chezzywezzy

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Sauron (2/?)

WC: 4.2k

R arose exactly when she intended to in three days time. The woman bathed and washed her robe, now a light yellow with the occasional stitching from green leaves to fix the tears. The woman placed on her head one of the many wreaths the young Hobbits made for her and feasted on a delicious pastry. She reveled in the imperfections.

It was then that there was a knock at her door. R opened, only to find Mairon, as stoic as ever - except with his red hair pulled from his face - standing, offering a respectful hand. He did not smile - in fact, R could not recall a time that he had in her company. But he wore a dark pair of pants and a shirt, the first time he had not adorned his silk, gold robe or his elven cloak.

R accepted his hand pleasantly and they exited the abode. It was then that cheers and hollers echoed in the Shire. Genevin stood there in a simple tunic and robe, motioning to the pathway  with cheering civilians. 

The woman kept her grip on Mairon tight much to his chagrin as he was forced to feel the grateful pats of the Hobbits or the gentle shoves of children running past. The sun had just set and R made sure to clear the skies for them, revealing millions of stars that shone bright.

There were pillars with ribbons and when the path led to an open valley with tables of food and games, R clapped. A young child pulled her to a large circle of dancing Hobbits as the music sang to her.

Mairon was left to observe from the sidelines. Many gave him nods of respect, having learned that he was not as fond of their company as R was. He watched as R allowed her body to sweat and her robes become filthy. She only smiled further as her bones ached from the excitement and hands led her about the festival. She enjoyed the bounty of fish, fruits, and vegetables and the conversation.

It was in that moment that he almost understood what she found so beautiful about the creatures. The ugliness that touched her only seemed to make the Queen shine further.

It was then as the children were started to be put to bed that the filthier fun began. The pints emerged and the music became rowdier. But as a mother approached R, who was slowly migrating back to Mairon’s side, she was stopped.

The mother held a newborn boy in her arms and was flushed with awe. “Yavanna, I ask thee to bless and name my child. I wish him to become as kind-hearted and brave as you.”

R giggled and brushed a finger across the babe’s forehead. The child laughed cutely and she flushed with happiness. “Thank you for this, good mother. I must say, though, it is my gruff and stoic companion who is far braver than I.”

The man turned away in an instant, suddenly feeling a sense of heat rush to his cheeks. He could not help but think that her positivity knew no bounds, as he had only ever been cruel and pointed with his words.

R sent a smile his way before gazing at the child. “…Bilbo. I wish to bless your child with a name that shall make him as sharp and clever as a rapier and as benevolent and brave as a creature who would have such a weapon.”

The woman smiled and bowed. R was thanked once more before she rushed to put the child to sleep. R hummed and eventually stood in front of Mairon, who sent a far gentler glare than usual.

“Mairon, drink the wines and dance with me, I plead,” R insisted, placing a welcoming hand on his shoulder. “This festival is for you as well, after all. If it is not their company you enjoy, surely mine is not as deplorable?”

The man sighed. “You are a blessed Queen, Yavanna, who raises the sun for each passing day. Who am I to deny you?”

“Oh, you have tried to deny me plenty, Mairon,” R giggled. “It is simply that my stubbornness exceeds yours.”

The pair walked to the array of alcohols. They did not even need to pour their own cups as cheerful men and women thrust them into their hands. Mairon almost flinched from their casualness, but the alcohol had given the Hobbits boldness.

R clinked their mugs together in a toast, joined by the community. Cheers and hollers echoed across the happy hillsides as the woman chugged it in its entirety. There was a bitter fruitiness to it that made her scrunch her nose. Mairon let out a quiet chuckle, having downed his with no difficulty.

“I do not believe I’ve ever heard you laugh, Mairon. It holds such beauty.”

Mairon was taken aback by her compliment. He was not sure if it was earthly alcohol taking affect or his own feelings that led to his pale cheeks blushing as R pinched them.

Several cups later, R had had her fill. She swayed in the wind, staring up at the heavens. Mairon put a concerned hand on her shoulder.

“Have you overdone it, R? Does mortal creations affect you so?”

“Only as I have let it, Mairon. Let loose, why don’t you? Let us dance.”

“I would prefer not to.”

“I care not for your preferences right now, my friend. Would you rather I make a fool of myself?”

The man clicked his tongue, allowing the woman to grab his arm and pull him away from the tables and out to the boisterous field to dance. The moonlight followed and R began swaying and spinning and jumping to the energetic tunes.

The night was at its peak half an hour later. Mairon would never admit that he had allowed himself a pleasant tipsiness, enough so that he did not notice his lips spreading into a small smile. The deity was sweating silver and flowers sprouted from her feet much to the enjoyment of others. 

As the Hobbits began to settle into a reverent state, the music lulled. R slowed her own tempo, meeting Mairon’s gaze momentarily. Her mouth released a quiet gasp and it was then that Mairon blinked away the smile.

“Such a beautiful smile underneath all of that seriousness,” she muttered fondly. 

Mairon shook his head, grabbing at one hand while his other arm wrapped underneath her arm. He lead a soft, graceful dance, leading R in the occasional spin. He saw how the moonlight illuminated her beauty and admired how soft and delicate her hand was compared to intentionally rougher flesh. 

In that moment, he acknowledged that she was the epitome of goodness and beauty, regardless of any other Queen of Valar; Mairon could not be more of an opposite and had sought so long to demean her feminine, delicate kindness. But as he saw how she smiled so purely, how her body moved with such willing imperfection, he saw something too blessed for both Middle Earth or Vala.

 He refused to show how much that image meant to him as the music came to a slow and his arms fell back to his side, aching for it to have lasted longer.

“You are smiling again, dear friend. Do you appreciate now how lovely our children are?”

Her voice dripped like honey as she curtsied briefly. Mairon sighed in a soft irritation and his fingers drifted to a lock of her hair, allowing it to glide up until he gently pressed his lips to it. R was suddenly struck sober in surprise as she regained her posture and he released the hair.

Mairon chuckled again.

“Only from how they pale in comparison to your loveliness.”

R flushed and fluttered her eyes away. “You truly give me too much credit, Mairon.”

Mairon hummed before peering to the more deserted hillsides on the horizon. “Yavanna, you ought to rest for when morning comes. If nothing else, allow me to brush and braid your hair for our travels.”

She nodded as Mairon took her hand with a newfound gentleness. R sat on the hilltop and gazed as Mairon extended his hand and sent out illusions of amusement for her to gaze upon, bursting with color in the night sky. The deity laid on the grass, allowing her companion to spread it like elven threads. R molded the hill to her comfort and allowed a peaceful sleep with bountiful dreams to meet her, the warmth of Mairon’s weaving hands to soothe her.

The man had felt conflicted throughout their travels, certain that even if R had lived a longer millennium, that she lacked the experience or foresight to understand their duty as Valar. Although he would never admit it and R would never ask him to, he had felt the encroachment of pleasure and relaxation from the festival. And the man would never admit, either, how much enjoyment he reaped from seeing R in awe of her own creations.

Indeed, kindness was its own unfathomable strength, as Mairon had spent eons hardening his exterior and assuming the worst from others.

When the morning came, she felt the final pins in her braid. Mairon had crafted an additional stitch in his waistband for his crafted brush that was most suitable for her hair type, having returned to his robed and cloaked state, as well as his sturdy elven-sewn shoes. R accepted his hand as she stood, allowing the ground to rebuild its shape. On the distant horizon was the dense forestry and they walked toward it. 

“Would you be opposed to my summoning a Great Eagle to help us cross over the denser forest, as not to undue you’re hard work?” Mairon implored.

R sent an amused smile.”Not at all. I wish not to withhold us from our quest.”

“Have you… bid your farewells?” Mairon inquired carefully, raising his hands to the sky and fluttering his eyes shut.

“Such pleasantries are unneeded, dear friend. I was but an aid.”

Mairon bit back stubborn words of demanding respect from such lowly creatures, and he instead allowed a Great Eagle to find his song. The wind blistered over the hillsides and R’s braid whipped in the fierce wind. Distant shouts of confusion and awe swept the valley, carried by the breeze. 

Mere minutes later, the distant shriek of an eagle carried across. By then, Hobbits had taken notice and crowded at a distance as the bird began to descend, sending powerful wind across the hillside. It was then that Mairon lowered his arms and maintained a steady eye contact with the beast as it bowed its head.

Time froze momentarily as the world grew still. Mairon offered his earnest respect to the creature before lifting his body onto its back. He lowered an arm for R, aiding in hoisting her onto its back. She sat in front, her robe draped across the right side. Her left leg fell exposed on the other, her golden jewelry glinting in the sunlight. Her fingers gently pet the bird’s head, and it released a gentle coo.

Mairon wasted no minute before his hands dug into the thick feathers around R and the Great Eagle soared into the heavens. R released gleeful cheers as the clouds brushed against her skin and she could not help but hug the beast for balance, feeling Mairon close to distance as well. They were high above the world and the trees blurred and merged intently. The eagle followed the Brandywine river, if only briefly, before the Old Forest was abandoned behind them to the North and endless flatlands of grass surrounded them.

Mairon harked to the beast and it was a slow descent. R allowed her eyes to roll over the horizon as the sun slowly peaked. Both companions battled with their robes until the Great Eagle met the ground once more.

He was quit to slide off of its back before he raised his hands for R. The woman was quick to twist her body over, allowing her full weight to fall into him. Her fingers dwindled in the midst of his silky red locks and she allowed her hands to slide down his neck and collarbone before she broke away for distance.

Mairon had almost cherished her gentle wisps, and a part of him denied the idea that he would ever feel such a way without residual alcohol from yestereve. 

“Isn’t the dimensions this world has so wonderful?” R exclaimed, head turning away from the departing bird and peering southeast where Morgoth’s lair did lay. “I believe there is a road over there. Might we take it?”

“You know my opinions on the matter,” Mairon retorted. “But yes. That would be most convenient, although I’m sure you dream of passerby’s.”

“How have you grown to know me so well, dear friend? I thought you only care for your quest and the conquering of evil,” she joked.

They began to walk and follow the dirt road. R enjoyed the pleasant warmth that emitted to her feet and the breeze that cooled her. Indeed, the woman felt weaker and less powerful than ever when restrained in mortal ways, but the sensations were so foreign and filled her with glee.

“It is not out of lacking fondness that I remain so firm,” he admitted with irritation. “In fact, it is the opposite. Would a world of nothing but pleasantness not please you, blessed Queen? You enjoy these earthly passions that surely you wish to preserve them.”

“You jest, sweet Mairon. Without unpleasantness, where would such gratuity for simple life come from?”

The man steeled his gaze toward the road ahead. His words were genuine, and yet R had not taken them to heart as he had hoped. It was rare the deity was so adamant; so strained with loyalty for another living creature. This fueled a deep discontent within Mairon, as he both admired and abhorred his companion’s unconditional love for all that crept across the earth. It left him wondering if the foolish Queen had none such preference toward him.

This discontentment only grew and festered with furthered frustration as they travelled onward for several more months. Word of Yavanna’s presence had crossed to many realms as adventurers, villages, and fleets sold stories across the lands of her kindness and grace - and, of course, of the skillfulness of her dark, nameless companion.

Through the soft, simple village of Tharbad, the hardened landscape of Helm’s Deep with the dwarves, and the lush location of Edoras, they had wandered. And while evil cared only to leave destruction in its wake, R grew sprouts from the palm of her hand and flowers chased the soles of her feet.

Many men wished to woo her and leaders wished to bargain with her for the sake of greed and eternal protection. Bounties were offered and the promise of erected temples spoken, but R did not heed such arrogance.

The companions stood still in the vast field guarded by distant mountains and the silver stone walls of Minas Anor stood on the horizon, blocking their path. The wind batted at R’s robe and Mairon’s cloak. During their quest, compromises had been met. R allowed Mairon to craft her clean robes, and Mairon slunk into the depths of mystery by crafting himself armor that hid most of his features. Often it was the case that he served as the silent, faceless guardian of the woman who was well-known across Middle Earth.

“Dare I call a Great Eagle, R? Humans are more vile creatures than most. There is no saying how a leader of Gondor would feel in the midst of you,” the man scoffed.

R frowned, something that was unfamiliar to her lips. While Mairon had not smiled since the eve of the Hobbiton festival, having grown in negative judgement toward R’s children, it as not without its effects. R had grown weary of both her dear friend’s overprotectiveness and the foul, cruel behavior of her children.

“What of their arrows, Mairon? Might they shoot us down? I wish to leave none such violence in our wake. Who is their King?”

“I understand your concerns, but surely the Eagle may fly high enough. I do not trust King Anardil, as he has caused great havoc throughout Middle Earth.”

“But who knows of the loot they have pillaged?” R argued intently, placing a soft hand on his shoulder. “I simply wish to bring sanctity. Surely, it would be wise to join their midst, if only to have as allies when meeting Morgoth. If mankind so easily turns to evil for their benefit, would they not turn to good just as easily when the opportunity presents itself?”

Mairon sighed, lifting his head to peer at the peak of the civilization, the palace of their leader. “What have we to bargain, R? Truly, men only seek the trophy that is your heart or the replenishing of their crops.”

R suddenly stepped in front of the man and sighed deeply. Mairon’s eyebrows scrunched in concern as the woman fiddled lightly with his helmet before removing it. The deity’s chiseled features cast shadows upon her. He leaned into her hands that cupped his firm, stoic cheeks, thumb rubbing gently. 

“They care for sustainability and honor - the promise of a future. Trust my foolish whims once more, Mairon,” she pleaded passionately. “After all, where I lack the conviction of self-preservation, you soar. It is why we are the perfect set of companions. Your strength and resolve lays in areas mine does not.”

“What is it you mean to say, R?”

R pulled her hands away sharply and bowed slightly, her hands clasped at her chest. “It is that I… trust you will have no issue doing what you must for my safety when met with the stubbornness and entitlement of mankind. You are my dearest friend, Mairon, throughout the entirety of my eons. I know you think of me naive, but it is only from my deep trust in you that it has not changed. Perhaps you often wish you had traveled alone, rather than stopping to greet me, for I surely rely on you more than you ever have on me.”

Mairon had never cherished the feeling of his mortal, beating heart in his chest more. His ears rang from her wonderful song and he felt lost for a reply. The resentment he had harbored from lacking acknowledgement of his superiority took on a new shape - that of reciprocated, pooling adoration. His Adam’s apple bobbed when he gulped deeply, watch when R cast her gaze away with seeming insecurity.

“I…” R’s golden doe eyes flitted to the man, who fought strongly to find the proper words. His armor suddenly felt slick and heavy. “I hold for you the same dedication a knight would for his blessed Queen. At first, I admit I wanted to act selfishly. But without the words and motivation from a kind, benevolent queen, what reason has a knight for charging into battle?”

The queen let out a quiet, joyed gasp before firmly smiling. Mairon felt his flesh dare to melt, as though taking another form would save him from the vulnerability he had spilled for R. His heart ached at the sight with a feeling that had encroached upon hi with time. A tear slid down her cheek and his hand flinched, craving to absorb it. Instead, he cautiously lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it sweetly.

R smiled and whispered,” Sometimes, I wonder how Eru crafted a creature so charitable and lovely.”

Mairon had hoped for that blissful sentence to linger and for time to take a breath, but R spun and began trotting toward Minas Anor. Mairon replaced his helm and marched to meet her side, hands itching with paranoia. The man had felt a growing sense of dread throughout their journey; R seemed to feel fine with the lack of control they had on who they met, but many had been foul without her realizing it. Harmless, to be sure, but he had felt an encroaching fear that bloodshed would be inevitable - and in some cases, preferred.

The pair was halted near the border and his hand went his recently crafted dwarves sword when R had gone to bathe and rest. It glinted menacingly, reflecting the several humans that had arrows pointed from atop the wall.

“Halt! Speak your business, strange travelers,” a guard called, his sword already drawn. “Why have you approached our great kingdom?”

R did not reciprocate Mairon’s anxiety, curtsying politely. The man towered behind, ready to torment mankind with awful, crippling visions and reanimate their buried dead for his bidding. 

“Greetings. I am Yavanna, a Queen of Vala, and this is my dearest companion,” she spoke, ensuring the wind carried her softspoken tongue. 

“Ya - Yavanna," the guard stuttered. “Forgive us, as we have gone through harsh wintertimes and violent wars. We were certain you would never pass through our brilliant lands and meet the elves to the west. Please, we welcome you into our borders.”

Mairon dropped his arm and allowed the cloak to fall back into place, dragging across the ground. His body was tense and his lungs choking with nausea as the guard ordered the gates open and allowed them entry. Many good people peered out of their windows or stalls from the commotion, but the guard paid them no heed.

“Please allow us to privately escort you to meet King Anardil. I am certain he shall be pleased with your presence and… your companion’s, as well, if he speaks.”

Mairon hardened his intimidating stare, fiery eyes piercing through the slots in his helmet. It seemed that his  uncertain existence was what caused the people to be on edge, with archers still watching from a distance and mothers holding their children close when he passed. It amused him so that mankind was so quick to turn to fear and obedience from his mere air.

“He does not speak often,” R chuckled. “But he is the wisest, bravest, and most loyal in all of Middle Earth.  How does mankind fare here?”

The guard seemed taken aback by her earnest question. “We withstand harsh winters and the rivers freeze over. However, that also means our many enemies do not dare to attack us here. We ensure that the women tend to the homestead, as many of their husbands are at war in the north. Our people are very strong and resilient.”

She hummed, enamored by the bulging muscles of working women and the clever play between the young. Mairon could only be baffled at R’s wonder, as he knew of how weak and arrogant humans were, above all other beasts. Unlike the smaller villages of Hobbit folk and Orges or the well-maintained trading posts, there was filth coating the walls and there was a mist of independent thought that made it clear to Mairon how the tethers that upheld this society was fueled by greed and self-perseverance.

The palace was a grand sight at the top of the fjord. The amount of guards seemed to dwindle, as though the great sky would never pose a threat. Even R thought it foolish to not fortify the palace more.

Word was quick to spread of the deity’s arrival, and the King was already sat in his thrown at the end of the court, sweating bullets. He had greasy black hair that went past his shoulders and strong, defined features. A large nose and sharp jawline revealed the man’s clenched expression. He adorned an emerald green cloak above his chainmail armor robe and had sturdy boots. Leaning against the stone seat was a long, dense sword. And despite his timid, shrunken figure, he still seemed to tower in stature and muscle.

“Oh, great Yavanna, I have caught word of your appearance. It truly is a blessing to have you visit our establishment,” the king spoke intently, adjusting to stand and meet her where she stood a few yards away. “Need you any rest for your undoubtedly weary bones? Food to curb hunger?”

“No, thank you. We merely wish to aid, if only briefly, and ask for your armies to settle themselves. It wounds me deeply to cross the paths of the dead innocents,” R answered, curtsying once more. “But… we are simply passing through at the end of the day.”

Mairon watched as the man’s expression twitched with discontentment. His sharp eyes were glued to the King, who halted in front of R and bowed.

“I was unaware that the goddess wasted such little time on flattery,” King Anardil answered with a low chuckle. “Might we discuss that over some wine? And who is this companion of your’s?”

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Sauron (1/?)

WC: 3.9k

AN: had to learn a lot of Middle Earth lore, but be aware that essentially Mairon is who Sauron originally was before going all Sith-like :)

BTW even if you don't really know lotr or anything trust pls read this it's so good I promise I'm so happy w it no previous lotr knowledge is needed I swear

R felt mortal coils wrap around her as she emerged through the gate of her temple. While most of her sisters, brothers, and friends would find the weakness that crept into her limbs to be foul and excruciatingly horrifying, the woman could only gasp in wonder. Her lacking strength was motivating in that instant.

For the Valar, the mortal realm was often something to be squandered, ignored, or observed with amusement. Manwe and Varda had not done so much as even sweat a brow during the creation of her many children, grandchildren, and worlds. However, after creation, the life of deities was that of plentiful spoils and games. Despite R’s pleas, who was most prominently named Yavanna to her children of Middle Earth, Middle Earth became neglected by the Valar. And with that neglect came chaos and division. A rough and dark history was upon the realm, one that never ceased to agonize the woman. And after learning that Mairon, a distant yet far more powerful King of Valar, had descended into the flesh and bones of Middle Earth to bring conformity himself, she became inspired.

In truth, the Valar had the capability to create and destroy everything. And yet, R had grown tired of the fun and games while restlessly beholding wars between the various species. To her, although she was the Queen of the Earth who offered fruits from the trees, salts to the sea, and grass to the hillsides, she felt sadness for the living beasts Manwe had scorned for centuries.

R saw the beauty of the elves, despite having since become arrogant from their immortality. She loved the dwarves, who harvested from the lands she built. She admired the humans, who were so determined to fulfill all of their short lifespans. The hobbits, Ents, Trolls, Giants, Maiar, Dragons, Ogres… all contributed balance to Middle Earth. But the lands had been tarnished from anger and hate. Once the Valars had been lost, the species did the same, forgetting harmony.

And so, R sought two aid by her own hands, following in the steps of Mairon.

The woman was dripping in silk robes and she admired how the dirtied, eroded stones of the temple once gilded in gold and pleasantries wiped against her garments. Where her family scoffed at such filth, R admired it. After all, even in such dilapidated ruins, vines wrapped around poles and flowers sprouted from the cracks. Yavanna breathed in the ancient ruins.

R stepped down onto the earth. Her bare toes, each with a ring of gold, sunk into the dampened grass. She looked up at the pink dawn. She could recall the beauty that had been before; how at her ruins once was a gorgeous town etched with every species. A world where all was equal and all celebrated the beauty of life and what R’s powers had bestowed. But as she gazed into the tree-line and crouched, pressing her hand to the earth, feeling it’s beating heart as her own, she sighed happily.

There may not be harmony anymore, but that only amplified the grace that remained.

The woman removed her gilded gold headband and allowed the earth to swallow it hole. Her often stoic, long locks blew in the early morning breeze and R had never felt so at peace. Parth Salem was once full of the larger creatures, but had become teamed with birds, squirrels, and insects.

“I caught word that another cared to play a hand in the restoration of Middle Earth.”

R peeked up, a quiet gasp escaping. Her gold bangles, rings, and anklets clanked together quietly as she rose to greet the man. He had glistening red locks that went just past his shoulders and his eyes were a fiery orange. His skin was pale and toned and he adorned gold silk robes that dipped into a deep v at his chest. The sleeves were long and dragged to R’s earth. Atop of it he wore a dark elven cloak, having removed the hood. Although to the eyes of any creature other than elves and the Maia the man would be partially invisible, the cloak was of exquisite craftsmanship. At the hip he had a pack and a slot for a dagger, as though the Valar would ever require such a tool against mortal creatures.

The woman curtsied briefly before meeting the man’s eyes with a quiet confidence. “Greetings, Mairon. After many eons, I believe this is the first time we have met so personably. It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”

“Your’s as well, R. What is it you hope to achieve by making such a journey?” Mairon inquired politely, his eyes batting respectfully as he approached closer from the wilderness.

“I hope to restore harmony for Middle Earth, the same as you,” she explained, offering an etherial smile. “I have lacked the conviction and courage for an eternity to step in as I should. It pains me to see all of the blood-spill, greed, and hatred that has plagued these lands.”

Mairon hummed and his eyes curled with respect, although his lips remained stoic. “If it is you that lacks conviction and courage, that I dare not speak a word as to what the other Valar have become.”

