#jacob lofland x reader

[lowkeyrobin]

HII ‼️ begging on my hands and knees for an aris fic where they meet at the wckd facility and when they get out reader and him start developing a crush on each other on the way to the right arm. even better if gets angsty and includes aris being taken by wckd at the end. :D 👍

OH MY GOD YES PLEASE AND THANK YOU!!! ; finally an aris request LMAO ; and thank you for the ppl who sent maze runner reqs for me, the drive has been insane considering I started two whole fics on my wattpad (not published yet) for aris & brenda (character x oc) over it is insane 💀 but anyways! ; thanks for requesting, hope you enjoy! ; also damn this is a long one LMAO ; also red wine supernova inspired this a lot and idrk how

ARIS ; through the scorch we go

summary ; as you trudge through the sandy scorch with aris, you realize you're growing weird feelings

warnings ; language, violence, guns, drugging (the club for cranks or whatever)

disclaimers ; reader is described to be roughly the same height as aris

word count ; 2.6k

masterlist

You'd strayed from your friends long ago, after the maze and after they'd all been taken to the safe place. Your friends Edith, Percy, Leo, and Rosa had all been called by Mr. Janson to leave to go to the safe place to be free from WCKD forever over the past two weeks. You'd been welcoming in the last of the mazes, having learned they'd gone A-Z somehow.

The only boy from the new addition, Maze B, had caught your eye rather quickly. He was quiet, usually using his dark, striped hoodie to hide himself from others. He sat alone at his own little table, in the middle on the far right side.

As you spent your days investigating, he rarely ate, inspecting his cornbread when you obviously looked over at him after catching him looking at you. You noted the dark bags under his eyes, almost red like he never slept either, in the back of your mind. You couldn't help but almost feel worried for him, like he wasn't adapting outside his maze very well.

On top of losing his friends as well, whether being killed or taken to the safe place, or by the Right Arm, it would've broken you to also know that he actually wasn't eating or sleeping. Just knowing he never talked to anyone on top of that hurt your heart.

So, one day, a day prior to Maze A's arrival, you decide to sit with him, having been alone after your last friends were taken. You were tired of being alone and were sure he felt the same way, probably just needing a friend here. Who knows how long it would be til either of you would be called to go to the safe place?

You sit down across from him at the beginning of dinner, giving him a little smile as your tray lightly slaps down on the metal table.

"Hi, I'm Y/n"

He blinks a few times, kind of surprised you'd one, sat with him, and two, introduced yourself. Maybe he wasn't used to kindness.

"I'm Aris," He mumbles, setting his cup of water down as he'd held it in his hand before he spoke.

"My friends all got sent to the safe place too" You comment, "We can be friends if you want? I know you've been lonely over here, inspecting your cornbread everyday"

He smiles, appreciating your kindness towards him. "Yeah, that'd be cool. Thanks, Y/n"

A few days after making friends with Aris, just as you were about to fall asleep, you hear a loud thud and clattering noise under your bed, scaring you awake. You instantly sit up, and cautiously begin to peer over the side of your bed to see what had caused the noise. Before you can even place your hands on the rim of the metal bed frame, Aris' hands beat yours there, his face emerging from the darkness.

He holds a panicked, awkward smile on his face, the gap in his tooth shining brightly into your tired eyes. "Come on, we aren't free from WCKD. Everyone who's been getting called to go to the safe place, they're being used as lab rats, hooked up to machines and stuff."

You blink a few times with a puzzled look, silently begging for more information.

"We need to go, we're escaping with the guys from Maze A, right now." One hand leaves the edge of the bedframe to move around in his hoodie pocket. It rises back up to show you a key card. He flips it back and forth to show you it was legit. "We need to go, please!"

You nod, quickly scrambling out from your bed to get down on your hands and knees to crawl through the vents with him. You follow his lanky frame, his eyes looking more alive than ever as he directs you through the ceiling of the lab.

You end up on the other side of the door toward the outside world, awaiting the boys arrival. As Aris quickly informed you in the vents, there were five of them, plus a girl that they were going to find.

Their introductions are quick and action-packed, with Thomas just making it under the closing door before it closed by sliding. Aris quickly uses a brick, which had been laying around due to construction, to beat the key card reader so Janson and the WCKD gaurds assisting him couldn't use it and just chase after them.

You look to Aris, eyes wide as you look between him and the other teens before sprinting toward the exit. As the large doors open, sand flies into your eyes, blinding you for a moment before you all run into the cold desert, needing to run as far as you could before they tracked you all down again.

After hiding, getting away, and discussing a plan, you get familiar with the other teenager's names while searching for resources. There was Thomas, their leader, Teresa, Newt, Minho, Winston, and Frypan. You hang tight to Aris, being the only one you trusted at the moment.

"Damn, who are you gonna kill with that thing?" You joke, looking at the shy boy as he holds a metal baseball bat in hand.

"Cranks, probably"

Your second night, after losing Winston, was awful. All of his friends were clearly upset after having to leave their friend for dead, meanwhile you and Aris didn't really know how to comfort them, deciding to gather sticks for a fire to try and leave them be for a moment. Once you returned, they were clearly lacking any spirit, barely keeping it together before falling asleep.

It was much colder than it was the past night, leaving you freezing and shivering beside the dead fire. The hard, dead dirt didn't suffice as much of a mattress either.

You attempted to hold yourself to warm up, but it didn't help much. Between your sweatpants and t-shirt, there wasn't any warmth to be created. You would've picked some clothes up while you were gathering resources, but there ended up being nothing left in whatever sizes would fit you.

Aris asked if you'd be okay, which you responded too with a positive nod and smile.

Christ, you wish you took him up on that offer to look around more that other night.

Aris must've awoken due to your frantic shivering and slightly loud attempts to blow warm air into your hands. He sits up, eyes immediately directing to you, trying to warm up any way possible.

"Oh, sorry" You whisper, "Didn't mean to wake you"

He shakes his head, assuring that your apology wasn't needed. He pulls off his jacket and then his hoodie, handing it to you, leaving him in the white WCKD t-shirt you'd all been given on your first day. You look at the hoodie, then him, then the hoodie, then him again, almost confused.

He nods, holding it out for you to take.

You graciously accept the hoodie, quickly pulling it over your head while he slides his tan jacket back on.

As you pull the sleeves down over your wrists and adjust the hood before pulling it over your head, you quickly catch the smell of sweat and, somehow, cologne. You didn't know how or why this kid and his laundry smelled so good out in the desert where you'd spent days sweating with no hygiene set in place, but you weren't complaining.

You breathe in the musky, almost comforting scent one more time before looking back at Aris, who was already looking at you. You give him a smile to tell him thank you, appreciating his sacrifice for you.

But sadly, he was now cold without his extra layer, and you were still a little cold as well. You didn't understand how the Gladers were sleeping through the night like babies, but at least they were getting rest.

