Chapter 2

Well, he wasn't dead. That was good. Unfortunately, it seemed like the only good thing. The air was deadly quiet, without the sound of a single living being. His head hurt like... well, like someone had used brute force to knock him out. And the smell...

Blood. Blood and feces and urine and generally death. Jet choked back a sudden rising of bile, cracking his eyes open. It was still dark... still night, or another night? He carefully moved his head to the side, and stopped breathing for a moment at the sight. He had seen that brat before. Had almost tripped the mother. And now the kid was laying in a corner, hands wrapped around a knife shoved into his throat. The blood splatter had been in his direction and he was probably covered in drying blood at the moment. Jet shifted a little, amending that thought to "definitely covered in drying blood."

Slowly, Jet pushed himself up into a sitting position. It was expected that the back of his head would hurt like hell. Kinda interesting that nothing else hurt, though. And there was something missing... something heavy and... whatever put him there took his ARM. Great.

It sounded like there was nothing nearby that was still living. All the townspeople... and at their own hands. It was sickening. And... Virginia. Jet clenched his fist, just a little overwhelmed with anger. What the hell caused all that? Normal humans do not just start killing people and acting completely crazed with terror!

Which... kinda begged the question. Why was he still alive?

"Oh, good." A face suddenly appeared in his vision, a lanky body with a sheriff's star pinned firmly to his chest attached. Jet jumped, hitting the back of his head against the wall and causing his vision to black out for a second. "You're awake. Wouldn't do to put the night to waste, after all."

"Who the fuck are you?"

The man just grinned, straightening. "Do you think you'll live long enough to really care, Jet Enduro?"

That caused Jet to tense. "You gonna kill me while I'm unarmed?"

"No, no." The man went over to the brat, kicking the body over casually. "I wouldn't dare bloody my own hands with it. No, Jet, by the time I am through..." He kicked at the knife. "This will be your best friend."

Jet looked at the body for a moment, then let out a dry laugh and spat. "No offense, dipshit, but I don't think so."

"Hmm." And a red ribbon dropped in Jet's lap. "Your adorable little Drifter girl was wearing this? She ran quickly after you were knocked out. Perhaps it's for the best... I only have time for one of you."

"Bullshit," Jet croaked, looking up from the ribbon. Virginia was too stupid to run. She would have stayed and fought to get him back. She wouldn't have left unless she was dragged out, and even then, she'd go kicking and screaming. He tossed the ribbon back to the man, snorting. "Don't know what corpse you looted that from, but it ain't hers."

He blinked, a little taken aback. Then, he frowned in thought. "I see, I see. You're a tasty cookie, Jet, and I will enjoy figuring you out." He chuckled to himself, starting to leave. "Your friends won't dare try to rescue you during the night. You see... you're in my world now." His shadow stretched and grew, bubbling, writhing, wrong. "And they aren't."

"What are...?"

"You will know soon enough." With those words, the door closed and locked.

---

Jet had learned the hard way the door was more solid than it looked. Or was reinforced, either one. Bars across the windows, so even if he shattered the glass, he wouldn't be able to climb out. Only thing he could really do is wait until that weird... thing showed back up again. He knew he'd be able to get the drop on it. Jet toyed idly with the knife, his weight off his aching foot.

Any time now.

Any time. Really.

Waiting games were the worst. That didn't mean that Jet relaxed any, though.

The door was still not opening. Jet let out an irritated sigh, lowering the knife hand slightly. There was nothing to warn him, not even the barest whisper of sound when long strong fingers wrapped around his neck. He struggled, alarmed. Nothing was that quiet. Nothing could get inside a locked room. Jet stabbed backwards, hoping to inflict some kind of pain, and hit nothing. A miss? But the hands disappeared and he spun around, coughing.

Nothing.

What the hell? Reviewing the facts... something was behind him. Something that moved too quietly and got in without unlocking the door. And surprised him...

Of course. Only a totally idiot would have missed it. That sheriff. It managed to sneak up on Jet, and it was completely silent otherwise. And it wasn't human, so it was pretty obvious.

"Well played!" The sheriff stepped out into the moonlight, watching the android carefully. "You're incredibly perceptive, boy. You aren't afraid of your friends leaving you for dead... you aren't afraid of Things that Go Bump in the Night... I'll actually have to do some work. You're a challenge, one I haven't had for a while."

"Feh."

It chuckled, circling him. "I have to wonder. Are you afraid of normal things? You are so cynical for one so young... not even twenty, I would assume? And strangely experienced for your age."

Jet snorted, not taking his eyes off it.

"But there's always something. Always..."

"You gonna stop talking and do something soon?" Jet interrupted. Geez, he talked more than Virginia and Gallows combined.

It obliged, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall. Jet barely managed to keep his hold on the knife when it whispered in his ear. "Tough. Quite tough..." Jet squirmed, really not liking its closeness. "Oh ho. Afraid of being touched? Not really something I would have expected from someone as pretty as you. Or is it because you're so pretty, hm?" Idly, it ripped the knife out of his hand and tossed it behind him. "No, just the beginning," it mused as its hand stroked up Jet's thigh. "There is more to it. You're already not afraid of what's coming next?"

Jet grunted around the pressure on his throat. "Drifter for ten years. Not anything new."

The sheriff paused, then let go. "Hm. I had hoped for more from you. Well, well. I suppose I will see you later... oh, and enjoy the show."

Jet looked up from his coughing, not that surprised that the asshole had already left. Dawn would probably be in an hour or so... he might be able to get out then. Though, the dull roar was starting to...

Wait.

Dull roar? Of people? Jet looked outside, blinking. There... were people. The townspeople. It looked completely and utterly normal, not even a single bloodstain. Jet quickly looked over at where the body would be, dumbfounded that there wasn't even a smear on the floor. It was like... the town had started the day over.

"What the HELL!"