{Jack's POV}

            The truck ride was long and silent.

            Jack just focused on the road, trying his best not to look at [Name]. At the moment the [h/c]-haired girl was staring at her lap, her wrists bound in front of her with duct tape. This time he'd bound them even tighter than when they'd first come to the cabin, to the point that he'd probably cut into the circulation to her hands. He knew it must be painful, but at the moment it didn't really matter.

            His grip tightened on the steering wheel as he thought back to the events that led to this. Obtaining the pills had been relatively easy, much easier than expected. He'd just explained he was having nightmares, and after another micro-sleep episode right in front of them Masky and Hoody had given them half a bottle's worth of pills. Just like that, quick and painless. Honestly, it had made him feel so good about the day, like nothing could go wrong.

              Then, of course all those hopes and good feelings were dashed when he got back. Jack didn't expect to return only to see a police cruiser parked near the woods. The second he saw it he felt his stomach sink dread, and when he finally reached the cabin and saw them talking to [Name], his stomach had lurched so much he'd thought he'd throw up.

            Even before he realized the male officer had recognized her, even before he killed them, he knew the cabin was no longer safe. Even if they didn't recognize her and left peacefully, the risk of them returning was just too high. And with the officers dead, it would only be a matter of time before their cruiser was tracked down and the woods searched. By nightfall the cabin would most likely be discovered, and in that time, they needed to leave.

             And the worst part of all was [Name]'s face. The fear and shock, clearly terrified... of him. His stomach sank at the memory and he bit his lip. Focus on the road, he reminded himself, releasing a small sigh. Focus on what to do next.

            Honestly, he didn't have much of a plan. He'd never thought that the cabin would be found. As he drove along his mind raced, trying to think of what to do now. Whatever he ended up deciding, though, he did know one thing he had to do first. Pulling over on the side of the road, he turned off the truck with a sigh.

  {Reader's POV}

             During the drive, neither of us said a word. I just sat there staring at my duct-taped wrists, no longer able to feel my hands. I had no idea why he'd taped them like that, all I knew was that it hurt like hell and I almost wanted to cry. But I couldn't. I just felt too numb to do even that, so instead I found myself just trying not to look at Jack.

            Eventually, Jack pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the truck. "[Name]." I flinched as he addressed me, and after a moment I slowly looked at him. "Hold out your hands." Biting my lip, I did so obediently, not wanting to risk his wrath. Pulling out his scalpel, I flinched as he moved it towards me, cutting through the tape. Immediately I could feel the circulation starting again, my hands and wrists tingling, and as he carefully peeled it off my wrists I began rubbing them. My skin sticky and a bit red from how tightly the tape had been wound around it, but already they were feeling better.

            "Thanks," I mumbled, looking away, but he didn't respond.

            "...[Name]. Get out." I froze at the sudden order, snapping my head towards him in shock and confusion. Get out...?

            "I... what?" I muttered, my brow furrowing with confusion.


            "Get out," he repeated flatly. "Grab your bags from the back of the truck and go." For a long moment I just stared at him, unable to believe my ears. I tried to look at him for any signs of what he was thinking, trying to figure out what was going on, but of course his mask hid his face and his demeanor was stoic. After a while of silence, he shook his head. "What are you waiting for? Go."

            "I... But... why...?" He didn't respond immediately, and finally just looked away with a small sigh.

            "...[Name], I scare you, don't I?" The question made me tense, a shiver running down my spine.

            "...I," I began, but then trailed off, not even knowing what to say to that. Did he scare me? Honestly, he did. How could I NOT be scared after seeing him kill two people? However, I couldn't say that. I couldn't say anything, words just wouldn't form. About a minute of silence passed before Jack continued, his voice much softer than before.

            "You saw how I am, my real self... I'm a monster, a killer... And you can't ignore that anymore. I saw the look in your eyes when you saw me kill those officers, how scared you were..." He trailed off, sighing and shaking his head. "You did everything I asked because you were scared of what I'd do if you refused, right?" I didn't have an answer for that one, because deep down, I knew he was right. After about a minute passed without a reply he sighed once more, bowing his head as he continued.