R released a gentle chuckle. “I have never met a deity with such spirit, but also with such judgement to others. I have heard that you harbor ill will with our family because of their negligence, but you must understand the circumstances which has brought a plague of laziness.”

“And what might those circumstances be, when the Valor are but perched in their heavenly spoils?”

R hummed in thought as the man stopped in front of her and curtsied, taking hold of the woman’s hand and placing a chaste kiss to her knuckles. “It is not my place to know. But even Manwe is not a perfect being, despite bringing about creation.”

“Yes, but it is our duty to repair order to our creations,” Mairon argued lightly. “The beings that roam this earth are far less perfect than we. They cannot be left uncontrolled. Through the disruption of order came independence and the individual thought between species, realms, and villages. It is a foul sight. Look at what the beasts have left of your temple.”

She clicked her tongue and shook her head. “What they have left behind is beautiful. I breathe through those pillars like never before. What news have you of current affairs, Mairon?”

The man bowed once more with a reverence that had been lacking until now. “I understand now of your gentleness and kindness. As I have explored Middle Earth during the passing years, I have found strict devisions between the species. Several have been endangered from the superiority of others. The elves have kept to themselves with their arrogance and the dwarves have taken to the mountains and mines. Mankind conquer the earth like meddlesome ants and build their anthills, caring only for power. Darkness has spoken a cruel tongue to fuel this, but the Valor care not. The darkness is named Morgoth and I wish to investigate it personally. What say you, Yavanna?”

“I say that I shall accompany you if you shall agree to some of my whims as well,” R agreed with excitement. “I came not only to approach the evil and disruption of harmony head on, but to restore respect and peace for all species. As arrogant is it may be, I wish to behold Middle Earth as my children might rather than from the heavens above. I have not beheld such splendor and beauty from even this spot as I have in many centuries. Where has Morgoth claimed as his own?”

Mairon spun his head to the sky before beckoning to the South. “Morgoth has taken Angband, beneath the Thangorodrim mountains in the north of Beleriand. It will taken only five and three quarters years to reach from this direction on foot, so I will agree to your childish whims as well.”

“You believe it to be childish, Mairon?” R scoffed with no malice in her tone. “I understand that you believe violence may be the best option, but I believe kindness in small doses is. I have in mind to visit the Hobbits first, as I feel the aching of the shackles men thrust at them in my blood. Hobbits are resiliently peaceful, after all. I wish to build them a land of plenty first, if you shall not scorn me.”

The man bowed his head, frowning minutely. “I apologize for my arrogance, R. I simply am of the belief that for violent creatures, violence is the only option.”

“Then let us compete to change one another’s minds, Mairon,” the woman giggled, cupping one of the man’s sculpted, strong cheeks. “I believe that the Valar are not such higher beings, after all. We are meant to serve as aids who offer up the tools for restoration, not to lead with iron fists. I believe independence is a beautiful thing. After all, without it, the development of society would not have come about.”

“Very well, blessed Yavanna, Queen of the many Earths. It is an honor to meet someone of such radiant, caring stubbornness. Shall we head East to the Shire?”

“Yes. I wish to make the acquaintance of a great many beasts. Thank you for your kindness, great Mairon. It must take much of it to be steered from your path of ambition.”

The pair began to walk east. Mairon had become far more earthly during his time here, scorning his family above. And yet, there was so many that he was amazed that he had never met R after such a long time. They became further acquainted with one another’s ways as they headed east. 

Mairon oft offered rest or to venture to villages to find R suitable footwear or cloaks. Often, he pressed to summon a Great Eagle to spare her the hardship of walking by foot. But through the Midgewater Marshes, R cared to sink her torso and wade through its deepest ends or feel the sharp scrapes of the rocky Barrow Downs. With the nature of Middle Earth, her once white robe became weathered and brown and her feet hardened to the rougher terrains. 

R enjoyed the process, while Mairon only grew further in concern as the woman became “more earthly and coated in filth.” He spoke often of the importance of appearance - often pleading with the woman to make use of her powers to save her the expense of dirtying her body and clothing.

“Higher beings such as us have no reason to suffer willingly,” Mairon claimed as the pair approached a budding civilization that called itself Hobbiton. It was shrouded by the Hills of Evendim and the Old Forest.

“Have you no sense of fun, Mairon?” R chuckled, having yet to grow weary of the man’s sharp tongue. “This is how our children roam and conquer. I have only grown further to respect the fruits of my labor. My body has never experienced such hardships, and yet I would never give up these last month’s travels. Although I understand you may see it differently, I swear I have never truly lived until now.”

“But even mortal creatures use their capabilities to their advantage. They sculpt boats to wade through deep waters, boots to protect their feet from cutting stones. I would not have even minded a detour to stop at that budding civilization called Bree if it meant garnering protection.”

“But where is the pleasantries of that? I wanted to stop by Bree, you know, but you were not interested in my reasoning.”

“I have no need to dwell in the midst of such flawed, weak beings,” the deity argued fiercely. 

“I harbor only admiration for such resilient creatures. I wish —“

“To become like them? How foolish of a Queen are you?”

“You speak such unwise words, Mairon,” R chided, although her tone lacked the sternness of her tongue. “How could you know how to handle our children if you do not know the hardships of being them?”

The pair halted at the edge of the Old Forest, having followed the Brandywine stream north. R’s heart ached as rotting corpses of Hobbits and the occasional man littered near the water. As they emerged from the tree line, R and Mairon spotted several hillsides of carnage on the horizon. 

The woman gasped as tears of silver syrup slid down her cheeks. Death was a natural part of life, yet these deaths were hardly natural. The men had returned two their civilizations to the west, leaving far and few Hobbits. R clutched at her chest and knelt to the earth, restoring the burnt grass and allowed hillsides to grow where the dead had been piled.

It was then as the earth trembled in its wake, that R turned her attention to a camp several miles north.

“Survivors,” Mairon stated with the click of his tongue. “Have you no desire to raise the dead, Yavanna? Why bury when I could offer rebirth?”

“Out of honor,” R insisted with self-assurance. “What say you, Mairon? May you indulge in greeting these children?”

“If only to appease you, R, as much as your choices baffle me. Shall I mask us?”

R simply shook her head. “You know how dearly I wish to connect with such beautiful lifeforms. I admire their individual thought.”

Mairon scoffed as they approached a camp sight. Upon growing near, it was far vaster than anticipated. There were at least fifty men, women, and children who sat near fire pits, many sullen and tired. The far and few Hobbits with courage to retaliate were angry and dwelt in tents. But there was a common fear spread throughout the hillsides, and it was then that the leader stood strong amongst those that fled to their tents, fearful of them.

“Fear not, Hobbits,” R called before kneeling to the short creatures. “We have come only to assist and aid.”

Her companion seemed horrified when R had knelt, her long hair tangling with the grass. Her head bowed and Mairon sent a sharp, cold glare toward her. The leader then approached, gruff and tattered. He had a full beard and stood the tallest at four feet and one inch tall and he was one of the few with armor made of bark. His eyes were hardened with the grief of his people. 

“Speak who you are, travelers. Wizards, warlocks, elves? Were you them that restored our land and buried our dead?”

“Indeed,” Mairon spoke, offering a hand to R as she returned to her feet. “But we are neither of those. We are deities of Valar. I am Mairon, creator of the Maia, and this is Queen of the earths, Yavanna. She is who has given fruits to the trees and salts to the seas.”

Slowly, other Hobbits had emerged, as reverent and curious as the leader was.

The leader seemed taken aback before getting on one knee and bowing his head. “I have not heard such names in a century. I thought all faith was lost. I am Genevin, the leader of our land that we call Hobbiton. This is our people, or those who remain of us.”

R’s silky tears began to fall once more and flowers sprouted where they met. “There is no need to bow, Genevin, for it is the gods who have squandered you all. Tell of me what can be done to restore your lands.”

Genevin, taken aback, rose to his feet and cleared his throat. Many women and children watched in awe, having more interest in approaching them. While Mairon maintained an air of hostility and arrogance, R smiled. A few young Hobbit boys and girls stomp to where the flowers now bloomed from R’s mourning, plucking. The woman smiled with such joy.

“We ask not much of you, Yavanna,” Genevin answered humbly. “We ask only for protection from mankind. They have taken from us and are bound to return with more troops. It is against our nature to fight battles and spill blood, so only a few of us have turned to it. But if more men come, I fear there were be none of us left.”

The woman nodded. “I understand. Mairon, dare you entertain them with your stories as I work? Offer them dancing visions of your journeys?”

The man had to resist a scoff. “Must I not assist and give you strength, blessed Yavanna?”

“If you must, the only assistance I desire is that to comfort the grieving and your exquisite craftsmanship shall they need it.”

Mairon sighed as he reluctantly entered the campgrounds. Many small children grabbed at his elven cape before the man dropped it to the ground, leaving it to the children to awe in its powers. The women blushed from the man’s handsomeness and the men were curious of the stories he had to tell. They were still in such awe from the miracles being given to them and were unsure of how to approach as he sat at the campfire and showed beautiful visions in the night sky of their journey to reach it. Many gasped and danced at the sight.

The crowds were in awe of both etherial beings as some gazed upon the woman as she pressed her hands top the earth, while others revealed in the magic pressing into the sky. 

R felt the beating heart of the Shire, how it cried for its dead. She continued to weep as power surged from her delicate fingertips and dug into the dirt. She sprouted trees with delicious fruits, flat plots for gardening, several streams through its heart, and carved dirt paths. She deepened the forest so no man could easily weave through its brambles except for one main path that could lead to Bree and out of Hobbiton. She created even vaster hillsides before carving them inwards to create burrows for the Hobbits.

While Mairon grew tired after only a night, R lay frozen, allowing her mind’s eyes to craft a beautiful landscape for her children. It took many days and many nights and she could only smile as her children reveled in all of its humble glory. Amidst her powers, Mairon assisted in the crafting of strong doors and a gate only Hobbits could venture through. He offered recipes of pleasant furniture and toys, feeling R’s watchful gaze. The man was already weary of society and often pleaded to R when he was alone that she had done enough.

The dawn of a new day in a new month began and it was then that R felt satisfied with her work. She saw nothing but smiles on the faces of her children and the boisterous talk with men and their wives.

Her eyes opened and immediately a laugh bubbled in her throat. At the top of the hill stood Mairon who hardly seemed pleased by R’s generosity. However, she was joyous from the bouquets and baskets around her, left from grateful Hobbits. Not too far away, awed children cheered and clapped before running to her, hugging the woman.

R reciprocated the hugs fully, placing kisses at each of their foreheads. It was only after distant parents called them to second breakfast the woman rose. Her body felt weak and tired. She had forgotten what it was like to create.

But Mairon was there in an instant, offering a stabilizing hand to her. His eyebrows were furrowed as he instantly stated,” You have done too much. What if they forget the nature of their beings and turn to greed?”

R chuckled, placing a hand on his cheek. “Impossible. These are some of the purest of my children. They asked for nothing so I gave them everything. You have done well, Mairon, for humoring me so.”

“They wish to hold a festival to honor you and the rebuilding of Hobbiton. Must I humor you further, though?”

“If you are capable, Mairon. And then we may journey to where evil lurks. I promise to follow your lead onwards. But must you be so brazen? Have you yet to see the beauty in all of this?”

“I only see beauty in what you created, R. It is the Hobbits’ weakness in stature that has led to obedience and nothing more.”

“Do not confuse weakness with kindness,” she chided once more. “Should we not enjoy a festival? I have yet to truly enjoy the pleasantries of their lifestyles.”

The pair was interrupted by the approach of Genevin, who’s physique was now clean and kempt, except for the beard that had grown further. He held nothing but gratuity in his bright blue eyes as he bowed briefly. 

“I heard from the children of your awakening. Your gift is far greater than we could have ever imagined. We will forever be indebted. Although we could never repay your kindness, please allow us to offer a festival to celebrate and a warm chamber for you to rest, Yavanna.”

“Thank you, kind leader. Come, Mairon. I am eager to observe what you have aided in crafting.”

The deity nodded curtly while offering her an arm. The woman was slow, enjoying the cool grass underneath her feet. She gasped at the wonder all around her, and Mairon sighed contently after observing the Queen’s ecstasy. He still thought of it all to be quite foolish, but he did not vocalize it.

R was frequently stopped by others who offered up thanks. Small children gifted her wreaths of flowers and women offered their finely baked goods. She accepted all of it, even when her hands could no longer hold them and Mairon stepped in to assist. An hour later, in the heart of Hobbiton, she was beckoned into the grandest hillside.

It was clear by room next to her own who owned it, as it was filled with grander objects and various crafting schemes. Genevin left them there and R was in awe of the magical simplicity. It seemed that Mairon had taken a page out of her book and had created pillars of vines for the bed, weaved and intertwined into comfortable cushioning. There was a bath in the corner etched into the ground as water filtered through a hole. 

R laughed happily. “You have outdone yourself as well, Mairon. And to think that I was positive you thought me to be foolish and irritating.”

“You are both, R. But above all, you are kind and revered, even to someone like me who you must find quite arrogant. Must you rest now until the festival, R?”

“Yes, Mairon. Thank you for indulging with me. You are not such of a harsh man in action as you are in tongue.”

“If you say so. I shall take my leave.”

“So cold, Mairon,” the woman joked. “Farewell for now.”

It was then that the woman laid her head to rest on the woven mattress. R dreamt of ideas to come, having found such splendor in the wants of her creations. In Vala, she never had motivation to smile so widely. And yet here, living in the slowest, most detailed of moments, R found a tranquility she wished to have explored sooner.

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (7/7)

WC: 4.7k

“…R. Wake up. I hear something.”

The woman’s eyes shot open and her head almost collided with the counter above her. Although she had only slipped into unconsciousness for mere minutes, her body had fought off exhaustion for so long that sleep had won her over the moment her head hit Matt’s shoulder.

But despite the impending danger, her mind was not alert. Her body was, yet her brain wanted to sink further into her drowsiness and ignore the heavy footsteps that sounded on the wooden porch outside.

“R. Why’d you fortitude the shit outta this place, huh? It’s just you and me now. God, how’d your frail little bones even move the damn shelf?” Josh called, his voice hoarse and tired. 

His voice struck enough of a chord that R blinked. Matt’s grip on her shoulder suddenly tightened. She glanced at him tiredly, noticing that the man was gripping his mouth with fear and his eyes were glossy. His entire body was trembling. And so, R gave his hand a reassuring squeeze before moving out from underneath.

It was crucial that Matt was kept hidden. After all, R had no idea what Josh’s plans were for her. Matt would more than likely be the only one who could provide evidence, or it would be her against Josh and his parents’ money bags.

Matt watched cautiously as R scooted from underneath. Her body was sluggish; it could hardly move. She wondered what drugs or beverages Josh must have consumed to still be so alert after chasing and torturing his friends all evening. The man under the counter pulled the machete closer, as well as the other resources that he’d brought with him.

R should have felt fear as Josh’s wide, manic eyes stared at her from the other side of the window. A lazy grin spread across his face and he pressed his palm to the window. But the woman did not have the strength to frown nor smile. Her arms were limp against her side and she had to lean against the counter for support as she swayed. Even standing, her body was tempted to fall back into slumber.

Josh’s eyes twinkled with worry and the man suddenly raised his axe to the window. Alarmed, R stumbled back and collapsed on the ground. Glass came crashing as the window broke and the man carefully climbed through. His heavy boots grew puddles under his feet as he crouched in front of the woman, tilting his head. 

His eyes were bloodshot and his breathing shallow. He set the axe on the ground beside him and extended his uninjured hand. R flinched as his bare, chilled fingers ghosted across her cheeks, prodding at a cut that the woman had sustained somewhere along the line. His eyes flashed with hurt before his face morphed into a deeper grief. He fell forward on his knees and his arms trembled as he balanced above her. His hair cast shadows across his eyes as tears flooded down his cheeks.

“…R. Please don’t hate me. I did all of this… for you. For us. Fuck, man, I know all of this is fucked. You must think I’ve gone insane -! But I just… I wanted to make you feel better so you’d come back to me…”

The man muttered incoherently as his words turned to nonsense. He blinked away tears in an instant. His sadness had seemingly disappeared at a moment’s notice, and his eyes were warm. R knew she had her moment and so did Matt. But neither of them seemed to have any guts to retaliate. It made R feel horrible because with every passing moment, it meant only further unsafely and risk for both people.

“I love you, babe. I always will, okay? All of this anguish can be buried now, so…”

R bit her lip as her elbows gave out and the woman let herself sink against the wooden planks. The dawn flickered into the ski lift and she winced.

“What about… Matt? He… never deserved any of this. Please, Josh… Please set him free,” R sighed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Josh suddenly let out a girlish giggle, adjusting to sit criss-cross-applesauce. His hand fell softly on her knee and his propped his chin on it, gazing fondly at the woman. “You’re so kind, R. So forgiving of everyone but yourself. Surely you understand that that bumbling coward is a loose end, right?”

R’s breathe became shallow, feeling Josh’s fingers tremble as they drifted across her hips, waist, and chest with feverish intent. His shoulders slumped as though the burden of the night had suddenly slid down his back.

“I… I’m a loose end too, Joshie. What exactly do you think will happen after this?”

Josh seemed instantly offended and his hand suddenly clamped tightly at her clothes. “You think anyone’s gonna believe you, R? You… you think you could get away from me, or the cops’ll believe your story…? You’ve been through a lot of trauma, R. I mean, seriously… a boyfriend suddenly skipping town, an unfortunate vandalism of the main house, and an avalanche nearing an anniversary? Hell, Matt’s probably burning alive down there in that dark ass basement as we speak, heh… Speaking of which, the moment the power turns back on, we’ve gotta scram. Bomb’s’ll detonate in half an hour.”

R’s eyes widened, causing the man to chortle as though he was clever. “Remember that I’ve got a damn degree in science and shit. Money’ll buy all the right ingredients without people giving a shit in this world.”

“Joshie… do you really not feel any remorse? You’re a murderer. You could be happy and successful right now instead of doing this.”

“I do feel pretty fucking happy and successful, R.”

The man shrugged as he rose to his feet. He offered a hand, but when R did not take it, he exhaled sharply and hoisted her by the armpits, having hooked himself underneath.The woman glanced back at the counter women warily, eyes wide. Matt had tightened his grip on the machete, as though steeling himself for the right moment. Car keys dangled from Josh’s pants pocket as if to assure R that he had taken all the precautions.

This seemed to be when Matt came to terms with the fact that Josh had to die for them to live.

The floorboard creaked as he launched himself from underneath the counter. Josh seemed bewildered as he swung around, leaving R to balance herself and fish through her pockets.

Somehow, Josh had anticipated it, stopping the blade mere inches from his face by grabbing at the hilt. The men grunted as a fight for strength begun, but was quickly ended as Matt stumbled back. He went to slash again, but Josh ducked to the side and tripped over the axe, grabbing it on his way to the ground. Matt swung the machete again, cursing loudly when Josh extended the distance. That was when Matt instead prioritized sticking closer to R. His breathing was labored and terrified.

R was caught off guard, but fished through her pockets to pull out a pocket knife and a scalpel, far inferior to the men’s weapons. Josh turned to anger instantly, and that anger was cold and hateful. At that moment, the shack began to rattle as the generator booted up again and the control panel glinted with the temptation of escape.

“H - hey, man, you’re outnumbered here,” Matt stated. “Just… give us the car keys and we’ll be out of your hair. And - and your right! I bet you could buy the cops, s - so just let us go, okay?”

Josh scoffed, almost arrogantly. “Another fucking charity case, R? Seriously? Fucking Jesus. I guess it couldn’t hurt to chop up one more sicko. Get out of the way, R.”

The woman stood her ground and took a step in front of Matt. “No, Joshua —“

“Joshua? I guess you’re still not feeling too hot.”

The man surged forward, trying to maneuver around the woman. Logistically, Josh did not stand a chance. Not only was he one man, but he was down a hand. And so, R trembled as she gripped the weapons threateningly. Josh blinked and twisted the hilt, swinging the wooden handle at her. She screeched and blocked it with her arm. Matt swung the machete, but Josh maneuvered the handle to block that.

R crushed and leapt at the man. He stumbled, pain surging through his legs as a pocket knife was lodged in his ankle. His cheeks reddened with fury as he shook his leg. His foot ended up swinging into her jaw and R suddenly heard a crack, rolling to the side. The gusts of wind of the endless ledge taunted her, but she grabbed Josh’s foot before R got too close.

Matt took advantage of Josh’s lack of balance, slashing at Josh’s head. The man ducked and used the same maneuver R had, the woman releasing a sharp gargle of pain as her wrist snapped from the sudden movement. R curled her knees to her chest and writhed, feeling how her boats cracked out of place more than they usually did/. The scalpel had fallen through a crack near the ledge at some point.

Matt let out a yelp as Josh wrapped an arm around Matt’s legs and the other man’s head suddenly collided with the counter. The machete tumbled to the floor as black dots clouded Matt’s vision, his body twitching as he slumped. However, that didn’t mean that Josh had settled. His other arm swung the axe with what little strength he could muster, allowing the axe to submerge in the man’s chest.

Even when fighting unconsciousness, the man spewed blood from his lips, releasing a few blinks. Josh swung onto his knees, hissing from the pocket knife still lodged in him. 

R watched in agony, grasping at her jaw. Feeling her bones crack uncomfortably was not foreign from her cursed body. But she was somehow more impressed that she wasn’t dead yet. Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared lazily as Josh took a few swings with the machete, fully beheading Matt. He slowly rose to his feet again, grasping at the head’s hair before slumping to face R. His eyes glinted with fury, but remorse almost loomed on his expression.

“Fucking… hell, R. Jesus fucking christ, babe. I can’t believe you’d hurt me, even if it was pretty goddamn pathetic.”

He pulled a syringe from his pocket before pulling up his torn and blooded sleeves. With a grunt, he stabbed it into his arm and it was as though the pain and sleepiness rolled off his back.  He rolled his shoulders in a stretch and, with ease, removed the small pocket knife in his leg. R released a weak whimper, squeezing her eyes shut fearfully.

Josh fell silent as he pressed some of the operative buttons on the ski lift and buzzing began to emit. R released ragged breaths as her body went limp. She had to fight for her life not to barf at the sight of the man she’d fought so long and hard to keep alive.. But at least it was quick and - mostly - painless, at least considering how Josh’s other friends went. 

The man grunted as his arms looped beneath R. She kept crying quietly, her uninjured hand grasping at the winter coat. Her body was so overstimulated from all her bodily needs being neglected at once. Josh sighed deeply, his muscles flexing from strain. He grabbed onto the ski carriage before stepping inside.

The moment he sat down, R felt his leg bouncing anxiously. R watched lazily as her head fell back into the crook of his blood-coated neck. He stank to high heavens of the carnage he created, even with early morning winter winds blistering through the cracks of the carriage.

Josh finally let go of his boiling anger as he tilted his head just enough to glance over R. He felt a little bad, but the woman had it coming after acting like he was trying to kill her all night. He couldn’t fathom a world where R had actually intended to stab or  wound him, but clearly she’d felt threatened enough.

He’d pumped himself full of various drugs the whole night, but now, his body ached to some degree. Regardless, he let out a heavy sigh of relief and his eyes crinkled with joy. Somehow, his one healthy arm was intact enough as his fingers traced across R’s jawline. He huffed in concern when he felt just how labored and poorly aligned she was. 

