Ok so maybe I took it too far with slow burn and need to speed things up just a little bit considering how long this story will take at this pace.
Eh who cares you guys are suckers for slow burn romances and stuff like that anyway. Because for some reason humans including me like it when we're teased with what we want for a short period of time until we get it. Like what Handa the panda did with breath of life. Although personally I've come to find that story a little too hopeless and miserable long term.
"This is more tedious than every endeavor I've ever suffered through!" Evan seethed. He was currently standing in his own mansion's foyer, having only begun chatting with Max and Phillip a short period of time ago.
A quiet groan came from Max's throat, it went unheard by the other two.
"Tracking the beast?" Phillip asked with the raise of an almost non existent eyebrow.
"That is as well, but I was referring to finding the girl. I have found myself devoid of her presence in every trial since our encounter and it has exhausted my patience!" Evan snapped, clenching his fists and grinding his teeth together like a rabid animal.
Another quiet groan came from Max, a small attempt at articulation, but this time Evan heard it, and from what he could gather, so had Phillip.
"Ssssss-stoo-op."
Evan froze, as did the stealth killer, the two simultaneously turning their heads to look at the unnamed son who stood tall by the front door, his weapons next to the others off to the side.
"Max. You did it." Evan said in disbelief. The boy had been improving for days now, and had been getting closer, but that was the closest he'd ever come to a full word without too much trouble or a coughing fit.
"Incredible." Phillip echoed, staring at the deformed man with wonder, which morphed into his good natured humor Evan had come to associate him with. "You'll sweep that girl off her feet in no time if you keep that up." He smiled brightly, a rare sight to the other two. Max's smile was painfully visible on his face, even with his cheek pulling down onto the side of his neck.
Evan let out a deep breath, unwinding just the slightest bit, happiness for his friend or any type of it was an unfamiliar feeling after so long. This felt different from when he was around Meg, and he didn't like that he didn't feel it around her. Why wouldn't he feel like this if he was grinning like a fool when he'd spoken to her.
His thoughts circled back to what had even started his tirade. He owed an apology to the southerner. "I apologize for upsetting you Max, I will refrain from doing such again." Evan said with a brief touch of his own chest with a hand, trying to convey the sincerity behind his statement. "I merely wish to speak to Megan again, she is incredible, and I want to know more about her. There is something there that promises me a gift beyond anything I've ever experienced." Evan said with a forlorn voice, his tone fading to just above a whisper. He brought a hand up to trace the edge of his face around the mask. Resisting the urge to to tear at it again.
"I understand Evan." Phillip said with a trace of compassion. A sympathetic realization between the him and the other man similarly burdened with exhaustion. Max seemed to understand as well, his face softening as far as it could and taking a step forward to place one hand on Evan's good shoulder.
Evan usually shied away from physical affection, or even getting too emotional. That was saved for when he was in complete isolation in his fortress of a mansion, after properly locking it up before hand. Even then he tried to remain stoic, it was in his blood, his very being.
But for some reason he could never seem to pull it off like his father had, and it infuriated him. Both that he still couldn't shake his father off of his back, and that he couldn't be just like him. Now though, he allowed the other two to provide a form of reassurance and comfort, despite how alien it felt, despite the vulnerability that begun to show. He simply let himself breathe out deeply, before giving an appreciative nod to the two.
Evan didn't allow the moment to last too long however, giving a small thumbs up in jest before returning his focus to the current objective he had in mind.
"That beast doesn't leave its fortress very often, but on the sparse occasion that it exits I have noticed a repetitional pattern. The creature only seems to leave after trials that occur in its domain, however, it does not after every single one. I would imagine there is another factor that I would not be able to find out unless I was there." Evan concluded with a scratch of his now irritated neck. The skin was covered in dry blood and soot but underneath it had turned an angry reddish pink at his fingernails ceaseless assault.
"Well didn't the beast come with two survivors, police officers if I'm correct?" Phillip asked. "We all know how the Shape refuses to leave the girl that he came with alone. Perhaps it is leaving its territory in hopes of tracking them down?" The Nigerian said, his words almost echoing with the impact they'd made.
Evan continued to scratch at his neck. The itchiness just wouldn't go away! It was an intense heat which had been spreading sporadically like the bubbles of melted metal all over his upper body.
It couldn't be because of impatience could it? He was a hunter, patience was a requirement for the sport if you wanted to succeed at all and especially if you didn't want to leave the poor creature thrashing alone in a bear trap for hours on end.
That was what his father had liked to do. But nothing he ever tried could exterminate the guilt and sympathy in Evan's soul for a tortured animal.
If he was going to hunt something, he would be efficient about it, there was no room for twisted pleasures. Nor did those beautiful creatures deserve it. If only he'd always thought like that about the survivors.
Well, perhaps there was one that applied.
The only reason he didn't like leaving the others struggling in a trap was because he knew they'd get out. If they were inescapable traps than nearly every game would be over within a matter of seconds.
But when he thought of Megan like that. Caught in a trap without her ability to run, something she obviously cherished so much, taken away, and struggling with agonized cries. It was too much.
He'd already been going soft with her in many areas. Showing mercy, intentionally missing hits, handling her gently when carrying her or removing the runner from a trap if she got unlucky. Even going as far as to outright spare her.
