Part 51 - Threat

Y/n

I do not remember the walk out to the Hummer shed being this long before.

We have definitely passed by multiple parts of the woods that I don't recognize, and I was starting to get a little nervous that we might have taken a wrong turn at some point. But Eugene knows his way to the shed better than anyone, so at this point I'm really just following him blindly and hoping that we end up at the right place eventually.

The one thing that I don't like about this new route, is how many blackberry bushes we've walked past. Because I happen to like these cargo pants, and the amount of times they've caught on the shitty little pricks poking out from the brambles is really starting to piss me off.

Oh well, these pants were great while they lasted, and they will be dearly missed. 

But it really does beg the question as to why we went this way in the first place. It seems unnecessary, and it's profusely annoying.

"Hey uhm, Eugene? Are you sure we're going the right way? It just kinda feel like we've been walking out here for a while."

He was walking a few feet ahead of me, and he didn't bother turning his head as he shouted back at me in response to my concerns.

"Yeah sorry, we'll be there soon. I had to take us the long way this time, because if we went on the normal path, we would've been more likely to get spotted by a teacher. And technically we're not supposed to leave the school unless we're going home, so better safe then sorry."

Ohhh, I hadn't thought about that. I was still getting a little tired of walking, but I suppose it's worth it. I mean if I look past the blackberry bushes, this had actually been quite the nice journey, it was peaceful. 

Plus I needed the fresh air, it was helping me think. Not that I had much head space to actually do so, when Eugene was yet again yapping on to fill the silence between us, and I'm not saying that what he was talking about wasn't interesting, but I may or may not have been zoning out the entire way here.

"Soooo are we there yet?"

We were coming up to a bit of a clearing in the trees, and when I looked ahead to where Eugene seemed to be headed, I could see that we were in fact closer to the shed than I thought. I recognized the weirdly shaped hedge in the distance, meaning it'd only be another five minutes or so before we got to where we're going, so my question was sort of void now.

But Eugene finally turned his attention over his shoulder nonetheless.

Though before he could quip back at me with some witty remark, his eyes dropped down to where I was walking, and I saw his face fall almost as soon as it faced me, and he froze dead in his tracks before yelling out to me.

"Wait don't step there!"

He didn't get to finish his warning before my foot had already landed itself down onto the ground in front of me, and I could tell in a split second that there was something wrong with it. It felt different from the rest of the leaves that had settled themselves down onto the dirt, and instead felt as if I had just stepped down onto a piece of metal.

And I heard it click.

Oh shit.

And here I thought I had moved on from things trying to get rid of my appendages, but I guess the world has struck me with bad luck yet again. What the fuck did I even do to deserve this??

It was in this same moment that my gaze looked down to see the metal jaws of what I had just stepped onto, and they did not look like the sort of spikes that would have mercy on my poor foot.

Welp, guess this is it for me.

I accepted my fate perhaps a little too quickly, but what else was I supposed to do? It was too late for me to try and get out of this thing, and I doubt Eugene would be able to pull me away from it before it chomped off my foot.

But alas, I was proved wrong when I felt a hand yank my arm, and the rest of my body including the foot that was awaiting to be removed from my leg, was saved from any bloody pain. And luckily enough for me, it was just as the metal jaws on the ground snapped shut with a loud clang, and I fell backwards a bit as my feet found new spots to stand. And this time there was no threats underneath me.

When I looked up at Eugene who stood next to me, holding a tight grip on my arm that only loosened once he saw that I was out of danger, he sighed in relief and spoke in a nervous tone.

"Are you okay?"

I glanced between him and the ground that I had just escaped from, and I took a second to really look at the piece of metal that still lay there.

Wait...was that a fucking bear trap? Since when were there any of those out in these woods?

And how did....

I take a tentative step away from Eugene, and give him a suspicious look.

"How'd you know that was there? You weren't even looking..."

He glanced away from me, and an expression of guilt creeped onto his face as he winced slightly.

