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intoduskoutofdawn · 1 year ago

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Traces & Trouble

| Jake x Phil

| The FBI is too late or early. It depends...

The idea came from a request and ran from there, I hope it fulfills in parts what was requested. Just had to post (the damn thing) now before it takes any longer.

CW: not sure as always, there is sexual content but I'm not too explicit.

A dash of dark fluid diving in the glass clouded up in the clear liquid, the long silver bar spoon flickered in the dim light as a slender hand stirred the drink slowly. Captivated, the young woman sitting at the counter kept her eyes pinned on every move of those hands. They belonged to the bar owner, who now set down the glass right in front of her. She lifted her look up to his face, a strand of dark hair parted his left eye, pointing down to a half smile.

"I think - you are going to love this," Phil Hawkins said with calm confidence, nodding encouraging towards the glass. The young woman threw a bunch of curly hair to the side and took a sip of the drink. Her eyes fell shut for a second and then she smiled back at the bar owner. "This is perfection. Freshness followed by a sweet ...and somewhat savory note. Perfect. So what's it called?"

"Oh, I'm not sure yet," the bar owner answered, "You just witnessed it's creation. But I kinda love the way you described it, so why don't I name it after you?" The young woman tilted her head and laughed. "Oh my, I never had anything named after me. Don't you think Tracy would be a strange name for a drink?"

"I think it sounds lovely. Could be 'Tracy's delight'. 'Fury Tracy'. 'Tracy's secret' -..."

Two men entered the Aurora Bar and caught Phil's attention.Tracy sour.

One man was tall, very thin with short blond hair, partet in the middle by an aggressively straight line. The other was shorter with patchy mudbrown hair, scowling eyes under bushy brows - while the blond was wearing an expensive looking dark coat, the other poked out of a fighter pilot jacket that made him look old.

"And there they are..." Phil muttered followed by a sharp exhale. He straightned and said with a firm voice, "Tracy, you will have to excuse me. Enjoy your drink and your night." The young woman blinked a few times in confusion, "I thought -" , she started to protest but was interrupted by the two men appearing right next to her with cold smiling faces - she took the glass and left the bar.

"How nice to see you again, Mr. Hawkins. I am sorry to interrupt your work," the blond man said with a strange voice that was both soft and sharp.

A voice like a carpet knife, Phil thought and leaned on the counter - taking the position of a watchful cat. "Somehow, I'm having trouble believing that you are truly sorry, Mr. Fletcher." A thin smirk appeared on Agent Fletchers face.

"Have you met my colleague Agent Byron Mills?" Phil reached out and shook the sweaty hand of the bushy browed man, "I don't believe I have."

Agent Fletcher kept talking while his eyes were darting across the room. The few customers of this quiet evening seemed to pick up on something and started leaving the bar one by one.

"Byron here doesn't live far from Duskwood. His wife was your tenth grade math teacher, if you remember?"

Phil decided it to be appropriate to imitate the cold smiles he was confronted with, as he answered,

"Ah yes, Mrs. Mills. Aren't you a lucky man... how is she doing?" The mean little eyes of Agent Mills slithered over to Fletcher, who apparently was the one assigned to do the talking.

"Mr. Hawkins, do you know why we are here?"

The bar owner stood up straight and took a deep breath,

"Well, I cannot be certain. But if I have to guess... for the same reason you were here the last time, for the same reason you confiscated my phone and my computer? - Another attempt to get information I don't have. Although - I'm wondering why you came here all this way and didn't bring me in instead. That seems rather strange to me."

Fletcher turned to Mills and whispered loud enough so Phil could hear every word,

"Do you hear that, Byron? There is that sharp wit, I warned you about," he stepped towards Phil and leaned his elbows on the counter. After focusing the bar owners face with a stern look, he spoke again,

"Mr. Hawkins, we have reason to believe that you are still - or at least recently have been in contact with the hacker named Jake."

The bar owner drove his thumb over his lower lip and chuckled. Fletcher continued,

"I could just come out straight and ask you where he is but I'm sure it would be in vain. So I am simply going to remind you, this whole affair could cause you a lot more trouble than it already has - in fact, I think it is about to inconvenience you a lot. Once more, I would like to urge you to be cooperative."

"And yet, you didn't ask me anything," Phil leaned back on the tall shelf behind him, "Pardon me saying this, detectives - but you showing up here, trying to be intimidating before you even start questioning me... - it is an awful lot of gesturing. So why don't you start asking before you accuse me of not being cooperative?"

Agent Mill's face had turned to an unhealthy shade of purple but he remained stubbornly silent. Fletcher nodded slowly as if he estimated the extend of Phil's intrepidity and then continued in a down-to-buisness like tone,

"Alright then, Mr.Hawkins, as I said - we know, that you are in contact with the hacker called Jake."

"Was. Correct," Phil stated.

"Jake was here - recently. We can establish that from the communication we recovered from your cell phone."

"Still - was. Past tense. As in 'isn't anymore'."

"You didn't give us a lot of information about that the last time we spoke,"

"Again, I answered and continue answering your questions."

"So correct me, if I'm wrong - this contact between you two dates back two weeks now?"

Phil's smile returned and his eyes lit up with a spark, "I like it how you say 'contact'- as if there is a less appropriate version of that word. But yes, two weeks, that sounds correct."

"The communication broke off at that point? With Jake's disappearance?"

- "Yes."

"And Jake did not try to contact you since then?"

Phil raised his shoulders shoving his hands into his pockets, "No. At least I wouldn't know. After all, you took away my ways of communication, Mr. Fletcher. I'm enduring a very reduced life style in that department. "

"Did you try to contact him?"

- "No." the bar owner met and held the piercing look the agent shot at him.

Agent Mills reached into his puffy jacket and pulled out a phone that he passed on to Fletcher. Phil could see that it was his own phone - the FBI had confiscated it a few days after Jake disappeared. Fletcher put it down on the counter and tapped on it with his long pale fingers.

"Mr. Hawkins, the reassembled content of the correspondence between Jake and you suggests a certain 'intensity' of your relationship at the time. We would like to explore our conclusion that you, Philip, would most likely be the person, who might know something about Jake's whereabouts."

Slowly Phil tilted his head,

"Oh I see...'making conclusions' about the 'intensity' of the relationship between the wanted hacker and the bar owner. Kinky." His eyes lit up again for a second, "But what are you asking specifically? If I know where Jake is? I do not."

Agent Mills eyes where bulging with contempt, he chewed "cocky bastard..." under his breath, but Agent Fletcher remained calm and composed- he believed him too, still lurking for something else.

"Philip, may I ask, how exactly it came to pass that the contact broke off so abruptly?"

Scratching his chin Phil answered,

"I assumed it had something to do with you but probably you are not interested in my speculations. He disappeared, quite literally. There is not more to it."

"All of the sudden? Without a word?"

"Correct."

"Where were you when he 'literally' vanished?"

- "Asleep, I suppose."

"He didn't leave you a message? He didn't say goodbye, he didn't tell you anything?"

"Of course he didn't. You have been trying to find him for a while now and quite frankly - it's not going well. Do you really think, Jake would be so dumb and leave traces like that?" Phil shook his head.

For some reason, Fletcher started smiling again.

"Recklessness happens sometimes, Philip. Like getting involved with the wrong person. It just happens, unintentionally. Getting attached to someone always leaves traces, you know. Don't get me wrong - I'm quite sure Jake is aware of that and maybe we are indeed too late - but then, maybe he couldn't help himself, leaving you at least with some reassurance that he is safe."

With a shrugging sigh Phil muttered, "Reassurance and safety, yes - you really don't know much about that hacker. "

Of course they expected to find the right strings to pull but it wasn't as easy as that.

Getting attached to someone leaves traces.

The echo of this sentence, spoken by a carpet knife voice, oscillated in the bar owners head. With an abscent gaze, he repeated, "I don't know where the damn hacker is, even if he is alive or not. I do not have any further information for you."

Fletcher intertwined his fingers and softened his voice,

"I'm sorry that this is happening to you, Philip. It must be hard for you. Jake vanishing just like that, without a word, after risking a lot - leaving you with the aftermath. And now... here we are." He pushed the phone over the counter, Phil didn't move to pick it up - he chuckled again, but it was a weary and breathless sound this time.

"So this is what you are counting on? Appealing to my resentfulness, Mr. Fletcher?" the bar owner asked, hardening his tone, "can I just ask - is there some chapter like this in the FBI textbook? Something called maybe 'The investigation of the abandoned lover'?"

Fletcher didn't answer right away, still assessing the bar owners expression.

- "In my time, it was called 'The rejected mistress', these books are very old and outdated, Mr.Hawkins", the agent answered cold, retracting to the last name base.

"So we can conclude this conversation with the statement that you don't have any information for us. Jake was here, vanished with no intention to come back." Fletcher folded his hands and lifted them weirdly towards Phil, who just nodded this time.

"Well...then I hope you won't mind if we check that for ourselves. Maybe you have missed something, Mr. Hawkins. I think our colleagues might be almost done with your apartment upstairs by now. We thought it to be appropriate to have this little chat here, while giving your customers some time to leave before we check these rooms as well."

Baffled, the bar owner drove a hand through his hair, closing his eyes and shaking his head,

"You got to be kidding! What exactly are you hoping to find here?" Fletcher had turned around on his heels, reassuring himself that there were no more customers inside the bar and waved a finger doorwards to signal the other investigators to enter.

"Traces, Mr.Hawkins", Fletcher twisted his lips into a half smile.

"Byron", he motioned his head towards Phil and Agent Mills reached into his jacket again, pulled out an envelope - most certainly containing the warrant - and handed it over the counter. Slowly Phil reached out, taking the envelope without looking at it.

"Who are you? His purse?!" he hissed sharply at Mills and turned away, walking outside the front door - not intending to stand and watch his bar getting turned upside down.

They wouldn't find anything. There was nothing here, that would lead them to the hacker. And why would they...?

Getting attached to someone leaves traces.

Maybe they overestimated his capability to get attached to someone, he wasn't exactly known for that. Neither was Jake, for different reasons - but still. How could they be sure, despite of the alleged 'intensity' of their contact, that there would be traces? What traces? Intensity - that was one! Intensity, memories, passion, withdrawal, ...traces. Damn it, Jake!

No. Wait. Not traces... - imprints. Leading nowhere. That is it.

Phil waited outside until it was over, until they all returned to their cars and slammed the doors. He shook the thin bundle of Agent Fletchers fingers without looking at him again.

Back inside the Aurora Bar it was solemnly silent. The bar owner stood still in the middle of the room for a while, considering if he should face the chaos they left behind. He didn't feel like it. Something was strange about all this. It didn't make any sense, why did they even come here?

"No fucking traces!" Phil shouted out to no one stretching out his arms.

Finally, he locked the front door, grabbed his phone and the envelope from the counter and turned off the lights.

As he walked up the stairs to his apartment, he couldn't shake the urge to understand the meaning of this - also there was an uneasiness creeping up on him and he stopped on the stairs. It all felt - unresolved somehow. There had to be more to it. But what could he do, standing alone in the stairwell? The door of the apartment was wide open, Phil walked inside and kicked it shut. Undecided he stood still again for a moment in the dark.

He didn't turn on the lights. The street light streaming through the windows drenched the rooms in a dim orange tone. It didn't look as bad as he thought, not like a tornado went through - fair enough, they had searched thoroughly. All his belongings were spread on tables, chairs and the floor - but in a sort of neat way, stacked and sorted. Turned inside out. Maybe they had taken some things, but there were no traces of the hacker, no messages, no photos. Of course not. They probably still didn't even know what he looked like in the flesh.

Slowly Phil set himself in motion towards the kitchen, that had a large window overlooking the street. All quiet now. Still staring out on the dark street, he put down the unopened envelope and phone on the kitchen counter.

Getting attached to someone leaves traces.

Phil crossed his arms and kept his look pinned out of the window. There was a slight prickle on the back of his neck...

No - fucking - way.

He felt a motion somewhere in the room behind him. Of course. The trace leads here.

"Why is it so dark in here?" a voice asked softly. Phil didn't answer, didn't turn around. The small lamp on the kitchen table lit up with a clicking and he could hear the creaking sound the chair made whenever someone was sitting down.

The bar owner lowered his head but didn't move otherwise. Stubbornly he tried to restrain his heart from throwing itself against his ribcage. His arms firmly locked around himself, he took slow, deep breaths fighting against his own anger, confusion and the longing to just turn around and let it all melt away.

"The door was open...I hope you don't mind," the voice had grown even softer, more hesitant as if testing the temperature.

Jake kept his bright eyes pinned on Phil's back and waited. He pulled the hood off his head and without an idea what else to do, he started straightening his hair - a rather useless effort, the dark strands curling up again.

It had all worked out - until this point. The hacker went over it again step by step. Changing the pattern of running to actually following the investigators - it was simple, simplistic even. And it had worked swimmingly, he just had to pick up the information and they led him right back here. In fact, they were not too late to catch him - but too early. Absurd, really. The hacker shook his head and smiled in disbelief.

So he had actually managed to come back - that's were the plan ended. In success. Yet it was now merely deflated by the fact, that he had not the slightest idea what to do next.

Jake's eyes were darting around. They really had taken this place apart. He bit his lower lip as the extend of the ramifications of his simple plan hit him with a sinking feeling in his stomach. What the hell was he thinking? Nothing much clearly, he cringed... No wonder Phil just stood there, silent and frozen.

Only now, the hacker started to question his own need to be back here - and it might be an entirely selfish one. He raised a hand to touch his temple as he always did when he sat contemplating. It was uncomfortably ambiguous, Jake had experienced an unknown stage of both exhilaration and mindsease - here with him. Somehow, it was all connected to that silent figure standing there.

It was true, Jake was never one to get attached to someone, he even seemed to have lost the need for it over the years. But then something about that Hawkins guy drew his attention and the hacker couldn't wrap his mind around it. Phil had met him with an unusual interest, not for what he did but for what he was apart from that - something even Jake himself had no grasp on. Though confusing and in a way challenging, it was easy to talk to him. The bar owner was never intimidated or even utterly impressed, like it usually happened on the rare occasions Jake actually talked to someone about himself.

It was annoying at first, the damn smugness! He tried hard not to care, but it was just too infuriating. And then intriguing. Jake found himself enjoying the attention, something he had always resented and kept meticulously away from him. Now, it put him at ease and excited him at the same time. Though Phil - confident at all times and seemingly fearless - wasn't impressed by the hacker, he sure was captivated somehow - by him, Jake. Strange. The hacker felt compelled to trust this guy. Even stranger.

And then something else had happened - a slight blush spread over the face of the brooding Jake. In fact, his memories were fractured and hazy. He remembered a kiss, smiling abscently as he did - it had taken him by surprise and then taken him over, taken him whole. And..., Jake shuddered - everything was blurred, too intense to recall what actually had happened. The world went away. Imploding, exploding - both...

"So..." ,

Phil's voice, though not harshly spoken, chopped into Jake's trail of thought like a hatchet. He winced, startled - almost forgotten that Phil was standing there. With wide eyes, the hacker stared at the other man, who had lifted his head but still refused to face him.

