The smaller boy was clearly the leader in the small group of three. There was him, another boy, and a single girl. Jake tried to calm himself down at the sight of the girl. Haliow had said to wait for the precise moment: the single moment that they were vulnerable enough. Jake slightly questioned how they were going to take down all three of them at the same time. If he had all of his facts straight, he knew that you blacked out after a kill. To save your sanity or so you couldn't stop yourself...he wasn't sure.
They had been eyeing the group for a matter of hours now. The girl and the two boys had already been chosen their fates, even though Jake wasn't proud of it. Who knew? Maybe they were criminals in their life they had before, and they were being tested to see if they would kill again.
Haliow chose you.
Jake almost laughed, but he couldn't in case the three overheard him. No, I was the first person he saw.
He could have picked the girl.
He really didn't like the fights he and himself got into.
Haliow suddenly stiffened, and Jake could almost imagine, if he were to be a dog, his ears perking. "He knows we're here," he said.
Jake raised his head above the weeds. Frankly, he thought it ridiculous that they were hiding in pink and purple wildflowers, but it was the best hiding place they could muster.
"Jake, do you remember anything?"
It was a small whisper. A small plea for an answer to all of this. Jake knew what he meant. He didn't mean little things like knowing the difference between a pug and a german shepherd. He meant anything personal. A small shake of Jake's head made Haliow turn away.
"There's no point in waiting any longer." Jake saw Haliow shrug his shoulders in what looked like an attempt to turn his anxiety away.
Jake nodded. Already, he was beginning to hate how Haliow took charge in everything, but a small part of him was thankful for Haliow choosing him, not some other person. He would do his best to succeed.
<> <> <>
Something sticky covered his fingers. Jake opened his eyes to immediately close them again. He might want to succeed, but it didn't mean he agreed with every little aspect of it.
Haliow seemed to be doing the same, except he kept his eyes open. His green eyes darted over every red stain on the ground. Jake's stomach twisted when Haliow's face didn't look upset at all. He might actually enjoy this.
"We have to move," Haliow said. He knew Haliow was right. If they just stayed in this one spot, they'd never find anyone.
Jake accidentally brushed against a tree, and he found out something was in his pocket that way. He shook his head slightly, his face reddening as he thought how he should have checked his pockets earlier.
He brought out the item. At first, he had no clue what it was supposed to be. Then he felt a chain in his pocket as well. It was a red pocket watch of some sorts, and if he wasn't careful with it the redness flaked off in small chunks. He noticed the black hinge was barely hanging on.
It took a while to prop it open, but when he did, his eyebrows furrowed. Inside, it had a non-working clock and engraved writing. The writing was also stained black. It read, 'JAKE FROM STATE FARM' in neat writing, despite the obvious struggle it would have been since it was engraved.
Stumped, Jake stared at it in wonder. He had a faint recognition of it being an ad of some sorts. That's as far into his memory he could get. He could remember things like the Internet, and simple things like basketball, yet nothing personal. Nothing indicated he played basketball, or had an interest in the Internet. He smiled slightly as he remembered the ad.
"Jake, come on." With the exasperation it sounded like it was the third or fourth time Haliow said it, and Jake quickly put the pocket watch. "Hey, what's that?"
"Nothing," Jake said quickly. Haliow looked like he might ask about it later, but left it at that.
