Fated and Fatal / Johnny Slaughter
Summary: Johnny Slaughter becomes infatuated with Newtâs very own beauty queen, struggling with the conflict between his desire to form a semblance of connection and his inescapable family bond.Â
Warnings: violence, NSFW, knife play, death
Extra notes: Main character is named Nikki, but descriptions are left vague for the reader :) (f!reader)
I made a playlist with some songs mentioned in the story, as well as some that match the feelings: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/434UljTQ76aZywvilq59ET?si=w8qOT9K3SXinLwIVsEiq4g
Johnnyâs hands were trembling. Not from fear, nor excitement. The plain simple bodily reaction he had to the adrenaline. The past couple weeks at Nancy's house had been tense, considering she was absolutely livid that one of the sorority girls at Omega Sigma Theta had escaped after one of Johnnyâs âexcursionsâ. The girl begged the operator for help through shaky breaths as her closest friends were being brutally slaughtered by Johnny in the other rooms of their once beloved sorority house. Unfortunately he got too caught up with the amount of them until he heard the sirens. Johnny swore up and down to Nancy that the girl who was alive had only seen him from behind, both of them screaming at each other in the soothing glow of Nancy's perfect kitchen. One youâd see in a home renovation magazine while standing in line at the grocery store. Nothing new between them, a mother who unrelentingly kept her claws dug into Johnnyâs being, his mind, his self. Broken dishes scattered the perfectly lined hardwood floors. âToo fuckinâ perfectâ. Nevertheless, the house was tense. So now, here Johnny was, lazily pulling an inhale of his cigarette as he walked through the familiar streets of the dead end town, Newt, still trembling from beating the shit out of the drunken dipshit in a bar a few towns over who had glanced at him wrong. The wind blew heavily through the air, even though it was the middle of July, Johnny could smell the rain that was soon to come. He had no sinister intentions, especially not in his hometown where he was known, in the middle of the evening, but he couldn't bear the thought of being home yet. He walked through the cityâs own small version of a âdowntownâ, the streets lined with small shops, dingy restaurants and abandoned buildings.Â
Thatâs when he saw her. Newtâs very own sweetheart. Johnny couldnât recall her name, although he was sure heâd heard it a few times. ââ___âs coming to that block party next weekend!â, âShe did my hair last week, what a sweet thing.â Heâd heard the words hang in the air between unassuming customers while he helped Drayton out, working at the gas station when he felt restless. She was sitting in front of the only salon in this whole damn town, the only repeating customers being older women who had nothing better to do and farmerâs housewives. He slowed his gait from the other side of the street, letting his eyes trail over her as he flicked his cigarette down towards the concrete, crushing it with the brown tip of his cowboy boot. Johnny usually only looked over a girl like that for one of two things, sex or death. They never mixed. To Johnny, it was one of the only things that made him genuinely recoil. Like shitting where you ate; he didnât want to tarnish the reason his victim was crying and begging. He wanted it to be from terror, from the loss of control, the helplessness, the only expression being one of realization that his face would be the last theyâd get the chance to see. When he wanted to chase his sexual needs heâd go to a bar, have a one night stand, a quickie in the bathroom and thatâd usually satisfy him enough. The lack of an awkward greeting in the morning, the expectation of something real, he hated that, so he kept it casual.Â
When he saw her there, her slender fingers thumbing over the pages of a book he couldnât make out from his distance, her long hair falling perfectly in an old Hollywood curl looking style, fitting for a girl in her line of work, he felt something. Something familiar that made his brows pull together in annoyance. Someone called to her from inside the salon, the door opening behind her and she turned her head and stood up, brushing off her capris with the same delicate hands heâd watched as she turned a page. Johnny's gaze followed as some of the dirt fell to her kitten heeled sandals, and he wondered how long itâd take her to notice. She glanced up towards him for only a moment, their eyes meeting and she turned to go back in, a warm smile and useless small talk offered to the elderly woman sitting in the chair from inside.
That night he couldnât sleep. He convinced himself heâd been out of his mind from the never-ending fights with Nancy, or the lack of cars to work on at Draytonâs shop, leaving his mind to race. He thought about Newtâs sweetheart, the girl that seemed to be loved by everyone and the only way he could justify his racing thoughts was how similar she was to him. Beautiful, dangerously alluring. He wondered if she used it to get things she wanted too, just like he did.Â
You watched as the small hand of the burgundy clock that hung on the salonâs wall ticked down. â57⊠58⊠59..â. You let out a small sigh as it finally hit seven oâclock. You grabbed your purse off your small booth in the shared space and smiled at your two coworkers, waving and sweetly telling them goodnight. They split up, shuffling into their cars before you slipped into your own grey, piece of shit car. The sound of the engine rattled as you turned the key in the ignition, turning up the stereo, âI need youâ by Lynyrd Skynyrd playing softly to help drone out the issue you wanted so desperately to ignore, driving off towards your small farm house.Â
The familiar stench of smoke hit your face as you tossed your keys down onto the kitchen table, littered with empty bottles of alcohol, unread mail and a small vase of withering flowers. Your mom, Jennifer, padded out of her room squinting at you as if she was adjusting to the change in light. âOh, heyâ she mumbled, walking past you to rummage around the fridge, presumably for more alcohol. It was funny, you and your mother, the once before beauty queen of Newt, looked almost identical, except for of course the wrinkles and drowsiness in her eyes, a sign of aging⊠or poor health habits, youâd never be sure. Maybe both. âMom, I got a really good tip today, from Mrs. Barker, yaâ know, the one who always bakes us those gingerbread cookies for Christmas.â Your mom looked up at you and nodded slowly giving a tired smile, seemingly not having much to say before returning to her room. You chewed at your bottom lip, a nervous habit youâd never been able to kick, even when youâd been scolded as a young child, even slapped for.Â
To any outsider's perspective, your mother was a treasure to the town, the first crowned beauty queen when she was a senior, during Newtâs summer parade. She married her high school sweetheart, before having you at 19 and then he decided he didnât like the idea of a white picket fence house in a forgotten about small town, and he left. Surely no other reason, no other woman. Your mother, though, was raised to not let her weakness show, so she would volunteer at your school, always go to town meetings, events, always best dressed, always friendly and continued to flash her perfectly charming smile through it all. The older you got the more you despised this mask sheâd worn to the town, the one youâd been pressured into preserving, for the sake of her, for the sake of yourself. After you graduated, you decided to work in cosmetology, since it was the one thing people had suggested to you and assumed youâd be great at. Here you were, twenty-three and spending countless days in the smell of hair color fumes and ever-changing town gossip. It was restless, and youâd often dreamed of moving on past this town, moving to a big city but you could never leave your mom, who seemed to become more passive to her habits day by day. It was heartbreaking, but you learned to flash your passed-down charming smile any time youâd catch yourself showing any doubt.Â
