Chapter Text
I’m fucked up, very fucked up.
In my defense, After all the shit I’ve seen and experienced in my somewhat short existence, You’d probably be too. At the ripe age of 20, I have seen more gore than most true-crime enthusiasts and detectives. I’ve seen things that bring skeptics to their knees in terror and faced them head-on. They wouldn’t hurt me then but they most definitely would now. Nowadays I’m always moving. Train to train, motel to motel. I cannot catch a break for the life of me, the fuckers were persistent I’ll give them that.
Sitting in buses for hours at a time gives you lots of time to think. I got roped into the little (which is a severe understatement) cult when I decided to run off with a middle school crush. I was enamored at the time, and a literal child so sue me. Somehow I’d managed to wriggle myself away, but not without collateral, They were after me now and I wasn’t about to go back peacefully after all the shit I had seen and the shit that was done to me. I was forced to witness straight up sacrifices, seen people turned into things I’d only seen in my nightmares, Including the kid that’d dragged me into it all. They fed her to some...thing in the forests surrounding the camp and I couldn’t sleep for weeks. I don’t know how I managed to get away, I snuck off sometime in the middle of the night after memorizing the ‘guard’ schedule and booked it. The rest is a blur but I somehow made it into town with a car, and I drove that car as far as I could until it ran out of gas and I was forced to leave it behind.
Now, I sit outside a lone convenience store. No clue what time it was but it was dark out, the sky a pitch-black, the thick layer of smog from the city blocking my view of the stars. Clutched in my hands was a coffee. Thin coffee that tasted of artificial hazelnut and smelled terrible, but It was coffee, and The late-night bus to Gatlinburg would be around at some point and I planned to stay awake for it, not one to sleep out in the open, especially after that...one incident. I had started my journey in Michigan, somewhere near Ann Harbor or whatever. I would have gone home but I didn’t want to risk my family. And besides, I went missing when I was 13 and It’d been several years. No way they’d recognize me and I didn’t want to explain. Also, In my blind panic to get away, I had driven out of the city so I was way too far to turn back. My family would probably be happier not knowing as well, Ignorance is bliss. Now, I’m in Tennessee, making my way across the country apparently. I wasn’t about to risk trying to jump the border into Canada or Mexico and risk getting caught, so I was currently struggling my way across the U.S. The police are an option, I know. I considered it but what were they going to do? Either they’d think me insane or they’d believe me, put me in somekind of witness protection thingy. Which probably wouldn’t do much to protect me seeing as the whole cult revolves around..demons and shit, as well as myself with...my abilities, per say, they’d never take me seriously and I wasn’t about to out myself and be added to the governments hit list as well
“You gonna leave anytime soon.” I nearly drop the drink spinning around to see the teenage girl that had been managing behind the counter was standing by the door, head peaking out with a slight nervousness on her face, despite her tone being firm. “I can’t close up until you leave.” The girl complains. I stare for a few moments, a bit lost on the concept of social interaction after avoiding it for so long.
“Uhm...Sorry.” I speak, quickly tearing my eyes back to the bus stop that I refused to sit at as there was already a homeless person using it as a bed. I wasn’t about to interrupt them. “I’m waiting for...the bus.” I continue, taking a sip from the sugary caffeinated drink, This thing was probably pure diabetes. The girl seems to let out a scoff before stepping back inside. I felt a bit peeved, but she probably has been working all night, dealing with creeps and the like, and just wanted to go home. I know that feeling well. After that little scare, I had my ears perked for any other noises, I didn’t want to actually lose my diabetes-inducing drink or get caught off guard again. Last time that happened I ‘accidentally’ decked a businessman in the face and had to run from security in a mall. Good times. A small snicker leaves me at the memory. The sound of breaks knocks me from my thoughts and a small grin grows on my face as I quickly get to my feet, almost sprinting to get onto the bus. I hop onto the vehicle, the loud noise had woken the man who slept on the bench as he climbed on behind me. The bus driver didn’t bother asking for a ticket, the middle-aged woman simply leaning back in her chair tiredly as we passed.
