Chapter ten:
They spin around to look to the one figure in shock.
The figure smiles softly then reaches up and removes the hood of the cloak revealing that it is indeed Michael.
They turn to the other figure only for that figure to remove some kind of collar with a device attached to it then removes the hood of the cloak revealing Gavin.
"W-what?" Ray stutters in confusion his mind spinning to try to wrap his head around the situation.
"Michael!? Gavin?! What's going on!?" Geoff questions gaping wide.
"We will explain." Michael says in a promising tone taking a few steps forward with his head slightly down. "And we understand if you're angry or will hate us after." He adds.
Gavin nods in agreement.
What really gets to the others is the regret and guilt coming from all over the two from their face to the feeling coming off of them in waves. Even their eyes hold a look of deep regret and guilt.
"Were... Were you the killers...?" Ray asks hesitantly.
"... Yes..." Gavin's voice is soft and meek.
This shocks everyone.
"B-but why?" Geoff questions no longer gaping.
"It's really a long story." Michael says taking a slightly deep breath. "And it goes back to even before we came to Rooster teeth."
"Begin explaining." Geoff says crossing his arms over his chest and his tone leaves no room to argue. "Everything."
"Our first kill was on accident. It began when we were young. I accidentally killed a bully in an alley one day when I tried to fight him." Gavin begins.
"And I accidentally shot my father because he had put the gun down and my foot pulled the trigger on him when I wasn't paying attention." Michael adds as they both keep the stories of their first kills short.
"We both felt guilt about having killed someone but we didn't know what do to. We became scared and couldn't tell anyone what had happened. So we built up walls to hide ourselves from others... Never letting anyone get too close..." Gavin explains and Michael takes over after that.
"We were scared of how people would judge us for our actions. Accident or not. Eventually when someone approached us we were pretty deep in our fear... We attacked out of instinct killing again... We expected even more guilt... But instead we found we actually felt a little better... We were young and stupid... So... Whenever we needed to get rid of the heaviness of guilt, fear and worry we would go out to kill... At first it wasn't really easy to do it so we struggled even hesitating on kills... But... Eventually it became like a second nature. We just didn't know where else to turn to. We were scared that other people would just judge us as evil because of it... But if we didn't do something then we would surely crack... Then someone would find out about what was going on..."
Gavin takes a step forward to take over. "We kept the killings to people that we didn't know as we always did. When Micool accidentally found me murdering someone I was terrified of what would happen... I mean we had only like just met after all... Then Micool finished the dude off and we both found out that we both did the same thing as each other. On that day we let each other past the walls we had built up for years and it's actually one of the reasons we clicked so well right away. We began making ways we could communicate things like 'Olive you' meant 'Shall we kill?' in our secret communication" He explains. "We kept up how we acted as normal as possible even as we kept our true feelings hidden behind walls pushing them away..."
"The day we went after Joel it was more of a desperate thing. We had waited a bit too long and Joel just happened to be there and he unluckily for him headed outside..." Michael explains. "We left him alive because a part of us couldn't finish it so a part of us wanted him to be found alive... But we didn't say anything and distracted ourselves with the let's play that we rushed to get to because another part of us didn't want him to be found alive because what if he told everyone the truth? ..."
"He ended up being found dead so we just brushed it off." Gavin adds. "The woman was one reason that we didn't attack Jack and Geoff... But the other reason was that we just couldn't... Having any of you guys find out the truth scared us more than if anyone else found out."
"We couldn't admit anything when taken into custody because we knew that the police would see us as just evil beings going around killing people." Michael continues. "So we just put faith in what we have done to not be caught. Which seemed to work out because we were given the sentence of innocence."
"It was a huge relief at first to hear those words. Then once the relief settled we came to realize something." Gavin says and the others can tell the two are holding back tears. "We knew that if anyone was going to find out the truth it'd be you guys. We panicked when we realized this and reacted irrationally... Forcing ourselves to do what our minds decided was the right thing to do... As much as we didn't want to... We didn't want to hurt you guys so we forced ourselves... Even locking away a part of us more so than before to make ourselves do it." He lets a tear escape so it rolls down his cheek. "We highly doubted that even then that we could actually kill you guys... Yes we may have tried but in the end we just couldn't do it..."
