Page 17 of Immersed
“Relax, man. Safety’s on.” Jasper flicked something on the side of the gun. “My uncle taught me how to shoot. We’re good now.”
Levi kept his distance, every instinct screaming danger. “Just... point it at the ground, okay?”
“Let’s go find Zoe.” Jasper nodded, starting forward again. “I think she went this—”
His foot caught on an exposed root. Jasper pitched forward, arms windmilling as he fought for balance. The gun discharged with a deafening crack that echoed through the forest.
Levi watched in horror as Jasper crumpled to the ground, the back of his head blossoming red against his beanie. The gun tumbled from his limp fingers.
“No, no, no!” Levi dropped to his knees beside Jasper’s body. Blood pooled beneath his head, soaking into the forest floor in dark rivulets. Jasper’s eyes stared blankly at the canopy above, mouth frozen in surprise.
Levi’s hands hovered over the wound, shaking violently. The damage was catastrophic. Part of Jasper’s skull caved inward, brain matter visible through the opening.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
Jasper’s chest rose and fell in shallow, wet gasps. Blood bubbled from his nose and mouth with each labored breath.
“I can’t—” Levi choked back a sob. “I don’t knowhow to help you.”
Jasper’s breathing slowed, then stopped altogether. His eyes remained open, reflecting moonlight like glass.
Levi scrambled backward, mind fracturing under the weight of horror. He had to keep moving. Had to find Zoe. Had to find some way to survive this nightmare.
He staggered to his feet, turning to flee deeper into the woods—and felt strong fingers clamp over his shoulders, yanking him backward. He flailed, feet leaving the ground as he was dragged against a solid chest.
“Good,” the stranger’s voice purred against his ear. “The pothead was an idiot. Now we can be alone.”
Levi’s fists connected with the stranger’s chest, each desperate blow landing with the impact of hitting concrete. His knuckles throbbed, pain shooting up his arms as he flailed against his captor. The stranger didn’t flinch, didn’t even seem to register the assault.
“Why?” Levi gasped between punches. “W-why are you doing this to us?”
Every villain had a reason. Every monster had some twisted logic. Something Levi could understand, could process, could maybe use against them.
The stranger seemed to consider the question, lips pursing. His features betrayed no emotion beyond mild curiosity.
“Because you were here,” he said finally, shrugging one shoulder.
Levi’s fists faltered mid-swing.That’s it? That’s fucking it?The absurd simplicity of the answer hit harder than any physical blow. No grand scheme. No complex motivation. Just random, meaningless slaughter.
“That’s not—” Levi renewed his struggle, clawing at the stranger’s face, kicking at his shins. “You can’t just—”
The stranger sighed. “Enough ofthat.”
In one fluid motion, he gripped Levi’s shoulder and wrist, spinning him around and downward. Levi felt his body leave the ground, weightless for a moment before gravity reclaimed him. The stranger maintained his grip on Levi’s arm as he fell, twisting it at an unnatural angle.
The pop came first—a wet, sickening sound of joint separating from socket. The pain followed a heartbeat later, white-hot agony that shot through his shoulder and down his arm like liquid fire. Levi’s scream tore through the forest.
He hit the ground hard, leaves and twigs pressing into his cheek. The dislocated arm lay useless beside him, bent at a nauseating angle. Each heartbeat sent fresh waves of agony through his shoulder, so intense it made him nauseous.
“Please,” Levi sobbed, his good arm scrabbling at the forest floor, fingers digging into dirt as he tried to drag himself away. “P-please don’t. I don’t want to die.”
The stranger crouched beside him. “What happened to your head?”
“I—I did it,” Levi stammered.
The stranger’s brow furrowed. His fingers reached out, gentle as they traced the wounds. The touch was warm, almost tender. “You hurt yourself.”
The concern in the stranger’s voice was more terrifying than any threat. Levi shrank away, whimpering as the movement jostled his dislocated shoulder.
