Chapter Text
We have been wandering for years without sight of anyone in a dark and poisonous landscape, thunderous and unforgiving. The ash came down like snow, suffocating and blinding even under their masks. There was the dark mouth of a cave visible in the expansive wasteland. They had wandered far from the light of society now, and there was no going back.
There was absolutely no way of knowing if we were really the only two people left on earth. We were the sole survivors here, as far as I was concerned.
Karofsky’s troubles against the student body meant nothing now. A week before, the warnings spread through the area, yet somehow he had still arrived at McKinley. I guess survival meant more to him than shame.
My last words to him still rung through my head as the emergency assembly commenced in McKinley Hall. “Not if you were the last guy on earth!” I felt guilty for them, but I couldn’t allow myself to be. I had meant them as much then as I did now. I stood by those words.
“We have just received warning that a major natural disaster has occurred,” announced Figgins at last. “This not only affects the country, it is likely to spread across the globe.” There was a loud outburst of talking at that mention, and it felt like a wall of sound in all directions.
“Until further notice, no one is allowed to leave school grounds,” Figgins continued over them once control was regained, and the crowd moaned loudly. I heard Puck swear. “However,” Figgins spoke over them, “all the rest of the classes for the rest of the day have been cancelled.” At this, most students settled down.
“Until the rest of the staff can set up the school for a long stay in, you are all to remain in this room.”
I thought back to 9/11. Everyone had seemed to know about it the day after it had happened, very few were out of the loop. The ones who had were those who avoided the news altogether. And I knew it was different now; I had heard people talk for days, and I could see it on everyone’s faces now.
Not one seemed self-assured. Not even Karofsky.
“Let me assure you that we are prepared for this. We have been stocking up on supplies and will also be holding citizens of Lima right in this very school, so I ask you to be on your best behaviour.”
And I knew they weren’t the only ones. Dad and I had been at the supermarket recently to stock up on supplies. It had been a madhouse. We had gotten separated on three different occasions.
"I leave you now with Coaches Sylvester and Beiste.” A moan escaped the collective of students. As if this was all routine.
I heard them talk about it then. How strange this all was. At first, I said nothing. But when they dragged me into the conversation, I decided to part with a piece of advice.
“Don’t let yourself exaggerate your own emotions. You may surprise yourself.”
For the first few minutes, the coaches had to prevent people from sneaking out, and to keep control, before each talking about what would happen now and how long we’d all be stuck here. The answer was, not as soon as you think.
Beiste also mentioned that our parents would probably be coming here, otherwise they would all be gathered in the local church; only so many parents would fit inside the school.
My Dad would definitely need to be with me. I felt the same. And he and I long ago agreed that we were not part of the church community, just the same as we agreed not to change each other.
I wondered if Dad was here yet. I decided to call him.
“I’m in the school's office. How are you holding up? Because I brought everything with me, food included. You should be able to outlast some of the other kids, at least.”
"It's getting closer, Dad."
“I know, Kurt, I know. But me and Carole are both here for you boys, you can rely on that.” For a moment, he didn’t speak. “We’re gonna get through this –“
“I’m scared, Dad. I'm never gonna make it to 21. I'll never get out of Lima.”
By this point, everyone within earshot of me was listening, including glee club. I ignored them.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, Kurt. I’m just being held back here until they tell me I can see you, but we’re going to get through this together.”
“Dad, there is no getting through this! We’re all going to die! Super volcanoes are extinction threats. Hardly anyone in the whole world will survive, let alone us.”
“Now, you stop this, Kurt,” Dad said. “I will admit I don’t know how long we are going to stay alive during this, but I do know it won’t be very long if you keep acting like this. We just have to stick together and try to survive as long as we can. Got it?”
I nodded. “Yeah,” I said, giving in, knowing he had a point and trying to calm down. I took a deep breath.
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, right, Kurt?”
“Right, Dad. See you later.”
“See you later, son.” And I hung up.
Mercedes had an inquisitive look on her face, but broke it a moment later as she looked around and told everyone to mind their own business. She turned back to me and whispered, “Are you okay? What happened, Kurt?”
She didn’t seem to mind the other members of glee listening in as I told her.
We were ushered upstairs, where we were grouped and moved into limitless classrooms. The normally clear windows were nearly black with descending ash. For an instant, I hope my dad would be okay out there. But then I remember our call, and breathed a sigh of relief.