"Uhmmm...."

"Eugene."

I glare at him.

He sighs, and his octave got higher in a nervous way.

"Okay, so I miiight have set up a few of those around the woods after Slurp escaped, just in case he came back without warning. I didn't wanna get eaten..."

That left me kind of flabbergasted.

I didn't really know how to respond to that. I got that maybe he wanted to have some extra protection around so he felt at ease while he was out here, but bear traps just seemed like overkill. Also it would have been nice to know about them before I had to found out first hand that they were hidden on the same ground we were walking on.

I take an inhale and point down to the trap.

"Sooo...you decided to put...these, and just didn't think to tell me?"

"I...kind of forgot they were here, sorry..."

Oh. Well isn't that just great.

"I'm assuming that means that you're not entirely sure where the rest of them are."

He shakes his head softly, and I sigh.

"Alright, guess we'll just have to be careful."

The last few minutes of the journey were spent in silence, while the both of us plan out our steps with precision, keeping a sharp eyes out for any spikes or glints of silver amongst the leaves. 

Thankfully, the trap that I had the misfortune of encountering, seemed to be the first and last one that was on the path that we were taking, so it didn't look as though anyone would be losing any feet today after all.

The hummer shed soon came into view as we walked around the last bit of bushes, and I let out a small sound of relief when I could finally breathe and stop worrying about where I stepped.

But the two of us made our way into the shed where Eugene's bees waited, and I still felt a little on edge as we dumped all of the stuff we had brought with us onto the floor, before he put his phone up on one of the crates as it started to quietly play music.

I shake out my limbs a bit, attempting to get rid of the jitters that lingered in my system.

Okay, pull yourself together. It was one little mishap, it'll be fine.

"You alright?"

Eugene spoke up from his crouched position on the floor, looking a little concerned.

I nod quickly, not wanting him to get worried about me.

"Yeah. Yeah no I'm good, uhm, is there anything I can help with?"

"Nah, it's not that big of a job. I just wanted the company.."

He turned back to the stock of honey stored down in a box on the floor and began to take the jars off of the shelf and place them in their own crates, as I move back slowly until I sit down on the wooden box nearby that faced me away from the door.

He started on another rant, this time it was about how the fact that he had to hibernate his bees early would affect the whole process this year that he had to go through, and that it would be kind of a pain but needed to be done. And while I was half listening, I was mostly just humming softly along with the music while I sat here in silence.

It stayed like that for a while, the two of us just basking in the gentle buzz of the bees, and the warm atmosphere that spread throughout the shed as the sun beamed down on it from above, and it was actually kind of nice to just chill here and keep Eugene company.

Especially when I didn't have to do any of the talking. Sometimes listening is more fun.

And in my content state where I said nothing, I was more attuned to my surroundings. And for a moment just now I could have sworn I heard a sort of click behind me, and I had sinking feeling in my gut that was telling me that I should be alert as to what it could have been, but before I had the chance to look and see if anything was there,

The sudden feeling of a hand being clamped over my mouth sent me into a panic.

It wasn't gentle in any manner, and the rest of my head had been squished in what I assumed was the arm of whoever was attacking me right now.

I wanted to scream out to the best of my abilities right now so Eugene, who hadn't noticed my tiny predicament just yet, would turn around and see that I was in trouble. But when my eyes looked up to the person behind this, I was surprised by what I saw.

It was a man, tall and slim looking like he had been malnourished, and his skin was pale, as if he doesn't even know what the sun is. He had a head of curly black hair that looked awfully familiar, but in my state of panic, I couldn't put my finger on where I knew it from.

His hands were covered by black leather gloves, and they smelled absolutely awful. I didn't want to jump to conclusions, but I'm pretty sure these things have had blood on them. And he had a similarly tardy looking coat draped over his body that reached down to the floor like he was some kind of mad scientist or something.

Oh my god.

That's it. I know exactly who this guy is.

