{Jack's POV}
The dictionary described the term "humidity" as the amount of moisture in the air.
Jack, however, described it as his worst enemy on a hot day.
He and [Name] were currently sprawled across the couch and armchair in the living room, neither of them moving. Earlier they'd foolishly tried to go to the clearing to continue working on the dummies, which turned out to be a bad idea. Ultimately it resulted in them both returning to the comfort of the air-conditioned cabin after ten minutes of inhaling heat instead of actually breathing. Since then they'd entered a state of pure lethargy as they attempted to recover from the heat.
For once he'd ditched his trademark black hoodie, even changed his t-shirt because the other one was so damp with sweat. [Name] also changed her clothes, and he enviously eyed her shorts and [f/c] v-neck top. For once, he wished she wasn't there. Not because he was mad at her or anything, but because of his stupid self-consciousness about his skin. Were he alone, he'd lounge around in his boxers and a tank top, but nope, she was there with him. And he didn't want to show off any more of his stupid gray skin than he had to, so he was stuck in a navy t-shirt and black sweatpants. Just showing his arms took a lot of determination.
He gave a small sigh at the thought. Recently she'd claimed his face didn't scare her, but was that true? He didn't know for sure, and because of that he still had to wear his stupid mask, too. It wasn't exactly a very "breathable" material, it just made his face even hotter. Growling slightly to himself, he got off the armchair, ignoring the curious glance [Name] cast him as he stalked to his room. Closing the door, he removed the mask and took several deep breaths, flopping onto the bed as he waited for the heat to leave his face.
Heat. How could ANYONE function in heat? And why did it have to be so humid!? Was it going to rain soon? He hoped not, [Name]'s window was still broken and boarded up after all. If it did rain, he'd let her take the bed and sleep on the lumpy couch. He'd promised to take responsibility for the broken window, and he meant it. At this rate, though, he might have to do it even if it didn't rain, because the heat was so ridiculous and her room would be too hot. Sighing, he rolled his head to the side, closing his hollow eyes. So hot... so warm... so... sleepy...
{Reader's POV}
Since coming to Jack's cabin most of my time has been spent cooped up inside, usually due to a mixture of fear and being chained to a freaking bed. Back then I'd sworn to myself multiple times that if I ever got a chance to go outside, I would take every one. Now I found that self-promise to be absolutely idiotic and stupid.
I sighed as I draped myself over the armchair, wearing the airiest v-neck I owned and still tugging on the collar. One of Buddy's friends had once told me she preferred the cold over heat, because when it's cold you can just put on extra layers of clothes. When it's warm, though, you can't take off skin. Never have I appreciated that sentiment more. Part of me also wondered if she remembered me, or if she was one of the people who apparently forgot I existed.
As I thought about it, my head rolled over to the side, staring in the general direction of the kitchen table. Though the back of the couch blocked my view, I knew my laptop was there, closed and fully charged. It'd been a while since I thought about it. Even now, it still had all those photos and that video of Jack's torture hidden in Buddy's account. Part of me beat myself up for not thinking about it when Jack was out hunting, but I'd been so excited to know he trusted me that it had totally slipped my mind.
Would now be a good time to delete the files? I sat up slightly, glancing over the back of the couch at the hallway. Jack's door was currently closed, so I had no idea what he was doing in there. Given how self-conscious he was about his face, it seemed pretty likely he went in there to remove his mask, but how long would he be in there? For all I knew, he could come out the second I sit down and log in. THAT would be a disaster.
Also... part of me didn't want to delete them. Call me crazy or stupid, but I actually kind of wanted to see more... I wanted to see what Jack had been through, to know how far Buddy had gone. I know it's morbid and crazy, and that finding out probably won't be good in the long run, but deep down, I felt like I had to know. I guess curiosity is one of my vices, too. I sighed as I thought about it, closing my eyes.
Honestly, I wished I'd never found those photos. They've caused me nothing but trouble. Yet at the same time, I was glad I did. Knowing Jack's curiosity, eventually he would have stumbled across Buddy's account. Chances were I would have logged in for him if asked, and then Jack would have seen the photos himself. Forget wishing I'd never found them. A better wish would be that they never existed, because no matter how things went they'd cause trouble in the end.
