Chapter Text
“That was so fun!” Al chirps, spinning around as he skips along next to Jayden, who doesn’t look very amused.
“What kind of party is fun without alcohol?” Jayden grumbles, causing Al to laugh.
“Calm down guys,” Elizabeth's scratchy voice speaks up from behind them, sounding unpleasant compared to before the party, “We’ll get you something to drink at the gas station Jay, don’t worry.” Elizabeth smiles at the taller guy, who doesn’t even turn his head to acknowledge her. It’s rather obvious the girl likes him, even to Jayden, but in reality Jayden wasn’t really interested in anyone. Besides Al, but that was a curious interest, how could one be so annoying and talkative but be the only one everyone could deal with?
That’s when a group of people surround them, all wearing odd gas-mask type face covers. “Haha, funny,” Al snickers, tugging at his sleeves, something Jayden always noticed he did when Al was nervous, and when the careless person of the friend group is nervous, it’s always bad.
“Al get behind us,” Jayden demands, pushing Al behind him next to Elizabeth, and Nate instantly fills in his spot, reaching into his pocket. Jayden glances around, counting each of them, it’d be a 4v6, surely Jayden and his friends could beat them… right? Nope.
Each of the masked people pull out a gun, aiming it at the four friends huddled together. “Oh shit-” Nate isn’t able to finish his sentence as he gets hit with something- a dart- and instantly collapses onto the concrete. Elizabeth just barely lets out a scream before she’s knocked down too, leaving Al and Jayden standing there, staring in shock at the siblings.
Jayden looks up just as a dart is shot at Al- as well as himself, and the two collapse at the same time. The last thing Jayden is able to see are his friends, all collapsed on the ground, before his vision goes dark.
—
Jayden gasps as he opens his eyes, looking up at all the concerned faces, Nate, Elizabeth, Al, and narrowing his eyes in confusion, trying to figure out why he’s on the ground. “Where-”
Jayden isn’t able to finish his sentence as Nate's low voice rings in his ears, “In a forest somewhere, we don’t know where, of course, why would we?” Nate mumbles the last part, but it’s enough to cause panic and anger to bloom in Jaydens chest.
“How the fuck did we get here!?” Jayden shouts, surprising his friends as he scrambles to his feet, whipping his head around, only to see trees.
“Jayden, calm down,” Elizabeth stands up, putting a ‘comforting’ hand on the boy's shoulder, which he instantly shakes off, glaring down at her.
“Don’t fucking touch me-” Nate steps in front of his sister protectively, staring down at Jayden with an annoyed look.
“Don’t talk to my sister like that.” Nate orders, giving Jayden a challenging glare. Jayden huffs and stuffs his hands into his pockets, turning away from the group.
“I’m going to blow off some steam.” And with that the boy walks away, almost blending into the forest with his raven black hair and shirt. Nate sighs and turns to Elizabeth, giving her a sorrowful look as she frowns after Jayden.
Al looks at them for a moment, then back towards where Jayden disappeared, “...I’m gonna go check on him, he’ll come back sooner if I talk with him,” Al strides off, following Jaydens path.
Nate calls something after him that sounds like ‘Don’t get lost’, but Al pays no attention, just wanting to make sure his best friend is okay.
—
A few minutes later Al finds Jayden, and his expression turns to one of shock as he watches Jayden brutally punch a tree, barely denting it, but bruising and scratching his hands.
Al snaps out of his trance and races over to Jayden, grabbing ahold of his arms, “Jayden- Jayden! Stop it!” Al shouts, staring up at Jaydens pale face. Jayden tears his gaze away from the tree to look down at Al, his rage subsiding slightly at the concerned look on Al’s face.
“Sorry…” Jayden mutters as Al takes hold of both of his hands, frowning at the wounds that littered his knuckles.
“It’s fine, luckily whoever put us here supplied us with food and med kits,” Al reaches into his backpack- which Jayden just notices he has- and pulls out a wooden box, opening it and pulling out a roll of bandages, some cotton pads, and some type of spray. “This’ll hurt, just so you know,” Al glances up at Jayden who just nods.
The boy takes a deep breath, wincing as Al sprays the cotton pads and dabs his knuckles with them. “You gotta learn to control your anger,” Al mumbles.
“And you’ve gotta stop wearing long sleeves,” Jayden huffs and Al pauses half-way through wrapping his knuckles, tensing slightly at the shoulders.