He still remembered the feeling of her light and petite body in his arms when he carried her to that second locker. The feeling of her head being almost level with his own, so tantalizingly close. Or the thrill when her hands instinctively clasped onto his shoulders and biceps for stability. He wanted more of it, had to have more of it, but that was only if he could find her. Trials were too infrequent to satiate him. It was a tiny dollop of water when he was severely dehydrated.
"Evan?" A deep, once previously accented voice called. The blurriness that the hunter hadn't even been aware of cleared from his eyes as he focused back in on the two figures in front of him.
"Yes?" Evan answered with a raised eyebrow behind the mask.
"Did the beast not come with those two police officers?" Phillip echoed, tilting his own head forward in amusement.
Right, the two new police officers. Always easy sacrifices, bold, which paired with their love for altruism was a rather disastrous combo. The beast has an obsession with the female one, always repeating the singular word the dumb brute knew.
Stars.
"Yes that would be probable." Evan answered, raising a finger to the back of his neck. "I will have to stalk the beast more vigilantly if I am to chase it through the fog to the survivors... if that is in fact it's intended destination."
The Nemesis's obsession with the short haired police officer was most likely similar to the Clown's obsession with the blonde southern woman he had arrived with, minus the sexual attraction.
The pervert had showed up with her and out of all the female survivors none of them were talked about as lewdly and disgustingly by him as her. Not even his little blood bird Megan, but unfortunately she was a close second.
Hardly any of the female survivors were spared in regards to the Clowns sick fantasies. But the women he liked the most were the ones he mentioned the most. Evan was convinced it wasn't even to get a reaction out of anyone anymore. Now it was simply because the killer felt like it, and looked for other killers who shared his perverseness to talk to.
All of the female killers hated him, because even they would get talked about behind their backs by Kenneth.
It certainly didn't help that most of Rin's clothes were shredded to pieces, leaving her almost naked.
Some were largely spared considering the state of their appearance. The plague was covered with blackened and rotted skin from her name sake, and Lisa was horrifically scarred, malnourished, and unwashed. The rest of the female killers were simply strong enough to get him off in the rarer instances when he actually tried to get physical with them.
Evan could still vividly remember the enjoyment he, and most likely Phillip and Max felt, watching Sally maul him for grabbing at her.
"Perhaps the beast has not actually found the survivors, and that is why it always returns in the same condition as before, rather than blood soaked." Phillip morbidly added to their theory.
Evan's stomach clenched at the thought of the beast attacking Meg, his friends obviously feeling the same worry for their own obsessions if their worried faces were any hint.
"Wwwwwwweeeeee...nnnneeeeeeeeeeeed...t-t-t-o...k-k-kiiiiiiillll...iiiiitt." Max coughed out, almost falling to a knee with the violent force from his lungs.
"How? The beast doesn't have any known weaknesses. The Deathslinger once shot it directly in the throat with his weapon and it barely even phased the creature. It's suit is almost indestructible." Phillip sneered.
"Everyone has a weakness, it just takes a little creativity. Even the Entity isn't invincible. I just need some experimentation." Evan said with a subtle scratch of his neck, loosing himself in thought. The beast had to have some weakness, and he'd find it, no matter how many failed trials he would have to run it through.
He needed to do this.
"You'd really do that for me and Leon?" A rather suspicious voiced questioned.
Meg couldn't blame her, Jill hadn't gotten much help from other survivors after she'd arrived. The survivors who came before here weren't exacrly inclined to help someone who wouldn't fall for their lies, and the older ones seemed to largely forget about her, focusing on other things.
"If you two would let me, I know you guys aren't like Yun Jin and her group. You guys are good people and If I have a chance to help the newbies I have a duty to do it." Meg said calmly. Strategically choosing her words to give off the right aura of authority in the situation.
Meg sat relaxed against a small rock just big enough for her to lean on, Jill sat with her legs crossed similarly to a stereotypical meditative pose. The two women had to turn their heads to look at each other, almost as if the entirety of their bodies except their heads were dismissing each other for something else more important.
Jill was a cop, but Meg was a year older, and the best survivor here. Jill wouldn't learn anything if she treated Meg like an equal and not like a teacher. Jill, surprisingly, looked hesitant. Everyone already knew how suicidally altruistic she and Leon were, so why not jump at the chance to be even better at saving others?
"I'll ask Leon, but I'm in. Although how exactly are we even gonna do this? It's not like we can pick our teammates." She finished sarcastically.
Meg just smirked. "Simple, if we happen to get paired together, I bring a shroud to start off with you and whoever else is in there and you shadow me the whole match." She she said with an air of amusement. "I can teach you how to finesse your way through a sticky situation, and anything else you need. And don't let failure get you down, I don't think I could ever count how many times I've gotten myself killed or one of my friends because of my own mistakes." Meg offered, absentmindedly looking over at the rest of her family. "But now I've gotten so used to it that I know how to save them, and myself. And I don't regret it one bit. For you to have a teacher, and not have to learn by yourself? You'll be saving everyone in no time." Meg said with a sad smile, having turned her head away to look at her friends.
Jill stared didn't answer, and whenever Meg glanced at the girl to check on her she just found an unwavering stare. Meg had heard the opinions of others regarding the raccoon city police officer. Ace had compared Jill to herself in the intimidation factor despite being "on the small and pretty side" as he'd put it. Was Jill trying to intimidate her?
"Alright..." Jill finally spoke, an air of uncertainty in her voice. "Alright I'll do my best, I don't think anybody else here deserves this. And if I can make it easier, I'll do it." She sounded not unlike Meg herself, and the runner could already tell she wasn't going to regret her decision to teach the cop.
