Notes: Okay, this chapter was very hard to write and I'm still not happy with it at all. I wanted to transmit more and better, but I was anxious to have it updated. T/W implied sexual assault.
Stu sighs as his eyes go from confusion and sadness to concern. He looks over at Billy's ankle... it seems to be better as Billi leans his weight on it. Then his eyes go back to Billy's neck.
"Did you get hurt? What happened?" His heartbeat is going very fast now as he speaks again in a very quiet and concerned tone, sounding very gentle and kind once again. He walks next to Billy and then he holds Billy's shoulder as he speaks. " You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. I just want to know if you're ok."
"I don't have to talk about it?" He asks now, looking at Stu's eyes directly. There's something like hope far beyond his eyes, yet his gaze is deranged.
Stu nods his head and he smiles.
" No, you don't. But if it'd make you feel better, and if you want to open up, then of course you can." He squeezes Billy's shoulder. Stu sighs... and he speaks in a very calm and loving way "Why don't you get in. I'll start the engine. I'll drive you anywhere you want. You pick and I drive and I won't ask you any questions. I just want to get you somewhere safe, Billy. " His heart's still racing very fast as he speaks.
"Okay" Billy whispers, and nods his head more to himself. He enters the passenger seat.
Stu gets in the driver's seat.
"Where to? You decide." He is waiting for Billy to respond as he puts the key in the ignition and turns the car on. All of this time his heart is still beating very hard and his nerves are still going crazy.. Yet he's still taking in deep breaths and speaking very gently to try and make Billy feel better. He starts the car and he speaks again. "Where do you want me to drive you?"
"I don't know," Billy says, sighing. He's looking through the window, his hands in the pockets of the dark hood he's wearing. "Some small town far enough from Woodsboro is fine."
Stu nods.
"Ok, no problem." Stu puts it in drive and he pulls out onto the road. He begins to drive down and after he goes a little bit down the road, he turns to Billy. " Are you sure you're gonna be ok?" He's concerned for him and he holds his breath . He swallows the lump in his throat now and he speaks again. "You can tell me anything. I promise. Please, whatever's bothering you, just let it out."
Billy looks back at him and studies him for a moment, pondering in his mind what to do. The smartest thing to do is to say the minimum possible. The less Stu knew the better. He talks too much, and most of the time Billy finds it amusing; but if the police were keeping an eye on Stu and his house, it was a risk.
"I'll be fine. I've been fine for five fucking years by myself." He mutters. He started to shake his head but flinched at the sharp pain in his neck. "I just ... shouldn't have come back at all."
Stu's heart sinks again when he hears the pain and regret in Billy's voice. His breath catches. He stops the car for a moment and pulls over. He slowly turns to look at Billy, his eyes filled with sadness now and he looks at him.
"You're not fine, Billy. You're hurting. I can see and I can hear it. Please, tell me what's going on." Stu insists in a very calm and loving tone. There is a great deal of empathy and concern in his eyes now. "I just want to help."
Billy opens his eyes wide when Stu stops the car. For a moment Stu can see fear in his eyes, but as soon as it's there it's gone. Billy closes his eyes and nods.
"Don't stop. I'll tell you" he says in a very low voice. "I... Someone is trying to set me up. At all... Like..." He thinks about the right words for a moment. "For the new murders... That's why I need to leave now" he whispers, looking at the ground.
Stu's eyes go wide too when he hears that. He takes a deep breath. His heart's still racing and his nerves are still going crazy. His throat goes dry and he swallows the lump in it
"Why would anyone do that to you, Billy?" Stu is trying to keep his voice from shaking, but it is very difficult. He looks over at Billy with a mix of sadness, confusion, and concern on his face. He looks away from him now. "Please, you just tell me. I swear I won't say a thing. Your secret is safe with me."
"It's a long story" Billy says, biting his lips, his voice is a little shaky, barely perceptible. He stays silent for a moment to compose himself. "I don't know his name," he finally says.
Stu listens silently. He's still looking at Billy. He's feeling very emotional right now. He takes a deep breath and he says.
"Ok... Ok, just tell me whatever you can. If you don't know his name, what about his look? Where did you see him? What does he look like? Any details at all? Why do you think he's trying to pin those murders on you?"
Billy closes his fists, trying to control his body, that starts to tremble uncontrollably when he thinks about his whole situation.
