╰┈➤ i mainly use tumblr to post death note/creepypasta fanfiction, my art sometimes maybe?? or random rant (i don't post my fanfics on other platforms)
╰┈➤ i also have a tiktok where i post random videos because my brain refuses to stay focused on one thing
╰┈➤ slow updates because school exists unfortunately
╰┈➤ i just started this acc so there's only a few I've written yet (sorry)
I know I already posted this on tumblr a few days ago but I hated the last panel so I completely redid it. Anyway, Eleanor takes Liu to get a haircut idk
Summary: What was supposed to be a routine kill quickly turns into a fight neither of them expected. After surviving an encounter with Jeff the Killer, the reader is left shaken but alive, while Jeff walks away with a newfound fascination with the one target who fought back. Their first encounter marks the opening move in a game that is only just beginning.
🔪 ⸝꙳.˖ Characters: Fem!Reader, Jeff, BEN, Toby, Helen and Ej.
🔪 ⸝꙳.˖ W/C: 6.3k
🔪 ⸝꙳.˖ Tags: enemies to lovers, slow burn, some fighting shit idk
🔪 ⸝꙳.˖ A/N: Hi guys let's ignore the fact that I disappeared for like 2 months 😂😂✌ but anyway my brain cells finally worked and I managed to have an idea for a fanfic :^
“Good evening. We interrupt our regular programming for an important news update.”
The news anchor’s expression turned serious as a photograph of police cars and caution tape appeared on the screen behind her. “Local authorities are continuing their investigation into a series of mysterious deaths that have shaken the community over the past several weeks.”
“At this time, police have confirmed multiple victims. However, investigators have been unable to identify any clear connection between them. The victims varied in age, occupation, and background, leaving authorities with very few leads.”
The screen switched to footage of officers moving around a crime scene.
“According to investigators, the only consistent detail discovered so far is that each attack appears to have taken place during the late evening or nighttime hours. Due to this pattern, residents are strongly advised to remain cautious after dark. Authorities recommend avoiding unnecessary travel at night, keeping doors and windows locked, and reporting any suspicious activity immediately.”
The anchor glanced down at her notes before continuing. “Police have not released information regarding a suspect and are urging the public not to spread unverified rumors. While social media has been flooded with speculation about a possible serial killer, authorities have neither confirmed nor denied these claims.”
A picture of a neighborhood street at night appeared on the screen. "Residents are encouraged to double-check that all doors and windows are securely closed before going to bed. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact local law enforcement."
The anchor offered a small nod. "We’ll continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Stay safe, and stay alert."
You closed the TV as you stared at your reflection in the black screen for a moment before letting out a nervous sigh. “Well, that’s fucking reassuring. I’ll definitely have a good night's sleep tonight..”
A soft meow interrupted your thoughts. Looking down, you found your cat weaving between your legs. It calmed you down a bit as you gave her a soft pet on the head. “Lucky you, huh? You can’t understand all the shit that’s happening on the news, so you’re all just relaxed,” you picked her up, pressing your face on her fur, it's your way of calming down but your cat responded by immediately trying to escape your arms, “Wow, thanks for the support.”
You set her back down before walking around the apartment, checking the locks for what was probably the third time that evening.
Alright. Doors are locked. Windows are locked. Curtains are locked. Everything will be just fine…
Hopefully…
You let out a sigh of relief before your gaze shifted to a curtain photo frame on the wall. Your father, smiling as bright as the sun. It will almost be a year since he died. You’ll have to pay him a visit at least soon.
You missed him dearly. Especially on days like this, when the world is dangerous.
Your gaze drifted to another framed photograph. It was one of your favorites. The picture had been taken years ago at your father’s martial arts studio. You couldn’t have been older than ten. Dressed in an oversized uniform, you stood beside him with a proud grin on your face while holding up a participation medal.
Looking at the picture now, it was hard to believe how much time has passed. Back then your biggest worry was whether you’d survive your next training session but now it was trying to survive a serial killer roaming around the neighborhood.
And the one person who has always made you feel safe was gone…
He had spent years teaching you martial arts. But unfortunately for you, you never thought that highly of yourself. You just let your father teach you martial arts because it's kinda like your way of spending time with him.