His fingers trailed down to her collar bone, rubbing back and forth comfortingly. The woman’s wet, sloppy tears seared against his neck and a blush rose to his cheeks., He squeezed her closer before reaching his hand into her hair and helping prop herself up more comfortably.

“Look, babe. The sun’s up. Doesn’t it look nice?” Josh mumbled gently, excitedly observe ing as her eyes roamed the mountain landscape. The pink sky was almost pretty, if not for how it made her think about all the blood and anguish a mere twelve hours had held.

“Hey, I’ll help you rest, okay? God, I really didn’t want to overdo it on you, but… When you wake up, I promise it’ll hurt a little less, okay?”

R could hardly feel as a needle bore into her neck once more and she allowed her body to fully slump against his warm body. Josh muttered a few more comforting words. The drug activated almost instal, unlike previously, but R could not be happier to be stolen from reality once more.

~~~

The pink Hawaiian sunset peeked below the saline as R leaned against the rail of Josh’s parent’s hut, buried on a private island they’d somehow manage to acquire. The ‘small/‘ boat floated at the edge of the beach, a couple hundred yards below. The hut was sat on a small slope. The blistering heat had finally settled and a firm breeze caused R to shrink against Josh, who was beside her.

The man seemed to be at peace. He often was, but the gentleness in his dark eyes was almost unfathomable. There was always a tenseness when he was in society, a wall he put between himself and others. But here they were. And R could not be more grateful for the opportunity to get the ability to travel just because of the exquisite man she’d fallen for.

R never imaged being there in that moment, beside the man she loved and who was somehow perfect. He was funny and charming when he first asked her out in a shared freshman class. And although R had always had an innate distrust in men, she fell hard and fast. It took everything within her not to drunkenly spill out an “I love you” even a month in. Yet, somehow, Josh had beat her to every single landmark. 

He was the first man to buy her flowers consistently, to prod and investigate her tastes and hobbies, to humor her when she was angry or hold her when she was sad. He was the first to love her so unconditionally, to never ask for anything in return but her company. He made loving him easy.

She recalled how her snoopy friends who she put up with said she was being stupid for trusting him so easily and moving so fast. But she couldn’t have cared less. R had bagged the perfect man - smart, funny, handsome, rich.

And so, there they were, leaning against the railway of a private island off the coast Hawaii. It made her wonder what she’d ever done to receive such a blessing.

“Joshie,” R muttered fondly, leaning her head against his shoulder.

The man hummed contently before wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her against him. They were both slightly damp from an early evening swim, and Josh was already sporting a sunburn on his nose and shoulders, despite how thorough R had been. But like always, Josh was quick to one-up her and turn the spraying of sunscreen into that of a massage - of course, with some perish intent.

“Yeah, babe?”

“I love you, Joshie.”

“I love you too, babe. You’re everything to me.”

“No, really, Josh…” R muttered. “You know the kind of upbringing I have. My parents love me, my family loves me, but… America has never been the most forgiving to immigrant families from (a country). They always pressured and motivated me, but their love always felt conditional - like if I suddenly stopped getting good grades or stopped expanding my talents, I’d ben putting all of their hard work of giving me a better life to shame. I know it’s not true, but… that’s how I think everyone’s always treated me, even if they don’t mean to. But you, like… you’re not like that. Hell, I never thought I’d date a frat boy since I always thought they were scummy and I’d feel fucking insecure dating one, but… I’ve never met someone who makes me feel so safe and secure. Thanks, Joshie.”

R sunk against him further, feeling how he smiled into her neck blissfully. “Aw, come on, babe. You’re the most lovable person out there. You could sit on your ass and do nothing for the rest of your life and I couldn’t care less as long as you were mine.”

The man romantically peppered kisses leading up to her ear before nibbling slightly. The woman giggled before pulling her arms up and turning. The couple was quick to kiss passionately. Even when kissing, there man had maneuvered a hand to her lower back before pressing her against the harsh wooden rail, fingers tickling her kindly.

R felt so happy she could cry. Josh pulled away before looping his athletic arms underneath her and pulling her off the ground with ease. The woman squealed into the kiss while wrapping her legs around his torso and the beating sun became distant as Josh somehow maneuvered into the small hut that had but three or four rooms. 

The woman was gently placed on the couch and R’s arms unravelled as Josh pulled away slightly. His cheeks flushed and his typically goofy grin became a loving smile. He gave the woman’s ass one last squeeze before pulling away and crouching in front of her, hands grasping at her sun-kissed legs.

He shut his eyes gently as he pressed his cheek to her lap like a pillow and R weaved her fingers through his freshly cut black hair. The man hummed into the touch before his eyes squinted and some wetness escaped, even as a smile stretched so much it hurt.

R mumbled sweet, concerned nothings as Josh wrapped his arms around her torso, fingers pulling tightly against her skin. 

“Joshie, what’s wrong?” she prodded.

“Nothing, babe… I just… God you’re perfect. I just want fucking college to over. I swear to god, everyone sucks there. I just want to live life with you already,” he chuckled. “God, I just want to spoil you…”

“But you’re crying, Joshie,” the woman greeted, thumb swiping gently underneath his eyes. “You know it worries me.”

“I’ve always been emotional, babe. I just never showed it until you. You’ve made me the man I am in every capacity. God, I know I act like a fucking doofus half the time, but… you mean everything to me.”

R leaned against the couch as Josh quietly clambered, laying atop the woman without suffocating her with his larger body. His head rested on her chest, staring at her. R suddenly felt her body tense with irrevocable fear as it was like the world around her melted away. Josh no longer looked so sweet; he had under-bags, cuts, and bruises littered across his body and his eyes dulled to an unkind anger. His  grip became harsh and his weight suffocating and R’s head tossed every which way.

It was no longer an island hut, but a dilapidated shed that was coated with blood and mounted with the heads of his friends.

“You mean fucking everything, R. You Don’t have a choice. You’re never getting away. Never, never, never —“

R’s eyes shot open before immediately wincing as a stream of sunlight peaked through dark curtains directly into her eyes. A groan immediately escaped her lips and her body was wracked with a numbing pain from her jaw. Her body no longer felt cursed with aches or itches or cold or hunger or thirst, but as her eyes trailed across the room, it became very obvious as to why.

She was in a plush queen bed with several of her stuffed animals. She had a small cast on one arm and the other was linked to two separate catheters. She immediately felt how badly her bladder screamed at her. She hissed at the sudden dilapidation of her muscles the moment she dared to flex.

But the woman slowly eased up nonetheless. 

The location was strange and foreign. When the woman had finally stood, she took in the environment. It was humble, but beyond the window was a vast backyard before a mellow countryside. There weren’t any noticeable landmarks of other human life, and the road with a faded truck even seemed to be gravel. Despite the old country house style, it did not seem old. It screamed of southern wealth of some sort. 

The woman left the large bedroom, the two catheters trailing behind. She was baffled. It did not seem like Washington state, or even a northern location. She had no concept or time except for how angry her bladder was.

The house let out small croaks with each step until she found a bathroom. R peered at her reflection and couldn’t help the dosage of serotonin. It was decked out in niche decorations that she could only dream of and the walls were fashionably styled in her favorite colors. The tiles hit her cold feet.

She was in a bathrobe and a t-shirt that smelled of her ex boyfriend. The woman looked rough, some faded bruises littered across her body. Her muscles groaning from every movement. It felt like she was on death’s doorstep, even if she felt refreshed and alerted. R splashed water on her face and tended to the dehydration in her mouth.

Despite it all, she felt clean and well-tended to. R was glad, trying to push memories of Josh’s carnage from her mind. Although her mind blocked it out, her body remembered.

“Hey, you okay in there, babe?”

R blinked, Josh’s casual yet concerned tone sounding from the other side of the thick wooden door. It opened slowly as the woman stumbled against the sink. Adrenaline coursed through her veins in an instant, fear rushing back to her. A quiet whimper escaped, eyes glued to the man.

Somehow, he seemed to be in a worse shape. He sustained a limp and had even more bruises, as well as a hand cast. However, the bags under his eyes were mostly gone and he hardly acknowledged the hardship from his movements.

He sent a lazy grin before entering, grabbing her hand. R was quick to flinch, and his delusional calm broke in an instant.

“Jesus, R. I really spooked ya that much?”

R gulped. “J - Josh, where are we? What hap - hap - why am I - please don’t hurt me —“

Josh’s lips upturned into an offended snarl, his hand gripping her shoulder tightly. His eyes swirled with dismay as he towered over the shrinking woman. 

“Calm the fuck down, babe, seriously. You’re acting like I’m a fucking psycho. Come on, come lay down. Your safe, I promise. I just wanted to make sure you were holding up okay. I guess you’re a bit of a softie, but… Come on, you shouldn’t be stressing out so bad. Let’s go lay down, ‘kay?”

R bit her lip as tears escaped, but the man carefully ushered her back to the bedroom. R sat on the bed, bunching the blanket in her fingers. Her eyes flittered around the room with panic as Josh kneeled on the ground carefully, laying his head on her lap. His free hand rubbed circles on her thigh.

“You… you killed people, Josh…” R mumbled. “You killed my boyfriend, your friends… How are you just acting like everything’s okay now?”

Josh shrugged. “You’re acting like they didn’t fucking deserve it, babe. I mean, you’re the one who encouraged me to get closure. And now I have. And hopefully you have, too. I couldn’t be any happier. So much has happened the last few weeks —“

“Weeks?” The woman shrieked in horror. “What about my family and friends and the police —“

“I took care of everything, sweetie. Don’t freak out. As far as society knows, there was just an avalanche that we barely escaped from. Your folks visited for a while. I picked up an online job, therapist, delivery services, the whole shabam. You don’t gotta worry anymore. You can look forward to a life of stability and luxury, just like I always promised.

“I hope you don’t mind,” the man muttered bashfully,” but I always told ya how much I wanted a ranch out in the Colorado countryside. My parents helped signed a lease for one with some investment money from my portfolio and such. Once you’r cup to it, though, we can find a place you’d like. Even abroad would be okay.”

R shook her head. “Josh, no. None of this… This isn’t okay. This can’t just be okay. You act like that night was just some bad night on the town. You tortured people, Josh —“

“I’d hardly have called those assholes people, R. Just chill out. Stop making this harder than it needs to be —“

“Just get the fuck away from me! Don’t touch me! Let me go! I don’t want to be here!”

The woman began thrashing, even kicking Josh’s bad side. The man flinched away, obsessive irritation clouding his vision. The man pulled open the bedside table as the woman scrambled to the other side of the bed. The catheters swung every which way, knocking into Josh’s head as the man scrambled through the drawer and pulled out a needle.

R clawed at the covered and almost collapsed onto the floor, but a hand harshly yanked on her ankle. She screamed and shrieked as the rug on the floor came with her, but the familiar stinging sensation stabbed into her wrist as she was yanked further onto bed.

Josh suddenly stopped away, hissing in pain as he rubbed his hip, watching gas the woman blinked into tranquility. The rug slid off the bed once more as R’s body twitched. She fought the neutrality that washed over her. She was still angry and afraid as Josh maneuvered her body into a more comfortable position before sitting beside her.

He shushed her pleasantly, all irritation having vanished. His fingers traced across her body as he laid beside her and held her closely and contently.

“Babe, you’ve got a lot of trauma to work through. I get it. But you’re misinterpreting it all. You’ve just gotta chill out. Life won’t be so hard anymore. I promise. I’ll take care of you. You’ve always worked so hard and been so nice and… god you’re just perfect. I love you, babe. You’re everything to me. I promise.”

[chezzywezzy]

I remember when I read your Yan Ghostface for the first time and I was like "wow! I love this" then like years later I deleted and remade my account and I was looking for Josh and YOU SHOW UP? it's fate

I love your writing you're awesome! ❤️❤️❤️

Haha thank u!! My dedication to scream was absurd… like over 100k in various drabbles for “one shots”…

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (6/7)

WC: 3.5k

“So what now?” Matt muttered, switching his grip back and forth on the machete anxiously. “Hell, we don’t even know if Sam’s alive. How are we supposed to find her?”

R sighed, looking ahead toward the hallway. “…I don’t know. But I’m thirsty. And hungry. And cold. I bet you are too, so… And chances are, we’ll have to go outside to get to the ski lift. That just means we’ll also need a flashlight and a change of clothes and maybe a cell phone for the moment we find a signal. There’s really only two locations that Sam would go, which is here or the lift…”

Matt nodded and they maneuvered back upstairs. It felt like a moment of peace as they loitered quietly in the kitchen, making sure to sit on the floor behind the island to avoid being spotted from the windows or doors. They had both grabbed some monsters from the fridge as well as copies amounts of water and food. They took a few seconds prior to empty their bowels, so now the pair was left with the sensation of their other bodily needs fighting for control.

R gulped down the last of her monster. It wasn’t immediate that strength found her, but even as much as her body ached and she felt like she was on fire, sweating heavily from her fever, she felt a little better. Her stomach was no longer growling from the granola bars, her throat no longer felt dry, and she did not feel as tired. It was a brief moment bliss in spite of it all.

She was suddenly so grateful for how much her body did for her, despite her chronic illnesses or conditions. Somehow, that common cold that knocked her out for a week or the commonality of a twisted ankle seemed like nothing compared to how destroyed her body was from fighting for her life.

Matt’s shoulders brushed against hers and she turned to stare at him. The man bit his lip as he slumped, handling the can limply in one hand. He glanced at R and sighed. “I know this isn’t the time, but… I’m sorry.”

“For… what? You’ve never done anything.”

He shrugged. “That’s exactly it. I’ve never done anything. All I do is act like a bystander. When Emily played that prank, I didn’t help set it up, but I also didn’t stop it. Maybe if I had grown a pair, I could have. Instead, here we are. My whole fucking life, I… I always worried about how others would think about me. So even when I saw my friends get bullied in grade school, or I saw a manager harass my coworkers, I never did shit. I thought that made me a good person as long as I wasn’t the one actually doing the horrible thing. But I guess that isn’t true. I’ve always been a fucking coward. I had my entire life to just do anything, but I… I guess I never did. Not like you.”

R tilted her head before raising a strained arm and wrapping it around the man’s shoulders. He tensed, quick to wipe the few tears that escaped his eyes. 

“You’re only human,” she muttered. “All of us are. None of you could have ever known what would happen. If you did, I doubt that you guys would’ve pulled that prank. Josh… he’s the only real murderer here.” She bit her lip so firmly that it reopened some lip scarring from earlier. “Hell, if I’d stuck around with Josh way back then, if I really found out the problem was - I don’t know. But I guess that’s the point. Give yourself some grace, Matt. If it’s any consolation, know that I regret everything that led up to this, too.”

Matt scoffed. “You? Come on. Out of all the people here… You’re the only good person, honestly. Emily was a cruel, manipulative psycho. Mike was arrogant and dismissive. Jessica… was Jessica. Sam pretends to be nice, and that’s honestly worse. And Josh… Well, what I mean to say is, you have that quiet confidence about you - you don’t care about how you’ll be perceived. You always do the right thing. You always jump into action. It doesn’t matter if you couldn’t save them - you were the only one who cared or tried. And now… hell, I know if I was in your position, I would’ve ran and left everyone, or I would’ve sat happily as a victim knowing that at least I would be okay.”

R felt a small smile appear as a few tears slid down. She nodded in appreciation. “Thanks, Matt. I’m glad you think so.”

Science fell over the pair as they stared at the floorboards as moonlight spilled through the window. The woman was about to propose that they get a move on, but before the words could find her, the front door slammed open. 

Sam had stumbled in. Her arm was bleeding profusely, and having sustained a limp, was not moving very fast. R and Matt tensed instantly. The man peered around the ledge before pulled back, fear washing over him.

Josh was not far behind her, his wet winter boots thudding into the home. Ordinarily, he would have easily caught up, but he was enjoying the chase and with how much his gear weighed, he was somewhat inhibited.

In that moment, Sam must have thought that the best move was to go upstairs for whatever reason. 

R gulped. “Matt, go to the ski lift and try to fix it. At least fortify it.”

Matt stared at her, wide-eyed, and nodded. He crawled the opposite direction as R rose to her feet. She grabbed the ornate knife that was larger than the rest from beside her. It was almost immediate that Josh turned his head toward her, sending a sleazy grin. He paused momentarily, a haze consuming his eyes as R ran at him. It was only moments later, as she drew nearer, that he noticed the knife in her hands.

His gleeful expression immediately dropped. R halted in front of the staircase, waving the knife at him threateningly. Sam had collapsed at the top, extraordinarily relieved to see R. She called out her name.

Josh’s cold glare was so strictly glued to R that he didn’t notice as Matt slipped out the other door and disappeared into the cold.

“Seriously, R? God, you should be fucking resting right now. Like, look at the state of you,” the man snarled in irritation. “You’re wasting your fucking breath trying to save her. It’s getting fucking annoying having you get in the way of me.”

“Joshie, this isn’t you,” R insisted, trying to stabilize her voice as she took careful steps. “Please, stop this. You’ve done enough.”

The man suddenly adjusted his grip on the sharp, red axe in his hands. R eyeballed it, wondering if she’d finally be on the chopping block. There was already some blood at the clean, metal tips, probably from where Sam had gotten her arm scraped, or the snow pants had been torn. There was something impressive at the woman’s ability to live after being chased down by a murderer.

“Considering that fucking bitch is still alive, it really isn’t,” he sighed, glare extending behind her to where the woman crawled into the entrance of R’s bedroom. “I mean, I don’t want to go to jail anytime soon, so…”

“Your parents,” R breathed. “They - they covered for you last time —“

“Yeah, because there were no fucking witnesses. Now get the fuck out of the way. I’ve got an axe and you have a pretty little knife. Who do you think is gonna win in this situation?”

R gulped as the man began striding up the stairs, not a glint of uncertainty in his gaze. In that moment, she felt weak. Josh was right, after all. So she turned and clambered up the steps. Sam squealed and entered the bedroom. Josh was hot on R’s tail. He’d lowered the axe and began reaching out with the other. 

She made a sharp turn into the bedroom and slammed the door shut. In that instant, his hand lashed out. R screamed as Josh let out an angry groan of pain, fingers wriggling in the doorway. 

“Fuck! R, open the fucking door before I kill you!”

Sam suddenly ran at the door and slammed her entire body weight into it. Several cracks resounded as Josh wriggled his suddenly gloveless and heavily torn and broke fingers from the doorway. Surely, all of his fingers had to have broken in that moment and the skin intensely torn. It was a wonder that his fingers did not fall clean off.

The hallway croaked and groaned as Josh stumbled about in pain from behind the door. He kept cursing and crying. R flicked the lock and her eyes fell in the dresser.

“Sam, we have to move it. Come on! He’s got a fucking axe, and we have to buy time.”

The women, as weak as they were, pushed the large wooden dresser in front of the door. And then, they began to pile the suitcase, a chair, and the bedside table on top. The women huffed momentarily. The hallway outside have fallen quiet, but R was certain that wouldn’t last for long.

“The sheets,” R motioned. “We have to…”

Sam got to work as R threw open the window. The building was rather tall, but a few blankets and sheets tied together could work. After all, there were only two exits - and one would be cornered by Josh.

As the pair tied together a rope as quickly together, Josh returned.

“R, open the fucking door. I won’t ask again. Hell, I don’t even need to!”

He cut himself off as the axe began slamming into the door. It only took a couple of hits before the wood splintered and cut in half. In that moment, Josh’s crazed, bloodshot eyes peered through the crack.

“Fucking awesome,” he scoffed. “You think you can just keep running, Sam? You’ll be dead by fucking dawn.”

As Josh gave one last swing at the door, R sent Sam down the rope. R was quick to follow, having heard Josh’s thudding footsteps disappear from the door. Sam helped R to her feet. They did not need an incentive to take off speeding down the nearest path.

Despite R’s attempts for careful preparation, she had left the flashlight with Matt and Sam was empty handed. She was slow, too, considering she did not have shoes after several hours of trudging in the snow or being locked up in a shed. It was a wonder that the woman had yet to freeze her feet off entirely at this point. R would gladly give up her boots, if not for the fact that there was a time crunch on escaping a murderer’s grasp.

By now, the night sky was beginning to lighten. And as the trees began to extend out, the sun was on the horizon. And somehow, R and Sam had trudged down the same path where Hannah and Beth had fallen to their death.

The women turned and skidded to a halt. A sob choked in R’s throat and Sam took a few steps back. R had been so focused on checking behind her as a silhouette jogged behind that they’d ended up at the burial site.

As the sun spilled over distant mountain, R recognized that not much had been changed about the landscape; there was the ghost of fixing the precarious ledge, with a pile of rope tied to one of the reinforced wooden fences. In fact, it almost seemed intentional that there was a gap in the fencing. 

The snow glistened against the ground. R was suddenly alerted by Sam’s shriek. The woman had tried to retrace her steps limply while the woman was in a daze. She turned and observed in horror that Josh, a surprisingly pleasant smile stretched across his face, had cornered them. 

There was the wilderness, yes; but it was so dense that there was no chance of avoiding his grasp. The man had a puffy black winter coat and his jeans had sustained several tears. His boots were somewhat worn down and were darker than usual from blood-spill. And the fingers, of which had been almost entirely dislodged, had been wrapped in thick bandages that bled through. And yet, he showed no discomfort on his face - only pleasure.

Sam stumbled back and suddenly grabbed R’s shoulders. R gasped at the sudden sensation of being pushed forward. She tripped, and the knife she had held went sinking into the snow a couple feet away. Bewildered, R reached and grasped in the snow, hands numb and wet. Tears fogged up her vision.

Josh sent a scowl toward Sam. “Jesus Christ. You’re being a total bitch, Sam. I mean, R’s the reason you aren’t chained in a fucking shed, huh? What, you think I’m gonna kill her or something?”

Sam had backed up while remaining cautious of the ledge. Her eyes darted around the landscape, but with a sudden sense of dread, the adrenaline came to a halt and her feet suddenly gave out. It was then that she realized her body had grown weary; if a limb wasn’t numb and pulsing, it was burning and agonizing. The woman released a wallowing shriek as she pawed at the snow.

“R, please! I can’t die! Not like this!”

R scooted back slightly, wanting to avoid the crushing weight of Josh’s boots as he stomped away the knife. She sat in the snow, pleading eyes meeting his. She hated how human, how cognizant he seemed. His eyes were soft as he stared at her. His grin stretched and stretched, making way for madness to spill from his lips.

“Was this your plan the whole time, R? I can’t believe I didn’t think about this. Dangling freedom in front of everyone would’ve been far more entertaining. I also got all my steps in, heh.”

R gulped, suddenly excruciatingly aware of the small scalpels and pocket knives stowed in her pockets. She clenched her fists and tried to steady her voice. “No, Josh. Just… stop this. What happened to Hannah and Beth… nobody could’ve known —“

“Doesn’t fucking matter, R, because it happened anyways,” Josh scoffed, his stare hardening and flitting back to the other woman. “Pathetic. You thought that you could just rely on R to get out of here, huh? I told you you weren’t gonna live past dawn. Hell, you almost made it, but the sun ain’t up yet.”

Josh stepped around R and closed the distance between him and Sam. The axe glinted in the sprouting daylight, and his fingers flexed comfortably around the handle. R reached toward his pant leg. But in that moment, she felt frozen in time; just as she had two years ago.

R had to do something; anything. And yet, her body trembled from just the idea of retaliating.

“Now, Sam,” he muttered,” would you rather get hacked into pieces or get sent flying off the fucking ledge you and those fucking murderers pushed my sisters off? I’m being generous here, you know.”

He leered over the woman. She tried to crick and tried to scream. When Josh nimbly swung his axe upon her, right into her shoulder blade, Sam released a yowl of agony. R’s fingers reached. She had all the tools to win against him, she recognized. But her body had seized and she swore ghosts were holding her back.

“Please, R, do something,” Sam begged. “He’s going to —“

Josh suddenly brought his foot down onto her stomach and sent the axe swinging at her shoulder again. This time, a resounding crack echoed the scene and blood pooled across Sam’s frozen body. Her arm had been cut clean off. And before neither woman could react, the other one went, too.

In that moment, as Sam cried and screamed, Josh sent his boot into the woman’s legs and sent her progressively closer to the ledge with every kick. And it was then that R’s senses returned. The woman realized she had her chance to act, but it was long gone. Sam would bleed out in mere minutes. That left… Matt.

R analyzed her options as she shakily stood. Josh was there at the edge, too. All it would take is one push and he’d go flying. But… that felt too heavy. R was afraid, even if it was deserved. So, as Sam’s body slid off the ledge, R turned and ran in the direction of the ski lift.

“R!” Josh called after her. “Where are you going? The jig is up now!”

His cackling, gleeful laughter echoed behind her.

R could hardly run any further; her heart felt like it was about to give out and her limbs ached from every angle. Bruises and cuts littered her body, burning from the nipping winter air. And then, the ski lodge came into view. Matt peered out from a window, seeming to be relieved. He groaned and pulled a tall metal cabinet as R’s body collapsed against the doorway and Matt was quick to scoop her inside.

She fell on the ground, squeezing her eyes tight. Quiet sobs echoed in the ski lift as the small breeze washed across her face, wiping at her tears. Matt seemed to panic, and R didn’t even have to ask why the power wasn’t functioning.

“Fuck, R… He didn’t actually fry the box. He put some fucking tiny alarm switch - god, and we only have seven minutes before the power comes on. Isn’t that… fuck.”

Matt sat down before pulling R underneath a counter with him. R allowed herself to be pushed and fretted over pitifully. Her head hung low as she muttered,” I could’ve saved her. Sam. And I could’ve killed Josh. But I just…”

Matt pulled her head to his chest and hushed her. Despite his trembling voice, he attempted to calm her. “No, R. You’ve been through enough. There’s no rhyme or reason for any of this… And Sam was a goner in so many ways. Her body wouldn’t ever have been the same - she had to have hypothermia based on the length of time she was out there.”

“But she would’ve been alive…” R choked. “God, seven minutes and a different path taken and…”

“R, then I would’ve been on the chopping block. I’m not saying that as if I’m somehow worth more,” he insisted shrilly. “I mean… you would’ve felt worse if Josh followed and ended up killing all of us.”

“He’s not going to kill me, though. I wish he fucking would. I’ve made all the wrong choices…”

Matt hushed and pet her shoulders in a circular motion as silence fell between the two. Josh would not be long. But R was worn out; and she figured the only option was to hope that Josh still assumed Matt was elsewhere and that he could get a jump on Josh as R distracted him.

But her brain was tired and her body even more so.

[chezzywezzy]

Omg I luv your writing!!’ XD

<3 thank u!

[chezzywezzy]

Bestie! Josh Washington??? It's like you opened my skullcap and looked at my brain! SuperMassive Games are like my crack! Gonna be enjoying this. Love you! <3

hehehe i'm so happy to hear that! I've been in love with rami Malek ever since the game came out <3 and also the dark anthologies is my shit. idc if some of the games aren't that good to me they're epic

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (5/7)

WC: 4.5k

Josh was not pleased with how things unraveled. He was pretty pissed at how it took one look for Emily to connect dots. Somewhere deep in his mind, he knew that things would go to shit if R found out. 

He carried the limp woman while covering her in his winter coat. It was frigid outside, and even if the future was suddenly uncertain - his mascaraed as a victim dissolved, which would have been his out to the police - he knew that warming them both up was the immediate priority.

Josh almost felt bad. R did not seem to take it as well as she should have that she’d chosen to save him - hell, would it have been better to admit it wasn’t a choice? That either way, the blades would have spun in Ben’s direction? Maybe it was jealousy, but Josh would have been damned if he actually died for that piece of shit. And he thought R would be as happy as he was to see Emily dissolve into slush like he was and find the remains of Mike and Jessica, who he had a personal hand in. 

He almost drooled at the thought of how easy it was to peel off the protective layers of flesh on woman himself. Everything would have gone how he wanted, if only he hadn’t fucking smiled one time. But then he would have had to set Matt free, and… well, each outcome had it’s drawbacks. It was only that with his reveal, Sam had to go and R would have to hide away from the police to avoid spilling the beans. Josh was typically impartial to his parents, but when it came to their wealth and influence, he was glad. Even if the police had suspicions, a bit of money would get rid of those easily enough.

He let out a sigh of relief when they stepped into the main lodge once more. It was still dutifully heated, even if the heat had faded over time. The man kicked off his boots before setting R on the steps gently and doing the same. Josh couldn’t help but pity her - the trauma had grown so deep that she refused to let anyone die, even when they deserved it. They both really did grieve differently, didn’t they?

Even with the drug, she still managed to shiver in her sleep. Josh wrapped his arms underneath after shedding a few wet layers and headed up the stairs. After that, he laid her on the bed in her room. Josh scoffed at some of the belongings peeking out ofd her suitcase that had been Ben’s.

How distasteful. But as he proceeded to tuck R in, bunching the blanket around her tightly, he almost felt bad. Here he was, a changed man, but still he had done something she didn’t prefer. R was just too kind. 

Even in her sleep, R had an expression of horror, albeit more relaxed horror. Josh chuckled sadly as his ungloved hands dragged along her cheeks. There was still faded traces of blood. It felt strange to be jealous of that damned man’s blood, but even now, a part of him was attached to R. Just like when he was alive, he wouldn’t give her a single damn moment to breathe without him.

Right?

Josh sighed and pulled away. He clenched his fists as he thought back to Sam. He would have to be vigilant; and with R knocked out for the foreseeable hour… it wouldn’t hurt to go looking - hell, what would R even be capable of doing when she woke up?