"... this was an announcement then," Phil stated, tapping a finger on the envelope. Jake frowned, took a breath to speak but then refrained, snorting.

"Now, now, Jake. You really should say something..."

Jake leaned himself on the table, scratching his scruffy chin. "You are mad. I should have considered that. I must say, I really didn't," he would have added an apology but thought it might sound too pitiful, also he wasn't sorry.

"In fact, I was merely working out a way to come back here. Worked well enough...", he paused and flinched, "you know, this would be easier if you turned around. At least you can tell me to go to hell to my face," his lips twitched a bit and the hacker wondered if that was even true.

"Oh don't mind me, I prefer to hold on to my anger for a while here," came the answer in a sarcastic tone and the hacker frowned.

Truth be told, Phil wasn't even mad. He felt he should and tried to be - that damn hacker just sitting there, after they shut down his business for the night and rummaged through his place on the look for ...traces. And there he was, trapsing in, accompanied by a whole lot of trouble. But Phil couldn't be mad. Jake had a way in, no matter how much Phil tried to shield himself and cutting himself off from everyone, Jake just stumbled through it all.

"Well... fuck it."

Phil snorted and with a swift motion, he spun around, hoisting himself up to sit on the kitchen counter. He rubbed his eyes, wavering, before he finally fixed them on the hacker.

"You look like hell," Phil said after a while.

"Thanks," Jake smiled against his will.

The hacker's dark hair was messy and curling up in all directions, his face was pale with dark shadows under the eyes, on the collar of the black hoodie was a grayish streak of dust or paint. But Jake's gaze was sharp as ever, his eyes glistening with awareness.

"Aren't you going to throw me out?" Jake asked tilting his head.

"Very possible," the lack of conviction in Phil's voice made the hacker's ears prickle with raised attention, "first tell me, what exactly brings you back?"

"I'm actually not sure,"Jake leaned back on the chair and added, "some urge, I don't understand yet. Felt like a strong pull with you being the source of it," he held Phil's gaze with a glint in his eyes.

"May I observe," Jake lifted a finger towards the bar owner, "...you don't seem entirely unhappy to see me," a grin flickering on his lips.

"How endearing. And also - how full of yourself," Phil meant to sound indifferent but was smiling, wearily shaking his head. His dark hair fell over his face, sliding down from the counter - he looked annoyed and defeated.

"You think you are worth the trouble, huh?"

"I didn't say that," Jake frowned again and stood up from the chair, slowly dragging his feet he walked over to Phil.

"No, you don't think like that," the bar owner said pensivley, he lifted his head and looked at the hacker who came to a halt in front of him.

Jake could feel an apprehensive throbbing in his throat - understanding it was on him to overcome the distance, but how? The last time, he remembered, it was just sweeping him away. He didn't have to do a damn thing. But Jake understood that it had to be different now, his fault really - the air seemed weirdly charged.

Avoiding Phil's intense but stern look, the hacker pinned his eyes instead on the notch between his collarbone. Not knowing what he was doing, Jake lifted a hand and placed it right on this spot, a finger softly pressing down on the tail of the tattooed bat. He could feel the calm breathing of the other man, a steady heartbeat, and Jake was quite sure Phil's expression didn't even change a little.

"Didn't even realize that I got this far out of line," Jake murmured, grasped by disbelief over his own audacity.

"No, you don't think like that," Phil repeated. There was a smile somewhere in his eyes but Jake didn't look up.

"Too much trouble...," Jake shook his head and with a frustrated snort, he retrieved his hand. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain and winced in surprise as Phil harshly clasped his wrist.

"See, the thing about trouble is...- you have to see it through, Jake." He wrenched the hacker's hand around and released it at the same spot where it was before - finger on the bat's tail.

With narrowed eyes Jake glanced back at the bar owner, trying to read his expression - he didn't give away much. In a way, he looked like someone ready for a fight. The hacker pondered the situation, which was new and utterly unexpected. Again he searched his memories, only finding a very different set of circumstances. It had started with a kiss and then? Whatever had shattered his mind with an impact of sensation just...happened. Jake didn't cause it. At least he wouldn't know how he did it. A sinister smile appeared on the hacker's face - so that was it. He had to find the detonator.

Hesitant Jake placed his other hand just below Phil's chest bringing himself closer. Breathing in that familiar scent caused a compulsing glitch in the hacker's keen mind but he didn't let himself slip. It was important that he remained focused now. Phil was a tad taller than Jake and held his chin slightly up, deliberately keeping his lips out of reach. The hacker chuckled. Of course, he wouldn't make this easy. Gathering his will, he moved his fingers from the bat's tail up the left wing, feeling a pulse that was annoyingly steady - not matching his own shaking breath.

His fingers wandered further up and suddenly stopped at a spot between jaw and ear - feeling a very soft patch of skin. There was a twitch of the muscles underneath Jake's other hand on Phil's stomach, elevating the hacker's senses. His eyes fixed on the spot - where he struck gold.

A mischievous grin painted the premonition of success on Jake's face as he moved closer, letting his breath stream against the sensitive skin on the bar owners neck. Another eruption of tensening muscles reassured the hacker and he pressed his lips down on the spot, sucking the skin between his tongue and teeth, causing a sharp hissing sound to escape from Phil's lips. Jake moved his head back to take in what he had sparked off - only for a brief moment...

Like black ink pouring in, Phil's eyes grew wide, intensly darkening. The next thing Jake could feel was his own back crushing against a door frame and being claimed by furious lips, blazing a scalding trail down his neck and returning even hungrier to Jake's mouth, the taste of the tongue slipping in was sweet. There was that paradox again - a longing that had built up inside of him was finally eased and Jake wished he could linger in this kiss...why not forever? But at the same time, something fierce was waking up, an urge for more, for being consumed. The world seemed to have slipped away in the distance.

For another second, Jake fought for his mind not to leave him, but his will combusted under the rising heat and the sensation of eager hands digging under his clothes. Again, it all shattered, melted - Jake felt himself stumbling over something on the floor, an undeniable force shoving him backward. There was the sound of fabric stretching before it got torn away - leaving the bare skin at the mercy of hands, lips and teeth. Jake tried to hold on to something, clasping around but everything was moving, slipping away - the fall on the floor knocked the wind out of him for a second and he wasn't given time to catch his breath. His blood rushed out of his head and his nerves vibrated with pleasure that was almost painful, Jake was yielding to be devoured by this extasy.

A desperate sigh shook his chest, and suddenly, it seemed that the lips, which incinerated every single nerve in Jake's body, started smiling against his skin. The hands that held him down softened their touch - though it gave him the chance to take a breath, putting his scattered mind back together, Jake's body kept quivering, trying to contain what needed release.

Phil let his hands travel back up from the waist and left them on Jake's chest for a moment - it was a tender and soothing touch, he bend over the hacker's face that was turned to the side, grazing his ear with his lips. The pressure Phil playfully put on the pelvis of the body lying underneath him caused it to squirm, and the pleading moans coming from Jake were too delicious. But as he felt the heart under his hands beating faster and faster, Phil let off him, leaning over Jake's ear again,

"Shh, shh..." he breathed, "I'm sorry, Jake - I'm sorry...can't let you get away that fast," he straightned and sat back on his heels smiling down on the hacker, who turned his face and opened his eyes. Jake blinked a few times until his vision was clear. Of course, he wouldn't make this easy. Jake lifted his head, understanding he furrowed his brows,

"You want me to put up a fight, huh?" his voice hoarse but steady.

Phil tilted his head, tracing muscles on Jake's stomach with his fingers, one by one - his touch growing less gentle again.

