Chapter Text
Singing could be heard down the school hall. A once cheerful and innocent sound had never been more terrifying to Paul and Bill. What terrified Bill even more was that the singing may be Alice’s, and that they were too late. He shook his head of his thoughts. He couldn’t afford to think like that, not now. Slowly, they followed the song, in the hopes that it would lead them to Alice, preferably alive.
The singing was coming from two high-school girls, one Bill recognised as Deb. Neither of them seemed to notice the two men as they sang at the door in front of them, clawing and kicking at it.
“Alice must be in there, what do we do?” Bill whispered, worried that the slightest sound would blow their cover. Paul looked hesitantly down at the gun in Bills hand, and Bill shook his head, eyes widened.
“No, I can’t do that! Alice would never forgive me if she knew I let Deb die!” Paul let out a silent, frustrated sigh as he wracked his brain for an idea. He knew the possibility of Alice being alive was slim, but Bill was determined to get her back. So Paul had to at least try.
“Okay... I’ll distract them, and once they’re gone, you get Alice and get the hell out of here” he explained.
“But what about you? If they get to you-“
“That doesn’t matter,” Paul interrupted.” If I’m not out there when you are, get back to the professors”
Bill still looked very hesitant to go forward with the plan, so Paul put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“Bill, it’s going to be fine, I promise” Paul stared at Bill calmly, trying to show any sign of reassurance. Slowly, very slowly, Bill nodded. Paul gave him one last smile, before he ran towards the teenagers.
“Hey ladies! The Justin Bieber concerts this way!” he yelled as he raced passed the girls. Almost, instantly, they followed him, singing as they went.
Once they were out of earshot, Bill practically sprinted to the door. He lightly knocked on it, only to be met with a terrified whimper; Alice.
“Alice! Alice, it’s me are you alright?” Bill exclaimed, relief washing over him instantly. He could hear Alice walking towards the door.
“Dad? Oh thank god!” she opened the door and leapt into Bills arms, tears streaming down her face. Bill held onto her tight, wishing to hold her for eternity. She was safe, and that’s all that mattered to him.
“Are you okay? Did they hurt you?” he asked, releasing his daughter and looking over her for any injuries.
“No, I... I’m fine, but what is happening?” Alice stammered, her body shaking with every sob.
“Listen to me Alice, something is going on and we need to get out of here, I know somewhere where we’ll be safe” Bill said sternly, starting to drag Alice towards the schools entrance.
“But what about Deb?” Bill froze for a moment. Of course, she wouldn’t know what is going on. For all she knew, Deb was taking a stupid prank too far, or was high.
“Deb.... Deb is gone, Alice” Bill murmured, his voice barely over a whisper. It absolutely broke his heart to see the horror and grief in Alice’s eyes. “I’m sorry... I can’t explain this now, we need to get someplace safe, alright?”
Alice did not respond, she only continued to cry as she let her dad drag her in the right direction.
They made it to the entrance without any disruption. Then they heard running coming from behind them. It was Paul. Bill couldn’t help but smile knowing that his friend was alright.
“I locked them in a classroom, but I don’t know how long it’ll hold them” Paul panted, out of breath from running through half the school. Bill nodded, holding Alice close. Paul gave Alice a small smile, and ruffled her hair slightly. That usually made her smile. However, nothing seemed to make her smile now. Paul sighed, and lead the three of them quickly out of the school and back towards the fortress.
***
As they neared the house, Paul could tell something was wrong.
Why were the gates open?
. Fear beginning to spread through his body, he picked up his pace, holding the gun in his hand closer to his chest.
He could hear singing coming from inside, and his fear only grew. Was he too late? He raced through the gates, completely forgetting about Bill and Alice behind him. At the front of the door, two men stood there staring into the house. They turned to face Paul, huge, over-exaggerated grins on their faces. They were infected.
Without even having any second thoughts, Paul shot them both as they began moving towards him. They fell to the ground, life draining from their eyes.
The world started to spin. Paul just shot two people he didn’t even know. Sure they were infected aliens, but he couldn’t help but feel like they were innocent people who he’d shot down like it was nothing.
The sound of singing brought him back to his senses, and he leapt over the dead bodies, following the noises coming from the basement.
***
Henry was in his own world, as he flew through the air, singing his heart out. Emma was growing gradually more terrified as she struggled against the ropes tying her down, her imminent demise drawing nearer the more the professor sang.
Then she heard the sound of a gun shot, and then another. Her spirits lifted at the though of rescue, and she only hoped that she wasn’t about to be shot by an alien.
Her prayers seemed to be answered though as Paul, Bill and who she assumed was Alice ran in, the gun in Paul’s hand aimed at Henry. Straight away, Henry stopped his routine, and put his hands up.
“Alexa, close the gates, lock the doors!” Paul yelled at the device laying on the ground. Once he heard jingle indicating that his orders were met, and was certain that Henry was not infected, he lowered the gun and he and Bill went to untie Emma and Ted, who seemed to have been pulled from whatever weird trance he had been in moments ago.
“Paul, you’re alive!” Emma cried, pulling Paul into a tight embrace. Paul could feel all of the fear and terror wash away as he melted into the hug. The only thing that he could see and feel was her now, and it felt so good to know she was safe.
While the two of them seemed to be more than happy, Ted looked downright pissed. The moment Bill untied him, he leapt at Henry, punching him square in the face.
“What the actual fuck was that!” he yelled, glaring down at Henry, who had fallen to the ground. He simply stared at Ted blankly. “You May be all hunky dory about living in a musical, but NEWS FLASH, we aren’t!”
Ted grabbed the collar of Henry’s turtle neck and pulled him up so their faces were inches apart. Teds eyes were burning with loathing, while Henry’s were unreadable.
“Pull a fucking stunt like that again, and I won’t be afraid to to shove that piano right up your-“
“Ted that’s enough!” Paul yelled over him, standing between the two men. “We’re alive, and that’s what’s important right now. We can not afford to be arguing right now”
Ted glared at the professor for a few more seconds before storming out the door. Although everyone seemed to relax a bit, there was still a level of tension looming in the air. Bill took a still crying Alice into another room to try and comfort her while Paul and Emma watched Henry cautiously, who was simply staring at the spot Ted had been standing.
“Professor Hidgens?” Emma spoke quietly, slowly moving in front of him. He did not look at her, or show any sign of hearing her. Emma continued. “We need to know that you aren’t going to do something like that again, okay?”
When Henry still did not react, Emma grabbed his head and pulled it down to face her.
“Okay?” she repeated, more seriously this time. Henry nodded, backing away slightly.
“I’m sorry I... don’t know what came over me” he mumbled, facing away from the two of them. Emma just nodded, grabbing Paul’s hand and leading him out of the room, leaving Henry alone.