Johnny hadnât let anyone touch his hair since he was a teen. In fact, he hadnât let anyone touch him in any way besides when theyâd claw at his arms as he plunged his knife deep into their flesh, or lust fueled touches in the steamy moments in the back of his truck. Exactly a week since heâd seen the beauty queen of Newt, he found himself walking up to the door of the salon she worked in, a bell ringing as it swung open under his grasp. Heâd seen her from outside the window, her long hair tied up in a ponytail, showing off her silver studded earrings. He knew this was already a terrible idea, but he could hardly sleep since heâd seen her. She was wearing highrise flared jeans, embroidered flowers crawling up the leg of the fabric and a black sweater-material short sleeve shirt that hugged her body tightly. Johnny was snapped out of his fixed gaze on her as an older woman approached from his left. âYou here for a haircut sugar?â The woman asked, her tone indifferent, but still polite. âYeah..â Johnny trailed, flicking his gaze to her round face, seasoned with age, red-dyed thin hair, held up by heavy coats of hairspray. âAll right, come sit in my chair over here honey, Iâll get you all fixed up.â she smiled. Johnny flashed her his charming smirk, knowing it always got him what he wanted. âActually, Iâm here for her-â he said, nodding over at the beauty queen herself. The older woman's face had a slight shift of surprise but it soon turned into a soft smile and Johnny knew that she was going to gossip to all the other small town hens about this on the phone later. He took it upon himself to sit in one of the chairs that lined the wall, spreading his legs confidently as he lit a cigarette, dangling it in his mouth as he watched the same soft hands heâd thought about for a week straight, this time encased in latex gloves, apply some type of foil to one of the women heâd recognized from around town. He couldnât care to remember her name nor did he have any clue about what the point of the foils were.Â
A flash of red hair came into your peripheral as Martha, one of your coworkers approached you, touching your shoulder lightly. âYou know that fella, Nikki?â she said to you, quietly so only you and Mrs. Barker, who was here for her weekly root touch up, could hear. You glanced over at the guy spread out in the chair, seemingly drinking in the sight of you. He was older than you, late twenties, handsome, but rugged, like he worked with his hands. âFamiliar?â You could tell he was tall, even as his form was slouched on the back of the chair, not lazily, but comfortably like he owned the place, his demanding presence one that you were shocked you hadnât taken notice of as soon as he walked in. You caught his gaze, his dark brown eyes holding your own as you turned back to Martha. âNo, why?â you asked sheepishly. Martha couldnât help it, the talk of the town didnât make itself up. âWell he says heâs here for yaâ,â she said, walking back over to her booth to organize the mess sheâd made from an earlier appointment.Â
Johnny's ears practically perked up at the mention of the name âNikkiâ. Now he had a name to match that pretty face that was even more endearing closer up than from across the street on a cloudy day. You rinsed Ms. Fowler's hair out, blow drying and styling it as you felt the pair of dark eyes watching your every move. It wasnât something you werenât used to, but there was something that felt different, the gaze wasnât one of lust like usual stares, it was something more, something deeper. You scoured your brain for the reason youâd felt a familiarity with those sharp eyes and remembered the handsome man youâd seen across the street the week prior. Why was he here, for you?
Johnny watched as sheâd walked up to him, sliding off her gloves and he mentally noted the pinkish nude manicure on her nails, a few delicate rings on her fingers, but none on the left ring finger. Good start.
 âHi, you need a haircut?â you asked sweetly, your natural charm never failing you, even if your head was racing with thoughts, with questions.Â
Johnny nodded and smiled up at her. âYeah sweetheart, I need some fixinâ.â he said, mirroring the words Martha had spoken to him earlier. She nodded over to her chair with a smile and he could see her expression falter for a split second, an unasked question sitting impatiently behind her lips, but it never came. Johnny studied her carefully through the reflection of the mirror sitting in front of them as she draped a cape over his broad shoulders. He smirked at how low she had to bring the chair down to properly have access to his hair and it made his chest swell in a weird type of way. Heâd usually felt this way when he was sizing someone up, but now, in this moment he thought about how small sheâd feel pressed against him. Her hands slowly ran through his hair and he knew it was a simple vetting of the length of his hair, but something about the feeling made him swallow thickly. âHow much do you want off?â she asked, seemingly not catching his subtle reaction. In full honesty, Johnny didnât need any of it cut off, he always took good care of his hair, trimming it whenever needed and gelling it back into the signature slick back heâd always worn. His appearance was the first deadly weapon that heâd use in most situations anyways. âJust a little, darlinâ.â He smirked, looking at her through the mirror as she expertly pulled his hair straight up, trimming each section carefully at an angle.Â
âYou asked for me specifically?â you finally spoke up after a while, casually letting your gaze flicker over more of his features now that he was closer in proximity, leaning back in your salon chair. The smell of marlboro reds and spicy cologne hit your nose in a way you didn't complain about. You couldnât help but notice the long pinkish scar that lay over his forehead down to his cheek, the small mole that sat underneath his sideburn on the left side, above his sharp jaw.
Johnny smiled wolfishly at her words, knowing of course, Martha couldnât help herself but tell miss beauty queen. âYeah, I did,â he said casually, not explaining himself any further. âWhatâs your name doll?â This was such a bad idea. The last girl, the only girl heâd felt these confusing ways for, was now six feet under the ground, thanks to his own mother. âNikki,â she said with a shy smile. âWhatâs yours?â He waited for her eyes to meet his in the mirror. âJohnny.â
Johnny told himself the time spent watching Nikki, learning about her from a distance was just a distraction, an excuse to be away from the house that only offered him tension and a lack of sleep. He wasnât going to go too far, crossing any boundaries. He didn't feel the need, she wasn't a victim to him, especially with how popular she was around town. It felt more like a sick experiment to see for himself if he truly was capable of more than a fleeting hookup, a quick fix from a murder. He stuck to sitting around in his truck, noticing how inconsistent her schedule was throughout the week, how she changed her hair, but mostly wore the Hollywood curls, like Betty Paige but without bangs. He wanted to get to know her, see if her perfect appearance was a useful tool like his own, or something more of a facade⊠also like his.Â
One day you were running late, and you really hoped Martha hadnât snagged your 1:30 oâclock appointment with Mrs. Starling, a woman in her eighties that was frankly your favorite client, if anything, someone youâd consider your friend. You yelped suddenly as you bumped into something hard, something much taller than you. The same recognizable scent of Marlboro and cologne in the air. You glanced up, your cheeks already warming up âJohnny! Oh my god.. Iâm sorryâ you muttered, squatting down to grab your purse that had fallen off your shoulder. He squatted beside you, his fingers brushing your own as he helped you. It was like a cheesy romance sequence, and if youâd been smarter youâd have seen right through him, knowing that was his premeditated plan from the start. You stood up, sliding your purse back over your shoulder as you looked up at him, momentarily forgetting the fact that you were in a rush.