The both of you, shivering, quietly laugh as you notice, now seeing that you were both and still miserable.

"You wanna like, cuddle? To bounce off each other's body heat?" You suggest, getting a little risky with your moves, not even catching your own words and what they could've meant to him.

He nods after a moment, opening his arms for you to join him in his little patch of dirt. You scoot over, falling into his arms, your head buried in his chest while his head rests on top of yours. You're roughly the same height as him, but you decide to use him as your pillow, not needing him to see your tired face anyway. That could wait til morning, at least.

As you trail around the club, looking for your new friends, you hang on tightly to Aris. You took a drink of some random substance from a red cup to get in, probably having been drugged with how you were feeling after one sip. You had to take one for the team, though. Your team consisted of you and Aris, you didn't know who you were kidding.

You hang onto his hand tightly, your own hands clammy. You feel your head pound viciously behind the loud, thumping music, your vision becoming swirly and colorful.

As you stand still for a moment within the crowd, Aris catches you as you fall into his arms sideways as you're practically unable to walk. Your speech is slurred, complaining of your body hurting, your pupils dilated like no one's business.

"'ris, mmm... eyes hurt, please..." You hide your face in his shoulder, hiding from the light. "Make 't stop..."

"I know, I'm sorry," He replies, his voice raspy from the lack of water he'd been ingesting out in the scorch. "We need to find Thomas, okay?"

You nod, pulling your head up from his shoulder to look at him. You lightly place your fingers on his cheeks, admiring his pretty face.

Between the music, being drugged, and the shining lights all around you, you felt like you were actually having a brain aneurysm or something. After convincing yourself that you were dying, you quickly pressed a chaste kiss to his lips, unable to speak the words you were thinking to him.

The sun peers through a large window nearby, hitting him in the eye, causing him to give you an almost disgusted and cringed type of look. Through the miscommunication, you take it as disapproval for your actions.

He moves you a bit, needing to get his eyes away from the blaring sun. "C'mon, you're drunk out of your mind. Let's find the others, 'kay?"

In a state of panic and worry, he quickly pulls you into a side room, just having randomly found the others, plus your new companions Jorge and Brenda. They stand around Jorge, beating answers out of some dude for the location of the Right Arm.

Newt, Teresa, and Thomas quickly run to your aid as Aris asks for help, then you'd fell to the floor, complaining of being dizzy just before. The four pick you up and help you onto a cushioned chair just beside you, allowing Aris and Teresa to look over you. Thomas, Newt, Minho, and Frypan turn their attention back to Jorge and Brenda, still trying to beat answers out of the random dude you didn't know.

"How long have they been like this?" Teresa asks the boy.

"Since we got here, like fifteen minutes or so. They took a drink of something to get us in, I guess it was spiked," He quickly explains, looking at you with worry in his eyes.

"Shit," the raven haired girl mutters. She places her hands all around your face, checking your temp, trying to get you to follow her fingers. She was like a natural doctor.

You close your eyes, covering them as well due to the sensitivity to the light you were facing.

"They should be okay, it doesn't seem life threatening"

"Okay..."

Aris pulls you up from the chair, much to your dismay, to follow Jorge who just announced that he finally got the answers he needed. Aris essentially carries you on his back, allowing Thomas to walk behind him to catch you if you fell at all.

By the time you'd reached the car, you were already knocked out cold. He and Thomas lift you into the back, letting you rest your head on his lap and have the rest of the back seats for your sprawled out legs. The other boys plus Teresa sit in the trunk while Brenda joins Jorge in the front.

Aris can't help but softly run his fingers over your hair, admiring your peaceful, sleepy look.

Thomas, Fry, and Minho all giggle and look up at Aris from the back, joking about how smitten he was for you.

"True love" Minho laughs.

"We've known each other for like a week!"

As you settle into the Right Arm, you sit beside a little campfire with Aris, meeting his two friends Sonya and Harriet. They seemed really cool so far, you'd love to be friends with them.

"I think Y/n is one of the funniest people I've ever met" Aris smiles, knowing you couldn't hear him upon the cliff where you were offering food to the Gladers.

Sonya playfully rolls her eyes as Harriet speaks. "Sounds like you have a crush, the way you look at them is insane"

He shrugs, not even really hearing her as he stares up at you.

"Hey, Aris!" Fry exclaims, waving down to him.

"Hey guys!" Aris waves back, having been dragged from his daydreams.

You walk back down to the Maze B survivors, joining them once again while Thomas climbs up a bit higher on the clifftop to talk to Teresa.

"What're we talking about?" You ask, sitting back down next to the familiar brunette boy.

"Making plans for the Safe Haven" Sonya replies, "I call dibs on being the Keeper for the scavengers"

"I'm not working under you," Harriet jokingly fights.

"Well, you are!"

You and Aris laugh as you listen to the two girls, enjoying the peace you'd waited so long for.

He looks over at you as they leave, going to retrieve s'mores ingredients for themselves. He smiles, looking at you a little too long before speaking.

"They're nice, right?"

You nod with a smile to match his, a quick realization putting a pit in your stomach as you look at him.

"You okay?" He asks, seeing your smile quickly falter.

You nod, "Yeah, I'm good"

His eyebrows furrow, silently asking if you're sure. You nod in response.

A loud explosion catches you off gaurd, causing you to jump into his arms as heat waves over your bodies. Screams and gunshots fill your ears. You're paralyzed in fear as you try to process what's happening.

Aris quickly pulls you up, dragging you away by the wrist, trying to look for Sonya and Harriet.

Within the dramatics, explosions, and gunfire, you lose him.

It's not until you're by Thomas' side that you realize WCKD has him and that Teresa was working with the enemy. You're unable to hear as Thomas, Teresa, and Ava Paige speak, only able to hopelessly look over at Aris, his arms held behind his back by a WCKD member in uniform.

He's eventually dragged away and shoved up into the Berg, his eyes resting on your worried expression until he couldn't look at you over his shoulder anymore.

Minho and Sonya are taken as well, so are a bunch of other teens who had found safety with the Right Arm.

You solemnly watch as the Berg flies away, leaving the destroyed camp burning and smoking. You're speechless, unable to form thoughts as Newt tries to ask if you're okay.

You only nod, unable to verbally answer him.

"It's okay, we'll get them back. We aren't leaving without them"

[sinadukek]

Title: Strangers at the Bayou: Part 3

Characters: Isaac x reader

---

The days that followed were a blur. Isaac had woven his way into your thoughts, haunting your dreams, lingering in every shadow. The bayou, too, seemed to pulse with a life of its own, like it was breathing, watching you.

It was late one night, long after everyone else had gone to bed, when you finally felt it: a strange, inexplicable pull. You knew where you needed to go. You didn’t question it; you simply got out of bed, threw on a jacket, and slipped out of the house.