Meg smiled. "I'm sure we'll get along perfectly. But I have to go, I'll do my best to be back quickly if a trial starts, but if you're unsure if I'll be going into a trial. You should see the smoke reach into the forest." Meg said while standing, walking away across the sand and passing the sphere like arrangement up of the floating limestone.
Meg ventured farther across the sand until it started to fade away like the paint at the end of a brushstroke. Forest taking its place once more as Meg was surrounded in the dark woods that reminded her of the Macmillan estate.
Something that also reminded her of the Trapper, and the hope he'd allowed her to feel. Through him and his two apparent friends.
The tall grass reached up to her shins, making Meg glad she was wearing a pair of dark jeans with her boots. She'd turn into a killer herself if she had to feel grass tickling the bottom of her legs for eternity.
Said grass was largely ignored as Meg kept going further and further away from the protective light of the campfire. So much so that it was soon to become nothing more than a speck in the distance. Meg had hoped that Nea and Claudette might have been open to join her, but after her embrace of the Hillbilly Claudette had been unwilling to move from the fire. It was obvious her encounter with the deformed killer was troubling her, she was starting to remind Meg of herself in how much time she spent thinking.
Meg knew she'd be alright, Claudette was stronger than most others in her seemingly endless kindness. Her empathy and compassion often flooded out like water through a dam.
Nea was an entirely different story. She'd come back from her trial against the Wraith angry and twitchy. The street artist had a short temper yes, but she'd reeled it in in recent time. To see her best friend unravel right before her very eyes was concerning to put it mildly.
Meg would find out what the Wraith had told her when she came back. For now she needed answers, and for once, the unknown appearing again in her life was exciting, thrilling even. It sent a shiver down her back at the possibilities she could now explore.
However...she had no idea where exactly to find The Trapper. No survivor had ever wandered as far from the campfire as she had, and even then there was a limit to how far she could go before recent events. Now with the rules seemingly going lax she had more freedom of movement. Where did the entity even keep the killers outside of match's? Would she just keep wandering until she found one?
And what if she found the wrong one?
Too many sprung to mind. The Doctor, Shape, Trickster, Demogorgon, over two thirds of the killers would undoubtedly shred her on sight. Some would do worse. Horror crept up her spine and stomach at the thought of what that sick Pinhead would do if he caught her, or at the prospect of the Clown raping her.
She'd probably vomit if she kept that train of thought going, despite the fact that she hadn't eaten anything since before she was taken.
Was risking potential, rape, dismemberment, torture, and agony even worth trying to find the man who broke the status quo and gave her hope for a future outside of the realm? Someone who she didn't even know would be much better than the others. Would it even change the fact that it was becoming harder and harder to find meaning in what she did the longer she was here?
Meg hugged herself with her arms as she pondered in her head. Her feet coming to a stop in front of a slash in the dirt, like someone had taken a stone axe and dragged it through the mud. Beyond it, was more forestry. But before the Trapper's mercy it had been a dense fog so thick it could swallow even the largest of killers whole faster than the eye could blink. Now it was clearer, the fog being reduced to a light mist that hugged the ground and didn't rise much higher than a foot or so.
Meg's hair was in its typical three French braids, making it easy to run without it getting in her face, and also because it had become habitual to tie it up like that. But more recently than ever Meg had grown bored with the style, even dissatisfied with it. Her scalp becoming irritated with the way her hair moved, and a general sense of discomfort and discontent with it.
It felt like the symbol of a girl Meg wanted no part of anymore.
So with slightly shaky hands, Meg undid her braids, letting her hair fall down her shoulders and back in light curls from their previous state. She ran her hands over her scalp, easing the itching and trying to scratch away some of the grime she could feel. Her hair had always stood out to other people, instead of being a typical shade of orange like most redheads, hers was truly red. A deep crimson that when taken care of, had a glossy sheen that was almost unnatural. It had awarded her with many stares, compliments, even a few dates here and there.
She hadn't minded some of the attention, it was nice to know some of the boys thought she was attractive, and that she wasn't hideous. However, she couldn't say she liked the attention it drew when the more perverted ones started paying attention to her.
But that's just the price of being good looking, usually everything required a sacrifice in some manner, and she was okay with the one her hair brought now. Natural attention, and bad attention.
She couldn't say high school Meg felt the same way. But that wasn't her anymore.
Meg considered pulling her hair up a bit, putting it into the style she used for her fortune teller outfit, but decided against it. She'd let it completely loose today, let it fall around her like a small cloak. Let it fall down to ease the pain her past actions still inflict on her today.
She was stronger than that, she was stronger than that. She repeated it to herself like a mantra in her her head. She was not that girl anymore, she was a new person now. A woman.
So with what confidence and self reassurance she had managed to muster, her hair loose and free, and her goal clear, Meg took her first step into the misty woods. And her first of many steps towards The Trapper, and destiny.
Was risking potential rape, dismemberment, torture, and all that jazz worth finding the man who'd given her hope for the first time in what felt like years?
Yes...Yes it was.
But would she come back if she died outside of a trial? Would the Entity simply leave her dead as punishment for defying its will? No, it couldn't do that, how could it ever get rid of one of it's precious toys after all.