You walked forward and gently touched the frame gently, lowering your gaze as your shoulder slummed, “Oh dad, why’d you have to leave me when I need you the most..”
”Meow..”
You looked down to see your cat sitting beside your feet, staring up at you with wide eyes.
“Meowww,” she meowed, but louder this time, demanding your attention.
”Yeah.. yeah I heard you the first time, I’ll get you your fucking tuna,” you groaned as you made your way towards the kitchen. Your cat perked up and followed you quickly. The moment you reached the cabinet where her food was kept, her meows became louder.
”Meow! Meow!”
“Excited are we?” you opened the cabinet and pulled out a can of tuna and the second it came into your cat’s view, your cat practically vibrated with excitement. Her tail stood up straight as she trotted circles around your legs letting out happy chirps and meows.
“Hey, you’re making me look like a bad owner who hasn't fed her cat in a week..”
After placing the tuna into her bowl, you watched as your cat immediately buried her face in it.
“You're welcome,” you mutter.
Shaking your head, you left her to her meal and headed toward the bathroom. The warm water from the shower helped wash away some of the tension that had settled into your shoulders after watching the news. For a little while, you could pretend everything was normal, that this was just another ordinary night.
After changing into your pajamas and finishing your nightly routine, you made one final round through the apartment. Everything was secured. There was no way anyone could enter your house without making any noise. You turned off the lights and made your way to your bedroom.
Exhaustion was beginning to win over your anxiety as your eyelids grew heavier. Just as you were about to drift off you heard a sound.
Creeeak.
Your eyes snapped open as every muscle in your body tensed. The sound had come from somewhere inside the apartment. You sat up immediately, heart pounding against your ribs.
Another creak echoed through the room that was then followed by a soft meow sounded from somewhere near the dresser. Your shoulders immediately relaxed.
“Oh my God,” you pressed a hand against your chest, “It’s just you.”
The cat meowed and jumped on your bed, making a little spin before settling herself, yawning. You let out a nervous laugh and shook your head, “Stupid cat… taking years off my life,” with a sigh you settled back into bed and pulled the blankets over yourself. You tried but you can’t sleep now, so you just pretend to be asleep, not sure how many hours you’ve been laying there wide awake.
Eventually, you couldn’t take it anymore so slowly you rolled onto your side, intending to sit up and turn on the lamp.
But the moment your eyes opened, your breath caught in your throat. Someone was standing beside your bed. A figure towered over you in the darkness.
The man standing at the foot of your bed looked to be in his early twenties. His skin was unnaturally pale. Messy black hair framed a face twisted into a permanent, blood-red grin, stretching far wider than any normal smile should. Dark shadows rested beneath his eyes, while his cold gaze never left yours. In one hand, he held a kitchen knife, the blade catching the faint glow of the room.
His grin widened. "Go to slee—"
Before you knew it, your fist slammed square into his jaw, snapping his head to the side and cutting him off mid-sentence. He stayed frozen, blinking once as if his brain needed a second to process what had just happened.
“Stupid bitch, that fucking hurts! Ow,” one hand rubbed his jaw while he shot you an offended glare, as if you were the one who had broken into his apartment in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, his irritation wasn’t exactly good news for you.
Your mind raced as your eyes darted around the room, desperately searching for a way out.
You could run at the door to escape but that would require getting past the creepy intruder. The balcony. You glanced toward it then immediately dismissed the idea. You lived on the fifth floor. Sure, jumping off the balcony would technically help you escape him but it would also help you escape life. You swallowed hard.
This was bad.
Your eyes immediately flicked toward the bed. Then another thought hit you. Your cat, she was nowhere to be seen.
A low chuckle pulled your attention back to him.
The annoyance from earlier had completely disappeared. Instead, he looked almost amused. Relaxed, even. One hand, which was still holding your phone, rested casually in his pocket while the other rubbed the spot where you’d hit him. His grin remained firmly in place, but now there was something else in his expression.
He was actually starting to piss you off now, yes your fear was still there however now it’s mixed with annoyance. “Are you done laughing..?”
“You’ve got quite the fist..”
“And you got quite the smile..”
He let out another amused chuckle. “I made it myself, ya like it, sweetheart?”