"It helped that when Ryan tackled Gavin it was like a wakeup call to us... Like it brought us back to reality letting us see what we had truly done when we had locked ourselves away. We were terrified of what you guys would say if you truly knew it was us... So we let ourselves get even more tangled up in our web of lies... By continuing to pretend that it wasn't really us… It was the only thing we could think of doing... To lie more... We couldn't really bring ourselves to do anymore and left before you guys would find out the truth." Michael adds.
"Though we have lied we can tell you that not everything we said before now when we have revealed ourselves to you was all lies." Gavin admits. "We have told truths believe it or not."
"When we heard Ray was in such a bad shape he was in the hospital it made our feelings of regret and guilt worse... But... We couldn't kill anymore... Each time we saw an opportunity we found ourselves thinking of what we did to you guys..." Michael says. "Seeing one of you there instead of the person... So we struggled with figuring out how to deal with what we were feeling... So we tried to figure out a few things to do if it continued... Until... Eventually... We just couldn't take it anymore..." He and Gavin haven't truly looked at the others since it was found out that they are the killers and they seem to continue to avoid looking at them. "So we decided to tell the truth." He leaves out the part of how they have sex that is usually rough if they need something to hold off just a bit longer since it doesn't actually work as a fix like killing does; Also the part about how when they did try a bit of knife play with each other but ended up not really liking it because they felt guilty for hurting each other.
The others don't have to know any of that part of the truth.
"And we do understand if you can't forgive us or anything." Gavin adds like final words. "In the end it doesn't change what we have done and the fact that we are just mad men going around and murdering people... Hurting them... Hurting you..." His head hangs at the end of that as his words trail off while Michael stares at the ground by his own feet.
The others are silent for a few moments as they glance to each other slightly wondering what to say about all of this.
Eventually Geoff clears his throat to speak.
"What will you two do now?" He asks not actually giving an answer to what the two have just confessed to.
"We've decided to leave." Gavin admits raising his head to half way to being fully up.
"Leave?" Geoff blinks in surprise.
"We knew that hearing the truth would probably hurt you even if the part of our minds that are rational knew it was the right thing to do." Michael explains. "So as a result we felt that leaving was the best thing to do. Admit the truth and leave to hopefully not make the hurt linger by having us be there as a reminder of what we have done."
"But where will you go?" Jack asks.
Michael closes his eyes softly then turns so his side is facing the others and he glances up to the sky with half open eyes. "Well out of town first... Then from there… Honestly just wherever the road ends up taking us." He says then turns back to the others letting his eyes become open normally instead of halfway. "At least that's the plan."
"Yeah. Well we should probably start heading." Gavin says getting Michael to turn to him as he takes a step forward. "It is up to you what you will do with this new information. We will never blame you even if you hand it over to the police. This is goodbye." He then turns and begins head with Michael following beside him.
Geoff opens his mouth to call out to the two to wait but Ryan slaps a hand over Geoff's mouth. He turns to glare at the blonde.
"Aren't you taking this a bit too lightly?" Ryan questions. "You're forgiving them a bit too easily even after all that they've done!"
Geoff grabs Ryan's wrist removing his hand from covering his mouth by pushing it downwards. "Weren't you paying attention?" He questions then glances to the two who are still walking away. "Wait for a moment!" He calls hoping that they aren't too far yet.
The two stop and glance back over their shoulders in slight surprise and confusion.
Geoff turns back to Ryan. "I know you're angry. And I have not forgiven them completely." He says then turns to look to the two. "But I can see the guilt and regret. Something that they've been holding back for so long. Holding it all back because they were scared. Scared of the world... How it would react and how it would just slap on the label of evil monsters if what they did was revealed as their doing." He continues then turns back to Ryan. "The way I see it is that they just got a little lost in the darkness of the path that life laid out for them."
Ryan's eyes flicker to the two who seem to be wondering if they should still go or wait for a little bit longer.
"I cannot make you forgive them for what they've done." Geoff says watching Ryan. "But I can ask you to give them a chance to prove themselves."