~~~

R came to with sweat dripping down her skin. She was burning up like a furnace. A fever, perhaps? But as her eyes slowly opened, she realized she’d been covered in thick layers of additional blankets, so much so that it was numbing to wake up her body. Once again, R had a pounding headache - and from how scratchy her lungs were and how stuffed her nose was, along with how battered and bruised she already was… the woman was not feeling well. However, she could not have been knocked out for long - the darkness still loomed beyond the window. And Josh was nowhere in sight. It was relieving yet anxiety-building at the same time.

She felt safe, but R could not say the same for Sam or Matt.

R pulled out her arms and sat up on her elbows. Her movements were slow and weak. It was then that she noticed on the bedside table a glass of water, a bottle of Advil, a lantern, and that same journal from earlier. 

Sometimes, she couldn’t fathom that the man was drastically mentally ill. Somehow, he still had forethought and intellect and the ability to anticipate one’s every move. It was as though he had settled into into the madness and made it his home.

She stretched out her limbs. The electricity had not returned, and thus, without he overwhelming blankets, a chilliness returned to her. It almost pinched or burned, but at least she felt alive again. R felt ill from being drugged twice in the same four hour time span, or so she assumed.

R reached the notebook after readjusting and drinking the water and medication - although not without close inspection to the bottle and pills. The woman almost hesitated to read, knowing that she would only wallow in her reality. But perhaps there was some way to assist the two living victims that didn’t have the assumed immunity she did.

The very first entry was from over a year ago, and R flipped from page to page to connect the full story.

Dear diary,

Here I am, I fucking guess. That damned psychiatrist recommended this as some shitty outlet for my feelings - as if I’d even need that. I already know what I’m feeling. Isn’t that the problem in the first place? That I feel too much all the time?

I started dreaming recently. It’s the same fucking nightmare. Not even a dream, honestly. That same memory of R walking out on me and then immediately, like, dying or something. The first time, it was just getting hit by a car immediately. The next was Chris killing her when she came back to fix things.

I mean, that one in particular kinda drove a wedge between me and Chris. Like, I swear I was totally asleep when I woke up to him shaking me asking why I was screaming at him. Even after I woke up, I just fucking decked him in the face. I don’t honestly know why I did that. But it felt nice, I guess, even if he never really did anything wrong.

The doc says I’ve got PTSD and am bipolar or some shit and says that R leaving was just me deflecting the root of the problem. That I’m grieving and all that and I’m not in a good state right now cuz of Beth and Hannah’s death. He even implied that a part of me blamed her.

I almost attacked him for that, haha. But the guys with guns by the door always scare me, so… 

I mean, how the hell did he get his degree? How is he even remotely qualified and somehow doesn’t understand that the only medicine I need is my damned girlfriend?

What, he flaps fucking weird blotch images at me, or makes me talk about what I fear, and then he assigns me some new drug to try - as if that ever worked. Hell, I’m a duckling biochem major and somehow I can assess that those fucking drugs don’t do jackshit for my head or whatever. Like, the couple of days I was on house arrest and took them, I just felt so numb that I’d stare at a wall for hours and think about R.

At first, I thought about hurting myself a lot. But ever since I attacked Chris, I don’t know. Maybe I am going kinda crazy, but all I think about is how nice it would be to bash his skull, the doc’s skull, everyone who hurt me… I’ve been thinking about murder. I’ve been thinking about how nice it would be to see Emily and Mike’s heads on a platter for what they did to turn my whole life upside down.

Dear diary,

Chris told me the other night that he was leaving cuz he was scared of me. He told me I’ve gone crazy. Crazy in love, if you ask me, but I digress. Thank god that damned voodoo doctor doesn’t read this shit. He always spews nonsense about how important becoming my own independent person is - says that I never had the chance to be on my own. But why would I need that? Hell, I grew up with a big, happy family and then went to college and met the love of my life. If anything, I’m not supposed to be without them.

Unlike the last time, I wasn’t even groggy and I didn’t feel bad. Even if Chris is a childhood friend, he’s been seeing a girl lately after finally growing a fucking spine. And now this? The doc says it’s important to learn to identify emotions so I can assess the root of it all or something. So I guess this is exactly that. I was fucking jealous that Chris got to cuddle up to someone when all I do is imagine her beside me every second. And to think he called himself a friend but then backed out the minute things got hard.

Well, I fucking hit him again and it felt good. And then I kept fucking doing it. I don’t even remember when he stopped moving and breathing. I still feel like shit. I killed my fucking best friend when I guess he technically didn’t deserve it. They did. That fucking doctor, those fucking assholes that killed my sisters. 

Thank god for parents, ya know? I always knew they knew a lot of people, but damn. They swiped that man off the face of the planet for me.

Sorry, Chris.

Dear diary, 

I kinda hate how my parents are. They wanted to pull me out of school, but at least they stopped taking me to the shrink cuz they were worried I’d confess to murder. I’m not that far gone, you know? Even dad seems scared of me. But why would they be if they hadn’t done anything wrong? I guess that got me thinking that if they give such a shit about the one kid of their’s that’s still alive, maybe I could make a way to finally forgive the people who ruined my life and hopefully win R back in one fell swoop. 

She started seeing this guy. I know that our relationship is on a break, but it feels like cheating. She hangs out with him way more than me. I guess he isn’t a mean guy, but I hate his fucking guts. I keep dreaming about what he’d look if I chopped him up and his guts spilled all over the ground. Sometimes, I still feel bad about my violent thoughts. But if it’s so easy to get away with it, what’s stopping me?

Maybe I wouldn’t be so angry if I got to talk to her more than a few hours a week, or if I got to hold her hand from time to time. I’m a little angry at her, too, but I know it’s not her fault that she’s been gaslit against me. I hate having to put up a wall with her.

Maybe it’s stupid, but I can’t fathom a world that I could live in where she didn’t need me anymore. I wish she’d at least dote or pity me, honestly. I’m sure there’s a way to hit two birds with one stone, right?

Rs heart continued too all with each entry. But none of this felt helpful beyond reading into exactly what the man’s thought process was. It felt strange that this rampage had started long ago - R could even remember the text exchange between her and Josh the day he killed Chris. He had asked her if she wanted to come over and drink with him jokingly, and that he was thinking about throwing a party.

As her fingers flipped through the pages, she suddenly found a brief brainstorm on which glass type to use to contain Emily and Matt. 

So the glass is incredibly strong and fire-resistant, but the downfall is enough attempts with a sledgehammer, huh?

She thought back to the torture chamber he set up for Mike and Jessica. Maybe something from that would help. R was not very strong, but perhaps with perseverance, she could free him.

R’s fingers trembled at the thought of Josh catching her a second time. But the woman was helpless on her own.

The woman slipped out of the bed. At first, it took adjusting. Her legs felt more like jelly than they did the last time. But with enough adrenaline, the woman managed to stumble to the doorway. It was tightly shut, and she cringed as the hinges squealed upon pulling it open. But R was only met with silence. It was haunting how quiet it all was.

R did not waste any time descending back into the cold basement. It took several attempts to find her way back. Initially, she'd been so fueled by fear that R didn’t even notice the route she took to escape the basement. 

Her eyes widened as she rounded into the room with Matt huddled in a corner, grasping at his knees. His body sustained many burn wounds and his fingers tips and knuckles bled with bruising from trying to escape. His dark hair shone with grease and his skin glistened with sweat. The man hadn’t even acknowledged R’s presence until a quiet gasp escaped her.

“R…!” He gasped desperately, pawing at the glass. “Fuck, are you okay? How are you even alive right now?”

The woman gulped and placed her palm where his was as if to comfort him. “He… I don’t think he wants to kill me. But I have to get you out of here. I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner —“

“Is everyone else…? Fuck, man, I killed my girlfriend —“

“Matt, no… you’re just human. Don’t think about that right now - I just… I need to find a sledgehammer. Or anything, really. I mean, how did you guys even get trapped in there?”

“Fucking hell - I’m pretty sure he just dropped us in. There’s no way he set it up while we were passed out right…?” Matt gulped and cast his gaze away. “I’m… sorry. Fuck, have I always been this useless?”

R’s jaw tightened and she eyed the ceiling above them. The ceiling was surprisingly high and there was no way they’d reach something like that if there was a trap door. But at least the woman was left with two options. She turned.

“I’ll be… back. I don’t really know the place too well, so… but I promise I’ll help get you out, okay?”

Matt nodded and slumped against the glass, eyes glued to R in fear as she left. R made a right and continued down the hallway. Her body trembled with the realization that to get a sledgehammer, her best bet was robbing it from Mike and Jessica’s torture chamber. She halted moments before entering, sucking air into her lungs.

And then she entered.

Now that she had to take in the details to find what she wanted, bile rose in her lungs and tears sprouted from her eyes.  Mike looked like he had taken the brunt of it, but they were beaten and carved to a pulp that if not for their expressions twisted into agony and fear, frozen in time, they might not have been recognizable. 

Jessica was strapped to it but was missing her entire bottom half. It was as though Josh had taken his time in slicing her legs as though she were meat at a deli. And her finger nails lay in a small plastic cup on the tray beside her. It was a waterfall of hardened blood, pooling on the floor and clogging the tilted drain below. 

Mike had been butchered far more methodically, as though Josh had taken additional care to keep him alive longer. His slab had even been tilted so he could watch the life drain out of Jessica. Similarly, his fingernails had been pulled off one by one, as well as his toenails. He’d been stripped naked, and R couldn’t help but squirm at the lack of genitalia the man now lacked. Josh must have taken a knife to carve into his abdomen where his muscled body had contorted and squirmed. And then, his jawline had been dismembered with a small scalpel, pulling the flesh off his face. The man’s eyes were closed, but he had cried blood right before he had died.

R could not have ever fathomed that this was how angry and vengeful Joshua was. Even at his worst, he had seemed harmful to only himself. It made her stomach churn. But as her eyes glazed over the room, she noticed a very small movement.

Even if his head, held up only from the strap at his forehead, showed no life, his chest heaved momentarily. Beside him was a sledgehammer, and she noticed that at the knees - the most mild part about the torture chamber - were seemingly crushed. But Mike… how would he still be alive?

“Holy shit…” R breathed, a cry gulp sliding down her lungs. 

The man twitched in fear and even if his exposed layers of flesh sunk and twisted painfully, his eyes fluttered open. His dark blue eyes swirled with pain and sadness. It seemed agonizing to speak, even as his lips trembled. All that came out was a quiet croak.

“Oh my god - you’re alive? How are you alive, Mike? Holy fuck, what do I do - ?Oh my god —“

It took every ounce of her willpower to remain present and not crumble into a ball. All of this responsibility suddenly pushed onto her - just like back then. But now, it wasn’t two people who fell off a cliff by chance. It was a sadistic murderer takin g down his entire friend group. As if the ticking time bomb of Josh, who was surely looking for Sam, and then Matt suffocating and trembling in a cage weren’t enough… Somehow, the corpse in front of her was breathing and cognizant. And with every part of his body destroyed, it seemed impossible that R could do anything on her own.

“Fuck - Mike, I’ll… I’ll be back. But I have to - Matt, he’s stuck - I can’t help you on my own… I have to take this - what the fuck…”

The crushing weight and responsibility of three separate human lives was upon her. Although R wasn’t certain if Mike could be classified as ‘living.’

“N - no…”

She peered up after having secured her grip on the incredibly heavy sledgehammer. It took every ounce in her body not to drop it, as it was nothing but pure heft, especially on her quickly weakening limbs.

R blinked at him, tears causing her vision to blur. “Wh - what?”

“I can’t… live like…” 

With every word that Mike forced, his expression morphed further into agony. His bloodshot eyes fluttered briefly toward the direction of the tool tray. R gulped at what he was saying. She tensed her body and shook her head.

“No…! I - I’ll be back in a minute. I can’t… I won’t…”

Knowing she’d break down any moment if she stayed, R heaved the tool out of the room. R wasn’t even certain if this was the right approach - the sledgehammer took all of her effort just to move on its own. But she’d found Mike, somehow alive. And his state was incredibly dire. Suddenly, the time bomb Sam had set had started moving even faster.

She heaved into the room, and without wasting a breathe to allow her body to collapse, took everything in her to swing at the wall. Matt slid back and fling he’d at how the glass bent and wobbled, but did not crack. He stood up and held his hands to his chest. All he could do was mutter gracious words as the woman whammed into the wall a few more times. Cracks developed, and as R felt her bones cracking out of place, she gave it one last try.

The glass shattered enough to create a small entrance. R dropped the sledgehammer and her body was in the midst of falling over, but Matt reached out and grabbed her wrist. Neither of them were in very good states, but Matt used what grander amount of strength he had to stabilize her. He pulled her to lean against a wall while his hands grabbed at her shoulders and he put a knee between her legs to keep her upright.

“Fuck - thank you so much, R - I thought I was as good as dead. But how the fuck do we —“

“Mike…” R muttered, trying to fight the exhaustion that weighed on her body. “We have to help him.”

“I thought everyone else…”

“Sam is… somewhere. And Mike is somehow alive. Please, Matt. We have to…”

Matt gulped, clearly prioritizing finding help over anything else. “But we can find help instead. We can get off the mountain —“

“No. They’ll be dead by then…” R grumbled, sending a glare. “And we’ll die, too. He cut the, uh, power. The ski lift doesn’t work. There’s strength in n - numbers…”

The man gulped, blinking away tears that threatened. Somehow, out of the entire group, Matt had survived minimal damage. Sure, he was missing a toe and his elbow sustained a burn, as well as various bruises and exhaustion, but at least he was alive, fully clothed, and had avoided permanent damage to his body. R had gone through worse, even with Josh having avoided hurting her entirely. Her body was deeply bruised, her blood ran with intense drugs, her skin was red, and she had a fever. 

“Y - yeah, okay… Do you know where Joshua is? And Matt?”

“Josh, no… I think he’s trying to find Sam. Or me… But Matt… Come on.”

R tried to stabilize herself, but ended up relying on Matt. The man swung an arm around her for support. They limped along as quickly as possible. Matt didn’t even bat an eye until they entered the torture chamber ands body became overwhelmed with fear. He snapped his hands to his mouth before keeling over and vomiting. R caught herself in time, leaning against the doorway. Somehow, she’d become desensitized enough to the gore it did not hit her as hard the third time around. She tried to avoid eye contact with Jessica’s dull, lifeless eyes.

“What the fuck - Jesus…”

Mike’s eyes opened slowly, blinking. His mouth was open and he had a small string of blood drooling from his lips. His fingers twitched by reflex, as though to reach toward them.

“Matt, please,” R whispered. “I don’t know what to do, but we can’t just leave him here… I can’t help him on my own.”

Matt motioned after wiping his lips, tears sliding down his cheeks. “How are we supposed to help him? He can’t walk, he can’t move, he can’t eat, drink, or piss… How the fuck are we supposed to help him?”

R gulped and bowed her head, grasping at her face. “I don’t - I don’t know, but —“

“Kill me…” Mike rasped, a few more red tears sliding down his red, flayed cheeks. “P - please…”

Matt gulped and took a step back. “Fuck. Actually? God, he’s right - there’s no way from coming back from this damage, but…. I - I… R, you —“

“No, Matt. I can’t. Mike’s right, but I can’t. I don’t think I could live with myself…!”

Matt gulped and squeezed his fists together. “I… yeah. I guess that means I have to, right?” His voice cracked with fear and regret. He could feel R’s pleading yet guilty gaze, but he didn’t make eye contact. “It’s only right. Fuck. I’ve always been a coward. I’ve always just been a bystander who lets himself get bossed around. It’s only right that I do something helpful for once in my life, you know? God, you could’ve just been relaxing this whole time as a victim, but you saved me and you’re trying to save Sam, too, so…”

R reached toward him, but Matt seemed to have solidified his resolve. He walked toward him,  not daring to look. His body trembled when he stood beside Mike’s slab. The man seemed relieved that Matt had gained the conviction to put him out of his misery. R could only stand in the doorway, hugging herself tightly, and watch as Matt grabbed a random tool from the wall and hovered it over Matt’s chest. A moment later, he plunged it into the man.

Mike didn’t even cry or yelp. The life drained out of him in that moment, and even without flesh on his face, his expression seemed to hav e relaxed and his eyes froze shut.

Matt let go of the tool instantly, stumbling back. He shuddered and panted wildly, grasping at his head. 

“Fuck… I just killed my girlfriend and now the guy she was sleeping with…” he bit his lips and tried to steel himself, wobbling back over to R.

R, with a trembling hand, patted Matt’s shoulder. “…No. You did the right thing, Matt. Nobody can fault you for trying to live… We should grab some stuff. Weapons and shit. Everything else was hidden, so…”

Matt gulped and nodded. Somehow, R was still awake and functioning, and so was Matt. And somehow, the horror of the situation had become numbing. Their minds were clear and concise. And so, they picked up some of the weapons displayed on the wall. 

R made sure to hide some in her pockets.