The mist remained consistent in its thickness around her ankles, and the air was stale and void of any scent whatsoever. The fake moon remained hidden from sight no matter where she looked, but it was bright enough to light a path through the woods without fear of stumbling. The dirt felt rather soft for once, compared to the compact, hard, almost clay like density of the brown earth by the campfire. It gave ever so slightly beneath her boots as she walked.
While she walked, Meg began to speculate. Why did she of all people fascinate the Trapper so? He'd mentioned her resilience, determination, and hope among the reasons why. Yet despite the rather simple answer, at least to an outside viewer, it didn't make enough sense in her mind. Whatever it was had been shared by The Wraith and Hillbilly. They obviously saw whatever the Trapper saw in her in Claudette and Nea.
There was something else though, something a bit more human than just a scientific interest.
How exactly was she going to interact with him and the other two in trials from now on. What was she even going to say to him that was worth risking life and limb! Sometimes she hated her inability to think ahead even when she had all the time in the world. That part of her just wouldn't go away would it, impulsive to the end it seemed.
Meg had been so absorbed in her own head that she almost didn't notice the distant thumping until it was too late.
Right before whatever was making such a loud noise came into view Meg dropped to the dirt next to a tree, hoping the mist would conceal her form along side the somewhat tall grass.
Man was she ever glad she'd worn dark clothing.
A moment after she'd hit the floor the figure of none other than the Nemesis came into view through the distant fog. The 7 foot 3 tall behemoth ran though the trees with the same form he had in the trials, relentless and determined. He came to a stop after several more long strides, straightening up and looking around, glancing over the tree she was behind without a care.
The bio weapon continued to look around, glancing every which way, before his head slowly turned in the direction Meg had come from.
"Stars." He roared almost unintelligibly. Before taking off in the direction he newly faced. His heavy foot falls echoing through the forest like a drum beat of death. Meg pulled herself into a sitting position, her face twisting into a sneer.
She hated the Nemesis more than most killers. Mostly because of how he'd nearly killed her when he first showed up. The Entity had seen fit to introduce him in that weird messed up pseudo trial and let him chase her for what felt like hours.
She could still remember how he'd tried to strangle her with that irritating tentacle. Then how when she'd pushed back and locked her feet against the wall, he'd tossed her into that old police car. Meg could even vividly remember how Jill and Leon had left her there, thinking she was dead, and then Nea saving her.
She just found the Nemesis outside of a trial, and looking for Jill and Leon. Her only regret was that she couldn't kill the stupid bio weapon. Make him suffer for almost killing her, ruining her streak, and humiliating her.
She mentally shook herself, and focused on the fact that she was so close to a killer outside of a trial. Something was wrong with the Entity! No survivor had ever seen a killer outside of a trial before, it shouldn't have been possible! The fog was always too dense after her line in the dirt and any attempt she'd made at going through always had her right back where she started.
She really was headed in the right direction, if she kept wandering far enough where the Nemesis had come from, would she find the other killers as well? Would she be able to find The Trapper?
When a new thought flew into her head Meg's eyes widened. She threw herself into a standing position, already mentally preparing herself to run after the monster through the woods.
If she could find the killers what was saying that monster couldn't find the survivors! Yes not all of them were the most trusting or nice people but Meg still liked to consider them friends, and her family was with them! No this couldn't be happening, surely it wouldn't find them right? She had to be sure.
Just before she could dash after it a hand clamped itself over her mouth and another wrapped around her waist and lifted her into the air. Instantly Meg began thrashing as violently as possible, giving herself whiplash trying to free her head. She was doing her best to try and bite one of the offenders fingers, anything to get them to drop her.
"It's me!" A deep voice growled in her ear lowly. A mask of bone made itself known against the back of her skull, and now that Meg could focus, she recognized the small piece of metal sticking out of The Trapper's left arm. Meg stilled in the killer's arms, slowly relaxing as she was set down on her feet again, and her mouth was uncovered. The arm around her waist slid upwards until his hand rested around her bicep, and stayed there.
"Can you let me go you massive bear?" Meg said impatiently. Overwhelmed with worry for her friends and nervousness at her situation.
"No, I cannot in good conscience leave you to chase after that monstrosity. And how did you ever manage to get into this forest?" He questioned, his deep voice commanding answers. His grip on her forearm tightening enough to not be uncomfortable, but remind her it was there, even though the tingling of the skin had been doing that beforehand.
Meg tried to formulate a response, juggling around hundreds of thoughts and words in her head in a failed attempt to form a proper sentence and convey her point. "I-I...I just am, there was always this fog in the woods around the campfire that I could never go through, but ever since you spared me and then the Hillbilly and Wraith did the same it just disappeared. I wanted to find you Trapper, for answer, so I started walking...and here I am." Meg offered with a shrug and a fake smile that didn't reach her eyes. Then her eyes narrowed accusingly, her gaze going directly to the eye holes in his mask as her jaw set.
"How did you know I was going to run after it?" Meg questioned with an air of suspicion. Crossing her arms and fully facing him for emphasis.
"It was obvious you were going to start running, and your gaze was on the path the creature took, one presumably that leads to the rest of the survivors. It is merely intuition my dear." The Trapper's said calmly, looking down and staring at her. He cocked his head slowly before bringing a hand up and brushing away some of the hair that had gotten into her face. "Please, you know my name is Evan, but why would you seek my company? Would you not prefer the company of your fellow survivors?" He endeavored to ask, straightening his head while letting the hand by her head fall to his side. His cleaver, she noticed, was clipped to the back of his overalls on a belt that she'd never seen him wear during trials, as well as two bear traps.