"If you think you can..."

~~~

The bathroom mirror was still foggy but clearing up slowly while Phil stood there contemplating his reflection. He touched a bruised spot on his rips that had turned purple.

"Huh...it does leave traces."

#duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood jake x phil #duskwood jail #duskwood fanfic #iamjake

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yjano · 2 years ago

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Who I am now?

Part 16.

Pairing: Jake x Mc.

Genre: Angst, comedy, dark romance.

Warnings: Strong language, angst scenes. 18+ content can be found.

Words: 10k.

Author's note: This story contains mature topics and is not fully related to the duskwood game. A different parallel with different personalities. I want you guys to prepare yourself for this chapter. It was a tricky part to write so don't rush in reading it.♡

•

Mc focus.

"So what's on today's agenda?" I asked excitedly, slipping into a free seat at the dining table.

"I'm glad one of us is cheery," Nymos muttered under his breath, paving butter onto a piece of perfectly browned toast. Sam hummed in agreement, halfheartedly massaging his forehead. Lex, sitting by me, gave up on breakfast and just let her head drop onto the glass table, creating a dull thud...

I frowned at their state.

"What's up with all of you?" I asked lightly, helping myself to a piece of toast piled high onto a plate. Lex's body was still slumped forward.

"Whilst you stayed in like a smart kid, we were out partying like crazy." Lex drawled tiredly before narrowing her eyes at something on my neck.

"Though it looks like you and Jake had a little party yourself."

I stopped my mid-chew at her words, looking at her confusedly.

"Huh?"

"You got a hickey on your neck."

I froze completely. because Lex was right. There was a purpling bruise the size of a penny marring my warm tone skin, located just below my jaw and looking utterly eye-catching to the intrigued three friends who grinned at me. This hickey was caused by none other than the one and only, Jake Dalton.

"The real question here is what base they got to." A sleepy Nymos pointed out, lazily prodding the butter knife at a startled me. I glanced over my shoulder, thinking about escaping from the smirking friends.

Nymos slyly smirked with his eyes lidded but glinting shamelessly with curiosity.

"So Mc, tell me what base you two got on to. Jake has always been stingy about letting out his sex life details."

"That's because I believe sex is a private thing that's done between only me and my partner." Jake smoothly stated, walking into the kitchen and passing by the table where we were all sat at. Jake blinked at Nymos blankly. "Meaning that, unlike you, Nymos. No one needs to know what we do except Mc and me."

"What do you mean by 'unlike you, Nymos'?" Nymos retorted. "For your information, I'm very protective about my sex life."

In the process of raiding the refrigerator, Jake snorted at Nymos comment, looking up and quirking an eyebrow.

"You, as if you haven't told Sam about the things you've done with your partner."

"You told Sam about my kink?" An incredulous Lex asked Nymos her brows drawing together in disbelief. Sam put a hand on his mouth to hold in laughter.

"Is that why you kept that maid costume in the back of your wardrobe?" Nymos asked slowly, his tired eyes widening in realization.

"Oh my god, you two are horrible at keeping your sex life to yourself." Sam rolled his eyes tiredly and bit into a piece of toast with a grin on his face. Jake and I were stunned because Nymos and Lex publicly talked about their sex life.

"Horrible," Jake repeated, laughing and agreeing with Sam.

I was too mortified to comment so I was sitting there, awkwardly heating up like crazy and glowing a bright shade of red. I gulped down mouthfuls of apple juice, noticing Jake shooting me a small smile as he pulled out a milk carton from the fridge.

Now, normally, I'd flash a friendly smile right back but today. I felt incredibly shy after last night's deeds. I looked away and hurriedly gnawed at my crunchy toast. Jake looked away to pour milk into his bowl of cereals whilst smiling knowingly about my behavior change.

Jake focus.

We were under the lush foliage surrounding penthouses, lying beneath the multiple evergreen trees and gazing up at the sight of sunlight poking through the dozen branches. We interlocked fingers with each other.

I was laying beside Mc on the ice-cold bonnet of the jeep, I was smoking the last of my cigarette, staring up at the trees beautiful is what I thought. Beautiful is what I think of the accumulating moments spent with Mc.

Beautiful is what I think every time I look at my girlfriend. Every time she speaks, laugh, frowns, cry. Mc's just so incredibly beautiful. I concluded, tilting my head down slightly to look at her sleeping peacefully on my bicep.

Flecks of gold and amber seemed to embed themselves into her skin, making her slightly tan skin tone all the more attractive as she was laying there with me on the bonnet of the jeep, under the warm sunlight.

Her thick, dark lashes lined her closed eyelids prettily and her dark hair fell delicately over her eyes, her pink mouth was parted slightly and I could hear her inhaling and exhaling deeply, indicating that she was fast asleep.

So fucking beautiful.

I looked away to stub out my lit cigarette on the gleaming paintwork of the jeep. crushing the flame and marring the dark coat of the jeep with a small burn mark. I dropped the cigarette butt into the now empty plastic container.

I turned to look back at Mc and in the midst of internally cooing at how well she slept, I tilted my head down slightly to press the utmost softest kiss on her parted lips, tasting strawberries and cigarette smoke, I pulled away seconds later, aiming to not wake her up from her seemingly deep slumber.

Sighing contentedly, I gazed up at the patches of the sky peeping through the branches and smiled to myself, feeling utterly relaxed and calm. Something I hadn't felt much the past year.

My peaceful thoughts were abruptly halted when my phone rang, the loud, dissonant chime alerted me about an incoming call. Hurrying to not startle Mc awake from her nap, I answered the call without taking a glance at the contact name displayed on my screen.

"Hello?"

"It's been nearly two months, hacker boy. I told you to take your time but damn, I didn't think you'd take this long. What's up? Is there a problem?"

I've been blatantly avoiding Dan these days, I was stunned at the audio of his sudden grainy voice on the other side of the phone and gulped hard, removing the device from my ear so I could read the caller I'd imprinted on the screen of my phone. The thing is. Dan figure it out it was me who took Mc away. He allowed me to have my moment but he insisted to get her back home.

"Nothing's wrong." I coughed out as soon as I pressed my phone against my ear again.

"Are you sure? you took a lot of seconds just there to answer me back so simply." Dan mused.

"I'm just a little busy that's all." I hurriedly replied, clearing my throat loudly.

"If nothing's wrong then where's Mc? Where are you?" Dan asked, I heard Jessica's voice from behind. I sighed and bit my lower lip, stressing out slightly.

"You should let her go come now. Give it some time and catch Richy." Dan ordered after Jessica's voice disappeared.

I held my breath, peeking at Mc.

No.

No, no.

Say something, Jake.

"Uh, I need more time."

"Look, Jake, you either bring her back or I'm coming myself to beat your ass."

"Fine." Wait, no-

"Alright, you better keep your promise." Shit.

Groaning at my weak attempt to talk to him about my and Mc's new relationship. I sighed, looking back up at the evergreen trees and suddenly they don't look so majestic to me. They're no longer just trees, they're tall beasts that loom over and seemingly entwine their hands over and around me, entrapping panicked me and closing off any possible escape route.

I will have to send her home. Powerless I ducked my head, reaching up with a hand to claw at my dark hair, frustratedly tugging at my thick locks.

They can't take my happiness away after only just finding it. That's too cruel, too cruel. I can't go back to how I was, I can't go back to hating myself, to distancing friends, to drinking and smoking away precious hours. I can't. I want to, no, need to stay with Mc. I don't wanna leave her side. I don't want to.

I don't want to become alone again. I felt sick.

I don't wanna lose a loved one again. Don't let me lose another. I now felt, truly sick-

"Jake?" Mc's voice broke me out of my suffocating thoughts. Shocking me into tearing my widened eyes away from the evergreen trees to look down at Mc.

My Mc looked so effortlessly beautiful lying there on my arm with her soft hair sticking up in tufts. She smiled at me lazily, completely oblivious to my heavy heart and desperate thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" She yawned before nuzzling into my side and playfully swinging her leg over my body latching onto me. The simple feeling of Mc grounding me down pulled my panicking self back to the present moment, pulling me away from my rather hurtful past and the painful memories.

Mc wordlessly wrapped her arm closer around me before burying her face into my shoulder, receiving her daily dose of my scent.

"You're freezing," She mumbled. Recovering from the feeling of sickness coursing throughout my entire body, I breathed out heavily.

"Yea," I mumbled against her hair, closing my eyelids and trying to enjoy my happiness's warmth.

"Hey, babe?" Realizing just how much I needed Mc to touch me to awaken me. I curled my arms around Mc's waist, firmly holding onto her little frame.

"Mm?" She hummed, smiling against my shoulder.

"Just wanted to say I love you."

"W-what?" A startled Mc pulled away slightly to stare up at me. "You can't just suddenly drop that bombshell on me." She exclaimed. "I have to be ready when you say that."

I confusedly chuckled, getting distracted from the miserable dark cloud that hung over the future of our relationship.

"What do you mean 'ready'? You don't need to be ready to say I love you, just say it if you feel it, Mc."

"I have to be ready, okay? Saying those three words is a big thing, It's something precious and special. You can't just go around flinging it at me and expect me to say it back so easily." Mc whined, embarrassed by how inexperienced and extra she was being.

"That sorta stuff makes me shy so you gotta give me a heads up, Jake."

Now full-on laughing, I gently pushed Mc's too-long fringe out of her distressed eyes, totally disbelieving her demand to give her a 'heads up' when she says I love you to me.

"Alright, baby." I choked out, struggling to hold back my laughter after seeing Mc at me laughing.

"Am I allowed to say the three words now or do I need to give you a five-minute break? Or maybe a ten-minute break would suffice?"

Mc, growing beet red with embarrassment, shook her head.

"No. I am ready now."

"Okay." Grinning, I leaned in closer to an increasingly hot Mc whispering. "I love you, Mc."

Mc reddened and mumbled "I love you more." She nervously refused to meet my eyes.

"That's not possible." I hummed in reply, taking one of her hands and lifting it slightly up into the air above us. I smiled, pressing our cold palms against each other and locking our hands in place by entwining our fingers.

"Yes, it is possible," Mc murmured, squeezing my hand, "My feelings are proof."

"Oh?" I arched an eyebrow at her. "Then what about my feelings?"

Mc chuckled as we both gazed at our interlocked hands hovering in midair.

Things like Mc glowing crimson with embarrassment, her warm hugs, saying 'i love you' one more time. Holding hands together. This is all I lived for. These small moments, feelings, and expressions. They all make my heart swell, making me momentarily forget about the thought of leaving her.

I gave her hand a small squeeze and started up a meaningless conversation with her joining in brightly and smiling widely at me.

Smiling back at her, I listened to Mc attentively. I decided to ignore the fact that I'll have to leave her for the day and spend every moment I have with Mc today and fix up a fucking solution for everything. I have to protect her from Richy.

After driving back from the forest to the penthouse. Mc was sitting on our shared bed in between my thighs. She stared at my hand tattoo in awe.

"Pretty," She murmured, using the pad of her thumb to trace over the detailed curves and lines.

"Yeah?" I hummed, momentarily tearing my eyes away from the tv screen to look down at my beautiful girl wedged in between my legs. "I'm thinking about drawing up a few more designs and getting them done soon too." I mused, chuckling at how easily entranced Mc got with my tattoos. Mc hummed, nodding slowly.

"But what about you? Do you wanna get a tattoo done?" I patted her hip, motioning her to turn around on my lap so she'd face me. Her hands curled around my neck. I lightly grazed my fingertips over her exposed thigh.

"I'm scared of needles." Mc hummed out, growing hot under the feeling of my hand resting carelessly atop her upper thigh.

"And I have lo-low pain tolerance so it wouldn't work out." She stuttered, gulping.

"If you had high pain tolerance, would you want one?" I asked, half interested in her response and half just wanting to hear Mc stutter again. Now when I pressed my fingertips into the flesh of her thigh playfully. I smirked when Mc fumbled around more, mumbling out ineligible words and getting embarrassed before finally choking out.

"Y-yeah, probably."

"Oh? What would you want? Where on your body? Do you want it colored or just plain black?" I asked ruthlessly. Call me sadistic because I am finding it pretty enjoyable to see and hear Mc become so flustered at the simple feeling of my hand on her thigh. I focused solely on getting her even more winded.

"Colored ones sound nice," Mc breathed out, "And I think'd want it on my thigh. pretty flowers on my thigh. Ro-roses for example." She mumbled. Her words finally made me stop my actions and curiously regard her, a little startled by her exact wishes.

"Roses, baby?"

"Yeah, I want to have roses trailing up my leg. Small ones."

The gears inside my head started whirring when I conjured up a rather pretty mental image of Mc's soft thigh covered in inked roses. All of them messily trailed up her thigh and curved towards her lower stomach.

I was mesmerized by the fucking thought and found my right-hand itching to grab a pen and paper and draw it up before showing Mc, wanting to know if it was what she had had in mind. But then an idea struck me.

"I'll give you a tattoo," I said suddenly, making Mc frown at me slightly.

"Huh?"

Without answering her, I leaned away slightly so I could reach the bedside table to my left easily. I pulled the small drawer out, revealing the little content inside. A box of condoms, lemon-scented hand wipes, pocket tissues, spare batteries, and finally, a pen, a branded pen that I know is water-based and won't harm Mc with its ink.

"Baby, lie on your back for me," I instructed distractedly, hastily biting the cap off the pen and scrawling something on the back of my hand to see if the pen worked.

Mc sent me a questioning look, before laying on her back hesitantly. With a cap still wedged between my teeth, I grinned at her reassuringly before shuffling forwards to sit in between her legs and lifting the pen to Mc's exposed thigh.

"Wow, you're actually gonna give me a tattoo."

"Of course," I paused momentarily to rifle through the pockets of the leather jacket, searching for my phone. "And major bonus. It's going to be painless." I announced, finally grasping my mobile phone, bringing it out, and unlocking it. I chucked it lazily in her direction. Mc caught it before it landed flat on her face.

"To distract you," I said, ducking my head, refocusing on her thigh, and bringing the pen to skin.

"Why do I need the distraction?"

"One, you're gonna get bored because it's gonna take an age to doodle a shit ton of roses on your skin and two," I pointedly glanced upwards at Mc when she squirmed a little at the press of the cold nib against her flesh.

"And two, you're going to start to fidget if you're not focusing on something so have a go at the games on my phone. See if you can beat my high score." I said my last statement so cockily that Mc narrowed her eyes in a silent challenge.

"Oh, let's see, Dolton."

-A few hours later-

Mc focus.

Two hours later I still haven't mastered Jake's level on the highly addictive game.

I was sitting curled up on our bed. I one-handed enthusiastically played the game on Jake's phone whilst running my other hand through Jake's dark locks as he was napping on my untattooed thigh.

Sam, Lex, and Nymos were out to pick up lunch from the restaurant featured inside a nearby restaurant. The entire penthouse suite was quiet save for the sound of Jake's slow breathing and the soft sounds from the game.

It was peaceful and calming in my opinion and I wouldn't dare move from the comfortable position I was in.

One because I'm too engrossed in beating Jake's high score. Two, I don't want to smudge Jake's drawn artwork and risk having multiple black streaks ruin my "tattoo" and three. The warmth that emanated from Jake was way too comforting to retract away from easily.

So when the doorbell of the penthouse suite rang loudly and urgently, once, twice, thrice. I groaned out in irritation, reluctantly pausing the game and setting Jake's phone to the side. I gently pushed Jake's head off of my thigh and set the guy's lolling head on a nearby pillow whilst being careful not to wake him up from his seemingly deep slumber.

Why are they even ringing the doorbell?

I padded away from the bedroom space to the stretch of the hallway leading to the main entrance of the suite.

They all have those door keycards so why use the doorbell?

I hurriedly unlocked the latch and swung it open because godamn, judging from the person's incessant need to press the doorbell, my guest is eager for me to open up the door.

"Lex I swear-"

"Oh, thank god, it's you. Listen, I gotta tell you something real quick." A relieved Ikari breathed when her eyes flit around her surroundings, looking hesitant to be standing there before the penthouse suite, before me.

I stared at her stunned and rather confused. My brows knitted together with confusion when Ikari wrapped a small hand around the diameter of my wrist and hastily tugged me out of the doorway of the penthouse and into the small free space before the main entrance. I frowned at her actions.

"What do you want?" I asked slowly, carefully easing my wrist out of her freakishly strong grip, staring at her with a hefty amount of apprehension in my narrowed eyes.

What does she want? Why does she want to talk to me? Should I go and wake up Jake and-