            "This road leads into town, it's a bit of a walk but it shouldn't be a problem. The tape marks on your wrists will show you were tied up, and you have all those scars on your stomach, so the police should know you weren't just running around loose. You might be treated as a suspect at first, but once they find the cabin they should loosen up. Plenty of DNA evidence there. You can tell them whatever you want about me, though I'd suggest not mentioning my actual face... They wouldn't really believe you if you did."

            As he explained all this in a matter-of-fact tone I just gawked at him, stunned. My stomach sank more and more with each word. Was... was he serious? Was he actually telling me to go to the police, turn myself in, and tell them everything? Was... was he really making me leave? No matter how much I scrutinized him, Jack's masked face and demeanor still gave me no answers, his gaze directed to the steering wheel. Once he finished his explanation, for a long while I just sat there in silence, trying to process everything. Finally, though, I swallowed, my throat dry, and spoke in a soft voice.

            "...No." At this point his head snapped up, looking at me with obvious surprise.

            "...What...?" he muttered, and I could imagine him frowning. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I straightened in the seat and turned to face him, my gaze locking with the eye holes of his mask as I spoke.

            "I said, no," I repeated firmly, my voice louder and far more confident than before. "I'm not leaving." He just stared at me for a moment, my answer clearly catching him off-guard. I could imagine his gray lips pulling into a deeper frown, puzzled and frustrated by my response.

            "No? No?" His voice was a bit angrier, a slight growl audible in it that made me flinch. "[Name], you saw me! And don't even think about denying that you're not afraid of me, I saw your face! I scare you! I TERRIFY you! I don't want all of our future interactions dictated by your fear of me! [Name], I—"

            Before he could continue I abruptly wrapped my arms around him in a tight bear hug, making him stop mid-sentence. His body tensed at the sudden contact, obviously not knowing what to do, but I just ignored it, nuzzling my head against his blood-soaked hoodie. "I'm not leaving you," I murmured, giving him a squeeze. "I'm not going anywhere." I could feel him staring at me in shock, clearly dumbfounded by my words, and then he started squirming.

            "W-what? But [Name], I know I scare you, don't deny that—"

            "I'm not going to lie, you do scare me," I interrupted, cutting him off once more. "There were times where I did forget that you were a killer. And... I don't think I'll be able to forget it anytime soon." My voice was soft, my gaze cast downwards as I recalled the murder. Shaking off the memory, I then took a deep breath and continued. "But... I don't care. Even though I know you could kill me at any moment, eat my organs, I know... I know you won't hurt me."

            "...What makes you so sure about that...?" Doubt laced his tone, wondering if I really meant it, and I didn't respond right away. Instead my mind wandered back to the time spent in the operating room, listening to Jack ramble drunkenly, holding my hand to his face while tears slid down his cheeks.

            "...You've had plenty of chances to kill me... You had a perfect chance to just stand back, and let me die. But... you didn't. You saved my life, you even broke a window to get to me... And when I didn't listen to your explanation and just assumed the worst, you just waited... Waited for me to give you a chance, and got so torn up by it..." My voice hitched as a sob caught in my throat, and I had to pause to swallow it back before I continued, my voice shaky and barely above a whisper. "I knew then, that I could always trust you. And even though I'm kind of scared right now, I don't care... I don't want to leave, I don't want to say goodbye... So please, don't make me go...!"

            My voice broke at the final word and I finally broke down, just letting the tears flow and streak into his blood-soaked hoodie as I sobbed and leaned into him. For a long time Jack didn't respond, his body just totally rigid. Eventually, though, I felt his arms slowly wrap around me, pulling me into a tight embrace.

            "...I'm sorry..." His own voice was choked with emotion, as if he would burst into tears any moment, and his shoulders shook as he squeezed me tighter. "I'm so, so sorry..." And with that we both began crying like the idiots we were, just holding each other and letting the tears flow freely while we forgot about the rest of the world.