I knew a boy once. I knew a boy with a heart of stone and hidden eyes. This boy turned into a man of apathy and loneliness. I understood that very well. Paranoia and lack of trust in society made him one of the most respectable people I knew. He was also going to be my toughest piece to play, which is why I saved him until nearly the end. Steven Hyde's faults and weaknesses were exactly how I'd execute him. He didn't think anyone could see or understand the heart of stone or shaded eyes but I knew. I knew much more than he ever wanted anyone to know and I would use this to my advantage. Steven Hyde; the selfless knight, the aloof conspiracy theorist, too headstrong and impulsive had always thought these were his faults. But I knew better. His fault was simply this; underneath the stone surface, a heart was beating. And I'd cut it right out. Steven Hyde was stuck in my trap and there was no way out. And he knew this.

Check.

"Why don't we all split up, take a look around, and meet back here in a couple of hours?"

As soon as Hyde had heard that suggestion, he knew it was a load of bull. Forman just wanted to get laid in a creepy house to spice up the sex life he always complained about; everyone knew it. To make matters worse, Kelso and Fez agreed; he only knew that meant trouble. While Eric and Donna would come back with tousled clothes and hair twenty minutes later, the two doofuses slapping each other would most likely get lost.

Yet this meant he and Jackie could have some alone time.

"Sounds good!" Kelso cried, then dragged a whimpering Fez along. Eric smirked and gave a nod to Hyde, then walked up the stairs with Donna. Hyde rolled his eyes then squeezed the small, warm hand that had found his for comfort.

"C'mon, Doll… this could be fun." Jackie gave him a blank stare and he remained silent for a moment. He knew exactly what she was thinking and honestly he didn't wan to make her angry. "Or we could just-"

"Steven, I don't want to be here." The raven-haired girl blurted finally; her mismatched eyes had a stricken look of fear and he smiled reassuringly.

"Jacks… it'll be fine. We'll be fine, it's just a shit hole for a house and we'll be out of here in a couple of hours once Kelso burns off the whole idea of this being fun." Hyde replied, wrapping his arm around her waist.

"And… I need to tell you something." She whispered, he felt a twinge of worry in his heart and he grimaced.

"Okay, c'mon." He led her down a short corridor and into the dust-covered living room. A fire roared in the fireplace and he shook his head; Kelso and Fez had already been here, who knew what they had done. On top of the scent of firewood, a heavy rust smell filled the room; it made Hyde's stomach churn. It smelled like blood.

The couple sat down on the loveseat by the fire and Jackie curled up in his arms. Hyde kept his protective arm around her and traced lines and letters onto her soft skin. She shivered and giggled quietly before burrowing deeper against him.

He didn't understand how this could be scary, but he knew that she was scared nonetheless. Irrational fears put aside, he promised himself he'd always protect her. Even if it was from a bump in the night.

"Steven, there's something I need to tell you. And I don't want you to be mad but it's really important." There was another squirm in his stomach and he sighed heavily. This could be one of many things and although the tone in her voice had him worried, he wouldn't allow it to get to him.

"Okay…" he trailed off, rubbing his thumb over the soft skin of the hand that fit against his so well.

"I don't know how to say thi- what was that?" Jackie asked as a blood-curdling scream filled the nearly silent air. Hyde felt a chill run through his body; that shriek sounded familiar. But he wouldn't let his mind go there; this was just the paranoia talking. It wasn't Donna; she was upstairs with Forman doing whatever it was they were doing… he considered that anyone who did it with the 21-year-old student teacher would make a sound like that, and chuckled.

"Probably Donna." Hyde replied with a joking tone in his voice. Jackie rolled her eyes and let go of his hand.

"Steven, I'm serious. I'm scared… that sounded like a person. " Hyde sighed heavily and hesitantly stood up.

"Okay, okay I'll check it out if you're that worried." Jackie smiled happily up at him and nodded.

"Be careful though." Hyde snorted and rolled his eyes when his back was turned to her; there was nothing to be afraid of here at all. It was all in her head.

A loud bang caused the 21-year-old man to peer down the hallway. His senses were on overdrive, be it from caution or nerves, and the sense of impending doom began to grow with each passing second in the house. He shook his head; that was just the paranoia.

