17. Cabin in the Woods
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Cabin in the Woods
The air seemed thicker than usual.
Phil couldn't tell if he was feeling claustrophobic amongst the tall trees that crowded him. Or if it was the fear-laced adrenaline pumping his heart too fast that made him want to pass out.
Falling back against a tree, he stopped to catch his breath, wincing in agony. He looked down at the gory gash in his leg. His calf was practically hanging off the bone. Phil wanted to vomit.
Tears streaked his face as he shook his head, confused. He had trusted Caleb. Now this same man, who had been like a brother to him, was chasing him through the woods with an ax that had tasted his blood.
His fingers trembled, trying to rip his jeans to hold his bleeding leg together. But it was hard to concentrate when Caleb's sinister threats lingered in his mind...
"...I came here to get away from the burdens of my past. To find another way. My way ..."
Phil stopped breathing, watching Caleb slide his finger over the blade of his ax, eyeing it as if it were an old friend. "It's not easy turning away from something that's been ingrained in me since birth. But I tried. Tried to make a new family."
Caleb's hazel-green eyes flickered at Phil, and it felt like he was staring into the eyes of death. "...but in less than a year, I realized you people were cruel. Just like the rest of the world ..."
The sound of twigs breaking snapped Phil out of his thoughts. Barely on his feet again, he stumbled through the woods and heard Caleb's voice. "I'd hoped you'd be different. Moy was the most disappointing. He's the one who made me realize that I could never truly escape what I am..."
Breathing heavily, Phil hid behind a tree. Caleb held the bloody ax in his grip, glancing among the trees. "The police told your family that your brother died in a scaffolding accident..."
Phil's eyes widened. "...but that's not true," Caleb continued. "That day, I was going to teach Moy how to change an engine. But he was late. So I went looking for him and found him in the back of his van with one of the middle-school girls. Her skirt ripped off her."
Caleb's jaw tensed. "She hadn't even had her first period yet.
But he still made her bleed as he took her against her will.
Ignoring her cries, begging him to stop.
" Caleb tilted his head with resolve. "So I grabbed him.
Told her to run. And then I stabbed him in the neck with my screwdriver until his head detached from his shoulders. "
Phil blinked in shock. "Lena wasn't very different from her brother," Caleb said, walking forward. "Both entitled. Refusing to accept 'no' for an answer. Pursuing people out of their age bracket."
Phil panicked as Caleb got closer and crawled toward another tree. But he stumbled over a branch, falling into the grass. Whimpering in pain, Phil grabbed his bleeding leg as footsteps approached. He trembled with anger and fear, staring up at Caleb, who was holding the ax over his shoulder.
"I thought you guys were different," Caleb sighed remorsefully. "But you're all the same. Unfit to live on a planet you gleefully kill. There is no good in you..."
Phil growled. "And you think you're good killing people like some fucking hero?!"
Caleb tilted his head curiously. His eyes dramatically darkened to a forest green. "No," he said simply. "I'm neither good. Nor bad. I'm a Reaper. "
Phil screamed, raising his hand to shield his face before Caleb's ax went through his hand.
Deja shot up in bed, gasping for breath. She blinked, hastily wiping the sweat from her face. Frantically glancing around the bedroom, she tried to identify where she was. But when she looked out the window, all she saw were trees.
Her mind immediately went to Jax. Her baby. And her heart lurched.
Jumping out of bed, Deja ran out of the room, searching for the nearest exit. She shoved open the back door of the cabin and ran outside. "Chloe!" she screamed, tears of desperation staining her face. "Where’s my baby?!"
Running barefoot through the woods, her mind moved faster than her feet as she started to hyperventilate. Where was she? How did she get here? Where was her daughter? How long had she been out?
"God, please!" she cried frantically when she tripped on something and fell to her knees.
Her hands landed in wet soil. Picking them up, her eyes widened to see them covered in blood.
Slowly turning her head, she saw Phil twitching…
his face nearly split in half. His severed, bloody hand grabbed her as he gurgled blood.
Deja screamed hysterically as she climbed to her feet and turned around just to bump into Caleb. Her eyes widened in horror at the blood that covered his face, shirt, and hands. "...Caleb?"
Caleb looked at her cautiously. "...Deja-"
But Deja was already screaming and running in the other direction.
"Baby, wait-" Caleb called out. Deja ignored him as she ran back towards the cabin.
