Love (Slashers X Male Reader)

TWENTY

The others remain silent, digesting everything you've just told them. A few of them feel kind of bad hearing of how you felt after your sister's sudden death, knowing that the families of their victims likely felt the same. Though, they don't really care about that. What they care about is the fact that you were forced to suffer the same way. It makes them wonder if they've ever killed someone you know- asides from Chris- and how you'd react if you found out. Luckily they don't believe they've killed anyone close to you, saving them from your hatred.

The silence is disturbed as you hear faint groaning coming from the other room. Instantly your body stiffens as you realize that the man who not only murdered your sister but also attempted to give you the same fate has awoken. You know that you have no choice but to go and confront him now, despite not having any time to mentally prepare yourself due to being too focused on explaining everything to your boys.

Sensing your hesitation, Stu places a gentle hand on your shoulder and flashes a kind understanding smile at you as he stands up. You mentally thank him as he takes your hand in order to lead you into the other room that the miner is residing in. As you enter the room, you're met with the sight of the miner strapped down to a chair, his head bobbing tiredly from just waking up from being knocked unconscious. Your breath catches in your throat as his head suddenly bobs far enough back from him to see you, his piercing green eye staring at you through the hole cracked in one of the eyes of his mask.

Stepping forward, Billy tears the mask off of him, wanting to see the face of the man who thought they could get away with killing someone so precious to him. The mans face is bloodied and bruised much like Stu's was, yet you can still tell he's quite handsome despite the blemishes. As you continue to look at him, you can't help but to feel as if there's something different about him. Perhaps it's the softness in his eyes, or the fact that it doesn't seem like he recognizes you. Either way, you have a feeling you're no longer facing the same person from earlier.

"Who are you?" Billy questions, glaring down at the still dazed man.

"Where am I?" His voice is scratchy as he speaks, completely ignoring Billy's question.

Annoyed at being ignored, Billy grips his hair in a tight fist and forces him to look up at him. "Answer the damn question. Who the hell are you?"

"Tom... Tom Hanniger." The man hesitates slightly in his answer. He didn't want to tell the rough stranger his name but knew he had no choice. Something tells him that the guy wouldn't hesitate to harm him to get the answers he desires.

"What were you doing in the woods?" Hannibal cuts in, knowing that Billy is too upset to question the man calmly and with a clear mind. While Hannibal isn't exactly thrilled to have to speak to the man in a respectful manner, he knows it's the best way to get answers without resorting to violence. The last thing he wants is to demonstrate his less understanding and polite side- the side that won't hesitate to put someone in their place. Knowing you, you would refuse to leave the room, so he has no choice but to play nice for now.

"The woods?" Tom mumbles the words in confusion before realization dawns across his face. "He didn't kill anyone, did he?!" He leans forward in desperation, a look of remorse and fear taking over.

Despite Stu's protests, you step forward, moving until you're standing directly in front of Tom. You give him a gentle smile as you kneel in front of him, placing a reassuring hand upon his knee. "Who is 'he', Tom?"

"Harry." He chokes out the name as his eyes begin to water with tears. "Harry Warden. He was a miner who passed away a few years ago. Ever since then he's been tormenting me, and every now and then he takes over. I can't stop him." Tom sobs, his eyes staring at you as he silently pleads for you to believe him.

"He was a miner? Is that why he was in the mines?" You question, slowly starting to put things together.

Tom seems to realize something as well as he stares down at you kneeling in front of him. "It was you, wasn't it? The person he tried to kill." Your gentle smile falters slightly at his realization. Slowly, you nod, letting him know that he's correct. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry. I wish I could've stopped him, but whenever he takes over it's as if I'm asleep. There's nothing I can do when like that."

He keeps muttering apologies as he rocks back and forth as much as he physically can while tied down. Standing up, you place your hand on his cheek and force him to look at you. "You need to calm down for me, Tom. Take deep breaths." You lead him through the breathing for a little while before he finally calms down. "Can you explain more for me? About Harry?"

Tom nods, swallowing as he tries to get the tightness in his throat to go away. "He's very protective of the mines. Whenever he senses someone near them, he takes over, and he goes to them as quickly as possible. He hates when people go in or near the mines. He gets so angry that the only way to feel better is to kill the people trespassing. If he could live in the mines he probably would, but he seems to always hand the reigns back over to me after a while. I don't think he can control me for very long, or even permanently." He sobs once again. "He made me kill so many people."

"It's not your fault." You try your best to comfort him, brushing your thumb over his cheek with soft strokes. "All of those deaths weren't because of you. There was nothing you could do. You don't have to apologize to me for what he did. I don't blame you at all."

Tom stares at you in shock, tears silently streaming down his cheeks as you carefully brush them away. Harry had never had a victim survive as far as Tom knew, and for the first time someone who faced him in such a traumatic situation is looking Tom in the eye and telling him it wasn't his fault. That he wasn't the one who killed those people. That he wasn't the one who tried to kill them.

Just who are you to be so willing to show such kindness to a monster like him?