Characters: Jerome and Mitch
Word count: 561
Extra notes: v2 of Never Understood
*Blood warning*

     ~Jerome's P.O.V.~

I never understood why most people are afraid of the dark.

The crisp night air swirls around us, nipping our noses and ears. I shiver and pull the collar of my jacket further up, while Mitch seems largely unaffected. Probably because of his Canadian-ness. I grin slightly, relaxing in the cool of the night with the only light coming from the moon, stars, and streetlights. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Mitch shiver uneasily, looking down one of many dark alleys.

     "What's wrong, Mitch?"
     "Mm nothing. Just y'know... Common fear of the dark sorta thing."
     My eyebrow raise, "You're scared if the dark?"
     "I guess you could say that..." Mitch murmurs, smiling sheepishly.
     "But the dark is so nice! You can sit and relax, sleep, it's good for hiding..." I list off.
     "It's still creepy though."
     "Nu-uh."

     Mitch rolls his eyes, kicking at a pebble and shoving his hands in his pockets. I lower my head, scrunching my eyebrows, in deep thought. And then suddenly, a great idea pops into my head, and I perk up. Mitch glances at me.

     "I have an idea! Follow me, I'll show you why you shouldn't be afraid of the dark." I begin, grabbing his wrist and pulling him towards the nearest alley.
  
     Mitch's eyes widen, and he tugs back sharply, freeing his hand.

     "Uh-uh. You are not brining me into some dark creepy alley." Mitch protests, backing up.
     I roll my eyes. "Cmon Biggums, what are you so scared of?"
     "Well-"
     "Don't finish that thought."

     I grab his arm again, literally dragging him to the alley, only light by a single dim light off at the back, where a back door lies to some random store. Mitch hesitates, and tries to pull back, but gives in and follows uneasily. He presses close to me, and I can feel the frightened aura coming off him.

    I lead Mitch near the back of the alley, letting go of his arm; which he obviously is uncomfortable with. I back away, letting him stand in the darkness, and go to reach into one of the pockets on the inside of my coach.

     "Alright, happy now? I'm in the dark, now we can go." Mitch continues, turning on his heel and starting to walk back. "I honestly do t see what the point of that-"

     His sentence is cut off as the shiny metal blade plunges deep into his stomach, blood immediately spilling out and onto the ground. I harshly pull the knife out, the blood that was being barricaded by the blade gushing out, and smearing everywhere. Mitch catches my eye, confusion, pain, and fear evident in his eyes.

     "J-Jerome?" He chokes out, hands traveling to his open stomach.

     Not answering, I stomp down as hard as I can on his knee, crippling him, and sending him to the ground in a pool of blood. And then I turn, and stalk out of the alley without a word, making a mental note to throw out my now stained clothing. I hide the knife back in my pocket, leaving Mitch to die in my wake.
    
     I never understood why most people are afraid of the dark.

...

When what they should be scared of is me.

~~~