Itâs the anniversery of the incident. The people come together in sorrow for the lives lost. It snowed that day.
In the mist of the snow, she saw him.
Randy, Keith and Troy were three boys who made Jeff what he is. They beat him, bleached him, set him on fire, and go away with it.
âOh, I remember the day they moved in,â her grandma spoke lowly, âI knew they were trouble. Shame they did it here, and not some other town.â
A few listeners nodded in unison, some with hands folded neatly in front of them and others hugging one another. Everyone was dressed in black in respect for their dead loved ones. Framed pictures decorated nearly every table in the townhall, with an overabundance of flowers in every corner, nook and cranny. Handwritten letters were dropped into several boxes for the grieving families who lost someone in the incident. The incident in which the town will be forever changed by.
However, the boy majorly involved in said incident was nowhere to be seen. Not a single photo of him only, or letter, or acknowledgement in his name in this memorial event. Of course, why would a raging serial killer be given a sort of gratitude or positive acknowledgement? After all, his family was too new to the town to be beloved by many people. Thus, their deaths werenât nearly as impactful as those of the boys who were murdered by this serial killer.
However, there was one photo framed on a table. The flowers and letters given to the Woods family table was a mere fraction of those given to the others- however, it gained much attraction. The family photo taken right before the boy went crazy was the big centerpiece of the table. He was only 17, his birthday just passing by at the time. Him and his brother looked an awful lot alike, although⊠Jefferyâs eyes were darker. More âunfocusedâ you can say. Not as in high, but rather in that there was something else he was focusing on- deep inside his head.
She stared at that photo for a hot minute.
âY/N baby, what are you looking at?â
Startled, she turn to her approaching grandmother, who glanced at the photo Y/N was looking at. Grandma frowned, "terrible, isnt it? The Woods didn't even bother to come.â Y/N remained silent. Grandma sighed, glancing at the photo one more time. "You must think about that boy every single day."
Y/N thinned her lips, pulling her sleeves down past her wrists as a chill went down her spine at the mentioning of the family. She shifted uncomfortably, unsure how to reply. Of course, she thought bitterly, having not a day go by without his name in her mind. Her grandmother gave her an unenthusiastic look before sighing; âbut you need to let that monster go. Look at what he did to your brother. I donât want my grandbaby to see the demon who ruined her life. We outta get going before it snows, anyway.â
Ruined her life, Y/N repeated in her head as her grandma wrapped her arm around her to pull her away. Thatâs one way to put it. A sour taste was left in her mouth as they moved away from the table. But, although she wouldnât say it, she didnât want to walk away just yet. She wasnât sure if the face of her brotherâs killer was fully fermented in her mind.
She didnât want to forget what he looked like.
After all, being able to acknowledge the man who changed her life was hard. But since the people of the town of her relationship with him, she couldn't talk about it. Everyone knew how close they were; best friends, always together. The looks and side eyes the families of who Jeffery murdered would be overwhelming at times, since people like to hate her by association. As if she wanted her best friend to murder her beloved but asshole of a brother. She lost everything when it happened: her friends, some family, and beyond all was herself.
âŠ
About 20 minutes passed. Y/N was back home- in her room, where almost nothing changed aside from the cleanliness. The organization she once had was harder to keep up on. In the past, her brother making a mess of her room because he was an asshole gave her a reason to clean it; now, sheâd rather it look like it he had touched it last. It made her feel less lonely sometimes.
Y/N sighed as she took off her heels and black dress, switching into something comfortable to sleep in. Her band tee loosely fell off her shoulder, one of her and Jeff's favorites. She stared at herself in the mirror: the dark circles under her eyes from lack of sleep and the paleness of her face after a year staying indoors. All the little imperfections and impurities. She wasnât murdered, but in a way, she was. At least internally.
Pain followed every thought, mention, dream, voice, appearance, memory, story, and more of the incident. It hurt. She hurt.
Then, the reflection of her window in the mirror caught her eye. It was the heavy snow falling despite the fall season. The twinkling white flakes outside made her think: when it snowed this day last year in 2008, white became his color.
