Naomi's pov

I listened to the small clock on the wall ticking. It was the only noise in the quiet room. I stared at it, watching the hands slowly move. It was nearly 3:00 a.m. I should be sleeping.

But let's face it, who could sleep when you're being held captive by a group of killers and monsters? I sure can't. But I eventually found myself dozing off out of sheer boredom.

But it didn't seem long when I was jolted awake by the sound of the door opening. I glanced at the clock, seeing that it was now around 9:00 a.m. I watched Jeff and Jack come down the stairs and over to me.

Surprisingly, Jack carried the plate of food this time while Jeff just clutched his abdomen with one hand. His face was covered in scratches and bite marks. Jack crouched in front of me and casually fed me while glancing at Jeff.

"I told you to be careful," he said to the white-skinned man with a sigh. "You need to let yourself heal."

"What happened to you?" I asked in a rather bored tone.

"Your overgrown rats and your damn horse, that's what!" he shouted with anger.

I erupted in a fit of laughter. "My pets did that?! They sure taught you, huh, Jeff!"

He growled in anger. "Shut up! You're lucky Slender wants to keep you alive!"

I smirked. "Please, like you could kill me if you tried."

In the blink of an eye, Jeff had shoved Jack aside and pressed his knife against my neck. His dark, unblinking eyes stared straight into mine.

"I may not be able to kill you," he said, "but I could torture you if I wanted to. I could slice you up hundreds of times just for the fun of it. So don't tempt me."

My smirk had faded and I simply narrowed my eyes at him. After a moment, Jack pulled Jeff out of the way and finished feeding me my breakfast.

"So tell me, did either of you find any clues on Selene?" I asked purely out of curiosity.

"Not a damn thing," Jeff replied.

We both looked to Jack, watching him quickly shake his head and mutter, "Nope."

"Looks like you two still don't get it," I said with a sigh. "You will not find Selene unless she wants to be found."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "We know, we've heard it all before."

The two boys stood and left the room. Something Jeff said stood out to me. He said that Slender wants me alive. But why? I don't get it. What's his motive?

Well, I guess that's good to hear. It means that if they do somehow find and catch Selene, they shouldn't hurt her either. But just what are they planning to do with us?

Jack's pov

The following night, I remained in my room. Slender, like most nights, had left and probably wouldn't be back until sometime in the early morning.

"Jack, does tonight meet my requirements?" Selene's voice suddenly asked.

I stood from my seat. "Yeah. Slender is gone right now."

"Good. Now head outside, I will give you directions."

I left the room and went downstairs. Masky and Hoodie both sat on the living room couch watching TV. They both turned their heads upon hearing me.

"Hey, Jack, heading out again?" Masky questioned.

"Remember, not a word to them," Selene's voice echoed in my head.

I nodded. "Yep, figured I'd have another look around."

"You sure are persistent," Hoodie quietly stated. "Even Jeff is taking a break tonight."

"But Hoodie and I are feeling a lot better," Masky chimed in. "Our injuries don't hurt anymore. So tomorrow we're gonna start searching again too."

"That's great news," I replied with a small smile. "Well, I'll see you guys later."

I left the living room, sighing in relief once I'd passed through the foyer and out the front doors. "Now tell me where to go."

"Head toward Naomi's house for now, just until I get a sense of where you are."

I did as told and began walking. After a long while, Selene suddenly said, "Stop."

I stopped, awaiting her directions. "See that creek to your left? Follow it."

I looked to my left, seeing the small stream. I turned and began following it. It wasn't long before it began branching off in multiple directions. Fortunately, Selene told me which ones to follow.

It seemed like I had been walking for hours when Selene had finally said, "You have arrived."

I stared at the huge, hollowed-out tree. Now I see why Selene was so hard to find. She lives at the far eastern edge of the woods close to the base of a small mountain. None of us ventured quite this far.

I slowly walked up to the wooden door, pushing it open. First thing I saw were those two dog-like beasts. Both of them fixed their red eyes on me, snarling and snapping their jaws.

I was ready to slip my scalpel out of my pocket when I heard, "Fang! Saber!"

Both creatures snapped their heads around, gazing at the girl behind them. There Selene sat before a small fire. The two dogs whimpered and whined at her.

Their glowing eyes were on me once again, but they slowly backed away. "Come here, Jack," Selene told me.

I carefully made my way over, passing by the dogs on either side of me. I slowly seated myself across from the masked girl on the other side of the small fire.

