Stranger (Johnny slaughter x reader)

Stride

Y/n suddenly awoke, disoriented and unable to recall when she had fallen asleep. The gentle warmth of the morning sun filtered through the branches, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow inside the car. As she blinked away the remnants of sleep, she noticed that Johnny was already awake, his gaze fixed on something beyond the truck's windows.

Y/n's head whipped around, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings as she tried to make some sense. For a moment, everything was a blur, and then it hit her - the events of the night before, the house, the payphone, the woods, Johnny, and their night in the truck.

"Good morning," Johnny greeted with a tired but genuine smile, his gaze returning to the world outside the window.
Y/n followed Johnny's gaze, looking out the same way to see what had captured his attention.

"What are you looking at?" Y/n asked, her curiosity piqued.

Johnny glanced at her and then pointed out of the window, a faint smile on his face. "Look," he said, "there's a rabbit right outside."
Intrigued, Y/n climbed over to get a better view of the rabbit, her eyes widening with surprise as she saw the small, furry creature hopping about in the morning light.

The sight of the rabbit, seemingly unaffected by their presence, brought a momentary sense of serenity.
They both watched in silence as the rabbit hopped off into the bushes, disappearing into the undergrowth. After a moment, Johnny turned to Y/n and asked, "Do you think your friends would be awake by now?"

Y/n looked at Johnny with a newfound sympathy in her gaze. Her eyes lingered on his rough features, his brown eyes that held both darkness and vulnerability, and the scar on the right side of his face, tracing its path from his forehead to his cheek. She couldn't help but wonder where that scar had come from, and if it had any connection to Nancy or the tumultuous past he had shared.

Nodding in agreement, Y/n finally said, "Yes, we can go and make those calls."

Johnny exhaled, relieved with Y/n's agreement. Y/n settled back into her seat, ready to reach out to her friends for assistance. Johnny turned the keys and the engine roared to life, the truck slowly rumbled forward, leaving the woods behind.
The truck's tires rumbled over the uneven terrain as they continued down the winding road, surrounded by the lush, towering trees of the woods. Sunlight streamed through the dense canopy, casting fleeting patterns of light and shadow that danced across the interior of the vehicle. The distant chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves keeping y/ns mind off the events of the days before.

Johnny steered the truck into a space next to the payphone outside the weathered motel. In the harsh light of day, the motel sign revealed its true state of disrepair. Large cracks snaked through the sign's surface, giving it a shattered and worn appearance. Some of the neon bulbs were completely burnt out, while others flickered sporadically.

As the engine fell silent, both Y/n and Johnny stepped out of the truck, the door hinges creaking with the effort. They were greeted by the warm embrace of the morning sun, a sharp contrast to the cool shade of the woods they had left behind.

Y/n headed toward the payphone while Johnny followed closely behind, his eyes scanning their surroundings, ever watchful for any signs of danger. Together, they stood before the phone.

Johnny reached into his pocket, producing a handful of coins, their metallic jingles echoing in the quiet morning air. He carefully examined the payphone, his fingers deftly sliding a few coins into the designated slot. The coins clinked and clattered as they fell into place.

Y/n took a deep breath, her fingers trembling slightly as she dialed Jerry number on the payphone. The tension in the air was palpable as they both waited, listening to the insistent ring on the other end.