Why hello again, dear readers! This was originally the first part of a longer chapter, so I decided to split it up. Next one with be up soon.
Also a warning: Jay is incredibly stupid in this chapter and the next, lacking much wisdom in the making of his life choices. Oh, and there's also mild violence.
More plot!? So much drama!
Tim sat on the edge of the hotel bed with his head in his hands.
The crisp, clean covers hugging the mattress were disturbed only on one side, where Jay was sleeping soundly.
Why did I do it?
Tim's heart raced in panicked embarrassment.
How could he have done what he did to his one and only friend? The only friend that he trusted, that he understood?
Last night, Tim reflected, he had remorselessly and relentlessly taken advantage of Jay. Tim had touched the other man when he was hurt and weak - and Tim knew Jay hadn't wanted it. But he had not stopped - Tim swallowed the dryness in his throat - until he himself was satisfied.
I am disgusting.
Tim knew that he could not control the monster that was growing inside him. The black, faceless tar which so hungrily clawed at his insides would not let him go. He was victim to the beast that was now trying to take Jay - though Tim wanted so desperately to stop it.
Jay snored ever-so-softly, and stirred around in the covers. Tim glanced at him, eyes bleary from lack of sleep. Despite the residual paleness, Jay looked a lot better. Last time Tim saw him, Jay had been a mess. Bruises and cuts covered had covered his body, and the ashy-paleness of his skin had almost made Tim sick.
Alone.
Tim had left Jay alone to fend for himself, against the same demons that plagued his own life.
Tim had wanted to protect Jay, and for some reason thought they could survive together.
But he blew it. He had taken what little trust they had and smashed it to pieces.
Damnit.
What if the mask comes back while I'm with him?
Tim thought suddenly, horror growing in his gut.
What if I did something even worse?!
Tim tugged at his own hair, damp from the shower he had just taken. He was dangerous to Jay. And he valued his life more than his own. For some reason, when he was around the innocent man, the evil inside him got more vicious. It wanted Jay, to say the least. Tim couldn't deny that he wanted him a little, too. But it wasn't good - he was no good - he had to leave. Run. Hide.
Again.
It would be the same as before, but he'd go far, far away from Jay. Then they would be safe, finally. Lonely, perhaps...but safe.
Jay tossed again and Tim stood up with sudden urgency. He'd have to leave before Jay woke up. He couldn't bear to see the face Jay would make when he remembered the events of last night.
And the other times too...when I was wearing the mask...
He had settled it. Without another thought Tim was out the door and into the parking lot, passing by a piece of paper that clung wetly to the rain-soaked ground. He got into his car, and drove away.
He didn't care to think of where he was going.
OOO
When Jay awoke, he was very aware of the silence.
The room was empty.
He could have sworn he had seen Tim's hunched-over form on the edge of the bed minutes ago. Or had he been dreaming?
Rolling slowly out of the covers, Jay shook the sleepy numbness out of his limbs. He shortly savored the feeling of soft carpet beneath his toes. Tim hadn't slept last night, apparently. The sheets were mostly untouched. He mustn't have gotten back into bed after...after that happened...
"Tim?" Jay called out tentatively, holding onto the sliver of hope that Tim might still be in the hotel room. He swung open the bathroom door, fruitlessly scanning the bare tiles. He was alone again. Why?
Jay felt unwarranted tears well up and sting at his eyes. He walked back to the bed and sat down, breath becoming rushed as he felt warmth slide in little trickles down his cheeks.
Oh.
Oh, and they had been so close, too.
Close enough to happiness for Jay, anyways. To realness.
Jay wondered suddenly if Tim's disappearance had anything to do with last night. Jay shook with worry. It didn't matter. The Operator was still a threat, as was Hoody. Tim might be allied to them through Masky, but alone and mortal? Was he really not in danger? They were both so vulnerable...shit. Jay had to try to find Tim before something bad happened. He couldn't stand losing another friend - no. He would not be able to bear losing Tim. He was the only person he could trust these days, understand, confide in, love.
He had to try. He had to leave now.
So he did. Wiping his eyes distractedly on his arm, he rushed to his car, but not before noticing the soggy piece of paper on the ground. Jay walked over despite himself, and peeled it off the wet asphalt. What he saw sent chills down his spine, not because of what it said, but because of how similar it looked to the other drawings. The ones that Alex used to draw.
It was hardly decipherable. The black marker had seeped out into page like spiders stretching their legs, but portrayed what seemed to be two poorly drawn faces. Jay could make out the writing. It said:
щҤᴉͼђ ӨЙϵ
ԃѺ Ӵӫᴗ
ᶅᴓṾḝ ?
Jay paused for a moment, truthfully confused about the question the paper posed him. He knew, of course, that the note was meant for him but - what "ones" was it referring to? And love?... Tim, perhaps? Jay felt a blush creep up on him. Maybe, but then who else? It was too difficult to tell from the doodle. He folded it quickly and stuck it into his pocket. Regaining a sense of his mission, he headed towards his car. It was getting late and the gray skies were darkening, so if he didn't hurry he -
Something moved in the corner of Jay's eye. His head snapped to attention as he squinted through the misty air. Beyond the parking lot of the hotel, amongst a few trees, Jay could have sworn he saw a figure move. Maybe not. He was probably just paranoid. Or...perhaps...Tim?
