Chapter Text
Pulled out of the depths of sleep, you wake with a start. Air floods your lungs as you heave over the side of your dorm room bed. Tears prick the sides of your eyes, and coughs wrack your body. You can barely remember what you were dreaming about. Only glimpses came to your waking memory: darkness, hiding, running.
The clock on your nightstand reads a little after seven. You went to bed early and still couldn’t escape the nightmares. How many nights have you suffered through this? Practically everyone else on your floor was out getting drunk or hooking up, and here you were, aching for just one night of peaceful sleep. However, it seemed that it wasn’t in the cards for you to get what you want.
This was the last straw.
Tonight was the last night you'd spend holed up in your room, alone with your thoughts and a little too much alcohol. It was the last time you'd suffer through another class, your lack of motivation pulling your grades further and further down. No more self-righteous professors ordering you to get back on your feet. No more bitchy classmates who had everything they could ever ask for and more. And most importantly: no more moping over men.
Ever since your youth, you dreamed of your ticket away from your miserable life. It would arrive in the shape of your very own prince charming, who would see past your flaws and give you the love you deserved. You knew that if you could draw his eyes onto you, just for a moment, that spark of interest would lead to a life of romance. He would be yours and you would be his, and you would never worry about anything again.
Except that never happened.
Every cute guy you passed in the hallway tormented you, a vision of what you would never have. All your life, you tried for this one little thing—someone who loved you, someone to call your own. Every time you saw a couple on a cafe date or studying together, the jealousy inside you grew stronger. It boiled within you, eating you alive. You stewed over every insecurity about yourself. What was so good about those girls that you were missing? Years and years have gone by without an answer or solution. No man saw you in that way. So you got used to it. Something was wrong with you. Something was wrong, and everyone knew it.
All that didn't matter tonight, though. Tonight you were leaving. Just a small bag of necessities, and you'd be off, starting a new life, free as the wind. Of course you told no one. Your roommate would barely notice your appearance or disappearance. She would probably be seeing another boy, unknowingly rubbing her success in the face of your failure. And your friends—if you could even call them that—they'd probably give up searching after a week at most. Your family was distant too, or maybe you were distant from them. As long as you called every once in a while, they would be happy for now. The bottom line was, no one would miss you. After a while, no one would look for you. After all, you failed in this form of life. No grades, no social life, no job opportunities, no boyfriend. No prince charming, no fairytale ending. This was real life.
Might as well start over.
The woods were as good a place as any, you thought to yourself. You were fascinated—and a little frightened—by the one big park near your little community college. It was a bit of a walk, but you needed the time to think, to clear your head. By the time you left, the sun was in the sky but slowly lowering. When you got to the park, sunset was in full swing.
Part of you was attracted to the danger. Well, at least the idea of it. Was it a good idea to try to spend the night in the woods by yourself? Absolutely not. Were your sanity and impulse control wearing away? Definitely. Did you care about what would happen to you in the future? What future, you think miserably to yourself. No one ever calls on nights like these.
As the sun climbs down in the sky, you trek further and further into the woods. It was beautiful, in a way. The birdsong and insect calls were refreshing, like music, compared to the noises of dorms and classrooms. No one was out here to bother you or make you feel bad about yourself. It was just you and the trees and the multicolored sky.
The snap of twigs and crunch of pebbles under your feet slowly quiets until the trail veers off, and you continue into the lush grass. The soft sound calms you, despite the brusque wind putting a chill through your body. It feels like the days of your childhood all over again, playing in nature, out until dark, without a care in the world. Now, though, instead of heading inside at sundown, you venture further in.
Yes, the woods were creepy at night. That was just a fact. Everyone around here knew not to take their chances with Mother Nature. Some even believed in supernatural consequences if you did. You weren’t worried, though. You weren’t messing with nature, after all. You were just a visitor, an appreciator, even. These woods were a blessing, the first location in the start of your new life. It was a haunting place. Yet, it was truly beautiful in its own way. After having only been here for a few hours, you already felt your life starting to change. How could you go back to what you had before? No, solitude and the mystery of nature were far more alluring.
Soon, the sun dips below the horizon in the sky. Even with your flashlight, it's hard to see without much natural light to help you. Now was as good a time as any to hole up for the night. Taking a few glances around the area, you find a cozy-looking spot at the base of a large tree. You check the ground with your hand. It was surprisingly soft, and the grass was growing well. That would do, you decided. Unzipping your bag, you roll out your sleeping bag and arrange it gently next to the tree. You place your belongings carefully next to you and shed your boots. You debate changing your clothes as well but decide not to go through your extra clothes too quickly. The old jeans and ratty sweatshirt will have to do for now.
As you sit down, you’re surprised how quickly the tiredness takes you. You gaze up at the stars, wistful.
Am I okay with this?
…
It doesn’t matter. I have to be.
***
You’re not sure how much time passes before you’re woken up from your slumber. A sound, you think, glancing around you. A snap, or maybe a crunch of leaves under some critter’s footsteps. That’s normal, you think. These noises happen all the time. So why did this one wake me?
Snap .
There it is again, you think, sitting up slowly.
Thump, thump, thump.
And were those footsteps?
You sit up slowly, sliding your boots back on. Even if whatever was out there was harmless, you weren’t going back to sleep anytime soon. Might as well take a look around. As you stand up, you gather your flashlight and your digital camera. You snap a photo of the tree with all your belongings beneath it. Hopefully it’ll help you remember where you set up camp. Although you don’t plan on going too far. Just a quick perimeter check, and then you’ll go relax. After all, you’re not sure what tomorrow will bring you.
