The Desire to Be Loved (slashers x reader)

ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 6

Y/N stirred awake on the cold, dew-dampened wooden ramp leading to the still lake. The soft ripple of water kissed the shore in a soothing rhythm. Overhead, the dawn sky was a muted blend of lavender and pale gold, casting a serene light over the world.

The black cat she'd met yesterday stretched lazily by her side, its green eyes gleaming like gemstones in the soft morning glow. It yawned, flashing tiny, sharp teeth, before curling up again with an air of unbothered grace.

Y/N sat up slowly, her muscles stiff from the night spent outside. Her eyes darted around, her heart pounding. The memory of the previous night came rushing back—Jason's looming, silent figure and Michael's eerie, calculated presence. But now, they were gone. No hulking silhouettes. No heavy, oppressive silence. Just the lake, the ramp, and the cat.

She pressed her palm to her forehead, trying to piece it together. Were they real? Or had it been some bizarre nightmare? Her fingertips brushed against a faint scratch on her arm—too real to dismiss. She scanned the treeline, half-expecting to see them lurking in the shadows, but the forest remained still and unthreatening, save for the occasional chirp of a bird.

The cat lifted its head, its eyes narrowing at the tree line. A low, rumbling purr vibrated through its body, sounding more like a warning than a comfort. Y/N followed its gaze but saw nothing. The absence of the killers didn't bring her relief; it only heightened the unease in her chest.

"Where are they?" she whispered to no one in particular. The cat gave no answer, only leaped onto her lap and curled into a tight ball, its warmth grounding her in the eerie calm of the morning.

For now, there were no signs of Jason or Michael. But Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that the still and serene lake was holding its breath—waiting for something.

Y/N gently stroked the cat's sleek black fur, her thoughts pulling her deeper into worry. The image of Jason from the night before loomed vividly in her mind—his tattered clothing stained with dark, viscous blood, his movements slower than usual after the brutal fight with Michael. She could still hear the sickening crack of metal meeting flesh, the primal growls of pain and fury as they clashed.

Y/N clenched her fists, biting her lip. Where did he go? Did he find a place to recover, or is he out there, vulnerable? For all his terrifying presence and monstrous strength, Jason's injuries had made him seem... human. And it worried her more than she cared to admit.

She glanced down at the cat, now purring steadily in her lap. "You saw it, didn't you?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "You were there too. He didn't look good."

The cat lifted its head, green eyes staring into hers with an almost knowing expression. It blinked slowly as if to say yes, but what can you do about it?

Y/N shifted uncomfortably, guilt clawing at her. Jason might be a relentless force, but last night proved he wasn't invincible. And as for Michael... she didn't trust him to leave Jason alone if he found him in a weakened state. Their fight had been fueled by something primal—something she didn't understand and wasn't sure she wanted to.

Her gaze drifted back to the tree line, her imagination conjuring images of Jason lying somewhere, struggling to move, maybe even dying. The thought twisted her stomach. Despite everything, she couldn't help but feel a strange sense of responsibility.

"I need to find him," she said aloud, more to herself than to the cat. The words felt heavy but resolute.

Before she could take another step, a familiar voice echoed from the treeline behind her.

"Y/N! Breakfast is ready!"

That was her mom's voice, unmistakable and warm, cutting through the stillness of the morning. Y/N turned toward the sound, noticing the faint trail of smoke curling into the pale sky, just beyond the trees.