"Because ever since you spoke to me everything's been going haywire. I can do things I shouldn't be able to in trials. I mean for crying out loud The Doctor was getting ready to electrocute me to death, and not only did I somehow escape it, but I hit him with his own club!" Meg said with a humorless laugh, the stress of it all finally bubbling to the surface.
Evan's hand tensed around her bicep, his grip staying consistent, but the muscle on his phalanges tightened dramatically. "It would be unwise to go back to your friends so soon, not with that beast in your path. Come with me, I can keep you safe from the others until you are able to return." He propositioned, looking at her, presumably in the eyes, before looking over her at the trees behind.
"W-wait what? I can't just stay out here! Yes I came out here because I have questions for you but I can't just not go back!" Meg said with wide eyes, staring up at him like a child having just been told they had to leave the chick-fil-a playground.
Evan stared at her for a moment, once again bringing his hand up and running it gently over her hairline. "It is not my intention to keep you there forever. Only until that creature has returned to its domain and it is safe for you to go home." He murmured, routinely checking their surroundings for the Nemesis.
Home. Meg thought to herself, not that long ago she would've laughed at the notion. Her home was in Colorado with her mother, not this Hell. But home was where your family was, and Meg had begun to fear if her mother would even still be there should she ever get out. It was exactly why she couldn't rest knowing there was even the slightest chance that the Nemesis would find them. Meg craned her neck sideways to look behind her anxiously, worry etching itself over her features.
Evan's hand found her cheek, gently turning her head back to face him. His thumb running over her cheekbone softly in an attempt to comfort. "I understand you are distressed in regards to your friends safety, however there is a reason he has never found where the survivors rest. He will not be successful in this attempt either, however, you are not safe from him here. Come with me, just for a short while." Evan asked, sounding more pleading with each new iteration. With what seemed to be his final gesture to convince her, the hand on her bicep moved to wrap around her back, and he slowly pulled her into an embrace.
He was very light with his hold, and it didn't take long for her to lean into the comfort and attempt to wrap her much smaller arms around his massive torso. Her hands were able to meet at his spine, but any farther and she'd dislocate her shoulder. He was leaning downwards slightly to better reach her, and it allowed her to rest her forehead on his collar bone.
"Fine" Meg said reluctantly, stepping back from him with one last longing gaze behind her. He held his arm out for her, and it only took Meg a second to remember when he was from, and what the gesture meant. She slipped hers in his and let him guide her through and out of the woods, his steps considerably shortened so she didn't get dragged behind him.
"Do you perhaps have any theories as to why the Entity is suddenly allowing this scenario to occur?" Evan asked, his more eloquent dialect still amusing Meg and putting a smile on her face.
Here she was, having given her arm to a killer, and listening to him talk like a true aristocrat of the nineteenth century. She didn't think she'd ever give anyone her arm in her entire life except to her father on her wedding day. But that dream was long dead.
"Did I cause you distress my dear?" His voice rang out like a singular ripple in a perfectly calm pond. Bringing a sense of focus similar to the effect of Bill or David when they particularly took control of a tense situation at the campfire or in a trial. However there was another innate sensation at the sound of his voice, it offered a sense of safety that was different from the two survivors.
"I-oh no, I'm fine. Was I making a face or something?" She asked with a worried hunch of her shoulders, a half shrug in both confusion and slight embarrassment at nearly loosing her cool in front of a killer.
"You seemed rather blue my little rabbit. Would you like to speak about the issue, or is there something else I may do for you?" He asked with a tilt of his head despite already having craned it to the side.
It was then that Meg was reminded that this wasn't a normal killer, this was...Evan. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to think of him as that, just Evan, not the Trapper. He didn't seem like much of a trapper anymore.
"Thank you, I really appreciate the offer, heck, half of the survivors wouldn't have done the same. But it's nothing, just a bad memory I thought of." She dismissed. That same thought had always bothered her, but she wouldn't let it get in the way of the present, at least not right now.
Evan's voice spoke smoothly. "If I may, I know plenty about unpleasant past experiences. However, if there is one way to make oneself miserable, it is to ignore the issues existence until you can no longer function properly. I will not force you, but I do urge you to speak to someone about it, whether that is me, or one of your survivor friends." He finished in a rare moment of clarity and wisdom. He seemed even surprised at himself with the way he tilted his head automatically, and despite not even looking in Meg's direction.
She herself was quite surprised at the wisdom. After a pregnant pause, Meg sighed. "Alright, I was just thinking about my dad, he left me and my mom when I was a little girl. He had a whole other family behind our backs. He...it really messed me up when I found out." Her lips formed a thin line after she finished, both at the discomfort of having to vocalize it, and at Evan's continuous silence.
He remained so for several seconds, and Meg began to fear she'd scared him off. Until he spoke. "My own experience with my father was also extremely unpleasant, I knew him. However, my ire towards him has grown as time continues. I think he would have liked it here." Evan said bitterly, his last statement telling Meg everything she wanted to know about the Macmillan patriarch. She bent her arm until her hand rested on his massive one, she squeezed his massive paw the best she could reassuringly, to which he titled his head at her, but soon relaxed.
Meg hadn't realized it but they'd spent so long talking they were nearing the edge of the woods. She'd thought she'd seen small little flecks of color in the woods here and there, indicating a change in how close they are, but now it was too obvious to gloss over as her head playing tricks on her. They came out on a dirt path that was most certainly not Entity made, it was worn with foot travel, uneven and bumpy.