The night was thick with fog as you made your way down to the water’s edge, where the moon cast silvery patterns across the surface. And there, as if summoned by your presence, stood Isaac, his gaze locked on you the moment you stepped into view.

“You came,” he murmured, a soft, almost reverent tone in his voice. He took a step closer, his gaze intense and unwavering. “Guess you’re feelin’ it, too.”

You stopped just short of him, heart pounding, the words leaving your lips in a whisper. “What is this, Isaac? What’s happening to me?”

His eyes flickered with something dark, something unnameable. “The bayou,” he said, his voice a low rumble. “It’s got its hooks in you. You think you can just visit a place like this and walk away untouched?”

You shook your head, the weight of his words settling over you. “But… why me?”

Isaac tilted his head, his gaze tracing over you in a way that made your skin prickle with heat. “Some folks don’t belong anywhere else,” he said, his voice a murmur, as though he were speaking to himself as much as to you. “They come here thinkin’ they’ll escape, but they end up findin’ somethin’ deeper… somethin’ that’s been waitin’ for them.”

You swallowed, his words sending a thrill of both fear and fascination through you. “And you? Did the bayou call to you?”

A shadow passed over his face, and he took another step closer, his eyes dark and unreadable. “I’m not here by choice, darlin’. But now… now I reckon there’s a reason we’re both here, don’t you think?”

He reached out, his hand finding yours, his grip warm and grounding as he pulled you closer. You could feel his breath on your skin, his presence both thrilling and terrifying.

“Isaac…” you whispered, unsure of what you were asking.

He lowered his head, his lips brushing the edge of your cheek, sending a jolt through you. “You wanna know what the bayou wants from you?” he murmured, his voice rough, barely restrained. “What I want from you?”

Your breath hitched, his words both a question and a promise, dark and consuming. “Yes,” you whispered, feeling your pulse quicken as his fingers tangled in yours.

He smiled, a slow, dangerous smile that made your heart race. “Then come with me. There’s things you need to see.”

---

Isaac led you down a winding path through the trees, the fog growing thicker, swirling around you like a living thing. He moved with purpose, his hand firm around yours, guiding you deeper into the heart of the bayou. The air grew heavy with the scent of wet earth and moss, the sounds of distant animals fading as you ventured further from the house.

After what felt like hours, Isaac stopped, releasing your hand as he turned to face you, his gaze intense. “This is where it begins,” he murmured, gesturing toward a small, moss-covered cabin half-hidden by the trees. “This is where I was bound to the bayou. Where I gave it my soul in return for… freedom.”

The cabin loomed in the fog, its silhouette dark and foreboding. You swallowed, your voice a whisper. “And you’re bound here… forever?”

Isaac’s gaze held yours, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “A man don’t just walk away from a place like this. It… takes pieces of you. The parts that don’t belong anywhere else. You understand?”

You nodded, feeling the weight of his words sink into you. A part of you understood—perhaps had always understood—that once you crossed a certain line, there would be no going back.

He took a step closer, his hand reaching up to touch your face, his thumb tracing over your cheek with a gentleness that surprised you. “The bayou’s got a way of changin’ folks,” he murmured, his voice low, a quiet reverence in his tone. “And if you stay here… it’ll change you, too.”

Your breath caught, his touch sparking something deep within you, something you couldn’t deny. “Maybe… maybe that’s what I want,” you whispered, the words leaving your lips before you could stop them.

Isaac’s eyes darkened, his hand sliding to the back of your neck as he pulled you closer. “Careful what you wish for, darlin’,” he murmured, his lips hovering just inches from yours. “The bayou doesn’t give without takin’.”

And then, before you could answer, he closed the distance between you, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was dark, consuming, and electric. His hand tightened in your hair as his other arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you against him with an intensity that left you breathless.

You didn’t resist. Instead, you found yourself melting into him, his presence overwhelming, his touch like fire against your skin. You could feel the bayou around you, like it was watching, drawing you deeper into its embrace along with him.

After what felt like an eternity, he pulled back, his gaze smoldering as he looked down at you. “Now you’re bound to it, too,” he whispered, his voice a mixture of reverence and warning.

You felt the weight of his words, felt the shift within you as the bayou claimed you as its own. But you didn’t feel afraid—not anymore. You belonged to the bayou now, just as much as it belonged to you.

And Isaac… Isaac would always be waiting in the shadows, drawing you back, holding you close as the darkness of the bayou seeped into your soul.

[m4tthewmurd0ck]

THE MORNING SKY

── Coriolanus Snow x Fem!Reader

BONUS CHAPTER ── 2.5 [ MEET THE TRIBUTES! ]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

after mapping out most of the story, this is going to be a bit longer than i thought. although the games aren’t the sole focus of the story, i do want to show you the other tributes! i always appreciate when face claims are given to other characters because i like being able to put faces to names. note ~ not all will be extensively featured

__________________ ׂׂૢ་༘࿐

┊ ⋆ ┊ . ┊ ┊

┊ ┊⋆ ┊ .

┊ ┊ ⋆˚    MEET

✧. ┊         THE

⋆ ★. TRIBUTES !

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT ONE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LUXURY GOODS

GAVIN LEATHERWOOD AS ATLAS

FREYA ALLAN AS EMERALD

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TWO

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── MASONRY + WEAPONS

EWAN MITCHELL AS AEMOND

TOBY REGBO AS CASSIAN

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT THREE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TECHNOLOGY

LORENZO ZURZOLO AS FELIX

MAITREYI RAMAKRISHNAN AS ANTONIA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT FOUR

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── FISHING

ALEXANDER DREYMON AS ROMAN

LEAH SAVA JEFFRIES AS ANNA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT FIVE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── ELECTRICITY

CURRAN WALTERS AS LEDGER

MACKENZIE FOY AS AURORA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT SIX

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TRANSPORTATION

KI HONG LEE AS EVERETT

KATELYN NACON AS FREYA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT SEVEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LUMBER

JACOB LOFLAND AS ELLIS

JENNA ORTEGA AS DAHLIA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT EIGHT

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── TEXTILES

JONATHAN DAVISS AS CAIUS

EMMA MYERS AS MEADOW

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT NINE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── GRAIN PRODUCTION

ALEX LANGE AS DARIUS

EMILY CAREY AS POPPY

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── LIVESTOCK / MEAT PRODUCTION

NICK ROBINSON AS ARTHUR

ISABELA MONER AS VERA

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT ELEVEN

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── AGRICULTURE

DIMITRI ABOLD AS REAPER

MCKENNA GRACE AS SKYE

⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ✩ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅ ── ⋅ ⋅

DISTRICT TWELVE

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷

── COAL MINING

HARRY GILBY AS ARCHER

YOU AS CORYO’S SOULMATE 🤪

TAGLIST — if you’ve asked to be tagged and don’t see your user, it’s because I wasn’t able to tag you!