[chezzywezzy]

i used to read your stuff a few years ago and check your profile every now and then. my eyes popped out once i realized you are back ! hope life is going great though. can’t wait to read your stuff again

Thank you! I already return to the craft. I yearn for the fanfiction concoction. I hope you enjoy!!! And I hope your life is going great too :)

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (4/7)

WC: 4.8k

R tore away from Josh and pressed her hands to the glass, banging and calling out to them. The couple was pulling at the cuffs and rope, begging and screeching. Emily seemed quite angry while Matt was shriveled up in fear.

“What the fuck is going on?” Emily screeched.

“Welcome to our second experiment. The premise is simple. While one of you enjoys control and leashes those around her, the other willingly leashes himself. But today, that will change. Will Matt’s owner relinquish her hold on her leash, or will she pull him to his death? And will Emily’s pet sever his loyalty to save his own skin, or will he willingly be tugged to his death?Or even better - will they battle to save themselves and take one another down with them?”

“What the fuck is this?” Matt bellowed.

R suddenly pawed at the glass before peering around the room. “Josh…! We have to find a way to break the glass! Or some way to get in…!”

“Spare your breath, audience. The only way for either to live is through a sacrifice. Now, simply put, acid will begin to rise on both sides. Only when one of the bodies has completely dissolved will the liquid drain - but choose quickly. Time is of the essence.”

“What the fuck! What the fuck is this - this can’t be real,” Emily shrieked at the speakers above.

Josh wrapped his arms around R’s waist. “R - we should go. God knows where the others are —“

“The hell, Josh? Are you serious? Get us out of here!” Matt angrily shouted. “Babe, Emily, there’s no way…”

The bickering was interrupted when, suddenly, green, boiling liquid began to seep from the drains. R gazed in horror before swerving her head around. The room was barren. Someone had been planning this - something like this was no mere break in. Months of preparation and set up had to new conducted, surely. So who would ever…?

“Josh, we have to do something. Surely you have, like, a chainsaw, gun anything! And there has to be somewhere this —“

“Right, of course, R - but you shouldn’t be here. Let’s try to find —“

“Ow - fuck!”

Their attentions swerved back to the scene unfolding. Emily had been so bold as to dip a toe into the liquid, but it was quick to sear a hole directly into her foot. The reality of the situation dawned on her, and R had never seen someone so hellbent on living. 

With one sharp tug, she pulled Matt. The man bellowed and pulled back. And then, it began - a game of tug of war ensued.

“Matt, baby, I love you. But I can’t die! Be logical here - I’m going to be worth something to society —“

“And I’m not, you fucking bitch? You’re a liar, a cheater, a fucking murderer. You’re a fucking bad person. That fucking psycho - that psycho was right. You’re toxic and controlling and treat me like a fucking dog. You… you deserve to die more than me!”

Matt was certainly stronger than Emily, and the woman stumbled down the slope. A screech of pain shot through her and she crawled back away out of the pit. By then, her entire foot had been consumed by the toxic acid.

R could only watch and plead. Josh covered her eyes and held the flailing woman in place. It was then, as Josh held her in place, a momentary evil and sadistic grin tugged at his lips. He was nothing short than amused. 

He had always hated Emily especially, and Matt was no better. Emily had killed his sisters while Matt was a submissive coward. But now, their true colors could show - there was no love between them; only egos. And Josh despised even more that they somehow maintained a relationship. 

Emily pleaded with Matt, who had curled over from her collapse and his elbow seared from the liquid. But her eyes went over to Josh and her eyes widened. Her face reddened intensely.

“You…! You fucking psycho! Why the hell are you smiling?”

Josh blinked and suddenly paled, remembering he could still be perceived by the outside world. He feigned concern, but R was quick to tear free and look at Josh in confusion. He feigned ignorance and nodded toward Matt.

R was not quick to assume anything as the couple tugged back and forth. But neither Emily nor Matt would sacrifice themselves. The liquid was drawing higher and higher. Soon enough, the warned fate would be upon them; both would succumb to death.

“Matt,” Emily suddenly gasped. “We… we’re not meant to live through this..! Please, we have to think - the rope - we can burn it —“

“And do what, Emily? Then we’ll both die! I refuse to be fucking bullied into dying for someone like you!”

“I’m sorry, Matt. Neither of us are going to live at this rate. Fuck…” She suddenly swerved her head to face R and Josh. She sent a glare at the man, biting her lips. “Why the hell are you doing this, Josh? What the fuck are you trying to accomplish?”

“Josh? You think he…?” R stuttered, pressing her hands against the glass with tears brimming in her eyes. “He couldn’t - I saved —“

“It’s fucking obvious, R,” Emily sneered. “I’m glad your sisters died, you sick fuck. I hope you never experience happiness again —“

A fist banged into the glass above R. The woman jumped, and wide-eyed, she veered toward the man. His expression was twisted into such a cruel snarl. His eyes were alight with madness and fury. He was sweating profusely. She paled and trembled against the glass, but Josh was peering right through her at the woman.

“You disgusting bitch,” Josh growled. “How fucking dare you. I didn’t deserve shit. You’re a piece of human filth, you fucking got it? And I want you to die a painful, slow death, you fucking hear me? You’re nothing but shit.”

All of Emily’s confidence had drained as she stared for but a moment. Matt had somehow faded into the background. But the liquid had almost consumed the last of the floor. And so, in the moment, he tugged on the rope. Emily, caught off guard, released one last scream of terror.

Her body fell face-first into the liquid. Her screams drowned out as her body began to pop and sizzle. Matt looked horrified, but pressed himself against the  wall, panting furiously. Emily’s body twitched violently for a moment before becoming fully submerged. Matt was on the verge of the liquid reaching his feet and his body quivered.

But a moment later, the liquid fill stopped - and as quick as it had filled, began to drain. R sobbed and fell to her knees, clawing at the wall. A woman had just been burnt to a crisp in front of her. And Matt was bleeding from various locations where the poison had clashed.

There was nothing but shackles and some bones when the liquid had fully drained from Emily’s side. And it was almost immediately that reality set in for Matt and befell to his knees against the glass walls.

“I just fucking killed my girlfriend - oh my fucking god!”

R was deeply dissociated as she stared at Matt. Her adrenaline had kicked in, but her mind had yet to catch up. Josh’s fist lowered from the glass and it was that swift motion that brought her back to reality. She swerved to face him fearfully, clutching her hands to her chest.

“Josh… What… You…”

“Josh, man!” Matt interrupted. “Please…! I get Emily, I do! I promise - I won't even tell - just let me out of here, man! That was the deal, right?”

He suddenly came up to their side of the glass, pounding. 

Josh momentarily glanced at R with regret, but it quickly faded into something far more sinister. He released a quiet giggle, sending Matt a clever, amused grin. 

“What do you mean, man? The deal was that the liquid would drain, not that you’d be released. I mean, for fuck’s sake, do you even see a way out? ‘Cause I sure don’t.”

R’s eyes widened and she almost wished to be in Matt’s position. Her mind swirled with guilt and self-hatred. The signs were there, right? The fact that the intruder knew the layout of the home so well, and thus, how to evade or capture others. The lack of violence from the intruder. The months it would have taken to set it all up for the off-chance a group of adults come up the mountain. The self-assuredness that Josh had earlier…

“What - no, you can’t just leave me here! I didn’t do anything! Please!”

“Fucking exactly, you selfish cow. You’ve never done anything right. But, uh, I guess you’ll have more than enough time to figure that out for yourself, huh?”

Josh had been manic before to the point of scaring R; but never had he seemed so aware and intentional with his actions. This was the work that could only be done by someone who had lost all of their sense of reality months ago. Josh had seemed so… normal… that R could have never suspected that he had planned a torture chamber of revenge.

So when was it her turn?

Matt’s pleas and begs were tuned out as R stared at Josh. The man looked so proud. All attempts to mask the fact that he was behind this, despite the fact that he had gone such lengths to preserve his identity as the killer, had since been abandoned. 

And then his eyes snapped to her and softened.

“R, babe, you understand, right?”

“J - Joshua, I think —“

“Joshua, huh?”

He suddenly stepped forward, minimizing what few feet of distance they had. And before R could react, her body bolted toward the exit, even with Josh’s body slightly in the way. The man released a sudden curse, and just as R had swerved past the man, he jumped toward her and his hands grabbed the back of her sweater and harshly pulled her back.

R shrieked at the top of her lungs and flailed, instantly experiencing such a burst of terror that she ducked out of the clothing. R stumbled out of the room, and despite having no sense of direction, veered right. The woman was caught off guard as she glanced into another room polluted with the corpses of Mike and Jessica.

The couple had appeared to have been… less methodically tortured, their bodies strung upon metal tables and dismembered in various ways. 

They must have been the first to go. But where was Sam…?

R could hardly think as she heard Josh call after her as he engaged in the chase. “R, come on! Don’t be mad at me! Running is fucking pointless!”

She praised her lucky stars that at least the basement was better lit than before. And that meant an overwhelming sense of relief when she suddenly saw a typical cellar exit with the heavy diagonal doors and a set of stairs.

R immediately pushed her entire body into it. Although normally her bones would disagree with the notion, the adrenaline fueled her as she burst into the freezing cold. By then, it was already pitch black, even without an active snow storm. 

But Josh was fast; despite his horribly ragged and ill appearance, he had been active in this degree. It scared her how much thought went into every aspect of his plan.

And even as cold snow soaked through her socks and the bitter air pinched at every location available, R did not want to die. Granted, perhaps she should have wanted to - but she wanted it to be on her own terms and not from the hands of a madman that she formerly trusted.

“R…! You’ll fucking freeze to death out here!” Josh called after her. “P - please! I don’t want you to get hurt - come back!”

R had the option of following the clear path or trying to escape him. And so, even if it seemed stupid in that instant, she chose the latter. She burst into the tree line. Sharp pine needles attacked her from every direction and the snow only became deeper and sloshier. From behind her, she heard sudden wails of agony and despair. The man’s tonal shift had been extreme, and it scared her further.

Suddenly, she came into a wide enough of a clearing that she veered to the right and took cover next to a fallen tree. She hunched as close to the ground as possible to blend in, even if snow seeped through all of her clothing and it was hard not to vocalize how she shivered.

Josh came crashing through the trees. His sobs echoed throughout the landscape. R was not entirely sure that the sounds he made were even human; he had reached such a shrill volume that she had to plug her ears.

Near where she had ducked away, Josh suddenly halted and fell silent. The man killed over and gripped at his hair. “Fuck… Fuck! God fucking dammit! I fucking knew I should’ve killed them first. R should’ve been last. God. Fuck. What do I do…?”

Josh fell silent as he composed himself again. He stared desperately around his surroundings.

“Think, Joshie, think… A reasonable person would try to get to the ski lift or come back, right…? But I can’t risk her getting hurt… I at least need a goddamn flashlight first. She couldn’t have gotten far, right…? I couldn’t live with myself if she fucking died… I mean, hell, I even played fair! Put myself on the fucking chopping block!”

The man turned and began trotting toward the cabin. R was suddenly intensely aware of how cold she was. Her mind spun with the reality that she wasn’t sure if Josh was intending to hurt or kill her; but either way, she was frightened and had to find a way to not only find Samantha but save Matt from an unkinder fate. Josh had gone on a rampage - and she doubted it ended there.

But if Samantha wasn’t in the lodge, where would she be? It wouldn’t make sense for him to take Samantha to the lodge where Mike and Jessica had been - logically, that left a secret third building in the area.

First, though, R had to warm herself. She rose from the ground after several minutes of laying low. In the distance as she approached the lodge once more, she heard trudging footsteps and calls for R. Josh seemed to have returned to his manic state, so he went right past where she hid. And that left the lodge to herself.

The building was still well-heated upon return. But she could hardly wait as she stole some men’s snow pants from the closet and layered winter garments after taking off her soaking clothing. Her feet burned and numbed, but after layering on clothing, she was dutifully aware that R had left foot prints and could not linger for long. The man was moving fast, after all.

She dipped through the back door quietly and surveyed the area. Even in the darkness, R spotted something that she’d never noticed before; it was a smaller path that seemed to be made from footsteps, the ground and plants stomped into something well-used. Josh had never mentioned another building before and it hardly looked like an official trail. So, with a small one-dollar flashlight in hand, she went in that direction.

R moved quickly through the wilderness. She wasn’t sure when Josh would show up. He could either be distraught enough to assume she ended up at the ski lift, or functional enough to look for a trail of footprints.

The woods became less dense as she made her way through, despite what one would assume. There were signs of human interaction from chopped down trees to shards of glass or beer bottles. And then, as she found herself in an open clearing, R found it: a small, dilapidated shack.

R couldn’t help but feel frightened. And as she approached the building that hardly had insolation and looked excruciatingly manmade, she heard it: small sobs from inside.

The building didn’t even have a door, and despite having roughly chopped window slots, there was no glass. Above all, there was not even much of a roof; the wood that curved over thew top was half-completed or splintered.

The woman dashed in, and because of what she had seen all night, R was taken aback by how mild the ‘punishment’ was for Sam: the blonde woman was leashed by a chain by her neck which was attached to a firm metal pole. She was stripped down to her underwear and left to freeze. But the obvious torture beyond the physical was the entire alter that consumed every inch of the shack.

R’s eyes glazed over the details; photos of her were spread across the walls and Josh had even gone so far as to laminate every single one. Some were photos that R had never seen before and that were taken from awkward angles, such as her from the inside of a cafe with Ben beside her, his entire body cut out of the image. Others were selfies him and R had taken while together with hearts scribbled around them. 

On a wooden desk without any care, were stencils and images of the plans he’d concocted. The dates written at the top of each page showed just exactly how much timing had gone into it all; this wasn’t months of planning - it was an entire year.

A quiet gasp escaped the shivering, naked woman as she crawled over to R and pawed at her pants. “R…! You’ve got to help me! Josh - he’s fucking gone insane, please! I - I’m going to freeze to death, p - please…!”

R immediately blinked from her dissociation. Her stomach churned with horror. Josh had accepted what insanity plagued him long ago; no therapy or mental asylum could curb his crimes. And so, the woman immediately unzipped her winter jacket, leaving only a sweater. And even if it meant only insolation pants, she pulled off a bottom layer as well.

Samantha was quick to accept the clothing. Her flesh was frosted over and soaked to the bone. She was excruciatingly pale, and even after accepting the clothes, could not stop shivering. Her tears did not stop falling, but at least she seemed more at peace.

“What happened? Where’s everyone else? Are they okay?” Samantha asked, accepting the warm hug from R.

The two women have always been distant. But once again, a deep trauma was afflicting her and she desired the warmth of another victim.. Samantha accepted the hug gratefully.

“They’re… they’re all dead, Samantha. Except for Matt, but… I don’t know how to help him right now. Josh - he killed them all. Fuck… But we need to get out of here - where, how…?”

Samantha gulped away any grief and motioned to the wilderness as they separated from one another. “He… he tossed it in the snow somewhere. I didn’t see where, but I think it was somewhere to the right. He.. he wanted to taunt me, I think…”

R nodded and immediately stepped outside. The interior of the shack was somehow colder due to how all the wood was damp and deteriorating. All it had for protection was the walls fighting against some wind. 

Samantha had to have been trapped here for several hours already. She seemed exhausted. And any footprints and dents had already disappeared, so she was left scrambling on the ground for any feel of a metal key. Her fingers were numb and wet. Just as she was certain Samantha had been deliriously mistaken, her fingers felt as a frozen piece of metal.

R released a gasp and picked up a small key in her fingers. She was quick to scramble back to the shack, trying her best to evade the cold gusts that bit at her face. Samantha was not doing the best yet, but at least she seemed comfortable. R helped her to her feet and gave Samantha what little support she could. 

R found a small slot and inserted the key. She reflected at how, despite the simplicity of the torture, it was almost the cruelest of all. Josh had an excruciating vendetta against the woman, giving her a slow, painful death surrounded by the exact reason he had for killing her. Before slowly reaching her death, Samantha would surely have had enough time to ponder. And much less, she’d been stripped down to nothing. That could not have been more embarrassing for her - not that R though it was embarrassing, of course. 

 Samantha groped happily at her neck and tears of joy slid down her face. “Oh my god… I’m not going to die this way… thank god, R. Thank you.  Honestly, I wasn’t sure if you were apart of his plan, but I couldn’t be more grateful you’re not. Fuck.”

R nodded curtly. “We got to go. We should try to maybe go back to the lodge two warm up, or we can just go to the ski lodge. And we should take some evidence, maybe…”

“Maybe it’s stupid, but I don’t want to stick around. He left this diary or something. The contents are, well, pretty alarming.”

R observed the small, ratty journal momentarily. Samantha was weak; her feet were barely functional. It took a lot of manpower to limp down the path with R supporting her weight and that of the small flashlight. 

But Samantha suddenly gasped. Through the tree line, R suddenly spotted a bright beam cutting through the branches a couple hundred yards away. “Fuck. He’s coming, R…! We have to hide!”

R’s mouth dried almost instantly and she peered at the slow trail they had left. “…Fuck. Samantha, can you walk, run? We’ve left a fucking trail - there’s no way he won’t find us. I can… hold him off.”

The woman hardly seemed opposed and nodded. It felt like R was walking to the gallows to rot as the woman limped slowly off the path. R mustered herself and took a few steps forward.

Josh wasn’t going to hurt her. Right? All the evidence pointed to the opposite, but…

The man was unstable. It was hard to say.

He had noticed the blinks of light and took down the trail. He rounded the bend in an instant, and the moment his panicked eyes saw R alone, the tenseness rolled off his limbs and he stumbled forward. His hands dropped the flashlight and sent shadows dancing while he grabbed her shoulders and immediately pulled her in for a hug. His gloved hands pet her hair harshly as he hummed happily.

“R… thank fuck. I didn’t want you getting hurt, jesus. Seriously, y - you’re misunderstanding everything. I mean, you visited Sam, so there’s no way you haven’t connected the dots, right? I know this all probably seems fucking crazy, b - but —“

“Joshua, what happened to you…?”

“What?” Josh seemed taken aback and straightened himself momentarily. His eyes glazed over R in confusion. “What do you mean? You know exactly what happened —“

“No, Josh, what the fuck happened to make you start killing people?”

“Well, uh, I hate to brag, but I actually put a lot of planning for all this —“

R suddenly felt incredibly angry and pushed him harshly. Granted, that did not do much against him, but she was overwhelmed by fear when the panicked joy faded into something irritated, indignant. His dark orbs danced with shadows of his own and his grip on the woman suddenly became painful.

“…Are you serious, R? All this is for us, dumbass. Jesus, and this is why I didn’t want to clue you in. Don’t you see what I’ve done? I’ve fucking, I don’t know, cleansed their souls or something! Like, they didn’t deserve to fucking live, you know? They killed my sisters, or fucking acted like a whore, or treated you like shit, and they didn’t even accept any fucking accountability! Fucking hell, they’re to blame for my life going to shit. I mean, we ended up breaking up after, you know? And something about that Ben guy just didn’t sit right to me. Like, there’s literally no possible way he could’ve treated you as good as me —“

His eyes suddenly narrowed as he focused on the trail line behind him. He noticed in that instance how strangely the flashlight enunciated it. He swore in that moment there wasn’t just one pair of footprints, but two.

“You… fuck. R, just go back to the fucking lodge, okay? I swear to god, now I’ve gotta catch her? I bet she’d fucking like that to happen.”

R’s faced paled drastically as Josh turned toward the woods and crouched to his flashlight. She suddenly grabbed at the coat. The warm material made her body shiver and she stumbled as Josh stepped toward the direction.

“R, get the fuck off. I seriously don’t want to deal with you right now,” Josh warned, back tensing from fury.

“Please…! She’ll die out there anyway —“

“I wanted to watch the life drain out of her —“

“You might get lost —!”

It was like a wave washed over Josh as he suddenly eased and a small grin dawned on him. “Huh...? You’re worried about little ol’ me? I mean, why didn’t you just say so? Yeah, I guess you’re right for sure. She’ll freeze to death or come on over to the lodge, anyway. I guess that’s fine if you’re worried about me, huh? At least she left this behind…”

The man noticed the glint of the soaked pages on the ground and snatched his journal up. He pawed with it happily before pocketing it. It frightened R how immediate he could turn on her. When R looked in his eyes, it wasn’t Josh she saw, but something far more sinister. What serial killer put himself on the chopping block with the off-chance he might get saved from his own trap? Or had he concocted such clever pleas that left R with no other choice?

It sunk deep in that moment that all of this could have been avoided if she’d chosen to save Ben.

 It all came back to hit her in that moment - the weight that her choice held. She couldn’t have known any better, but even in terms of logic, Josh should have been the one to go. R clutched at her face as frosted tears slipped down and her body trembled even more than it had before.

Josh had momentarily admired his own dedication before he was knocked out of the stupor when R fell. Beads of sweat began to perpetrate as he kneeled, soaking his jeans. He shook her shoulders, but the woman seemed unresponsive. 

“Babe, come on, you’re already fucking freezing. Don’t tell me you’re getting all, uh, worked up about this. If you really want a do-over, I did have something else on the back-burner to make you feel better —“

R’s eyes shot up and she stared at the man. She propelled herself back onto her behind and squeezed her hands into the snow. The words terrified her. Was Ben alive? No, he’d been carved in half. She shook her head quickly as quiet whimpers escaped.

The man’s eyes widened and he gulped, waving his hands in surrender. “Hey, R, come on. Don’t be like that. You didn’t hate it that much, right? I mean, I gave you the chance to save someone —!”

“And I chose wrong!” R shrilly shrieked, her head suddenly feeling light. 

“…Damn. Okay. That’s enough of all… that for now,” Josh muttered, clearly attempting to withhold his temper while fishing through his pockets. “Glad I grabbed the spare, haha. I really don’t know what Sam told you to turn you against me like this, but…”

Her eyes became panicked and she started crawling backwards, kicking snow. Josh had withdrawn another syringe and smiled at the sight of it. But as snow got in his eyes, he blinked and furrowed his brows. R turned to stand, but Josh was faster, grabbing her ankle and tugging harshly.

R face planted in the snow, having been captured again before making any escape. A scream escaped as Josh held her down, wincing at her terror. She’d taken a lesson or two from earlier after freezing from fright. A part of her hoped that Sam would emerge and save her, but as the needle stabbed into her and her body turned to jelly, the woods looked as empty as they were before.

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (3/7)

WC: 3.5k

“No, R…” Josh sighed. There was a strange look in his eyes. Almost… happiness. Has he truly been so starved of human connection? “You never deserved this either. I fucking hate them. All of them. I fucking guess I always will, honestly. But you should’ve never had that happen to you. I’m sorry you have to live with that. If it’s any consolation - it - it… It fucking isn’t even my sisters being dead that makes me hate them. It’s the fucking aftermath, how they acted, how I acted, how everything happened. How I acted was fucked, R. Honestly, I'm not even better than them, either!

“I mean, you were right. I was fucking suffocating. I was selfish and I never even thought about you. I only thought about me, and how angry I was, and how much I needed you, and… Fuck. I should’ve been there for you, or listened. I guess I regret drinking too much, but I regret putting all the pressure on you to fucking… fix me. But… I’m going to fix it myself. You’re right. I’m the only one who can, so… I guess what I mean to say is that… this trip is gonna fix everything. I… I promise.”

R gulped and broke eye contact. Her heart was drumming across her entire body. In that moment, it was hard to interpret his words beyond face value. It was strange to her, because it seemed that his eyes were darker, angrier, more desperate than before, ever since she’d gotten here. But his words reflected a world of change.

