Jacob Seed x Reader

Eight

There was this ringing. This loud, shrill ringing that echoed in your ears. It was so loud. So shrill and confusing.

Where did it come from?

When you lifted your head you thought something liquid was dripping out of your ears. Confused, you touched the spot, only to be surprised to find blood stuck on your fingers. It had a deep, shimmering shade of red, fresh and as beautifully pigmented like oil paint.

"Ugh, shit...", you cursed and tried to stand up in a hurry.

Your legs gave way under you, you stumbled and fell back into the dirt.

Sharp stones dug into your hand. It hurt, but it didn't bleed.

There was that white dust again, flying around in the air. At first you thought it was just dust, but when the sun cast its rays on the earth, something colourful began to shimmer between the white.

With one hand in front of your mouth, you tried again to stand up. As you did so, you reached out for something to hold on to. Something cold and metallic nestled in your hand. You reached for it and pulled yourself up.

Immediately your foggy vision cleared and you noticed the strange cloud of dust dancing around your lower body.

A warm breeze swept through the valley and carried it away. It smelled chemical, a bit like gas but not really.

"Huh? How strange...", you murmured to yourself and glanced around. "Where the fuck..?"

Your eyes widened in surprise. Suddenly, the memories hit you.

Getting lost, the car in the woods, that red hair and beard.

Those blue eyes.

The memories of those eyes made you shiver. This dark shimmer that was hidden in them, the brutal strength and how he had looked at you without breaking eye contact one second. Like an animal that wanted to hunt you down.

You had felt weak, vulnerable. You even felt a bit ashamed of how your heart had beaten fasted in fear whenever he had been close.

You frowned, remembering how he had dragged you into this strange room, with those pictures and his voice that still echoed inside your ears.

Somehow, he sounded like a ghost from the past.

But you were sure that you had never met him before. Plus, a face like his was hard to forget.

And yet. You couldn't help but feel strange whenever he was around. As if he was an old friend from the past.

"What- what was his name again..? James... Jamie... Jack..?", you asked yourself, feeling strangely empty because his name wasn't laying on your tongue.

"You're not good with names either, pup.", a deep voice suddenly sounded. "What a shame."

Struck by surprise, you flinched. Your gaze shot up, you were prepared to look into those animalistic eyes. But as your eyes met his, your heart jumped.

His eyes seemed calm that day. There was no hidden shimmer, buried deep inside this icy blue. Just a spark of curiosity. There was a smirk laying on his thin lips.

He looked like he was in a good mood, amused even.

Taking a deep breath, you gifted him a smile.

"A warning would have been nice, mister invisible.", you joked. "You're pretty quiet for a man this big."

His lips curled and he smirked even broader before his face froze again.

"You've got a big mouth.", he said in a dry manner and stepped closer. "Can't even remember my name. How disappointing. A good soldier remembers every detail."

You shrugged, only now noticing that he was separated from you by a wall of metal bars. Confused, you frowned, threw a quick gaze up and catching a glimpse at your surroundings.

"Ah, finally fully awake?", he asked. "Yes, you are trapped in a cage. Like an animal. And you won't come out until you earned your place."

Biting your lips, you put on a smile again.

"It was you.", you said and stepped closer as well.

Now, the two of you were about an arms length apart. You could have touched him, if you had wanted to.

He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head.

"What was I?"

"The voice. While I was dreaming, it was you who talked."

"Hm.", he nodded in approval. "I was."

"Why?"

"Just a method to make you obedient."

"Why me? We are strangers, I've never seen you before."

"Don't flatter yourself. You're just one of many today. You're nothing special. Neither to me, nor to hope county. You'll serve, because I say so. Joseph decides your religious fate. And John will test you. I am just making sure that you are worth the trouble."

The way he was talking was a calm one, his voice slow yet strong and his eyes locked with yours. Despite him talking like fanatic religious man, he didn't not feel like a thread. It was so strange. His appearance was calming and his eyes like a piece of the sky that could be used to escape this cage.

Curious, yet unsure, you tilted your head and raised your chin. You had to look up quite a bit to be able to look him in the face. You didn't want this stranger to see how restless you felt.

"And if I don't?", you asked, looking at him from top to bottom. "What if I won't be useful?"

His lips twitched and he and to smirk again. But this short moment of amusement faded quickly and the cold expression returned to his face.

"Do you know what they do with race horses that can't run no more?", he asked, stepping even closer.

His eyes locked with yours.

He was tall. Incredibly tall, so tall, that he was able to look down on you.

The red of his hair shimmered in a bright orange in the sunlight. His skin was already turning a bit red, not an unusual thing. People with ginger hair tended to turn red instead of getting a tan.

He seemed to be no different, despite the many rashes and injuries on his skin.

You swallowed thickly.

"They put them to sleep.", you answered.

He nodded.

"Exactly. What a smart pup you are.", his breath tickled on your skin. "So always remember, if you can't run, nor serve, you are as useless as a horse with a broken leg."