A/N: As usual, I recommend putting the video on loop.

The cabin door closed, and Haley watched (f/n) leave hatefully. "D*mn, b*tch," she mumbled to herself as she leaned her head back. Her eyes turned to the worn out curtains by the window and to the snow beyond. She wondered how long the run would be back to the town and which direction to head in. Both of her legs were still fine, just bruised. If she fell, that would be the main issue. Getting up with her wrists was already difficult, and in the snow it was even more so.

"That's the second time." Haley paused and glanced over her right shoulder. The creature wasn't in the room, but his voice was loud and clear. His tone was unreadable. Gradually, the door creaked open. "Had you thought that I wouldn't hear?"

His feet entered the room first before he revealed all of himself. Light shone in from the window, and he avoided it. Soft footfalls traveled across the room before he reached the window and shut the curtains more. Her view of the snow was almost blocked, but holes in the cloth still gave her some vision to the outside world.

He faced her and leaned back against the nearby wall. "Well? Talk, human." His tone had dropped, and his facial expression represented growing anger. The creature's nails tapped against his arm.

"I'm not apologizing if that's what you want."

"It isn't. I didn't make that demand or ask you to. Answer my question."

"You already know the answer." The creature's nails stopped, but Haley only laughed before she spit out more blood. "You should know by now that I won't give you what you want. If you heard our conversation just now, you understand that even more. Give it up, you monster. You've already done your worst."

"Then, you're truly not going to tell me what my partner's plan is?" Haley smirked and shook her head. He was about ready to rip her head off. "Even if I feed you more of your boyfriend?" She shook her head again, but her confident gaze had morphed into one of sorrow and guilt. "Well, that's a shame ... for you. There are other ways to communicate. If you won't tell me, you can write me the answer."

"Like I would do that." She scoffed and rolled her eyes. His temper didn't diminish, though, but it only grew. A low giggle left him, and he walked towards her. Her gaze met his defiantly, but it quivered at his insane smirk. Haley wished to move the chair away, but she had no strength for that.

"Maybe, you won't, but it doesn't hurt to try." Another giggle left him. "Besides, I owe you for those insults against my little helper. I'm her protector, and I refuse to let you pollute my delicate flower." His nails glided under her chin. She tensed, and his right hand was too quick for her.

A piercing scream echoed through the cabin and reached outside. Birds and animals in the nearby area flew or ran off. No hikers were close by, and only one human outside heard the cry. (F/n) had finished everything, and she had traveled a little ways from the cabin to enjoy some peace. That yell, though, had ended that. Terror filled her heart. She had never heard Haley scream like that before. What had the creature done?

Her (e/c) orbs stared back towards the cabin. She was tempted to run off, but she couldn't bolt away; she wasn't healed enough yet. (F/n) warmed her hands up more in the pockets of the jacket and leaned back against a tree. Some support was needed since her mind created horrid assumptions. The older teen had no desire to enter that cabin any time soon. In fact, she never wished to walk into it again, but she had little choice.

Due to her condition, she wouldn't survive very long in the wilderness on her own. Even now, she could feel the cold biting at her more. She hugged the jacket tighter and winced when she moved her shoulders too much. Thankfully, not another scream penetrated the area. A sigh of relief left her, and she was tempted to sit on the ground, but she didn't wish for the snow to soak through her pants.

As she leaned against the tree, minutes passed. She didn't know how many, but when the cold finally became unbearable, she hesitantly headed back towards the cabin. The door opened halfway, though, and she paused completely. Crimson decorated him and dripped from his nails. Even though Haley's cry had been awhile ago, it was fresh.

Pale eyes, covered by glasses, meeting hers, he relaxed and moved towards her. (F/n) was frozen. What had he committed to Haley? Had he finally killed her? She didn't know what to feel. Her mind was jumbled, and she comprehended that fear was in her system, but everything else was uncertain to her. Was she relieved, disturbed, disgusted and/or feeling guilty?

Standing in front of her, he wiped his right hand off on his shirt before he held it out to her. "You must be freezing. You need to come inside. You were out here too long; I was concerned." There was no smile on his lips. He seemed exhausted and frustrated.

Not taking his hand, she back up some. "What did you ..."

"I finally took things to the next step. It was bound to happen eventually, and she had crossed the line today. I was tired of hearing her insult you. Such words should never be targeted at you." He held out his hand more, but her eyes only went to the blood on him.

"Come on, (f/n). You'll need to come inside eventually. I don't need you catching a cold. Your nose is already bright red." A grin tugged at his lips. "I could warm it up for you." Her eyes met his, and she saw the terrifying playfulness back in his orbs. (F/n)'s feet took more steps back.

Dropping his hand, he giggled. "Fine. We'll do this the hard way." She went to distance herself more, but he reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist. He pulled her against him, and she winced. His other arm came up from under her and lifted her. A yelp of surprise left her, which caused him to giggle. "That was perfect for you."

Not really registering what he had said, her eyes glued themselves to the open cabin door. His arms adjusted under her to support her better, but she wished to dart out of them and away. As they neared, he giggled again. "You might want to close your eyes when we walk in. She doesn't look too good, and I don't think that she'll last much longer."

Even though she heard him, her eyes wouldn't close. She had seen Laura's state, and she hadn't freaked out, but Laura had been dead. If Laura had been alive, she probably would've panicked some. Her heart beat faster in her chest, and nightmares played before her eyes already.

Stepping through the doorway, her eyes diverted themselves over to Haley. It was as though time had stopped momentarily. Her mind couldn't process entirely what was before her. All she saw was red. Haley had been painted with it. (F/n) couldn't even make out where the individual wounds were, but she did spot sources of blood in all of the places that Haley had attacked her in.

"See? I could've tortured her for the whole day, but I don't think that I would've made any progress. She's really only food at this point." The creature sighed and continued onto the bedroom. Haley didn't even glance their way; she was coughing out more crimson. "Such a shame. I really wanted an answer from her, and I even tried to force her to write it."

Giggling, he remarked, "That's why she's missing her right hand. I became a little enraged at her unwillingness. It kind of made a popping sound." He made his own popping sound to emphasize, and (f/n) felt paralyzed. His tone was happy-go-lucky and high-pitched, but she could denote the pure menace behind it all. Haley hadn't complied and had pushed him to his last straw. Her price had been her current awful condition.

Moans of discomfort came from the main room as they entered the bedroom before a series of coughs followed it. It sounded like she was choking, which wasn't too much of a shock given her state. (F/n)'s eyes remained wide, but the image of Haley tormented her on repeat. Eventually, she couldn't resist, and she pressed her head against the creature's chest. His footsteps stopped, and he gazed down at her.

"I had told you to close your eyes." No sympathy was in his voice. She guessed that he was still pissed off about Haley, and he let out a sigh. "But, I guess that you've received your wish. I've killed her, much earlier than I had expected too. Or, I will have killed her soon."

"Th-then ..."

"Don't worry, my pink flower." He giggled and walked again. "What Haley had been hoping for won't happen. You hadn't killed her after all. I have no right to be mad at you, but I would like some answers." Her body grew stiff. "And, we have time. Unlike Haley, you actually know when to give in."

Raising her head, she looked up reluctantly, and he peered down at her. A grin stretched across his lips. "And, I was right. Haley tastes absolutely disgusting. She's worse than her boyfriend, so you know what that means." She couldn't help but gulp. "I'll need some dessert even though I had said that I wouldn't have any today, and if you don't answer what I want to hear, I'll be having even more." He set her down on the bed, and her arms fell to her side. "Still, I'd rather not reduce your recovery too much, and the sooner that you answer the sooner I'll be more willing to hold back more."