“Joshie… you don’t have to ‘fix’ yourself alone. You’re not someone who needs fixing,” she comforted, sending a smile. “You just need healing and support. And I’m sorry, too, because I was not kind to you, either. We’ve both done things wrong, but neither of us to blame, I think. I wish… I could’ve been there for you better.”

“Do… do you think we would still be together if I, like, grieved differently?”

R blinked in surprise, the mood shifting. Suddenly, Josh’s eyes weren’t so wide, instead half-lidded and eager with hope. His throat bowed as he gulped, and his grip on her hips were slowly drifting higher and dancing against her arms.

Ben’s face flashed in her mind and she leaned against the marble counter, attempting to create distance. Her hands pushed gently against his chest as she chuckled dryly. “It’s not… good to speculate, Josh. I think it’s nice that we’re such good friends.”

A frown threatened to show but his head suddenly craned to meet her’s. She felt the distance between their faces - it was nothing more than mere inches, and it frightened her. R knew that it was never attraction she felt to Josh anymore; it was guilt, concern, and the love that she’d have for a friend. Besides… she had Ben.

“Yeah, I guess so, so… uh, do you think there’s a world where we —“

“No, Josh. I mean, I guess I can’t know, but this isn’t something to talk about right now. Seriously, give me some space.”

“Please, R, if he wasn’t around, would there ever be a chance?”

She frowned and wanted to shake her head, fingers applying pressure against his chest. But before she could vocalize, Josh had shut his eyes and closed the distance. After two years, his chapped lips felt foreign against her’s. Unnatural, even. R’s gasp gurgled in her throat as she felt his hands weave into her hair and his body pressed against her own. In that moment, R had frozen from shock.

The kiss had lasted but a moment before Josh fully stepped away. His brows were furrowed, but he was breathless. He gripped at his t-shirt. R couldn’t even muster a glare as she watched the man mutter an insincere apology and disappear from sight.

R was left stunned for several minutes, replaying the conversation in her head. It’s been two years, but the man still felt that way? He’d played his cards right - but R could not even call him manipulative when all his words seemed truthful. Perhaps it was a fluke - a mistake. Nothing more than a mere reflection of the past.

Either way, R did not want to be left in the unknown any longer. She felt somewhat tipsy from the wine she downed. And with one more quick swig, she ventured upstairs. Her movements were quick, stumbling, and thoughtless as she pulled on a pair of sweatpants and an additional sweater and grabbed her cell phone.

She wanted to call Ben, even as a small snow storm had begun outside; one that wasn’t nearly as harsh as that night, but somewhat aggravating nonetheless. She couldn’t help but wonder why Jessica and Mike weren’t around yet, even though hours had passed. And why Sam had vanished off the planet. And why Matt and Emily still weren’t back from town.

R began tramping downstairs toward the front entrance. The entire lodge was eerily silent. 

And then, darkness. The dim lighting faded and R was left to adjust to the pitch black. Not even moonlight escaped through the windows.

It was uneasy for R as she called out a hello and asked if Josh was there. However, she wished she’d been met with silence, because instead, a muffled cry for help escaped the floorboards beneath her.

R was quick to cover her mouth. That sounded like… Josh. Suddenly, her blood ran cold. Something strange had been happening ever since she’d arrive, and it started with Ben. Had someone broken in? Was there an attacker?

She immediately ran to the kitchen and threw open drawers, using nothing but her dim phone flashlight. R was nothing short of surprised by the fact that every knife had disappeared. Even the forks, too. So, instead, she grabbed the wok off the hanging rack and clutched it firmly in one hand.

It felt stupid to admit, but she was stuck. Somebody had orchestrated… something. All she could do was hide or investigate. Without electricity, which stemmed exclusively from the ski lift, everyone was trapped here and could not call for help. It felt like the work of more than one person - someone cut the power while the other infiltrates. 

Right?

R slowly approached the basement stairs. Every step was methodical and slow. A single creak would reveal her location above. As she stood on the other side of the door, she gulped. Perhaps whoever was inside was already waiting on the other side of the door. She primed the wok in her hand and shut off the flashlight.

She’d been here before. Strangers would not know the layout as easily, right?

As she swung the door open, she swung the wok. But it hit nothing but air. And as she gazed down into the overwhelming darkness, it did not stir. Nobody was waiting to ambush her. Yet.

Some light from the doorway followed her as she descended. Every time a step creaked, she flinched. But what scared her further was the utter silence. It was almost as though it had been to draw her there and nothing else.

As she made it to the bottom and stepped onto the cold cement as the basement lacked any heating, she shivered. R stared into the darkness beyond. The basement had always been large - so large she’d never explored it.

Creak.

R swerved and peered at the top of the stairs. Standing in the doorway as the door was slowly pulled shut behind them was a dark figure. They wore several layers of black winter clothing, a jean jacket, and heavy boots. But was most concerning was the gleaming white mask covering their face and the machete gripped in their hands.

A frightened gasp escaped her lungs and darkness consumed her vision when the door shut. The figures’s boots thudded seamlessly down the stairs.

He either knew the layout or…

R was frozen in that moment. It took effort to unfreeze herself. She broke free when the figure was but a few feet away. R swerved and dashed down the hallway. Her arms followed the lining of the walls before making a right. As she grasped the side and made an immediate swerve, her knee collided with a small cardboard box and her body splayed on the ground. Her ankle throbbed, caught in the contents of the box. A weak scream whispered from her lungs - no-one but her could hear it. It was as though her fear reaction was the freeze in the moment, just like before. There was no fight or flight - only… this weakness.

She clawed back up to her feet and made sure to hold onto the wok tightly. However, when her eyes adjusted and she came to a slow, R realized she was in a dead end. There was nothing but a small side-room for expensive wines or shelves that held various holiday decorations. Nonetheless, she entered the wine room and pressed herself next to the doorway.

Her heartbeat clamored in her eardrums and it took focus as she strained with the wok at the ready. The footsteps were consistent and calculated; almost reluctant, even. And then, they halted just before the doorway. R felt her body shrink and tremble. Her eyes were wide and despite how she shivered, beads of sweat rolled down every part of her body. Her eyes felt dry while waiting for the figure to enter.

And then, they did. The mask was the first thing she could identify. Realizing a painful shriek, she swung the wok at the mask. The figure seemed caught off guard and stumbled back. The machete swung out and scraped the wok, sending it to the ground. R immediately reached for a wine bottle on the shelf next to her. The figure recovered quickly, although the groan that escaped him almost sounded filtered. R immediately threw the bottle, and the man was barely capable of blocking it with the machete. The glass shards and liquid shattered everywhere.

The man stumbled into the room, holding the machete as a makeshift shield. R did not remove her eyes from the figure as she pressed herself against the wall of bottles. She grabbed two at once, waving them in front of her.

“S - stay back,” she whimpered.

The man froze momentarily before a low, sadistic chuckle broke through and the head tilted to the side. Gloved hands angled the machete in a strange way; almost as though it was the handle he was attempting to attack her with. 

A moment frozen in place occurred and R was only aware of time from each drum of her heart. R knew defense was the correct choice, and yet… 

She swung one bottle at the man, but he suddenly ducked and the handle of the machete rammed into her stomach. R brought the other bottle down onto his head, but he suddenly threw R to the side. Her head rang as it hit the side of a shelf and her arms could barely push her off. She was cold, wet, and injured. 

Her legs kicked out and she mustered as loud of a scream as she could. The man had suddenly straddled her waist. The machete was tossed to the side out of reach and R could barely coordinate her arms enough to paw at the selfing behind her. Her nerves were on fire and, even though a normal human might have more strength, her entire body hurt and her bones cracked with every stretch.

She trembled as one gloved hand grabbed and pinned her wrists together above her head. The other was fishing through the pockets before withdrawing a syringe. Her eyes widened and tears slid down her cheeks.

“God, please, no…! Please —!”

The syringe was suddenly stabbed skillfully into her neck. The cold liquid sent shivers down her body and R blinked. She was not moving but the world began to circle around her. Her eyelids felt heavy and although she thought of cries for help, she could not muster the strength.

The breathing of the man grew heavier and louder, almost from excitement. Her body went limp and the hand that held her wrist suddenly slid down her face and shut her eyes for her. One last sigh escaped R.

It was a similar headache like she had earlier, if not of a different caliber. R was cognizant of every sensation but could not form thoughts. It was like she was both deeply in her bones but also out of her body. She heard the rumblings of movement and arms slid underneath her. R’s body rag dolled against the figure’s back and felt every step.