Johnny looked down at those sweet doe eyes, the ones he couldnât get out of his head, the ones that were making him lose sleep. âHey sweetheartâ he said casually. He watched as Nikkiâs eyes trailed over him, his tan button down short sleeve shirt tucked into blue jeans held by a brown leather belt, same dirty cowboy boots as always. âYou goinâ to work?â he asked, glancing inside the glass storefront of the salon, catching Marthaâs prying eyes before she turned her head full of red hair away. He loved the way Nikki shuffled slightly, her weight falling to one side of her hip. He had a fleeting thought of curiosity about what other unintentional movements and habits she had, usually unnoticed by everyone around her. âYeah, Iâve got a completely booked day..â she trailed, her eyes holding his gaze. It was surprising, most people flicked their attention elsewhere after Johnnyâs almost black eyes met them for too long. He noticed the way she bit her bottom lip before manually letting it fall, as if she caught herself doing something she wasnât meant to. Johnny squeezed his fingers towards his palm that hung at his side, suppressing the urge to run his finger over the soft pink plush of her bottom lip. She quietly apologized again, flashing him a bright smile before turning to walk into the salon. âHey Nikki-â he said, his voice smooth and confident, unlike his beating heart. âYou wanna go out?âÂ
That night youâd sat at the kitchen table, eating a sandwich as you lazily flicked your eyes over the local newspaper that sat bleakly in front of you. You scanned the text at the top of the page, confirming this was the correct date. Every headline was the same, just a different face, different description. Today it read that a woman in her early forties had gone missing, her son also being confirmed missing just a month ago. You felt a pit in your stomach and laid the paper gently back down, your mom walking into the room. âHi my sweet girl, how was work?â she asked, kissing you on the top of your head, seemingly in a more sober state today. You smiled up at her and felt a little nervous to tell her your plans for tomorrow, even though you were a full grown adult. âIt was really good! I kept busy⊠actually I have a date tomorrow.â You said, your voice quieter as the statement left your lips. Your mom turned around from where she was pouring a fresh cup of coffee, even at the late hour. âYeah?â she asked. You could tell she wanted more info by her almost cheeky grin, but there was something else in her eyes, concern, fear of loss. You nodded and finished the last bite of your dinner, âI had this client a while ago.. Johnny- you know him? Well anyways, we ran into each other today and he wants to take me out.â Jennifer stirred the sugar into her still steaming coffee, her lips pressed together in a line. âJohnny Slaughter, yeah I know âem. Laceyâs daughter got heartbroken by him, apparently heâs not the dating type. Heâs a dog. Not to mention his mother.â she said flatly. You blinked a few times, your throat feeling a little dry. Not that youâd really known him, if at all, but youâd felt butterflies in your stomach each time his dark eyes scanned over your face, as if he was memorizing every detail about you. âA dog?â Youâd heard of the Slaughters before, especially Black Nancy, the widow of the town that was hardly seen, but it was only now you realized Johnny had never told you his last name. Your mother seemingly noticed the shift in your mood, and came back over to run her hand over your smooth hair, âIâm not saying donât go honey, just be careful. Donât be so trusting⊠and stop biting your lip.âÂ
Johnny didnât do dates. Not that he hadnât ever, but it had been years. It was back before he learned the perfect balance of getting his rocks off, and not having to stay to pretend to care about the words that fell from kiss-sore lips. He thought about the first time heâd felt this way, he didnât go slow, didnât wait or try to earn any trust, heâd just taken her as soon as he noticed the click of the 230 land camera. It was truly foolish, his mind overcome by angered insecurity and fear of rejection, which was something heâd never dealt with, so instead he just took what he wanted. Heâd like to think he knew better now, but the truth was, he still wasnât sure what the truth of the word love meant, in a normal sense.Â
Johnny had taken you to the best diner in Newt, âBethâs Barn Houseâ, the only one of three that wasnât completely worn down and was known for serving at least edible food. There had been a few stares as the two of you crossed the parking lot, Johnnyâs muscular arm holding the door for you, then his hand finding your lower back. He was dressed in his usual jeans, a black button down, of course short sleeved and his boots. You walked next to him as he asked for a booth for two, your feet already hurting from the tan heeled sandals you wore, your body sweating in the material of the halter denim jumpsuit youâd worn, the sound of your silver bangles on your wrist clicking as you set your purse down next to you in the plush of the seat. You held his intense gaze across the table from you and smiled shyly. âWhat?â you giggled. Johnny shook his head and looked down at the menu, tossing it to the side as if heâd realized, nothing has changed in terms of options since the past years heâs come here. Old country music played from the speakers softly, mixing in the air with the chatter of the few other patrons in the diner. âYou look so pretty Nikki,â he said, the low tone of his voice causing small goosebumps to crawl over your skin.Â
Johnny could tell from her sweet smile that didn't quite reach her eyes was a taught manner of just being polite as she said âthank youâ. Sheâd probably heard that her whole life, the lack of sustenance in the complement making him stiffen in his seat at the realization. He cleared his throat, âSo how long you been workinâ at that little salon?â, hoping his interest wasnât already misconstrued as simple lust in her mind. âA few yearsâ she said, her eyes meeting his in a way that made his shoulders loosen, mentally relieved that he hadnât completely blown it. âItâs nice⊠but I donât wanna do it forever, I want something else.â Johnny watched her mask slip for a moment, her perfect facade, the beautiful, sweet girl that the whole town of Newt had nothing bad to say about was opening up to him. âSomethinâ else? Like what doll?â he said casually, not showing his feverish desire to hear every secret she held, every feeling, every thought that ran through that pretty head. âIâm sick of this town.â she said quietly, her eyes almost pleading for a second before the waitress approached the table, offering to take your orders.
Johnny drove his black Chevy pick up truck with the windows down, causing your hair to stick to your lip gloss as the warm summer wind blew through the cab. The melting glow of the sun sculpted his already perfect arm, that was lazily resting at the top of the wheel. Youâd asked about what he did for work during your meal, hoping heâd tell you something that would explain the scars but he casually mentioned farm work and helping his uncle at a gas station that was near the border of town, occasionally working on cars. The drive back to your house had been filled with an electricity in the silence, the confession youâd blurted out before the waitress interrupted was surprisingly a mutual feeling to Johnny and the two of you talked about what itâd be like to leave it all behind. That thought alone was going against everything your mother raised you to be, compliant, charming, loved by a small town that had once loved her the same way- not a runaway. Johnnyâs truck squealed slightly as the tires rolled to a stop on the gravel path in front of your house and you looked over at him. The way the sunlight hit him from behind, illuminating every striking feature of his face, his almost black hair outlined in the golden rays. He put his large hand on your thigh, rough and calloused even through the denim and slowly moved up, squeezing gently. His eyes flicked between your eyes and lips, like a wolf about to strike a deer. âJohnny..â you said in a whisper.