"Jackie… stay here, alright?" Hyde more commanded rather than asked. She gave him a blank stare as her hands pressed against her flat stomach.

"Where else would I go?" She asked him with a teasing tone in her voice. "Unless we all just decided to leave this house… or go to the car at least." Hyde considered this. They could all just get the hell out of dodge and then get wasted. That sounded better than staying in a foul smelling, dust-filled abandoned house.

"Hold on…" He simply replied. His fingers gripped his pocket knife out of instinct and he began to walk down the hall. He coughed due to the thickness of the dust and then brushed away an old spider web. Hyde chuckled at himself for his nerves raising as he continued walking down the corridor. Yet his smile faded as he caught sight of a door handle. A dark stain in the shape of a hand coated the brass knob and he felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

The house smelled heavy of iron. There was a scream. There was blood on the door handle. This wasn't paranoia talking anymore, this was logic. And logic was screaming at him to go to Jackie and run like hell. But what countered logic was a heavy dose of curiosity.

I could see the workings of his mind whirring as pieces came together. I smiled happily as his hand turned the bloodied handle; curiosity killed the cat. He would be the one to figure out what kind of game they were playing; the kind where everybody loses. As someone who has never won in his life, giving up wasn't so difficult for him. But he was smart. I needed his brain and lack of self anything as my final plays. I wanted him to know. He needed to know. It was a doppelganger of sorts.

As Hyde opened the door, he began to cough harshly. The scent of blood was potent to his nose and he felt as if he were going to be sick. A quiet drip was heard every two seconds; it seemed as if it were timed. The young man took the lighter from his pocket and flicked it; he automatically wished he hadn't.

"Jesus Christ." He whispered, his stomach twisted with nausea that he was finding hard to keep down. He stared into vacant blue eyes that stared into his and he couldn't breathe. Blood stained the pale skin of the body in front of him as it slowly turned in a circle because of the noose around the broken neck. Hyde pressed his hand to his own neck and quickly drew his hand back in horror; he knew it wasn't broken… but why did it feel that way?

His eyes locked on the area where the stomach had once been. A large hole the size of his abdominal region allowed him to see all the way through the body; they had been disemboweled. That's when realization hit him; it wasn't a noose this person was attached to.

Hyde took a heavy breath and looked back at the all-too familiar face. The face of his own.

He was empty on the inside. He was heartless. He was nothing without the most vital pieces of his life and he took everything and everyone for granted. I watched with satisfaction as these thoughts ran from his mind, over his face as he was suddenly washed over with emotion. Each of his layers were slowly beginning to peel away. By the end of tonight, he would be the one to face himself, and that's something I knew he wouldn't be able to do.

Hyde swallowed back the acidic taste creeping into his throat as he stared through the torso of his doppelganger. There was no way this could be possible; he didn't have a twin… someone had to have made a plastic version of him. Yet as he touched the skin it felt just like skin should; only far too cold and stiff. He pulled his hand away and repressed the urge to vomit.

He had to get Jackie out of here.

There had been a just cause for her fear and his nervousness, after all. They weren't just dealing with a potential Kelso prank. This was far beyond serious and insane; this was the stuff horror movies were made of; only this was real and they all needed to get out as soon as they could.

Hyde hurried into the dimly lit living room and took Jackie's hand. She tilted her head curiously, she probably saw his apprehension, and he sighed.

"Let's find someplace to sit, doll," Hyde whispered, squeezing her hand as she laced their fingers together. The worry on her face as he led them to the front door made him hesitate. He had to do this; he had to get them out of here.

"Outside?" She asked him, he nodded and tried his hardest to not run out of the house with her in tow. He always had a kind of sixth sense, he could call it, and he felt that something terrible was soon to happen if they didn't get out of the house. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her. "Baby, what is it?"

"We need to talk." He murmured in a monotone voice. Hyde had to keep the zen; he didn't want her to know he was worried. But the stricken expression on her face told him she was terrified for all the wrong reasons.

"Steven, wait… please…?" The plea in Jackie's voice caused the hair on the back of his neck to rise. He couldn't let her get hurt; instead of answering, he squeezed her hand and hurried out of the house. The Vista Cruiser was so close and the spare keys Forman had given him seemed to burn in his pocket.