4 SPOTS LEFT!!

@czarinera | @qoopeeya | @user123454336780536 | @madamemaximoff06 | @ms-longbeach | @mizuki80 | @captainbabybear | @kuroosbby001 | @justacaliforniandreamer | @siriusly-rem | @missunicorn | @alllriseabove | @niki-is-a-thing | @iiuvchi | @firesunflames | @ashcosmo | @nilletellsstories | @hawkinsavclub1983 | @nyxsoleil-blog | @peachyafshawn | @coryoskywalker | @just-a-littlebit-of-everything | @ardentsnowfall | @tiaamberxx | @or-was-it-just-a-dream | @foxevxid | @poppyflower-22 | @springholland | @prettyppetty | @katherineeekai | @regulusblackcore | @justaproudslytherpuff | @jklsh | @bogbutteronmycroissant | @tanyaherondale | @sunoosfavsposts | @moonlightfoxs-cantina | @vesperslumbers | @writersblockiskillingme | @becauseseaotters | @ennycutie | @edb954 | @hiraishua | @wearemadeofstardust0 | @phoward89 | @merlieve

[dammnimagines]

Never Let Her Go

Writer - @dammnimagines Requested? - nope

Disclaimer - I do not own any of the characters or events/ ideas. All credit goes to the creators/producers of The Maze Runner series.

Pairing - Newt x Reader Summary - (Y/N) and the rest of the group that escaped WCKD find themselves in a mall full of cranks

warnings - swearing, fluff, cranks

“What was that?” (Y/N) asked after hearing a loud growling noise. The group had stood in a mall, they had gone through the entire place it felt like, scavenging and gaining a change of clothes. Minho and Thomas had managed to turn the lights only to be met with cranks, unknowingly to the rest of the group of the danger.

“I’m not sure.” Newt replied to her, pulling her close to him out of nerves.

“What is going on?” Winston asked carrying Thomas’ backpack.

“I don’t know.” Frypan answered, the noise was getting louder yet none of them could place it.

“Hey!” Thomas voice yelled out and we all looked to our lefts to see him and Minho running at us.

“Run!” Minho screamed out, “Go!” As the two of them rounded the corner the group could see the cracks running after them causing panic to run through the entire group.

“Oh shit.” Newt whispered out under as he pulled on his backpack, he pushed (Y/N) in front of him as the entire group started to run away from the creatures as soon as Minho and Thomas were close to them, Winston throwing Thomas his backpack.

They ran towards and escalator and began running up them.

“Thomas. Minho. What the hell are those things?!”

“I don’t know just keep going!” Was Thomas’ response.

“Move. Move. Move!” Minho yelled out as the group of cranks got closer. Once at the top of the escalator they rounded the corner and kept running before another crank cut them off. Aris raised the bat he held in his hand.

“Aris. No!” Minho yelled out and Aris ignored him and swung at its legs causing the creature to fall towards the feet of (Y/N) who fell back in fear as it came closer to her, Teresa pulled her back by her arm and the two girls ended up at another escalator.

“(Y/N)!” Newt yelled out, fear evident in his voice. The two girls back up the stairs as the crank got up from it’s spot on the ground letting out a cross between a growl and a scream.

“Teresa, move!” (Y/N) yelled out at her newfound friend as a crank appeared in front of her, she kicked it in its chest with all her might causing it to fall into the other one that Teresa was up against. The noise the crank let out earlier seem to be a call to its kind as more cranks appeared.

“Go!” (Y/N) yelled out, “Go around! We’ll meet you on the other side!” With hesitation, the boys listened running for their lives again.

The girls ran up the escalator as the boys ran up another just down the aisle and around a slight corner.

“Newt!” (Y/N) yelled as they met back up.

“Are you okay?” Newt asked as they kept running.

“Yeah.” (Y/N) responded, they were all getting tired quickly.

“Good, now run!” Newt pushed (Y/N) in front of him in a protective manner. The entire group was pushing it at this point.

“We have to find a way out of here!” Frypan yelled from the front of the group as he ran next to Minho.

Suddenly there was the piercing sound of glass breaking and a crank came out of one the stores, tackling and pinning Newt to the ground.

“Newt!” Multiple voices let out. Thomas kicked the crank off of Newt’s chest then Minho, (Y/N), and Thomas helped him up.

“You good?” Minho asked as they all looked at the growing herd of cranks running full force at them.

“Yeah. Thanks Tommy.” Newt replied before grabbing (Y/N)’s hand and they all began running again before coming to a long corridor, trying every door along the way. They came along a set of three doors, all locked. All of them kicking the door with the loosest bolt lock.

“I’ll hold them back.” Winston said as he began shooting at the quick-approaching cranks.

“C’mon.” Thomas kept mumbling putting his bodyweight against the door over and over.

“Get that door open!” Winston yelled back.

“Move!” Frypan said, the group made a pathway and Frypan was able to run at the door and getting it open, everyone filtered through the door but Winston was grabbed by the cranks pulling him back, the group worked to get him away from him and they did but it left Winston with scratch marks down his chest but he was alive. They barely made it away from the creatures.

“You’re lucky she’s okay.” Newt nearly growled out, staring daggers at Aris who sat next to him.

“What?” Aris was confused yet scared as he has never seen him like this before.

“Newt. It’s fine, man. He didn’t know that was going to happen.” Minho said hitting Newt’s arm to get him to shut up. Minho knew the protective manner of Newt when it came to the beautiful (Y/N). Newt calmed down at his friend’s comment; he knew it wasn’t worth his breathe.

“You really care about her don’t you?” Aris asked quietly.

“Yeah, she’s my everything.” Newt answered looking down at the girl who slept soundly in his arms, he knew she was safe there. “She’s the reason I'm still breathing.” Newt didn’t take his eyes off her.

“Don’t let her go.” Aris said as he pulled his hood up, laying down.

“I would never let her go.” Newt said more to himself as he pressed a kiss to the girl forehead before going to sleep himself.

A/N First Maze Runner imagine! I’m sorry if it sucked but I hope you enjoy, send in request :)

[sinadukek]

Title: In the Dark of Arkham

Character: Ricky Meline x reader

Summary: /

---

The hospital was different at night. The usual hum of Arkham’s routines softened to silence, the lights dimmed, casting shadows along the long corridors. You didn’t mind the night shifts. It gave you a quiet escape, a break from the usual hustle and harshness of the day.

You were assigned to a particular wing tonight, the one with patients needing extra attention. It was usually filled with people who were withdrawn, haunted, with eyes that never quite met yours. But then, there was Ricky Meline.

