Chapter Text
It felt like someone slapped some sense into you when you finally got to process what the fuck you just witnessed. Your knees were shaking, adrenaline pumping into your veins and the threat of vomiting out the contents of your stomach became more apparent. Your heart pounded into your ear and made a run for it.
Screw your swollen ankle, if you were going out - you were going out in your accord.
Bursting out of the door with them shouting, your head was empty all except the manic urge to get away as far as possible. Anywhere is better than there and being stuck with Connor or whatever the hell he really is. The blanket wrapped around your body was now long gone the deeper you went into the forest.
You weren’t a runner. The most you could do was a jog around an oval with breaks in between to calm your heart. But, oh god your lungs were already burning at this point. Your legs were about to buckle and fall down any moment now if you don’t stop, but you needed to survive. Make it out of there alive, call the cops or anyone who was willing to help.
God, if you hear me please just take my soul already
One curious turn behind you, the village was nowhere in sight. Pride and relief swelled in your chest. Pride because you didn’t realize how far you’ve gotten without stopping, you gave yourself a mental high five. Relief because, well, you didn’t see that place anymore. Far away from them, the blood, the gore. All you needed to do now is find a good spot where you can get signal and-
You slowed down, panting and the pain down in your injured ankle coming back. No no no…
“I left…” you huffed out, wincing when a drop of sweat hits your eye “I left my shit with him...fuck” you bit your bottom lip to distract yourself from the other pain. Being mindful of your leg, you limped trying to think of a way to get out of here. You had second thoughts of going back to the village to get your things back. Then a wave of realization hit you, you were too deep into the forest you couldn’t possibly find your way back. Plus, they might be waiting for you with torches and pitchforks so they can string you up or something like that-
“You have got to stop watching slasher films” your palm connects your forehead to slap the thoughts away as you continue to walk. There were a lot of things you needed right now. Emotional support, reassurance and some first aid but not those. Not when you were extremely vulnerable and have the survival skills of a newborn babe.The juxtapose of birds happily chirping above you with the sun shining through the branches and your sorry predicament felt like you were in a bad tv show. Shitty production, shitty story and importantly : a shit cast.
All you needed now was the fog to come in and then have the killer come in with a large sword dragging behind him.
“Okay...okay” you did your breathing exercises to calm yourself “Think of a game plan. Just gotta start a fire and uh find somewhere where there is clean water and then find the road and-”
You were cut off when your leg got caught in something. Your eyes widened and before you could make a noise, you tripped and fell on your face. It was tight and constricting and you couldn’t tug yourself out.
A snare trap.
“What” you continued to tug on it, hoping to get loose “What the fuck” you scrambled to sit up, fingers hooking around the rope to try and get to loosen. Tears welled up in your eyes, mouthing the words no multiple times.
“PleasePleasePleasePlease”
With shaky hands, you tried to pry it off of you. No good. You needed something sharp to cut yourself lose. You choked down a cry that wanted to escape your lips. You can’t afford this right now, not when you were lost, cold and scared. A rabbit passes by you, nose twitching and their black eyes watching you try to escape.
“Not fucking funny” you shouted into the sky. The rabbit hops away in an almost mocking manner. That trap was meant for him, you thought. “So not fucking funny” your voice cracks
The intricate loops around the rope were starting to annoy you and your fingernails began to hurt whenever you tried to dig into it in hopes to cut it a little. Then your arms began to tire, fingertips began to glow red, you gave up. Plopping them to the side, you threw yourself onto the earth and looked up into the sunny sky.
You closed your eyes, a teardrop falling down your cheek and sniffling. As you bit your bottom lip, your chin wobbled. You feel it. The throbbing pain around your leg and you were sure that the trap was cutting off the blood. A mess. You were a mess and in pain. You were sure you smelt like a leather hide that was under the sun for hours, sweat and dirt right now. Not a pleasant combination for anyone.
“I’m stuck. I’m lost and there’s a killer who's probably hunting me right” you placed your hands on your eyes then swallowed a lump “I’m going to die here, oh god”
A bird who sang into the sky made you feel a little connected to nature and peace.
“Well, at least I’ll turn into fertilizer. My one final contribution to this fucking planet” you rolled to your side, hands extended up. You curled your hands into fists and trailed them to the side, unclenching and feeling the grass beneath your fingers.
Wanting to cry out of despair was gone now. You’ve gone to accept your fate. You were ready but if you were going to go out you needed at least a song. Taking a deep breath, you hear the imaginary music in your head
“ I am my mother’s child ” it started softly, voice slightly out of tone. A surge of courage came onto you to sing a little louder as you closed your eyes “ I’ll love you ‘til my breathing stops . I’ll love you ‘til you call the cops on me. But in our darkest hours, I stumbled on a secret power”
Inhaling deeply, you let out the last few words as a shout.
“I’ll find a way to be without you, babe” The music in your mind softens and then you snapped back into reality when you heard the branch above you rustle. You ripped your eyes open to see a man standing above you. White hood, tall and multiple weapons on his person? In an almost poetic manner, the sun gives him a halo. Not cool.
“Are you finally going to kill me?” you mumble out with a soft chuckle. He jumps down from the branch, standing and looking down from his hood
“Please make it quick”
You close your eyes again and then hear the familiar sound of a weapon being unsheathed. You waited for the inevitable, the cold press of the blade onto your neck and the sharp blade digging into your throat.
“Had it not been for your singing, I would never have found you” blood rushes back into your leg, making you lift your head up to see what he was doing. He throws the small rope to the side and inspects your ankle “You have ought to be careful, next time”
Shifting yourself on the ground, you propped yourself on your elbows and tilt your head at him
“So like, you’re not going to kill me?”
His head snaps at you, a confused look on his face
“No…?” he gets up and dusts off his hands “Why would I?”
“I mean, I just witnessed you kill a bunch of dudes there back at the store” Again with the confused look, he examines your ankle once more.
“They were poachers and they were causing trouble for a nearby village for sometime now”
“Ah…” you nodded slowly. You lifted the leg that was trapped and you noticed that the rope dug into your skin, wounding the flesh and small drops of blood trickling down. You felt a shiver down your spine and winced when you rotated the said foot. The pain was bearable but it was not a pretty sight. Just like that, he abruptly picks you up bridal style with ease.
“Hey, big guy this isn’t really necessary I think I can walk-” that was replaced with a groan when both your legs ached. “Nevermind then”
“There was no doctor available back in Lexington. The nearest one is at the Homestead, I shall take you to Dr.White”
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Another trip on his horse and you felt your ass number than before. But there you were. In another village. Further away from where you started and you had no idea how to get out nor any idea where you were.
Hey, at least the bed you were in was comfortable. A bowl of hot soup was in your hands and the wound on your ankle was treated now. Wrapped up in a white bandage with some fancy herb scented paste while your swollen ankle had some sort of leverage beneath it. You’ve long shedded off your neon green parka and tucked it back inside your bag after getting some awkward stares from the locals in the Homestead.
Now you were just left in your pants and a tank top. You stirred the hot soup with your spoon in contemplation.
You’ve seen how the people here are dressed. You’ve listened to how they talked to each other (not to mention the scent of some people) and you’ve watched them from outside the window of the current room you’re in.
You didn’t want to accept it but your guts kept telling you to accept the impossible.
You’ve time travelled.