Before We Go; Tim Wright X Reader

Ch: 08

This goes on for a bit until she turns to look behind her. Nothing. She was just paranoid again. It was nothing.

Inhaling deeply, she continues to walk on the unmaintained dirt trails behind Tim.

***

The sun is falling. It vanishes, cowering behind the horizon that glowed of vibrant oranges. It left behind a promise to return, its visit ends all too soon. It was the promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth springing from the cold. Yet, the disappearance of the warmth forces her to drown in the sliver moonlight, every tree eerily reminds her of the mysterious creature that may be stalking them at that very moment.

Y/N felt vulnerable—terrified even—in the darkness. Ever since she had first seen the faceless man, she decided then that she never wanted to be outside in the dark ever again. She didn't feel safe at all and just wanted to hide somewhere; a place where she couldn't be reached. A place that was warm and relaxing. Yet, reality was a cruel friend that didn't ponder on what-ifs and daydreams. Instead, reality was blunt and merciless. She would never be safe again, she realized, even in the light of the day she easy prey.

The blackness of the night engulfed her thoughts. Stretching out in front of her like an unexplored map, the unknown studied her deepest fears, her courage, and her knowledge. Taking slow tentative steps, the infinite exposure in the wilderness left her exposed. It felt like there was no life here. No thriving populations, no signs of past living. The darkness had overcome any sense of purity, consumed all hope of ever finding sanctuary.

Y/N faces to the sky with uncertainty, on this moonless night, even the silhouettes were gone. The usual friendly smattering of stars is utterly obscured by black and gray clouds.

She trudges close behind Tim in an attempt to reassure herself from her anxious thoughts.

"How much further?" She questions him in a hushed voice, as if it would help cloak where they are. Even though she knew that their locations would always be known despite her little endeavors.

Tim gives her a quick glimpse over his shoulder, his brown eyes study her hands that clenched around herself tightly for a second. Realization.

"Don't worry, we're almost at the parking lot. We were pretty far out in the park, but we should be there in a few minutes." He tells her, his pace slows to hers so he is right at her side. Although she doesn't say it, his little gesture eased her just a bit.

Tim was right when he said they were almost there. Spotting the parking lot from their spot behind the trees was like heaven. However, when Y/N doesn't see her car anywhere, dread is built upon her chest. Slowing down just a bit, she looks around and down the roads hopelessly. It had to be around here somewhere. But even if she did find it, she didn't have her car keys. Or any of her belongings.

"Shit," Tim curses behind her from her spot in the middle of the lot.

Training her eyes on him, she sees him standing by the only car there, his hands emptying his pockets on the hood of the silver vehicle. He looks over everything he had taken out, runs a hand through his dark untamed hair in thought.

Y/N suddenly remembers something and immediately rushes towards him.

"Hey, Tim." Y/N grabs his attention as she is pulling the car keys out of her coat pocket. The keys she had found earlier that day on the ground.

"When I woke up, I found these by me. I'm not sure if they are yours, but..." She trails off unsure. "Here," She offers them to him.

She would have mentioned it earlier, but traveling through a dark forest at night while potentially being stalked by a monster, is very distracting.

He looks surprised and takes the keys from her open hand. "Geez. I'm glad you picked them up. I would have been screwed—" He stops abruptly, glimpses around the parking lot then at her. "Your car isn't here?"

Y/N peers down at her hands tucked in her sleeves, "Um, no. I think I'll just take a bus or something..." Her words fade to a drawl as she makes plans in her head.

Tim raises an eyebrow at her, "Do you have money on you for that? Or even anywhere to go?" His words make her think about it for a second. Then she realized she didn't have money. She had already checked her pockets and found nothing.

"Oh," Y/N mumbles absentmindedly, "I guess not..." It didn't cross her mind. She just wanted to get away from the dark and to someplace safer. That's all she could ponder.

Tim shakes his head a bit at her, "Look," He picks up a card from the hood of his car and hands it to her, "It's a hotel room key. Hampton Inn, it's just a few miles away. We can head over there and search around the room. Maybe your car will be there."

Y/N studies the card key, feeling a little unsure at first. She didn't have many options, and she somewhat trusted Tim. The worst thing that could happen is that she is murdered and dumped in a lake, but really, Y/N doesn't care much for herself at this point. So, why not?

She nods twice, "Okay, just don't...kidnap or murder me," Her tone is half-joking.

Tim gives her a ghost of a smile and despite the dark crescent rings under his eyes, they somewhat brighten. "I'll try not to."