant!"

Wham!

"BASTARD!"

THWACK!

Daniel tried to fight him off, but David was relentless. So he gave up, cackling and writhing on the ground like a wounded animal. "You think prison will stop me? I'll get out," he sputtered, blood flecking David's face. "Why not kill me? You're already halfway there! C'mon David. Prove you're not w-worthless!" Daniel grinned, gory droplets beaded across his lower lip. "Prove you can protect her."

David hesitated, bloodstained knuckles trembling. Some terrible part of him...wanted to. Killing Daniel would make everyone safer. Himself, Max. Gwen. But then he pictured Gwen cowering, crying, begging him not to hurt her, and David realized he couldn't do it.

Murder wouldn't solve anything. He'd only be one step closer to resembling Daniel, and David refused to do that to her. Gwen had been through enough.

"...no. I'll protect her my way," David swore, flashing the crippled cult leader a grim smile, as he lowered his fist. "You're going to jail, Daniel. Forever. You'll never get to see her again."

"That's what you think," Daniel snarled, all traces of manipulation lost to a feral frenzy. His shell cracked wide open, all he could do was be himself. Deluded, and dangerous. "You can't keep her from me David! I WILL make Gwen into the perfect wife, and we'll spread the glory of Xemug to everyone! You'll all bow down before us! One way or another, you'll regret standing in my way! You, and that little spawn you like so much. I'll-!"

SLAM.

David hit Daniel's temple with a meaty thud, getting one last punch it. Satisfying, and it knocked him clear out.

The silence that fell over the clearing was almost indescribable, weighty with tension and a hushed, bone weary relief. David sighed, checking Daniel's pulse just to be certain. Slow, but steady. Perfect. He wasn't faking. "You had that coming," David muttered, more to himself than anything. He wiped his face, pretending not to see the red tainting his knuckles as he picked himself up off the now unconscious doppelgänger. What was he supposed to do? Wait for more cops to show up?

Perhaps that was the magic word, or good luck finally being on his side. Far off in the distance David picked up the sound of wailing sirens. It reminded him of the unfortunate souls lying dead in the bunker beneath his feet. Gwen could've been one of them. Same with himself, and Max. One wrong move...

"You really are a monster." David nudged Daniel's ribs with the tip of his boot. He didn't react, flopping bonelessly to the side from the force of another gentle, swift...abusive kick.

Maybe David wasn't a murderer. But he wasn't above petty vengeance. With Daniel's track record, a few bruises and scrapes weren't likely to be stressed over too much. Not by those who mattered. He could go to jail and suffer pain for days, weeks—god, David was starting to sound like Gwen.

Oh. GWEN. David's face burned. "If you admitted your feelings for her, she'd have to confess hers too!" That's what Daniel said. And while he'd like to believe Daniel had been lying, David couldn't. It was the truth, all of it. Gwen...Gwen had feelings for him. She liked him. Or, well. She did, before all of this madness.

David wanted to cry. This was all a sick joke. All this time, he and Gwen had been dancing around each other, neither willing to confess what they really felt. He was afraid of scaring her off, content to keep everything the same, if it meant Gwen would always be there standing at his side. Was he really no better than Daniel? None of this would've happened if he'd confessed his feelings. David practically hand delivered the tools to Gwen's destruction over to the insane man without batting an eye, because he was afraid...a coward.

"I'm such an idiot."

The sirens grew louder, drowning out his self loathing. At least for the time being. Sighing, David shot a dirty look at the blood splattered man at his feet, and the dagger lying a few feet away, gleaming innocently in the sun. Tempting him. No one would ever know. After what Daniel had done, didn't he deserve it?

David squirmed, fingers twitching at his side. His chest stung with a harsh reminder of how far Daniel had been willing to go. Was he ready to make the same sacrifice? "You're a monster. And some day, I hope you'll regret what you've done." Taking a calming breath, he kicked the dagger as far away as he could. It skittered across the grass and vanished into a clump of bushes, just in time for the cops to peel into the clearing, tires squealing. David almost regretted it. Almost.

Plastering a grateful smile on his face, he hurriedly waved them over, eager to put this mess to bed, before he did something he'd never be able to come back from. Killing Daniel wouldn't cleanse his guilt, and it wouldn't give Gwen peace of mind. Only time could do that. David could only pray he'd get to stick around long enough to see her happy again.

He owed her nothing less.