She opened her eyes for but a brief moment. She was only being led further into the basement. And once she was set in an uncomfortable wooden chair, her mind went silent.

~~~

R’s eyes blinked open at the sound of two familiar voices: Ben and Josh. Her entire body ached, but when she went to stretch, she realized her body was completely restrained. Her hands and feet could wiggle, but her over arms, legs, and torso were tied to a limp wooden chair. Her eyes shot up and she gazed at the light source. Beyond a chainlink fence, were two pleading men who dangled from the ground with their wrists shackled to a wooden plyboard. R immediately released a shriek, even as her head pounded.

“R, baby, are you okay?” Ben shouted, flailing his body desperately. “Please, you gotta help us —!”

Josh was all but silent, although wide eyed and afraid. His eyes were glued to the sharp, horizontal blade that had a mechanical path to aim straight at them. And as R looked at her hands, she realized there were two buttons in reach of her fingers; each with a photo of one of the men.

“Where - what —“ R started, only for a speaker to turn on.

“Hello, and thank you for joining me.”

Screams and cries echoed in the room form all three. R struggled against her restraints, even craning her neck to try bitting the rope. Even the chair itself seemed glued to the ground and didn’t budge.

“What is this?” Josh shouted out.

“We’re going to conduct a little experiment. A test of loyalty. Now, for this experiment, we’ll need the cooperation of R. Our brave participant will decide which subject will live and which will die.”

R let out a gargled beg and tears cascaded her vision. 

“Fuck! R! R, you gotta get me out of here, babe! I fucking love you! Fuck!”

Josh was quiet beside him, intense eyes glued to R in horror. “Please, oh god…”

“Please. Everyone, calm down. It’s all very simple. R, you will find two buttons directly in front of you. All you have to do… is choose who you will save!”

Before R could truly comprehend the words, the mechanical blade began to whir. R’s mouth became dry as she gaped at the horror in front of her.

“Shit, okay, okay… things will be okay,” Josh trembled, his body limp against the chains. His eyes held an intent focus on the blade that was slowly approaching both.

R let out a squeal and tried hurling out of the seat again. “Fuck, what the fuck is this!” R bellowed, fingers treating each button like the plague. “But if I…”

“R, Jesus, you know who you have to pick. Please, babe! You’re my everything! I’m sorry, Josh, but fuck! R, I’m your future! I love you! Please, I don’t want to die!”

She blinked at the man, guilty and nausea erupting in her stomach. She watched as the blade grew nearer, and it was impossible to ignore that both would die without her choosing. Her eyes switched between the two as her breaths heaved.

“I… I can’t… why…! Who, why…”

“R, l - listen to me,” Josh’s voice suddenly boomed, despite how terrified he was. “It’s… it’s not your fault, okay? Y - you can choose me if you really want to! I wouldn’t… I wouldn’t blame you if you did, okay?You don’t owe me anything…! But… I don’t…”

R blinked away tears and her eyes flew between the buttons. The blade was mere feet away from killing both. 

There was no moment for logic or even feeling.

One last agonized cry escaped her lungs as she pressed a button.

The blade suddenly swerved left. Ben’s eyes widened in horror and he let out agonized roars of fear. Josh was wide eyed and could do nothing but watch.

“Me? Me? Why me, R? I… I’m sorry. No… This isn’t your —“

Pained howls escaped and the whirring was suddenly conjoined with splattered of blood. R didn’t want to, but she could not look away as she watched the blade cut and sear into Ben’s flesh. 

“I - I’m sorry, Ben! I love you! I love you so much!”

Ben only watched R weakly as his lips blubbered. His lungs tore and blood coated everything around him. The screams did not last long as his torso dangled underneath him. The pleads turned into gargles and the gargles turned into silence as Ben’s head hung. And then the legs detached, collapsing to the ground.

And then, there was nothing but the ringing silence as even the blade came to a halt.

R’s head hung and her body trembled with contained sobs. She was almost dazed, completely unaware at the click of restraints from beyond the fence. Josh fell to the ground - but so did the upper half of Ben’s corpse.

And so, unless if she were to look up, she was blissfully unaware of the maddened grin that blossomed across Josh’s cheeks and how his eyes gleamed with adoration for the woman beyond the fence.

She peered up as the fence jangled. Josh’s blood-soaked body trembled as he clambered up the fence before his body dropped onto R’s side. R gasped a cried quiet apologies, not daring to stare at her boyfriend’s remains.

R felt like such an awful, evil person. But she refused to let them both die. What else could she do? Back then, could R have found a way to save at least Beth?

Her fuzzy vision was dutifully aware of how Josh nimbly untied R’s restraints. Small apologies and thanks were muttered from him - almost fondly. She gulped as her body immediately collapsed into the man in front of her when she was set free. Ben’s blood smeared across her body, but she clutched him desperately, hands trembling as warm, living arms held and comforted her in the moment. 

Josh was on his knees in front of her crying and thanking her with such sincerity. R allowed her body to fall forward and she sat on the ground, allowing Josh to hush her. R’s ears rang with the cries of the dead. And now, it wasn’t just Beth or Hannah - Ben had joined the cacophony.

“R, it’s okay. There’s nothing you - you could have done,” he gasped into her ear, hands pawing and grasping at her back.

The woman sat up suddenly, eyes glossed over with despair. She grasped at the front of Josh’s shirt, and although entranced, swayed from side to side. His lips trembled as he watched, hands at her waist to keep her upright.

“Joshie, what have I done…? Who’s doing this? Where’s everyone else? I just… I just killed someone - my boyfriend —“

“No, R, please,” Josh pleaded, pawing at her face. She flinched at how wet his hands were. “You didn’t kill anyone. It’s not your fault, okay? Thank you. Thank you, R. You didn’t kill him - you saved me. I didn’t… I didn’t think you would. Please, you did the right thing, okay? You shouldn’t… you never should have been involved.”

R barely bast an eye at his strange wording, accepting his kind and gentle words. Had she made the right choice? Was there even a right choice? Ben had been her lover, yes. But she’d known Josh for four years - surely there was a sense of loyalty in that, right? But logically, shouldn’t Josh had been put out of her misery instead? Josh had lived a hard, traumatized life - and Ben had a normal, happy upbringing and adulthood —

“Listen, we have to get out of here, okay? We don’t know where that guy is or if he’s working with someone. A - and we have to get help, right?”

Josh was handling himself with a surprisingly clear mind. R recalled that when Hannah and Beth had died, he had been violent, angry, and discombobulated. He could barely speak a proper sentence and had to be drugged for his own safety. He had been suicidal, manic, and bipolar. But now… he was speaking so plainly.

It was surely the adrenaline of it all. R limply nodded, allowing Josh to wrap his arms under her armpits and stabilize her while she stood up. R was wobbly from residual drugs and leaned against Josh. She gripped his splotchy panel in her hands.R then noticed how cold it was.

A scream suddenly rang throughout the basement and both went stiff as a board. Josh was quick to wrap his arms around her protectively. 

“W - we should —“

“Yeah. Come on, R, it came from that way.”

The pair stabilized one another as they both limped down the hallway. Josh seemed to be able to navigate the large basement with ease. And then, as they rounded a corner, a light activated and blasted into the room.

Matt and Emily were tied precariously - it was almost like a tug-of-rope situation: their hands were tied together  and were blocked off from one another and R with glass walls. However, there was a hole that allowed the rope to go through. And strangle, it was like the ground was inverted and tilted, dipping down to the middle. The slopes also had several drains.

“Hello, Matt and Emily. It appears we have an audience.”

[chezzywezzy]

Bestie! Josh Washington??? It's like you opened my skullcap and looked at my brain! SuperMassive Games are like my crack! Gonna be enjoying this. Love you! <3

So glad to hear it!! Love u too anon <3 part 3 is out in a min!

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (2/7)

WC: 4.5k

“Hey, R, you dead in there or something?” 

Josh’s muffle voice from beyond the door alerted the woman out of her slumber. She let out a gasp and flailed momentarily, which seemingly caused the man to panic and slam the door open. A wave of cold washed over her and she screams for the man to get out as she covered her body.

He is stuck in place for a moment before his face reddened and he dipped out to the bedroom and shut the door. “Fuck, I’m sorry, R! It’s just been, uh, like  two fucking hours…! I was worried!”

R calmed herself and stepped out of the tub to wrap a towel around. The water ha became somewhat cold and the stark difference as she pulled on her pajamas was alarming. Had she slept for that long?

“It’s okay, Josh,” she called in return. “Sorry - I had fallen asleep. I’ll be right out.”

“Yeah, sure thing.” 

Beyond the door, she heard the slight tremble in his voice - despite his act, R recognized that even after two years, he still held intense paranoia. Her heart ached at the thought that he was now suffering in silence.

After freshening up, she stepped out of the bedroom. Josh had packed on an extra layer and his eyes held a firm anxiety. R sent a small smile his way as he hovered in the doorway with a beer in his hand.

“Ben sobered up and went to get something from the car a bit ago, so I guess I was bored, ya know? Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve sen my favorite gal.”

Every word that slipped off his tongue held a sense of fabrication that R could not quite identify. So, instead, she pulled on a sweater and nodded. “Sure. If nobody else is here yet, I guess I’ll do you the honor of keeping you company, Joshie.”

He perked up instantly, installed with a confidence. A grin that almost took her back to the past blossomed on his face and he was quick to grab R’s elbow and pull her out of the bedroom. As he progressively led her to the kitchen, R eased into his familiar touch; his fingers went from her arm to her waist to her lower back, firmly pulling her toward the island.

R sat at the island across from Josh as he slid an already opened beer toward her.  She quirked her eyebrow. “You’re giving me leftovers, Josh? Since when have you been budgeting the alcohol?”

Josh snickered as he leaned against the counter. “And since when have you been this wasteful? What’s wrong with a bit of Benjamin saliva, eh?”

“If you want his saliva so bad, why don’t you go make out with him?”

The man quirked a brow before sinking comfortably into the stool. He chuckled, but there was a lack of humor behind it. R gulped and reached forward and grabbed Josh’s hand before he could down the rest of his beer.

“Josh… you don’t really look like you’re holding up too well. Have you been doing okay?” R asked quietly, sensing the atmosphere shift.

The man almost flinched away from her hand. It trembled beneath her’s and betrayed the underlying fear and grief. The faux excitement faded from his eyes and his lips twitched. The air turned heavy with unspoken admittance.

Every time Josh stuttered out the start of a sentence, he breathed and restarted. R squeezed his had with reassurance and sent a small, pitiful smile his way. A minute of comfortable silence passed.

“I… I’m handling it better, R,” he answered with a softness that had been lacking until now. “I’ve come to terms with everything, really. I promise I’m trying - this all is just, uh, one last hurrah, I guess.”

R blinks before nodding slowly, accepting his explanation. “That makes me happy, Joshie. I hope you can find some peace from all this.”

His hand twitched by instinct as R pulled away and took a sip of the beer. Her nose shriveled in disgust as a bitter taste and she let the liquid fall back into the container. She release a strained cough before pushing the drink away. Josh grinned.

“The hell did you add to this?” R grumbled, the aftertaste sticking to her tongue.

“Oh, just some apple cider vinegar,” he quipped. “‘Was hoping to get a rise out of you. Here’s a real beer.”

The man slid an unopened can to which R sent him a glare before accepting it. She was quick to down the beverage to replace the traumatizing poison. Josh had a rather eager expression the entire time, but the atmosphere sunk into sincerity once more.

“R,” Josh mumbled, shoulders tensing with uncertainty. “Are you… happy? With him, I mean?”

The woman felt her chest clench with an unresolved guilt - that even if the official breakup and what led up to it had fallen on the back burner so that they could be friends in the years that followed, she had always worried Josh held it against her. After the breakup, both had silently decided none of it had ever happened; that everything they were was just casual. R had always walked that tightrope while believing that she was over exaggerating the impact of breakup.  And yet, two years later, after R had begun to heal, he acknowledged what they had been.

She gulped slowly and her mouth felt dry. Josh’s expression gave way for a remnant of how he once was; the trembling of his lips and that manic fright that led to the relationship’s demise.

“He is good for me, Josh,” R muttered, almost defensively, as her fingers paled around the cold beer can. “We’re very happy together. I hope…”

“Hope what?”

He tried to maintain an eased expression, but his voice cracked as he answered.

“”I just hope you can find happiness, too. I think we’ve always been better than friends, Josh, you know? I’ll always love you in a way, but life just doesn’t work out like that. You’ll always be a good friend. If anything… I’m happier this way only because it’s easier to keep a friend than a lover, if that makes any sense. You’ll always be a platonic soulmate.”

“…Yeah.” A moment later, he seemed to blink away hurt and sent a reassuring smile while rubbing the back of his neck. “No, yeah, sorry, uh… I didn’t mean to ask that for that reason or anything, R. No need to be all cheesy, haha. But… I’m happy for you. He seems like a genuine guy and all that shit.”

A comfortable silence fell between the two as they took quiet sips of beers while maintaining a gentle, grateful eye contact. R wanted to take his words as they were, even if she didn’t believe them entirely. She’d recognized those searing eyes. But even so, he seemed like he was on a path of healing.

Sometimes she wondered where they would be now if the accident had never happened.

“I have to say, though,” Josh suddenly spoke,” I wouldn’t replace those two years with you for the world. Obviously we’re friends and all, but… whoever ends up being who you walk down the aisle to will be the luckiest guy alive.”

R choked back a sudden heartbroken gasp. It wasn’t from residual romantic attraction for her, no: it was entirely guilt-based. If even the smallest decision had been changed back then, would Josh be happy again?

She didn’t get the option to reply as a boisterous group of bickering voices broke through beyond the front door. It was swung open by Mike and the group of five trailed in afterwards. For a moment, she was taken back to that night. None of them looked different. None of them had changed, except for who they were romantically involved with, apparently. Emily was with Matt, who looked like a lost and insecure puppy dog, holding several suitcases and bags. And Mike was with Jessica - and Jessica was the insecure one, noticing the glances that Mike and Emily exchanged. And then there was Sam, who’s eyes immediately fell on Josh. 

That woman wasn’t very hard and keeping her cards close to her chest. Guilt, pity, and attraction swarmed in her eyes and the eye contact her and Josh exchanged was reciprocated. Intensely. It made her heart sink, because Josh smiled, but his eyes did not crinkle with joy.

He clearly disliked the woman to some degree. But what had changed since their last encounter…?

“God, could that have been more inconvenient?” Jessica immediately scoffed, grabbing Mike’s arm.

“Hey, guys,” Matt greeted, waving awkwardly as he set heaved the suitcases into the living room.

 “Yo,” Mike agreed.

Emily was quick to scowl at her phone. The signal was always lost after the ride up the bench - but apparently, she’d expected that to change.

Josh is quick to hop off the bar stool and walk into the living room. R reluctantly trailed after him, already feeling the rush of emotions lads to rest resurface. And yet the man worst inflicted by the event was suddenly so boisterous, patting the two men’s backs and returning the greeting.

“Sorry for the repairs. Hell, I even had to break into the house since the celebration was a. Little last minute,” he chortled, attempting to set the tense atmosphere at ease.

R was suddenly struck by a thought. “Hey, uh, guys… you all didn’t run into anyone else on the way up, did you?”

Emily scoffed. “God, I wish. It was so-o-o annoying to have to carry my purse.”

“Um, no,” Sam agreed. “Why? Isn’t this all of us?”

Her brows furrowed and she felt Josh’s concerned gaze fall on her. She hardly noticed when their shoulders brush and he squeezed a hand on her shoulder. “You guys remember Ben, right? I invited him, too. He’s R’s boo,” he was quick to explain. “He went down to the car a bit ago. He forgot some stuff, I think.”

“Eh? You’re telling me you two still aren’t rubbing stomachs? I was convinced you guys wouldn’t survive a breakup,” Mike chuckled, only to receive an irritated jab from Jessica’s elbow.

R quickly stood up straight and leaned away from the man beside her. “N - no? But you guys seriously didn’t even see the car?”

“Sorry, R, there weren’t any other cars in the lot,” Matt suddenly answered. “Do you think he went into town or something?”

Her breath was suddenly stolen from her lungs. Had Ben left? Had this all been too much? It had been three hours since her bath - that meant he must have left for town in the last hour… but he had also been drinking and had no need to disappear like that. Her mind began to race. What did it all mean?

R could hardly think about that when Matt suddenly sized up Mike. “What, like you can talk. Stay the fuck away from my girlfriend, man.”

Matt was concerned, flinching. “Excuse me?”

“Hey, what the fuck are you insinuating?” Jessica sneered.

A snarl curled against his lips and he gestured wildly. Emily even looked somewhat uncandor by the sudden confrontation. “I know what I saw. You were getting all handsy down at the ski lodge. Some ‘catch-up.’”

Mike suddenly bunched his fists and he became angry. “Hey, man, it’s not what you fucking think. We hadn’t talked in a while and I just wanted to put the bad blood behind us, you prick.”

“Seriously, Matt?” Emily interjected. “I have higher standards than that. Don’t be so insecure.”

Matt’s face fell and he shrunk away by instinct. All R could think about was how tight Emily’s leash on the man was. One tug, and he came zipping back to her side. But her phrasing had then upset Jessica in return.

“Seriously? You don’t have any standards, actually,” Jessica snapped, crossing her arms. “I bet you’re just fucking butthurt that Mike grew up and didn’t want some cheating whore like you.”

Before a screaming match could ensue as both women closed the distance between them, despite their frightened boyfriends holding them back, Josh intervened, waving his arms around wildly.

“Hey, hey, hey, guys, chill out! Why don’t you guys go settle down first before tearing each other apart, huh?” He held a playful, knowing tone that confused her to some degree. R was nothing short of angry that they were still as immature and self-absorbed as before, paying no mind to the deaths that haunted the lodge. “Listen, Mike, Jess, up the trail there’s the couples cabin. You guys can have that. Matt, Emily, Sam, you guys can stake out the rooms from upstairs, okay? We’re here to celebrate!”

R scowled and had to cascade her view of them to avoid sending a hateful glare. If being around these insufferable idiots was closure for Josh, though, she would endure it. But the fact that even after their actions had life-altering consequences and that instead of working through the nuances of grief. They were frozen in time and defaulted to cruelly deflecting the blame onto the others.

“Yeah, come on, Jess,” Mike grinned awkwardly. “We’ll be around in the evening…”

The other couple ventured upstairs while Matt eagerly dragged Emily’s luggage behind him. It was a weekend stay - so the fact that she required three bags and two suitcases was alarming. And Sam… vied for remaining with R and Josh, with only a backpack to spare.

“So, um…” Sam muttered, playing with her fingers,” What have you guys been up to?”

“Just drinking,” Josh answered comfortably, motioning to the table.

“Nice…! Mind if I join?”

R sensed that Sam was mostly speaking to Josh. She didn’t mind. Clearly, they had some sort ofd unraveling history, too. In R’s eyes, she was the least responsible for the prank and had always met the event with humility and grief. She did well in becoming genuine. So that led her to wondering why Josh’s eyes were so cold when Sam had been the one to step up as a main support system and take R’s place when she left him. They’d always seemed like friends.

She rubbed the back of her neck, thumb pointing toward the upstairs. “I think I want to dive into a book for a bit. I want to check up on Ben, too, if he doesn’t come back in the next hour, so I might as well rest now…”

Sam sent a polite smile and nodded. “That sounds like a good idea. I… I know we’ve never known each other that well, R, but I hope you’re happy. This trip must be a hassle for you, after all.”

Josh scoffed jokingly and messed up R’s hair briefly. “As if. She’s treating it like a resort vacation instead, huh?”

R chuckled and nodded before stepping away. With one last nod to the pair, she returned to her bedroom. She felt tempted to glance behind to see how the pair interacted. Josh had an intensity about him that Sam seemed to unlock. It held animosity, but what if it was him struggling with attraction for her?

They would make a nice pair.

R settled down in her bedroom. She thought that maybe Ben had left a note, but everything was essentially untouched. It confused her. Ben had never been one to be a drama queen or remotely uncommunicative. But R had dragged him along, and maybe that was the breaking point for how hidden his emotions were.

She was angry about it, but that felt unwarranted. She’d been dating him for nearly a year now. There’s no way he’d up and abandon her, even if he didn’t want her anymore. He was simply too sweet of a man.

So, instead, he dived into a novel. It was hard to focus as the words painted across her eyes, as her minds was haywire and her ears filled with the unpleasant creaking from the bedroom next door. 

Apparently, Matt and Emily were a match made in hell if distrust and insecurity with one another turned them on.

It was only when she had to click on the lamp that she became dutifully aware of how dark it had become. The house was surprisingly silent. Last she had heard, Matt and Emily ran back to the car as well to run into town and the rest was history. When she checked her phone, it displayed that an hour had passed.

Ben still wasn’t back. So, she desired to satiate her curiosity and travel out to where she could find a signal after she checked up on Josh.

She slowly exited the bedroom. The downstairs was silent until she made it to the last step. R suddenly froze, picking up on hushed yet intense conversation between Sam and Josh. The downstairs was dimly lit, but R saw how the two figures’ shadows stretched across, hovering closely. 

Sam tried to close that distance while Josh held his arms up and placed his hands on her shoulders, keeping the woman at a distance.R could only infer from body language, but the hushes grew louder.

“It’s been two whole, years, Josh! Is that… is that seriously not enough to prove I like you?”

An audible scoff escaped his lips. “It wouldn’t matter ifs you did, Sam. I mean, uh, aren’t you just glad I even invited you? It’s because I’m trying to fucking forgive you.”

“Do you seriously hate me that much?” The woman’s voice cracked. “I know I never went about it all well, especially since you were in a relationship at the time, but… I still want to be with you, Josh.”

R suddenly felt a whelming crack in her heart. Has Sam tried something…?

“Hey, man, that’s not even why I was upset, you know? Especially since my sisters fucking died that night. It’s the fact that you fucking put moves on me and then, what, complied with hurting my family? And then waited like a fucking vulture for my relationship to end? You’re fucking creepy, Sam. Seriously.”

Oh. Well, that answered her question.

“I fucking know, Joshie! And I regret it every day, okay? I’m sorry I acted like that, but I’ve healed. And I still feel this way about you. So why haven’t you? Why are you still all over her, huh?”

A brief silence fell between them. The shadows suddenly grew in distance and Josh had turned away, rubbing his forehead as he hunched. 

“…You’re seriously a bitch, you know that, Sam? My name’s Joshua. You don’t get to call me fucking Joshie, yeah? You don’t even understand… it’s not just about R, you know? It’s the principal of it. And, like, R’s still my best friend.  I’m not stupid. Just piss off. I’m serious. Feel free to fucking dip. I regret inviting you. Get the fuck out the second it’s, uh, morning.”

R gulped down a sudden fury. Sure, her and Josh were no longer together, but… it hurt to know that Josh was fighting a separate battle that he’d never told her. No wonder he had been extra fucked up that night - glued to her hip, hardly leaving an inch between them as he drank himself stupid.

“Joshie, please…”

Sam was quick to follow after the man as he disappeared down the smaller hallway. The door to the basement opened and shut, although it seemed that the man wasn’t entirely fighting against the woman following her. R clutched at her chest as her breaths accelerated. To stop the intense feelings that flurried together, she stumbled over to the kitchen and grabbed an entire bottle of wine.

She didn’t even bother grabbing a glass. R downed the entire thing. But before she could even think to drink, R recognized how groggy she felt. Was it the emotional turmoil that was giving her this headache?

R eyed the abandoned beer can that had once been Ben’s. She chuckled to herself at how, even in such a tensely anguished atmosphere, Josh had still decided to joke around and lighten the mood: even if he was the victim.

The wine slid down her lungs. She slumped against the counter. She wanted to seek out a signal to call Ben before it got too dark, but it suddenly didn’t feel like that was in the car. Ben was a separate issue. And all of this… was a situation of its own.

A hand suddenly clasped on her shoulder. A gasp escaped her and the hand was quick to withdraw. Behind her was Josh. She wasn’t sure when he would have approached and when Sam had stopped following him, but there was something comforting about his amused grin.

“Hey, man, what happened to you?” His grin slowly faded as he noticed her red eyes and foul, sunken expression. He was quick to frown and rub her shoulder. “Hey, seriously, what happened?”

R furrowed her brows and suddenly scoffed. “I - I don’t really know, actually. Um, where’s Sam?”

She went to wipe her eyes and turn back toward the counter, but Josh spun the stool to face him and a hand reached out to her eyes. Her mouth was agape and her heart thudded deeply in her chest as his thumb gently swiped under her eye.

Josh frowned and stepped back, arms falling to his side. “I never told you because… well, uh, I guess because there were bigger fish to fry. I didn’t want to add other problems.”

“You… knew I heard that?”

Josh gave her a lopsided smile. “I mean, the lodge is pretty old. It was kind of impossible not to.”

“So Sam knew, too?”

“Yeah. I just… I’m sorry I invited her, R. And I’m sorry I never told you.”

R’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed. Her hands clutched at her knees as she hunched over. “No, I’m sorry for eavesdropping. I don’t know why I got so butthurt, honestly. It’s not like knowing changes anything. It’s not even really my business.”

Josh suddenly reached around and took a swing from the wine bottle too. A misty sadness flashed in his eyes and R simply watched as he downed nearly a thirds of the bottle in that instant. She almost reached out to stop him, but that would be rathe hypocritical.

A minute passed in silence before Josh broke it. “I’m sorry for… all this. I guess it really wasn’t a good idea, huh?”

The woman shook her head. “No, Joshie, I know what you were thinking. I hope it can still turn around… But…”

“But what?”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive them - or myself. Ever.”

A frown twisted on his expression and he suddenly grabbed her shoulders. R was caught off guard and met his eyes. There was an intense, angry darkness that swirled in his brown eyes. It felt familiar, even if that anger wasn’t directed at her.

“I hate that you blame yourself, R,” Josh sighed, voice low and husky. “You did everything you could. You always have. R… I don’t think I ever would have forgiven them if you died with Hannah and Beth. Because you would have. A splinter of wood never could have supported you and the weight of two other fucking adults. What would have saved them wasn’t just you. It would’ve been those fucking assholes taking accountability and running after them before they even found the cliff or - or going with you at the bare fucking… fuck!”

Josh’s grip on her shoulders were suddenly a death grip and R released a quiet, shuddered cry. She reached out to the man and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. His hands slid down to her hips, grasping at her as though she’d disappear the second he let go. His shoulders began to tremble and she felt his chest heave. Wet, sloppy tears slid down her neck as Josh burrowed his head into her neck. She felt his wet lips let out silent cries into her skin. 

R’s sobs swallowed themselves whole as nothing but pity and guilt swarmed her. In that moment, it was but two lost souls being honest with one another for the first time in years.

It hadn’t even taken a week before Josh and R had rekindled after the break up. But there was a distinct boundary, as though they were vague friends rather than people bound together by trauma. It was like his sisters, his troubles, their relationship - none of it ever existed to begin with. It was comfortable, although awkward.

Even with healthy distance, the sincerity and honesty had come back to bite them both. Emotions had risen and led to this.

R ran her fingers through his greasy hair and she shushed his gently and lovingly.  She thought only briefly about Ben - how would he feel about this interaction? But she scrapped the idea almost instantly. This was not the rekindling of a romance, no; this was the unburying of how they both truly felt about the worst night of their lives. This was two hurt people comforting one another. She thought about how Josh had referred to her earlier - a best friend. Yes.

“I’m sorry, Joshie. You never deserved any of this.”

The man’s cries quieted, although he did not fully pull away. He straightened his back slightly and met her eyes once more. His eyes swirled with a depth of longing and his under bags cried the story of a man who’d lived a hard life and lost it all. R recalled that even Chris, his long-lost childhood friend, had disappeared off the edge of the planet after he started dating a girl.

After all this time… did he still have nobody?

[chezzywezzy]

Had a dream about an alien/hunger games situation where like I kept repeating the dream each time I died, but essentially you’re trying to escape on a rescue ship six hours later and then there are different areas like bathroom stalls, malls, a cafeteria, etc. and at the halfway point the map becomes unlocked so you can kinda find some safety or find the rescue ships. Also at 5 the lady who ran it made us all go to the gym stadium of a high school and perform a kpop choreography and then run away from the alien and try to escape. And I kept dying (one time in a bathroom stalls), but during the last strain I made an alliance with a woman and we fell in love

[chezzywezzy]

Yandere Joshua Washington (1/7)

WC: 4.5k

“You jerks!” Beth screeched at the top of her lungs, waking R from her deep slumber on the couch.

Her eyes blinked open slowly while adjusting to the environment. Both R and Josh had passed out early while cuddling on the couch; while R was a lightweight who was routinely in bed by nine, Josh had simply overdone himself with the alcohol and paired with her sleep schedule. A few minutes earlier, she had become aware of Beth’s presence hovering briefly, trying in earnest to wake up her brother.

She sniffled briefly and became aware of the loud talking that filtered into the vast living room. 

“Fuck! It was just a prank. Why’d they just run off like that in this weather?” Emily’s snarky, yet unconcerned voice broke through.

“Guys, do you think we should go out there?” Sam tittered anxiously. “It’s so cold -“

“I think we overdid it, Jess,” Mike sighed. “Let’s just see if we can get those gross lovebirds to wake up.”

R immediately sat up, despite how wound together her and Josh’s bodies were. Even in his deep alcohol-induced sleep, his arms tightly restrained her until she individually pried his fingers apart. He muttered irritably in his sleep.

She knew better than to try and wake the man up. R stood and addressed the group that was hovering by the entrance. Their expressions were mixed with concern, anger, embarrassment, and shame. But when Matt and Sam noticed the women, they eagerly ushered her over.

“Guys… what happened?” R inquired cautiously, stretching her bones out as she escaped her boyfriend’s tight talons.

Their faces flushed in fear as they realized the consequences of their actions would not evade them for long. “R,” Jessica sighed,” we pranked Hannah as a punishment for constantly throwing herself at Mike and she just ran off into the woods with, like, nothing on —“

“And Beth ran after her,” Matt added.

Her jaw dropped and she clutched at her mouth. The doors were still cracked open and she gazed out into the pitch black blizzard. There were hardly sighs of either sister. R gulped before jumping into action. She was never one to stand up for others due to her anxiety, but in this weather, getting lost was close to life or death.

“You guys just couldn’t talk it out like rational adults, huh?” R gritted, even if her words came out as a quiet stutter. “We’re in fucking college. Seriously, why are you guys still acting like middle-schoolers? What is wrong with you guys?”

“It was just a prank, R,” Emily sneered, crossing her arms. “If you think it’s such a damn issue, why don’t you go find them, huh? Since when have you given a shit about anyone else other than Josh?”

Jessica agreed eagerly,” Yeah. You do realize that we know you’re only here because you’ve been with Josh, right? Since when have you been any of our friends, you egotistical bitch? You think you’re better than us when you can’t even communicate like an adult either?”

R rolled her eyes and went for the coat rack beside the door. “Maybe it’s because I’ve seen through you all since the beginning. To be honest… I’m not even surprised you’re all this goddamn sadistic.”

