The Hunt (Jeff the Killer Fanfiction)

8: Walking Corpse

     A plan to take down Jeff? Is Alex stupid? Crazy maybe? Suicidal? He wouldn't tell me much more than that he knew how get rid of Jeff. He's an idiot, he's going to get killed. But what if it works? He talks like he knows so much more about Jeff than me, and he probably does. If I can help him, I can stop Jeff from hurting anyone else "for me" again. 

     I stared at my arm, I had taken the bandages off earlier to allow the wounds some air. Jeff turned my arm into his own little twisted art project, all because I talked to someone. I didn't want to talk to him, he just wouldn't leave me alone. He just wanted to help. 

     If Jeff finds out I've talked to Alex, he'll probably turn my other arm into a bloody mess too, right before going on another massive spree. I can't let that happen. I quickly pull out my phone and delete my conversation with Alex, making sure there is no trace of it for when Jeff gets back. I hope Alex's plan doesn't get him killed. 

     Looking out my rooms window, I can see the police continuing their walk. Jeff said what they were doing was pointless, that the security systems people will put in can't stop him. I don't doubt his words. He praised me for keeping what I knew secret, I feel disgusted with myself, I feel like dying. But I can't die now, I have a chance of ending this. Besides, who knows what Jeff would do if I killed myself right now. I'm better off giving in to him, but I can't do that either.

     Wanting to wipe away the disgust, I make my way to the shower. I had been so uncaring with my hygiene that I'm beginning to smell like Jeff- blood, dirt, and sweat. Minus that lingering smell of tobacco and alcohol that seems to follow him like a cloud. 

     Once in the bathroom, and triple checking that the door is lock- a habit I found myself in after the paranoia began to set in- I strip out of my clothes. Like usually, I hadn't been bothering to dress nice, that wasn't new, but I did dress lazier and went out of my way to make sure my arm was covered. Always wore a coat, which I probably would've done anyway since it's winter, just not inside my home. But I didn't want to let anyone see my arm, so the coat stayed on even in my boiling warm home.

     I examine myself in the mirror, I look dead, almost as dead as I feel. My skin is far to pale for a living person, though not anything like Jeff's skin. My skin is still that of a human, a dead human but still human, while Jeff's skin looks more like a poorly made paper mache by an 11 year old with a horror movie obsession. Larger veins seemed to pop out randomly here and there, but I'm not sure why. The purple lines didn't help the dead effect, along with the matching purple bags under each eye. The brown locks of my hair are a tangled mess, held back in a lose ponytail that needs adjusting, but instead I pull the hair tie out. "Bed head" didn't even begin to cover the way my hair looked now, more like I got into a cat fight, or that rats had nested up there. I'm going to have to brush it before showering. 

     I grab out a brush from a little cabinet next to the sink, and brush my hair out as I continue to stare at the walking corpse I had become. Was I even really alive anymore? Maybe Jeff actually did kill me when he made my arm into abstract art, and now I'm just a ghost that doesn't know I'm dead. Or maybe I'm actually a zombie, and my bodies going to start rotting away soon. One could only hope that I rot away into nothing soon. 

     After brushing out my hair, I take my shower. The shower washed away the dirt and gross smells,but I couldn't scrub off the shame. My skin seemed to gain some of it's color back though, even if that color was red from scrubbing far to hard in an attempt to rid myself from the memories of Jeff's touch. Would I ever be able to wash away that feeling, or the guilt, and the disgust?

     I step out of the shower, grabbing two towels- one for my hair, wrapping the locks up then sitting on my head, the other getting wrapped around my body. I quickly move to my room, not wanting to let anyone to see my arm. Once inside, and triple checking that the door is locked, I start to get dressed. Shorts and a hoodie, something I often slept in. I was just about to lay down, scroll through Facebook mindlessly, when my phone began to ring.

     I grab the phone, looking at the screen. An unknown number, no doubt Jeff. I answer call, "Hello?"

     "Hey Joey, it's Jeff," Jeff responds quickly, "Listen, as much as I'd love to stay and chat, I have to hurry." He sounds panicked, and I can hear vehicles passing in the background. He must be by a road, and a busy one. 

     "What's wrong, Jeff?" I ask, actually curious about what he had to say for once. Maybe the cops are on his tail, maybe soon I'll be free. 

     "Listen, princess, I know you think I'm crazy, and probably think I'm paranoid, but I need you to trust me right now, understand?" Jeff says, then adds, "Trust that I want nothing more than to protect you, and that I would do anything to keep you safe from harm."

     I scoff, "Really Jeff? This again? If you really want to keep me safe, then keep me safe from you and stay away." I'm surprised I actually said that, but occasionally I find myself not caring with Jeff. Only until I remember the wounds on my arm.

     "If that is what it will take to get you to trust me right now, I'll do it," Jeff says, "I'll stay away, I'll never bother you. I just need you to listen to me right now, because if you don't you're going to get hurt." 

     Silence draws out, as I'm unsure of what to say. He'll leave me alone. If I just listen this once? But what if he's lying, he probably is. It could be worth a shot? I should at least hear him out.

     "Joey?! Are you still there?!" Jeff shouts suddenly in a panic.

     "Yeah, I am. So what is it you-"

     Jeff interrupts me, "I have to go, before someone see's me. I'll explain better later, okay Joey? And I promise if still want me to leave afterwards, I will, okay? For now- Do not talk to anyone. Do not speak about me, do not let anyone get any idea that I have any interest in you. They will hurt you, they might even kill you. Just do not speak to anyone."

      Jeff hangs up, the line falling deathly silent. I set my phone back down. Stunned, I sit down to gather over what Jeff just said. My brain can't seem to process it, but against my better judgement, I trust Jeff- for now. Not like I talk to anyone anyway, expect Alex. 

     When Jeff called me earlier, the line was quite, Jeff was calm. It hadn't been very long since then, a couple hours tops. What changed in that time? After thinking it over a little more, I conclude Jeff is having a moment of extra insanity. For now, I'd do what I always do, stay away from everyone.