You folded your arms, refusing to let him see just how much your heart was racing from fear. “It wasn’t supposed to be a compliment..”
He tilted his head, his eyes studying you with renewed interest. “You’re awfully bold for someone who’s at my mercy.” He chuckled and continued. "I was planning to make this quick." He took one slow step toward you.
"But now..." Another step.
"..I'm amused." Until his face was inches from yours.
Amused, huh? You seriously have to be this psychopath’s clown just so you could keep your life. Maybe if you make this conversation entertaining enough for him, he'll at least be distracted for a bit then you could figure something out.
“How the fuck did you even get in..”
"The front door, duh," he leaned back.
"What? I locked the door." You frowned. "Twice. Deadbolt and chain. There's no way you got in without making a sound."
"I know. I came in long before you locked it."
Your expression froze. "...What?"
"I slipped inside while you were taking out the trash… You never noticed."
He chuckled softly, enjoying the confusion on your face. “And so I waited. In your closet. It was really comfortable too.”
The words drained every bit of color from your face. This fucker was in your house the whole time and you didn't even notice. When you lock the doors and windows, you basically also lock yourself in with this man, in your own house. Before you could say another word, the glint of steel caught your eye, he was raising his knife. Its blade flashed beneath the window light.
"You know.. you’re either really strong or really dumb.. I guess… WE’LL FIGURE IT OUT!!”
He lunged.
You threw yourself aside just as the knife sliced through the air where your neck had been a split second earlier. The blade buried itself into your bed. Before he could pull it free, you stepped sharply to the side, slipping off his centerline. Your forearm slammed into the arm that was trying to get the knife while your other hand shoved his shoulder, throwing his balance off just enough to create space giving you enough time to scramble across the room. He yanked the knife loose and came after you again.
Your father's voice echoed in your head.
Never let someone with a knife get close.
You grabbed your desk chair and swung it between the two of you. The blade tore through the mesh.
He clicked his tongue. "You learn fast."
"I had a good teacher." You responded
You never let the chair leave the space between you. You thought it’d be a good barrier, since it forced him to work around it while you circled instead of backing yourself into a corner.
He slashed again. You ducked, but not fast enough. He managed to leave a cut as a burning pain ripped across your upper arm. You cried out as warm blood soaked through your sleeve.
He grinned. "There we go."
Ignoring the pain, you rammed the chair into his chest and immediately sidestepped before he could counter, refusing to stay directly in front of the knife. Before he could strike again, a furious hiss erupted from the doorway.
Your cat.
Her fur stood on end, tail puffed twice its size as she launched herself straight at him.
"What the—" He seemed confused, probably his first time seeing a cat that acts like this.
Her claws raked across his arm before she sprang onto his shoulder. He hissed in pain. "You little—"
He swatted at her, but she leaped away, landing on the bed with another angry growl. You took the opportunity since your cat has distracted him. You shoved the chair into his chest. As he pushed it away before something black tumbled from his hoodie pocket.
Your phone.
It skidded across the wooden floor, stopping just beneath your nightstand.
Both of you noticed it at the same time.
His smile disappeared. “Oh fuck.”
You immediately dove. His fingers grazed the back of your shirt as you slid across the floor, but your hand reached the phone first. You opened it and jabbed at the emergency call button, fast. The line connected.
"Emergency services. What is your emergency?"
"Please!" you shouted, scrambling backward as he advanced with the knife. "There's a man trying to kill me! He's in my apartment!”
Your cat hissed again, darting between the two of you. The distraction lasted only a heartbeat, but it forced him to hesitate before lunging.
"You annoying little furball!"
He kicked your cat aside roughly. Your cat hit the wall causing her to mewl in pain. He towers over the poor defenseless cat. “You know I've never killed a cat before… you're really cute though so I'll make it less painful..!” He raised the knife.
"No!"
Without thinking, you grabbed the first thing your hand landed on—a heavy metal alarm clock from your nightstand—and hurled it with everything you had. It struck him squarely in the side of the head. The impact staggered him sideways as his hand flew to his temple, knife slipping from his hand and clattering across the floor.
You panted. Neither of you moved before a thin line of blood trickled down the side of his face.
“...”
He slowly lowered his hand and stared at the blood on his fingertips.
