Let Me Hold You For Now

To Stay With You

He showed up to their approximate meeting place early. Probably way too early to be safe, but his impatience got the best of him. Unfortunately, that left him pacing the woods for a whole hour before he got frustrated and gave up. He leaned against a tree and closed his eyes, tuning into all the sounds of the forest at night. It was nice. He always enjoyed places that were completely devoid of people. It was so quiet. Those noisy bugs weren't even out this year. Every time a deer stepped a little too loudly, he perked up. He was so excited to see her again it was almost embarrassing.

An unwelcome thought kept coming back though.

She wasn't coming.

Why would she? What kind of idiot actually met a serial killer in the woods in the middle of the night? On purpose no less. Well... Ray was exactly that kind of idiot. An idiot with no concern about her well-being. That begged the question though... What the hell was he planning on doing if she did show up? If she didn't, the answer was simple. Find her. Kill her for wasting his time... and hurting his feelings, not that he'd ever admit that last part. He didn't have time to figure it out before he heard someone clumsily making their way through the woods. Jesus! Was it actually possible for someone to be that guileless and unaware of their own body?

"So you finally decided to show up." He composed himself and leaped to his feet when she approached.

"I'm late. I had to make sure I wasn't being followed."

"How the hell did you manage that? I'm dying to know-"

"What I told the police? I told them that I injured you and escaped. That you ran farther into the woods."

"Aww man. After I told them so many times that I didn't kidnap you."

"Well what should I have done? Told them the truth? Because that would have gone over well."

"The truth, huh?" He considered that. "And what exactly is the truth?"

"I don't know. So..." She trailed off and blushed. "How do you want to do this?"

"Huh?"

"You're going to kill me now, right?"

He was flustered. Now? Like right now? Well... That's why they were here, right? But...

"Depends. You gonna show me that smile again?" She made a valiant effort. It sucked. Miserably. Thank god. "Seriously? I thought we were past that, Ray."

"It wasn't good?"

"It was the most pathetic excuse for a smile I've ever seen."

"Oh..."

"Keep working on it." He turned to leave. Probably more to hide how rattled he was than any actual desire to go.

"W-wait! You're not leaving, are you?" She caught the edge of his sleeve with a death grip.

"I just told you that I'm not killing you. What more do you want?"

"Th-that's it?"

Was that it? She couldn't uphold her end of the deal, but... Fuck... What now? It wasn't like he wanted to walk away from her. But what was the alternative? Adopting her? Yeah, because that would go over real well.

"Was there something else you wanted? I thought I was pretty clear. You make a good face for me, and I'll consider it."

"I don't want to go back..."

"And that's my problem, why?"

"Well I thought... If you're not going to do it yet... Could we stay together?"

"What? I don't really know your situation, Ray. But I promise you won't like the kinds of holes monsters like me hide in. Besides, I don't know shit about looking after little kids."

"You don't have to look after me! I'll help. I'll be useful to you."

Ah, so she was back to being a thing, huh?

"Why do you want to be a tool so badly?"

"It's better than waiting for you to come back... They wouldn't even tell me if you were still alive."

"Pfft. You think I'd kick the bucket so easily? Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ray."

"Well... I guess it wouldn't work with the electric chair or lethal injection. Firing squad is questionable."

Was that a joke? The way she was awkwardly biting her lip and looking at the ground confirmed it. He almost forgot how dry and awkward she was all the time.

"Monsters are hard to kill." He shrugged casually.

"You're not a monster." She grumbled. "I just... I want to stay with you."

She sounded so honest and heartfelt that he was feeling that little twinge in his chest again. It kinda hurt...

That reminded him... He did have an excuse to drag her along after all.

"Actually I do need your help with something..." He sighed heavily. What the hell was he getting himself into?

"Anything!"

"Eh we'll go back to the place I'm staying in for now, then I'll show you."