Ricky was new here. You had heard a few nurses talking about him—how he didn’t quite belong here, how he had no business in Arkham’s walls. There was something different about him; even the other staff could sense it. They said he was innocent, harmless, and though he’d been caught up in the chaotic events that seemed to shadow Gotham, he wasn’t like the others here. He was quiet, a little bit lost, but gentle in a way that made you want to understand him.

Tonight, as you walked past his room, you saw him sitting on the floor, his back against the wall, his head resting on his knees. His face was partially hidden, but you could see the way his hands fidgeted, the way he picked at the fabric of his uniform like he was trying to find some comfort in the repetitive motion.

“Hey, Ricky,” you said softly, stepping into his room. He looked up, his expression somewhere between surprise and relief. “Mind if I sit?”

Ricky nodded slowly, watching you with those big, curious eyes of his as you lowered yourself onto the floor across from him. For a few moments, the two of you sat in silence, the only sound his shallow breathing and the hum of the hallway light. You knew that words didn’t always come easily for him, that sometimes he needed the silence, and you were more than willing to give him that.

After a while, he spoke, his voice soft. “Do you… believe I’m supposed to be here?”

His question was simple, but the vulnerability behind it tugged at something in your chest. You tilted your head, looking at him carefully. “I think… you’re a little different than most people here, Ricky,” you said carefully. “But I don’t think that means you’re wrong.”

Ricky’s face softened, his eyes brightening just a little. “People don’t say that to me. They… they look at me like I’m some kind of broken thing. Something they can’t fix, so they lock it up instead.”

“That doesn’t mean they’re right,” you replied gently. “Sometimes… people don’t know what they’re seeing. They don’t understand. But that doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.”

A small smile crept onto his face, shy and tentative, like he wasn’t used to feeling anything close to happiness. “You’re… you’re different,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. “You don’t look at me like they do.”

You felt a warmth spread through you, and you reached out, gently placing your hand over his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Maybe that’s because I know you’re just… trying to get by, like anyone else. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Ricky’s gaze dropped to where your hand rested on his, his cheeks flushing faintly. He stayed quiet for a few moments, as though he were searching for the right words, struggling to put his thoughts together.

“You… you make me feel like I’m not alone,” he finally whispered, his voice filled with quiet awe. “Like… I don’t have to hide.”

Your heart softened, and you found yourself leaning closer, drawn to the gentleness in his eyes. “You don’t have to hide, Ricky. Not with me.”

A flicker of hope appeared in his eyes, and for the first time, you saw something break through the worry and uncertainty that seemed to cling to him. He looked at you with a vulnerability so raw, so honest, that it made your breath hitch.

“Will you stay with me?” he asked, his voice barely audible, as though he was afraid of your answer.

You nodded, giving his hand another reassuring squeeze. ��Of course, Ricky. I’ll stay.”

---

The two of you spent the rest of the night sitting there, side by side in the quiet of his room. He didn’t speak much, but he didn’t need to. There was a comfort in simply being near him, in offering him the kind of presence he’d been denied for so long. He was soft-spoken, always hesitant, and you could tell that a part of him was waiting for the moment when you’d leave, when he’d be alone again.

But you didn’t leave. You stayed by his side, and as the night wore on, he gradually relaxed, his shoulders losing some of their tension, his breathing evening out. You saw him begin to trust that, for once, someone wouldn’t leave.

And as dawn approached, you found yourself whispering a promise, one you weren’t sure you could keep, but one that felt right. “You’re not alone, Ricky. I’m here, and I’ll be here as long as you need.”

For the first time, you saw a true smile break across his face, soft and unguarded, a glimpse of the innocence that had somehow survived, hidden deep within him. He reached up, hesitantly brushing a lock of hair from your face, his touch light as a feather.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice filled with a quiet gratitude that broke your heart. “For… seeing me.”

You smiled, covering his hand with yours, anchoring him to the moment. “You’re worth seeing, Ricky. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”

---

In the weeks that followed, you made it a habit to visit him whenever you could, finding moments to sit by his side, to listen to his thoughts, to remind him that he wasn’t alone. And every time you left, you’d see that shy, hopeful smile, a reminder that, even in the darkest of places, there was still a light worth fighting for.

Because Ricky Meline wasn’t just a patient at Arkham. He was a soul who’d been lost, a gentle spirit who’d found his way back, and you couldn’t help but feel grateful to be the one who helped him see the light again, even in the heart of Gotham’s darkness.

[sinadukek]

Title: Strangers at the Bayou: Part 4

Character: Isaac x reader

---

The days after that night passed in a strange haze. You felt the bayou around you, under your skin, like a heartbeat that wasn’t your own. Sometimes, late at night, you’d hear whispers in the trees, voices carried on the wind, drawing you deeper into its mysteries. And Isaac—Isaac was there, always hovering just out of sight, watching, waiting.

One evening, after everyone else had gone to bed, you found yourself drawn to the edge of the bayou. The sky was painted in shades of deep blue and violet, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and moss. And there, standing in the shadows, was Isaac.

He watched you with that familiar intensity, his gaze tracing over you as you approached. “Can’t stay away, can you?” he murmured, a dark smile playing on his lips.

You stopped just short of him, your heart racing as his eyes met yours. “Neither can you,” you replied, unable to keep the edge out of your voice.

Isaac’s smile faded slightly, his gaze softening as he took a step closer, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from your face. “It’s not me you’re tied to anymore,” he whispered. “It’s the bayou. You feel it, don’t you? It’s got its hold on you now, same as it’s got on me.”

You swallowed, the truth of his words settling over you like a weight. “What does that mean?”

Isaac’s hand lingered on your cheek, his thumb brushing over your skin in a way that sent a thrill through you. “It means there ain’t no goin’ back,” he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Once the bayou claims you, it don’t let you go. And it’s claimed you, darlin’. Just like it claimed me.”

A shiver ran through you at his words, a mixture of fear and exhilaration. But even as the warning settled over you, you couldn’t bring yourself to pull away from him.

Instead, you found yourself stepping closer, your hand reaching up to rest against his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin through the thin fabric of his shirt. “Then show me,” you whispered, your voice steady despite the racing of your heart. “Show me what it means to belong to the bayou.”

Isaac’s eyes darkened, his hand slipping to the back of your neck as he leaned in, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was both tender and possessive, claiming you in a way that made your pulse quicken. His other arm wrapped around your waist, pulling you against him as the bayou around you seemed to come alive, the air thick with an energy that was almost electric.

When he finally pulled back, his gaze was intense, his breath coming in soft, shallow gasps. “You’re playin�� with fire,” he murmured, a hint of warning in his voice. “But I reckon you already know that.”

You looked up at him, feeling a strange calm settle over you. “Maybe that’s what I want.”

He studied you for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before he took your hand, leading you deeper into the trees, where the shadows grew thicker and the air seemed to hum with a life of its own.

---

Isaac led you to a hidden clearing, the ground blanketed in moss, the trees towering overhead, their branches weaving together like a canopy. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across the ground.