Your cat darted across the room, disappearing into the hallway. As he was in pain you took the opportunity to drop the phone beneath the bed, leaving the call connected as he picked his knife once more and lunged again. You rolled away just as the knife stabbed into the mattress but a cut near your temple was left. You kicked his knee in defense but he only stumbled slightly before grabbing a fistful of your hair. Pain shot through your scalp as he slammed you against the wall. Your head struck hard enough to make your vision blur. The knife hovered inches from your throat.
“You've become a real inconvenience, making me bleed, you know..” he whispered as his grip on your hair got tighter.
You trapped his wrist with one hand to stop him from jerking your head again before driving your elbow sharply into his ribs. As his grip loosened, you twisted with the movement, peeling yourself free and shoving him backward.
You clutched your bleeding arm. Your side throbbed where he'd kicked you. Blood trickled from a cut near your temple as your breathing had become ragged. You could barely keep your balance. Your body aches badly and you don't think you can fight back any longer.
No.. I can't. I don't want to die like this..
Just then the distant wail of sirens pierced the silence. Both of you froze.
His expression darkened as he clicked his tongue. "...Seriously?"
The sirens grew louder and closer.
Genuine irritation crossed his face, he looked at the phone still lying beneath the bed, then back at you.
"You got lucky." He pointed the knife at you, his smile gone completely. "This isn't over."
Another siren echoed outside as he backed toward the balcony door. "When they're gone..." His eyes locked onto yours, before grinning once again. "...I'll come back."
He stepped onto the railing "And next time..." His voice was cold. "...I won't underestimate you." And with that, he disappeared into the darkness just as frantic pounding shook your apartment door.
"Police! Open the door!"
Only then did your legs finally give out. Thank goodness he's gone. But you know this isn't over.
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
The front door slammed open hard enough to rattle the old mansion. Jeff staggered inside, one hand pressed against the side of his head. Blood seeped through his fingers, dripping onto the floor. “Eugh.. I swear I'll get that woman back..” He kicked the door shut behind him.
From the living room, a brunette lounging on the couch immediately looked up. His messy brown hair stuck out in every direction beneath the orange goggles pushed onto his hair. A mouth guard covered the lower half of his face. Every few seconds his body jerked with involuntary tics.
"...Wh-what the h-hell happened to y-you?" His shoulder jerked violently. "D-Did a fucking t-truck hit you?" Toby looked at Jeff's hair which was matted with blood and an ugly bump was already beginning to swell where he'd been struck. Jeff brushed past him with an irritated grunt.
“Don't even start, Goggles..”
Toby followed him with his eyes, completely dumbfounded. “H-holy shit that l-looks bad.. Seriously what h-happened, d-dude..”
Jeff yanked a clean towel from the cabinet and pressed it against his forehead.
"None of your business, just let it go..”
Toby frowned but he wasn't about to let it go, after all it's not everyday he gets to see Jeff the Killer coming home all bloody with his own actual blood.
"W-Who was it?" Toby started.
"No one." Jeff clicked his tongue in irritation.
Toby folded his arms, another tic making his head twitch.. "Was it a hunter?"
"No."
"Jane?"
"No."
"B-boss?"
Jeff shot him a deadpan look. “If it was him then my head won't even be attached to my neck right now.”
"...S-So it wasn't one of us... Or a hunter..."
Toby's eyes narrowed. “Was it s-someone y-you were after?”
Jeff's jaw tightened. He looked away, clicking his tongue under his breath. That was enough for Toby.
"N-No— pfft— hold on!" He pointed at Jeff's forehead. "D-Did someone hit you with a b-brick? Did you at least manage to kill them?”
"I had to leave." Jeff groaned. “The bitch called the police.”
"...S-So..." Another tic jerked his shoulder. "...Y-You didn't finish the job.”
“Shut up okay!? I underestimated her, I didn't expect a civilian to know how to fight back..”
"...T-They fought b-back? A-And they did..." Toby pointed at Jeff's head. "...T-That?"
Jeff rubbed a hand over his face. "...It wasn't my finest night."
Toby let out a snort. "N-No kidding."
