Chapter Text

The Runner

He ran.

Dark green fir trees whipped past as he shot down the dirt trail, his sneakers kicking up loose pine needles. His heart pounded in his ears as he pushed forward, those last few beers the night before adding to the strain in his temples.

Keep running.

The crisp morning air tore at his lungs in quick short breaths. Too early for sunrise, he chased the dawn light, muscles pumping as he leapt over a fallen branch. If he kept running, he wouldn’t have to think about it.

Running had always helped before. At first it was just part of normal army training, then something he kept up to maintain his fitness after returning to civilian life. Something to do in the early hours when the numbing effects of alcohol wore off. When the thoughts came back.

Then it was Karl.

After finding Karl, he ran. Ran like he never did before, he couldn’t tell if he was trying to run away from it all, or run after him. Find him again.

Geoff clenched his teeth and ran faster.

The irony of being a ‘runner’ was not lost on him. In fact it was the kind of thing he’d joke about. God forbid he let anyone know how he really felt. Run it off instead.

When you have practically no friends you can’t afford to be the guy who got messed up from finding his brother hanging in the basement. The guy who didn’t even see it coming. Did nothing to stop it. Heck, at first he didn’t even notice. Who wants to be that guy?

Tears stung the corners of eyes. Come on man, you came out here to stop this!

Did this just run in his family maybe? Hah, run. His breath hitched. You gotta laugh Geoff, because God help you if you cry. You don’t want to be upholding that family tradition just yet. He roughly wiped his face. No, he can’t check out right yet. Not when there is someone else who needs him.

This time he won’t fuck it up. He’ll protect him from what… whatever this thing is. The thing that pulls him as hard as it pulled his brother to pieces. It’s about the only thing Nic may have in common with Karl. Nic with his big blue eyes, child-like wonder, lack of fear and utter disregard for personal safety.

Geoff won’t let it end the same way. Not this time. He’ll keep running. Even if he has to run through the whole damn forrest, Geoff will find Nic, he’ll find him and he’ll keep him safe.

Because without that, there’s nothing left to run for.