"I need to warn you about Jake...I don't want you to be put through the same torture I had to face when I dated him. You don't deserve it, no one deserves to date Jake and to be faced with that. His terrifying abuse." She gasped out, her small hands curling into shaking fists, her shoulders similarly shuddering.

"Wait what?" I disbelieving gasped out. "Abuse and torture? Just what are you trying to say?"

"Jake, he may look all nice and good and great at first but let me tell you. He's not like that at all he's a demon." She burst out, unsteady hands flailing up to clutch at the material of her plain tee looking as if she was facing some sort of internal pain.

"He'll hurt you, call you names, will lock you up, and force you to do things." Ikari choked out, looking upwards at me and immediately catching me off guard with her eyes now wet with oncoming tears. "You need to run, you need to run away now."

"What? What the hell are-"

"He's so scary, he gets incredibly possessive and won't let you go anywhere without him following you. To public places, to meetings with friends and family, to everywhere." She took a sharp drag of air before continuing. "He once told me that it's a paranoia that one of his group's rivals will take me away and hurt me. But he was the only one hurting me. No one else, just him."

Ikari looked as if she was on the verge of experiencing a mental breakdown on my doorstep.

"I don't how the hell I managed to get here without breaking down." She commented, laughing mirthlessly through her tears. "I feel like I'd throw up if I have to see his face again."

"I, what, wait-"

"I'd have a new bruise decorating my body every day, you know." She whispered almost inaudibly as she was staring at the hardwood floorboards in a tearful trance-like state.

"I- no." I gulped with my fingernails digging into my palm and creating small crescent-shaped indentations as I was listening in on her traumatizing experience.

"No." I shook my head. "Jake would never do that. He's not like that at all. You're the bad one. You broke Jake's heart." I responded with my tone accusatory and disbelieving but there was a telltale hint of hesitation in my words. Ikari shook her head frantically, fat tears rolling down and staining her cheeks.

"Whatever they told you about me. It's all wrong. I didn't break Jake's heart and I never intended to break Lex's heart. I was just trying to save myself!" She sobbed, her chest now wracking with every breath she took.

"I tried to save myself from Jake. They're the ones lying not me, I promise you!"

"This doesn't make any sense!" My hands grasped my hair with growing frustration. "Why would Jake, how? I don't understand." I bit my lip, looking at her with hazed uncertainty in my eyes.

"I just wanted to run away from Jake to save myself, to free myself."

"But why would Jake act all nice now? Why lie to me about you?" I breathed out, dropping my hand from my hair.

"He's weaved all these lies and acts together to get you to feel love and sympathy for him, the fucking psycho." Ikari tearfully hissed out.

"No," I chewed on my lower lip. "I believe in Jake. He's the good guy-"

"No! why don't you understand?!" An exhausted Ikari cried out, fresh tears flowing freely down.

"He's not a good guy! He's abusive and disgusting. I thought he was protecting me, loving me but no. He's so fucked up, so fucked up that he's beyond even repairing."

"I don't know what to think." I swallowed thickly. "He's sweet and nice"

"Didn't you see the way he fought that guy Richy?" She asked imploringly.

"Didn't you see the way he repeatedly beat his head against that truck? He's violent and one day, he'll inflict that same violence on you. There's gotta be another moment when you've witnessed his violence." She pleaded when she noticed me biting my lip. She knows that I have seen another act of violence caused by Jake.

Unwillingly, I think back to when Jake had killed that thug, witnessing the very murder which had conceived that terrifying nightmare to follow onwards.

"Yeah, I've seen it," I mumbled weakly.

"You know what he's capable of and you're still here? Still, dating him? I know you're feeling confused and disarrayed by all this sudden information but Jake is truly bad for you. You need to escape while you have the chance." She begged relentlessly, grabbing ahold of both my hands and squeezing them with desperation as she locked teary eyes with me. "Every night, he'll hurt you physically, mentally, and sexually."

"I-"

"Just do it, godamn it! I can't see someone else unknowingly fall into his trap!"

"...Wow, you fucking disgust me."

Her head shoots upwards.

"W-what?"

All traces of hesitation and uncertainty was wiped off my face, leaving only a mirthless smile on my mouth and a quirked dark eyebrow.

I straightened up from my previous slumped posture and cocked my head to the side slightly. I gazed down at the girl. Ikari stared wide-eyed at me. I folded my arms over my chest and switched my lighthearted expression for one of contempt.

"Yeah, you fucking disgust me. Lying about something as horrifying as that just to get me to break up with Jake? Wow, how low can you get?" I chucked, shaking my head in disbelief before suddenly quirking my lips into a small grin.

"But hey! 8 for the acting skills. You nearly got me there but it's a shame that you didn't think this through clearly." I laughed quietly, lazily shaking my bangs out of my eyes.

Her slightly confused expression suddenly dropped, one of newfound amusement replacing it as I continued speaking.

"What did you say again? 'I'd throw up if I had to see his face again'? But oh my, how did you remain so calm and collected during the fight between Jake and Richy?" I questioned, feigning surprise. "Remember, you just strolled right up to them and didn't look anywhere close to throwing up or experiencing a mental breakdown upon seeing my boyfriend's face." I playfully taunted with a small, amused smile interlacing my features. Upon realizing that I had her fake person sussed out. Ikari brushed her hair out of her eyes lazily, laughing softly.

"Alright, you got me. Jake seems to have chosen you well, huh?" She commented dryly as she procured a clean tissue from her jeans pocket and used it to pat at her wet under eyes, deftly picking up the thin smears of mascara off her porcelain skin.

"Mm, I guess he did." I mused out loud before swiftly turning around. "Well, nice meeting you and seeing your little performance, Ikari, but I'm sorta busy at the moment so you'll have to excuse me." I nicely faked a smile before fishing out my keycard from the inside of my shorts pockets to open the now-closed door. I was about to unlock the door, swiftly enter the room, and pettily leave Ikari out on our doorstep but she quickly said words that stopped me from waving the keycard over the small sensor built into the door.

"Damn here I was thinking that you're probably nothing but a brainless bitch- But," She chuckled. "Guess I should've thought better of Mc Estrada."

I wasn't particularly surprised by her knowing me but I was rather surprised by my actions. I swiped the keycard over the sensor and using one foot to prop open the heavy oakwood door, I looked over my shoulder at Ikari who was staring at me.

"What are you trying to do? Get rid of me because you can't bear to see Jake happy. Or because you're just desperate for his attention now that he's distracted?" I asked a little too stiffly for my liking.

Fuck, I was meant to be all suave and cool.

"Maybe. Maybe not. Is it bad that that might be the reason why?" She laughed at me. "Need for attention? Boredom? Jealousy? Whatever the hell it is, it's telling me to get rid of you, honey, and you being smart just makes me wanna get rid of you more."

Though she was wearing a sweet smile on her features, the tone of her words was laced with sheer confidence and contempt.

"Oh yeah? Sorry honey, but I intend to go nowhere." I bit out.

"Ah," She sighed, fake sympathetic, "But remind me who you are again? You are the girl who's been missing for oh, nearly two months... right? What? Did you think I'd come here without a backup plan? My college drama classes might not have worked on getting you to leave but I'm sure the entirety of the Duskwood police force will me help out on this. Why don't you make it easier for us and just give up Jake by tomorrow, hm? Do us all a favor."

Whilst she spoke, I rigidly stepped inside the penthouse room and turned around so I could lean against the doorway and glare hard at her.

"Do your worst, Ikari," I spat out, "Jake and I are ready for the worst."

"Oh, we'll see about that, Mc."

I caught her beaming at me before slamming the door shut in her face. Maybe slamming it a little too hard because Jake woke up from his nap.

"Mc, who're you talking to?" He called out groggily from their bedroom, the sound of slow shuffling indicating that Jake was moving around.

I swiftly swallowed the growing lump in my throat and without thinking properly I spilled random words.

"Just room service. They got the wrong room."

I was not entirely sure why I lied to my boyfriend.

Richy focus.

Fucking hell.

I hissed gingerly applying an antiseptic cream to a stinging cut on my lower lip. I looked up at the mirror, at the bruises and cuts that decorate my fine features.

Well, what did you think he'd do?

I mentally rolled my eyes at my thoughts.

I sighed heavily, moving away from the mirror and walking out of the rather spacious bathroom.

Nah. Maybe it's for the best to stay away after all, I don't wanna face the wrath of hulk again, and let's not forget his twin brother that was eager to kill me.

I was soon brought out of my boredom seconds later when the sound of quick footsteps, my supposed girlfriend walked into our shared bedroom.

"I'm pissed," She muttered briskly as she entered the bedroom, huffily kicking off her high heels with pure irritation radiating from the entirety of her body.

"Well, hello to you too." I hummed out, lazily glancing at her rather disheveled appearance. But I decided that tv is more important than Ikari. I flickered my eyes back to the large screen, unsubtly ignoring her.

"I talked to Mc today." She sneered, angrily untying the hair tie that secured her loose ponytail in place. The word 'Mc' caught my attention.

"Wait, what?"

I sighed internally, I knew she'd try something with Mc.

"You didn't do anything, right?" I asked whilst narrowing my eyes at Ikari, mentally praying to the lords above that she hadn't done anything that'd inflict Jake's violent wrath on me.

Please, say you didn't do any damage.

"We just talked. I didn't do anything," She grumbled out, facing away from me and running a hand through her short, dark hair to untangle any knots.

However, my mental praise to whatever god is up there soon dissipates when Ikari looked over her shoulder at me.

"At least, not yet." She hummed with a smirk playing on her face. Knowing the look on her face means trouble which no doubt will affect me in some way shortly.

"Mc Estrada will regret being a smart ass and calling me pathetic for 'wanting Jake back now that he's so taken' which I so fucking do not want."

I raised an amused eyebrow at her.

"And just what exactly do you have in mind for her?"

It is funny for her to assume I'd let something happen at Mc.

"The entirety of the Duskwood city police force. Hm, and maybe national news too."

"Huh." I rolled my eyes, knowing I can get exposed too. "I don't think I like the sound of that very much."

(While writing this part I listened to Help round the corner by coldplay. It's up to you if you'd like to listen it♡)

Jake focus.

Soft, warm, pleasant, treasure, comforting, beautiful, good, and favorite. Those are a few of the many words that randomly popped into my mind when I was thinking about Mc. When I listened to Mc talk about something animatedly and with such fervor. I didn't realize I wasn't actually listening to her but simply staring at her. When Mc smiled at me and suddenly my entire being comes to a standstill. When I am touching her, kissing her, like when our lips are slick with saliva and we are utterly breathless with our hearts beating rapidly and chests racking with every forced breath taken. Only Mc seemed to reduce me to this state so easily.

Both of us pulled away momentarily to stare at each other hazily through lidded eyes as we hurriedly chased after our breaths. Utterly breathless, Mc grinned languidly at me as she adjusted herself a little more comfortably on my lap, and just like that, just when I thought I had regained my breath. My breath just whooshed right out of me, leaving me to dazedly look up at my beautiful, beautiful girlfriend.

Mc chuckled softly at the look on my face as she lifted both hands, lazily cupping my cheeks and caressing smooth skin with a barely-there touch, fingers grazing over cheekbones and a strong jaw. I caved into her touch almost immediately, allowing her to trace her fingers on my facial features.

"Where's this from?" Mc asked quietly when her thumb snagged over the small scar in my skin just under my eye. She glanced at the scar decorating my skin and run her thumb over the scar again.

"Happened when I was ten. I fought with Nymos for the phone."

"Who won?"

"Me, of course." I puffed out my chest a little.

"Of course." She laughed, still distractedly thumbing at the scar. "And tell me, Jake," She hummed. "Just how did you win?"

I looked less smug now.

"I ratted out him to mom."

"I thought so," Mc commented, grinning lopsidedly as she dropped her hands from my face.

"Mhm..." I murmured, sounding distracted. I tried to sneak my hands up Mc's t-shirt and feel warm, smooth skin beneath my fingertips. "I bet you were a troublemaker too."

"No, I was an angel," Mc stated defiantly. She allowed me to have my way and slip my fingers under her shirt and wander my hands coming into contact with her body.

She continued to carelessly chatter about her childhood and I mindfully reveled in her warmth as I gently pressed my fingertips into her waist, drawing her closer and mouthing relaxed kisses up Mc's neck.

Mc stuttered and faltered in her sentences when I pressed a deliberate kiss just above my made hickey, the sensitivity of the bruised skin kicking in.

"Jake." Mc whined quietly, "I was getting to the best part of the story."

"Who told you to stop?" A corner of my mouth curled up into a knowing smirk, I glanced at her with lidded eyes. "Go ahead and continue."

"Can't continue," Mc muttered grudgingly, although she tilted her neck slightly, giving me better access. "Because you're distracting me."

I simply grinned, tickling Mc's side to have her unwillingly giggle and paw weakly bat at my hand for me to stop with the unrelenting assault.

"Stop!" Mc burst out in between laughter. "Not fair, Jake! It's not fair!" She squealed, and with great difficulty she dragged herself out of my grasp, deftly rolling over to her side of the bed before I could recapture her and mercilessly tickle her to death.

I laughed at her when I saw Mc glaring at me and clinging to the edge of the bed, determined to be as far away from me as possible but not wanting to meet the hardwood floor with her body just yet.

"Not fair, Jake," Mc repeated less frantically as she watched me laughing loudly.

"Sorry baby but I couldn't resist," I said shrugging lazily with a shameless grin on my face. Mc rolled her eyes and reached for one of the pillows strewn over the king-sized bed, throwing it at my face, causing yet another rebuttal of my laughter.

"Thanks for the pillow," I chuckled, placing the cushion beside myself on the bed, and patting it thoughtfully.

"It reminded me to be a killjoy and get some sleep if we're gonna be a part of Sam's cheerleading team tomorrow," I said with an accompanying yawn.

Mc frowned now, faked annoyance dissipating as she sat up and climbed back into my readily open arms.

"It's only 11:30 pm." She hummed, and comfortably re-situated herself on my lap. "The night's still young." She mused as she lightly brushed a thumb over my scar.

"Yeah, but I-" I suddenly faltered as Mc's words sank into my mind. My brows furrowed the slightest bit. I turned my head around to confirm if her statement of the time was true. My eyes latched onto the little digital alarm clock sitting atop the bedside table. I suddenly tightened my grip around her, seeing that Mc was correct. 11:31 pm now.

"Jake, it's only 11:31 pm. What's the problem?" Mc commented confusedly, noticing the way my entire body had stiffened beneath her upon checking the time. "Jake?" She prompted quietly when I didn't respond.

At the sound of Mc's softened tone, I reluctantly tore my gaze away from the alarm clock to look at my concerned girlfriend with a frown.

"Fuck, Mc. I've fucked up. Fucked up so badly. Shit, shit. Mc, get up," I cursed, loosening my grasp on her sides. "We've gotta get moving now."

Mc reluctantly detached herself from me and sat heavily on the center of the king-sized bed with a lost look on her face. She watched after me after I hastily pushed myself off the bed, moving across the room, lacing my fingers with my black hair, tugging on my locks with frustration.

"Fuck, how could I have forgotten?" I asked myself in a mutter, looking around frantically for my backpack and leather jacket.

"Forget what?" Mc asked, sliding out of bed and padding over carefully to where I was standing in the center of the room. "Jake, speak to me what the hell is going on?"

I didn't reply. I was too immersed. in the search for my backpack.

"We're staying here for Sam's race, right? So why do we need to go now? What's with the sudden rush now?"

"Because Richy's coming after you!" I responded exasperatedly, noticing and moving away from Mc to grab my backpack from off the couch.

"And we need to leave before he comes." It was all I said, walking back over to the bed, unzipping my bag with haste, and messily rifling through the contents. I can't tell her about Dan knowing about this. He's her closest friend and Jessica too. So using Richy as an example was good enough.

"Richy is after me? But why do we have to ru-"

"Fuck, Mc, just stop asking so many fucking questions!"

She shut her mouth, staring into my widened eyes. I looked pained immediately after having said those frustrated and angered words to a startled Mc. I stuttered in my movements, cursing under my breath.

"Shit, I'm sorry but seriously, baby. We need to move and you standing there and questioning me like the FBI isn't helping, okay? So help me out here and please move." Although apologetic, my words were still laced with urgency and restrained harshness. Mc shook her head slowly.

"I'm not moving until you tell me why the hell Richy is after me." She said, attempting defiance. I in response sighed heavily and turned my body to face Mc wholly.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered under my breath. "He wants you. He was the danger I told you about. He's the reason I kidnapped you. He's here but me being a fucking idiot, forgot about it until now. But it's okay." I said more to myself than to Mc, "Because we can still run now and get away far enough from here. Yeah."

