Through the Trees [DEMO]

4 - We All Share the Same Graves

Jeff glared at him. "Fuck off, kid. I'm not a baby sitter."

"I-I'm not-!"

"What're ya, deaf? I said fuck off!" Jeff yelled aggressively. The boy flinched harder and immediately backed away, his pointed ears drooping down once again.

"I-I just thought that y-you-!" The kid stammered out.

Jeff cut him off with a sigh, frustrated. "Look kid, in case ya haven't noticed, I'm not exactly wanted for being a Good Samaritan. So leave me alone before you get my ass arrested, alright?"

"B-But-!"

"Shut the fuck up and leave me alone or I'm gonna gut you!"

The boy reeled back, looking up at Jeff with sad, fear-filled eyes, like a kicked puppy. He finally turned around and sprinted in the opposite direction, vanishing into the trees within a few minutes. Jeff watched him run, shaking his head in disbelief and frustration.

What a fucking weirdo... He thought. He turned around and headed back the way he had originally been going, pushing all thoughts about the elf freak out of his mind. He just had to focus on coming up with a solid plan.

✞———————❖———————✞

EJ hopped off of Seed's back, the multiple jars of organs that he'd collected clinking together in his duffel bag. He reached inside and grabbed one of the jars that he'd marked with Velcro and unscrewed the top. He grabbed a small handful of eyes and held them up to Seed, who ate them gratefully.

"You did good out there, girl." EJ muttered, putting the jar back and patting her on the side, stroking her soft fur. He listened as she made her way around the cabin back to her shelter in the yard. He himself then headed towards the front of the cabin, the wooden steps underneath him letting out loud creaks as his weight was applied to them. He felt for the doorknob and swung it open, lifting his mask off of his face as he did so.

"I'm back!" EJ called softly, unsure if Jeff was down here or not. Judging by the TV's silence, he assumed that he was upstairs sleeping like he'd said before. He shut the door behind him and set his mask down on the nearby kitchen counter. He kicked his shoes off and placed them next to the door. As he was doing so, he noticed that Jeff's Converse, which were usually right by the door next to his, were gone. EJ became confused, knowing he hadn't heard or smelled Jeff outside when he had returned. He set his duffel bag down on the counter and then began moving throughout the house, checking to see if Jeff was there at all. It was quiet.

Too quiet.

The half-demon made his way upstairs. He listened for any sign of Jeff; the sound of knives sharpening, the sound of rock music blasting far too loudly from his earbuds, but there was nothing. Not even the sound of him snoring.

He entered the killer's bedroom and instantly knew that aside from Smile, who had been fast asleep on the bed, the room was empty. The stench of blood, sweat, and regret was far less potent than it usually was when Jeff was in the room.

EJ frowned, realization dawning on him. Jeff had lied to him.

"...Shit."

✞———————❖———————✞

"Now what..." Jeff grumbled to himself. He was still aimlessly wandering around the woods, trying to find an exit to the forest or some place to hide from the police. So far, he had been unsuccessful. The morning air chill had settled in and Jeff had put his heavily bloodstained hoodie back on, zipping it up all the way. He was now getting into the deeper parts of the woods, the areas where Trail Blazers would probably come through and create paths for hikers. The sounds of the forest echoed all around him, creating a somewhat peaceful environment in the killer's tense situation.