Chains: Eyeless Jack X Reader

Chapter 16

  {Reader's POV}

            Adrenaline fueled my steps as I raced through the forest, weaving through the trees while panting heavily. Pain vaguely bothered me at the base of my neck but I ignored it, trying to put as much distance between me and Jack as possible. The entire time, though, a single thought ran through my mind on repeat:

            What have I done?

            When I'd come to my senses Jack had been sprawled on the ground unconscious, blood matting the back of his hair and his mask crooked, dislodged by the blow. Logic finally returned to me but not entirely, and I quickly dragged him back to the clearing and tied him to a tree with some the ropes used to suspend the dummies. They wouldn't hold him long once he woke up—they were worn and pretty beaten by the elements—but I didn't know what else to do. Once he woke up I knew he'd be furious, and tying him up wouldn't help, but I just didn't want to get hurt even more.

          However, as I said, logic didn't return entirely. At the time I was in a bit of shock. The oxygen may have been cut off from my brain for a few seconds. Pain was clouding my judgment. I could recite so many reasons for why I didn't just run right then, but I knew they were all excuses. I knew the ropes wouldn't hold him long once he woke up, they were old and worn and had been exposed to the elements for a long time. Yet I didn't run.

            I removed his mask.

            I don't know what I expected to find. I already knew his skin was gray, and I'd seen his mouth plenty of times. That cruel sadistic smirk was etched into my memory forever. However, I had yet to see his face in full. Curiosity got the best of me. Sliding the mask over his face, I carefully lifted it off of his head. Aside from his ashy gray skin, he looked perfectly normal. His nose was a bit angular, his blood speckled lips not too thick nor too thin. Naturally his eyelids were closed when I lifted the mask, but I didn't dare try to lift them to peek at his eyes lest he stir. I already had a feeling I knew what I'd find under them anyway.

            As I stared, the mask slipped from my fingers and fell, and before it hit the ground I was already running, not looking back. I ran as fast as I could, ignoring all of the pain in my back and neck as I raced away from the unconscious being.

            Awful. Horrible. Cruel. Evil. Inhuman.

            A monster. 

            In the end, that's all Jack was. I couldn't believe I let myself forget that, even for such a brief time. How could I have possibly let myself be so worried about him? I was the victim here, not him. I was the one who was being held prisoner, chained to a bed every night and never knowing when that shiny silver scalpel might pierce my flesh. It was ridiculous what it took for me to finally remember.

            Panting, I came to a stop and leaned against a tree, shuddering as I hugged myself. At long last my common sense was returning, revealing just how futile my situation was. I'd run away for now, but where would I go? I had no idea where we were, or what direction to go to find civilization. I was more likely to get lost long before I'd find help, and if Jack found me then... I raised a shaky hand to my neck, wincing at even the lightest touch to the bruised skin. Red stained my finger as I pulled it away, staring at it silently.