I resumed packing crazedly, picking up the pile of neatly and freshly laundered clothes, resting in the half-full wardrobe, and shoving whatever else I can inside the bag roughly. Mc blanched at my briefly spoken explanation. She stood there frozen whilst I stridden over to the bathroom, grabbing our toothbrushes and toothpaste and any other necessary toiletries.

On one hand, I feel like I am physically torn between choosing to either protect Mc and hurt myself or keep myself happy but potentially seeing Dan coming to get Mc in a hard way.

Neither option was particularly easing for me and I find myself feeling trapped, feeling so pressurized that I feared I was going to make a brash, sudden decision and severely regretted it afterward. On the other hand-

"Stop packing, I... I don't want to run."

At her stammered words, I abruptly stopped shoving a t-shirt into my backpack and jerked my head in her direction, regarding her as if I'd just been stunned.

"What?"

Mc's constricting chest heaved a sigh, she walked over to me and stood in front of me. Wordlessly, she leaned over a little and pries my fingers off the t-shirt in my hands.

When the t-shirt dropped onto the bedsheets in a crumpled mess of cotton, Mc entwined her fingers with mine, squeezing my tattooed hand comfortingly.

"Stop freaking out on me." She whispered, taking my other hand and also holding it. "And calm down, okay? I don't think I wanna run anymore."

"But you don't understand, Mc-"

"But I do understand. Richy is after me and he wants me. He wants to take me away and hurt me right?" Mc cut in quietly, looking me in the eyes. "Huh, seems like no one wants us together." She mused, chuckling as she continued.

"Ikari came by today when you were sleeping. She threatened to call the media and the police if I didn't break up with you by tomorrow morning."

"What?" I intercepted sharply with immense anger already culminating beneath my skin, "Why didn't you tell me about this? This just adds to the list of why we should leave right now. before that fucking-"

"Jake, I'm saying this for the third time in a row now," Mc stressed exasperatedly. "I don't wanna run away." She enunciated slowly, feeling my grip loosening around her hand.

"Why not? Don't you want to stay together?" I pressed my lips, staring at her. Mc shook her quickly.

"That's not the reason why. If we were allowed to, I'd never leave your side, Jake. I'd feed you chips while you do push-ups to those annoyingly loud gym playlists on your phone. I'd dance with you in the rain whenever and wherever, and I'd hold your hand through numerous tattoos. I'd bandage up your stupid injuries after you get into stupid fights with people. I'd- I'd do whatever for you." Mc blurted out with a beatific smile on her face.

"I'd even run away with you but, but... But what's the point?" Her smile faltered. "What's the point of running when we're going to get caught soon? Richy, Ikari, my duskwood friends, the police, the media, and the FBI. They're all after us. Me and you, baby. We've been against the world for nearly two months and I don't think we're gonna last any longer than tomorrow."

"What are you saying? I should just stand there and watch Richy take you away. No- listen, fuck them all, okay? I'm not letting go of you." I mumbled out in a decisive but quiet tone, slipping my hands out of her grasp to wrap my arms around and draw Mc close to my chest, holding her tight.

"I've only just got you."

"I don't wanna let go of you either," Mc murmured, ducking and burrowing her face against my neck, inhaling my scent.

"But remember our promise? The one we made when I was drunk off my ass and crying on your shoulder? About sticking together until it was necessary for us to part? I think now is the time to." She breathed out.

"But it's okay though because it's only temporary until we sort out everything." She promised in a barely audible tone.

"I'll handle my friends and police and you deal with Richy, okay?"

"Only temporary?" I looked uncertain.

"Only temporary," Mc assured.

"Okay then," I murmured begrudgingly. "But I'm coming back for you as soon as I've dealt with that fucker."

"I'll be waiting." Mc hummed softly, a smile present in her words.

We took the bus into the city, deciding that public transport would be much more inconspicuous than a sleek, black jeep speeding down motorways when the police will soon most likely check the CCTV cameras dotted around the city for any inkling of my whereabouts. Having taken the rather grim decision of traveling by public transport.

We were sitting at the back of a barely occupied bus, huddled together to keep the risk of freezing to a minimum. I tried not to inhale the muggy scent of sweat and greasy fast food that seemed to layer heavily over the interior of the bus. The rest of the few passengers seemed to be in similar conditions, warily but tiredly drawing their winter coats closer to their chests and rubbing their palms together.

I draped my shoulders with my leather jacket and draw Mc closer to my warm body whilst murmuring that Mc was an idiot for not thinking beforehand and grabbing a hoodie before we left. Mc laughed in response and reached for my hand, interlacing our fingers together in gratitude.

"Thanks." She grinned, side-eying me carefully.

"You're welcome," I mumbled, distractedly staring ahead of me. My eyes were looking as distant as they had been on the day Mc had first met me sitting beside her now. Her bright grin faltered at the sight.

"You know," Mc started. "This is quite fun. It's like we're on the way to the deserted island."

"Yeah with the girl I kidnapped and with whom I'm currently trying to run away from the damn police and FBI," I replied in a sarcastic mutter. "Mhm, exactly my type of fun."

Mc sighed inwardly at my response, feeling pretty dismayed at her failed attempt to properly construct a conversation with me.

"Uh, Jake. Do you remember when we first met?" She asked hopefully. I glanced at Mc.

"Of course," I said with eyes blinking at her hesitancy. "How could I forget seeing you suddenly scream like a baby after just seeing my gun?"

Mc rolled her eyes at my words.

"I was being threatened by a gun," She muttered. "I think my screaming is justified."

"Mm." I hummed, still looking at Mc, uncommitted.

"And what about when I kicked you in the balls? Do you remember that?" Mc tried again.

"Remember thinking I was a demon and then passing out in the middle of the road?"

"Remember saying I was that kinky for being tied?" Mc fired back.

"Remember climbing out of our motel and onto the convenience store next door only to sit there for five minutes and sulk before coming back in as soon as I mentioned food?" I returned with my eyes to Mc's delight, glinting with amusement.

"Oh? Remember hugging me in your sleep and then getting embarrassed?"

"Remember you trying to run away from me but only ending up tripping over your own two feet, landing face-first into concrete, and causing yourself to have a nosebleed?" I challenged, narrowing my eyes as intimidatingly leaning towards Mc slightly.

"Remember being too afraid to climb up that fairground's inflatable slide?" Mc was not afraid to challenge me, similarly tilting her head forwards, closing the meager distance between us a little more.

"Remember me having to pick you out of a ditch after you somehow managed to fling yourself in after seeing a tiny spider?" I commented with the corner of my mouth tugging upwards.

"Remember being shown up by that bratty fuckboy?" Mc swiftly replied, casually hooking a finger under the v-neck collar of my shirt, drawing the amused me closer.

"Remember being almost kissed by the same bratty fuckboy?"

"Hey," Mc breathed with her eyes twinkling under the bus's tacky fluorescent lights. Our faces were now millimeters apart, causing our respective noses to bump gently against each other.

"Remember our first kiss?"

I blinked at her before regaining myself, a corner of my mouth tugged upwards at her words.

"Remember me helping you dance in the rain because you sprained your ankle?" I asked quietly, smiling with my eyes distractedly flickering toward her lips. "And you insisting to later share beds because I was going to catch a cold sleeping on the sofa?"

"And remember getting this done randomly in the middle of the night?" Mc chuckled softly, gazing downwards and lifting her index finger to carefully trace my tattoo with a feather-like touch.

"Holding hands and later stumbling down the roads to the apartment, half asleep?"

"Remember going to the beach and sitting around the fire at night?" I mumbled, still distractedly glancing at her mouth, making the aforementioned grin.

"Remember the night we confessed to each other? Me sitting under that tablecloth like an idiot and you looking as if you were stunned?" She mumbled, I laughed quietly at the memory.

"Remember sharing granny's car with her bunnies?" I asked, causing Mc to duck her head slightly and laugh at the memory.

Grinning, I watched my girl laugh. Watching the way her eyes form dark crescents with crinkles lining them and the way her teeth bare adorably into a rectangular smile.

So fucking cute.

I thought before abruptly cupping the side of Mc's face with my hand and leaning forwards to kiss her hard on the mouth.

Mc focus.

"Hi, I'd like to book a room for the night," Jake murmured with the surgical mask strapped around his mouth, using it to hide his identity.

"Name?" A woman muttered, voice raspy after smoking a tiring amount of cigarettes throughout her lifetime.

Whilst Jake gave his details, fake ones, of course, and slid a couple of monetary notes across the sticky surface of the desk. I stared at Jake's side profile, randomly thinking back to when we first met.

In my bedroom, Jake looked utterly attractive in tailored black clothes, and his dark hair swept off his forehead effortlessly, revealing cold, hard-set eyes which now look at with me so much love. I found it incredibly endearing.

I wore a small smile behind my surgical mask now as I reminisced these past two months which seemed to have passed by in a blur, a blur which I know I've spent well with Jake, spent well-ticking items off my bucket list, spent well meeting new people like Lex, Sam, Nymos and experiencing new things. I discreetly as possible, slipped my palm into Jake's.

Jake, still speaking to the receptionist, gives my hand a small but incredibly reassuring squeeze. Smiling to myself and feeling lightheaded. A feeling I always seemed to feel when I was around Jake. I squeezed his hand with an equally small but effective squeeze.

Jake focus.

"So the plan is that after I leave, you go down to the lobby and ask the receptionist for the phone and call your bodyguard or the police, or whatever. You don't have to go down soon after I leave though, take your time, and maybe sleep a little before going down, okay? Don't rush yourself if you don't feel ready." I said, unlocking our assigned motel room and pushing the door, holding it open for a weirdly quiet Mc to walk through.

"So-" I started but goy abruptly cut off by Mc suddenly placing her hand on my chest and pushing me back onto the too-thin mattress with considerable strength that caught me off, guard.

Furrowing my brows at one of the mattress's springs uncomfortably wedging itself against my lower back, I tried to sit up to question her but Mc, once again abruptly gets there before I could get up. She hastily climbed over my spread legs and seated herself directly, comfortably, on my crotch.

I was more than just 'caught off guard' I stared up at Mc with widened eyes, astonishment clear on my features as I watched a red-faced Mc gaze at me, she gingerly pulled her top over her head, revealing a bare skin for me to distractedly marvel at.

"Baby..?" I ventured out quietly, placing my hands on Mc's thighs which sat aligned, by my legs.

"Will you..." Mc breathed visibly growing more flustered by the minute as the grip on her thighs tightened.

"Will you... will you make love to me?"

"I love you, love you so much, Jake," Mc chanted breathlessly. "Love you so much."

"I love you too, baby." I whispered, trailing my fingers over Mc's honey-colored thighs in a barely-there touch, teasing a breathless "Please" out of her pink mouth.

A corner of my mouth tugged up slightly at her wrecked state.

"Beautiful, so fucking beautiful" I eased gently into her, taking Mc's hand and interlacing our fingers, lifting our entwined hands to my mouth to press soft kisses onto her taut knuckles. "So beautiful for me."

"Only," She gasped with her lips parted. "Only for you." She smiled with her glistening sweat on her forehead, her tousled hair, and flushed cheeks.

"Only for me?" I asked softly, leaning forward and planting delicate kisses onto her eyelids which flutter shut, salty wetness escaping her eyes and rolling down her skin onto the white pillowcase below.

Lovebites, swollen lips, frenetic heartbeats.

"O-only you."

"Mc?"

"Mm?" A drowsy Mc hummed, laying there utterly still, her eyes hazy and body aching in a manner she seemed to be contented with slowly drifting off to sleep.

"I gotta go now," I murmured into the early morning silence of the motel room.

"I have to be there and put Richy in jai when cops will arrive..." I trailed off, no doubt checking the time on my phone screen. "A couple of hours left, so I gotta go now, baby. Is that okay?" I asked, tucking Mc under the starched bed sheets.

"Mm." Mc hummed. "I'll be waiting for you." She managed to utter comprehensively before sinking further into a deep slumber.

I, amusedly watched my adorable girlfriend weakly battle with sleep and leaned over to her.

"Good night, princess, "I whispered into her ear before kissing Mc's forehead firmly.

Feeling reluctant in detaching myself from Mc and the warmth of the bed, I dragged my unwilling body away from her and padded over to the bathroom, my heart growing heavier and heavier with every footstep I took.

Still, I forced myself to clean myself up a little in the small bathroom conjoined to the bedroom walls, using the square space to stand there, staring at myself in the slightly grimy-looking mirror. I tried to encourage myself to walk out of the bathroom, out of our motel room, and out of Mc's life.

Without evoking any loud emotion that could wake up Mc and then have her, too emotionally break down just like how my emotions seemed ready to do.

I just didn't want to let go of Mc so easily, but, to stick to our promise of temporariness. I hurriedly dried my face off with a nearby rough textured towel and promptly walked back into the room. I seek out paper and pen to hastily scrawl a goodbye message for Mc to wake up to and smile, rather than cry at my lack of presence.

Finding a ballpoint pen and a fast food restaurant receipt in the bedside drawers, I set to scribbling out a small message before tugging my black hoodie over my head and slipping my socked feet into beat-up boots, ready to leave the soon-to-be crime scene.

I hovered by Mc uncertainly before crouching down so our faces were level. A weak smile made its way onto my face as I scanned her sleeping features, feeling awed by her unbelievable ability to look so tranquil whilst sleeping.

I wished I felt how Mc looked like she felt but knowing that was impossible, I raised from my haunches and with a sigh, I placed my scribbled note onto the bedside table, then I walked away from Mc. Heading straight for the door without once longingly looking back over his shoulder.

I stepped out of the motel, escaping the nauseating smell of fried onions and the overwhelmingly suffocating heat with a tired sigh escaping my lips. My breath formed small clouds in the icy air and breathed out through my mouth in an attempt to keep myself calm and collected.

Who wants to break down completely in front of a sleazy motel and a shitty fast food drive-thru where drunks loiter around, wheezing out crude remarks as they loudly clink their beer bottles together.

I stand outside the rundown motel with a cigarette burning between my lips. I faced an internal battle within myself.

A part of me, my mind, told me to stop moping around and start moving back to the penthouse to prepare to face Richy and put him in jail but another part of me, my heart this time, ached painfully, reprimanding my actions and demanding me to step back into the motel and take Mc as far away as possible.

Right now, my heart overpowered my mind. Seeking Mc more than rationality but Mc's own words grounded me.

'It's only temporary.'

Her words were firm and promising to me, now I was standing there, drawing smoke into my lungs and blankly staring at the worn-down pavement.

Feeling nothing but helplessness, I shakily ran a hand through my dark locks. Conflicted I forced my feet to move one after the other along the littered pathway despite my heavy heart weighing my body down and making me utterly reluctant to move. I managed though and walked away from the motel slowly, leaving Mc, my heart, treasured memories, electrical bursts of warmth, and early morning butterfly kisses behind.

"So what did you say to her?" Lex asked, chewing on her lower lip, driving a silent me back to the penthouse after having Lex wake up from her sleep with a phone call.

"She was sleeping so I left her a note," I muttered now, looking out of the window of Lex's car with something akin to lose in my eyes. "I told her I'll be back but..."

"But?" Lex questioned quietly, glancing at the suddenly quiet me.

"But... That's not going to happen, is it?" I asked Lex softly. "I'm not going to be able to come back to her."

I slipped into my penthouse room with a facial expression unreadable and my posture hunched, I warily padded over to the edge of my unkempt bed. The bed I and Mc had laid in just a few hours ago, smiling, laughing, and feeling happy. Now feeling anything but happiness, I sat heavily on the bed and ducked my head downwards, staring at the hardwood floorboard with slight tears prickling my dull eyes.

Mc focus.

Waking up an hour later after Jake's departure, I finally allowed myself to cry into my pillow, marking it with salty tears and grasping tightly onto Jake's quickly scrawled note, the fast food receipt crumpled in my grasp but I didn't care. I was too endorsed in crying over my heartache despite having Jake repeatedly 'promise' to come back for me in between muttered adoring words said as we were laying in bed earlier, breathless as he leaned over and gently pushed my hair out of my dazed eyes.

Choking back sobs, I sat up in bed and drew the scratchy bedsheets closer to my body in an almost protective demeanor, gingerly unfurling my fingers to reveal the balled-up note in my hand and through tears that mar my vision. I unfolded the paper, smoothing out the wrinkles shakily and hastily wiping my tears away with the back of my hands and once again I read the message Jake had messily written to me.

"I'll be back for you, baby." I mumbled out, voice cracking at 'baby.'

I started to cry again.

"Hello? Who's this?" Jessy's weary voice met my ears, startling me slightly. I blinked at my best friend's voice which I seemed to have forgotten so easily over a mere span of two months.