The way she whispered his name out of those pretty lips made his throat bob in a thick swallow, the way his hand easily covered most of her thigh in her outfit sheâd picked out just for him made his heart race, though heâd never let it show. He leaned in, as did she, their lips barely brushing and he could see through half lidded eyes as her chest rose and fell quickly in anticipation. He suddenly felt two hands press against his chest, pushing him back. âI-Iâm sorry,â she muttered, her cheeks dusted in the same pink heâd seen on her always perfect manicure.Â
You remembered the words your mom had used as warning. âA dogâ. âNot the dating typeâ. You felt like Johnny was truly interested in you, but was definitely hiding something and you couldnât place it. Maybe he did just want you to fall for him, finally get your panties off and hold the bragging rights of sleeping with Newtâs sweetheart. The thought alone made you push him away, quickly opening the passenger's side and climbing out, but before you could walk towards the house Johnny was already making his way around the truck. âNikki! Hey.. hey.â he said, grabbing your upper arm, tight enough to let you know he was in control, but not painfully. You bit your bottom lip again, goddamnit, and looked up at him, your face not hiding any of your doubt, which was very unlike you. âI just- Iâm not that type of girl,â you said through uneven breaths. Johnnyâs gaze softened, something you were sure youâd never seen before and he glanced over at your house before his eyes fell back to you. He let go of your arm and grabbed his cigarette pack that stuck out of the back pocket of his perfectly fitting jeans, pulling one out and cupping his hand around the front to block the wind as he lit it. âNikki, itâs not like that. Let me take you out again princess.â
The brunette that threw herself all over Johnny at the bar a few nights after his first date with Nikki usually would have gone in a completely different direction. The way her low cut tank top clung to her chest that was being purposefully pressed against him, the way her mascara coated lashes batted up at him, her drunken voice flirty and low wouldâve usually been a green light to get his needs met. He couldnât though, he hadnât been able to think straight, his thoughts fully consumed by the beauty queen of Newt, the one he wanted to call his own. Was it normal to be jealous of a whole town? This girl was nothing like her. âYeah sweetheart, thatâs real interestingâ he muttered, disinterest lacing his tone, running his hand through his slick back as he downed his shot without so much as a flinch. âAm I not pretty enough for you or somethinâ- youâre such a dick. You ainât as big and tough as you think.â the girl slurred. The next thing Johnny felt was the cold potent alcohol that was now dripping down the side of his face. He stood up, his cold eyes flashing with the same darkness he knew all too well. He could see the girl stumble back a little as he towered over her, but he roughly wiped his face, flicking the liquid off his hand before he headed out of the bar. That night Johnny went out to⊠hunt. Something he knew, something he was good at, something that ripped his mind away from wondering what a certain small town texan girl must be doing in her room.
Nancy stood at the doorway of the basement, the red glow emanating from half-broken bulbs creating her silhouette as a black figure in contrast to the light from the house behind her. Fitting, âBlack Nancyâ, cruel, cold, apathetic, only satisfied when Johnny was at her beck and call. Johnny sighed and used his sweat soaked t-shirt that was lazily hung from his jeans to wipe the blood off his arms indolently. He knew she was watching, knew she could always see right through him, ever since Judith, his real mother, had attacked Nancy and ripped her eye out of her face, sheâd had the power to get âvisionsâ as she called them. âIt was a couple from Leeraville, itâs taken care of.â Johnny grumbled. He often thought about the fateful day he got his scar from Nancy, the gut wrenching truth of his upbringing being a complete lie, the seething anger that burned through his entire body during the initial confrontation between the two of them. He could easily try again, now that he was older, bigger, stronger, he could easily kill her and just leave. Maybe he would.
It had been a few weeks of seeing Johnny, and youâd started to let your guard down around him more and more. He felt like the one last real thing in this town, even though heâd been undoubtedly hiding things from you. Phone calls at 3 AM where heâd apologized, not realizing how late it'd been, a few cancelled plans explained by family emergencies, dried blood under his fingernails heâd brushed off as hunting with his brothers, but most of all there was a connection. Late night gas station trips just to get away from your houses, summer afternoons spent under the warm sun on the lake, occasional outings to Bethâs. It all felt so right. Maybe you were naive, too trusting like your mom had warned, but you just couldnât help it when it came to him, an unexplainable tie that always led you back to him.Â
You stood leaning on your salon booth, eyes flickering over the newspaper from this morning, Martha and her client already chatting about it. âCan you really believe it? I canât believe these damn no-good cops havenât done a thing. How come there ainât no leads every time.â You stayed quiet, reading the headline, this time a couple whose car had broken down a town over, seemingly gone in an instant, no trace at all of them. You heard the familiar sound of the door chime and looked up, an immediate smile spreading over your face, not the one youâd been taught, but a real one.
Johnny watched from the glass window as Nikki glanced over the paper, her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she read the news. He couldnât help but feel a sharp pain in his chest, if only sheâd ever found out the truth about him, the bad man that came out in his most natural moments of instinct. He refused to entertain that thought, knowing sheâd end up with the same twisted fate as the first girl, the one who lay underground now. He swung open the door, âHarper Valley PTAâ playing over the speakers of the salon and the smell of hair dye chemicals heâd never know what to do with if they were placed in front of him. âHey darlinââ he said, his voice smooth and drawled, walking over to Nikki, maybe a little too close for just a client and a hairdresser. He noticed Nikkiâs sly smile as she glanced over his shoulder at Martha, who was now not as interested in gossip as she was watching the two of them. âHey Johnny,â she replied with the same sweet voice he thought about at night. He was shocked, only for a moment as she took him by the hand, leading him outside before pulling him out of view of the glass windows of the salon. Her arms immediately hooked around the back of his neck, her weight on her tiptoes, even in her heels as she leaned up and placed a sweet kiss to his lips. Johnny immediately kissed back, deepening it as his large hands held the small of her back, pressing her closer to him.Â
You pulled back, your breath shallow as you looked up at him, the signature smell of smoke and cologne now making your knees weak. He seemed stiff, but in a way that made you think heâd probably thought about what this would feel like for a long time. You couldnât help the shy smile that adorned your face, especially considering the way his hands felt on you, so firm, so grounding, still not moving from your lower back. âDamn Nikki I just called you last night, you missed me that bad?â he teased, almost a deflection of his true desires. You bit your lip and nodded, trying to stifle a giggle. âYou still taking me out later, or you changed your mind?â you teased back. Johnny tilted his head back slightly, the view of his perfect jaw and neck making your mind race as he pretended to think about your offer. âWell I dunno, you seem a little out of it, dragginâ me around like a damn dogâ. âA dogâ. Your mom didnât know anything about him. You pouted as he brought his gaze back down, his hands trailing up your arms. âYeah baby weâre goinâ out after you get off, you donât have a choice.âÂ
Johnny had a cooler in the back of his truck that rattled around the bed as he drove down the gravel road to her house. He smirked as she padded down the front porch steps, perfectly tight jean shorts, showing off her tan legs, a tank top that was tied with a string around the back, pink and orange colors fleeting the fabric, flimsy sandals. Straight out of the beauty magazines that littered the side tables of the salon. It was a sight heâd definitely think about later in his shack. Johnny palmed at his jeans, trying to hide his growing erection while her eyes were still glued to the stairs, focusing on not tripping down them. âOh, so you are cominâ?â he said with a shit eating grin. She rolled her eyes and it made his smirk grow even wider. âYouâd miss me if I didn't,â she retorted, tossing her tote bag into the passenger's side as he held the door open. âHmm yeah I probably would, wouldnât I-â he said, leaning into her space to kiss her jaw, moving up towards the corner of her glossy lips. He loved how she squirmed and giggled at even the lightest of touches, something he hadn't expected from the confidence that she emitted. As Johnny walked around the truck to the drivers side he could see the fall of a curtain from inside the house.Â
You and Johnny sat on the truck bed, your legs hanging and swinging slightly as the two of you looked out to the sunâs reflection shimmering off the lake. You took another swig of beer that tasted bitter, but Johnny was watching you carefully, so you pretended it didnât bother you. That stupid mask of perfection. âWhere do you wanna go?â he said, the words hanging heavily in the air. Your heart ached and simultaneously jumped at the thought. You and Johnny taking it on the run, far away from the town that thought it knew you, expected you to be as perfect as your mother. âMaybe California, somewhere near the beachâ you trailed. âSomewhere thatâs close enough to a big city, but still private.â He nodded and finished the last of his beer, yours still barely half drank. âMaybe a whole damn different countryâ he muttered, his gaze now fixed on the setting sun against the dark blues of the lake. If only youâd known, he canât leave, he was completely planted in the roots of this town, a violent past and present that would never let go.