Another bitter sigh passed my lips. This whole situation... was so stupid. Not just the photos, but everything. The guy who raised me since I was a little girl, the only person whose name I ever bothered to remember, the only face I'd see every day, was a murderer. He was a kidnapper, a killer, an all-around awful horrible man. And then the guy who he'd kept chained in his basement—an inhuman killer who had to eat organs to survive—kidnapped me, and at some point he became my friend. How does that even happen? Shouldn't I be terrified of him!?
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft whimpering, making me freeze. Wait... that sound... Slowly I undraped myself from the couch, carefully and quietly making my way to the hall. As I approached it the whimpers became louder, until finally I stopped in front of Jack's door. That sound... It was coming from his room. Cautiously I raised my hand and gently knocked on the door.
"J-Jack...?" I called tentatively. No response, just a few moments of silence. Then more whimpering. Hesitantly I reached for the doorknob, turning it and opening it a crack. Sure enough, there was Jack on his bed, curled up on top of his covers with his mask next to him. His face was scrunched up as he lay there, occasionally twitching, and once more I recognized an all-too familiar emotion on his face:fear.
Instantly horrible indecision wracked me. Jack was in the middle of another nightmare, that much was obvious from his whimpers and twitching. I could picture his dream even as I stared at him, chained in the basement with his arms suspended in those metal fetish mittens while he cried out for help, Buddy standing next to him and laughing as Jack experienced hellish psychological torture. Just thinking of it made me shudder.
However, I couldn't just wake him up. I'd done that before, and that ended with me being tackled and nearly strangled. He'd stopped himself before he could squeeze my neck, but I could still remember the feeling of his hands wrapped around it, making me shudder. I'd learned my lesson. And yet, I couldn't just leave him like this, it felt wrong.
Slowly opening the door and approaching the bed, I tentatively sat on the edge, staring at his face as he twitched and whimpered softly. He looked so scared, so vulnerable, so helpless... Feeling almost helpless myself, I slowly reached for his head and just... started petting him. I just sat there, gently stroking his downy brown hair. Maybe it wasn't the best move, maybe it was even a little stupid, but I honestly had no other ideas on what to do.
He stiffened a bit as I started, making me pause, but after a few seconds I hesitantly resumed stroking it. Slowly his body relaxed and then his face relaxed as well, no longer scrunched up in fear but looking... peaceful. A soft smile crossed my face as I continued, relieved that it was actually seeming to help. As I gently rubbed his head I heard a soft rumbling, surprising me, and when I realized what it was I almost burst out laughing.
Purring.
The organ-eating monster was purring.
As the realization set in I snickered, trying to keep myself from laughing. A feat much easier said then done. In a matter of seconds I failed and just started laughing, and soon enough my laughter stirred him, peeping open a single eye to look at me. "[Name]...?" he mumbled groggily, staring at me drowsily. "Why are you laughing...?"
"C-cat," I choked out between laughs, shaking my head, and he frowned slightly, puzzled.
"Wha...?"
"Y-you're like...pfft..like a cat...haha!" I was holding my sides at this point, and he frowned as he sat up.
"What are you talking abou—wait, where's my mask?"
"You were purring!" I laughed, ignoring his question. "You were actually... purring! Like a cat! Eyeless Cat!" This little nickname made me explode with even more laughter, while Jack just frowned.
"Ha, ha, very funny, [Name]..."
"Oh my gosh, that's why you're so sneaky and good at hunting! You're just a cat! Eyeless Cat! You're Eyeless Cat!" His cheeks tinted a little bit red as I laughed, and he narrowed his eyes as he slowly shook his head. He gave me a small shove, forcing me off the bed and into a standing position before I could fall, but still I kept laughing.
"That's it, you're too hyper. No more sugar for you." I just kept laughing as he rose and grabbed my arm, dragging me back to the living room and forgetting about his mask for the moment.