“This is where it happened,” he murmured, his gaze distant, as though he were looking at something only he could see. “Where the bayou claimed me. Where I made my choice.”

You felt a chill run through you at his words, but you forced yourself to keep your voice steady. “And you don’t regret it?”

He was silent for a moment, his gaze flickering over the clearing before he looked back at you. “Regret’s a funny thing out here,” he said softly, his voice tinged with something you couldn’t quite place. “The bayou don’t care about your past or what you leave behind. All it cares about is what you’re willin’ to give.”

You swallowed, the weight of his words settling over you. “And what did you give?”

Isaac’s gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. “Everything.”

The word hung heavy in the air, a reminder of the cost of giving yourself over to the bayou. But even as the warning lingered, you felt a strange sense of calm, a quiet certainty that you were where you were meant to be.

Isaac stepped closer, his hand reaching up to cup your face, his touch grounding you. “You don’t have to do this,” he murmured, his voice low, a hint of vulnerability breaking through his usual calm. “You could still turn back, leave this place before it’s too late.”

But you knew, deep down, that you wouldn’t. Couldn’t. The bayou had its hold on you now, just as it had on him.

“I don’t want to leave,” you whispered, your voice steady as you looked up at him. “I’m not afraid.”

A flicker of something crossed his face, something almost like relief, before he leaned in, his lips capturing yours in a kiss that was as dark and consuming as the bayou itself. His hands slid down to your waist, pulling you against him, his touch igniting a fire within you that seemed to burn away any lingering doubts.

The bayou around you pulsed with life, the air thick with an energy that seemed to flow through you, binding you to this place, to him. You could feel the darkness settling into your bones, feel the weight of the bayou’s pull anchoring you to its depths.

When he finally pulled back, his gaze was dark, his fingers tracing over your face as though he were memorizing every detail. “You belong here now,” he murmured, his voice soft, reverent. “And there’s no goin’ back.”

You nodded, the truth of his words settling over you like a weight. But even as the reality of what you’d given sank in, you felt a strange sense of peace, a quiet certainty that you were exactly where you were meant to be.

Isaac’s hand found yours, his grip warm and steady as he led you deeper into the bayou, where the shadows grew thicker, the trees towering overhead like silent sentinels. The bayou around you seemed to come alive, the air humming with a life of its own, as though welcoming you into its depths.

And as you walked side by side, you felt the weight of the bayou’s embrace settling over you, binding you to this place, to him, in a way that was dark, consuming, and utterly unbreakable.

[sinadukek]

Title: Strangers at the Bayou: Part 2

Characters: Isaac x reader

Summary: /

---

The days blended together after your last encounter with Isaac. Each evening brought an unsettling silence that seemed to hang heavier in the air, as if the bayou itself was holding its breath. The dense trees and thick mist began to feel like prison walls closing in, and you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were being watched.

But Isaac didn’t come back—at least not right away.

You found yourself alternating between relief and a strange, unbidden disappointment. As unsettling as he was, there was a magnetic quality about him, an intensity that lingered long after he’d vanished into the shadows. You knew it was foolish to feel drawn to him. But somehow, he haunted you.

Then, on the fifth night, he returned.

It was late, and the moon was a sliver in the sky when you heard a sound from outside. This time, instead of knocking, it was the faint, unmistakable creak of footsteps on the porch. Your heart jumped as you peered through the window, half expecting to find him staring back.

But the porch was empty.

You knew he was there, though. Somehow, you could feel his presence, a weight in the air that was almost tangible. Taking a steadying breath, you unlocked the door and stepped outside, bracing yourself against the cool night air.

Isaac emerged from the shadows, his smile as unsettling as ever. He looked at you with that same knowing gaze, as though he’d expected you to come out and meet him, as though he knew things about you that even you didn’t know.

“You’re not afraid, then?” he asked softly, stepping closer, his gaze never leaving yours.

You swallowed, trying to hold your ground. “I’m… curious. About you. And about why you keep showing up here.”

Isaac chuckled, a low, dark sound that seemed to echo through the night. “Can’t say I expected you’d come out here in the middle of the night, all on your own,” he murmured, taking another step toward you. “Most folks would be locked up inside, prayin’ I’d leave them alone.”

“Maybe I’m not most folks,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.

His smile widened, a glimmer of something dark and dangerous flashing in his eyes. “No,” he agreed softly, his gaze intense as it roamed over your face. “I reckon you’re not.”

There was a beat of silence as the two of you stood there, the bayou around you silent, as though even the trees and animals were watching.

Isaac broke the silence, his voice low and almost gentle. “You’re wonderin’ why I keep comin’ back,” he said, as if reading your thoughts. “Maybe it’s ’cause I see somethin’ in you. Somethin’ that calls to me.”

Your pulse quickened at his words, the darkness in his tone both thrilling and terrifying. “And what is that?” you asked, the question slipping out before you could stop it.

His eyes flickered, the corner of his mouth curving into a dark smile. “A darkness,” he whispered, his voice like silk. “You might not see it yourself, but I do. The bayou does, too.”

The words sent a chill through you, and you shivered involuntarily. He noticed, his gaze softening as he reached out, his hand brushing your arm in a touch that was surprisingly warm, almost gentle.

“You think I’m afraid of you,” you murmured, more to yourself than to him. “But maybe it’s the other way around.”

Isaac’s smile faded slightly, his expression unreadable as he studied you in silence. “Maybe,” he said softly, his voice a whisper against the night. “But that won’t keep you safe out here, darlin’.”

Before you could respond, he leaned in, his face so close that you could feel his breath on your skin. His eyes were locked onto yours, dark and mesmerizing, pulling you in even as your mind screamed at you to run.

“People who come to the bayou…” he murmured, his voice barely a breath, “they’re lookin’ for somethin’. But the bayou don’t give without takin’. It’s got a way of keepin’ things, you know?”

You swallowed, the words sending a shiver down your spine. “What does it want from me?”

He tilted his head, his gaze flicking over you with an intensity that made your heart skip. “Maybe it’s not the bayou that wants somethin’ from you,” he whispered, his fingers grazing your cheek in a touch so light it felt like a ghost. “Maybe it’s just… me.”

Your breath caught as his words sank in, his hand lingering on your cheek as his eyes searched yours. The silence stretched, thick and charged, as you found yourself leaning into his touch despite every instinct telling you to pull away.

Then, just as suddenly as he’d appeared, he drew back, his gaze dark and unreadable. “Careful now,” he said softly, a warning edge to his voice. “You don’t wanna get too close to somethin’ you can’t understand.”

With that, he turned and vanished into the night, leaving you standing alone on the porch, heart racing and mind spinning with questions you couldn’t begin to answer.

