Secrets Meant to be Forgotten : TMC Fic

Chapter Five, Blurred Out

☆A/N : This chapter contains cursing, attempted reader/Y/N murder, blood and violence, blocked out memories, and general paranoia.☆

Day passed since I brought the two home, taking care of them both as much as I could. Most days followed a pattern, I'd get up out of bed, make breakfast and a pot of coffee usually to Adam's taste, and get myself ready. I'd help the two get to the kitchen, where we'd sit and chat while they ate. Jonah was a fan of pancakes and sweet, sugary things, usually getting into small, childish fights with Adam over it. After breakfast, I'd help change their bandages and then we'd figure out what to do next. Everyday nowadays followed this weird, half thought out monotony,

I had to be there for them no matter how boring things felt, some part of me couldn't just leave them like this.

I walked down the street, a light jacket draped over my shoulders protecting me from the smallest chill in the air, and a mask covering my mouth. The house ran out of food last night, Jonah complaining about how hungry he was, annoying both me and Adam. He practically begged me to go out in the middle of the night to get him something, me having to remind him about how that's a bad idea. Wind blew up against my jacket, bringing with it a colder, almost wet smell. Spring was almost here, the ground still not having given up the frost and snow that clung to the dead blades of waterlogged grass. The smell of gasoline pricked at my nose as I walked up to one of the nearby stores, a little mom and pop shop that apparently, from everyone's recollection, has been here 'forever'. I walked inside, being greeted by the cashier. I gave a wave, before turning down the shelves lined with various things, little yellow cards hanging underneath each displaying a price. I wandered to the back, finding myself faced with all sorts of medical supplies, everything from bandages to surgical thread.

Lately everything's felt so off...

I looked through the bandages, grabbing a few I thought I might need, as well as some gauze and peroxide just in case. I don't know if it'd be safe to take Jonah and Adam back to the hospital, I mean, yeah sure, they have stitches that need to be removed but they're still on the run.

We couldn't risk that kind of attention. Not now.

I moved onto the painkillers, looking between bottles until I found the strongest I could. Picking out at least 3 different kinds, I walked up to the cashier, setting them on the counter,

"Morning," he warmly smiled,

"Hey,"

Scanning each item slowly, he started to make smalltalk, his voice only loud enough for both of us to hear, "How's it going this fine day?"

"It's alright," I shrugged, "Nothing interesting yet."

"Well I hope you get something to do." He continued, on the 5th now, quietly beeping from the machine as he slid each barcode over the scanner, "What's with all the bandages?"

"They're for my friends, they got in a really bad crash a while ago." Looking away, I continued, "I've been taking care of them ever since."

"I hope they get better."

"Me too, honestly."

He typed something into the machine he was using,

"That'll be thirty five and sixty cents."

I dug my hands into my pockets, rifling through them before pulling out an assortment of cash, waded up and crumpled, and a few coins. I put them on the table, his hands gently grabbing the right amount. I dragged the rest back, stuffing back into my pockets, never to be thought about again. He counted them, flipping through the paper before sliding it into his machine, He then bagged my things, setting all of it back down on front of me,

"Have a wonderful day."

"Thanks! You too." I took my things, leaving the store.

I left the store, walking quietly down the sidewalk beside the building, my car parked somewhere off in the distance, down the street and around the corner. Breath hung in the air as the whirring sounds of cars and trucks driving by echoed off the wall. I was about to turn the corner, get by the main road so I could turn again, when I heard something, a whisper.

"Excuse me- ehm- you-."

Turning, eyes glancing over the chain link fence separating the plot beside it, my sight landed on a figure standing in the shadow of the shop, "me-?"

"Yeah you. My friend passed out and I need some help getting her to my car- please- we need to hurry. She's just down here."

Silent, I stared, not knowing if I should. It could be a lure, you know how people are. They sunk into the shadows, still maintaining eye contact with me. I know I shouldn't, I know I've gotta get home soon, but still, it seems so real. I dropped what I was holding, the brown plastic bags crinkling underneath their own weight, as I took off behind them. If someone was really hurt, they'd need me now more than ever. They ran ahead of me, turning the corner, and leading me right behind the store. I froze, finding myself now faced with them and only them. Fences towered around us, shielding us from the view of everyone else, everyone who could stop whatever was about to happen. They turned to face me, a sickening grin on their face making my stomach churn.

They took a step forward, eyes lighting up as they looked just behind me. I was shot forward, white-hot pain in the back of my head. I tried to look at whoever they had with them, turning, only to be grabbed by the neck from behind. Now fully facing the other person, wielding what looked to be a sledge-hammer, I could only tear at the chain wrapped tightly around my throat. Everything felt blurry, going numb, dark. I heard them both say a few things, though I really couldn't hear them over the ringing in my ears,

It was like flashes, something changing, the chain wasn't wrapped around my neck anymore,

Unable to find balance, or any sense of self,

Memories blocked out, only fragments of blood splattered concrete and broken bones, taking my things and running, it felt so distant, yet so close.

So very unreal.

When I came to, I couldn't for the life of me remember how I got home, walking from the car to the front door, brown bags in my strangely rust-tinted hands.

What the fuck was all that?

I'm not dead?

Blood on my shoes trailed onto the carpet before drying up, my hands turning the two locks on the door quickly before I made my way to the kitchen, mind racing as I tried to figure out what just happened. None of the memories I did have were in order, like something lost in translation. I was more surprised I didn't die, honestly. I sat the bags down on the kitchen table, eyes glancing up at the clock hanging in the wall, it had been an hour since I left-

Why can't I remember..?

I turned around instinctively, eyes locking with Adam's. He leaned on his crutches, staring at me, hair a mess, probably from just waking up. He had a wary, kinda confused look.

"Hey Adam." I smiled,

"Hey," he waved, before his eyes drifted down to my shoes, seeing the blood. He then looked back up at me. "The fuck happened to you?"

"I don't... really know." I sheepishly looked away, "I think I stepped on, uh, a dead bird or something getting out of the car." I shrugged.

Deep down I'm sure he knew it was a lie, too.

For the life of me I couldn't say anything about what I did know happened, I don't think he'd want to hear it.

Adam looked me in the eyes, giving what felt like a forced smile, nonchalantly shrugging, "Maybe watch where you're going then so you don't ruin the fucking carpet'

"Oh, yeah, thanks for the advice, it's so helpful right now." I sarcastically crossed my arms,

He chuckled to himself, hobbling away. What's up with him? Somethings been up since he went to the hospital, what changed? He sat down beside Jonah on the couch, half laying while making some small talk. Were they trying to surprise me? How didn't I notice them? Is that why they were so quiet?

Weird.