There was a brief silence before Toby's failed attempt to hold it in broke the silence. "...Pfft… T-The infamous Jeff the Killer got c-chased off by a civilian?" Toby wheezed.
Jeff's eye twitched. "Watch it, Goggles."
Toby laughed harder, clutching his stomach. "A-All that bragging about being the best killer, a-and one random civilian sends you running!"
"They called the police." Jeff clicked his tongue. "I'm not stupid enough to stick around."
Toby snickered. "...Y-Yeah, b-but you still had to run."
Jeff glared at him. "Keep laughing."
Toby wiped a tear from his eye. "I-I can't help it! T-The mighty Jeff the Killer comes home bleeding for the first time I've ever seen!"
Jeff sighed, already regretting walking through the front door.
Toby grinned beneath his mouth guard. "...A-And BEN is g-going to love this."
Jeff gave him a glare but Toby was already calling BEN.
"BEN!"
No response.
"BEN!!"
When Ben still didn't respond, Toby inhaled deeply before screaming. "HEY, BEN! JEFF GOT HIS ASS HANDED TO HIM!"
A bedroom door upstairs flew open. "What?!" BEN yelled.
"COME LOOK!"
"Why?"
"JUST GET DOWN HERE!"
A few seconds later, a short blond boy floated lazily down the stairs, rubbing his eyes.
"If this isn't important, I'm crashing your game saves." he then stopped halfway. "Jeff..?"
Jeff looked away.
BEN looked at the blood and the swelling. “Holy shit man, what happened to you..”
"Nothing."
BEN raised an eyebrow. “'Nothing' usually doesn't bleed."
Toby snorted from the couch. "H-He had a rough night."
Jeff shot him a glare. "Bitch."
"What?" Toby shrugged innocently, though another tic made his shoulder jerk.
BEN stepped off the last stair and walked closer, studying the injury.
“J-jeff was just killing as u-usual but he a-apparently underestimated h-his target.. and didn't e-expect them to fight back, he also h-had to flee s-since they called the police. B-because of that, J-jeff didn't finish t-the job..” Toby explained.
BEN's eyebrows slowly climbed higher at that "Seriously?"
Jeff clicked his tongue, refusing to meet his eyes. "It happens."
BEN crossed his arms, clearly unconvinced. "To you?"
Toby let out another snort. "T-That's what I s-said!"
Jeff dragged a hand down his face. "I got careless. End of discussion."
BEN circled him once, inspecting the wound. "Who was the target?”
“A normal civilian apparently..” Toby replied.
BEN glanced between the two before looking back at Jeff. "You're telling me an ordinary civilian did this?"
"I said I underestimated them."
"Clearly."
Toby bit back another laugh, his shoulders shaking. "H-He thought it'd be another easy kill."
Jeff shot him a glare. "Keep laughing, Tic-Tac-Toe and I'll give you a matching head wound.”
BEN folded his arms, a smirk creeping onto his face. "That's gotta bruise your ego more than your forehead."
Jeff scoffed. "You two done?"
BEN shrugged. "Not really. I'm still trying to picture someone making Jeff the Killer retreat."
“What's up with the commotion here..?” The front door opened as a tall man with black hair and a white mask with blackened eyes and a red bloody smile invited himself into the living room.
“Helen, good timing!!” BEN grinned and floated towards him.
Helen's gaze drifted across the room before settling on Jeff's bloody head. He remained silent for a moment, simply taking in the scene. "You look terrible."
Jeff clicked his tongue. "Thanks."
Helen shifted his attention to Toby and BEN, both of whom were barely holding back their laughter. “So what happened?"
BEN smirked. "Jeff underestimated his target, he didn't expect them to fight back.”
Helen looked back at Jeff. "I see."
Toby snorted. "Y-You're taking this way b-better than we did."
Helen shrugged. "Anyone can make a mistake."
Jeff gave a small nod, silently appreciating that someone wasn't immediately mocking him. “Yes, thank you, Helen!”
Helen paused before adding in the same calm tone, "Though it's not every day you come home covered in blood that's yours."
BEN immediately burst out laughing again. "See? Even Helen thinks it's funny."
"I didn't say that," Helen replied flatly. "All I said is that it's unusual."
“Ughh.. Shut up all of you! Where's Jack? Is he still out looking for kidneys?!” Jeff snapped and looked around the living room.
