Dear Diary | Proxies

xxxviii.

Dear Diary,
Fuck Jeffy boy.

"You know, the dogs should be home soon." Jack's voice rang out against the empty kitchen I was standing in.

I turned quickly to look at him, caught off guard by the sudden voice. He gave me a pitiful look, and I knew I must have looked horrible, even for someone with only echolocation. I hadn't slept the night before, shaking and filled with fear. Not to mention, every time I thought I might have dozed off, I was shocked awake by the feeling of someone touching my arm or sitting on the bed though no one was there. I couldn't even make myself shower, just pulling on some of Tim's clothes and tying a bandana on my head to cover my knotted hair.

I stared at him for a moment too long before realizing what he had said. "Huh?"

"The dogs. Their mission should have been finished late last night, so they should be on the way home now."

I worried my lip between my teeth, feeling my shoulders drop, a bit of tension leaving my body at the confirmation that I hadn't misheard. They should be home soon. I took a shaky breath, mixing the pot of water in front of me. "Thank you," I murmured, glancing back over to him.

He nodded, but the look on his face remained. "What are you making over there?"

I blinked slowly, the tiredness settling deep inside of my body. "Sally wanted sweet tea, but we don't have any, so I was going to make her some."

He took a step back. "I'll leave you to it, then." He paused, rocking a bit on his feet. "Do you need anything?"

I shook my head 'no,' forcing a small smile on my face for him. "Thank you, though."

He hesitated for a moment more before leaving, and I was back by myself. Just a bit longer.

It was quiet besides the bubbling of the water as it finally got to its boiling point. I tore open the bag of sugar gently, movements still sluggish as I poured an enormous amount of sugar into the pot, stirring it immediately. I left it for just a moment, grabbing the bags of tea to steep in it when I was interrupted again.

"Decided to come from your ivory tower, princess?"

And fucking shit goddamnit. Why couldn't I have one fucking night without this dumbass trying some shit? Why couldn't I live without fear of him at every corner? Why was I letting him ruin me so much?

I bunched my shoulders, anger and fear both settling into my body at the same time. "What do you want, Jeff?"

"Well, considering we got cut short yesterday because someone was too much of a bitch to actually play, I thought I'd pay you a little visit. Imagine my surprise at seeing you so out in the open – ready for the taking."

My lip curled up into a snarl as I took a step back as he took one forward, slowly making his way around the counter, trusty knife in hand.

"Did you think about what I said last night? Did it keep you up? Does the truth really hurt that much, doll?" He flexed his fingers around the handle as my blood boiled like the pot of water behind me. The water. I slowly wrapped my hand around one of the handles to the pot while Jeff was distracted. "Such a pretty little face to be ruined with no sleep." He hummed thoughtfully, sneakers padding against the tiled floor as he got even closer, only about a foot away now. "I wonder what you would look like if I took your eyelids, too," he cooed. "Think loverboys would still 'love' you then?"

I moved faster than I thought I could, swinging the pot off of the stove and to Jeff's feet, jumping back as it splashed into the air and all over him. He let out a scream at the feeling, the sugar mixed with the water already beginning to solidify onto his skin, keeping him burning.