Her brother Randy was murdered by Jeffery. Brutally murdered. A hideous grin was slit into his brotherâs face and stomach. Jeff stuffed Randyâs stomach with some cloth and paper then set on fire. The smell of smoke and bloody iron woke her up that night, then her motherâs scream nearly put everyone else in shock. Sheâll never forget that night.
But, there was another reason to remember that night too.
She visited his home that day after he got out of the hospital. They were close friends and, although she never told him, her feelings for him grew more everyday. But, what she saw when his mother invited her in⊠wasnât Jeff.
âY/N!â the man as white as snow exclaimed in both excitement and shock as he turned over on the couch to face her. Of course he saw it: the way her eyes widened and her smile dropped. Her stomach churned as she looked back at him⊠or what was supposedly him. His black shirt and pants complimented his black hair and the dark circles around his eyes. And the whiteness of his skin made the darkness pop out, although he had a few tiny red spots where he was burned on his arms and face. Then finally, his piercing blue eyes cut through her like a blade. It was Jeffâs body, but⊠not truly Jeff.
He stood up from the couch in haste, wrapping his arms around her smaller form. She hugged back gently, her expression unwavering. His grip was tight and twitchy, and his back muscles were strangely tense and shaky. He stood over with staggering height as he pulled away, his smile wide and gleaming. He took her hands in his and said, âlook at me! Whatâd you think, huh? Huh? Pretty, ainât I?â
âJ-Jeff, you, I,â Y/N stuttered, âIt⊠suits you. You look good in white.â Her voice shuddered with uncertainty, but he perhaps he didnât notice or care. He just chuckled.
âYeah⊠It does. I still feel the burning under my skin but- it feels good! I love what I am now, Y/N,â he said in a raspy whisper- intense and passionate. âWanna see what else I got? A pretty lilâ âget well soonâ gift. Câmon⊠Lemme show you!â He gripped her hand tightly as he guided her through his home, up the stairs then into his room as he had many times before. Only this time, she wasnât⊠comfortable.
âThe two are from Japan,â Jeff explained as he spun the blades from between his fingers delicately like they were glass. Y/N offered a weak smile, her gaze drifting blade to blade as she swung her legs carelessly on Jeffâs bed. He sat next to her with an open box of blades by his side. He spoke about being good with aiming throwing knives but never a fascination like this.
âOh, thatâs sick,â Y/N muttered softly. A particular blade caught her eye- itâs red hint made it different from the rest. She reached her arm across him to point at a particular knife. âThis one looksâ Ow! Jeff, Jeff!ââ
âDonât you fucking touch it!ââ Jeff gripped her wrist with strong force, causing her to gasp and grab onto his hand. He sharply turned his body and leaned in close, his face scrunched into a scowl. Y/N whispered frantic apologies, having never been in this position before. Heâs never acted this way before. The staring match between them lasted for a moment, until he broke it by looking down onto her lips. Then, he let go.
Despite the extreme discomfort that lingered at that moment⊠The memory always put butterflies in her stomach and make her heart flutter. Maybe she was just attracted to the strength he had, or the muscles that flexed on his arm, or the way he looked at her lips⊠Her feelings were only for the features of the man surely. Not the crazy serial killer specifically. âOh my goshâŠâ she whined, covering her hands over her eyes. âCan I go a fucking day without thinking about it? And now itâs snowing when I had plans toââ
Y/Nâs eyes narrowed as she looked out the window. Despite the grey fogginess of the outside, the moonlight lit the whole area. The ground and trees were quickly piling up with snow. It was pretty snow- thick and good for making snowmen. However the pretty snow blankets were disturbed by something when she wasnât looking, as evidence with the foot prints leading up to the house. They lived in a slightly remote area without many neighbors or trespassers.
âThatâs weird,â she said with uncertainty as she stared. ââŠIâm too tired to worry about this,â she huffed and pulled her curtain over the window. Maybe her grandma left something in the backyard and went back to get it. With a yawn and a stretch, she spun around on her heel and flopped onto her bed, pushing off the pile of clothes onto the floor in the process.
Sleep took over instantly. She even forgot to turn off the lamp.