"He was with me," Helen answered. "I found new materials for my next project, so I let Jack have the kidneys before I began." He folded his arms. "He should be back soon..”
“So you’re working on something new again— Ugh… it hurts like a bitch, seriously..” Jeff complained.
Helen walked away as the whole exchange had already lost his interest. “I need to get a few things from downstairs.” Without another word, he turned and walked out of the living room, his footsteps echoing as he headed for the basement, disappearing to fetch whatever strange supply he needed for the weird project he was working on.
Jeff muttered something under his breath and leaned back against the couch, still pressing a towel to his forehead. A tall figure then stepped inside, dressed in an all black hoodie and dark jeans. A deep blue mask with black, empty eye sockets and black liquid trickling down from the mask was covering his face.
Then his gaze dropped to the blood on Jeff’s hoodie, the towel pressed to his forehead, and the fresh swelling already forming under his hair.
“What a bad wound.,” Jack said flatly.
Jeff’s jaw tightened and rolled his eyes. “So are you gonna do your job?”
Jack walked closer, silent for a moment as he looked over the wound with the focus. His gloved fingers tipped Jeff’s chin up just enough to get a better look.
“Call it a job when I'm getting paid for it..,” Jack said before leaning back. “You need that cleaned before it gets worse. Come with me.”
Jeff just stood up and immediately followed Jack. Leaving BEN and Toby looking at their disappearing figure.
Jack led the way down the dimly lit hallway toward his room, with Jeff following a few steps behind. Unlike the rest of the mansion, Jack's quarters were neatly organized with bottles of antiseptics, medical supplies, surgical tools, and labeled containers. The faint scent of rubbing alcohol lingered in the air.
"Sit," Jack instructed, motioning toward a metal examination chair.
Jeff let out an annoyed sigh but complied, dropping into the chair with a grunt.
Jack slipped on a pair of latex gloves before gently pushing the blood-soaked strands of Jeff's hair away from the wound. He studied the injury in silence, turning Jeff's head slightly from side to side.
"A deep scalp laceration," he concluded. "You'll need stitches."
"I figured."
Jack reached for a bottle of saline solution and began flushing the wound, washing away the dried blood. Jeff flinched slightly as the cold liquid ran through the cut.
"Ow. Fuck!" Jeff groaned.
Jack soaked a piece of sterile gauze with antiseptic and carefully cleaned around the injury. The sharp sting made Jeff click his tongue in annoyance.
"Are you allergic to warning your patients?” Jeff frowned.
"It wouldn't have changed the pain." Jack replied.
Once the wound was clean, Jack threaded a curved needle with surgical suture and efficiently closed the gash with several neat stitches. "There."
He snipped the thread before applying antibiotic ointment over the stitched wound. Finally, Jack wrapped a clean white bandage around Jeff's head, securing it firmly but not tightly enough to cause discomfort. "You'll need to change this tomorrow," Jack said, removing his gloves. "Avoid reopening the wound."
There was a brief silence before Jack decided to speak. “So.. what happened?"
Jeff leaned back in the chair. "What do you mean?"
"You rarely come back injured."
Jeff let out a quiet scoff. "It was supposed to be a routine kill. I sneaked into some girl's house.." Jeff rested an elbow on the armrest. "Everything was normal. She was asleep. I figured she'd be dead before she even knew I was there." He ranted. “Every damn time I rushed her, she'd angle off to the side. Kept smacking my knife arm away instead of swinging at me. Hell, she even trapped my wrist when I grabbed her!” Just the memory of it was already making his blood boil, vein popping on his forehead.
Jack just let out a thinking ‘hm' in response before looking at Jeff again. “According to your description it seemed like your target had formal training.”
Jeff looked over. "What makes you say that?"
Jack leaned back slightly. ”I thought it was quite obvious but I'll explain either way…” he paused because continuing. “She controlled distance and also moved off your attacks instead of directly away from them. She protected herself by redirecting your weapon arm rather than trying to overpower you. The wrist control you described suggests she understood leverage…” He paused. "And you said she stayed balanced throughout the fight."