I quickly plop myself in a seat near the front, eyeing the other people on the bus that had already been there. I was a bit of a people watcher, especially when there really isn’t anything else to do. It’s incredibly embarrassing when people catch you staring them down though. The person closest to me was a woman, dressed in shorts with a jean-blue jacket, black sneakers without socks on her feet. The hood of her jacket was pulled over her head but I could see long strands of dark hair swirling down her chest. She was dressed similarly to me, though I had a pair of tights on under the shorts as it was terribly cold at night in Tennessee. Suddenly the woman’s head turns towards me, I lock eyes with her for a moment before I nearly give myself whiplash turning back to the window, staring down the passing scenery as the woman stares me down. How the turns have tabled. As soon as I fee her gaze leave me I let my shoulders relax, leaning my head against the window. The coffee didn’t do much to help rid me of my tiredness than it made my heart beat a lot faster than it should.
My shoulder’s tense again as someone slides into the seat beside me. I blink a few times before glancing at the person in the reflection of the window, seeing the dark-haired woman sitting in the seat next to the aisle, not right next to me but still a bit too close for comfort.
“You have a staring problem.” The woman speaks, causing my shoulders to jolt. I wasn’t expecting her to actually talk to me. She laughs slightly, probably at my reaction, before slouching in her seat a bit.
“Sorry,” I say quickly, nervously averting my gaze to my hands. I was not in the mood for social interaction at 5 in the morning, or at all.
“I have the same problem, so don’t worry about it.” she says, her voice was a bit raspy and deep. I finally muster up some courage to meet her gaze, She’s pretty, dark-brown, almost black frizzy-curled hair and tanned skin, like she’d been spending some time in the sun, Her eyes were black, or at least they looked like they were in the dark, they were probably brown as well. “So, you’re headed to Gatlin too? Vacation?” The woman started, clearly trying to make small talk.
“Uhm. something like that.” I say, turning my gaze away again, “Why are you going?” I work up the nerve to ask. It was a harmless question, for the most part. The woman lets a grimace fall on her face.
“Work. I’m meeting some...Coworkers there.” She starts, patting the bag by her feet that I hadn’t even noticed before.
“Oh, so like...a business vacation thingy?” I ask, watching as a grin returns to her face at my question.
“I guess you could see it like that.” She says, with a shrug of her shoulders. “Maybe we’ll run into each other.”
“Maybe…” I trail off, looking back to the window as the woman falls quiet, bouncing her leg as a small sliver of light invades my vision, the sun beginning to rise over the pine trees that surrounded the bus. I debated sharing my name with her, having a friend would be nice, even if just temporarily, but then again, the last person I had made friends with got fed to...something and I really wasn’t too keen on that happening to anyone else. I’d rather stray away from others, more so to keep the blood off my hands. I get anyone involved, they’re gonna die. I let out a slight sigh at the thought, narrowing my eyes at the passing scenery. I was a bit peeved from lack of sleep, the first thing I was doing in Gatlinburg was finding a hotel and sleeping for two days. Maybe not two days, the cult assholes were always on my tail. Maybe If I keep evading them they’ll give up. That was my hope, soon enough they’d probably sick a demon on me or something. I’m honestly surprised they hadn’t already.
“You seem like something is on your mind.” I almost jump for the third time that morning as the woman speaks up again. Her eyes on me as I had brought my knee up to the seat. “I heard it’s good to rant to strangers.”
“I don’t wanna...overshare,” I say, feet falling back to the ground as the bus hits a large bump or pothole in the road.
“It’s no big deal, I also hate the silence...and I can’t assure you I’ll be listening fully.” a small smile falls on my face at the truthfulness. “So go ahead, pour your heart out.”
“Well, I’m just…” I pause for a moment, trying to find a way to simplify my issues without sounding absolutely insane. “In a bit of a pickle” If I could slap myself without looking like an idiot, I would. What kind of answer is that?! “I mean, there are some, uh...people looking for me and-”
“You don’t want them to find you? Yeah, I’ve been in that situation before.” The woman says, leaning back in the uncomfortable seats. “I bolted as soon as I turned 16.” She says, crossing her arms behind her head. I watch her for a moment, before turning my gaze to my hands. She had no idea what really was at stake, simply believing I was a runaway teen. I turn my head back to the window as buildings start coming into view, the woman sitting up and grabbing her bag. Abandon my coffee, trailing behind the woman as we leave the bus, the presumed homeless man along with the few others on the bus remain. I turn to the building we had stopped by, a little diner-type building. Before I can walk off, the woman calls to me again. “This is where we part ways, for now at least.” She starts, holding out a hand towards me. I stare for a few moments, unsure If I actually should shake her hand or not, isn’t that weird, I mean. We probably aren’t going to meet again. “I’m Kate.” She says again, jolting her arm a bit towards me. I definitely flinched at the action, but I quickly grab her hand back tightly, shaking it.