But he looked so different from when I last saw him, and it wasn't that long ago that he had run away from Camp Jericho after he almost tried to kill me. Which I still wasn't entirely over.

It was definitely him though. I had only recently learned what his true name was, and now that I was looking at him up close in his human form, I had to say it kind of suited him.

Isaac Night.

And I'll bet everything I have that he was the one to take Pugsley, as some sort of sick and twisted revenge for keeping him locked up in this shed for so long like a pet. And while I could understand his resentment on some level, that didn't make me any less pissed off at him for kidnapping my boy.

If my assumption is correct and he really did take Pugsley, that meant he was the only one who knew where he was.

My fear soon shifted to a feeling of anger towards him, and I struggled against his grip in hopes that I would be able to wiggle my way free, but it was pointless. This guy was strong, despite his build that looked like a sick Victorian child, the dude had some muscle to him.

I considered biting his hand, but I seriously did not want to put whatever was stained onto this glove anywhere near the inside of my mouth. I want to live a long life thank you very much, and that plan would infest my system with way too many unknown germs and sicknesses.

He raised his other hand up to his lips just as I was about to scream for Eugene's attention, and he pressed a finger against them in a gesture for me to stay quiet. And I admit I was afraid of what this guy could do, so I kept my mouth shut like he told. I don't know what his plan is, but all I knew is that I didn't like him for a single second.

It was at this point that I was starting to think that Eugene's constant chattering was actually not as great as I first assumed it would be, because he still hadn't realized that there was somebody else in here besides us, and he continued on.

"Okay so I counted 26 jars,"

He stood up, and he started to turn towards me.

"How many did you coun-"

As soon as his face was within reach, Isaac's free hand shot out for Eugene and took the same grip over his mouth that he had done on me, making the now frightened looking boy drop the jar that he once held in his hand, and it shattered onto the floor.

The two of us shared a look, because right now the only things we had to communicate with were our eyes, seeing as we were sort of being held silent by a mad man. And I think we were both equally scared right now.

Isaac leaned more towards Eugene, and glared at us both with a look that I could only describe as pure hatred.

"Shhhhh..."

This cannot end well.

««« ♪ ♪ »»»

Why does everything have to keep going so incredibly wrong?

I mean one minute I'm sitting with one of my friends just trying to have a nice day without thinking about the fact that the boy I think I may be in love with, who also happens to be my best friend, is fucking missing, and then the next thing I know I'm running back to the very same office that I had left last night thinking that this whole situation couldn't possibly get anymore complicated.

But once again in this never ending string of bad luck, things have gotten so much worse.

Isaac hadn't dropped in the shed unannounced just to have a friendly chat about the weather. He had a motive, and he made it very clear to us that if we told anyone about his plan other than the girl we were currently running to find, then he'd find us. 

Not if I find you first fuck face. You still have my best friend.

But when he left, I had tried to yell after him and get information out of him about where he was keeping Pugsley, to which he just walked away. 

And Eugene had held me back from running after him, saying it would be too dangerous to go when we didn't have a plan. And he was right, but I was beyond pissed at Isaac right now, I guess I just wasn't thinking clearly.

Isaac had given us a black box, but the contents of what was inside was still left a mystery, and according to him, it was to stay that way until we delivered said box to Wednesday, who had now come into view as we finally reached Principal Dort's old office. 

It's still kind of a shock that he's dead now...I don't even know what happened. Truthfully though I couldn't bring myself to feel remorse over it, he always kind of gave me the creeps.

But the moment that our footsteps sounded against the carpeted floor, Wednesday's attention was drawn towards us and she turned her body to face us both before we came to a stop in front of her.

Eugene had been the one to carry the box here, and I could tell that the running wasn't doing great things for his asthma right now, as his breathing was labored to the point where he was barely able to get his words out.

"We went out to the Hummer shed, Slurp was there expect he looks totally human now. He told us to give you this."

