I close my eyes and take in the earthy smell of the woods. Then I open them, looking around for Vinny. He's gotta be around here somewhere. Hide and seek is a fun game to play when you're kids, but even more fun when you are grown up and just screwing around.
I'm sure I can find the plaid shirt in the middle of the woods. I just have to look harder.
The sound of rustling leaves draws my attention, and I get myself ready. I'm going to Batman tackle him. All I have to do is wait and listen.
"Ow, fuck," Vinny curses, and I grin.
He's making this way too easy.
"Y/n? Y/n? Where are you?"
I wait until he's practically on top of me before I trip him. He falls down on his hands and knees and I cackle with laughter. He swears colorfully once again.
"Vin, I don't think you understand the point of hide and seek," I say. "You were supposed to hide, staying out of my sight and sound range, and hope I gave up."
"There's something in the woods there," he pants, rising to his feet.
"What? Where?"
"Right here," a familiar voice says.
Fear ignites in my heart and I gasp. Jeff stands among the trees, looking paler than usual.
"The fuck do you want?" Vinny demands, his voice a too-calm growl.
"For you two to hear me out. He has eyes and ears all over this place, and I could die for telling you this."
"Jeff, you're dead," Vinny says, his breath hitching in his throat. I take his hand instinctively. "So just ... go away."
"I can't do that, Vinny. She's the only one, the only thing that can do what you want done. She can actually kill him, kill him dead."
"Last I checked, you were working for him. Why would you want us to kill him?" I ask.
"Maybe I don't want to work for him anymore. Maybe I don't want to hurt my friends. Maybe I just want the pain to be gone. Forever. So yeah, I know I've hurt you guys, and I'm so sorry, but .... this is the only way I can make amends in any way."
"Jeff, come with us, help us." I hold out my free hand.
He looks like he might take it. He's seriously debating it. But, in the end, he just shakes his head and puts his hands in his pockets. His dark eyes look forlorn, and I know he's hurting.
"Please, just come home," Vinny pleads.
But Jeff just simply vanishes into thin air.
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A/N: Sooooooooo sorry that this took me forever to upload. I've been having major writer's block. It's actually thanks to alumber that this chapter got published at all. I'm just totally ... out of it, I guess.
If any of you have any ideas, PLEASE let me know. I'm losing it here. My pain is just getting worse and worse and I just need to find my bearings and inspiration again.
This chapter is for all of you .... I love you guys, you're what gets me through the hard times. And these are hard times right now.
Xoxoxoxo ....