Drops of rain created makeshift polka dots on your top as you and Johnny packed up the cooler, scrambling to put everything you had valuable in the dry cab of his truck. You gasped as the rain suddenly poured down, glancing over at Johnny. Neither of you expected it, in fact as the two of you gazed at the sunset and made up a fake future you both knew was out of reach, the sky was mostly clear. You looked up, your eyes closing in reaction to the small water beads that threatened to fall into your vision and giggled, sticking your tongue out. âWhat the hell are you doinâ?â Johnny asked, but his tone held no discernment. âTasting the rain. You never did that as a kid?â you asked, as if he was crazy for even judging you in the first place. âNo.â he said flatly, but you let your eyes gently flutter open as you felt his form grow closer, the warmth giving him away.Â
Johnny shook his head at her antics, noting that this was definitely something she never would have done in anyone else's presence, her perfect facade again cracking in front of him. The thought made him feel possessive, special even. He trailed his hands up her waist, his eyes dark and serious as she opened her own. âJohnny...â she whispered. Itâs like she knew what she was doing every time she called his name like that, almost as dirty as a confession to her own needs, her own desires for him. He lifted her up easily, the wet fabric of both their clothing pressed between the two of them as she wrapped her legs around him. He planted warm kisses against her neck as he carried her over to the back of the truck, releasing one arm to pull the handle to the bed open. She looked up at him with those sweet eyes, now pleading and desperate as he laid her down gently on the hard ribbed steel of the truck bed.
Your whole soaked body was covered in goosebumps, from the cool rain or Johnnyâs touch you werenât sure. The way he looked down at you, his large form leaning over you as he stood between your legs made you whimper. The rain rolled off his broad arms, his figure shielding you from the direct hit of the drops and you reached out to grab his biceps. âI want you,â you breathed out. It was like watching a coil spring loose, the way his eyes seemingly darkened even more, his rugged breath, the silence from him made your body sensitive at the thought of how bad he could truly ruin you if he wanted. He leaned down, claiming your mouth in a kiss that was nothing like the one the two of you shared in front of your workplace, now hungry as he slipped his tongue in your mouth, trying to taste every available spot he could reach. Your small hands trembled as you ran them from his muscular arms littered with scars to his still clothed chest, dipping under his shirt to graze over his equally toned chest. âFuck,â you whispered. He suddenly reached under his shirt, grabbing your wrists with one hand to bring them out. âNikki..â he said through a deep, hoarse voice. âTell me you want this baby, tell me youâre ready.â
Johnny had never felt this need. It wasnât killing, it wasnât just sex. It was such a strong desire to make someone his, fully claim her, but do it right. He needed to hear her say it. âJohnny.. I need you. Iâm ready, - please touch me.â she panted from underneath him. Johnny felt his muscles tense up, his jaw clenching tightly as he trailed his hands over her shivering form, savoring every inch of her wet, smooth skin. âUse your words, tell me what you need.â Johnny whispered in her ear, leaving open mouthed kisses down her jaw to her neck, relishing in the way he could feel her racing pulse. Johnny let her take control, but only temporarily as she gently grabbed each side of his face to meet her beautiful needy eyes to his own, which were completely sharp with hunger.Â
âJohnny pleaseâ you whined. âI want you⊠everywhere. Make me yours.â You could tell how pent up he was, how hesitant he was. You thought about how he must feel like this while hunting deer, or whatever he hunted with his brothers, waiting for the signal to strike, to kill. The plea that fell from your swollen lips seemed to be the exact cue and he immediately leaned down to kiss you again, your whimpers and gasps all completely swallowed by his mouth on your own. You lifted your back off the soaked truck bed, letting his big hands peel your now shrunken tank top off your cold form, thankful that your earlier self decided against wearing a bra. He used one hand to quickly pull his black cut-off shirt off over his head, quickly returning his grip back to your waist. He leaned back over you, reclaiming your mouth and purposefully pushing his chest down on you. You whined into the kiss at the sheer fact of how much heâd covered you, how much bigger he was, protecting you from the rain, making your sensitive body shiver at the bare contact. You let your hands run over him, the hair that decorated his chest, each scar, each perfectly sculpted muscle, eventually trailing down to the top of his jeans. You glanced up at him as he stayed silent, his jaw tight as he watched your delicate hands unbuckle his belt, moving to the zipper. âYou don't know what youâre askinâ for princess,â he muttered, his voice strained.Â
Johnny couldnât take this slow anymore, the way her eyes were begging him, her nimble fingers struggling with undoing his zipper. He grabbed her wrists with ease, holding them with one hand over her head, letting out a shaky breath. The wind around them sent a shiver down his already wet body, the way her soaked long hair splayed over the truck bed, her mascara smudged under her eyes, her nipples hardened and sensitive. Already so ruined, so perfect, but not in the way the town of Newt thought of her, for him and him only. He watched each of her reactions carefully as he pulled her shorts off, swallowing thickly at the sight of her pink lace panties. âYou want these off?â he teased, a smug grin on his face. She nodded feverishly and pouted. He calmly pulled out his skinning knife that was always comfortably sitting on his waist, her breath stilling underneath his grasp like a rabbit caught in the jaw of a wolf, afraid to move. âYou trust me baby?â he asked.Â
Your eyes slightly widened at the sight of his weapon, but in truth, you did trust Johnny. Maybe you were too trusting. âYeahâ you gasped, leaning up on your elbows to watch as Johnny pressed the blade gently against your soaked core through the thin fabric. You whimpered and jerked your hips, a natural instinct, but Johnny's other strong arm flexed as he held your hips down firmly. âDonât move.â he demanded, more of a warning than a scolding. You swallowed thickly, your eyes instead focusing on his face as you heard the tear of your panties, Johnnyâs eyes dilating. He tucked his knife back away, pushing your thighs apart. âThereâs my girlâ he said huskily. You bit your lip and watched as he finally pulled himself out of his boxers, his belt hanging freely from his unzipped pants. âJohnny, oh my godâ you whined out, your wet core clenching around nothing at just the sight. He was dripping with precum, his tip red and pulsing, you swore you could feel the heat radiating off him.Â
Johnny leaned down kissing her, more gently this time as she whimpered at the way he ran his heavy dick through her folds. âSay it again, tell me youâre mineâ he muttered against her mouth. âJohnny, Iâm yours, Iâm yoursâ she begged, her hips fighting against the hold he had on them, trying to feel more of him. Johnny pulled back, looking down at her perfect face, her eyebrows pulled together in anticipation, her swollen lips, the small mole on her cheek, her bright needy eyes, the way her back arched against the wet bed of the truck. Rain rhythmically dropped from the loose hairs that hung in front of his forehead, the storm getting more and more intense, a mirroring representation of Johnnyâs own need. A bright flash of light lit the both of them, bare and vulnerable to the other as the following loud crash of thunder cracked through the sky. Johnny finally sank himself in her in one desperate movement, Nikki moaning out in a strangled cry as she gripped his biceps like a vice.Â
He was unrelenting in his pace, every thrust into you making you tremble and cry. Youâd never felt anything like this, your whole body being fully taken and used by someone who took such care of you. âJohnny- ah- J-Johnny, oh, fuck, donât stop-â you gasped out, not able to formulate a full thought, your mind fucked dumb. Johnny seemed to be spurred on by your lack of sensible words, lifting your leg over his shoulder as he roughly fucked into you in the perfect spot, causing you to let your head fall back, your mouth hung open in pleasure. His rough hand came up to grab your jaw and pull it back up as he brought his face down close to your own. âLemme see you,â he muttered against your lips. Your eyes flicked between each of his, a warm comforting feeling spreading all throughout you even with the contradicting crude way Johnny pummeled into you. âI love you...â you panted out, feeling the familiar tightening in your core, your body so close to release. You squeaked in shock as his calloused hand left your jaw to firmly grasp your small throat, pressing down enough to make your airway close, his eyes dangerous and a snarl on his handsome face. âDonât fuckinâ lie to me,â he spat out. You desperately tried to pull his hands off, but his grip didnât let up. âIâm not lying⊠I love you.â you gasped.