"Jackie. Get in the car." Hyde didn't mean to sound so cruel. He'd explain everything to her. He would get her safe, no matter what it took.

He watched with hard eyes as she waited by the passenger door. He fumbled to unlock his own to let her inside; he needed to calm down. As the lock clicked, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind Jackie yet the night was still. A sick feeling ran down his spine and he bit his lip. No way was he letting her get hurt.

But he was too late. The blood curdling scream from his girlfriend as she fell to the ground told him that. Hyde felt all the blood run from his face and he leapt over the hood of the car. His body slammed against the surface and then he was on the earth beside her as if he had been there all along.

"Jesus Christ… Jacks…" he tried to remain calm as he stared at her ankle… her left foot was gone. He couldn't let himself think of what had happened or how much pain she was feeling. He had to stop it. He had to help her… he had already failed at protecting her now he just had to make it better… she would never forgive him. He was ready for that.

"Steven…" She whimpered, wrapping her arms around his neck as Hyde lifted her. He kissed her hair and hushed her as sobs wracked her body. He felt his own eyes sting as he opened the backseat door. Laying her down, bent low so he was looking at the leg bleeding profusely..

"Listen, just… don't scream." He saw her try to sit up but couldn't due to the overwhelming pain shooting through her body.

"Steven what are you talk-?"

Hyde's hand shook as he flicked open his Zippo lighter. He held the flame over his pocket knife and closed his eyes as he felt the entire blade heat up beneath his fingers. He had to do this for her… otherwise it could get infected. He hoped she would understand.

Hyde covered her mouth with his left hand and held his breath as he pressed the red-hot blade against the amputated ankle. He could feel her scream vibrate through his hand and he felt liquid leak from his eyes… this was him hurting her. He promised he never would again. He was the one causing her all of this pain. Her body tensed beneath him as he pressed the smooth side of the blade harder against her ankle… he had to cauterize it. It would be the only thing he could do until they got the hell out of here.

"I'm so sorry, Jackie…" he whispered, flipping the blade back and pocketing the knife once the metal cooled to silver once more. "I'm so sorry." He repeated over and over, knowing she would never forgive him.

"Steven… are you bleeding?" Jackie asked weakly, her eyes held more pain than he had ever seen anyone contain. He shook his head slowly and reached out for her hand yet she pulled away.

"Jackie… just forget about it. We're fine." Jackie crossed her arms. "Why don't we just go-"

"And leave our friends here?" She asked, "I want to go home so badly, but we're not leaving them here. What if they get hurt and need us?" Hyde sighed heavily and scrubbed a hand through his hair.

"Jackie, I just want to get you safe. I want to talk to you."

"Safe from what?" She interrogated, Hyde felt nausea contort his insides and he exhaled deeply. He couldn't answer that. Not yet. Not until they were safe.

"I don't… just trust me, okay? This isn't even what I…" he trailed off, shaking his head. "You need to rest," he advised, causing her to scoff.

"Steven, I'm scared. How the hell can I rest when all I want to do is run?" He felt her flinch as he ran his hand through her hair. He recoiled at her sharp movement in fear that he had hurt her even more; she never winced from his touch.

"I don't know."

Suddenly Jackie swung out of the laying position and tried to run from the car. Hyde, on the ground with the wind knocked out of him from her kicking his stomach, cried out for her to stop. Watching her fall to the ground because of the loss of her foot. Her piercing cry as she saw the cauterized skin almost made his heart stop; yet the body behind her was what got him.

"JACKIE!" He shouted in warning, trying to catch his breath and stand at the same time. As he rushed to her, he was once again too late; the masked person grabbed her long black hair and pinned her against the car. He felt his body stiffen as they sliced her face…. No. he had to stop it. Why couldn't he move?

"Steven…"

That was the final straw. The fear in her voice was what brought him out of his paralyzed state. With his jaw clenched he charged at the person as they tossed Jackie to the ground and raised the knife in their hands. With as much force as he could muster, Hyde barreled into the assaulter and knocked the two of them on the ground. He reached into his pocket and flicked his switchblade open; he hoped Jackie could get away. He wanted her safe… he didn't want her to see what was going to happen.

Hyde ripped off the mask and felt his entire body run cold. His eyes widened as he stared into the hazel eyes he had never taken so much as a thought to even think about. This couldn't be happening.