On the opposite side of the road was a large brick wall with wrought iron bars on the top. Each one ending in a shape similar to a spike. It stretched into the fog and past the trees on the other side of the road. There was a large, arched wrought iron gate with a padlock holding the two doors closed tightly.
Evan led her to the gate, using his free arm to produce a key out of a hidden pocket she could not see. The lock clicked open and he led her inside before shutting and locking it behind them, taking a long, slow glance at the tree line before returning to her side and taking her arm again.
"Scared someone might see the debauched act of Evan Macmillan himself actually bringing a woman onto his estate?" Meg teased, going into another terrible posh accent after the word "debauched". A small graceful smile was across her lips, similar to the one she had when she first called him "her bear".
Evan's hand twitched, squeezing her hand in what felt like a warning. "I'm sure you already know that most of the killers here are vile and despicable creatures, and any lapse in security on my part could have disastrous effects little rabbit." Evan said flatly, leaving no room for argument.
"Oh come on, not even gonna acknowledge my little jibe big guy?" Meg said. Smiling at him while taking her arm back crossing both confidently. His gaze returned to her, looking her up and down before finally speaking. "You only wish I would because that scenario must be quite the pleasing idea to you, is it not?"
Meg's mouth fell in surprise at his retort, not expecting someone who spoke with such eloquence to basically say "you wish" and still sound more mature than a child. She scoffed, and if her arms weren't already crossed over her chest she would've moved them there after that comment. She glared into his mask, hoping to burn it off so she could force him to face her eye to eye. "Bet you wouldn't be so cocky if you didn't have that little mask on wouldn't you? Why don't you ever take it off anyway?" Meg asked, arching an eyebrow and leaning forward slightly, emphasizing her curiosity.
"I cannot remove the mask, it is eternally cursed to never leave my complexion." Evan said bitterly, almost sarcastically. Taking a quick glance up to the sky in obvious annoyance with twitching fingers before returning his attention to her.
Meg lost her playful expression, embarrassment and guilt taking its place. "O-oh, I'm sorry for asking. I've just always wondered who the killers were as people, some of them I just know are horrible people, but it always felt like some of them were just as trapped here as we are...like you." Meg let her sentence hang.
Evan remained quite, going still as a statue. Meg watched him curiously, eagerness and anxiousness starting to feel like it was coming out of her pores. She didn't exactly know what reaction she wanted, but she did know she was hoping for some type of confirmation that he wasn't a monster.
"You are correct in assuming that not every killer enjoys the kill, however you would be wrong in assuming that I am a good person." He said. Giving a brief check behind him to make sure she was still following before walking forward.
"Evan."
When he'd first heard her voice it had been more beautiful than he imagined, rich, smooth, able to transition from high to low pitched without rumbling like his own. The voice of someone who could sing like the Sirens from Greek legend if she honed her natural talent for him.
She had already spoken his name before, even just a matter of minutes ago. But he heard that same voice calling out his name. Sharp and clear, disturbing the peacefulness of the woods and any calm collected thoughts he could manage in his head. Something about her voice this time was different, and it was enchanting.
"Yes?" He answered hesitantly, already cursing himself for sounding weak. He'd stopped moving, despite be able to see the shadowy outline of his mansion in the distance. Meg wouldn't be able to make it out, but that was because she hadn't trained herself to be able to see it from almost anywhere on the grounds.
"I know you're not a bad person, because if you were I wouldn't be here right now. A bad person would have killed me when I was helpless to escape, or even worse." Evan growled deep in his chest at the thought of someone like the Clown getting his hands on Megan. His Megan. No, that would never happen, he'd never allow it.
"See! That's exactly what I'm talking about, what horrible person gets angry at thought of someone getting assaulted?" She said incredulously, taking a few steps forward to place a hand on his bicep and urge him to turn and face her. "Evan." He twitched again. "Just because you aren't a survivor doesn't make you a monster, I came looking for you because that's what I wanted to know about you. But I also came here to say thank you." Meg finished with a sad, quiet smile.
The conflicting emotions that had been previously just been bubbling were now roaring, and he didn't stop himself when the urge to hold her arose. So he wrapped his arms around under hers and lifted her up into a tight, almost greedy embrace, her feet dangling more than a foot of the forest floor.
Meg chuckled quietly in his ear, wrapping her arms around his thick neck, taking care to avoid hitting the metal rods. "Thank you for sparing my life, I don't think you have any idea how much hope that gave me that one day we'll get out of here. Now the Wraith and Hillbilly started copying you, it's a miracle, and you started it. Thank you..." Meg's voice cracked at the end, letting her head fall to rest on his left shoulder, simply content to let him hold her as long as he needed.
He had squeezed his eyes shut behind the mask, but relaxed as she did, squeezing her to him. His grip was enough to convey the appreciation he felt, while not being so strong that he'd crush the girls ribs.
Eventually he set her down, awkwardly coughing and being rewarded with an amused smile and eye roll on Meg's behalf. Yes he'd certainly found quite the coquettish yet modest woman.
"There's no way Claud, having to talk to that monster once was more than enough for a life time alright! Just because you and Meg are more willing to talk to those psychopaths doesn't mean I am." Nea said harshly, crossing her arms from her sitting position in the sand. She stared up at Claudette challengingly, unwilling to back down from her stance.