âŠ
DrrrrrfttâŠ
A loud shuffling shocked her ears, waking her instantly. Y/N lifted her head up and looked around, wondering what had happened as her heart pounded frantically. âWhat theâŠâ she muttered groggily, slowly sitting up on the bed. It was too dark to see the room aside from the little clock on her beside with the flashing numbers of 3:02am. She sighed, still needing to shower and get ready for bed.
She pushed her legs off the the side of the bed, rubbing her eye with one hand as the other reached for her lamp to turn it on.
Then she stopped. Dead in her tracks.
A tall, black figure stood slightly hunched in front of her window. It was almost too hard to see, but with the moonlight softly casting a ring around the figure through the curtains, it was impossible to miss. It didnât move. Even as it knew she saw it.
Her lip quivered as she stared with wide eyes. She couldnât breathe. All she could do was, with a shaky hand, turn the nob on her lamp to turn on the light with a satisfying click. Only⊠the light never came on.
She turned the nob again. Nothing. The figure cocked his head.
Her breathing grew louder as chills ran up her spine. Her unfocused eyes scanned down by the outlet saw the wire wasnât just unplugged, but the plug was cut off. As well as the cord to the home phone. She took one last look at the figure⊠then she used her arms to swiftly move backwards on her bed, towards her door.
The figure moved in haste, jumping onto the bed and gripping her legs towards him. She yelped, trying to propel onto the other side of the bed while kicking at him. But the figure was just too strong, pulling her to the edge of the bed before getting on top. He put a leathery hand on her mouth, managing her struggling with his other hand. He was just too strong. He was just too big compared to her.
Then, the thin coldness pressed firmly against her neck. It halted all movement aside from her rapid breathing and flowing tears. The light of the moon dimly casted on the face of the man. A face shape she used to recognize- only, in just one yearâs time, the face had lost its boyishness. It was more sharp, more mature, and⊠distorted. A wide grin was cut into the flesh, and the cast lights of the blue eyes were faint.
And the knife on her neck glimmered.
The figure leaned in close to her ear, his body weighing heavily on her as he shifted into a straddling position.
âY/N⊠Long time⊠No see.â
Her breath hitched as he moved his face closer to hers. Her heart was beating so rapidly as his hand moved from her mouth and onto her cheek. Her arms laid helplessly onto the bed. She shut her eyes tightly, tears pouring out faster than ever. That voice, she thought. Itâs his voice. He dug his finger into her cheek, making her wince in pain. âMmm⊠Look at me. Open your fucking eyes. Tell me you missed this face.â
Her eyes fluttered open, her face shifting to show the hurt she felt as she looked into his eyes. âJeff, youâreâŠâ a sniffle and choke cut her off, before she weakly continued, âwhyâd you⊠Why, Jeff?â
A low chuckle escaped his throat, âI missed you, Y/N, every damn second.â His thumb trailed the tears that flowed freely on her face, then dragging up to her eye then her shaky lips. He tapped his thumb against her lips gently. âIâve thought about those pretty lilâ lips every... single day. I just wanna devour you- rip you away from this place, ravage you âtil thereâs nothinâ left but my imprints.â Jeff smiled widely, looking up and down Y/N like an animal. Her eyebrows furrowed as she listened, unsure of what he meant exactly. It sounds obvious but... what the fuck was he on about?
âIâm not letting the fuckers in this town ruin you. A sweet little thing like you⊠Youâre mine. Hear me? Mine.â
âJeff, I-I donât understand,â she sniffed, blinking away the tears the best she could. âI donât wanna die, Jeff. I donât wanna l-leave my mom and my family andââ
Jeff shushed her- leaning in close, chuckling lowly.
âY/N, baby⊠You got no one left to worry âbout now. Theyâre gone. Done."
The ice coldness ran down her back. Her heart skipped a beat.
âYou belong with me now. Only me, k? Iâll take care of you the way no one else fucking could. Ill treat you...â
He leaned down and kissed her flowing tears before he even finished his sentence, hardly holding back his laughter on the process. She turned her head, avoiding his lips- making his grip on her tighten. Her crying only grew louder, making her huff in annoyance.
"Wha-What! What did you do!"
Jeff cackled. The shaky blade against Y/N's skin remained, and a sudden realization that the blade was wet made her heart sink.
âIâm all you need now, baby! Nothinâ- No one else mattersâ and Iâm gonna make you believe it.â