“Y/n, Nice to meet you, Kate.” I say, quickly releasing her hand. Kate nods, giving me what seemed to be a strained smile. All of a sudden her demeanor had tensed.
“...It was nice to meet you too.” she says, slowly, before shaking her head. “I should get going, I hope I see you around.” She finishes, brushing past me and down the street. I turn back to the dinner with a small huff, pushing my way past the crowd and into the little building. It was just as crowded as the streets, families filling tables while waiters and waitresses shuffle about. I wasn’t hungry. I just wanted to sleep. I make my way to the front of the restaurant, meeting a tired-looking woman at the front before glancing at the clock 6:35, almost 7 and they were already full capacity.
“Can I help you?” she asks, hair tied up messily with a grimace on her face, probably at the fact another customer had just walked in.
“Can you give me directions to the nearest hotel?” I spoke quickly, watching as the woman let out a sigh before she began the spout of directions my tired mind nearly failed to comprehend. Before I knew it I was laying on the shitty bed in the cheap hotel room, staring at the curtains as I drifted off to sleep for the first time in days.
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This was a problem.
I had awoken and went back to that diner at around 7 or 8 at night, having slept through the day without any food, the place was the closest and I had looked at the prices and they weren’t charging much for some food. I had just ordered something with some coffee when they walked in. Two guys and a girl, dressed in all black. As soon as I set my eyes on them panic filled me. How’d they catch up so fast? I kept my head down as the girl, I couldn’t see her face, she had on somekind of a medical mask, approached the woman at the counter, her sickly-sweet voice wafting over my ears. The two guys had sat down at one of the tables a few feet away. I couldn’t tell if they recognized me or not, hopefully, they wouldn’t and would leave.
I almost didn’t notice when the waitress came back over, setting a plate in front of me before asking something I didn’t catch in my panic, simply shaking my head no as she walked away. I kept my eyes on the girl as she walks back to her table, Debating with myself to get the fuck out of there before they notice me or stay and not raise suspicion. My mind was made up as all of their eyes land on me, as soon as I locked eyes with the girl I jumped to my feet, Abandoning the food before rushing out of the dinner. Which may have been a mistake as I glanced behind my shoulder, seeing them watching me leave. I quickened my pace, pushing past the still crowded sidewalks and streets. People out drunkenly wandering. I don’t remember what day it was exactly, but It must be some weekend day, maybe a holiday, not that it matters at the moment as I hear quick footsteps trailing me. This was bad.
I ducked into a building, what seemed to be a bar as people were dancing around and the smell of alcohol stung my nose as I entered. I made my way through the people, reaching a door that led into a much more quiet hallway. I sprinted down the hall, bursting through the door at the end which led back outside. I quickly slam the door shut behind me, rushing down the alleyway I had exited in. I rushed back onto the street, unsure of where to turn next. They weren’t behind me anymore but they’d definitely find me if I went back to my motel room. I speedwalk down the sidewalk, hunger striking my stomach again. I let out a sigh, silently cursing the cult members that had interrupted what would have been my first real meal in days. You can only afford so much picking pockets and you can only fit so much in your pockets without getting caught. I glance over my shoulder every now and again, to be sure I had lost them. I wasn’t sure where to go next, I usually had time to think of what to do before getting attacked, I had yet to actually kill any of them when they came at me. I felt I’d be just as bad as them If I’d do so and I did not want that.
The crowd started to thin the further I walked. Eventually, I stopped outside what looked to be a museum or aquarium. It was dark and no one was around so I sat down on the stairs leading up to it, staring down at the road I had come from for any sight of them. As another hunger pain hits me, I dig into one of my pockets, revealing a twinkie that had been crushed, better than nothing. I rip open the baggy it was in, quickly inhaling the little cake before shoving the plastic back into my pocket, Not a garbage can in sight and I didn’t want to litter. The sound of footsteps causes me to inch back into the dark, narrowing my eyes as the exact people I had been running from appearing around the corner.