"That's what he says when he..." he stops himself, closing his eyes and looking away. "That's what he says he will do. That it's... The perfect closure..." he mutters in a shaky voice.
Stu's heart breaks again when he hears Billy's voice break again. He doesn't like having to see Billy this sad and afraid. He takes a deep breath now in an attempt to calm himself down.
" Tell me exactly what he said, Billy. Everything. Don't hold anything back." His voice is still kind and compassionate but anxious. "Please. You can trust me." He squeezes Billy's shoulder as he talks. " I believe you. I just need to know."
Billy shakes his head and flinches at the pain in his neck, so he just stops and embraces himself.
"I can't... I couldn't pay attention to all the things he said. Not when..." he stops himself and corrects. "He says he will, okay" he insists. He stays quiet for a moment and then laughs a bit. "I sound pathetic, don't I?" he looks at the ground now.
"You don't sound pathetic at all. You're scared you're being set up for something you didn't do. That doesn't make you pathetic. I understand. I'd be just as scared as you if I were in your position. But you're gonna be ok. I'm gonna help you get out of this. I promise. But I need you to tell me more about your situation. What do we have? Was he someone you knew? Did he look familiar? Is he from here? Do you know anything about him at all? And what about the murders? How is he trying to tie this to you?"
"Yes, I... Should have started from the beginning." Billy nods once. "I don't know his name, I know him because he's" his voice shakes again and he stops, breathes deeply and tries again. "He showed me that my father was cheating" he admits "before we.. killed Maren Prescott." He stays quiet for a moment, and then he looks at Stu. "I didn't remember him at all, but he keeps finding where I am since I've come back... He always does." he says now, more angry. "That's... I need to be as far as I can."
Stu listens closely with an expression of shock and surprise on his face. He now begins to understand a little bit more about what is going on. He nods his head and he speaks in a very quiet, calm, and gentle voice
"Ok... Ok. I'm starting to understand your situation more now. Let's forget his name for now. What else can you tell me about this person? How does he get in touch with you? Does he leave you messages, or... What does he say to you? What exactly does he threaten to do? What about the murders? How does he tie that in?"
Billy scratches his ear, thinking.
"He doesn't get in touch with me..." Billy says, in a low voice. "He just finds me... Since I've been back in Woodsboro... The first time, I was stupid enough to go with him. I wasn't thinking straight, I was... I hadn't eaten in days... Then he just finds me. He says a lot of things, but I can't always pay attention to what he's saying. Let me try to remember,' he says, with an edge of plea. "You keep driving."
Stu nods his head and he puts the car in drive. He takes the turns a little bit faster and he speaks in a caring tone towards Billy.
"Ok. Ok. What does he say when he shows up? Does he just threaten you? Is he trying to blackmail you so you won't say anything? What exactly does he say? How does he talk? Is he serious or is he just trying to scare you more? What does he do? Just tell me everything you can remember as we go. It's the only way we can make an accurate plan. Tell me what kind of person he is."
Billy froze in the seat, a troubled expression in his eyes. His hand goes subconsciously to his neck and when he realizes what he is doing, he bites his lips and puts it down. He's anxious.
"He says it's the perfect closure to the Woodsboro murders ... That he can hand me to the police if I fig... don't go with him." he corrects himself. "He... I don't know, he speaks a lot to me but..." he sighs, taking his head in his hands. "I can't think about it right now." he says, in a barely audible voice.
Stu nods his head as he listens. He takes a deep breath and he says.
"Ok. Ok... Ok. I see. " He takes another deep breath and he sighs. "Does he just go straight to threatening you? I mean how do these interactions go? Is he just... is he angry and threatening from the start? I'd imagine it's probably scary to say the least... Does he... do you know what I mean? What does he do? How hard does he try to scare you? Does he... do anything else besides just threaten you?"
Billy looks away immediately, keeping his eyes on the road for a couple of minutes, trying to not blink, not tremble or don't touch his neck. He knows his face is red with shame, he doesn't want Stu to look at him at all.
"It doesn't matter." he says, his voice low and bitter.
Stu sighs as he looks over at Billy and he sees the look of shame in his face. He feels really bad for asking these hard questions, but he knows they have to find out what their next move should be. So he takes a deep breath and he talks to Billy in a soft voice.
"I know that the things he does and says to you are hard to talk about... but you don't have to talk about it right now." he pauses for a moment, speaking more softly as his voice trembles a little. "But what can you remember? How exactly does he find you?"
illy closes his eyes, frowning as he remembers.