Ryan looks back to Geoff then he turns to look to Ray who seems to be lost in thought. He glances over his shoulder to Geoff before turning back to Ray heading over to him.
Ray blinks back to reality and turns to his lover as he approaches.
There's a few seconds of silence then Ryan speaks.
"Do you forgive them?" He asks.
Ray turns to look to the two then he turns back to Ryan. "I'm not sure." He says. "I do want to... It's just... After what happened..." He glances down.
"I know." Ryan brings the other into a hug. "They were our friends... Friends who hurt us..." He adds softly and his eyes flutter shut. "They hurt you..."
"Even though we were supposed to be friends..." Ray whispers to himself and buries his face into Ryan's chest.
"You don't need to forgive them. I haven't. Just… At least let them have a second chance." Geoff says stepping closer to the two lovers.
Michael and Gavin turn to each other to share a glance wondering if they should stay to continue waiting or to continue leaving like they had planned on doing.
"It's up to you what you will do." Geoff turns and begins to head over to the two but stops and turns to Jack.
Jack notices and moves over to Geoff. "Geoff..." He begins and Geoff waits for the other to continue. "Though it might be a little difficult at first after what happened I think we should give them a chance to show that they have or can change for the better. Allow them to work to gain our forgiveness for what they have done."
Geoff smiles then pulls Jack into a quick hug in the perfect way to give Jack a kiss on the cheek without it seeming obvious; as he wants to wait until Jack is ready to let the others know. "Thank you love." He says softly then he pulls away and heads over to Michael and Gavin who turn to him. "I may not be able to speak for all of us." He begins. "But. At least some of us would like to give you a second chance." He says shocking the two.
"But... After all that we've done..." Gavin begins.
"You regret it and feel guilty about it." Geoff speaks before Gavin can finish. "It was written all over you. The regret and guilt shining through after so long of being hidden away." His eyes flicker between the two for a moment. "You just got a little lost in the darkness of the path life has set out for you." He closes his eyes softly as he takes a second long pause. "Though we would like to give you a second chance it does not mean that you are forgiven." He opens his eyes halfway and looks back to the two.
"It's alright." Michael assures him. "We told you that we'd understand if you can't forgive us."
"Are you going to stay?" Geoff asks.
"We appreciate you giving us a second chance." Gavin says. "Though we're still probably going to go." He gives a small smile. "Let things settle down and let the road take us to wherever it may lead."
"Are you sure?" Geoff asks.
"We'll be fine." Michael assures him as Gavin checks a text.
"Yes. Because a friend of mine, who lives in a town only a few hours away, who owns a delivering place needs more people." Gavin says looking up from his phone. "He asked me if I know anyone who won't mind a busy schedule and lots of travel." He turns to look to Michael.
Michael smiles softly as their eyes meet. "It might be a good place to start." He says. "It'll keep us busy so we probably won't have time for... Anything else... Especially since we'll be traveling a lot. I'm more than certain that it will work. We'll be too busy to even truly think about the past thus too busy to even think of getting our hands even dirtier. That much I'm sure of."
Gavin nods.
"So you really are going to try to quit the killings?" Jack asks coming over to them.
Ryan and Ray do move closer but still hang back a little together as they mostly moved to listen.
"Yeah we decided to try to quit that." Michael confirms. "After the... Incident... We found that we can't really kill like we used to... It just reminds us of what we did to you guys... The guilt is too much that we feel like we can't do it anymore... So we are finding something else to try to keep our hands clean... To avoid us making it worse so we don't become desperate for it."
"That makes sense." Jack nods.
"Well. We wish you luck." Geoff adds.
"Thank you. Goodbye." Michael says glancing to all of them even as Ray especially won't meet his eyes.
"This is goodbye." Gavin says in agreement as he also glances to all of them getting the same reaction as Michael did. He wants to say their names, talk to his X-ray one more time... Call Ray the nickname of X-ray one last time… But he knows that he probably shouldn't... It'll be easier on them all if he doesn't do so.
With that the two turn and head off ready to start their lives a new. With high faith that they will succeed.
The others watch them go not making a move to stop them.
Mavin has left the game.