Giggles filled the quiet space as Nikki gently pushed through the front door, dragging Johnny into the living room by her small hand, their still partially wet clothes dripping onto the carpet. Johnny froze slightly as the creak of one of the bedroom doors opened, Jennifer stepping out, obviously sluggish and exhausted. Johnny could see the resemblance between the pair, the same sweet smile Nikki usually wore, a tired frown when worn on her counterpart. âItâs real nice to meet you, Iâm Johnny, Nikkiâs told me a lot about youâ, his southern accent charming and polite, feeling a little out of place given heâd never done this before. Jennifer did a glance over of him and then to Nikki, her gaze seemingly on edge at first, but then sighed lightly. âYeah, nice to meet you too. You stickinâ around now?â she asked, a small tinge of apprehension in her voice. âYeah. Yeah, I am,â Johnny replied confidently, his hand squeezing Nikkiâs tightly.
The temperature of the warm water in the shower was nothing compared to Johnnyâs touch, his gentle movements as he helped you scrub the shampoo in your long hair, each gesture too tense to be a usual thing for him, the thought that heâd never done this before, making your heart swell. You leaned your head back, rinsing out the suds as Johnnyâs stare trailed over you, his expression hard to read. âYou want a turn?â you asked, already swapping spots with him so heâd be under the relief of the water, the sight of his large form not fitting underneath the shower head making you laugh. You skillfully ran the shampoo through the length of his hair, having to stand on your tiptoes even as he bent down. You could almost sense the weight coming off his shoulders, but still a small hint of uncertainty, as if he didnât know if he deserved this. âJohnny,â you said gently, his dark eyes planted on yours almost immediately. His arms wrapped around you, prolonged and firm as you listened to the heartbeats pressed between the two of you, the only other sound coming from the cascading sheets of water, unspoken promises acknowledged by each of you through the embrace.Â
The moonlight scattering from the window of Nikkiâs room created small dancing lights over her features as she gazed up at him, her long wet hair sprawled over his arm, the lingering scent of coconut soap infiltrating his sense of smell, something heâd grown so attached to. âYour dad ainât around much?â he said, his tone low to keep their conversation private to avoid any attention from her mom on the other side of the wall. She bit her lip, an indifferent expression passing over her pretty face. âNo he was gone before I was even bornâŠI think thatâs why my mom is so,â there was a pause, âempty. I think she wanted the perfect life, and when it didnât work out she just- gave up.â she whispered. âI love her so much, but sheâs so controlling. I know itâs just from her own way of protecting me from the things sheâs already been through, but itâs suffocating. I just want to be me.â she uttered, her voice faltering as her hand came up to lazily trail over his scarred chest. Johnny nodded, resonating with her confession in ways heâd never be able to be fully honest about. âYeah, my familyâs pretty controlling too, sweetheartâ, he sighed, trying to sound casual. He could see the slight confusion on Nikkiâs face, the thought of someone like him being so passive and governed by anyone, a hard concept to grasp. Johnny let out a low chuckle at her reaction, although, deep down in the ugliest parts of his soul it was his heaviest insecurity, the intense disgust and hatred for himself, the way he was not something heâd ever cared to reflect on before her.Â
The song of the chirping cicadas and crickets outside filled your room. You laid on Johnnyâs chest, the verge of sleep creeping up on you after the hours youâd stayed up talking. âBaby go to sleep, itâs almost twoâ Johnny murmured, his voice proving that heâd felt just as fatigued as you. You closed your eyes, the gentle stroke of Johnny's hand trailing up and down your back proving to delve you even deeper into your sleepy daze. You had no clue heâd purposefully stayed awake well after youâd given in, watching you sleep peacefully against him.