"Jessy?" I whispered into the mouthpiece of the phone, holding the grimy handset of the phone tightly and breathing heavily. I tried to calm my breathing, finding myself on the verge of perhaps bursting out into tears once more, feeling utmostly miserable and exhausted with the past hour's emotional events.

"Mc? Is that you? fuck- Dan it's Mc!" Jessy's previously worn-out tone dissipated as one full of shock replaced a tone that Jessy used now to fire questions at me rapidly.

"Where are you, Mc? Do you know where you are? What city? Or fuck, what country? Are you in danger? Hurt? Hold on, I've got the police with me, we'll track your call so stay on the phone, alright? I've missed you so much Mc!"

And then I started to cry, fat tears rolled down my cheeks, nose unattractively runny and mouth parted as desperate sobs escaped the confines of my lungs.

But I was crying not because I missed Jessy too, or because I was glad she was coming to get me. No.

I was crying because I just remembered that I forgot to tell Jake before he left, that I loved him.

#duskwood #duskwood jake #duskwood mc #jake x mc #mc and jake #duskwood family #duskwood fandom #duskwood fanfiction #Spotify

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duskwoodgirl4life · 2 years ago

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You have a choice to make

Thank you @duskwood-lovers for this awesome oneshot idea hope you like it 🙃

It had been a few months since Hannah had been found things were starting to get back to normal at last. Thomas was being the devoted boyfriend not leaving Hannah's side for one second. Richy was now in prison. He was sorry for what he did; he never meant for things to get this bad. Slowly the group started to forgive Richy and even started to go visit him in prison. Jessy took some convincing to go visit Richy. She was so hurt over what he had done but she knew deep down how much she loved and cared for him.

Jessy went on weekly visits to see Richy; they were slowly working on things and their bond was getting stronger again. A few more weeks had passed and the group were still trying to convince MC to come to duskwood.

MC hadn't heard from the group in awhile when they started to convince her to come visit. She spent most of her time thinking about Jake; she hadn't been able to see him yet even though he was now a free man but they still talked. She told him she was finally going to visit the group he had his concerns but he would never stop her from going.

MC booked her flight for the next day she arrived in duskwood in the afternoon, Jessy was waiting at the airport for her. Jessy drove MC to the motel Lilly had already booked her a room. Jessy dropped MC off at the motel once inside her room she fell back on the bed closing her eyes. MC woke up a few hours later looking at the time it was 7pm she went to freshen up a little and thought about getting something to eat.

She picked up her phone to order some food when she saw a message on her phone from Jake. She couldn't help but smile, a warm feeling spread across her whole body she looked at the clock again. It was now 7:15pm she started to rush about trying to find that perfect outfit when there was a knock at the door. She stopped in her tracks, completely frozen. She managed to get her legs to move and go answer the door. When she opened the door she saw Jake standing in front of her his piercing blue eyes looking back at her.

She stood to one side and allowed Jake to come in, his hair was poking out the side of his hoodie. They stood looking at each other for a few seconds. Jake's hand brushed MCs hair to one side and kissed her softly on the cheek. MC couldn't help but smile. He was so perfect standing there in front of her his smile, everything about him is so perfect.

Jake: hello MC, you look beautiful

MC: hello Jake, thank you your so sweet

Jake: May I take you out to dinner?

MC: I'd love to, where did you have in mind?

Jake: I know the perfect Chinese restaurant that we can go to.

MC: that sounds perfect

Jake took MCs hand as they both left her room, they had an amazing dinner date they talked about everything. They finished their dinner and Jake took MC for a walk by the black lake. Jake took MC back to her room at the motel and peeked her cheek goodnight before he could walk away. MC grabbed his hand and crashed her lips onto his.

The next morning MC had finished getting ready for the day, the group was having a party for Hannah to celebrate her return. MC had plans to go meet up with Jessy so they could go shopping. After a pretty long day shopping MC had bought the perfect dress for tonight. Later that night MC had finished getting ready Jake had come to pick her up they both arrived at the aurora.

The rest of the group was already there. Dan came over to MC and handed her a whiskey. They clicked their glasses together and downed their drinks. Hannah came over and hugged MC and Jake, thanking them both for what they did. As the night went on the attention switched from Hannah to MC they were all on the dance floor having a great time and laughing. Hannah could feel her anger rising up inside her. She hated how all the attention was not on her. She tried her best to get everyone's attention but no one took any notice.

Hannah had enough and walked over to her friends, demanding they come back to the table with her. Thomas being the devoted boyfriend stood by her side.

Cleo: Hannah you're my best friend why don't you come and join us

Dan: You know it's fun when I pull out my best moves

Jessy: come on Hannah it's fun

Hannah: NO!! I won't have this you are supposed to be focusing on me not MC I was the one who was kidnapped

Jake: Hannah! Don't talk to MC like that MC saved your life

Hannah: Jake, your my brother you should be on my side

Jake: Yes, I am your brother and I love you but MC saved your life you should be thanking her not talking to her like that

Hannah didn't say anything, she just stormed off in a huff, a few seconds later she came back and demanded that they choose between her and MC.

Jessy: Hannah, no I won't do that we are adults not little kids

Dan: I agree, this is stupid we aren't going to vote

Hannah: So that's 2 for MC, Lilly what about you? Asy sister you should be on my side

Lilly: I love you Hannah, you are my sister but I know what this can lead to please think it over

Thomas: I'm sorry MC but Hannah is my girlfriend she needs me

Before anyone else could say anything Hannah grabbed Thomas's hand and stormed out of the bar.

MC: I'm sorry I didn't want this to happen I should be the one to leave

Jake: no you won't you have done nothing wrong

Lilly: He's right she will calm down in a bit and see how stupid she's been

Dan: come on we came here to have a good night let's not let this ruin the night

Jessy: Dan's right, if Hannah wants to behave like that then let her, come on let's all go get another drink and get back on the dance floor

Everyone agreed just as MC started to walk towards the bar Jake grabbed her arm pulling her close and kissing her deep.

Jake: I love you MC

MC: I love you to Jake

#duskwood #everbyte game #duskwood jake #duskwood hacker #iamjake #duskwood jake x mc #i love you jake #jake x mc #he loves me #i love you #duskwood hannah #duskwood dan #duskwood cleo #duskwood lilly #duskwood richy #duskwood thomas #duskwood jessy

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commanderbragh · 2 years ago

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Learning From The Past

DWC May 2023

Day 1: Forgiveness

Braghaman slid off the back of his winged lion and stood quietly for a moment. He reached out to pat Valiant, but stopped as a spasm hit and his left hand started to twitch. The paladin frowned slightly and closed his left hand into a fist and then relaxed, shaking the hand open again. The spasm passing, Bragh let out a sigh and once again reached out to pat the lion who was now staring at him.

“Don’t worry, buddy,” Bragh replied to the look. “I’m fine.” Giving the giant feline a scratch behind the ears did not immediately stop Valiant’s look, but eventually the lion relented and settled himself on the ground. “I’ll be back in a moment,” Bragh added quietly.

The forests of Elwynn surrounded the field. To the far side, he could see the familiar farmhouse and the crops that had been planted for the season. It was early still and only a few plants had started poking their way up through the dirt. The paladin’s gaze, however, soon scanned away from the farm to the closer corner of the land. There stood a small plot, a section that had been fenced off from the rest. No growing or grazing happened here. Within the fence sat two headstones.

Braghaman passed through the opening of the fence that was set at angles to prevent larger animals from wandering inside. The grass was low; likely someone had been here recently to clear the area. Bragh nodded as he moved to a spot in between the two graves and knelt down. After a moment, he looked up and glanced from one headstone to the other, looking over the family name carved into both. Larethian.

“Hi mom. Dad. Sorry it’s been so long.” The paladin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Hope you can forgive me. It’s been a bit hectic the last couple of months.

“Things are going well. Niviene and I are busy as always, what with running the academy and training new paladins. Students are always keeping us on our toes. It’s a shame you never got to meet her. I think you’d really like her. She knows how to keep me in line. I mean, not as good as you could, mom, but she does a good job of it. And the kids are growing too fast. Already out in the world, learning their own way.”

Braghaman paused and looked away from the headstones, though his eyes never focused on anything. Then he looked back to the stone at his left.

“I’d like to think I’m doing a good job, dad. I figure if I’m half the father you were, then the kids will be lucky. Banny reminds me a lot of myself at that age. Comfortable, but not cocky. Ready to go out into the world and help where he can. I wonder where he got those ideas from,” he added quietly with a smirk.

“Part of me feels guilty. I don’t know that I should have let him go off adventuring on his own. Part of me feels like I should still be out there. Not just to keep an eye on him, but to help with everything else. You know I’ve tried to retire a couple of times before, but it never really stuck. Always felt like I had more to contribute, more I needed to do.”

The paladin looked down at his left hand and clenched it tight enough to hear the leather glove creak a little.

“I feel a little guilty not being out there for everyone. But I know that I’m needed more here. Niviene needs me. The trainees definitely need me. I’d like to believe that Duskwood wants me around to help. And the logical part of my brain says that I can’t keep pressing my luck. Even if no one else says anything, I know I’ve lost a step. I’m not as fast or strong as I was when I was younger. I’d be in the way, sooner or later.”

Bragh stood up and leaned over to touch the headstone to his right.

“I used to feel guilty about you two, you know. Felt like if only I’d studied harder, learned quicker, done… something… different, then I would’ve been back home sooner. And I could have helped you two. It took me a long time to realize the wishful thinking there. To forgive myself for not being able to do more. It took a while, but I eventually got there. I figure this is the same thing. As much as I want to be everywhere and help everyone, I know I can’t. So hopefully I can get to the self forgiving a little quicker this time around.”

Braghaman took a step back and looked at both the headstones once more.

“I’ll come again soon.” Braghaman paused, the last thoughts for his parents being spoken from his heart instead of his lips. Then, nodding, he turned and made his way back to Valiant.

@daily-writing-challenge

#maydwx2023 #mayday12023 #commanderbragh #lamenting #little bit sad

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liarist · 11 months ago

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Comedy

Capítulo 9: The Secret

Con Jake estábamos buscando más pistas o algo que nos diera algún indicio, un nombre, un lugar o algo, no es como si pudiéramos buscar a la tal Iris, de seguro había cientos de Iris por la zona, por lo que sería una verdadera pérdida de tiempo centrarnos solo en esa pista, debíamos tener más.

—Tu teléfono suena como loco —dijo Jake

—Es el chat grupal —respondí

—¿Dicen algo interesante? —preguntó.

Desbloqueé mi teléfono y me fui al chat grupal, hablaban de una búsqueda y la fecha de esta, no me estaba enterando de nada y si yo no lo hacía, menos lo haría Jake, por lo que pregunté a qué se referían.

—Van a hacer una búsqueda en el bosque el domingo a las dos de la tarde —respondí —, se reunirán fuera del taller de Richy y luego irán todos para el bosque. Es algo que han realizado los de la iglesia. Me han mandado el panfleto y me han dicho que la madre de Cleo es quien lidera toda esa movida.

—Mándame el panfleto para verlo, pero de todas formas, es bueno que hagan un seguimiento en el bosque en conjunto, quizás logren encontrar algo y lo informen —dijo él

—Sí, confío en que me dirán si encuentran algo —mi teléfono volvió a sonar, era Cleo —. ¡Volvió Cleo!

—¡Mira lo que te ha escrito! —exclamó él

—Has leído el mensaje antes que yo, chismoso

Cleo estaba segura de que Thomas escondía algo, había varias cosas que no tenían sentido, él no tenía acceso al piso de Hannah, ya que él no tenía la llave, o debería haber tenido la llave, por el hecho de que Thomas y Hannah habían discutido poco tiempo antes de que ella desapareciera. Y, como si eso fuera poco, él se llevó algo del piso de Hannah.

Jake y yo nos miramos.

—¿Qué piensas, Bekah?

—No lo sé, no sé qué pensar, es todo tan complejo —respondí —. Thomas tiene todo para ser el mayor sospechoso, pero dudo que su intelecto o su forma de ser le permitan hacer algo de ese estilo, no me calza con él. De que algo oculta, algo oculta… es un pésimo mentiroso y no sabe actuar bajo presión. No sé qué será lo que oculta, pero no tendrá ninguna relación con la desaparición.

—¿Estás segura de ello?

—Creo que si así fuera, ya habría soltado todo por la presión, o ya estaría Hannah de regreso, no lo sé, no lo veo como un tipo muy inteligente para realizar ese tipo de cosas.

—No sé si lo estás defendiendo o buscas la oportunidad para insultarle —él dio una leve sonrisa

—¿No pueden ser ambas? Elegir es limitarse.

—Me ahorraré los comentarios, Jessica está hablando.

Vi mi teléfono y ci los mensajes en el chat grupal junto a Jessy y Richy, al parecer, Jessy quería ir a por el libro a la biblioteca, pero no estaba segura de cuál era el código y no quería perder el tiempo yendo sin saberlo, ya que si no tendría que buscarlo y no le alcanzaría el tiempo en su hora de almuerzo.

Busqué el libro en la página de la librería de Duskwood y en cuanto lo encontré se los mandé. No me convencía mucho el diseño de la página, cumplía su función, pero no era del todo cómoda y no decía si el libro estaba ahí o si estaba prestado o algo de ese estilo, algo que me parece fundamental para una librería.

—Tengo un número para ti…

—¿A quién debo agregar? —pregunté

—A nadie, debes llamarle, al agregarle bloquearía tu número —asentí ante su explicación.

Marqué el número, solo esperaba que contestara la llamada, pero al parecer teníamos un pequeño problema de conexión o algo así, él no podía escucharme aunque yo podía escucharle a la perfección, lo que era extraño, ¿se habría estropeado el micrófono de mi móvil?

Empiezo a hablar con el tal Poke, empezamos a hablar como los dos supiéramos a qué se refería el otro, aunque yo no tenía ni la menor idea de que hablaba. Sinceramente, creí que se trataba de drogas, no me estaba que todo eso en realidad era un asunto de cerrajeros, vaya decepción.

—Pareces disgustada

—Sé que el tema de la llave tiene más sentido con esto, pero hubiera preferido el tema de la droga, lo hubiera hecho aún más interesante.

—O más problemático —añadió.

Solté un suspiro, me levanté para prepararme un café mientras seguía viendo las conversaciones. Era una pena que Jessy no encontrará el libro de las leyendas y como si eso fuera poco, su hermano empezó a regañarla por algo que ella no tiene la culpa. Y, para ponerle la guinda al pastel, Cleo fue a hacerle un interrogatorio al hermano de Jessy donde él resultó molesto y diciendo cosas malas sobre Hannah.

—Creo que el tema de Phil no llevará a ningún lado, pero me gustaría darle un puñetazo.

—Quieres pegarle a toda persona del género masculino, Bekah.

—Es que son todos unos idiotas, menos tú, eres la clara excepción.

—Gracias, supongo

#fanfic #duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood jake #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake x mc

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hyperfixation-goes-brrr · 3 months ago

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Intro post

*Pokes head in*

Hello :)

I'm G

While this blog's new, it's actually also like my seventh (7th) one, or somethin dumb like that, in seven (7) years

(I'm a mentally ill bitch, and perfectionism OCD's a fuckin asshole... long story)

Anyways

Here's a list of shit you're probably gonna find here:

Anime (currently watching: Delico's Nursery, and Fairy Tail)

Hopefully, maybe, books (I've been havin this dumb little reading slump for months now)

Dan and Phil (comfort youtubers 💕)

Disability/mental health/neurodiversity

DND

Fandom-related statistics and data

Games (currently playing: Duskwood, Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero)

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estarion · 6 months ago

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astarion is left scratching his head over those very questions. he’s feeling the repercussions now, because he squandered time when he should have been cultivating closer ties with other members of camp. he’ll need their understanding. their ... aid. he’s going to have to speak with gale in the morning, pretend they’re best mates, look stupid as fuck after all the shit and side-eye he’s thrown with regards to gale’s own situation with a woman screwing him over. not even a woman! a goddess. what is astarion’s excuse? getting all twisted up with a girl, a mortal, a human. ultimately, he underestimated her. believed they were mutually using each other to kill time. but it extended beyond that for him when he noticed her giggling more than growling, when she sought him for tasks she could've easily accomplished alone or with someone more schooled, when mere thought of her seemed to ease his night terrors. after this, she’ll probably transform into one herself.