Oh. Jay's heart leapt at the prospect. Maybe it was! He had to check, just to make sure.
Jay dashed out through the wet grass and reached a thin tree line that seemed to vanish into the haze. He put his hand up against a tree, felt the cool, rough bark against his palm, and leaned forwards into the veil of fog.
"Tim?" Jay asked the trees quietly. As if they had heard him, they creaked in response.
Walking slowly forward, guided in each of his steps by an ominously familiar force, Jay spotted the dark blur of a person in the distance.
"Oh - Tim!" Jay walked faster, approaching the figure with an arm outstretched. "Tim what are you -"
But no, it was not Tim. Jay was suddenly just a few feet behind an orange sweatshirt, hood pulled up, facing away, with arms down calmly at their sides. Jay knew what this was. He had fallen for it again. His void throbbed, cold fear surging through his body. His brain was screeching warnings, telling him to run, but he could not move - Jay was glued to the spot, moist grass licking at his shoelaces. Jay was caught now. Caught in the web of a very thirsty spider.
Hoody turned around. Jay cringed away from the sight of the red markings, the crude grimace making his insides twinge. Hoody's fingers twitched slightly. He was the prey. Jay was the prey once again.
Jay swallowed thickly, legs motionless.
With a hint of a swagger, Hoody closed the distance between himself and Jay. He looked down on the shorter man for a moment, as though in satisfaction. Jay saw his chest shake slightly. He was laughing. The bastard.
"Who." Jay uttered a single word, surprised by the clarity it came out with. He tried for more words. "Who are you?"
The question was honest enough. Jay himself did not know the answer to it, and he wanted to know, though he supposed it was hopeless asking a man who never so much as spoken an audible word.
Hoody stretched slightly backwards, shoulders dipping into the mist behind him. He stuck out a hand and waggled his finger in front of Jay's face. Taunting. Jay had the sudden urge to bite it. The same hand then - in a blink of Jay's eye - slid into Jay's pocket and withdrew the piece of paper.
The note? Jay thought.
Hoody handled the paper recognition.
He was the artist, then.
"You suck at drawing," Jay said pointedly, unsure of where his confidence came from. "I have no idea who you're trying to describe."
Making conversation with Hoody was stupid, Jay thought. Better than eerie silence though.
Hoody seemed to acknowledge Jay's comment for a moment, then he tossed the note aside. Shaking his orange-sheathed head, as though to mock the rain which so sullied his drawing, the hooded man took out a new piece of paper. With the same black marker he had used before, he started to work on a new drawing. Jay looked on, quivering in the damp air. Hoody paused after a while, evaluating the thick, dark lines. He handed Jay the paper after he confirmed the work complete.
Oh, well. It was all clear now - he two faces had been replicated. And Jay had been right - one was Tim, depicted with characteristic sideburns and all. The other though, with gaping black eyes and delicate lips - was Masky. Masky. The scorching terror who had assaulted Jay and took from him his only confidence, the one that had caused him to feel so much pain - the one that had made him truly amaurotic.
In love? In love with the beast?! Jay nearly spat out laughing.
Hoody was displeased with Jay's reaction. He snatched the paper away and grabbed Jay's jaw in his hand. His face got close, and tempted the gap. Fear exploded in Jay's chest, and he cursed at his immaturity.
Hoody tested Jay. With fingertips he clenched and earned a grunt from Jay. He huffed haughtily, watching Jay's eyes expand through his own lines of red.
Poor little puppy.
Hoody decided that he would teach little Jay a lesson. So impolite. He needed to be punished.
Jay did not see the arm retract and release. He only felt the sharp, jarring impact that rocked his skull and sent him to the ground with a thud. His head was suddenly sideways in the grass. He inhaled sharply as Hoody bent down and grabbed his collar. Crouching, his attacker lifted him up by the front of his shirt and lifted just slightly. Jay coughed miserably, their faces inches apart, and squeezed his eyes shut.
Not this. Not this again. Jay didn't think he would be able to take another round of this.
Hoody wrenched Jay upwards so that he tottered onto his feet. Hoody stepped back, watching the man wobble, and grinned behind his guise.
What do you want Jay? What's wrong? Afraid of a little pain?
Hoody placed a hand on Jay's chest, watched as the poor man lifted his head slowly and opened his sad, sad eyes.
You've felt pain like this before, haven't you?
You've liked it, haven't you?
Jay was pushed backwards, air sucked into his lungs as he collided with the solid ground. His ears rang and his head sung with flashes of pain. Why. Why. Where was Tim. Where? Where?
Jay was silent, horrified as Hoody bent down over him, face and body drawing inexplicably close. He could feel the uncomfortable crunch of their ribs as Hoody pressed into him, yet could not find the strength to resist as Hoody restrained his arms above his head. Jay found it hard pinpoint his feelings, or lack thereof. He felt a lot of fear, and a bit of anger. Perhaps some betrayal.
But he was giving up. He could feel it in his muscles, in his brain, in every fiber of his being.
Instead of fighting back, Jay's body relaxed into the pain echoing through his head and chest.
Tim. Where was Tim?
I know, I know, I've left you hanging with this one. It'll get better though, I promise! ;)
Gimme a review and Jay will give you a hug!