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Naim finds the first piece in the middle of the night.
He has no idea where his phone is. He therefore has no idea what time it is. He left it at his house, he thinks. He didn’t think—he thought the only worry was getting caught. He wishes he had brought it now.
It hasn’t been very long since he broke out, though. So it can’t be too late. Probably.
He could hear screams for a while. He tried to follow them, but they seemed to keep moving. They had cut off as abruptly as they started. He had continued running, hoping against hope that he could find Hunter in time.
He tripped over something, and sprawled forward. He looks back quickly, planning to move forward, not even thinking about it.
There’s a hand. It’s sitting right in front of him.
He thinks it’s Hunters.
He can’t move. He just stares at it. He doesn’t want to touch it. But Hunter is out there. Somewhere. Even if—he’s out there.
He walks forward again. He has the hand wrapped in his jacket and he’s holding it. When did he pick it up? Why is he holding it?
He loses more and more time. The next piece he finds is worse. It’s not even a limb, not really. It’s just a chunk of flesh. He thinks that he’s supposed to leave it for evidence of something. He doesn’t remember. Doesn't know.
The next time he checks back in, the chunk is with the hand in the jacket, now stained forever with blood. The jacket’s black, it doesn't matter, you’ll never be able to tell. He can probably wash most of it out. Everything left will be hidden forever.
He doesn't want to carry this. He wants to set it down. He stops, intending to do just that.
He stands in place for twenty minutes, and then walks some more.
He can’t carry the next piece. It’s a foot. He can’t carry it, his jacket is already partially full and he should leave it, he really should, the police—
The next (last) hand joins its twin, the chunk, and the foot in the jacket. It’s impossible to carry more now. It has to be. (Please, if he can’t carry anymore, then maybe—)
All of them are hurt beyond belief. Pieces of skin flapping as he walks. He can hear them slapping against each other.
He walks, and walks, and walks. Walks. He walks. What is he supposed to do? He walks. Walking walking walking how much longer walking walking mom are we there yet walking his fault walking walking if he hadn’t said anything walking walk walk walk he was so dumb walk walking walk where is he walk where is he Naim needs walk walk to know hes walking when does he stop walking
It takes him tripping over the leg to find it.
It doesn't fit in the jacket. He sets the jacket down next to it instead.
He loses more and more time. The sun is coming up. It’s coming up and Naim hasn’t finished finding Hunter so he’s fine. He’s fine isn’t he? Naim has his torso, legs, feet, everything but his head. So he has to be fine. This isn’t Hunter. Of course it isn’t. If he puts them in one place then he’ll be fine. Hunter’s head will connect them.
He finds it laying in the grass and stares at it for a long time.
It’s the only thing undamaged. Was he awake the whole time?
He turns around. There’s civilization nearby. He knows it. They’ll know what to do.
He walks and walks and sees the road and walks to it and sees a house and walks across the road and he almost gets hit by a car but it stops just before and he stares at it the man is horrified.
The man rushes out of the car, not wanting to touch Naim, but hovering. Of course. Naim is poison, disease, he needs to be quarantined killed dragged and dragged and screaming and screaming and silent.
The man is here. Right. He will know what to do. Naim turns back to the field, walking in. The man follows, good, he needs to, and Naim goes looking for the jacket. It’s here. He sees it and leads the man. Stares and stares and the man is saying something—is he screaming why is he screaming where is he he’s right there does he have his head and arms and legs and torso he does why is he screaming please please—Naim needs his help. Hunter’s head. It’s not here. They need it to be here. He grabs the man and starts running to Hunter. He makes it and stops again. Stare stare stare they’re in a staring contest and Hunter will win, he’ll win. Naim wants him to lose, but it’s not possible.
Naim loses when the man starts screaming louder. He turns to the man, trying to shush him. He knows the man hasn’t undergone the ritual (that's what did it its going after Ryan he has to stop it does Ryan know does he see Hunter—) but he might bring the thing back, it might come, and Naim isn’t safe from it (he didn’t undergo the ritual he's safe he's safe but he shouldn't be he brought this upon Ryan and Hunter he deserves the curse) he needs the man to stop. He seems to understand, although he still won’t touch Naim (he’s covered in something sticky—is that why the man won’t touch him?) because he stops and starts speaking quieter, although his voice is still muffled to Naim and Naim can see the fear in his eyes.
Is Naim going to be blamed for this? He’s realizing that it looks like he did this. He didn’t he promises. He did he promises. He didn’t tear Hunter apart (he’s fine he’s fine) but he’s the one to give the keys to the monster who did (he’s fine he’s fine) does that make him responsible? Yes yes yes yes he did it no no no he can’t be blamed he has to save Ryan. Will Ryan be saved? If Naim kills himself will Ryan be ok? Hunter might like that why does he care what Hunter wants Hunter was a dick (all his clothes were gone he found it in the grass, bleeding out and with part of a leg he doesn’t remember bringing it to the stack) but he doesn’t want to die not really.
He’s with the man in his car. He isn’t sure when he got there.
They’re at the police station. The man is talking frantically, gesturing to Naim. He stands there, listless. He still can’t hear anything (he found one of the wars with a bit of arm, looking like it had been swiped with the same claw it had nearly been cut in half what if that happens to Ryan what if what if)
Multiple cars leave, he sees them through the window of the room of the chair that he’s been sat in. They all have drivers, one one one he can see them. Why couldn’t he see the thing that took Hunter?
They come back hours later. Naim’s coming back into himself, wishing he wasn’t. He makes sure that he can’t see what they are carrying in the bags.
The police eventually ask for his statement.
They don’t give him back his jacket.