Through the Trees [DEMO]

3 - Who Are You, Really?

"Hmm... actually, yeah, I did see someone in these woods!"

I'm gonna skin him alive when I get a hold of him-!

"Although they were running really fast so I don't know if they're the person you're looking for. I think they went... that way!" The kid said, pointing to Jeff's east.

Wait, that's not the direction I went in! Jeff thought. What is he...?

Wait... holy shit. The killer smiled to himself once he realized what was going on, although he was admittedly confused by it.

He just lied to the fucking cops! He thought, amused. But why? I tried to kill him earlier! Why would he save my ass?

"You're sure?" The woman asked. The kid nodded.

"Alright, thank you very much! Have a good day!" A man spoke. Then they began walking in the direction that the kid had pointed in, not even giving so much as a glance back.

Did I just get saved by a fucking middle schooler? Jeff thought to himself. Not that he was complaining, any instance that didn't involve jail time was usually the better option, but it was just so... weird. That was definitely the same kid he'd stabbed earlier, there was no doubt about it. And he had seen Jeff's face, he knew what he looked like. He knew that the description the officers had just given matched his, so why did he lie?

Light footsteps suddenly made their way to the base of the tree, causing Jeff to hold his breath once again. He looked down and saw the kid standing there, right in front of his knife.

Did he see it and decide to cover for me? If so, why? Is he fucking stupid? Jeff thought. He watched as the mystery boy bent down and picked up the knife, examining it. He then proceeded to hold onto it and then continue walking through the woods in the opposite direction the cops had gone in.

"I wouldn't take that if I were you." Jeff spoke loudly. He chuckled as the boy flinched hard, holding the knife up in defense. He whirled around, looking in all directions as he tried to find the source of the voice.

"Up here, dipshit." Jeff called. The boy looked up and Jeff was suddenly face to face with those glowing red eyes that he'd seen just a few minutes ago. He was still too far away to make out any striking details aside from that, but he was close enough for Jeff to see that he was startled, his facial expression anxious. How the fuck did the cops not question his eyes...?

"Didn't anyone tell ya it's rude to take other people's shit?" Jeff spoke, nodding towards the knife. The boy looked down at the blade, slowly bringing his arms down from the defensive position he'd been in earlier.

"U-Um..." The kid stuttered timidly. "S-S-Sorry..."

He set the knife back down at the base of the tree and backed up, his face scrunching into one of confusion. "What're you doing in a tree?" He asked.

Jeff blinked in surprise. He let out a snicker. "What's it to ya, eh?"

The kid frowned. "Sorry. I-I-I just thought I'd ask." He said.

What the fuck? Jeff thought. Why does he sound so... ugh, what is it, concerned? For me? I dunno, but I don't like it.

"Well, uh, if ya don't mind, I'd like ya to leave so I can get the fuck down from here." Jeff spoke, swinging his legs over the tree branch he was sitting on.

The boy glanced up at him. "Why do you need me to leave? Is it because you attacked me earlier?" He asked.

Jeff was caught by surprise once again. So he does remember...

"The fuck is wrong with your brain? Yes, of course it's because of that! Now beat it!" Jeff snapped.

He figured maybe if he could intimidate or scare the kid enough, he'd just leave him alone. Jeff wasn't gonna lie, he was... interesting, but he was also really weird. Jeff really didn't want anything to do with him right now. Right now, he just wanted to grab his knife and hide until he could go home before he could get arrested. But this child was completely fucking up his plans. He didn't like it.

The boy flinched at Jeff's harsh tone before spewing out several apologies once again and turning away from the tree, not saying a word. Jeff watched this, satisfied and also a tad confused.

...Again. What the fuck? Jeff thought. That whole interaction was just... bizarre. He didn't like it.

Deciding that sitting around up there all day wasn't going to get him anywhere, Jeff began to climb down the tree, his mind wandering.

Who the hell is he? Jeff thought to himself. And why the fuck can't I stop thinking about him? He's just some kid. With glowing eyes. Who can't be stabbed to death. He's so... agh, I hate him and his fuckin'... weird, lying bullshit and fucked up eyeballs! He's making me waste energy thinking about him! Why? Just shut the fuck up and focus on getting out of-!

Snap.

Jeff froze, looking up at where his hand was gripping onto a branch. It was a very thin branch, one that would not have been ideal to grab onto. Because the killer's mind had been elsewhere, he hadn't realized it until it was too late. He tried to move in order to avoid grabbing onto another broken branch, but in his haste he'd stepped on another thin branch. It immediately cracked when his weight was applied to it, causing Jeff's eyes to widen and his entire body to grow still.

"Oh fu-"

That was all he managed to get out before the branch suddenly broke off of the tree with a loud crack, causing Jeff to lose his footing. He tried to grab onto another branch above him, but all he got were twigs and branches that were far too thin. He let out a loud yell as he fell, knowing he was definitely going to break something once he hit the ground. Not knowing what else to do, Jeff screwed his eyes shut and braced for impact, preparing to hold back a pain-filled scream.

Only the impact didn't come.

He waited a second. 3. The air was still, like somebody had stopped time itself. The only sounds that could be heard were the sounds of the wind blowing through the surrounding trees and of birds chirping. Oh, and something that sounded like... heavy panting?

Jeff opened his eyes. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but it definitely wasn't what he was looking at right now.

His body was floating above the ground, his face inches away from the forest floor. He was surrounded in this bizarre green light, like he had been dunked in glow stick juice. He wasn't falling anymore, he was just... still. Floating. Like gravity had ceased to exist at that exact moment. He then looked up to see if anybody was witnessing this and his eyes widened.

The kid was standing a few feet away from him, his arm outstretched towards Jeff. His fingers were flexed outwards, like he was about to grab onto something. Now that there was daylight and he was closer, Jeff could now see things that he hadn't noticed when he'd first encountered the kid. His blonde hair was messy and disheveled, like it hadn't been brushed in days. He wasn't wearing shoes or socks and his feet were covered in dirt. His nightgown(?) was very run down looking, it was covered in holes and dirt stains and overall just looked extremely tattered and worn. Jeff could even see the cuts in the fabric on the boy's chest where his knife had been inside of him, although it had done zero damage to the boy himself. His face was dotted with freckles all along his nose and both of his cheeks below his eyes. Crimson blood slowly poured out of his eyes, although none of it appeared to drip onto the ground or off of his face at all. He had faint bruises around his wrists, ankles, and neck that looked as though something had been pressed into his skin extremely hard. Whoever this kid was, he looked like hell.

Jeff stared at him wide-eyed. The kid stared right back. Neither of them said a single word.

What the hell are you?