Jack held a finger up. "That is the detail that stands out the most. Someone with no experience would probably just throw their hands without much thought, attack with all their might, waste energy and lose their footing but she didn't, she was choosing her movements."
Jeff frowned. "So what? You're saying she's some kind of fighter?"
"Not necessarily a professional fighter." Jack corrected. "But she has been trained. Martial arts, self-defense, or something similar.
Jeff let out a quiet laugh. "So that's why she was such a pain." He leaned back in his chair, absentmindedly rubbing the fresh bandage around his forearm. "Whatever."
A grin slowly spread across his carved smile. “It doesn't matter. I'm going back."
"You intend to finish the job?" Jack asked curiously.
Jeff chuckled. "Oh, I'll finish it."
He rested his chin on his hand, his grin somehow looking even wider. "It's been a while since I've had someone who could actually keep up for more than five seconds. But I'm not killing her right away next time."
He twirled the knife between his fingers. "I think I'll play with her a little first… then, when she's finally convinced she's got a chance..."
"...I'll end it.”
Jeff let out a loud cackle burst from his throat, echoing through the room. It started as a low, raspy chuckle before escalating into an over-the-top, cartoonishly evil laugh.
Jack watched him for a long moment before speaking. “Are you finished..?”
Jeff's laughter slowly fizzled out. “Yeah.”
"That was painful to witness." Jack started fixing his medical supplies.
Jeff crossed his arms, looking mildly offended. "You have absolutely no appreciation for theatrics.”
"You're right." Jack replied, making Jeff smirk triumphantly. "I have an appreciation for silence." The smirk immediately vanished from Jeff's face.
Jack set the last of the medical supplies aside and gestured toward the door. "Now get out.”
Jeff clicked his tongue. "Tough crowd."
He pushed himself out of the chair with an exaggerated sigh, stretching his arms above his head. "Fine, fine. I'm fucking leaving alright.."
He reached the doorway and slammed the door shut behind him after he left Jack's room.
Jeff shoved his hands into the pockets of his hoodie as he strolled down the hallway. "Next time." The grin on his face slowly returned. "You won't get so lucky.”
☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★☆⋆｡𖦹°‧★
A dull ache throbbed behind your eyes as you slowly opened them, the bright white ceiling above making you squint almost immediately.
...Beep.
...Beep.
A sharp pain shot through your arm and side, forcing a quiet hiss through your teeth. Looking down, you found thick white bandages wrapped around your upper arm and temple, and bruises had already begun blooming across your skin.
Your heart lurched as your eyes darted around the room and sat up immediately.
You're in a hospital.
Memories of the previous night came rushing back, your body instinctively tensed. The sudden movement sent a sharp pain through your arm and side, forcing a quiet wince from your lips.
A gentle knock came from the door before a nurse stepped inside. "Oh, good. You're awake."
He walked over with a small smile, glancing at the monitor beside your bed. "How are you feeling?"
You swallowed, your throat dry. "Everything hurts."
"I can imagine." He nodded sympathetically. "You have several cuts and bruises, along with a mild concussion. The doctor will be in to check on you later, but your vitals look stable."
You barely heard the rest. One thought suddenly pushed everything else aside. "My cat."
You sat forward slightly despite the pain. "My cat..." Your voice came out shaky. "Is she okay?"
The nurse's expression softened. "Yes. She's okay."
You let out a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding.
"The officers found her after they secured your apartment. She was frightened and had a few minor injuries, so they took her to a veterinary clinic as a precaution."
"Is she going to be alright?"
"From what we were told, yes. She should make a full recovery."
Relief flooded through you so suddenly your shoulders sagged. "Thank you."
The nurse offered you a reassuring smile before jotting a few notes onto his clipboard.
"The police..." You hesitated. "Did they... find him?"
The nurse stopped what he was doing, his smile faded just slightly.
"I'm afraid I don't know the details of the investigation. The officers are still here, though. They wanted to speak with you once you were awake."
"Oh."
A knot formed in your stomach.
The nurse noticed the uneasy look on your face. "You don't have to talk to them immediately if you're not feeling up to it. Your condition comes first."
"No." You slowly shook your head. "I'd rather get it over with."
He gave a small nod. “Then is it okay if I let them know you're awake. So they can ask you questions regarding what happened?”