what’s truly astounding is how easily she could have had him. she still can. there’s the box. duskwood is sturdy stuff and his skull would yield. a few focused blows is all it’d take. pretty little concussion, drag him through the woods to meet the wizard, finish her deal. the others wouldn’t have to know. he might yelp, but she’d silence him quickly. akina’s been quietly doing exactly as she pleases all this time, hasn’t she. poking around his sanctuary, leaving dainty prints on things, knowing he isn’t going to stop her. “... why that one?” he shakes his head, about to reject the item in her hands. least he can do is prove he isn’t entirely wrapped around her little finger. not the finger, though, it’s her smile that brings matters to a close. astarion rolls his eyes and thrusts out an impatient palm, taking the coat. he folds it over his shoulder. begins unfastening the tearstained one.

a breathy chuckle kicks from his chest at something that sounds uncannily like future plans again. sort of like pity, too, which he doesn’t need. “don't you worry about me. i'll find my way. i always do.” a smirk, a quick glimpse up at her, and then away. he flings the first doublet where his gaze fell. takes a moment to smooth out the sleeves of his white chemise before reassessing the thing akina wants to see him in, slanting his lips at it. shoves an arm in. then the other. “are you going to keep searching for a way? to get your man back.” the word tastes like bile. he shrugs the coat onto his shoulders, huff flying past pursed lips and fluttering the ever-wayward curl on his forehead. “what’s it even like? being in love.” the look on his face as he’s doing up the coat and avoiding eye contact says that he imagines it’s like being ill and wanting to purge his guts.

dried tears starting to feel irritating under her reddened eyes , the left one already starting to sting despite akina openly ignoring it . contrasted gaze fixed upon his movements — for a moment imagining all the things he'd do to her if he wasn't . . . astarion . if he wasn't astarion who somehow managed to build himself a little house of lofty dreams in his mind , called it akina , astarion who had somehow fallen into her web when she's been nothing but off-putting and aggressive with him . never thought that'd catch his attention , actually she had thought about ending her clever plan at some point because he was way too far away from her reach ; an elf , high elf , who twitched his nose in disgust when she and karlach shared glasses and spoons . that's what friends do but astarion didn't even have friends – akina wasn't expecting him to bend to her will so quickly because she's simply out of his league . there are the prettiest elf maidens out there writhing for his attention and here he is , awkwardly sitting her down in his fancy , secretive tent to hand her a music box .

she can already feel the longing that'll squeeze her chest for this exact moment when it ends , knows how she'll miss it and astarion . the scent of something like freshly picked orange , the soft cushion under her and the tune that plays in the music box . akina holds it like it's her treasure , strokes the lid like it's astarion's flesh , & smiles like she's on the altar . house of lofty dreams , promises of impossibilities . her brows flick up slightly in a tender surprised with some beats of the gentle music , a few minutes ago she was actually thinking that he'll bash it against her head and go out and tell gale she did it herself . because she's angry and mad , not even sure how many people would refuse to believe him if he did . is this elven music ? the design seems like it , when it stops she wants to play it again . perhaps that wouldn't be the wisest thing to do when he sits there and looks at her like a kicked puppy – did she kick him ? heavens , she didn't . ❛ . . . i don't have anything valuable to loot or give to a wizard . ❜ she tries to joke her way out of this . this sadness suits astarion , his heart breaking in his chest and yet , he's as gentle as ever .

❛ i probably have twenty something years to live , then i’ll be gone . my soul is like a seed under soil , it's not going to grow much . ❜ she laughs a little . you shouldn't count on me that much . with a small smile , she closes the lid , and places it back on the pillow . akina mori , the kozakuran human with twenty something years left for her , shouldn't take this gift . perhaps let someone else have it , someone who will match his years and wisdom , someone who knows love is far more greater than all these mind games and even death itself . so she leaves the box on the pillow and gets on her feet to look around , hands behind herself , going about the things in his tent like she didn't reveal what she wanted to do to him . ❛ i guess that means we had change of plans . . . hah . no horses , no carriages , no coffins . maybe we can find something for your sunlight problem . there are hundreds of spells and runes out there – ❜ she stops to kneel down against his long coat and take it to her lap to examine . it's beautiful , vibrant . ❛ i’m sure i can find something . there are other ways of going around the nature than some parasite in your brain . . . hey . can you wear this for me ? ❜ the last part comes out so suddenly , she holds out the coat with both hands , toward him , with a big grin .

#wellfell #(v)—with teeth.#they need to turn that box into a murdah weapon #against someone who isn't them :3c

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genedara · 2 years ago

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Lost and Found

You think your nighttime world is closed to me? Your mind is so naked. A book that yearns to be read. A door that begs to be opened.

(( The following contains explicit language, derogatory sexual remarks, scenes of intense, graphic violence and horrific imagery. Read at your own discretion. ))

“Thanks for coming out with me everyone,” Regan said, offering his four friends a tired smile. “I know Tristian was a good friend to all of you and I know he’d be happy to know that you’re all looking for him.”

Ellen reached out and placed a comforting hand on Regan’s shoulder, giving it a light squeeze. He stood there before everyone else wringing his hands together, looking as if he hadn’t slept in days. His dark brown hair was disheveled, greasy and uncombed, as if he had just rolled out of bed. Dark bags hung under Regan’s bloodshot eyes which were locked onto the floor.

“We all miss Tristian so it makes sense to look for him together. Plus, you could probably use the company. I know it’s never easy for you when he goes on those long trips of his,” Claire said, nudging Bodie with an elbow.

“Yeah, she’s right. It’s better to have four sets of eyes than one,” Bodie added. “I know he said he was headed to Surwich and had planned on making a stop in Darkshire before riding hard to Surwich. We should probably start there. It’s only a short walk away so we can get some answers today if we get going now.”

“Gross, we have to go through Duskwood? I hate that place. It’s full of giant spiders and feral Worgen,” Ellen said with a full body shiver. “Tristian is lucky he’s my brother otherwise I’d just stay home.”

“Alright,” Regan muttered after everyone else had finished talking. “I agree with Bodie. We’ll start in Duskwood and go from there. Hopefully there will be someone around who saw him pass through.”

Once the group had decided where to start, the four friends set out for Duskwood. They had all met up at Eastvale Logging Camp and started heading west before going south at a fork in the road. As the group made their way through Elwynn Forest they spoke among themselves, occasionally breaking the tension with humor. Regan had been a worried wreck for the last week and welcomed the company after spending the last three weeks alone. It had been a while before everyone had the time to meet up at once, something they all tried to do once a month. It was a shame they had to meet under these circumstances, their meetings were often filled with copious amounts of ale and good times.

The hours ticked by and eventually the group found themselves standing in the center of Darkshire. Claire and Ellen wandered around the fountain in town square, taking turns flicking coins into the water, hopeful for their wishes to come true. Bodie went to enter the forge but found the building empty with no sign of its owner. Given the permanent dusk that Duskwood was named after, it was difficult to gauge what time it was. Midnight or noon the woods were the same, dark and foreboding.

While the group was busying themselves with poking around the quiet town for clues a woman emerged out of the gloom. She made her way through the square, paying no attention to the four friends. Bodie’s green eyes followed the woman, making note of her outfit which screamed wealth. The woman obviously cared about keeping up with the latest fashions, wearing a set of light armor that originated from the Dragon Isles. Black and red mixed in with gold with a long, finely woven scarf with both ends tossed behind her. The woman reached up with both hands and gently pulled back her hood, revealing platinum hair pulled into a ponytail. Bodie let out a surprised breath when he saw her cloudy white eyes, a tall-tell sign that she was blind.

“Huh, no wonder she didn’t notice any of us,” Bodie muttered under his breath as he stared the woman down.

Claire and Ellen looked up from the fountain's water, turning their attention to the pretty elven woman. The two women looked over at Regan as he paced around, strung out and more nervous than before now that they were in Duskwood proper. He had heard so many horror stories about crazy Worgen, zombies and spiders as big as a horse. Why Tristian wanted to stop here would forever be a mystery to him. One of the women started snapping her fingers, pointing at the woman with a smile.

“Hey, go ask her. She’s the first person we’ve seen since we got here,” Claire said with a soft smile.

“Excuse me, miss, can I borrow a moment of your time?” Regan asked the elven woman after cautiously approaching her.

“Ah!” the woman let out a startled yelp and placed a hand over her heart. “Oh, my apologies. You startled me. I didn’t know there was anyone else outside at this hour. What can I do for you?”

“Well, we’re looking for someone. His name is Tristian. He passed through Darkshire on his way to Surwich a couple weeks ago. He was supposed to be home last week but he never showed up and now he’s been missing for a week,” Regan managed to get out, letting the words flow out of him once he started talking.

“I do seem to recall a gentleman passing through recently. I couldn’t get a good look at him but I remember hearing someone mention they were on their way to Surwich. I think he went that way,” the woman said and pointed west, the opposite direction Tristian was supposed to be headed.

“Are you sure about that?” Ellen said as she approached the pair. “That’s not the way to Surwich. Did he say why he was going the way?”

“Something about a shortcut through Stranglethorn Vale. I wasn’t really paying attention so I’m not one hundred percent sure.”

Regan and Ellen exchanged a glance before looking back at the other two. “Well,” Ellen said with a look of worry spreading across her features. “It’s better than nothing. Do you guys want to try making the trip now or wait until tomorrow morning?”

“Fuck,” Claire spat. “I really don’t want to spend the night here and I super don’t want to walk through at night.”

“It’s always night here, Claire,” Bodie chimed in.

“But why?”

“Dude, I don’t know. Magic or some shit. I’m a prison guard not a historian.”

“Your friend is correct,” the elven woman said, putting an end to the debate. “It was magic. Fel magic, to be specific. It warped and twisted the land and eventually turned it into what it is today.”

“Oh,” Bodie said. “Thanks for that. I guess. Didn’t really ask, but okay.”

“Don’t be rude,” Claire said, roughly elbowing Bodie’s side.

“It’s quite alright,” the woman said after softly chuckling. “Duskwood tends to make new comers a tad jumpy. If you and your friends are looking to travel now, I can accompany you.”

“Are you sure?” Ellen asked, pointing at the woman’s white eyes. “With you being blind and all.”

“I’m blind, not disabled,” she replied with a sigh. One of the woman’s hands reached up to her belt and removed what looked like a bundle of white sticks. With a flick of her wrist the sticks unfolded into a four foot long, thin white cane. At the tip of the cane was a small round ball of felt to keep it from making noises as it guided its wielder to her destination.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” Ellen said quietly, looking away as her cheeks burned red from the embarrassment. “I don’t meet many blind people.”

“It’s quite alright,” the woman said with a smile. “I’m used to the comments people often make. No harm done.”

“So, what do you think, Regan?” Claire asked her friend.

“I’d rather get out of Duskwood as soon as possible. There’s a camp at the entrance of Stranglethorn we can crash at for the night before we head further south.”

“Fuck,” Bodie let out, kicking the ground. “Really don’t like this, guys. Whole thing stinks. Why don’t we just talk to my boss and see if he can help us find him. I feel like we’re in over our heads. None of us are adventurers or heroes, Regan. We’re just people.”

“Speak for yourself,” Claire said with a huff. “I happen to be quite good at spell slinging these days. I could kick your ass any day.”

“Eat shit,” Bodie replied, raising both middle fingers and waving them around dramatically.

“Guys, come on, not really the time to aggressively flirt with each other,” Ellen said with a roll of her eyes. “So, anyway, as we were saying, what are we doing, Regan?”

“We go with her,” was all he said.

“Fuuuuuuuuck,” Bodie whispered.

“Well, if there are no further objections I think it would be best if we got moving now. Is there anything you need to collect from the inn?” the elven woman asked the group.

“No, we only just arrived in town a few minutes before you showed up. That and we’re traveling light,” Regan replied with a nod of his head. “We can get going whenever you’re ready.”

With a nod of her head the elven woman turned and started walking off towards the west, sweeping the area in front of her with the tip of her white cane. The four friends reluctantly followed behind the stranger, keeping a short distance between the group and their guide. Bodie took up spot at the rear, one of his hands coming to rest on the hilt of his sword, the other reaching back to verify that his buckler was still strapped to his back. No one in the four person group was wearing any real armor and it was just Bodie who came armed. Claire was indeed a mage, but she wasn’t the greatest mage in the world. She wasn’t even a good mage, she was just alright. Typically Tristian would run point on an adventure like this, but his disappearance was the whole reason they were out here.

“Do you live out here, ma’am?” Claire asked their guide.

“I don’t live here full time,” the woman replied. “I have a small cabin not far from here that I stay at when I am too tired for the trek back to Elwynn Forest.”

“What’s it like living out here? Is it really as dangerous as they say?”

“It can be dangerous, but it’s not like that all the time. The Worgen are usually more active when it’s a full moon and the spiders stick to their territory, usually feasting on aforementioned Worgen. And no, we’re not near any of their territories. The Night Watch makes regular patrols at all hours of the day s the roads are relatively safe.”

“How long have you lived out here?” Claire asked, refusing to let silence fill the air.

“A few years at least. I used to come out here just for the quiet so I could focus on my studies and develop new and interesting enchantments.”

“Oh! You’re a mage, like me! Gosh, I should’ve known that. You certainly look like one!” Claire gushed as she fell in stride with their guide. The rest of the group kept to themselves, listening to the two women talk.

“I am indeed a mage,” the woman said with a light chuckle. “How long have you been training?”

“Oh, uh, not that long, honestly. I’ve been at it for a couple of years now but I’m not all that great.”

“HAH!” Bodie blurted out from the rear. “You DO suck!”

“Oh shut up. At least I can read.”

Bodie’s cheeks flared red as he looked away and then down at the ground. “Fuck you. I’m not the son of a baron like you. Some of us had to had to work our entire lives.”

The group then carried on with their journey in an awkward and tense silence between them. Their guide was quiet and only spoke if she was spoken to. The four friends all stuck close together, letting the elven woman lead the way from a little distance. Bodie didn’t trust the stranger, having heard enough horror stories about Duskwood to know better than to blindly trust a stranger. It didn’t matter if that stranger was a smoking hot Quel’dorei woman still in her youth. Gods, what Bodie wouldn’t do to land a woman like that. He couldn’t help but glance down at the woman’s rear, watching it shift as she walked, almost mesmerized.

A roll of thunder sounded off in the distance, causing both Ellen and Claire to jump, the latter letting out cry of surprise. Bodie’s hand instinctively fell to the hilt of his sword, his eyes scaning the area for any possible threats. Regan looked up, hoping to find the sky, but instead was met with a mess of trees blocking out the stars. No wonder it was so dark all the time, too many tall trees.

“That’s not good,” the elven woman said, glancing back at the four friends. “A storm’s blowing in from the south. We can either keep going on or take shelter at my cabin.”

“I really don’t want to be stuck in Duskwood at night. In the rain. With a thunderstorm. No thank you,” Ellen said, looking between her friends.

“Not a good idea. Let’s head back to town and get a room at the inn. We can dry off there,” Bodie said before lowering his voice so that only his friends could hear him. “I don’t trust the blind lady.”

“You don’t trust anyone, Bodie,” Claire whispered back. “Darkshire is two hours in the opposite direction, the one we just came from. Do you really want to spend the next two hours walking through the pouring rain in an area known to have a feral Worgen problem? We stay at her place for the night. I am not walking back to Darkshire.”

“Claire’s right,” Regan added. “Walking two hours in the rain is not an idea situation. We go with her and that’s final. I don’t like it anymore than you, Bodie, but we don’t have a choice. You, however, are more than welcome to walk back alone if you really don’t want to come with us.”

“Fuck you and fuck that. I’ll come with you but I will not be happy about it!”

“Bodie, you’re never happy!” Claire added.

“Okay, you two just need to fuck and get it over with. I am so over the sexual tension between you two,” Ellen groaned. “Miss, we’re going with you, so let’s get going.”

Not wanting to get stuck in the rain, the elven woman picked up her pace and the rest of the group followed suite. A bolt of lightning briefly illuminated the area in a blinding flash and a clap of thunder sounded mere seconds afterward. Knowing this meant the storm was almost on top of them, the woman broke into a light jog. She lead them down a narrow dirt road that peeled off from the main road going west, guiding them south.