"Nea please. You know me, do you really think I would send you into a bad situation if it was bad idea, or I thought the risk wasn't worth it?" Claudette argued, sounding a little hurt.
Nea let her head fall back against the stone she was leaning on with a soft thunk, sighing deeply. "You know I trust you Claud, but I don't want to talk to that freak, if you wanna talk to speedy boy over there in cold wind than fine, but I'm not going over to bellboy and giving him a hug like you would. Autohaven creeps me out anyway, sometimes I swear those crushed cars have blood in them." Nea said quietly with a noticeable shiver, surprising Claudette.
Claudette had been her longer than the swede, but unlike her, Nea was the tough as nails, never phased by anything girl who was willing to stare down anything in her way. Hearing her sound genuinely disturbed at the idea that there were bodies in the cars at auto haven was unsettling. Perhaps she was right? Was that why she didn't trust the Wraith? If there was blood in them, it was probably his doing right?
Claudette got down next to her friend and pulled her into a side hug, holding her friends arm tightly. Nea smiled, reaching up to her head and taking her beanie off. The hair was short, nearly buzzed on one side, while its counter part fell down to her collarbone. Perfectly straight, raven colored, silky soft hair. Claudette would know, she often forced Nea, Meg, and Laurie to let her practice her styling with it when she was bored.
Claudette didn't know the full story, but she did know that nearly everything Nea had done before her time here was out of rebellion against almost any rule system that wasn't her own conscious. A very dangerous way to live both figuratively and literally. She also knew that the life style and the previous parental conditioning that created Nea's mindset had deeply scarred the poor girl, some of which had begun to fade, but weren't quite gone just yet.
"Nea, you know I love you like a sister. But I think it would help if you told me what the Wraith said to you. Maybe we can figure out what he wants?" Claudette offered up with a small smile, standing up. She turned around and put her hands on her knees, leaning over her friend.
"Come on Nea, we both know you're just dying to get it off your chest and who better than me, and don't say Meg." Claudette interrupted before Nea could even open her mouth, which only made the swede smile harder.
Claudette offered a hand out to Nea, wanting to find a more comfortable spot or see if there was something they could amuse themselves with in the woods. "Well, come on. Your personal therapist Claudette is at your service, it seems you have been troubled lately by a message brought to you by someone you believed a monster, is that not correct?" Claudette said in a posh British accent, flipping pages on an invisible clipboard with a barely contained smirk when Nea wouldn't take her offer.
Nea was doing her best not to laugh loudly, leaning forward and breathing heavily with a wheeze of barely surprised giggles. "Figures the Canadian would default to their roots." The swede jabbed childishly, her voice still containing an edge of breathlessness. "Says the giggly little girl who thought it was funny." Claudette snarked back. A smug smile coming onto her face for once.
"Oh please, you're more giggly than me and Meg combined." Nea said with a smile, sliding off of the rock and onto the sand, her head pointing up towards the fake sky. Claudette just giggled, then she slapped her hand over mouth while falling onto her backside.
"See! What did I just tell you?" Nea borderline shouted, sitting up and pointing at the massive hypocrite in front of her before her core gave out and she collapsed back onto the ground. Claudette fell to the ground too, rolling in the sand like she couldn't bring herself to sit up.
"Havin fun gals?" A country accent inquired. None other than the southern belle Kate herself was bending over with her hands on her knees. She was watching them with a small motherly smile on her face.
"Sure mom, but Nea over here is making herself miserable because she's ignoring her problem instead of dealing with it in a healthy manner." Claudette snitched, pointing at the other girl like a five year old with a role of her eyes. To which Kate just laughed, unknowingly drawing the attention of Ace and subsequently the other boys in their family.
"Nea you know I love ya right dear?" Kate said while putting both of her hands together. Nea nodded. "Good, now don't you ever forget that. But ya gotta face your problems some day so why not now sugar?" Kate scolded lightly while placing her hands on her hips.
Claudette allowed a small smile to grace her dark lips, switching her gaze between the two women quickly.
Nea just sighed, sitting up and letting her head fall onto her bent knees. When she spoke her voice came out muffled. "I just don't know what I'm even supposed to do, I mean he's a killer, and he has to be one for a reason right? I mean just because he doesn't laugh like the Clown or Doctor doesn't mean he doesn't like it. I just-" Nea let her words fall short, obviously having planned to say more, but letting her mouth close and look up at the two of them with an exhausted look.
Kates lips pursed, her eyes softening. Taking on a more somber tone with her younger friend. "I'm so sorry you have to deal with this sugar, neither of you deserve this, much less having two killers on you." Kate said sadly, dropping down to her knees and opening her arms to the two girls. Both got the message quickly, so they awkwardly hugged on their knees amongst the sand, not caring if the others outside their family saw them.
Claudette had her eyes closed while she rested her head on Kate's shoulder, opening them when she pulled away and uncrossed and recrossed her legs. Watching Nea with a concerned gaze.
The Swede seemed to be on the verge of loosing it, having been jittery and twitchy for hours now and still not showing any signs of stopping. "I just don't know what to do or what I'd even say to him. All he told me was that he thought I was fascinating or whatever that means. He didn't seem like he was trying to manipulate me. He even said that I had every right to hate him, but he begged me to listen and he didn't stop me when I tried to leave either." Nea said in one giant rush, finally letting the thoughts bubbling in her head out in a massive tidal wave.