“Mhm, yeah, thanks..”
With one last reassuring smile, the nurse quietly stepped out of the room, gently closing the door behind him.
You let out a slow sigh, your fingers absentmindedly brushing over the bandages wrapped around your arm. The memories of last night came rushing back all at once.
A shiver ran through your body before you realized your hands were beginning to tremble. You squeezed your eyes shut and forced yourself to take a slow, steady breath.
In.
Out.
Again.
It's okay… Get a grip. He's probably counting on you to fall apart. Don't let him get inside your head because that's exactly what he wants.
You opened your eyes, swallowing the lump in your throat.
If I let fear control me now... then he's already won.
You'd seen the look in his eyes before he left. He wanted you afraid. Looking over your shoulder. Too terrified to sleep. Too scared to live normally.
So that's your game, huh?
You tightened your hand into a fist.
Fine.
You want to play games?
I'll play your stupid little games.
Your thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on your door.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing two police officers. One appeared to be in his late forties with graying hair, while the other looked much younger, a notepad already in hand.
The older one had a professional expression as he spoke.
"Good morning. I'm Detective Harris, and this is Officer David. Are you doing alright now, miss?”
“I'm feeling alright now..” You nodded.
"We're sorry to bother you while you're recovering," Officer David added. "We just have a few questions regarding last night's incident. If at any point you need a break, just let us know."
"Okay. I'm ready..”
Detective Harris pulled up a chair beside your bed. "Can you tell us, in your own words, what happened?"
You swallowed. “I couldn't sleep that night… so I tried to get up to drink some water… but..” your fingers tightened around the blanket. "When I opened my eyes... there was a man standing at the foot of my bed.”
Officer David's pen immediately began moving across the page. "What did he look like?"
You frowned, trying to remember every detail. "He looked... young. Maybe twenty.. or early twenties… He had pale skin… no actually his skin was white, he had messy black hair and..” you hesitated. “and..”
“and a smile..”
The officers looked up. "A smile?"
You nodded slowly. "It... wasn't normal. It looked like..." You struggled to find the words. "It looked like someone carved into his face.. No actually.. He told me he made it himself...”
The younger officer was taking down notes as you talked before the older one spoke up. “Thank you for that. Now can you continue to tell us what happened after you saw him..”
"He..." You took a shaky breath.
"He said, ‘Go to sleep..’”
You stopped. "Before I punched him."
The younger officer blinked. "You punched him?"
You gave an awkward nod. "In the jaw."
A brief silence filled the room.
Detective Harris cleared his throat. "I imagine he wasn't expecting that."
"Neither was I." Officer David couldn't quite hide the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before quickly returning to his notes.
"What happened after that?"
You spent the next several minutes recounting everything you could remember—the struggle, your cat attacking him, the alarm clock, the emergency call, and finally, the sirens that forced him to flee.
When you finished, the room fell quiet. Detective Harris exchanged a brief glance with Officer David before looking back at you.
"You said he told you he'd come back."
Your expression grew serious. "Yes. He promised he would."
The detective slowly closed his notebook. "We'll increase patrols around your apartment."
It was meant to be reassuring. But somehow it didn't make you feel any safer. Just the thought of his face—of that grotesque smile—was enough to make your stomach twist.
Detective Harris noticed your expression soften into something uneasy. "If he does return, call emergency services immediately. Don't confront him."
You let out a humorless laugh. "I wasn't exactly planning to."
The detective gave a small nod. "We're also arranging for a crime scene unit to finish processing your apartment. Once they're done, we'll let you know when it's safe to return."
Safe. The word echoed in your mind. You weren't sure your apartment would ever feel safe again.
Detective Harris rose from his chair.
"That's all the questions we have for now. If you remember anything else—no matter how insignificant it seems—please contact us."
"I will."
He offered a nod before turning toward the door. Officer David followed after him, giving you one last reassuring smile before the two quietly left the room. The door clicked shut. Silence settled over the room once more.
You stared out the window, watching people go about their day as though nothing had happened. Somewhere outside, life continued as normal.
For everyone else.
Your hand unconsciously drifted to the bandage around your arm. The throbbing pain grounded you.
It reminded you that none of it had been a nightmare, that he was real.
