Stranger (Johnny slaughter x reader)

This too shall pass pt.1

They ran deep into the woods, their breathless footsteps crunching on fallen leaves and twigs. Panic and fear gripped them as they ventured further away from the lifeless body left behind. It wasn't long before they found a dense thicket of shrubbery, providing some semblance of concealment.

Gasping for breath, they huddled together in the shadows, hidden from view, and waited. The distant shouts of searchers and the beams of flashlights sliced through the night as they combed the area for any sign of the fugitives.

Johnny, Nancy, and Y/n held their breath, their hearts pounding like distant war drums. The minutes felt like hours as they listened to the search team's movements, praying that the cover of darkness would soon work in their favor.

They knew they had to bide their time, waiting until the search was called off for the night before they could safely decide on their next move. The forest around them was shrouded in an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional chirp of nocturnal creatures. It was a tense and anxious vigil they kept.

The hours crawled by, and exhaustion began to weigh heavily on them. Nancy, nestled against Johnny's chest, had drifted into a fitful slumber, her body seeking respite from the ordeal. Johnny, too, struggled to stay awake, his head nodding with fatigue.

Y/n, however, remained wide awake, her eyes fixed on the dark forest beyond their hiding place. The events of the night, particularly the moment when she had pulled the trigger, played on a relentless loop in her mind. The knowledge that Ken had been a father and husband gnawed at her conscience, and silent tears streaked down her stone-cold face.

She couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of guilt and dread that had settled within her. The darkness of the forest seemed to mirror the turmoil in her heart, and the weight of the choices they had made bore down on her shoulders like an unyielding burden.

As y/n continued to grapple with the haunting memory of that gunshot, her thoughts inevitably turned inward, and she couldn't help but compare herself to Johnny. She had witnessed Johnny's violence before, seen him take lives, and each time, it had sent shivers down her spine. But this was different; this time, she was the one who had pulled the trigger.

She couldn't escape the questions that tormented her mind. Was she just as bad as Johnny's family? Did she now understand the weight of what Johnny felt every time he took a life? The thought of causing harm to another human being, even in self-defense, shook her to her core.

She couldn't fathom how someone could intentionally end another person's life. The coldness of that act, the finality of it, left her feeling sickened and horrified. It was as if she had glimpsed into the abyss of Johnny's world, and she couldn't unsee the darkness that lurked there.

In that moment, y/n questioned her own humanity, her own capacity for violence, and it terrified her. She had always considered herself a reluctant observer in Johnny's violent world, but now she was a participant, and the lines between right and wrong, good and evil, had blurred in ways she could never have imagined.

As the chilling realization settled in, she couldn't help but wonder: How could Johnny profess remorse for ending a life, only to then eat his victim?
Her thoughts raced.
The memories of consuming human flesh rushed back into her mind, and an involuntary gasp escaped her lips. She brought a trembling hand to her forehead, as if trying to physically shake off the haunting recollections, exhaling sharply in distress.

Johnny noticed the distress etched across Y/n's face, and he spoke softly, his voice tinged with a haunting sense of experience. "You get over it eventually," he murmured, as if trying to reassure her, though the words carried a heavy weight.

Y/n couldn't help but blurt out, "Christ," as the memories of their gruesome actions lingered in her mind.
She continued, "because that's what vets say, 'you get over it.' Jesus, Johnny."
Johnny's shoulders tensed slightly at her reaction, and he retorted with a hint of defensiveness, "What else were we supposed to do, Y/n? It's survival of the fittest."

Y/n, overwhelmed by the intense emotions, turned to Johnny and said sharply, "Just... fuck off for a second."

Johnny let out a resigned sigh and muttered, "Fine, whatever." He leaned back against a tree, giving Y/n some space to process her thoughts.

As Nancy stirred awake and became aware of the tension between Y/n and Johnny, she couldn't contain her anger. Her voice was sharp as she said, "What the hell is going on? Can't you two keep it together for one damn moment? We're in enough trouble as it is without you fighting."

Johnny gently moved Nancy off his chest and got up, clutching the tote bag tightly. He spoke with determination, "We need to keep moving. There's gotta be someplace out here where we can hide."

Y/n's voice carried a hint of resentment as she spoke up, "Yeah, Johnny, what's the plan for dealing with 'someone's' if we stumble on them in 'someplace'?"

Johnny's tone took a sickening and terrifying turn as he ordered, "Can it." Y/n couldn't help but closely examine the blood that covered him, a stark reminder of who held the power and control in this situation.

For a brief moment, Johnny's mind swirled with guilt as he saw a reflection of himself in Y/n. But he quickly collected himself, realizing that if he didn't assert control, she might make a reckless decision. With determination, he demanded, "Stand up."

Johnny helped Nancy to her feet, his arm supporting her as they began to walk. But he noticed that Y/n had stopped, and a flash of anger surged through him. He demanded with a stern tone, "Walk!"

Y/n, feeling a sense of disgust and frustration, asked Johnny, "Or what?"

Johnny, his patience wearing thin, shouted at Y/n through clenched teeth, "Don't you start with me. Walk!"

Y/n's sympathy for Johnny began to melt away, and she reluctantly trailed behind them as they continued their uneasy journey through the wilderness.

They continued walking in silence as the night progressed, the tension from their earlier argument lingering in the air. The fear of someone still looking for them in the forest forced them to keep their voices down. Their path through the dense woods was slow and cautious.

Suddenly, they stumbled upon a small clearing. In the center of the clearing stood an old, dilapidated trailer. It was surrounded by tall, swaying trees, casting eerie shadows in the moonlight. The trailer seemed abandoned, a solitary structure in the heart of the forest. It presented an opportunity for shelter, but its remote location also raised questions about what might be inside.

(A/n: sorry for taking longer to put out decent chapters. Life just got a busy for a minute so I spread out my writing over a few days now but I hope to get back on schedule soon :) )