"I don't know how exactly... Woodsboro isn't that big."
Stu nods his head understandingly and he puts his hand on Billy's leg.
"I understand. So what does he do when he shows up? Does he drag you somewhere? Does he tie you up? What does he do when he finds you? I don't mean any details, just... What does he generally do? Does he try to talk to you and threaten you? Is he very serious? Is he extremely angry? Does he just grab you and... what?"
"Why do you insist so much on what he does? Can't you see he attacked me?" Billy snaps, taking Stu's hand away from him. He flinches as he moves his head so fast, making his neck hurt again. He lowers his head, embracing himself.
Stu is taken aback by Billy's sharp tone at first. His heart goes crazy for a moment and he swallows hard. He doesn't like being snapped at, but he realizes that this is a very emotional situation and it makes Billy upset. So he takes a deep breath as he speaks in a quiet and calming voice.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Billy" his voice still betrays a little bit of anxiety and his nerves are going crazy still. "I didn't mean to... make you angry. " he puts his hand on Billy's leg again and he gives him a reassuring squeeze.
Billy doesn't say anything for various minutes, he doesn't take Stu's hand away either. He then raises his head slowly, looking at the car's ceiling.
"I'm sorry" he whispers, closing his eyes and taking Stu's hands. "I don't want to remember him..." his voice is low but firm, it doesn't shake at all. "He's in my mind here and there... I'm always keeping an eye when he isn't around... It makes me sick" he admits. Then he chuckles a little bit. "He's even in my nightmares like fucking Freddy."
Stu's mouth curves up in a soft smile as he hears the Freddy joke and he chuckles along with Billy. He sighs and he speaks again.
"I understand. I get it. He's very scary and everything he's doing to you is really upsetting. It's perfectly reasonable to not want to think about him. " he squeezes Billy's hand and speaks with kindness. "But if we wanna get you out of this situation, we gotta talk about him. Is there anything else you can remember? Anything at all? " he squeezes his hand again. "Any details or clues you can give me?"
Billy thinks for a moment, then he shakes his head slowly.
"I haven't seen him outside of Woodsboro before." He says, looking at Stu's eyes. "Just let me in a town far enough. I'll be fine."
Stu squeezes Billy's hand again and he speaks in a quiet and calm tone.
"Ok, ok, I think I have an idea. Just tell me this, how is this person finding you currently? Does he follow you around Woodsboro? Does he just catch you outside of town? How does he find you? Does he stalk you from a distance or is he more confrontational?"
"How am I supposed to know that?" Billy says, a bit exasperated. "He just appears when I'm not expecting it... He has a car." He remembers. "I told you, the first time I went with him... willingly..." he says, looking away. "Then... he made sure I couldn't run..." he admits.
Stu nods his head and he understands what Billy is saying now, taking a glance at his ankle.
" Ok, ok. So he doesn't seem to be the sneakier type of stalker. He just... he comes to you and he... he... he abducts you or he threatens you right away, is that what you're saying? Does he have some people that he works with that help him? Does he... does he do it himself?" Stu pauses for a moment and he squeezes Billy's hands tightly. "I know this is a very tough conversation to have."
Billy is about to shake his head but stops himself. He lifts his other hand to his neck.
"No... He's alone" he says in a shaky voice. He swallows slowly before going on. "I know... I should be able to take him..." he says in a trembling voice, then he laughs with a desperate edge to it. "I'm pathetic..."
Stu gives Billy a big and understanding smile as he keeps squeezing Billy's hand.
"You're not pathetic, Billy! Not even a little bit. He's the one who should be pathetic here. And you're gonna get out of this. Believe me. I'm gonna help you get out of this. I promise." he pauses for a moment. "If he works alone, then do you think he's got a certain hiding place? Does he have a certain house or apartment that he stays at? Something like that? Would you be able to recognize it if you saw it?"
Billy stays quiet for a while, not looking at Stu or the window. He's retreated into his mind, a blank expression on his face.
For a moment Stu thinks he's not gonna respond, until he sees Billy's eyes light up again.
"He has an apartment. I don't know where it is, though, his car... It doesn't show... You can't see outside or the front from the back seat." he explains. "There's no manager at the time he gets me there, it's always at night... But I could recognize the building..."