“Alright, I’ll try, even though half my closet is just plain long sleeves,” Al snickers as he continues to bandage his best friend, and Jayden frowns as it never truly got cold back in the city, but he decides not to push it.
After a few more minutes of silence and bandaging Al smiles and pats Jayden on the shoulder, “What'd Ya say we head back?” Jayden just nods quietly, and the two set off back to where Elizabeth and Nate were.
—
Elizabeth rushes over to the pair as they arrive, apologizing rapidly, “I’m so sorry Jay I didn’t mean to upset you-”
“It’s fine, Elizabeth.” Jayden says, his tone flat, and Elizabeth frowns. She had always asked Jayden specifically to call her El, like how Nate always calls her Liz, but he never would.
After a few moments of awkward silence Al speaks up, “How about we build a shelter? Elizabeth, you can help me collect sticks and these two can actually build it?” Al suggests, pointing a thumb at Jayden and Nate. Elizabeth nods reluctantly, following after Al as he walks off.
—
Al and Elizabeth found a clearing scattered with sticks and are currently picking them up. “...How do you do it?” Elizabeth asks as she puts another stick onto the pile they created.
“Hm? Do what?” Al asks, tossing his own stick onto the pile.
“Get Jayden to agree with you- hell just overall be friends with you?” Elizabeth stops and looks at Al, a somber expression on her face.
Al frowns at her “I just be my true self, I guess, but you can’t- you can’t force someone to like you, y’know?” Al tugs at his sleeves as Elizabeth sighs, shaking her head.
“Sorry, it’s just- it’s just that I-”
“No, I know, trust me,” Al laughs lightly as he hands half of the pile of sticks to Elizabeth before picking up his own half.
“You do?-” Elizabeth gives him a dumbfounded look.
“Yep, now let's get back before it gets dark,” Al glances up at the gray sky, he couldn’t really tell what time it is but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“...Yeah… Yeah let’s go,” and with that the two are off.
—
It only takes what feels like 4 hours to set up a small shelter, just barely able to fit all four if 2 are scrunched up on the sides and 2 lay on their back with their feet stretched out.
“Well, I mean it’s better than nothing, right?” Nate says, not looking too enthusiastic to sleep in it.
“Yeah, and me and Elizabeth can sleep on the sides since we’re the smallest,” Al hums, crawling into the shelter and scooting back against the far slanted wall, leaving enough room for each of them to crawl in one by one. Jayden crawls in after Al, pressing up against him as Nate crawls through, muttering curses at the cramped space. Lastly Elizabeth crawls through, seemingly upset that she’s not next to Jayden but she decides not to mention it.
“Someone should take the first watch,” Jayden announces, “and that someone will be me, I’ll wake Nate up next.” Jaydens tone is firm, showing he won’t take any complaints.
All of them nod and lay down. “Goodnight Jayden…” Al mumbles and Jayden glances down at him, but before he can get a word out Al falls fast asleep, leaving Jayden alone with his thoughts.
—
Hours later Al opens his eyes, sitting up and looking at Jayden whose head is hung low as he sleeps. Al smirks and shakes his head, attempting to not wake Jayden as he crawls past, but that doesn’t work.
Jaydens head jerks up and he blinks at Al, “Sorry dude,” Al gives him a sympathetic smile as he stands up.
“It’s fine…” Jaydens voice is husky with tiredness, “Where are you going?” he questions.
“Just needa take a piss, I’ll be right back, don’t worry.” Al walks off towards the bushes and Jayden struggles to keep his eyes open. The boy eventually gives in, letting his eyelids flutter close.
—
The next morning Jayden is jolted awake by someone shaking him, it’s Nate, and he looks furious . “Where the fuck is Al?” Nate demands, and Jayden looks around.
“He just said he needed to take a piss- why?- Is he not back yet?-”
“No you idiot! You were supposed to keep track of all of us!” Nate raises his voice, and anger bubbles within Jayden and he scrambles to his feet.
“How was I supposed to know Al would go missing!?” Jayden argues, glaring up at him.
“You were supposed to stay awake!-”
“Al!” Elizabeth shrieks, running over to him as he stumbles back into the clearing, covered in cuts and bruises. Jayden stares at him in horror as Al leans gratefully against Elizabeth's shoulder… What
happened
to him?