He handed the black box over to Wednesday, and once he had ridded himself of it, he reached up for the pocket on the front of his shirt where his inhaler was, and took it in his hand.

"Said if we breathed a word to anyone else, he'd come for us. Wednesday, I'm scared."

He shook his inhaler a couple of times before taking a puff to get his lungs back under control, and Wednesday dead panned at him.

"Go back to your dorm, lock the door."

When neither of us made an immediate move, she spoke more sternly.

"Now."

She began to open the box, and at her unwavering tone, we both made a move towards the door, but I only made it a few feet before I heard that chilling voice of hers again.

"Not you."

Eugene kept walking, probably scared out of his mind right now, but I stopped in my tracks and looked back at Wednesday, who now seemed to be holding....

Was that a snow globe?

What does that have to do with me though?

She stared me right in the eyes.

"You're with me."

Oh...yay...

««« ♪ ♪ »»»

Can't a girl just stay out of the woods for more than a day? I mean seriously, I feel like I'm back here every five seconds, I am not built for braving this place so often, especially not at night.

But noooo, Wednesday insisted that I come along with her into the darkness that is this forest.

As backup.

The girl who usually hates to work with other people, asked me to tag along in case anything went sideways in her little plan, which by the way she had still not told me about. 

All I knew is that I apparently was the only person that was fit for the job, and unfortunately for me, she knew exactly what to say to get me to agree to whatever she had going on. Ironic isn't it? I'm the siren, aren't I supposed to be doing the convincing?

I could have said no, but for some reason I felt like I had to be here. There was just something about the way she said it that made it sound like there was something in these woods that I needed to see.

Not that I could really see anything in this place even if I tried, there's way too much fog around. Plus it's really fucking cold, and I am seriously regretting not wearing a jacket, but I guess a t-shirt is better than nothing.

And the entire journey here was spent without speaking a single word to one another, apart from the occasional 'you're going the wrong way' that Wednesday would say to me without even looking back. It's not my fault I can't see shit and almost ran into a tree twice, but I was grateful she saved me from face planting I suppose.

I was a little impressed she could tell without even having to turn around though, it kind of makes me think she may just have eyes in the back of her head. I honestly wouldn't be all that surprised.

But when her pace started to slow down, just as we got to a part of the woods that I had never seen before, I admit I was getting nervous about what was waiting for me through these hedges. I mean am I going to walk out of here alive or should I start thinking about what casket goes well with my dead bodies complexion. 

The gap between the greenery provided a small path that Wednesday led me through, and once the area on the other side of it came into view, I felt my face fall in faint fear.

Why are we...here?

The sight before me was slightly hidden by the branches in front of my eyes, but I could still see clear as day the landmark that I had told myself I would never come to. Although now that I see it this close, I could say for sure that its' name did it justice, even if the map didn't.

It really did look like a giant skull.

But I'm still really curious as to why I was brought along.

I stood awkwardly nearby as we came to a stop, and Wednesday spoke to the right hand who had been riding on her shoulder on the way here.

"Isaac thinks he can lure me out to finish me off."

She dropped her back onto the ground, and Thing jumped off of her and took a spot on the tree next to us as I saw the girl pull something out of said bag, and I grimaced a little when I saw it.

Great. A crossbow. Love those things.

While she stood back up, weapon in hand now at the ready after she had opened it up and pulled back the string until it locked into place, I heard a faint sound of muffled struggling from the open area beside us through the tree that was keeping us hidden, and purely out of intrigue as to what was causing it, I looked over by the skull again.

I almost wanted to throw up with how far my heart dropped when I saw who it was.

It was him, being dragged along by the same psychopath that had made an appearance already today back in the shed, and he was tied up with a chain like some dog. There was a piece of cloth stuck in his mouth, making him unable to speak, and from here I swear he looks almost afraid.

"Pugsley..."