The group still nervously hung around. Although R was positive Matt and Sam hardly had anything to do with it all, it wasn’t as though they had stood up for her boyfriend’s sister. R was angry at all of them - not for what they did, but for what they were all failing to do.

“You’re seriously going out in that weather?” Mike gulped, reaching for the woman as she tied up her final winter boot. “It’s super fucking cold out there. With how much the snow’s pouring, the footprints are probably covered —“

“Yeah, actually I am, Mike,” R sneered desperately. “Because they did and the rest of you are fucking cowards who can’t own up to their actions. If they end up coming down with the flu or something, all of you are to blame.”

R grabbed a flashlight and dashed out the front door, hearing the group argue amongst themselves about who specifically to blame - or the announce that none of them were, since Hannah chose to go out there. She didn’t want to stand for it. She knew better than to wake up Josh. So that apparently left only her to deal with it all.

She followed the only path available to the best of her ability. She could barely see through the flakes of snow, and even though she was attempting to jog, the snow was so deep it slowed her down drastically. Her teeth began to clatter, despite the adrenaline that diverted her attention. By the time she reached the dfirst split of the path, R had just barely caught the faint footprints that filled up to her right. The flashlight barely exceeded a few feet, but at least that was something.

R began running as fast as she could down the path. The wilderness was offset with a concerning quiet, except for the billowing blizzard. She  cursed how poorly-coordinated her body was and she cursed her weak body, only further restrained from her joint disorder.

Just as she was about to come to another split path and inspect, she heard it - two women screaming at the top of their lungs to the left. R gasped and halted briefly, paralyzed by the thought that they were attacked by something or a tree had fallen over. In weather like this, it was impossible to get the correct medical attention for either.

But R clenched her fist tightly as the harsh cold bit at the tears that glossed over her eyes. She took off running in the direction the screams for help came from. And R had wished it was a tree, because what she found was far more horrifying.

She came head to head with a cliff that led deep down into an abyss - and hugging an exposed root was Beth while an equally frightened Hannah grasped the woman’s other hand. R immediately collapsed to her knees. One gloved hand held deeply against the cliffside while she lowered half her torso to reach out to the women. Tears fell and blurred her vision even more than the snow. As her fingers stretched and the women begged, she recognized that she’d have to be an extra foot taller to grab Beth’s arm.

Her mouth became dry and sweat froze against her temple in fear. 

“R! Please! Is anyone else - I can’t hold on much longer,” Beth pleaded, fingers straining tightly against the branch.

R gulped and sat up, gazing for any rope, planks of wood, branches - anything to help the sisters from plummeting to their death. She bit her lips so tightly that they bleed and a wail escaped her lungs. She lowered her body entirely onto the ground, the snow burying her up the chin. She wrapped her foot around a flimsy fence post and reached again. She kept sliding her body lower.

“I’m sorry, Beth, Hannah,” R sobbed, reaching and lowering her body further. “I’m trying —“

R’s entire waist descended off the cliffside. She was filled with fear for her own life, the strain on her ankle screaming at her. R’s hands reached further.

“Please, R, please,” Hannah cried.

She saw the trembling in their bodies from how tight they clung for dear life. R’s fingers brushed against Beth’s fingers in the instant that followed and she went to grab her hand.

Snap.

In the instant that followed, the root as well as Beth’s strength failed. R could only watch in horror as their screams echoed in her brain and R was left grasping at thin air. Her body trembled as shrieks of horror emptied into the nothingness below until the women’s bodies had been encased in darkness.

And seconds later, the screams were cut short.

R was left staring at where the women had once been hanging for dear life. Her body trembled. And in that instant, she scrambled back onto the ground. Her agonized wails echoed in the silent woods as she grasped at the snow.

If only she had ran from the start. If only she hadn’t tried to find something for Beth to grab. If only she hadn’t fallen asleep so early. If only she hadn’t stuck around so long to argue…

“…R! Babe!” 

Her eyes shot awake and sensations rolled over body. Ben, her boyfriend, shook her shoulders and cold air rushed into her side of the vehicle. She blinked away a few steamy tears and came to terms with how sweaty she was. 

“I’m seriously starting to think this trip wasn’t such a good idea,” Ben gulped with concern, hands sliding down rio squeeze her arms. “You were having another nightmare.”

“Ben,” R  stuttered. “I’m - I’m sorry. You’re right, but… You know I have to be here for Josh.”

Her eyes explored her surroundings. The car had been parked at the bottom of the Washington ski lodge. During early October, the Canadian mountains were coated in a layer of snow with only the occasional patch of sunshine revealing the muddy slush underneath. The sky was somewhat overcast and the forest was dense with shadows that would forever remind her of that night.

But she was doing it all for Josh.

Two years had passed and things changed. The friend group entirely disbanded and became openly hateful toward one another. Josh and R had been wracked with grief and trauma, and despite still being good friends, R had called off the relationship for the sake of healing. In her mind, it was for the best because their relationship would forever be sullied and bonded by death and mourning. And now, two years later, R had formed new social groups and was dating a new and kind boyfriend.

They had all just graduated. But being at the lodge once more made it feel like Beth and Hannah had died yesterday. 

“I know you guys are close, but you were just starting to really move past it. And the whole week leading up to this just… undid all your hard work.”

R smiled meekly and patted his shoulder. “Thanks, Ben. I love you for caring so much, but… This won’t just help Josh. It’ll help me, too… I hope.”

Her boyfriend gave her a reassuring smile, but his eyes gave away his disagreement to it all. He stepped back and offered R a hand as she exited the vehicle. Her bones were brittle and the various vitamin deficiencies that poor mental health paired with did not fare well against the bitter cold. She grabbed her fanny pack from the glove compartment while Ben unloaded their shared suitcase and slammed the trunk shut. 

Beside it all, R was glad to have met Ben. He was certainly more than she could ever deserve - him, with his pristine, healthy relationship to every available option while being a kind social butterfly;  and then there was her, with nothing but a few niche hobbies and a trail of death and decay.

“I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse to be the first to arrive,” R chuckled, but still managing to betray her bitterness toward it all. “I know Josh just cares about us getting the room we want and having access to all the hot water, though.”

“Yeah, it’s nice of him. I’m honestly pretty glad that I somehow found the one girl who’s ex she was friends with was, well… actually a friend. I know he’s got a bit off the rails before, but he’s a sweet guy.”

“Exactly, which makes melee worse for him. He’s managing it all pretty well. I guess the therapist I found for him helped. Sometimes I worry I’m the one who’s more fucked up about what happened.”

“You both went through completely different experiences, babe. You don’t need to compare,” Ben comforted.

“I’m not - I don’t mean it quite like that. I just mean that… I feel bad about how I sort-of ended up just pushing him away immediately after. Our break-up wasn’t that amicable, after all. I guess I just worry that I was too selfish.”

Ben furrowed his brows, biting back the jealousy. Of course, R had learned to recognize it by now. Dating her was a feat all on its own - and Ben handled the fact she still hung out with her ex so often better than any other guy would. He was always so self-assured and communicative that she pitied that actually being at the sight of the event might bring up some insecurities.

R squeezed him arm and sent him a smile. “I love you, babe. You don’t need to overthink it. I still would have broken up with him anyways - I’m just referring to the guilt of how I went about it, is all.”

“…Yeah. I know, babe. This is a lot harder on you than me, so I’m trying to shelf it. Don’t worry about me, okay?”

With much difficulty, they ascended the slope. The gate was busted so R had to use some athleticism, and then the key to the ski lift had somehow fallen through the small deposit box and into the snow and took some hunting. 

R tried to appreciate it as they sat on the bench up to the lodge. The sun was bright in the sky and made the world bright and colorful. Ben held her hand the entire way up warmly and lovingly. It reassured her that, even as she gazed across the forested hillsides that had a heavy mist of lifelessness, it was still a gorgeous view of what mother nature created.

Ben held her hand the entire walk to the lodge. The air R breathed was tight and sharp. The cold bit at her every pore and the threshold of tears that consistently threatened to break was held frozen in place. She felt numb and agonized, even with her little spot of sunshine beside her. The terrain was simply that much more bleak and suffocating.

“Hey, guys! Glad you all made it on time.”

R blinked at Josh’s voice and the sensation of Ben tearing away to return a momentary bro-hug with the man. She immediately sent the man a smile and joined in the exuberant exchanges of back-and-forth greetings. They had never seemed so artificially genuine - the ‘how’ve you been’s, ‘hope you’ve been well’s, and ‘good, good’s.

It had been several months since they’d all seen one another. But even though R’s face had recovered from its sunken state, Josh was like a polaroid, frozen from the time the of the aftershock. His eye-bags were deep and sullen; his cheeks were especially gaunt and pale; his black hair was somewhat unkempt and a thin application of hair gel could not escape the flakes off dandruff. 

As R finished taking in his unhealthy appearance, Josh sent her a large grin and wrapped his arms underneath. He met her with a gripping and energized bear hug, making one firm spin in a circle before dropping her back on her feet. R was shaken free of her thoughts and squealed while reciprocating the hug. She tried to ignore how Ben cast his gaze away and shrunk from their exchange of affection. R left Josh with a firm pat on the back before turning to face the large cabin. “

Man,” Josh sighed while nodding his head eagerly,” You look like you’re doing good, R. Ben sure is a lucky guy, eh?”

“I am,” Ben agreed, feigning humor from Josh’s affection.

R sent Josh a tight smile before motioning to the building. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m freezing, so… You two can get all chummy in the cold if you want, but I’m heading in.”

Josh chortled and bashfully rubbed the back of his neck. He seemed slightly cold. He was quick to admit,” That’s currently an, uh, issue. You see… I was never given the key to this place and the one under the mat was moved without me realizing, so… I’ll need a little help from a macho man breaking in, if you pick up what I’m putting down, heh.”

“I’m not a man,” R joked.

“You’d sooner become a man than macho, babe. You’re bones are so brittle they’d break from one touch,” Ben replied with a teasing smile. “Joking, but yeah.  You settle up at the door while we find a good breaking point, okay?”

R pouted, feigning offense before stepping onto the icy stone steps. The men rounded a corner while making small talk with surprising ease. When the human sounds faded into silence, R was left staring out across the snowy lawn. It was hard not to have the vision of staring out into the snowy abyss conquer over the tranquility of the location. She could even hear the memory of the immature adults arguing from behind her.

She tried not to think about the details when she could avoid it. It was not R’s fault and it wasn’t entirely the bullies’ fault, either. It was always met with confusion from the police how the girls had ended up dangling off that cliff. R had never been accused of murder, of course - nor was there any evidence to suggest that. The leading theory was that somehow, the wind had snapped what little fencing there was and Beth had tried to grab Hannah and lost her own footing. 

R would never forget the day she was asked to go in with Josh to confirm their identities in the morgue the following day. They had died so horribly - all they’d have felt was terror. A spike had impaled through Beth at the bottom while Hannah had gotten hit in the head and broke all her bones, but had been cognizant a little while longer, freezing and bleeding out to death.

The expressions on both of their faces had been frozen into that of fright and despair. She would never forget having looked into the dead eyes of the women she’d failed to save.

The door suddenly swung open from behind her and R jumped. She spun around and was quick to enter the wave of warmth before Josh shut the door behind her. The heater was apparently quick to do its job, even in such a large abode. R was grateful for it. 

She stomped off her boots and hung up her frigid winter clothing. The warmth clung to her skin like a blanket, even in nothing but sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Ben patted her back warmly. Small talk resumes between the two men  as they walked up the stairs. R was quick to choose the larger bedroom with the attached bathroom and a king-size bed, as Josh said he was going to be staying in another cabin and did not feel as bad about stealing it for herself. She did not keep up with the others of the group, but none of them were good enough to have earned a bed this size anyways. 

“While you guys settle down, do you want me to bring you anything?” Josh offered warmly, watching as R was quick to dive into the suitcase and grab some toiletries. “An energy drink, coffee, beer?”

Ben stretched out his arms and fingers, unloading some of the extra articles of clothing. “Sure, man, I could use a beer.”

“I’m fine, but thanks. I’m going to grab a bath.”

“Sounds about right,” Josh chuckled. “It’s almost like you’re here for the commodities and not the socialization. Funny.”

“Yeah, yeah. You boys go drink your hearts out while I enjoy some relaxation, ‘kay?” R quipped while ushering them off.

R shed her layers of clothing in the steamy bathroom as the water filled the tub. She needed it close to scalding to relieve her aching bones. She set up the towels and pajama set afterward and dipped her body into the warm water. It felt good on her body. The silence began to ring further until she went ear-deep into the tub and tucked her knees in. The ceiling was bland and dull, but such dead air came as a comfort. It truly allowed her to sink into a comfortable lull as the water swallowed her body hole and her head leaned against the rim.

“R, I really just don’t get what you’re fucking thinking,” Josh pleaded while motioning wildly in front of the entrance to his apartment. “I don’t get why you expect me to be perfect after my literal sisters died. I - I mean, I know you’re going through it too, but that should be bringing us closer together, for fuck’s sake!”

Tears slid down her cheeks as she stood frozen a few feet away with a backpack of her belongings inside. “It’s because you’re not listening to what I’m fucking telling you, Josh! I don’t want to make it all about me. I want to be able to be a good support system for you. But I fucking can’t when you’re literally suffocating the life out of me! I can’t get any goddamn separation from you to mourn for myself!”

Josh’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he clenched his fists. He had never been overly emotional before the event. But now, his moods tended to flip like a switch. He was unpredictable. He was never scary, but R was scared for himself. He wasn’t stable - especially when R wasn’t around. He insisted on both turning on her location and an apple AirTag in her car - and this was when he couldn’t pressure R into bringing him along. She had first noticed it all when he had called her at a red light, concerned she’d gotten into an accident from not moving for a minute. And when classes started up again, Josh had maneuvered himself into every class of hers and trailed around like a lost puppy.

At first, R couldn’t stand a moment alone. But as the situation sunk in and life moved on, R realized that she couldn’t have the reminder of her guilt on her tail at all times. Josh had his sisters’ eyes and his touch always reminded her of the moment she woke up and on that couch. And so, the talks turned into desperate arguments and then into this - while Josh only wanted to smother her, R craved distance to think and process for herself.

“Babe, we have to stick together at times like this. I love you. Don’t you love me? Why don’t you love me anymore? Do you think it’s my fucking fault?” Josh’s voice tore itself to shreds as the volume raised several octaves and his words echoed around the pad. “You can just say that you hate me —“

“Stop, Josh - you’re not well,” R choked, clutching her hands. “Please… Neither of us are doing well, especially when we can’t get a second apart. Don’t you get it, Josh? I’m leaving because I love you —“

“I’ve started seeing that therapist,” he pleaded, stumbling forward before collapsing on his knees. He grasped at her calves and gripped her pants tightly. R’s eyes watered further and her lips trembled as Josh’s bloodshot eyes stared directly at her. “I - I’ll give you all the space you fucking want. I mean, I’ve already fucking couched myself, what more space could you need? I need you R, I can’t breathe without you —“

“Please, Josh. I’m begging you. I’m not leaving you - I just can’t handle a relationship or this roommate situation or having you constantly riding my ass. You fucking followed me to work yesterday and sat in the damn parking lot the whole time!”

“I won - I won’t do that, then,” he gritted, pulling himself closer and straining his neck as he watched her. His dark eyes were swarming with a madness that had set in ever since the reality did - so much concern, anger, guilt, loneliness, and fear. Even love, of all things. “I promise. Tell me what you want - I’ll do anything. Just don’t fucking leave me alone!”

But as a tear from R fell onto his forehead and her jaw went slack, all she was taken back to was that cliffside and how Beth had looked at her with those same terrified pupils. It was as though Josh was gripping onto that same branch. But R had come to terms that she couldn’t just fall with him.

R hoarsely breathed in and shut her eyes momentarily. She reached a trembling hand out and patted his head. She felt how he leaned further to absorb her touch, as though that were the glove she extended out to Beth. R sensed every molecule that separated them - ever centimeter of hair that created distance from the scalp. It made her heart ache.

Josh peered at her with hopeful eyes, even if his breath became even more labored. “I… don’t think you should be alone, Josh. Can you have Chris stay? I’m sorry I can’t mourn the same as you, but I’m doing this for you and myself. I can’t help you when I can’t even help myself. I know the thoughts are scary, but you have to confront them like I do every time I look at you. I’m sorry, Josh. I’m so sorry I couldn’t…”

Her voice trailed off and she fought the urge to sink back into a dissociated state of emptiness. R steeled herself and released her hand, even when Josh tried to latch back onto it. She pulled away suddenly and the man collapsed further, his entire body overcome with tremors. As she walked toward the front door, she sent only one last glance his way.

“I’m sorry, Josh. I love you, so that’s why I’m doing this.”

The last expression she saw on his face was that of fury and hate: squinted eyes of disbelief, hunched shoulders, a painfully craned neck, and a twitching snarl carved into his lips.

[chezzywezzy]

HEARTLINK: Chapter 1

WC: 2.5k

Summary: R wakes up with no memories of the past and is introduced into a seemingly unfamiliar world of superheroes and magic powers. She has little to no control over who she is and is thrust into a plot that mimics a dating simulator - R can only hope to survive through it all by increasing her BONDs with others and gaining HEARTs; but little does she know, that only weaves her further into danger.

*This is a reverse harem yandere MHA story. All characters are minimum age 20 to fit the reality of the fact that hero-training should probably happen in adulthood, ya know?

A loading screen slowly began, with small pink dashes rotating in the woman’s vision. Above it was the phrase HEARTLINK in bubbly, pink letters. It felt as though her body was not her own, if she even had one. In fact, other than being conscious and observing what happened, she could not conjure any thoughts.

Moments later, the loading was complete and a name option appeared; it had autofilled to R, so she accepted it, an invisible finger aiming toward the CONFIRM option.

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO PLAY?]

[YES] [NO]

Despite several attempts, the NO seemed to be unavailable. R was left with no other options, confirming the YES. The darkness faded as the scene became unfamiliarly animated, yet without any recollection of what existed before, it was hard to confirm its unfamiliarity. It was an almost barren apartment with only the necessities. The only thing that was tied to a personality was the television screen and gaming device.

R had awareness and common sense and a bureau of knowledge, it seemed. But as to who she was, where she was - it all drew a blank.

At least she had a name.

Moments later, she noticed something attached to her wrist: a small bracelet that had a faint glow and the charm o it was a circular gear associated with a settings menu. R wasn’t sure how she knew that, but she poked it momentarily, only to be startled by the results.

MENU

[SETTINGS]

[CHARACTERS]

[PLAYER STATS]

R clicked on SETTINGS and observed the various mechanisms - only to notice there were only two: NOTIFICATIONS and ACHIEVEMENTS. R clicked to turn NOTIFICATIONS on before backing into the CHARACTERS section. Detailed were only three out of… several other individuals who had a black outline and silhouette with ??? for a name. However, the three that were available were curious.

[DENKI KAMINARI]

Age: 21

Quirk: Electrification

Relationship: Peer

BOND Level: 0/3

HEART Sync Completion: 0%

[HISTORY]

[UPDATES]

R clicked on the options, but both yielded empty slots. There was something so… familiar about the formatting that she couldn’t quite place. 

The next character was HIMIKO TOGA with a vaguer Quirk called ‘Transform.’ Apparently, she was a family friend, which was more information that R could access. And the last one had a name but no figure: Shigaraki Tomura, with a relationship of ‘Online friend’ and no known Quirk. That left R wondering what exactly a Quirk was. The definition given by the menu essentially summarized it as a mutation humans experienced that could be called a super power.

Then was her quirk… this?

R returned and pressed PLAYER STATS. R took several minutes to review her personal stats, each with a distinct capability, but all at the base level of (1/5).

ADAPTABILITY: Ability to adjust one’s personality and/or dialogue.

CHARISMA: Ability of persuasion, flirting, and confidence.

INSIGHT: Ability of emotional intelligence and intuition.

TALENT: Ability of practical skills and hobbies.

WILLPOWER: Ability of freedom.

[CHAPTER 1: BEGIN]

As of that moment, the statistics meant nothing to her - each held its own appeal for surviving in a foreign world and had to exist for a reason. But instead of being able to collet her thoughts - or, at least, further questions - the menu closed and it returned to the real world, only to be disrupted by a small box in her vision.

[You woke with a start as your phone began to ring. HIMIKO <3 is calling.]

Pick up?

[Yes.] [No.]

R was inclined to tap Yes to get some semblance of real-world adjustment.

[HIMIKO squeals so loudly you pull the phone away from your ear. You can’t help the budding smile that meets your tired expression. She finally quiets down.]

[“R! I just got back from my trip. I missed you so-o-o much! Can we hang out?]

Hang out with HIMIKO?

[Yes.] [No.]

R pressed Yes once again, feeling ill at the sudden restraints placed against her by this system. She suddenly recognized the urgency to upgrade her statistics. But how could she do that? Whatever was happening, it required a descent amount of intuition and adjustments, even without knowing where she came from previously. 

[“Great! Can we meet at our old spot? I’ll bring your favorite ice cream flavor.”]

[As always, there is a threatening undertone to your childhood friend - it seems to be more prevalent than it was in the past.]

Threatening? Who was this childhood friend of R’s?

What do you answer with?

[That sounds great, Himiko. I missed you.] [Hell no. You’re creeping me out.] [How about another time…?]

R sensed the hint she’d been given and could not help but agree with it.

[“Oh my gosh, really?! I love you so-o-o much! I…”]

[A sniff came from the other line. You made HIMIKO very happy. You have gained additional HEARTs.]

A notification was sent to her bracelet that read: [HIMIKO is thinking about how pretty your blood would look drizzled on an ice cream cone.]

That… was uneasy. But the woman seemed nice, despite whatever the narrator seemed to imply. 

[“So… you’ll be there, right, R? You’re not still mad at me?”]

[I wouldn’t miss it for the world.] [No, but let’s not talk about what happened, okay?] [I changed my mind. You’re scary, Himiko.]

R selected the first option again, trying to gauge what exactly HEARTs achieved. But after Himiko hung up moments later, she wasn’t given much of a choice to explore the idea.

[The weather is lovely as you pack up some candy to share and head to the park. You arrive early and enjoy the cool breeze. The park is mostly abandoned because of the holiday with only a few delinquent kids near the pond. You spot HIMIKO as she approaches.]

R took in Himiko’s appearance. There was something off-putting in a charming way; she had cute, blonde, messy buns and her eyes were a bright yellow that seemed to sparkle when she spotted R. She wore a school-girl outfit, despite the fact that R had read the file and she was twenty-years-old. 

[HIMIKO squeals again and dashes up to you, holding two ice cream cones in her hands. She is quick to shove a FLAVOR ice cream at you, so full of excitement that it seemed she would burst. Her smile was entirely fanged.]

[You take the ice cream and give it a lick. You return the with a gentle smile. HIMIKO’s cheeks blush brightly and she is momentarily subdued. You sense some anxiety from the meeting.]

R wanted to know what had happened when they last met, but the dialogue options were limiting. She realized all she knew about herself was a name. How would she survive around the people who already knew her when she didn’t even know herself?

[HIMIKO is waiting for you to say something eagerly.]

[You’ve changed a lot, HIMIKO.] [Don’t be a stranger. You don’t need to be nervous.] [It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I forgot how much I despised you.]

The final option was harsh and cruel. R did not know who she used to be, but that was overboard, even if it’s to collect information. So she chose the chummiest.

[After you console her, you wrap HIMIKO in a warm, comforting hug. Her body goes stiff before returning the hug by squeezing hard enough to make you gasp. She released a quiet sigh of happiness and buried her face into your neck. You think back to when she attacked and nearly drained you of blood - how could this harmless woman you’d known all your life do that again? You have gained additional HEARTs.]

R’s blood ran cold, even if her body had no physical reaction to the news. HIMIKO… had tried to kill her? But if they were such close friends, why? Although the set-up of this world seemed familiar, certain behaviors did not. Was this some sort of lawless world?

{“I really can’t apologize enough, R… I just got so mad about you leaving me behind to be brainwashed at UA once you graduated. I just wanted to teach you a lesson, but I went overboard… Your blood is just so-o-o pretty, you know?”]

[Would you like some more?] [It’s fine, Himiko. Your Quirk is hard to control.] [It was scary. I thought I was dead.]

Once again, R chose the neutral answer. She could infer that Transform meant some sort of vicious, painful Quirk, so she didn’t think testing it out would be beneficial.

[HIMIKO pulls away and grins. During the hug, her ice cream dripped down her fingers. Her eyes are glued to you as she licks it up, and in several large bites, consumed the entire ice cream. You finish yours, too. You gain additional HEARTs.]

[“You know… I know you said you didn’t want to talk about it, but… I was really, really scared when I did that. I was scared I ruined everything and that I lost my best friend. It was ev en worse to have found out you were alive and didn’t even report me!”]

[HIMIKO pauses, fingers twiddling as she gulped. Her eyes shimmer with possible tears as you two maintain eye contact.]

[“Sometimes… I think you’re just too cute and perfect for someone like me… That’s why it’s my goal to make sure I become the cutest ever so I can earn a best friend as great as you.”]

[We’ll always be best friends, Himiko. I love you.] [You’re so cute already!] [You should definitely work on that.]

R had been cruising through decently from the middle-ground answer, so she continued. It felt foreign to have everything that escaped her lips be utterly scripted and controlled down to the fluctuation and tone. But from the conversation alone, she was already starting to find more about R.

[“Oh, you really think so? I guess you always have. I’m still trying to be as cute as you, though! I’ve even joined an organization.”]

[HIMIKO looks a little antsy when you ask exactly what she was doing for work. She has a blush from your compliment. You gain additional HEARTs.]

A notification from your watch displayed for R: [HIMIKO is so grateful to have a friend like you.]

[“Promise you won’t tell or I’ll have to kill you, O.K.? I know you’ll probably be disappointed, but… I joined a budding new organization with other people like me. Its name is the League of Villains, or LOV for short. It’s the only way I know to get even cuter and stronger ever since I got caught draining that one cutie of blood, so there’s no way I could ever get into U.A like you.”]

[I don’t judge you, Himiko. Do what you think is right for your happiness.] […] [I don’t think we should be friends if you do that, Himiko. Villains are evil.]

R sensed the woman was rather unhinged as she was, so agreeing was probably the best selection. She had gathered that R was either attending U.A. or about to be. By context… did that mean it was some sort of law or training school?

[HIMIKO is on the verge of tears and hugs you tightly. You both sway side to side. HIMIKO is thinking about how important you are to her and that she’ll be sure to spare you from the havoc the L.O.V. would cause. You gain additional HEARTs.]

Suddenly, a small glow emitted from her wrist. She hadn’t noticed the small bar that seemed engraved into her palm before with a smaller bar labeled BOND and a larger one labelled HEART SYNC that corresponded to Himiko. The BOND level reached an upgrade, and it was like the world had paused in that moment. Not even the breeze disrupted her as the menu screen appeared once more and, suddenly, she could level up a statistic.

In the immediate, it seemed that CHARISMA was the right option when she was with someone as unstable as Himiko. So, R pressed the confirmation and a small boost of confidence, hardly notable, consumed her body for a brief moment.

[“R… I love you. You can’t ever leave me, okay?”]

As if it were even possible, R noticed an additional restraint on herself. Something had changed, as though it was a cutscene for a movie - an instance that was unable to be changed. Three ACHIEVEMENTs dinged from her wrist.

[Reach your first BOND upgrade.]

[Survive an encounter with HIMIKO TOGA.]

[Archive your first CHARACTER HISTORY.]

How… frightening. Any other decisions could have killed her. Was that what it was implying?

The atmosphere seemed to become more enunciated, more beautiful. 

[Tears slide down HIMIKO’s cheeks as she grips your hand tightly. It’s tight enough to hurt, but you did not want to disrupt the touching moment. A wide smile stretches across her face, revealing her fangs again. The wind sends leaves swirling past and her stray hairs bat against the wind. HIMIKO was so happy in the moment.]

An update dinged, and R only spent a moment digesting it, feeling the awe of the moment: [HIMIKO almost wishes you would try and leave her so she could take you for herself.]

Something about what happened was important. So much development and context was missing, but at least she was avoiding worser fates. R felt her mouth move as she answered,” I won’t, HIMIKO. I love you, too.”

[She releases a quiet giggle and tilts her head. Something about the way her body twitches shows how deeply she wanted to pull you in for another hug, but she didn’t. She suddenly looks shy, releasing your hands and fiddling with her skirt and not meeting your gaze.]

[“I’m… glad you’re such a good person, R. This went better than expected, so… I guess I have to admit this was kinda on a whim and that I actually didn’t plan too much time for this. I’m sorry!”]

[HIMIKO bows momentarily. You reach out and pat her head before fumbling with the plastic bags you brought. You hand her some candy and her eyes twinkle with delight.]

“You can take the whole thing. I’ve been meaning to diet.”

[She giggles again and takes it gratefully, face turning redder.]

[“Thank you, R… Even after all these years, you still haven’t changed, huh? I’ll call you later, ‘kay? We should do a shopping trip this weekend!”]

“Sounds good, Himiko. Have fun.”

[Himiko nods and starts off toward the exit of the park. You decide to remain for a little bit longer. The girl continues to check over her shoulder until she disappears from sight, leaving the park to yourself.]

R could not control it as her vision turned to black and the body she once experienced seemed to float in a dark space. Pink words disrupted the darkness.

[ChAPTER 1: END]

What was all this? Who was she? And why couldn’t she control anything…?

[chezzywezzy]

input beyond the longer-form story about to start

hello, yins. so, although I have landed on starting the MHA one, I'm considering training myself to also publish other stuff at the same time - and that's where yins can have some ideas, as I want to still churn out diverse fandom stuff in case this essentially original plot except for the characters isn't the reader's cup of tea.

so it's either

one shots (correct list in Peeta, J.D., Finnick, Anakin Skywalker, Kaname and/or Zero from VK, a kamisama kiss character, or Josh from Until Dawn - and if so lmk which ones in what order or most epicly desired u would like)

OR

another long-term story on rotation but with like totally different vibes lol, more horror and plot decision than romantic focus I suppose based on an OC zombie mutant in an aot-style world of the zombie with vampire-like attributes apolocolypse... (run on sentence apologies but idk how else to describe it without spoilers?)

so yeah, another poll and such. this is essentially your chance to speak up if the long-term mha character-based story won't be your cup of tea!