---

Over the next few days, you tried to push thoughts of Isaac from your mind, but he lingered. His words echoed in your head, his touch still warm on your skin, a presence you couldn’t shake no matter how hard you tried. Every time you stepped outside, you found yourself glancing toward the trees, half-expecting to see him standing there, watching.

Then, on the seventh night, he returned—only this time, he didn’t stay on the porch. You were curled up on the couch, trying to distract yourself with a book, when a faint knock sounded at the door. The sound was soft, almost hesitant, as though he were waiting to see if you’d answer.

Heart pounding, you set the book aside and stood, moving slowly toward the door. You hesitated, your hand on the doorknob, before finally opening it.

Isaac stood there, his face cast in shadows, his expression unreadable. He looked at you for a long moment before speaking, his voice low and almost gentle. “Couldn’t stay away,” he murmured, his eyes dark as they met yours. “Reckon you’re startin’ to feel it, too?”

You didn’t answer, couldn’t find the words to explain the strange pull you felt, the way his presence left you feeling both frightened and strangely alive.

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving yours as he reached out, his hand finding yours in a touch that was warm and solid. “It’s the bayou,” he whispered, his voice like a spell, drawing you in. “It calls to you. Makes you see things you wouldn’t otherwise. Makes you feel things you wouldn’t feel anywhere else.”

Your fingers tightened around his without thinking, the darkness in his voice sending a thrill through you. “What are you trying to tell me, Isaac?”

He smiled, a slow, dark smile that made your pulse quicken. “That maybe you belong here more than you realize,” he murmured, his gaze intense as he leaned in, his face so close to yours that you could feel his breath on your skin. “And maybe… you don’t wanna leave.”

The words settled over you like a weight, and for a moment, you couldn’t tell if he was right or wrong. All you knew was that his presence, his touch, felt like something you’d been missing your whole life.

But a part of you—the part that still clung to reason, to fear—knew that giving in to him, to the bayou, would mean letting go of everything you’d known before. And once you did… there would be no going back.

[sinadukek]

Title: Under the Bayou Moon

Characters: Isaac x reader

Summary: You’ve been Anna’s babysitter for years, practically part of the family, so when her parents invite you along for a week-long trip to the Louisiana bayou, you agree. What should have been a relaxing getaway quickly unravels as you meet a strange local named Isaac. Despite his charming demeanor, there’s something dangerous lurking beneath his smile. As strange events begin to unfold around the isolated house, you realize that the bayou holds dark secrets—and so does Isaac.

---

The drive to the bayou was long and hot, and the tension in the car was so thick you could almost taste it. You weren’t sure what exactly had caused the rift between Anna’s parents, Jessica and John, but it didn’t take a detective to sense that they were barely speaking. Their voices were clipped, and Jessica kept glancing over at John with a look that could cut through glass.

You shifted uncomfortably in the back seat beside Anna, who looked just as tense as you felt. She was usually such a bright, talkative kid, but today she was quiet, her gaze fixed on the endless stretches of swampy trees lining the road.

“Hey,” you whispered, nudging her gently. “You excited for the bayou?”

Anna shrugged, her shoulders barely moving. “I guess,” she mumbled. “But it feels… weird here. Don’t you think?”

You wanted to tell her it was just her imagination, that everything was going to be fine, but you couldn’t shake the unease creeping over you, either. The air felt thick and oppressive, heavy with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves. It was the kind of place that seemed to swallow sound, where the line between reality and nightmare could easily blur.

When you finally arrived at the house, it was just as eerie as you’d expected. The property was beautiful in a haunted kind of way, with peeling paint, tall grass swaying in the breeze, and a lake nearby that glistened darkly under the setting sun. Jessica and John were arguing quietly by the car as you helped Anna carry her things inside.

The house was silent, the floorboards creaking beneath your feet as you explored. You couldn’t shake the feeling that you were being watched.

---

That night, as you tucked Anna into bed, she reached out and grabbed your hand. “Promise you won’t leave me alone here?” she asked, her wide eyes full of worry.

You gave her a reassuring smile. “Of course not, Anna. I’ll be right down the hall. If you need anything, just call for me.”

She nodded, but as you turned off the light and made your way out of her room, you felt a strange chill run down your spine. This house… it felt wrong. You couldn’t explain it, but it was like the walls themselves were holding secrets, whispering things you couldn’t hear.

---

The next day, you met Isaac.

It was afternoon, and Anna was running around the backyard, laughing as you chased her, when you noticed a man standing at the edge of the property. He wore a friendly smile, but there was something about his presence that made you stop in your tracks.

“Afternoon,” he greeted, his Southern drawl smooth and low as he approached. His gaze lingered on you a moment too long before flicking over to Anna.

You felt your instincts flare, but you kept your expression calm. “Hi there. Can I help you?”

He didn’t answer right away, his smile widening slightly. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Just thought I’d come by and introduce myself. Name’s Isaac. I live close by.” He glanced back toward Anna. “This your little one?”

“Oh, no,” you said quickly, moving subtly between him and Anna. “I’m just her babysitter. Her parents are… inside.”

Isaac’s eyes glinted with something unreadable as he nodded slowly. “That so? Well, you all must be real brave, coming all the way out here to the bayou. Most folks don’t last long in a place like this.” His gaze drifted back to you, lingering with a dark amusement. “Can be mighty… unsettling.”

The way he said it, with that glimmer in his eyes, sent a chill through you. You forced a polite smile, trying to keep your voice steady. “We’re just here for a little vacation. A break from the city, you know?”

He tilted his head, that unsettling smile never leaving his face. “Sometimes a break can turn into somethin’ else entirely,” he said softly. “The bayou has a way of… getting under your skin.” He took a step closer, his eyes locked on yours. “You just let me know if y’all need anything. There’s things out here that don’t take kindly to strangers.”

His words left you feeling like you’d swallowed ice. You barely managed a nod as he finally backed away, disappearing into the trees with a parting, “Y’all take care now.”

As soon as he was out of sight, Anna came running up to you, her face pale. “I don’t like him,” she whispered, clutching your arm tightly. “He’s scary.”

You didn’t want to scare her further, but you couldn’t shake the feeling that she was right. “It’s okay, Anna,” you said softly, putting an arm around her. “We’ll keep our distance.”

But that night, as you lay awake in bed, the memory of Isaac’s words echoed in your mind. The bayou has a way of getting under your skin. You tried to brush it off, but the feeling of being watched lingered, like shadows creeping closer in the darkness.

---

The next few days were tense. Isaac showed up again, each time appearing at strange hours, always with that unsettling smile, always with cryptic words that made you feel as if he knew things about you that he shouldn’t.

One night, after putting Anna to bed, you found him standing on the porch. He looked at you with an intensity that made your pulse quicken. “I’d hoped we’d get some time alone,” he murmured, his voice like silk. “I reckon there’s a lot we could talk about.”