“We lost them.” The girl seethes, she sounded so young, it was honestly sad that she’d been roped into all this shit.
“They couldn’t have gotten far, this town is small and they can’t hide forever.” A man says, gravelly-voiced, cold-toned. The trio split, the girl rushing across the street and the younger of the two men continue down the sidewalk. The older man turns in my direction, but I doubt he sees me, that doesn’t stop me from covering my mouth as he walks by to calm my breathing. I listen as his footsteps fade before letting out a sigh of relief.
“Gotcha” a hand curls tightly in my hair, yanking me from my spot before tossing me to the concrete as a yelp leaves my lips, more in surprise than pain. I roll onto my back as the younger man stands over me, Raising his leg. My eyes widen and I roll to the side just as his foot hits the ground where my head would have been. I quickly shuffle to my feet, glaring at the man as he turns to me. I hear footsteps behind me and duck out of the way as the girl attempts to tackle me to the ground, falling with a grunt. I turn on my heel and sprint the way she came.
“Chase them!” The girl yells, and two sets of footsteps echo from behind me. “Don’t kill them, We need them alive!” I quicken my pace, adrenaline filling my veins as I nearly trip trying to turn a corner, sprinting into a building that looked to be under construction, wood the only thing on the house, no windows or anything. The footsteps gain and I glance above me, a bag of what looked to be tools sitting on a pillar of wood above my head. I clench my teeth, slinging my arm before twisting it, grinning as the wood snaps and drops the bag behind me, followed by a yell and the sound of tools clattering against the ground. I don’t lessen my pace, the other chaser not having faltered in their steps either. I bolt out of the house through one of the doorless hallways, swinging an arm to collapse the doorway behind me, stopping my pursuer in his tracks. I could feel a small smile on my face, the chase was always a little fun. I run into the next building, another house under construction, before taking a moment to pause and plot out my next move. The only way to get them off my ass long enough to skip town was to injure them. As much as I’d rather not, they probably deserved it anyway. I crouch down beside one of the unfinished windows, watching as the young man and the girl jolt out of the windows of the other house, Must’ve put the other guy down with that bag.
“Fucking hell.” The girl seethes, ignoring the man as she stormed over, my eyes fall to her hands and my eyes widen at the sight of a gun clenched tightly in one of her hands. Of course, they have guns, usually, it was other weapons like knives and shit, not guns. They must have made an investment. The girl goes to enter the house, her gun raised as she does do. I narrow my eyes towards the plank above her head, clenching my fist as the wood snaps at my command, the girl looks up and jumps out of the way in time to avoid getting knocked in the head with it. “Bitch.” The girl mutters, staring at the mess. I move away from the rubble, looking around the area for anything else I can use to my advantage without collapsing the whole building. I jump, turning my attention back to the two still standing cultists as The girl fires a round off into the darkness. “Come out already, Bitch!” the girl yells, Pointing the gun towards the house again.
“They ain’t gonna come when you’ swinging that thing ‘round like that.” The man says, glaring into the house as well. I narrow my eyes at them both. They weren’t familiar, must be new members or something.
“They won’t come either way.” the girl growls, Marching towards one of the windows. I quickly get to my feet, jumping out one of the other windows with a yell as a shot goes off and a bullet whizzes past my head. I only stop for a moment in surprise before sprinting away again. I duck between a few more lone construction buildings before reaching what seemed to be a train track, the track itself buried in leaves. I quickly hide between the trees hearing them trail me again. I lance around the area, spotting the perfect opportunity, an old, dead car sitting little ways down the track. It looked like it’d been through hell and back, but I didn’t have time to think about the story of the vehicle, focusing on the car. I was gonna be so tired after this but it’s better than dying or getting dragged back to a cult full of demon worshippers. I raise my arm slightly, cringing at the sound it made before swinging it in the direction of the cultist as fast as I could before they noticed. I lowered my head, not looking as the car, presumably, hit’s its targets if the girls yell is anything to go by. I peek my head back over the bushes, wincing slightly at the destruction and the slight blood tinting the leaves across the train tracks. Hopefully, that didn’t kill them. I Leave my spot, rushing back towards where the chase had begun. It’s best to get out of the area before anyone comes to check out the racket. I glance behind my shoulder once more, feeling eyes on me, before quickening my pace back into town.