Johnnyâs jaw was tense, the sight of you, so trusting, so vulnerable in his arms made his guilt even stronger. He knew he couldnât get used to this. Itâs not like just because heâd found his own little escape, that it actually erased his past, his instincts, his whole being. He suddenly felt like a fraud laying in your bed, a heavy weight on his chest.Â
The ring of the corded phone hanging off the wall of the living room stirred you from your sleep, stretching up in bed, still slightly confused. âIs that the phone? Who the hell is calling right now?â you whined. Johnny was already awake, or still awake, his tired expression pulled together with concern. You groaned, climbing out of the warm covers, your cotton pajama set leaving too much bare skin against the chilled air. You could feel Johnnyâs presence behind you as you leaned against the wall, holding the phone to your ear.Â
Johnnyâs entire body went frigid as Nikki lowered the phone from her ear, turning to extend it out for him. âItâs for youâ, she whispered, her bitten lip and worried gaze a reminder of why he shouldnât be here in the first place.Â
You sat on the edge of your bed, your mind racing, the early hour of the morning not being the biggest of your worries anymore. âNancy? Howâd she even know you were here.. Why does she need you home right now?â, you asked, your irritation not very well hidden. You watched as Johnny slipped his white shirt over his head, his silence almost deafening. He walked towards the door, a small moment of hesitation as he pulled it open. âSo youâre just leaving me..â you said, your voice small. Maybe your mom wasnât so wrong after all.Â
The house was tense as ever, if not more. Johnny was upstairs in Nancyâs perfect facade of a home, taking a shower to rinse his body of the blood from the three friends whoâd ended up on Nancyâs property, a drunken mistake to cross property lines, now being paid for in the basement. He stepped out, throwing his still stained clothes back on and glanced in the mirror, pushing his hair back, mumbling something about never truly being clean. Nancyâs cold glare was almost enough to make him flinch when he opened the bathroom door, if it werenât for his ability to be astutely aware of who was around him at all times. âWhat,â he grumbled, pushing past her. Nancy, of course, followed his stride down the stairs towards the heavy blue door that he threw open, walking out to the porch. âIâm your damn mother. You donât think I canât notice when somethinâs up with you?â Johnny ignored her again until her wrinkled hand clamped his arm tightly, a reminder of who was in charge. Nancyâs eyes softened, a sick approval of his compliance as he froze. âMy sweet boyâŠdonât think of me as a fool. I know itâs her, that girl. I got a vision. How else do you think I found out where you were tonight?â There was a pause that hung in the air, as toxic as Sissyâs poison. âYou donât know shit.â Johnny barked, ripping his arm from her grasp, but dared not to walk away again. Johnnyâs eyes followed to where Nancy tilted her head, landing on the small patch of sunflowers, shorter than the rest of the ones adorning her charming landscape, a silent reminder of Johnnyâs first attempt at love that was buried underneath.Â
A few weeks after you and Johnnyâs first time youâd noticed a change. You felt a heavy doubt deep down, trying not to let your mind drag you to the darkest places your mom had tried to warn you about. âNot the dating typeâ repeating in your head. You wrote it off as her own projection, her own pain, years of simmering from your father leaving her as a young pregnant woman, who was so head over heels that she didn't pay attention to the small tells of growing disinterest. Surely Johnny wasnât the same, he loved you back. He told you that same night that you thought he might genuinely kill you, his hand wrapped around your throat, his cock buried deep inside you. Even though you told yourself that, you saw him less, his answers becoming increasingly more vague when you inquired about where heâd been, what heâd been doing. It felt like a twisted fate, a sick foreshadowing, first your dad abandoning your mom, and now Johnny with you. Even Martha at work started asking about what had happened, his visits becoming less frequent, although you doubted it was from genuine interest or concern, more of an update for her to gossip about.Â
Johnny was slowly drinking himself away, if it werenât for the pressure from Drayton to actually âput those muscles to useâ, heâd choose drunkenly passing out on his dingy old couch to avoid his guilty conscience. When he was awake, all he could think about was Nikki. Not even being blackout drunk helped, his sluggish mind remembering every inch of her skin, every sound she made, every detail of her face, of her soul sheâd so openly welcomed him into. It broke him, knowing how much heâd already fucked up, if anything he found himself delusional for letting himself get that close in the first place, the thought of Nancyâs prying visions now a sadistic reminder of how truly alone Johnny was, an offering in place of Nikkiâs safety. He shouldâve kept her at a distance, admired her from afar. His hunts were even more calculated now, even with his lack of sleep, his racing thoughts, the only satisfaction he chased was in taking out his frustrations the only way he knew best.Â
Eventually youâd let your emotions build up, unspoken and heavy, no different than your mother, no better than the same ways youâd convinced yourself youâd never be. You were at home, mindlessly watching some old western on the small RCA television that sat on the kitchen counter. There was a heavy knock on the door and your heart raced, already knowing who was on the other side waiting. You shakily turned the knob, opening the door to see Johnny, dark circles under his eyes and newer, fresher scars adorning his arms and face.Â
Nikki was there, as beautiful as always, but more closed off, no polite smile, no sweet words to welcome him in. Just a blank stare and a raw bottom lip. âNikkiâŠâ Johnny started, but sheâd already turned to walk back into the living room, leaving the door open. Johnny took that as an invitation to walk in, glancing around to confirm her mother wasnât currently at the house. He ran his hand through his slickback, a shaky breath leaving his lips as he studied her small form on the couch, her legs pulled up to her chest. âBaby, Iâm sorry I havenât been around as much, thereâs a lot of family shit I got goinâ on right nowâ. She slowly nodded, not meeting her gaze to his own and he felt a tinge of irritation. âYou ainât gonna say anything?â he asked, his voice strung tightly.Â
You finally flicked your eyes back to his own, the same dark eyes that usually made your knees weak. âI donât know what to say anymoreâ, you whispered, the vulnerability making you feel even smaller. You were meant to be perfect, to smile and forgive, to act like nothing ever bothered you because you were perfect. A treasure, a model of Newtâs pride and joy. You felt tears prick up in your eyes, trying desperately to softly blink them away, but it failed miserably. You pulled your legs to your chest in search of any type of comfort. Here you were crying your eyes out, balled up on the couch and Johnny just stood there, watching you carefully.
His whole body tensed at the sight. Heâd never seen her break down like this, let alone cry in front of him. He was at a loss for what to do, he knew what he wanted, but he knew he couldnât. The thought of Nancy getting a vision while he held her crying would absolutely be the last straw. âNikki, I have a life yaâ know- other shit goinâ on. Thereâs a lot of stuff I canât explain alright? You either get used to it or.. I donât knowâ, he trailed off, his voice coming out a lot more callous than heâd intended. She sniffled and looked up at him with those sweet eyes. âAre you saying youâre done?â she squeaked out. Johnnyâs body flinched slightly at the words and immediately strode up to the couch, pulling her up to wrap his arms around her tightly. âNikki, you know thatâs not what I mean. I just- Iâm tryinâ to apologize for how Iâve been. I need you to understand the type of life I got, itâs not intentional.â he muttered into her hair, the familiar scent of coconut now bittersweet at the thought that he was willing to never smell it again, for the sake of her. Nikkiâs trembling form and tear stained cheeks slowly melted away Johnnyâs belief in the permanently ingrained rule that Nancy had drilled into him from the day he could speak. âNo matter what, family firstâ.
âLetâs leave,â you blurted out, the words shocking you as much as it seemed to surprise Johnny. âLetâs just go Johnny⊠please,â you pleaded, your breath shaky as you felt a rush of eagerness and fear course through you. âCalifornia, Montana, Georgia - a whole different country, I donât care.â Johnny looked down at you, obviously taken aback, but his unfaltering hold on you answered for him.Â
Johnny breathed heavily as he parked the truck in front of his old shack, thankful the generatorâs electric fence had been turned off, a less obvious path to drop in quickly and grab his stuff. He glanced up at Nancyâs house, his whole body tight with anxiety, then over to Nikki, who was sitting pretty in the passenger's seat, a shy nervous smile on her face as she looked over at him, the disbelief that they were doing this written obviously on her features. Sheâd already packed more than enough things, her pink, heavy luggage sitting expectedly in the bed of his truck. Heâd used the excuse that he would grab only what was important, clothes, hygiene products, the usual, but the truth was he needed his other skinning knife. The one Grandpa had given him when he was fourteen, already relentlessly brutal and fucked up in ways that were irreversible. Maybe he had Nancy to blame for the way he was, but he knew if he was leaving Newt to never look back, he needed to take it as a reminder of who he was, a new promise to be different for Nikki. âStay in the damn truck, donât get outâ Johnny barked, not wanting her to step foot outside of it, as if her even placing a foot on the soil of Nancyâs property would be a seal of fate to her demise. He quickly busted through the loosely hanging shack door, tossing around everything he didnât need, stuffing the most useful of his items in a duffel bag, throwing his knife at the top of the bag, zipping it up and coming back out from the shack, his worst fear standing there in a sage green long dress, staring at him with a terrifyingly unsuspecting smile.Â
You were thoughtlessly picking at your manicure, waiting for Johnny to return. Your body felt like a live wire, excitement and worry flowing through you in a weird sensation. It was foolish, irresponsible, but the thought of you and Johnny leaving Newt made your heart flutter in your chest. Nothing mattered, not what dingy hotel youâd sleep in, how long youâd spend on the road, just the fact that youâd be together, escaping the puppet strings that the town had both of you tangled up in, in unknowingly different ways. You glanced over to see a middle-aged woman, brown short hair meticulously put up into curls, a small scarf wrapped in the middle. âNancyâ you thought, Johnnyâs mother, the black widow of the town, feared by all. You could feel your hands shake slightly as you let them drop to your lap from messing with your nails, more worried about the fact that she was catching you and Johnny on the run, not knowing it was the last thing you shouldâve been worried about.Â
Johnny dropped his duffel bag into the bed of the truck heavily, swiftly taking heavy steps to stand in front of the driver's side door, separating Nikki from Nancyâs eyesight. âJust what do you think youâre doinâ Johnny,â Nancy asked, her voice eerily calm. His eyes darkened, momentarily distracted by the sound of the passengerâs door clicking open. âNikki, get your ass back in the truck!â he shouted, his heart pounding in his chest. She had a flash of confusion and hurt on her face before Nancy started again.