I got roomed with about half of our club. Amongst others in the room were some of the jocks, some of the AV club, and a couple of cheerleaders.
I settled myself along one wall with Artie, Tina, Mike Chang, and Mercedes. Finn and Puck were in the room too, but they felt like they would rather hang out with the jocks. Artie asked why Mike wanted to hang out with us, and he told us he felt more comfortable with glee than football.
We were lucky enough to be in one of the rooms that Schue was supervising. He said a special hello to those of us in glee, and went ahead and briefed us on how things would work while we were staying here.
Puck asked when we could leave. Schue didn't know, telling the room that nothing was decided amongst the school just yet.
Finn asked what would happen to everyone’s stuff back at home.
Mike said, "You mean you didn't stock up anything at home to bring?" They had had plenty of days’ warning since the eruption began.
There wasn’t much that could be done. The clumsier jock was left with a questioning look still plastered on his face.
Luckily, I told Finn we had prepared. I relayed to him what Dad had told me.
Karofsky asked why everyone in the school wasn’t just being air lifted out of Lima. It wasn’t really much of a possibility, due to volcanic ash clogging transport and crowding overloading what the state could cover, anyway.
When nobody else had any more questions, Schue went next door the brief the next room. Our room fell into silence. I heard Rachel’s voice.
I wasn’t listening for very long when Karofsky’s obnoxious voice drowned them out. “Well, this is stupid,” he said. “Sharing a room with a bunch of nerds and the stupid, gay glee club.”
“Hey, lay off, Karofsky! You know, we’re not thrilled to be stuck with you, either!” Mercedes retorted, and I inwardly cheered her on.
“Yeah. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re all in serious danger here,” added Finn. “If we had a choice, we would sure rather be somewhere else.”
“What danger? All I’ve been able tell of the danger so far is that queer noise over an hour ago.”
“Are you really that thick?” I demanded, suddenly standing up and confronting him from across the room. I wasn’t exactly in a hurry to be anywhere near him since he kissed me, but I had completely forgotten that in my rage.
“Excuse me, Hummel?” he retorted, taking a step closer. I took a step back. “That’s what I thought,” he said. He began to turn away.
“Can you really blame me?” I asked, inexplicably, loud and clear. “After last time?”
Karofsky looked back at me, and for a moment I thought I saw fear there, but it was gone so quickly that I might have imagined it. I watched him determinedly, preparing myself for what might come next.
“Wait, what happened last time?” said Finn, confused.
I shot a look at Karofsky. “Do you want to tell them, or should I?”
“No! No way, you are not going to do that! Not unless you want to live!” he shouted threateningly at me, taking two more steps forward.
“Oh, don’t you go around threatening my boy,” interjected Mercedes, storming forward.
Then Artie looked at me and said, “What did happen, Kurt?”
“Yeah,” added Puck from a corner of the room, stepping into the fray.
I knew he really was just curious about what happened, more than any real concern he could’ve held for me. Though why he even bothered saying anything, I couldn’t tell you, since he didn’t really add anything.
"Nothing," I said stiffly, looking at Karofsky dead in the eye and knowing I couldn’t tell them even if I wanted to. "It's between me and Karofsky."
"Kurt, if he did something to you," appealed Mercedes, but I cut her off, "He didn't hurt me."
“Geez, Kurt, what did he do?” Puck demanded, stepping forward again.
I shifted my gaze to glare at Puck for a moment, and then turned my head to Mercedes, dropping the face. “He just…” I glared at Karofsky, daring him to say something. “…backed me into a corner.”
“Did he threaten you?” asked Finn.
I didn’t look at my brother as I attempted to answer, just kept my gaze locked on Karofsky, waiting. “You might say that.”
“No way,” Karofsky automatically denied it. “That’s garbage. You just freak out way too easy.”
“Then what did you do?” dared Finn.
“Nothing! He’s overreacting!”
“Then why are you so freaked out?” provoked Puck.
“I’m not!” cried Karofsky. “So I threatened him. Since when is that anything new?”
“It’s not. You denying it is. Could you be actually growing a conscience?”
“No freaking way. You’re all just acting like a bunch of girls!”
I looked back at Mercedes again, who was watching me with a sympathetic look on her face. She opened her mouth to speak again, but instead she just leaned forward with a hug.
I hugged her back appreciatively. "Don't worry, Kurt, I got your back. But you're telling me if he goes too far."
When she pulled back, I told her, “Promise. But really, I’m fine, Mercedes.”