And before he knew it, he was about to be taken out. I could see the shock in his eyes; I knew that especially right now he was vulnerable. It was my chance to make my move. He wouldn't see it coming, anyway. I felt his body tense above mine as I pierced my blade right in his heart. His eyes widened in horror and I felt his blood spill down my fingers, on my face, and soaking in my fingers as I began to stab him over and over again. One last slice across his neck and he fell limp on top of me.

Easier done than said.

Hyde could feel the blood dripping down his throat, into his body, completely drowning him. He found it difficult to breathe as he tried to hold the gash on his throat shut. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to talk again. He didn't want to find out just yet. With his body shaking as if an electric current were running through him, Hyde slowly stood up and faced the attacker.

But a crumpled body caught his line of sight and he faltered. Black hair was scattered over tan arms as the small young woman lay face down. He wanted to check for a sign of life, wanted to rush her to the hospital but he had a feeling he was much too late. The cauterized skin of her ankle where her foot had once been was a reminder of that. He couldn't stand to see the unnatural twist in her neck….

He forced himself to turn away and felt his chest heave as he took in as much air as he could; his lungs were still screaming for oxygen even as he exhaled.

"Oh, bummer, I thought you were down for the count." Hyde felt his blood boil at the sound of the familiar voice.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't just rip your head off now?" he whispered, voice gurgling with blood pooling in his throat. He swallowed the iron-tasting liquid and let go of his neck.

"Ooh, feisty, I like that!" Hyde's eyes reflected the pain he wouldn't bring himself to show as he glared at the blonde in front of him. His every muscle ached as he fought against an invisible weight against him yet he slowly stood and faced the murderer.

"You're psychotic," he whispered, his hand shaking violently as he reached in his pocket for his knife. "We were done with you a long time ago."
"So you thought… well guess what, Steven? I'm back!"

Hyde felt no mercy as he lunged toward the tall person. His knife pierced into the hollow of their shoulder and he heard a scream of pain. For all the pain this monster had caused Jackie, he would bring more fury than they could ever deem imaginable.

"Y-you saw the noose," I gasped as he raised the knife above his head. I was vulnerable. I had known this part wouldn't be easy. He still kept the blade above him yet his attention was on me now. "You're wondering how that could be…who that could be…"

"I'd rather not know who you got roped into your scheme, you sick fuck," He hissed, his hand aching as he fought against stabbing the person below him one last time. "You killed my girlfriend, and God only knows what the hell you did with my friends, I knew I shouldn't have…" He couldn't finish his sentence.

I grinned.

"Trusted me? Oh, Stevie, you trusted me?"

"DON'T call me that!" He shouted, shaking the body below him.

"How are you even still alive?" I found myself asking as I watched blood stream down his neck. He grinned malevolently.

"You just didn't do a good job."

"Or… maybe I meant for this to happen. You can come in handy, and then… in the end, you'll still die… too bad, puppet."

Hyde bared his teeth and slammed the knife into the skin already covered with blood… he didn't think it was just their own.

Yet I had the advantage. As he came down, I grabbed his neck and pinched a small spot that I knew so well; the jugular. His eyes glazed over and in moments, he collapsed. I smiled and hummed happily as I stood up once more.

Check mate.

The fire roared in the living room as I sat on the chair. I could feel myself growing weaker yet I would be fine; the body hanging had been replaced and I smiled as I peeled away the face mold I had made of dear Steven Hyde. As the mask tore away, I placed my hand on the chest of my only unfortunate victim; they had done nothing wrong.

"I'm sorry, Bud. You'll get your justice soon… it's what you would want." I whispered, kissing the cold cheek.

I picked up my final wax carving and stared at it in curiosity. Oh, what would I do with you, Fez? I laughed heartily as I picked up the wax figure and broke it in half. And now the truth comes out.

Author's Note:

Okay, so I updated a little later and I decided I'm going to update 1 or 2 at a time per week until Halloween. Hopefully it'll be done by then, I can't make promises because my life is so chaotic right now, but I will try my best.

So... does that help the confusion? ...or not. Well, keep your guesses coming. You find out who "Narrator" is next chapter. And no, it's not the final chapter, either. :) I'm not done just yet.

-AR