I gave out a loud groan as I started pacing back and forth around the campsite, gripping my hair, tugging on it as I started to stress out. I don't understand. Did they just leave me? Again?! No, no, no that can't be, I frantically looked around the campsite to try to find clues on where my 'buddy' went off. Noticing how their bag was gone, no footsteps were to be found.
Why did they just leave me?! Did they realize that I was annoying??? That it was a wrong idea to tag along with me? This doesn't make sense. After their repetitive and persistent pestering on how I should leave Slender only for them to just up and leave me here.
"GRUUAH"
I let my arms hang loosely near my sides, slouching a bit as I grumbled, feeling myself twitch. This is why I shouldn't have trusted them, why did I even ask them to come along? I barely even know them so why am I getting all riled up over them? I readjusted my mask that was hanging from my face and covered my face up. Pulling it over my nose to shield it from the cold air.
I turned around and went straight towards my bag, grabbing the strap and about to slung it onto my shoulder until I realized that they left their blanket right where I was sleeping. I stared at it, soon spotting that there was this crumbled sweater right where I most definitely laid my head.
'Wha-'
*rustle* *rustle*
I quickly faced the noise, feeling my body tense up. Seeing EJ who was looking down at their shoes slowly walk towards me with their bag in hand. They were humming to themselves until abruptly stopping once they looked up, seeing me. They waved at me, walked past me, and kneeled next to the dirty blanket and crumbled sweater.
I simply stared at them, observing them as they grabbed the blanket and started brushing on it, waving it up and down to get off any of the dirt from the forest floor. They didn't leave me?
"Hey"
They looked up from folding the blanket and waved at me.
"Yo-you were gone w-*pop*-hen I woke up."
They nodded, holding up a finger as they grabbed the folded blanket and tucked it inside their bag, rustling around it for a bit until they took out their notepad and pen.
'I went to clean some of my stuff at this river that was nearby. I would have woken you up but I saw you were still sleeping so I let you be.'
They looked back down and gently smoothed out the sweater, brushing any dirt from it.
"So you just went *pop* and came back."
They nodded
"Huh"
They looked at me, tilting their heads a bit. Picking up their notepad and scribbling, 'Why? Did you think I left you?'
"Pfft, no. N-no, I didn't, I was just wond-wondering."
——————————
And back we were on the road, walking alongside the path. I had the map held out in front of me. Trying to see where I was and if I was even following the road I'm supposed to go. I groaned in frustration as I tried to prevent myself from crumbling up the paper.
Ej faced me, giving me a quick nod. Their way of asking me what's wrong.
Sighing I said, "Eh no-EEP-thing really, it's just th-that I'm having trouble trying to read this *pop* map."
They hummed in response, shortly after they gently tugged on the map, "You wa-wanna have a go at it?"
They nodded. I agreed and handed them the map. I don't see why not, from what I can tell they seem to be more knowledgeable on almost anything. It was probably the certain aura they gave off. I moved my sight towards in front of us, seeing the shrubbery and small trees littered around us. Sooner or later will be reaching a gas station or hotel, anything that has people.
I pondered to myself as I began thinking about what I would get from a gas station. I haven't eaten junk foods in a while and I'll definitely take advantage of them. I felt a nudge on my shoulder, facing Ej as they showed me the map.
They pointed at a tiny part on the map, moving their sharp finger across it as they followed a road and stopped at the marked x on the map. They pointed at me and themselves and then pointed back on the map, "Is that *pop* where we are?"
They nodded.
"Oooh so were s-sorta nearby? Right?" They gave me an uncertain shrug, facing the map once again, and soon pointed to what I believe is a town, " Oh! We're ne-CLOSE-near a town! I thought we'd be near a gas station or som-something."
They gave out a huff, folding the map and handing it back to me, I shook my head, "No, no, no, you keep it! You seem *pop* to know your way around a map unlike me."
They paused for a moment, then nodded, tucking the map into their bag.
———————
It's now late out, the sun barely hidden from the world and the moon was beginning to shine brightly. The sky that once had a shade of pink blended with a desaturated purple was now a pale dark blue. Clouds littered all over the sky, changing their form as the wind blew them away.
I gave out of puff air, crossing my arms tightly as I tried to keep the warmth in me. The night was just as cold as the nights before. I'm pretty sure if it wasn't for ej blanket I would've already been turned into a popsicle. It's been at least a few days since ej told me that we're near a town, hopefully, today we finally reach it so we can find proper shelter, food, or something along the line instead of sleeping on the hard forest floor.
I looked at ej who was walking calmly alongside me, their posture being straight and their strides being long and quick. From what I can tell based on the recent days of just us walking down the road, they were a shy and quiet person. Not once have I heard them speak, only communicating with me through their notepad. You'd think that will make it very hard to make a conversation with someone but it wasn't, well perhaps it would be hard if it wasn't ej you were communicating with. Despite my constant rambling and seemingly one-sided conversation it wasn't like that at all, I like to believe that they understand the type of situation I am in since they refuse to speak so they make sure to make me feel as if it wasn't just me talking. Physically waving their hands around whenever it was their turn to speak (they always handed me the notepad, making me read and see them wave their arms around), furiously nodding along whenever I spoke, and sometimes even making very tiny noises such as humming or grumbling.