Thump, thump, thump, snap.
More noises! you think. They sounded like they were coming from your right, so slowly, carefully, you head in that direction.
To your excitement and horror, the footstep noises continue. The woods aren’t silent, but you can’t just write these off as average forest noises. No, these were human.
Alright then, so what? Obviously you didn’t want to interact with whoever it was. You just wanted to get close enough to see. Just to put your mind at ease, to make sure you’re not going crazy. Or maybe if there was someone else with the terrible idea to camp out in the woods at night, maybe you could learn something from watching them.
Or it could be a serial killer.
You sigh to yourself. You said you were done worrying about your future. You made your bed; now you must lie in it. If this is how your life ends, so be it. It would be more exciting than anything you had planned, anyway.
Snap.
Okay, that sounded much closer. And were those leaves up ahead rustling because of the wind, or…?
Fighting your stomach-tossing nerves, you creep closer. You adjust your flashlight to the dimmest setting, hoping it’ll make you more inconspicuous. You also press record on your camera. Taking video evidence might make you feel less crazy.
Your heartbeat quickens as the footsteps and rustling don’t stop. You walk slowly, hoping to notice something, anything, in the dark so that you can return back the way you came. You scan the woods in all directions. There must be something—someone—here.
Snap.
There it is. You must be right behind them, you think. You fight off a wave of nausea. This was a horrible idea. Yet, you have to keep going.
There.
You lower your flashlight to your side. Your arm holding the camera shakes as if you’re running, but you’re holding perfectly still.
Right. In front. Of you.
They were a ways ahead. Many yards, you think. Enough for you to stay unnoticed if you stayed right here.
But of course you can’t do that.
You very carefully take a step. Then another.
There are two of them. Maybe more, but definitely two.
They have flashlights.
You turn yours off before getting too close.
It’s so dark. You try your hardest to make out their appearances. Work boots, not too dissimilar to your own. Jeans, more well worn than yours ever have been. One tan jacket and one yellow hoodie, both appearing in the low light as a dull, mustard-y color. You catch this all in glimpses as the flashlight beams cross and interlock over each other.
Two strangers.
Two men.
You’re hypnotized.
Closer. You walk slowly, making sure each step is more than silent.
They’re up to something, you decide. Illegal, most likely. They’re mostly crouched over, working on something on the ground. But what?
The serial killer idea pops back into your head. Do they look like serial killers? What does a serial killer even look like? You examine again.
The one facing you has his face completely obscured. His hood is up over his head, and a balaclava-esque mask obscures his face. When the other’s light shines on him, you think you make out a red marking in the shape of a frowny face on the mask. Too bad, you think. If he kills you, you want to know if he’s handsome. It might make it worth it.
You’re curious about the other figure. You can’t see him as well due to your position. You decide to switch your perspective, walking slowly as ever to face him.
Unlike Frowny Face, this one’s head isn’t completely hidden. You can make out scruffy brown hair, falling over his mask. His mask! You need a closer look.
You stifle a gasp. The mask is gorgeous. Yes, it's simple: something whose main purpose is to hide its wearer’s identity. Yet, the word that comes to your mind is ‘elegant.’ It’s pure white, contrasting against its wearer’s dark hair. There were markings over it highlighting the mask’s features, painted stark black. Black eyes, black eyebrows, black lips. It was artistic. Somehow, you’re reminded of your high school theatre class. Amateur, yet passionate. Tragedy and comedy. You wonder which one this man was going for. No, how could you even ask that? This man was clearly Tragedy.
Tragedy swivels his head around. Did he hear you somehow? You hold still and hold your breath.
Frowny Face shakes his head. He taps Tragedy on the arm. … Was that blood on his glove?
Tragedy smacks his hand away. … Yup, definitely blood on both of them. But where…?
You turn your gaze down. You can’t see much, but the ground looks a little too lumpy. Is that a blanket? Or some sort of tarp?
Frowny Face twists away from you, seemingly rummaging for something next to him. In doing so, he just so slightly pulls the blanket-tarp thing. You inhale sharply as fear shoots down your spine. Unmistakably, poking out from the tarp is a bloodied human hand.
Okay, time to get out of here. You’ve seen enough tonight. You’re lucky they didn’t see you, or you could’ve ended up like poor Joe Schmoe, cold and lifeless, at the hands of two masked psychopaths. Yeah, it’s time to go now.
You will your body to move, despite not trusting your trembling legs. Slowly, but surely. That’s what worked for you on your way here, and you hope it works for you on your way out. Despite everything, you’re not ready to die. Not here, not now, not like this. Just a little bit further, and you’ll be out of their line of vision, out of earshot, safe and sound under your beautiful tree.
Just keep going, just keep going, just keep going.
SNAP.
The wince spreads across your face instantaneously. You hadn’t been looking, just moving on instinct, and a twig forcefully broke underneath your step.
Fuck. You really hope they didn’t hear that.
Just keep going.
Thump, thump, thump.
Keep going.
Thump, thump, thump.
Keep going, dammit!
Two pairs of footsteps behind you.
Running for your life, hacking and coughing from the effort. Was the air thicker than usual? Or was it just the fear blazing through your veins, working your organs overtime?
Thump, thump, thump.
You don’t know where you are. You don’t know how to beat them. You don’t want to die.
Thump, thump, thump.
Smack.
A red frowny face.
A white mask.
And then, finally, darkness.