The Hunt (Jeff the Killer Fanfiction)

16: Aftermath

     I sit on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the sky outside. My mind continues to attempt to wrap around today's events, and I attempt to make up some kind of excuse to the lack of guilt I felt. I tell myself that it's because I know I had to do it, or risk being shot dead. But deep down I knew that was a half-ass excuse.

     Jeff sits behind me on the bed, each leg on either side of me and his head on my shoulder. I didn't bothering attempting to move away from the contact, not really caring. Maybe I needed it right now, may I just needed to be held for a bit. I try to pretend it isn't Jeff holding me, that it's anyone else, but that was rather useless. 

     "We're going to have to leave," He tells me.

     "I know," I respond, "I doubt it'll take 24 hours for the cops to come looking for them."

     "Well, their isn't a police station for miles," Jeff says, "And unless they've got family at home waiting for them to come back, I don't think anyone will come looking for them for a while."

     "We'd be better safe than sorry," I tell Jeff, "We should leave tonight after dark."

     "I know," He says with a sigh, "But I've got business to take care of tomorrow. I was planning on being able to stay here for a few more days. We'll leave tomorrow night."

     "Business?" I question, "You kill and steal for a living, what business could you have?"

     "A buddy is supposed to stop by, he's supposed to have some information for me," Jeff explains.

     "About?" 

     "Nothing you should be worrying about," Jeff says as he gets up, "Just focus on packing, then get some sleep."

     "I'm gonna go get cleaned up first," I say. Jeff nods his head, allowing me to leave. 

     I grab a change of clothes, then head back to the fire pit, returning to making a fire to warm some water. As the fire grows and the water begins to warm, I look over to the trees. I could see the bodies of both men laying there, just beyond the start of the  trees. Untouched, almost like an offering. Some animals will probably come by and fest on them.

     After I finish cleaning up, I head back inside. Jeff sits on the bed, a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other. This sight has grown so familiar to me. Jeff has grown familiar to me. His face no longer sent chills down my spin. Of course that should be expected when I spend so much time around him. 

     I take a beer from one of the bags and sit down on the floor, my back against the wall, facing Jeff. He looks at me. He looks exhausted for once in his life. Not physically, Jeff never seemed to run out of energy, but mentally. He really wasn't ready to be leaving this spot so early, he must be stressed. 

     Telling how Jeff was feeling used to be hard, but now I can somewhat look past his permanent smile. Jeff's feelings, at least the one's I could read, are rather limited. Stressed, bored, crazy, and blood lust seems to be all he feels. Blood lust and crazy were the most common, bored being a close second, and in those moments I wondered how long till he kills me. If I ask, I know he'll swear up and down that he'll never do such a thing, but I had a feeling it was only a matter of time. Even if he didn't mean to, it would happen. He doesn't seem to have much control over himself when the blood lust begins, and I think he knows it too. He seems to leave quickly after that emotion starts to come out. 

     "You stressed?" Jeff questions me. I shrug my shoulders. Jeff goes on, "You've only drank one other time, and that's the night we got here. You aren't a drinker. You must be stressed, or trying to drink the guilt away."

     "Stressed," Is all I say, letting Jeff know I wasn't drinking for any guilt. I was stressed, how couldn't I be?

     "I was too," Jeff tells me, "The first few times I killed."

     "It's not that," I say.

     "What is it then?" Jeff asks me.

     I sigh, "This whole situation I guess.. Do you ever miss your old life?"

     Jeff seems a bit taken back by my question, taking a moment to think before responding, "Sometimes, for small moments."

     "Why's that?" I ask.

     "Well," Jeff runs a hand through his hair, "For small moments, I remember what life used to be like. Memories flash by, ones of Liu and I playing, or dinner with my family when we were still happy. Just the little things. And I'll start to wonder what would've happened if we didn't move to that stupid town. But really, there was nothing for me it that life. Besides, I enjoy this life."

     "Is it lonely?" I continue to question him.

     "Me? Lonely? Never," Jeff says with a chuckle.

     "Then why are you so obsessed with being around me?" 

     "Joey, stop asking questions," Jeff growls.

     "I think you are lonely, very lonely," I tell him.

     "Shut up, Joey," Jeff growls again.

     Confident, and uncaring really, I continue, "I think you were always a bit lonely, but you didn't want to accepted it. Because you aren't supposed to feel, at least you think you aren't supposed to. Because you know what you are a monster. You like being a monster, and you think monsters don't feel anything but anger and blood lust. But then, you saw me. And the loneliness creeped back up to the surface, and you became obsessed. Why else would you bother keeping me alive like this? And sometimes, in moments you probably barely remember, you admit how much you miss me. But when you clear your head, you tell yourself not to even hint that you may be lonely. This probably isn't the first time this has happened either, there was probably others before me-"

     "There was never another before you," Jeff interrupts me, clearly angry with my words, "Never. I hate humans, couldn't bare to be around them as much as I'm around you."

     "You're aware I'm human, right Jeff?"

     "I know!" He growls, "You're just not like them. There's something about you, there has been since I first saw you."

     I ask him, "Do you remember what you've told me before? Do you remember telling me you missed me, even loved me?"

     "I'd never say such things," Jeff says.

     "So you don't remember," I laugh, "You're truly a mess in your mind Jeff."

     Jeff stands up, "And you're clearly losing your mind, having the balls to talk to me that way. Watch yourself, you might end up as insane as me if you're aren't careful."

     And with that, Jeff storms out of the room. I hear him leave out the back door, going to do who knows what. I laugh softly, and say, "But I already am, aren't I?"