Work Text:
This is crossposted on Tumblr under Creepypastaideas
Jeff wasn't sure where the key came from: Brass, curved like those old timey keys, shiny, hefty, and fun to toss from hand to hand, but he doubt it would fit anything much less the electronic safe in front of him.
He'd have to move soon. Busybodies for neighbors were the worst: they'll start questioning why the family he had killed wasn't coming out of the house, start knocking and peering in through windows, and that was if they didn't call the cops cause the kids weren't going to school.
His stomach growls. There were a few canned beans and tortillas in the kitchen, but he had eaten everything else. Their food picks was weird though. Who had gold foil on hand? Freaks. It was kind of fun--- baking and cooking with the help of youtube, using only what the strangers had.
He could stretch the time he had here if he put on some makeup ... wear sunglasses ... tell their neighbors he was house sitting, that the family had left for vacation in an Uber... gonna have to train his voice to sound different... ugh, so much fucking work.
The jewelry pile glints under the lamp light. Hopefully, they were real, otherwise he'll gonna throw a bitch fit. Probably kill the owner of the pawn shop and rob it... probably gonna do that anyway...
He stars at the electric lock on the safe, tossing the key into the air and catching it with the same hand. What was in there? He salivates at the possibilities. Even if it was just titles or birth certificits, he could trade or sell them. He needs to get in there. He'll break out into hives if the safe remains locked for much longer.
Just for shits and giggles, he jabs the key at the electric lock.
A click.
...
What?
Jeff lays the key beside him. He wraps his hand around the handle, and pulls down and out.
It opens.
No way! No fucking way! He scrambles through the items within the sare, pocketing what seemed important and leaving what wasn't. He grabs the key too. If it was a conincidence, he could sell it; if it wasn't, he's hit the jackpot.
#
Jackpot!
This key is a goldmine! Damn, is this what love felt like? He is so giddy, liteheaded, and not just from the booze he had stolen from the closed liqour store. Cars, homes, stores, it didnt matter, everything unlocks when he shoves the key toward the locks.
It was like a dream. Was this payment for all the shit he had been put through? Was this a blessing from Liu and his parents, a tiny sign to let him know he was forgiven?
Eitherway, he was gonna live high on the---
Where was it? Fear sobers him as he grasps at his hoodie pocket, groping inside of it.
Nothing but his knife.
No.
He pats his bulging pants pockets, digs through them. Cash flutteres out.
No!
He looks at the empty street; looks under his shoes, stepping on dollar bills.
No, no, no, no!
It was gone.
He had lost the fucking thing.
He groans, tipping his head to stare up at the smog filled sky. Whoever had given him the key and then let him lose it must be in hysterics by now. He flips off the sky, cursing his luck.