"Great, that's a good start! Any piece of information we can get is a piece we need. Do you remember how he took you to this apartment? Do you remember if he used a gun to force your compliance or... a knife? Anything like that? And once you were inside, what did he do then? Did he tie you up or... did he…" Stu gulps hard "did he hurt you at all?"
Billy's jaw tight for a moment, he closes his eyes and releases Stu's hands to embrace himself.
"A knife," he whispers. "I...think it's... mine." he opens his eyes. "That's what he said... That it's... The one I used back then" Billy says, referring to the murders in Stu's house five years ago.
Stu's eyes go wide as the realization of what Billy is saying hits him. A million thoughts race through his head as his jaw drops open and he stares unmoving at Billy. He swallows hard as there is a moment of stunned silence between him and Billy. Finally, after what feels like a lifetime to Stu, he speaks in a stunned and shocked voice) You... You mean he... He had the knife for all those years? It was in his possession all these years?" Stu sighs and shakes his head.
"I don't know ... He could be lying and it just looks like it" he says, considering. "He talks a lot," he chuckles bitterly.
Stu sighs.
"Ok… Let's not worry about that now. What do you remember about going into the apartment? Did he have any other weapons on him besides the knife? Any other friends there at the apartment when he brought you? And did he tie you up or... what does he do once you're inside? Was he... was he…" Stu swallows hard. " Did he hurt you at all? I know this must be hard for you to talk about…"
"No, he's alone" Billy answers in a low tone. He's pondering what question to answer next, if he answers at all. He isn't ready to get from Stu the same look of loath directed at him that he gets from everyone else, even himself. "Sometimes... He does... tie me up... He... also has cuffs" he whispers.
Stu nods his head understandingly and he speaks in a soft and gentle tone.
"Ok. Ok. But tell me, what kind of things does he say to you in his talks? Does he just threaten you the whole time? Or... what kind of threats does he make? Does anything in particular stand out? I mean, does he say anything that is particularly... particularly hard for you to hear?" He pauses for a moment and he speaks in a quieter voice as he's unsure of how to phrase what he's trying to say. "I mean... Does he... talk about your... your previous murders?"
"Everything he says is hard to hear" Billy says, shutting his eyes strongly and embracing himself strongly. "I'm... always more worried about him not cutting my throat than what he is saying... at all." he whispers in a shaky voice.
Stu nods his head understandingly and he speaks in a very soft voice.
"I understand. I understand. Ok. Let me ask you this, do you think he would ever actually kill you?"
"I think he wants me to get caught once... he's done with his plan" he explains. "He says it would be the perfect closure again and again... I don't know what his... How many more he will wait till he hands me over. I'm sure he has everything planned and I can't even gather information when... I'm there" he says, lowering his voice, biting his bottom lip.
"Ok, Ok. Last question, I promise…" Stu sighs and he speaks with kindness and compassion towards Billy. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to. But does he... Does he do anything... else... to you when he gets you there? Does he... does he... do anything else besides threaten you and tie you up?"
"You already know...Why do you want me to say it?" he says in a low, weak voice. Billy's whole body trembles, he lowers his head and hides his face behind his hands. "I know... I have the word faggot tattooed all over my face" he mutters bitterly.
Stu stops the van on the spot after hearing this.
Stu's heart goes crazy and his whole body goes numb. The word seems to hit him like a physical blow to the face. He gulps hard and he shakes a little, it's hard for him to speak. He takes a deep breath and he speaks in such a low voice that he can barely hear himself as he speaks and he looks at Billy with the compassion that he feels in his heart.
"Billy… " he pauses for a moment and he speaks in a soft and caring tone. "It's ok. It's ok. You don't have to say anything more about this."
Billy's body sinks more into the seat, as he lowers his head even lower; his body wracked with an onslaught of sobs and tears, with his face buried in his hands.
Stu pulls Billy into a big and comforting hug.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to do this to you." His own tears well up in his eyes as the gravity of what he's just done settles in on him. He pulls Billy in the hug even tighter and he speaks in a soft and comforting tone. "It's ok. Just let it out. You don't have to say anything more." he holds Billy tightly as his body trembles and shushes quietly as he tries to calm Billy down and he whispers. " It's ok…"
Notes: I might as well write a side story from Billy's point, but it would be only one chapter. I'm impressed there's no Roman/Billy content at all. But Stuilly is my OTP. Leave a comment if you liked it.
Thanks for reading so far!