I am very glad that ej agreed to come along with me. Being able to properly know each other without having others disrupt us is very nice. Hell, I guess I can sorta consider them as a friend, which is a very hard thing to do if you live in this type of lifestyle. All I hope is that they think of me as a friend too.
I was interrupted by my train of thought when I felt a nudge on my shoulder, ej pointing in front of us. I looked at where they were pointing and saw a gas station. The bright white lights illuminate everything around it, a harsh contrast to the night.
"Finally!" I shouted as I happily walked towards it, noticing other stores and motels near the gas station, all being dark. I looked back at ej and signaled them to follow me, "C-come on dude let's see what we c-EEP-an get to eat"
They nodded and shortly after followed me, being an arm's length away from me. Right as I'm about to enter the area of the gas station I feel myself being stopped, a tug on my sleeve holding me back. I look back at ej, who was currently grabbing my sleeve, handing me a little slip.
I hesitantly took it, skimming over it and seeing that it's a list of items that you can get from a gas station.
"You're not *pop* coming inside with m-me?"
They tensed up and hesitantly shook their heads, fidgeting with their hands.
I was confused about why, but it wasn't my business. Perhaps they were just that nervous about getting caught, "Eh alr-alright then, don't worry I'll go get you the stuff yo-FOOD-u want."
They reached for their pocket and soon pulled out some cash, I took it, "Alright then I'll be back!"
—————
The smell of chlorine hit my nose as I entered the gas station, it seems the floors have barely been mopped. I looked around, spotting the worker who seemed to be a 23-year-old sitting down on a spinning chair watching the tv on the wall. Not paying attention to me, perfect.
I began to stroll around the aisles, checking the slip ej handed me and making sure I grabbed anything they needed. It seemed that they didn't need much, only some chocolate bars, a water bottle, and a bag of hot Cheetos. Huh, interesting. Shortly after grabbing what I needed, such as a water bottle, some chips, and a lot of sweets. I didn't need much luckily so my money won't immediately get wasted. I walked towards the cashier plopping everything down and waiting for them to charge everything.
The worker slowly turned around, their face immediately turning sour at the sight of me. They stood up and started checking in everything, I began to softly drum my fingers on the counter.
"Creepy fucking mask you got there"
I quickly looked up, making eye contact with the worker who was staring me down as they finished checking everything.
I just giggled, "hehe thank you"
"Wasn't a compliment"
"I know," I said smiling underneath the mask.
The worker just looked at me in disgust. Leaving the both of us in silence as they started to put the things in a bag.
"You know that you don't need to wear a mask anymore, right,"
I just stared at him, "Wha-"
"Yeah dude covid is fucking gone, you don't need to wear that shit." He said as he slid the bag towards me, " I don't know why you people even believed in that bullshit"
I was so lost, just slowly nodding along with what they were saying. I slowly grabbed my stuff and walked out the door.
What the fuck is a Covid????
————————
I bit down on the gum, tasting the very sweet and fruity flavors explode in my mouth. God how much I missed this, who knew being a serial killer limited your food choices? Hearing the rustling of plastic beside me made me bring my attention to ej who is currently digging inside the hot Cheetos bag.
We were both currently sitting on the side of a curb, the streets being empty and dark. Only being luminated by the lamppost above us, makes us seem sorta orange.
I laid down on the concrete floor, stretching my legs on the side of the street, "M-man it's been so long since *pop* I have been in a town, let alone buy stuff from a gas station"
Ej hummed wiggling their finger as their way of agreeing with me.
"Ugh, tom-NO-orrow we still have to c-continue to the next town, since from what I can reme-WOOP-mber the location I need to be is in like two more towns or so-something." I gave out a loud groan as I thought about having to walk even more. "Dude I wish we c-could stay for a bit and just...I don't know...fuck aro-FUCK-und???"
Ej continued crunching, seeming to slow down as they looked at me. They placed the bag of hot Cheetos on the side as they grabbed their notepad and pen.
'Who's stopping us from fucking around?'
"You kno-ow damn well who, sl-EEP-ender"
'I mean, are they here right now to stop you?'
"Well....no not really..." I said as I began questioning myself,
" But I still ne-need to go to my location on time or *pop* else they will get mad"
I heard ej hum
'I don't think it will hurt if you just decided to have fun for one night
I looked at them, trying to decide if I should or should not.
"You know w-what fuck it! You're right! One night of just fu-WOOP-cking around wouldn't hurt, I guess kil-killing someone might end up s-screwing me over so...I guess I won't ki-pop-ll people tonight!" I said sitting up fully, getting excited over the thought of just fucking up things.
Ej gave me a whoop and a thumbs up, grabbed their hot Cheetos bag, and began eating them.
I looked at their bag and asked, "Can I get one?"
They nodded, handing me the chips. "I don't think I tried them before," I said as I took one out, being covered in a red powder and soon throwing it in my mouth.
"BLEGH IT'S SO SPICY!"
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