Before We Go; Tim Wright X Reader

Ch: 06

As she sits down he speaks, "Maybe we'll run into each other again." He brings his smoke to his mouth, breathes in. Fumes seep from his nose and parted lips.

Y/N offers a small smile in his direction, "Maybe. Goodbye for now."

He waves goodbye as she drives away.

***

It's another hot day today, all heatwaves and dry ground. She had been waking up every day hoping that even a bit of a breeze could alter the unbearable heat. But the air remains hot, leaving her sweating and her skin feeling warm. It was late June, and she just wanted fall to come already. She always preferred the cooler temperatures over the heat. The heat had become so miserable, that she discarded her coat before exiting her car. She felt uncomfortable without long-sleeves, but even more so when nearly having a heat stroke.

She wanders the empty aisles of the store with a nearly empty mind, her eyes scanning the shelves of beverages. Reaching out, she grasps at a familiar drink. Y/N recalls a memory she had when she was a child.

She thinks she was seven, maybe a bit younger. She was drinking juice in the living room, but had accidentally knocked it off the table and had spilled it all over the floor. She was quick to clean it up, afraid of her Mother's scolding. But even after trying to use a towel and cleaner to clean it all up, it had already stained the light-colored carpet her mother had just gotten clean the week before.

She felt terrible when her Mother had finally noticed later that day. Her mother was angry. So angry that she struck her across the face, yelled and belittled Y/N until she started to cry. Her mother called her clumsy, called her stupid. Y/N told her it was an accident and that she was very sorry, that it wouldn't happen again but her mother didn't care what she said. The names her mother called her stuck with her, she believed her mother. That she was stupid. That she was clumsy and reckless. She always silently agreed.

That wasn't the only time her mother had yelled at her, but it was the start of the hate Y/N developed for herself. And that self-hate never went away. It was still there, growing at every mistake she made. It gnaws at her mind, growing a bit every day until she knew that it would one day consume her entirely. Until she would act recklessly and take death's offer of never waking up. The thought soothed her as much as it filled her with sick dread.

Y/N puts the juice back, suddenly finding it distasteful. Instead, she grabs a water bottle and a bag of chips.

After purchasing her drinks and snacks, she leaves with a mind that was no longer empty. Instead, the terror of the unknown becomes a heavy weight on her chest and her stomach churns.

She doesn't realize she's in her car until she is snapping her seatbelt in. Thoughts are running circles around in her skull, she ponders too deeply and starts to feel a headache building up. Her stare blankly forward, and she tries to make sense of why she felt so scared. Why she felt sick to her stomach, why she felt like screaming in frustration. Her clenched hands shake in her lap and all her questions are answered.

The faceless man is tormenting her. He must be watching her from far away, amused by the way she shook and curled in fear.

When she realizes this, her body suddenly jolts as sharp coughs shake her entire body. Her throat aches with each violent expulsion of air, her hand flies to cover her mouth. A burning warmth soaks her tongue, a familiar foul taste startles her.

When the cough attack finally settles down, her breathing is labored and irregular. She doesn't even have to look to know that there is blood staining her hand. She can taste it on her lips. This has happened to her once before, but it still frightened her.

For a short moment, Y/N just stares at her trembling hands. She felt so anxious and needed to calm herself down. She wouldn't let the monster have his way with her. Leaning her head against the car window, she forces herself to relax. To busy her mind, she turns her eyes to the sky.

An hour ago the sunset had radiated across the many clouds, turning them molten orange with highlights of pink. Now it is gone and Y/N stares at the starless, moonless sky. There is no twilight, only blackness. The clouds are so dark she starts to feel claustrophobic. As if she was in a cave, the low sky has become a ceiling of gray and black rock above.

She almost falls asleep in the moment of peace, her already heavy eyes have fluttered closed. In her last seconds awake, she yearns for undisturbed sleep. Just for an hour or two.

***

Her head throbbed. The pain felt like someone had taken a knife to her skull. Squeezing her eyes shut, she willed the pain to go away. The rest of the world became detached, all she could do was concentrate on the pain rooted deep in her head. That's when she realized something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

She wasn't in her car anymore.

Long before she opens her eyes, she could smell the scent of dried earth and sap drifting through the air. Her vision is blurry, the sudden light of the morning sky makes her squint. The leaves of trees glowed as light passed through them. The harshness of the sun is muted, its rays are softer, less brilliant. Her surroundings were a picture of serenity, one which would endure for many long years.

Part of her wants to just enjoy the air and let it refresh her lungs but she can't loosen the rope tightening its hold around her gut. It feels as if her brain is on fire and each time the sudden change of her environment hits her, it takes everything she has to not panic.

Y/N sits up from the hard ground, her lungs suddenly desperate for air. She breathes in too quickly and starts to cough. Chest heaving, her fingers grab at the ground. Dirt, dried up leaves. And surrounding her, tall trees. Slowly, very slowly, the panic sets in even when she tries to fight to stay calm.

She's in a forest.