âNikki is it? Come here doll,â she said tenderly. You glanced at Johnny who seemed frozen with fear, something you never thought youâd witness. You took unsure steps to plant yourself next to him, his body still partially covering you from her sight. Nancy let out a spine chilling laugh, walking up to the two of you. âWell ainât this sweetâ she muttered, leaning over to glance at the idly sat luggage in the truck bed. âYou think Johnnyâs your very own little Romeo, honey?â she asked, making eye contact with you that caused the hairs on your body to stand up. You stayed silent, unsure of what to say to de-escalate the growing unease that hung in the air. âDid he tell you about the bad man? Does he tell you about the reasons heâs out so late at night?â she spat.
âShut the fuck upâ Johnny growled, the tension radiating off him making Nikki back further behind him, her small hand reaching for his own in search of comfort. Nancy only smiled wider at Johnny's clear resentment and kept her gaze locked onto Nikkiâs, who was quietly asking him what she was talking about. âAll those missing people⊠all the stripped away futures, the blood on his hands. Heâs brutally robbed people of their lives with the same one youâre clutching onto now.â Nancy continued. Johnny could see the color draining from Nikkiâs face as Nancy continued, her grip on his hand faltering. Nancy seemed satisfied from her reaction, turning to face her pride and joy. âJohnny, my sweet boy. You know how much I care about youâ, she took another step closer to him. âYou donât deserve this, to be manipulated by someone who doesnât even know the real you. A girl whoâd never understand you, our family. We always come first.â she said, her words completely overtaking Johnnyâs mind, the same lies that were so embedded in his being, keeping him completely powerless to her. âStop!â Johnny screamed out, his hands coming to each side of his head as if heâd be physically able to rip her voice out of his skull. âSheâll never love you now, when the truth finally comprehends in that pretty little head, sheâll want nothing to do with you. Sheâll be terrified of you, just like Mariaâ, Nancy hissed. Johnnyâs body went rigid, the thought of you turning out like the first time heâd tried to find out what it meant to be with someone in a way heâd never quite gotten right. His sick obsession that left him ready to call it quits on ever attempting it again. All he could hear was the ringing, Nikkiâs small cries and confused pleas, falling deaf on his ears. Nancy continued. âYou donât have a choice Johnny, kill her.â
Your heart pounded in your chest, your whole body on fire as the dots started to connect. The newspaper headlines, the phone calls in the early morning hours, the scars, 'hunting trips' with his brothers, it was all crashing down on you at once. You felt like you couldnât breathe, your legs losing feeling as you stumbled backwards against the truck, bile burning on the back of your throat, your vision blurry through the tears. Johnny hadnât turned around, his body trembling and breath ragged. âGet it over with and everything can go back to the way it was. Donât be stupid. What other option is there? Nikki wonât run away with a killer like youâ, Nancy mocked, her cold demand hanging in the air like venom.
Johnny couldnât stop it from happening. The total loss of control, the pure instinct that took over his body, the one he called the bad man. He felt his limbs moving, acting on the deepest blood thirsty vices he was certain heâd had control over when Nikki was around. He took calculated steps towards her, Nancyâs cruel truths playing in his head over and over. âSheâll be terrified, sheâll never love you, kill herâ. Nikkiâs small form shrunk as he approached, frozen in fear, her beautiful teary eyes staring up at him.Â
You couldnât move, your mind completely blank, the reality of it all falling heavy on your broken heart before you could even react. Your skin burned, your legs itched to move, but instead you just⊠stood there. In an instant, the cold steel of Johnnyâs knife plunged deep into your stomach, a frantic gasp of pain falling from your mouth, the adrenaline somehow keeping your body upright. It felt like a dream, a nightmare, a film of memories, flashes of who youâd thought Johnny was, the man you were so helplessly in love with now out of reach. You glanced down at where the blade handle protruded from you, Johnnyâs now-bloodied hand still gripping it tightly, then up to his face. His eyes were completely empty, as black as they were the same night spent under the rain, a cruel twisted smirk on his face. âJohnnyâŠâ you choked out, red crimson blood spilling from your lips.Â
There was a complete silence that filled the air, time fully stopping momentarily. Then, everything rushed through him at once. Johnny felt as if he was being ripped apart, his heart sinking at the realization at what heâd just done. He almost let go of the knife in an instinct to separate himself from the act, before registering Nikkiâs increasingly weakening state, knowing if he let go sheâd fall to the ground, sheâd be done. He shuddered, sobs he didnât even recognize seemingly coming from his own throat. âNikki.. oh fuck. No baby, noâ. His grip on her was painful, ignoring the brazen commands still coming from Nancy. âCâmon, weâre leaving. I promised, letâs go- just you and meâ, he panted, choosing to ignore her shallow breaths, her eyes growing too heavy to hold themselves open. He dragged her heavy weight towards the passengers side of the truck, leaving a trail of red grass behind them.Â
Johnny choked down sobs, the wheels of his truck flying down the dirt roads. He could see Nikkiâs slumped form in the seat next to him, the fresh metallic smell of blood filling the cab of his truck, something he never thought would make his stomach turn. For a split second, the warm sun shone through the windshield, Nikkiâs dainty hand was hanging out the window, giggling as the wind blew her hair around. A strained smile formed on his lips, a scoff coming from his mouth. As he passed the green city limit sign he glanced over, âWe did it Nikki. Weâre out.â
Thank you so much for reading!! PLS tell me what you thought, or if you liked it <3 I love writing for Johnny and I tried to make him a little human in this story (?) just given his canon conflict with how he felt with Maria, I don't think it's too far fetched to say he has the most outwardly shown empathy of all the family. Which isn't a lot... but anyways that's why there's no good ending. Ok love u pls give me ur thoughts :]
