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Natsuki’s stiffled sobs filled the quiet air of the forests. She had to get away. When she came home from the literature club, it was clear her father had gotten ahold of the liquor she had tried so hard to hide. Her body stung from her father’s brutal punishment for arriving home later than she had informed him. A fact he didn’t truly care about. She knew he didn’t give a damn about where she was. He just needed an excuse to let his anger out on her.
A crunch of dried leaves startled her out if her spiraling thoughts. Her eyes frantically darted, searching for the source of the noise. A tuft of black hair hidden amongst the bush caught her eye.
“Who’s there?” Natsuki hesitated.”I SAID who’s there!” Natsuki yelling feigning anger to hide her fear.
Suddenly, a figure began to emerge from the bush. Natsuki backed away, tripping on a twig that twisted her ankle and forced her to the ground. She was left crawling backwards till her back hit a log.
“Don’t touch me! Y-you p-p-perv!” Natsuki could no longer back up. She began to crawl sideways, silently praying he wasn’t a fast walker.
“I’m not going to hurt you…” a young male voice called out. “I heard you crying and wanted to see if you were okay.” His calming voice stopped her in her tracks. She turned to face in the direction where the voice originated. Finally her eyes met dark ripped jeans. Her eyes slowly panned up observing a white hoodie before meeting his face.
“AHHHHHHHHH” Natsuki let out a loud scream seeing his disturbingly disfigured face. His smile was cut open as wide as his ears, his skin was pale white, and his eyelids and lips were missing. His stringy black hair fell to his shoulders. He suddenly lunged towards her causing her to attempt to get up and run before getting a brutal reminder of her twisted ankle.
This is it. Youre going to die a pathetic death in the woods wearing a parfait girls shirt and a pink skirt. At the hands of some terrifying monster.
She closed her eyes in anticipation for a blow that never came. Instead, she felt rough hands taking her ankle, and ripping a piece of hid dark pants to wrap it.
She reluctantly returned her gaze to the boys face. In return she was met with what was as close to a gentle expression as the boy could make with his unfortunate disfigurement.
“I’m sorry I screamed when I saw you…” she guiltily looked at the ground. “I was rude when you were just trying to help, and youre still fixing up my ankle.”
“It’s alright…I get that…a lot…”
“Yeah I thought so.” Natsuki suddenly covered her mouth, embarrassed at the terrible thing she had just blurted out “I-I did to mean it like that!”
“It’s alright…really…” natsuki smiled at the boy
“The names natsuki!” She put out a hand welcoming a handshake, attempting to hide the shivers that took over her frail body.
“Im jeff!” The boy sincerely said, attempting a warm smile.
The boy sat next to her, leaning against the log. “So, are you okay?”
“Yeah…” natsuki let out a bitter laugh “it’s just…my dad” she attempted to hide the way her voice cracked when the words came out.
Jeff examined her making eye contact before scanning her over once more. “Did he do this to you?!” He softly grabbed her arm, covered in deep bruising causing her to flinch
“What are you talking about! You don’t know anything about me! Papa loves me! Even if he gets mad sometimes! He doesn’t hit me! H-he doesn’t…He…” she broke down into a sob.
Jeff slowly embraced her in a hug. Soothing her as he rubbed her back in circles. “It’s okay…”
When her sobs had calmed she looked back to him, maintaining eye contact “thank you”
“Is that your house?” He pointed to the closest home.
“Yeah why?” She laughed a little
“Don’t worry. He’ll never lay a hand on you again.” Jeffs voice darkened.
“Wait Jeff…Jeff?…what are you doing? Jeff?” She yelled to him as he walked to her house with anger and intention.
Suddenly gaining the ability to move, she followed him. His pace had quickened and he opened the door which Natsuki had failed to lock. She was running now, still unable to keep up with him. He stormed into the living room where he found her father passed out drunk in fromt of a blaring baseball game.
Suddenly Natsuki’s father stirred awake, his eyes viewing the towering figure.
“Natsuki did you bring over a boy? What the hell is wrong with you! You little slut! you-“ suddenly his eyes reached the boys face. He broke into a fit of hysterical screams tripping over discarded beer bottles onto the floor.
Natsuki stood frozen unable to do anything about the scene playing out in front of her.
Jeff suddenly pulled out a kitchsn knife from his hoodie pocket, gleaming in the dim flicking lights of the old t.v.
Her fathers screams intensified, increasing urgency as he began pleading for his life.
“Please spare me!”
“Did you spare her when she begged you to stop your beatings?”
“Please! Please! Natsuki tell him! Tell him how I took care of you when your mom died! How I’m all you have!”
“He doesn’t spare me. In fact, he blames me for her death. He wasn’t there for me! I was there for myself!” She states coldly. Jeff drew the knife closer. “Do it.”
Jeff inched fhe knife closer to his neck
“Wait!” Natsuki says
“Natsuki! I knew you’d come around! My only daughter! Natsuki I promise! After this, things will be different! I’m going to change. We-“ his speech was interrupted by a swift kick to the stomach
“That’s for tearing up my manga” she kicks him again, this time in the side, “This is for making me have to search under the vending machines for coins so that I could actually eat! And this…this is for taking away my childhood because you’re life is pathetic and you have no one to blame but yourself!” She growled as she gave him a powerful uppercut to the jaw leaving him limp
“Finish him” her features darkened. Jeff nodded stepping towards his motionless body, save for the slight twitches in this finger.
“Please…” his hoarse voice was just above a whisper.
“Go to sleep” jeff whispers to his ear before violently slashing, making sure to make it as slow and painful as possible.
As the life fades from his eyes a single tear streams down natsuki’s cheek. She quickly wipes it away and turns to the boy who just murdered her father.
“Wanna make cupcakes?”
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“Okay don’t over mix or they’ll get all rubbery”
“Okay…like this?”
“Woah you’re a natural! Are you sure you haven’t baked before? I maan, you’re obviously not as good as me since I’m a master”
“Absolutely certain! Guess i’m a natural!”
Natsuki paused. Nervous about ruining the mood with the question she was about to ask
“Are you okay?” Jeff looks into her twin rose quartz
“I was wondering if you’d come to my club tomorrow its okay if you don’t want to!” She blurted, nervous by his blank expression.
Jeff paused for a moment causing butterflies to form in natsukis stomach “what kind of club?” He inquired
“It’s-it’s a literature club!”
“Why not!” He let out a chuckle.
Natsuki pulled out her phone to the club president’s number
Hey I think I found our newest member