The Hunt

His back hit the wall hard, and Leon cursed silently, hoping the sharp impact noise hadn't been heard by the two he was hiding from, the two hunting him.

"Le~on!" Puck's voice was thankfully still distant as they sang out his name through the dark and debris, the dark lilt to their voice caused Leon to suppress a shudder.

"You can't hide from us, Leon," Cereza called too, much less playful than Puck, and he swore she was closer too, her voice coming from further to the left than Puck.

He swallowed silently, the two of them are rarely separate, joined at the hip seemingly being a phrase coined for them, and the sounds of them calling for him seemed to indicate that they were moving apart from each other. Like they were intending to flank him. Like they knew it would be over the moment he was found.

Leon checked his clip but it was empty, and a quick pat down showed him that he didn't have any more ammo, the last of his ammo spent long ago in a wild spray intent on keeping the other two from cornering him behind some debris. 

He examined his options; he had nothing but a useless gun, and the exit was guaranteed to be watched, he'd taught the two of them himself after all. 

Maybe he could take the boards from one of the windows and leave that way, although they knew he tended for unconventional exits, they can't have had every option covered. He frowned, they are very good at keeping three steps ahead of him at all times, maybe they'd even have the exact window he'd use monitored…

The low sound of footsteps approached his cover, freezing him in place, and he recognised them as Puck's before said vampiric even spoke, "c'mon Leelee, just come out already, we'll make it quick and painless for you~"

The footsteps passed him slowly, but he didn't dare move, and barely even breathed, sweat dripping down his face. If he moves now then Cereza will catch him, she's nearby no matter if he hears her or not, and he's especially sure she's watching closely from the fact he can hear Puck's steps, normally they don't make a sound when sneaking, unless they want to be the bait and let their prey hear them, just to lead them right into Cereza's grasp.

He began to regret training them, he never realised how terrifying it would be to be on the side of the hunted.

Leon stayed put for a while longer after the footsteps had faded before he decided it was safe enough to try and make a break for it, keeping the empty gun on hand just in case he came across some more ammo scattered about.

He took the slow route, winding his way carefully and silently through the darkness to make his way to the exit. He could hear Puck and Cereza a fair distance away from it, as they had taken to just calling his name in regular intervals, meaning he at least had a clear sprint to safety should they come back his direction.

As the open door came into sight, he felt relief flood his body as the light shining through started to illuminate him, and he sped up, dropping the gun to the floor as it reached the end of it's use. He was almost at the door when it suddenly slammed shut, the small form of Cereza moving in front of it, gun raised and pointed directly at him.

Leon raised his hands in surrender, confusion filling him as he still heard the distant sounds of Cereza and Puck behind him, and the woman in front of him took pity on the dumb expression on his face.

"Recordings," was simply what she said, not moving the gun from where it was trained at his forehead as she took slow and measured steps towards him, and Leon realised the trap he'd just cheerfully walked himself into, a lamb to the slaughter, herded oh so easily by a pair of miniature tricksters.

Leon shifted his weight minutely, knowing his only chance was to try to distract her then run, "you don't need to do this," he started, a generic speech already lined up, "we can just-"

He cut himself off in shock, as a small smile had appeared on Cereza's face as he spoke, showing her teeth in an uncomfortably animalistic manner.

"I know," she said, head tilting ever so slightly, "but this is how it must be."

Leon started to slowly and silently shift his foot back as she spoke, but before he could do anything more for his escape, the barrel of a gun pressed into the back of his head, and a glance backwards showed him the almost glowing eyes and sharp grin of Puck. They had flanked him.

"Sorry Leelee, we gotcha," Puck's bright voice spoke out as Leon tried to figure a way out from being sandwiched by the two of them and their weapons, "no hard feelings, right? I mean y'know what they say, 'all's fair' and all that."

"Guys-" Leon barely got the word out before the sound of two triggers being pulled filled the air.

Leon fell, and there was silence as Puck and Cereza stared impassively down at him.

"Stop being a wuss," Cereza said, folding her arms and nudging him with her foot.

"It hurts!" Leon whined from the floor where he was clutching his head, "you both shot me in the head at point blank!"

Puck rolled their eyes, picking up the foam dart from the floor and flinging it at him again, "you're just pissy 'cause you lost again."

"Maybe I'd have a chance if you two didn't team up every time!" Leon stood, totally not pouting at the two who had moved to stand side by side, arms linked and their toy guns hanging loosely from their hands.

"You lost when you invited Chris to play too," Cereza pointed out, stepping away and to the exit, gently pulling Puck with her.

Puck allowed themself to be pulled, but didn't turn away from Leon, "dunno why you invited him when we killed him instantly," they teased.

"It's because you were hiding on top of those shelves like a creepy goblin!" 

Puck poked their tongue out in response, "and don't forget, as the loser, you're dinner duty for the next week~" Puck called back to him before disappearing out the exit with Cereza, leaving Leon to nurse his wounded skull and pride alone in the dark.

"Let's see you beat Jill next time," Leon muttered to himself, going to pick up his toy gun from where he'd abandoned it before following the two out.