Claudette knew what that felt like. Having bottled her feelings up about being an outcast at school for year until eventually she broke down in her parents arms. Crying her eyes out from the loneliness and built up bitterness.
"That's remarkable girl." Kate surprised them both with her response. The blonde having an excited and hopeful look on her features as she slowly smiled. "It sounds crazy but do you know how few people talk like that? Do you know how few people would have apologized like that? And coming from a killer like him?! That's something special sugar, and I suggest you don't waste the possibilities." Kate took both of Nea's shoulders, forcing the other girl to look her in the eyes.
"Sugar I know this sounds crazy but I think you should talk to him, I know this can't be some coincidence with the way that Trapper's been showin' a real soft spot for Meg. Or the Hillbilly hugged ya Claud." Kate spoke quickly, briefly glancing at the third girl when she mentioned her.
"They haven't been showing any body else mercy though!" Nea suddenly spoke with anger in her voice. "Trapper didn't hesitate to try and kill you and the other three originals a little while ago. And Hillbilly slaughtered Mikaela and Leon didn't he?" Nea spoke with a clenched jaw, newfound anger rising up from the depths and showing its ugly head.
"Y-you've got a point Nea." Claudette said suddenly, remotely calming the street artist with her words. "But the Wraith didn't even hit anyone in your trial, and the last time Trapper and Meg were together she was with those three." Claudette motioned in Yun Jin's general direction. "You know she hates Meg, and I'm willing to bet the Trapper wasn't happy when Yun Jin tried to stab Meg in the back. So maybe we can convince them to stop killing us entirely, they seem to listen to us." She suggested meekly, looking between the other two for their reactions.
"You're right Claud." Kate suddenly went quite, her eyes slowly widening and a smile stretching from ear to ear. "I just realized." Kate said dramatically. "I know why the Trapper's been real sweet to Meg all of the sudden." Kate let the sentence hang tortuously, her smile never wavering and she shook with barley suppressed giggles.
"What, why?" Nea said, suddenly very invested in the conversation again. Like someone witnessing a magic trick for the first time.
"He's gotten all soft on her because he likes her. He's head over heels for her, there's not a doubt in my mind 'bout it." Kate said, putting her hands up and flipping them back in finality.
"What!" Both girls shouted at once, hunching over when more than half the camp turned to look at them, but were brought back to the conversation at hand when Kate snapped her fingers. "Ignore them." Kate said.
"What do you mean he likes her!"Claudette shouted in a whisper. Nea looking equally as baffled as they waited for an answer.
"I mean Trapper has a crush on Meg, why else would a man suddenly go all soft on a gal without reason. And like ya said Claud, he probably got real defensive 'bout her when Yun Jin tried to shove her into his awful traps." Kate said with a smirk.
Nea looked horrified, shaking her head before speaking. "No, no, I refuse to accept that. There is no way that a killer would all of the sudden get googly eyes for a survivor." Nea said adamantly, still shaking her head as she laid down for the umpteenth time. Claudette and Kate just giggled at her. "You know I think that you're just scared at the prospect that the Wraith likes ya." Kate teased, leaning forward to rest her chin on her hand. Giving a sideways glance at the healer on her right. "You too sugar, that farmer boy seems to really like ya." The singer finished by leaning back and placing her body weight on her arms behind her.
Claudette was now blushing in embarrassment, one hand covering her mouth and cheeks in a vain attempt to hide it.
"Alright, what does it matter even if he does, there's not a single chance that I would feel the same and the only times I see him he's supposed to kill me. What do you want me to do, go out into the woods and look for him?" Nea said incredulously, hints of anger seeping into her voice like poison.
"I did." An untrained voice brimming with potential spoke from behind the swede.
Claudette's head snapped up to look behind her artist friend, seeing none other than Meg standing next to a floating stone pillar. She was wearing her white and pink shirt with a black zip up that was open with light blue jeans and boots.
"Before you say anything, yes I went out and actually found him. Something is changing guys, I can go farther than I ever have before, I even saw the freaking Nemesis running through the woods!" Meg paused briefly, worry crossing her features.
She must have been worried for her new protégés safety. "I think it was looking for Jill and Leon, but I found the Trapper and he actually took me back to the Macmillan estate, did you know there's a whole freaking mansion hidden out there that isn't used for trials!" Meg exclaimed animatedly, waving her hands around wildly for emphasis.
The three other girls jaws were currently on the floor, even the boys who'd been doing a good job of being subtle with their ease dropping had looks of shock.
"You found two killers outside of a trial...didn't die...went back to one's mansion, and just drop that on us!" Nea said loudly. Her mouth still open wide in surprise. Meg recoiled slightly, obviously stunned. More than Claudette could say she'd do, she probably would've taken a full step backwards if Nea seemed that upset with her.
Meg collected herself, standing up straight with a smile and grabbing Nea in a tight hug. "Yes! But this is proof things are changing! Get excited for crying out loud! This could lead to us getting out for all we know!"
Claudette couldn't remember feeling so hopeful. Would she really get to be free?
Hello boys! I'm baaaaack! Hopefully you'll get the reference. I apologize for taking so long but I went back and re wrote huge chunks of ever chapter from 1-8 and updated them individually to Archive of our own. But now I'm caught up here and over there and am ready to get things moving. Oh I can't wait to smother you guys in fluff and surprises! It's going to be so much fun watching everyone's reactions, so please comment down how you feel. It's what motivates me to keep writing.