She flew through the door, searching for something to defend herself with, and immediately froze.
Stepping back, her lips parted, and her breathing shallowed as she stared across the hallway.
Jax stood to his feet. "Why are you running, Deja? Where would you go? You're in the middle of nowhere." He saw her fearful gaze on the hammer he held. "Relax, love. I was just fixing something, not bashing anyone's brains out."
Deja looked at him anxiously and jumped when the door opened as Caleb entered. "Ah. That's why she was running. Caleb the Ripper," Jax snorted.
"Shut up," Caleb sucked his teeth.
Deja instinctively ran towards the kitchen and grabbed a pan from the stove. She swung it around, holding it protectively in front of her as she glared at them. "Stay the fuck away from me!" she threatened.
Jax and Caleb looked at her wearily. "...baby, put the pan down," Jax sighed, stepping forward.
"Stay back!" she warned.
"Deja, I would never hurt you," Caleb said, putting the ax down.
"You're literally covered in blood, Caleb!" Deja snapped.
"I said I would never hurt… you ," Caleb emphasized.
Jax tilted his head. "Be logical, Deja."
Swallowing hard, she looked between them. "Where's my daughter?" she demanded.
"Put the pan down, and I'll bring her to you," Jax compromised. Deja cautiously lowered the pan. Jax turned to Caleb. "Take her back to the room while I get Chloe."
Jax didn't give Caleb time to respond before he left. After Deja washed her hands, Caleb escorted her to the bedroom, but she kept a considerable distance away from him. Entering the bedroom, she cautiously perched on the edge of the bed while Caleb stood a few feet from her.
Deja eyed him warily. "So… What are you guys? Best friends or something?"
Caleb snorted. "...no… cousins..."
Deja's nostrils quivered as her eyes teared up with pain, and Caleb felt his heart drop to his stomach. "Baby, I would never hurt you," he said, stepping forward.
"But you did!" Deja cried, pulling back from him. "You-you manipulated me-"
Caleb felt the air leave his lungs from the way Deja widened the gap between them. He could feel her slipping out of his grasp, and it scared the shit out of him. "...I-... I wasn't-"
"Why didn't you tell me?!" Deja cried.
"Because it goes against our rules."
Jax entered the room, holding Chloe. He wore a smile that lit up his face as he stared down at his daughter.
He looked at Deja, and his face turned serious.
"I asked him to protect you in my absence, and he did.
" Jax's gaze slid towards Caleb with disdain.
"...among other things… that I did not … ask ..."
Caleb irritably rolled his eyes. Deja swallowed hard as Jax approached her with Chloe.
She anxiously held out her arms as he carefully placed their daughter in her hands.
"...I believe our little darling is hungry.
.." Jax said. Deja slipped the gown from her shoulder and pulled Chloe against her bosom to feed her.
Jax's cheeks uncharacteristically flushed pink as he fondly watched them before he abruptly looked at Caleb.
Caleb's eyes had softened while staring at Deja, his fingers itching to touch her. But he could feel Jax glaring at him. Sharply exhaling, Caleb turned around. "I'm gonna go wash up..." he muttered before leaving.
Deja silently watched Caleb leave before meeting Jax's penetrative gaze.
With his arms folded across his muscular chest, partially exposed by his black open shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, Jax tilted his head.
"Did you mourn me?" he asked. "Or did you obsess over wondering if I'd ever come back? "
Deja's face tensed. "I didn't think about you at all, Jax."
Jax smirked knowingly. "Don't lie to me, Deja. You know the truth-"
"And what truth is that?" Deja asked irritably.
"That you're just as obsessed with me as I am with you," Jax said, holding her gaze.
"You hear my voice when I'm not around. See me when I'm not there.
Feel me the way I feel you." Closing his eyes, Jax shakily exhaled, stretching his fingers before clenching again.
"You'll have to forgive me. It's been months since I've touched you.
Kissed you. Been inside you…" Jax opened his eyes to meet her gaze. "...it's maddening."
Deja sharply exhaled. "How can you still want me… after I tried to kill you?"
Jax stared at her silently before looking at Chloe, who had fallen asleep while eating.
"I believe our little darling has had her fill.
" Peeling Chloe from Deja's bosom, Jax laid a cloth over his shoulder and carefully laid Chloe against him.
His large palm tenderly caressed her small back, giving her firm but gentle taps.
Deja was in awe at how tender this psycho-killer was.