My feet started to move on their own accord. Everything in me was screaming to go over there and see if he was okay, even though I knew in the back of my mind that it was a horrible idea in the moment. All I cared about was him, and I wasn't thinking about what could happen if I gave my presence away to the mad man who had him held hostage.

Luckily there was still someone here who was using their brain, and I felt an arm stop my body from moving any further out from our hiding spot, and she spoke to me in a quiet tone, but not low enough to be considered a whisper.

"Don't. They don't know you're here, so stay here with Thing until Isaac's body drops dead on the ground."

Well isn't that just the nicest mental image being painted in my mind right now.

But I knew she was right. That seems to be the reason she brought me here after all, so that if her plan didn't work out the way she hoped, I can run off and tell someone without being seen. I really do think one of the invisible kids would have been better for this job, but I was happy that I got to see that Pugsley was at least alive.

Not that I thought he wasn't or anything, but you know...there was the off chance.

"Yeah...okay."

I took a couple of steps back until I was standing behind where Thing was stationed, and Wednesday set up the crossbow in the tree for him to access, locking it in between a couple of branches so it didn't fall.

"When you get a clear shot, put a bullet through his zombie brain."

Hooray, I get to witness a murder. I can check that off my bucket list of things I never wanted to see ever. Though I'm not opposed to the idea if the one croaking is the guy who took my best friend away from me. I'm totally cool if he dies.

Although now that I could actually see his face with both my eyes, instead of the half look I got of him today when he had his hand over my mouth, I dunno...he was kinda not half bad in terms of looks.

Wait no ew- He was a zombie, gross- Pull it together.

Thing scurried himself up the branch until he was wrapped around the base of the cross bow, moving it to get the perfect shot of Isaac's head, and his forefinger hovered carefully over the trigger, inching closer to shotting the arrow with every second. 

Wednesday took that as her cue to move out from where we were hiding, leaving us here while she walked over to Isaac and Pugsley in the open air, to which obviously Pugsley tried to move over to her, only to be pulled back again by the metal collar around his neck.

I couldn't really hear what they were saying from here. Not because I physically couldn't, 'cause I definitely could if I was trying to, but more so because my focus was set on Pugsley, who looked more and more afraid every time Isaac made a rough movement to the chain, and it was killing me that all I could do was sit back and watch it happen.

And with those same movements, he was pulling Pugsley towards the front of him, right where Thing was aiming, and I could feel the fear creeping up my spine at the small chance that the arrow may not end up hitting it's true target.

"Be careful Thing, please..."

At my small sound of concern, the wrist of Thing moved slowly in what I suppose was his way of nodding, and it reassured me only a little bit, which I didn't think was a feeling I'd ever get from a hand.

But hey, it's definitely not the weirdest thing that's happened today.

I saw his trigger finger finally pull down all the way out of the corner of my eye, and the arrow made a small whistle noise as it travelled across the small distance from here, straight over to where Isaac's head was. And for just a moment, I felt a sense of hope.

Only for it to be ripped away from me again when his hand came up to take the arrow instead.

Uhm...ouch?

Nope, he made absolutely no sound of pain, nor did his expression shift even for a second, and I think that was freaking me out more than the fact that there was literally an arrow sticking out of him. I've seen that before, it's nothing new.

Okay so, either he is actually an extreme masochist, or that hand is made out of foam or something because if it were me, there would already be every curse word in existence spewing from my mouth like no tomorrow.

I ducked down further behind the tree as his gaze flicked over to where Thing was, and I hoped that it was enough to keep me from his sights, while his mouth morphed into an evil grin.

This was the part where I finally started to listen to what he was saying, because if I didn't, I may just end up dead.

Wow yeah okay, so he's laughing. That's a new one.

"I applaud the effort. You keep me talking while your faithful right hand takes his shot."

His head gestured over here with a smirk.

"Be sure to grab the girl too!"

I'm sorry grab the what now.

Before I could even think about how truly screwed I was right now, I felt the sudden coldness of a hand grabbing the back of my neck.

Well shit.