The group passed through a break in the trees and onto what was once farmland. Tall grass surrounded the weed infested field, a few stray clumps of wheat peppering the soil. Given how most plant life needed sun to survive it was of no surprise to see the field devoid of any worthwhile crops and littered with weeds. The house, while small, was nice and unlike the field, was actively maintained.

It didn’t look like the den of a murderer, so the four friends reluctantly made their way inside the cabin, being led in by their guide. Once the front door opened the fireplace lit itself and every candle in the building wooshed to life, the fires dancing in the wind from outside. With everyone inside the elven woman closed the door and motioned towards a small, round table.

“Please, make yourselves at home. I’m going to step into the other room and get some bedding for you all,” the woman said with a soft smile before vanishing into another room.

The group looked around the room they were currently in, making note of the fireplace, the table and the small kitchen that dominated half the room. A door leading into a small room with wooden tub sitting in the center with a spot under it to light a fire and warm the water drawn from the well outside. Eventually the four friends sat down, encircling the small kitchen table.

“So, how is everyone?” Bodie asked, his voice dripping sarcasm. “Lovely place we found ourselves in. Two hours west of any help should our host decide to chop us into bits and fed to her pet Worgen.”

“Dude, seriously, stop!” Claire groaned, punching Bodie in the arm. “Bad enough we’re stuck here. We don’t need you and your attitude.”

Outside another lightning lit the night sky, the ensuing clap of thunder shaking the walls of the cabin. The silence that followed was replaced by heavy rain pelting the roof of the cabin effectively trapping the four friends with their elven host. Bodie tried cracking another joke but Regan shut him up with a glare and a shake of his head.

After about fifteen minutes passed and the elven woman was nowhere to be seen. The house wasn’t big so there’s no way she could’ve gotten turned around and gotten lost. No one remembered seeing a second floor and it wasn’t common for a flight of stairs leading into a basement to be built in a bedroom. Claire and Ellen exchanged glances before looking at Bodie.

“Hey, Mr. Stormwind Guard. Why don’t you go and see where our new friend went? You’re the one with the sword after all,” Claire asked her friend, offering him a forced smile. “Please? I’m getting weirded out.”

“Ugh,” Bodie groaned as he purposely shoved his chair back, making as much noise as humanly possible. “Hello, blind lady?”

Claire reached up and smacked Bodie’s thigh, shooting him a glare that could melt ice.

“Right. Sorry. Hello? Lady who never gave us her name? Are you okay in there?” Bodie asked as he approached the door their host had vanished behind. He reached up and hesitantly knocked on the door. On the second knock the door drifted ajar, the hinges squealing in protest. “Hellllloo?”

Silence was his answer.

“Okay, seriously, you’re starting to creep me out. You in there lady?” he asked, pushing the door open.

Beyond the door was a modest sized bedroom, the walls lined with bookshelves filled to the brim with a various assortment of books of all sizes and colors. The bed looked as if it were stuffed with down rather than hay, an obvious sign of wealth to the poor as dirt prison guard. A large dresser stood in front of the only set of windows looking outside, the doors wide open. Inside was women’s clothing, all made of the finest materials money could by. Such displays of wealth was odd this far from civilization, in an area known for its random violent encounters.

“Uhhhh… Guys? The room’s empty,” Bodie said after scanning the room and eventually looking back at his friends. “Seriously. Weird lady is straight up gone.”

“What?” Ellen asked no one in particular as she got up from her seat. She strode over to where Bodie was and peeked into the room, expecting her friend to be playing one of his pranks on her. But that was no the case. Just as he said the room was empty, the elven woman nowhere to be seen. The only doorway leading in and out of the room was the one they stood in and the window was hidden by the dresser.

“Holy shit, you’re telling the truth. Guys, she’s really gone. Like, there’s nowhere she could go. She was small, but not small enough to fit under that,” Ellen said, pointing at the bed that was mere inches off the ground, far too narrow for an adult to fit.

Regan and Claire looked at each other, both of them suddenly looking very anxious. Where in the world did their host go? Was it normal for elven women to staight up ditch the people they were helping? Or were they brought here for a specific reason? Neither of the four friends intended on finding out.

“Bodie, you were right. We should have walked back to town. Fuck!” Regan shouted, kicking one of the chairs.

“What’s stopping us from leaving now?” Bodie asked as he strode over to the front door. He took hold of the knob and gave it a twist only to discover that it wouldn’t budge an inch. “Fuck, it won’t budge!”

“Hold on, let me try. You have arms like my little sister,” Claire said as she got up from her seat and roughly pushing Bodie out of the way. She took hold of the door knob with both hands and strained as she tried to twist it to the right. Just like Bodie before her, she was unable to get the knob to twist no matter how much muscle she put into it.

“Fuck this,” she said, releasing the knob. She then held her hands close to the door knob and allowed her eyes to flutter closed. Her mouth moved without making a sound as she started mentally reciting a simple spell she had mastered not long ago. Rather than summoning some kind of fire, Claire instead heated up the metal of the door knob to the point where it radiated heat, glowing bright red.

The door knob came loose and fell to the ground with a dull thump before burning through the wooden floorboard. With that gone Bodie took hold of the door where the knob used to be and pulled back hard. He expected to go flying backwards and was surprised when the door continued to remain closed. There were no other locks or knobs that anyone could see. It was almost as if the door had been barred on the other side, which would explain why they were unable to get it to open. But surely if such a thing had happened they would have heard it.

“Okay, I’m starting to freak out,” Ellen squeaked, fanning herself with one hand while pacing around the room. “Bodie, use a chair and break one of the windows.”

Before he could reply Regan stood up, grabbed his chair by the back and hurled it at the window in the kitchen. The chair hit the window and simply bounced off and proceeded to break upon impact with the floor. The group stood there in shocked silence, staring at the now broken chair.

“Dude, what the fuck is that window made out of?” Bodie asked no one in particular.

“Okay, so that didn’t work. Now try your sword,” Ellen said, pointing at the window. “Please. I want to leave.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” he muttered, stepping forward and drawing his short sword. Without any kind of flourish Bodie charged forward and attempt to drive the sword through the window. The moment his sword made contact an ear shattering explosion rang out and he was thrown backwards into the kitchen table. For the briefest of moments the window had a mirror like sheen to it before once more appearing as a normal window.

“Guys, the window. It’s enchanted with a barrier spell. No one here is going to be able to break something like that,” Claire said upon realizing what was happening. “We’re trapped in here. But why? The weird elf lady vanished and it’s just us in here.”

“It is just us here, right?” Ellen asked.

As if on cue a hidden door burst open, the door slamming on the floor, startling everyone at the same time. The four friends all turned to look at the source of the noise, eyes wide. Judging by the floorboards nailed to the door to blend it in with the floor it was obvious the maker wanted it hidden. The smell of moist soil and something sickeningly sweet wafted upwards through the portal, rushing outward as if the room below was kept under pressure.

“I think I just peed my pants…” Ellen muttered.

“Me too,” Claire quietly replied.

All four let out shouts of surprise when a hand was thrust out of the darkness, fingers splayed out, palm facing the wall. The hand was roughly slapped onto the floorboard before being joined by a second hand. They worked together and pulled up the weight of their owner as they slowly drew their body out of the gloom. The screams were replaced with shocked gasps as Tristian emerged from the hole in the floor.

Tristian was naked from the waist up, his body covered in what appeared to be fresh soil. His flesh was ghastly white and nigh transparent and it looked as if he had lost forty pounds. The group watched their once missing friend draw himself up onto his feet. Bodie was the first to step forward, throwing his arms wide.

“HEY! We’ve been looking all over for you? The fuck are you doing here half naked? Did that crazy bitch trap you downstairs for the last three weeks? Sure looks like it,” he said, speaking quickly and barely giving his friend a chance to get a word in.

But he didn’t want to talk. He didn’t even look Bodie in the eyes when he punched a hole in his chest. Tristian held Bodie’s still beating heart in his hand after punching through his spine, soaked in his friend’s blood.

“Wut th’ fuck?” Bodie slurred, his eyes rolling into the back of their sockets. He fell backwards and hit the ground hard, the back of his head reverberating off the floor. Blood pooled out of the hole in his chest, soaking its way into the wooden floorboards and into the basement.

Claire started screaming the moment her brain registered what had just happened. Her brain short circuited, a lance of sheer terror shooting through her heart. The phrase scared stupid applied to her as she tripped over her own feet, falling on top of Bodie’s body. She scream babbled, roughly slapping his cheek as if she were trying to wake him from a nightmare.

Tristian reached down and grabbed the screaming Claire with a fistful of her long blonde hair. He yanked her backwards and down into the basement where she continued to scream. The sickly looking man then turned his burning gaze on Ellen and Regan, who were both watching in stunned silence as Tristian tore through two of their friends.

“Baby, w-why are you doing this? Th-these are your friends!” Regan asked his boyfriend between sobs. He hadn’t even realized he started wailing, mourning the loss of not just his best friend but also the man he loved. This… Thing was not Tristian. Not his Tristian. He is not, was not capable of such an act. Tristian was a good man.

“You will know fear,” Tristian said, his voice several octaves lower than usual. His deep bass of a voice reverberated in the room, forcing a shiver down Ellen’s and Regan’s spines. They both shuddered in unison, mouths agape and eyes wide with panic. “The screaming bitch is first.”

Tristian smiled at the two, knowing they were trapped upstairs with nowhere to go. And then, without another word, he leapt into the hole, vanishing into the darkness. He landed without making a noise and remain crouched down, smiling at the still screaming Claire. She had been writhing around on the ground, a fear unlike anything she ever experienced ripping through her body. It was as if there was an external force making her extra scared, thus rendering her completely and utterly useless.

“You know,” Tristian said as he dropped down to his hands and knees. “I always loved your voice. You could sing for days and I would never grow tired of it. Can you sing for me now? Sing for me you filthy cunt!”

Letting out a sinister laugh, Tristian surged forward with unnatural speed and was on top of Claire within seconds. He cackled wildly as he took the screaming girl’s head with both hands, gently caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. Between his deep, mocking chortles, he shushed Claire, like a father putting his daughter to sleep.

“Shhh… It’s going to be alright. He’ll make everything alright,” Tristian spoke as he pinned Claire down to the bare soil floor. “Time to sing!”

Claire continued to scream as Tristian released her arms, allowing her the opportunity to try and push him off of her. She flailed at his bare chest, trying to muster the strength to free herself. Just as Claire thought she was making progress he retook her head into his hands, carefully and gently brushing her hair away from her eyes. He smiled as he drove his thumbs into her eyes, the nails of his fingers slicing into her pupil. Her screams rose in pitch as she thrashed around below the man she had once called her friend, trying desperately to free herself.

It didn’t matter how hard she tried, she was no match for Tristian. He grinned from ear to ear as he sunk his thumbs deep into Claire’s eyes, pressing up against her skull. Finally her screams had come to an end as she slipped into a catatonic state, her body locked up with terror and agony.

Upstairs Ellen and Regan were frozen in place as they heard Tristian murder their friend. They stood there powerless as he drug himself back upstairs, his hands slick with Claire’s blood and a substance they had no interest in finding out which part of the body it once was. He reached up and brushed his hair out of his eyes, leaving a streak of crimson across his forehead.

“Oh deary me, I went and made a mess of things downstairs. Be a doll and clean that up for me sis,” Tristian said in a mocking tone.

“She’s not going anywhere, Tristian. What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Why are you doing this?!”

“TRISTIAN’S NOT HERE YOU FUCKING IDIOT,” the creature bellowed, voice oozing fury. But despite this he continued to smile at the pair, taking small steps forward. “It’s just me in here. Your sweet little boyfriend’s being raped in the Maw.”

With a roar and a snarl the man that was once Tristian flung himself forward, hitting Ellen head on and tackling her to the ground. Unlike Claire he was not gentle with her as he took hold of her head with both hands. He drew her head up a few inches before violently slamming it against the floor. Whack. Whack. Whack went Ellen’s head. With each blow the sound of her skull splitting became louder and louder before the back of her head exploded and gray matter was sprayed across the floor like a bomb had gone off.

Regan screamed and ran away from the grizzly scene and flew into the bedroom. The moment he had passed through the threshold and into the room proper he slammed the door shut behind him. While he looked for something to put in front of the door, Regan stood with his back to it, putting some weight into it. The door shuttered when Tristian hit it with something soft and wet. Whatever it was it sounded as if it was making an awful mess on the other side of the door, as was evidenced by the pool of blood that was slowly working its way under the door.

“KNOCK KNOCK SWEETHEART!” Tristian hollered at the opposite side of the door. “Why don’t you let me so I can KISS YA! I just wanna give you a big ol’ smooch before I eat your fucking face off and skull fuck the remains.”

“Why are you doing this, baby? What did we do to make you so angry?” Regan asked between loud sobs. “Please stop this baby. I just want to go home and be a family again.”

“Because you suck at taking it up the ass you fucking faggot!” Tristian shouted before something hard hit the door. “LET ME IN!”

Regan let out a choked sob as the door was hit a second time, this time with enough force to shake the door frame. With each blow Tristian would let out some explicit curse word followed by a burst of laughter. He had truly gone mad with rage.

WHAM! “LETMEIN!”

WHAM! “LETMETHEFUCKIN!”

“LETMEINLETMEINLETMEINLETMEIN!”

Nothing else could be heard from the other room save for Tristian’s rage filled screams. Thinking he was safe from the monster that wore the meat suit of his lover, Regan eased himself away from the door. Surely that simple latch will keep the monster at bay. It seemed to be working so far.

Regan was sorely mistaken.

Tristian exploded through the door, splitting it in two pieces before being roughly shoved aside. The beast howled in laughter as it tackled Regan down to the ground. He pinned the other man to the ground, eyes wide with insanity and glee, a long strand of drool dangling out of his grinning maw.

“Ehehehehahahaha. I gotcha now, don’t I? Ooooh we’re going to have so much fun together, you and I. We have such sights to show you!”

“Please, baby, stop this,” Regan begged, trying to work some reason into the situation. “You already got the others. You can just tell your lady fr-”

“HE IS NOT A WOMAN YOU STUPID CUNT!” Tristian said as he drew his head back and slammed his forehead against Regan’s. “DO NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM! I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!”

“Please, Tristian, stop this madness! Please, baby, I love you!”

“Oh, he loved you too. Up until you got him killed. He’s dead because of you! His soul festers in the maw, feeding the fucking maggots. You’ll go there too. When He’s done with you. The Maw will look like paradise compared to the things He has in store for you.”

With one final act of cruelty, Tristian release Regan’s wrists and instead took hold of his lover’s head, gently cradling it with both hands. He gently moved his head onto his lap, rocking back and forth as he hummed a lullaby off key.

“Shhhh… Shush little baby, don’t say a word.”

Regan was silent when Tristian turned on him. He was silent when his clothing was torn from his body and tossed aside. He was silent when his manhood was ripped away from his groin, blood squirting out in the beat of his heart. He was silent when Tristian started taking fist fulls of flesh and slowly tearing chunks away only to be discarded like his clothing.

Tristian took his time turning Regan into a pile of battered and torn flesh. By the time he was done Regan was reduced to a pile of organs, his flesh and muscle scattered about the blood soaked room. But it wasn’t just Tristian that was doing this. Every single one of the dead friends had crawled back to life, groaning as they joined their killer in dismembering their friend. From the shadows a pair of glowing silver eyes watched with glee, relishing in the pain that radiated from the cabin. This was all part of the plan. Soon these shambling corpses be joined by others, waiting for the perfect time to strike.

In the blood soaked cabin a smile crept across Tristian’s features as he looked upon his handiwork.

“He will feast on us all!”

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