You wanted to tell him to leave, to demand he stay away, but something about him made the words stick in your throat. You felt like prey under his gaze, trapped between fear and something else, something dark and inexplicable.

“Why are you here?” you managed to ask, your voice barely a whisper.

Isaac’s smile widened. “Just makin’ sure you’re settling in,” he said softly, leaning in until his face was inches from yours. “And seein’ if maybe… you’re startin’ to feel it, too.”

“Feel what?” you asked, shivering as he brushed a hand down your arm, his touch sending an electric jolt through you.

“The pull of this place,” he murmured. “The way it wraps around you, seeps into your skin. Once you let it in, it don’t ever let go.”

You stepped back, heart racing, but he only watched, his smile dark and knowing. “Better be careful, darlin’,” he whispered. “The bayou has a way of keepin’ what it wants.”

With that, he turned and walked into the night, leaving you alone on the porch, heart pounding as his words echoed in your mind.

[sinadukek]

Title: Strangers at the Bayou

Characters: Isaac x reader

Summary: After a series of personal setbacks, you decide to escape to a remote Louisiana bayou house to clear your head. The peaceful retreat doesn’t last long, though, as a strange visitor named Isaac begins showing up unexpectedly. At first, he seems like just an eccentric local—but the more you get to know him, the more unsettling his presence becomes. When his true intentions begin to surface, you find yourself questioning reality, unsure of who to trust… or how to escape.

---

You’d always thought of yourself as a city person—someone who thrived on the noise, the lights, the constant hum of life. But after everything fell apart—your relationship, your job, your sense of self—you craved quiet. A complete escape. So, when you found a secluded house in the bayou for a steal, you decided to take a chance on it, convincing yourself that solitude was exactly what you needed.

For the first few days, it was perfect. The vast, quiet landscape, the heavy, humid air, and the gentle lapping of water against the house’s dock soothed you in a way you hadn’t anticipated. You felt… almost at peace.

But then, on the third evening, he appeared.

A knock on the front door interrupted your reading, sharp and unexpected in the otherwise silent house. You hadn’t seen a single soul since you arrived, and there wasn’t supposed to be anyone nearby. Warily, you peeked through the small window and saw a man standing on your porch, his face partially obscured by the shadows of the setting sun.

He wore a slight, unsettling smile when you opened the door, the kind that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Evenin’,” he said in a slow, Southern drawl, his gaze roaming over you with an unnerving intensity.

“Uh… can I help you?” you asked, gripping the doorframe, suddenly aware of how alone you were.

“Name’s Isaac,” he replied. “I live nearby. Figured I’d stop by, welcome you to the neighborhood.” There was something off about the way he said it, as though he knew more than he was letting on. His eyes never left yours, unblinking, like he was looking straight through you.

“Thanks,” you managed, fighting the urge to close the door right in his face. “But I’m… kind of here to be alone.”

Isaac’s smile widened, and a faint chuckle escaped his lips. “Ain’t no one ever really alone out here,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “There are eyes all around, watchin’. Judgin’.”

You shivered at his words, unsure if it was the humidity or something else entirely. “Well, I appreciate the… welcome. But I’d like to get back to my evening.”

He raised a hand in a mock salute, his gaze lingering a beat too long. “Don’t let me interrupt,” he said softly, but as he turned to go, he added, “You take care now. Bayou’s full of things that don’t like bein’ disturbed.”

Then he was gone, disappearing into the gathering shadows, leaving you standing there with a sense of dread that clung to you long after you’d shut and locked the door.

---

The next day, you couldn’t shake the thought of Isaac. His presence seemed to linger in the house somehow, even though he was nowhere in sight. You convinced yourself you were just being paranoid, that he was simply a harmless neighbor with strange manners.

But as dusk fell again, you saw movement at the edge of the property, just by the trees. You squinted, heart racing as you made out the figure of a man standing perfectly still, watching the house. Watching you.

Isaac.

He noticed you looking and raised his hand, waving in a slow, deliberate motion, his face barely visible in the fading light. Your stomach churned, and you quickly pulled the curtains shut, heart hammering as you retreated to the kitchen, trying to distract yourself.

It was hours later, around midnight, when the tapping started.

At first, you thought it was just the house settling, but the sound grew louder, more insistent—a series of soft, rhythmic knocks against the kitchen window. You froze, your eyes darting to the door. You wanted to ignore it, to tell yourself it was just your mind playing tricks on you… but curiosity got the better of you.

Heart pounding, you slowly moved to the window and peeked through the edge of the curtain.

Isaac’s face was right there, just inches away from the glass, his expression unreadable. A strangled gasp escaped you, and you stumbled back, hands flying to cover your mouth. He just stood there, staring, as if waiting for you to make the first move.

Unable to bear the silence any longer, you threw open the window, your voice coming out sharper than you’d intended. “What do you want?”

He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Just checkin’ in on ya, darlin’.” His tone was eerily calm, almost as if he were daring you to argue.

“Well, I’m fine. So please, leave me alone,” you snapped, slamming the window shut.

You half-expected him to leave after that, but he stayed there, unmoving. It was only when you threatened to call the police that he finally backed away, his smile widening as he turned and disappeared into the night.

---

Over the next few days, Isaac kept appearing. Always just at the edge of your property, always watching, always waiting. And each time, you felt yourself being drawn in, your fear mingling with a sick, inexplicable fascination. There was something about the way he looked at you, the way he seemed to know things he couldn’t possibly know.

One night, you found yourself standing on the porch, staring out into the darkness, almost expecting him to show up. And as if on cue, he emerged from the shadows, his silhouette barely visible against the dim glow of the moon.

“Expectin’ me?” he asked, his voice a low, dark murmur as he took a step closer. He stopped just a few feet away, his gaze intense as he looked at you, his eyes flickering with something you couldn’t quite place.

“No,” you replied, though the lie felt hollow.

Isaac’s smile was slow, predatory. “You sure ’bout that?” he asked, his voice laced with an unsettling edge of amusement.

You swallowed, your heart racing as he stepped closer, so close that you could feel his breath against your skin. His presence was magnetic, terrifying, and yet you couldn’t bring yourself to move away.

“Why are you doing this?” you whispered, your voice barely audible, part of you desperate for an answer, for any explanation that would make sense of the strange hold he had over you.

He reached out, his fingers grazing your cheek in a touch that was surprisingly gentle, almost tender. “People come to the bayou to run from somethin’,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “But the bayou don’t forget. It sees right through ya, right down to your darkest secrets. And so do I.”

A shiver ran down your spine as his words sank in, his touch sending a strange thrill through you that you couldn’t explain. There was something both terrifying and intoxicating about him, a darkness that drew you in even as it warned you away.

But as he leaned in, his lips brushing your ear, he whispered, “Careful, darlin’. Once you let the darkness in… it don’t ever leave.”