Stranger (Johnny slaughter x reader)

Reckoning

"Do you know how to do this sort of thing?"
Johnny glanced up at y/n, she shook her head, her stomach churning at the sight of the deers tongue spilling out of its head and the blood spilling from its gutted abdomen.
Johnny carefully laid the deer on to a towel outside the trailer. "First, you start with the skin," he said, his hands deftly working as he showed y/n how to skin the animal. "You gotta make sure you get a good grip and then pull. It can be tough, but it's necessary to get to the meat."

As he continued to work, separating the meat into usable portions, Johnny provided further guidance. "These cuts here, these are the prime ones. Good for grilling. But we can use every part of this animal, waste nothing." The warm, dry air was filled with the earthy scent of fresh game as Johnny guided y/n through the process, sharing his knowledge of hunting and survival.

Y/n stole a glance at Nancy, who was skillfully arranging the firewood into a small pit. The dry twigs and branches were neatly stacked. Her movements were deliberate, betraying years of experience. The warm afternoon sun cast long shadows around her as she worked, adding an aura of serenity to the otherwise harsh surroundings. It was a strange and eerie contrast to the bloody work Johnny was doing nearby.

Johnny's stern voice cut through y/n's momentary distraction, bringing her back to their task at hand. With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the deer, ready to learn from him.

"Here, give it a try," Johnny said, handing y/n the knife. She reluctantly took it, her face reflecting her disgust.

The blade met the deer's flesh, and the sensation made her nauseous. With a nervous laugh, Johnny observed her struggle. "You're not a fan of this, huh?" he chuckled.

The skin yielded under her hesitant hand, and she couldn't help but grimace. Johnny noticed her discomfort and took back the knife, expertly finishing the task as y/n watched, relieved to be free from the grisly work.

Johnny sighed and looked at y/n, suggesting, "Why don't you go check on Nancy? See if she needs anything."

Y/n stood up and briefly looked at Johnny from above, who was deeply focused on carving the deer. She made her way to Nancy, the ground crunching beneath her feet. Y/n inquired, "Do you need anything?"

Nancy looked at y/n and requested, "Can you go into the trailer and grab that lighter from the drawer?"

Y/n nodded and turned toward the trailer, heading inside to fetch the lighter.

Y/n stepped into the trailer, her fingers fumbling through the drawer where she had seen Johnny place the lighter. As she rummaged, the weight of solitude pressed upon her. The silence, punctuated only by distant crows, enveloped her like a heavy shroud.

In the dim interior, the memory of the previous night's gruesome act seeped into her consciousness. The vivid scene of the lifeless man replayed in her mind, and the reminder that his death was her fault and he had just told her about his wife and kid made her shiver involuntarily. Determined to banish those haunting thoughts, she shook her head vigorously.

A lump formed in her throat as the reality of their circumstances washed over her, and she abruptly slammed the drawer shut. Without a second thought, she exited the trailer and returned to the outdoor scene, yearning for the presence of others to chase away the lingering shadows of her thoughts.

Y/n walked over to Nancy, holding out the lighter she had retrieved. "Here," she said, offering it to the older woman.

Nancy smiled at y/n as she received the lighter. However, her expression quickly shifted to frustration as she watched Johnny. She pointed at him and exclaimed, "That boy!"