Several hours after dark had fallen, he still hadn't returned. Worry had settled in my chest, but I waited. Wasn't that what we had agreed? To wait here until dawn, and if the other didn't show ... Well. We hadn't really thought that far ahead. I kicked at a chunk of burnt wood, scowling in to the night. So far I hadn't even dared to turn on the flashlight, or light a fire. The light made the dark worse, cast shadows and created things that weren't there.
Among the trees, something crackled. The first sound made me jump, but as it moved on I tried to focus on the source, taking a step back. A violent coughing brought a moment of relief and panic. Tim lurched in to the clearing, one hand at his side, the other holding the mask at his side. Disturbed, I hesitated a moment. Seeing him without the mask was still strange, yet I didn't know why.
"You okay?"
He dropped to one knee, the mask falling in to the leaves. I scrambled forward, grabbing him by the elbow and pulled him upright.
"Hey - " I cut off abruptly as his hand shifted from his side. Even in the dark I could see the dark stain across the side of his jacket. "What happened?"
"Alex took Jay and Jessica up to the attic," Tim said, wheezing. He looked at his hand, which was smeared with red. For a few seconds he paused, trying to collect himself. "He had a gun."
"Are they okay?" I asked. Asking Tim about himself would only set him off again. He shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "Tim, are you okay? You hit?"
Again and again he'd gotten involved. He seemed to think it best, to make everyone think he was the only one out there. Naturally, he'd been furious when I'd showed myself on Jay's camera months ago. God, over a year. Jay's amnesia had seemed like a blessing, but then he'd started messing with the safe. Tim had tried to to stop the cycle from starting all over again, but to no avail.
And here we were.
"Not bad," Tim said, sounding embarassed. I handed him the mask and he took it with a sort of irritated jerk, glowering at me in the dark. Abruptly he began to cough, more blood flecking his hand. I grabbed the sleeve of his jacket and pulled him to his feet. There wasn't time to think, or time to speak. When I glanced back, there was only the black, and things moving without shape.
Run.
It seemed like that was all we knew how to do lately.