"This is quite the place you have here," I said, glancing around the large room. "You actually live here?"

"Yes," she answered. "But I didn't guide you here so that you could take in the scenery. I want some answers before we leave. What do you have planned for Naomi?"

"That's Slender's decision, not mine," I admitted. "But if I'm to guess, he'd probably like to make her a member of our group."

"This Slenderman character, he's in charge?"

I nodded. "Basically, yeah. Although Masky and Hoodie are the ones who officially work for him. Jeff and I can do things more freely than them."

"Hmm, interesting," she muttered.

It grew quiet, the crackling of the fire being the only noise. Selene stood up and walked over to one of the many shelves that lined the walls. I then took notice of the small vials that laid on the floor next to where Selene had sat.

"Is that the blood you took from Jeff and me?" I questioned.

Without turning her head, she replied, "Yes."

"Why are they so brightly colored?"

"Just a side effect of some experiments."

I don't like the idea of her still having our blood. I quickly stood and crushed the vials under my foot, letting the blood spill out and onto the floor.

"There, no more using either of us for your own gain," I said.

Selene calmly took a small bottle of liquid and doused the flames with it, extinguishing the fire. "It doesn't matter, I was through with them anyway."

Selene casually passed me and said, "Come now, show me to your home. I wish to see Naomi again."

We left and I walked ahead of her, leading the way. I glanced back, seeing her beasts following her. I don't like this. Why is she letting them come too?

She's definitely up to something. With my hands in my hoodie pocket, I fumbled with the ring. She doesn't seem to know I have it. This is my secret weapon.

I noticed Selene was looking around as we walked. It was like she was trying to figure out where we were going. I grinned to myself. Not like it matters, she's not gonna be leaving.

Selene's pov

I inwardly chuckled. This is all too easy. Jack is just leading me straight to Naomi. She'll soon be free and we'll get rid of these pests.

After a lot of walking, Jack finally stopped and said, "This is it."

I gazed up at the dark, old mansion. Finally, I've arrived here at last. This place is well hidden deep in the center of the forests.

"Would you like to go see Naomi?" Jack asked.

I couldn't help but laugh at him. "What a ridiculous question. Of course I'm going to see her. Fang, Saber."

Just a call of their names and my beasts got in front of me protectively. Jack backed away from the growling wolves.

"Selene, what are you doing? I thought we had a deal."

I smirked. "We did, but the deal has now changed. I'm freeing Naomi. Arise, my puppets! Piece yourselves together and fight for me!"

I slowly raised my hands up and watched as various animal bones dug their way up from the ground. The different appendages stuck themselves together at my will until and army of misshapen skeletal animals surrounded me, each with a pair of glowing orbs in their eyeless sockets.

Jack had taken hold of his scalpel and Jeff, Masky, and Hoodie came rushing out upon hearing the commotion. The three froze, staring at my puppets and me.

"What the hell's going on out here?!" Jeff exclaimed.

"I'm here for Naomi and there's nothing any of you can do about it," I said.

With a wave of my hand, my boney beasts attacked. Fang and Saber stood back with me, making sure no one got close to me.

I watched one of the skeletons in particular. It was large with huge antlers sprouting from its skull. But it had claws on its front feet and large, tusk-like teeth on its lower jaw. The random animal bones that helped form it made it into a deadly weapon.

It charged at Masky and Hoodie with its pointed antlers. Both boys jumped out of the way, causing it to ram a tree instead, lodging its antlers into the bark.

After a bit of pulling, it finally got unstuck. Jeff then jumped onto its back. It squealed and bucked to try to get him off, but he held on tight.

I then noticed Masky and Hoodie being swarmed my a group of rabbit-like skeletons that were constantly ripping into their legs with their giant teeth.

Jack had two small canine skeletons, most likely foxes, jumping and biting at his arms while skeletal squirrels climbed on him and chewed through his clothing and into his skin.

I was chuckling at how pathetic they all looked. "Hey, Selene!" Jack called out. "Look what I've got!"

I stared over at him, seeing that he was holding something up in his hand for me to see. I gasped. It was the ring.

"All of you, stop!" I yelled.

The skeletons all froze and looked at me. Jack shook off the many rodents that were clinging to him. I clenched my fists, not knowing that he still had the ring.

"That is mine, give it to me!" I demanded.

Jack examined it briefly before looking at me again. "No. It's obviously important if you want it so badly."

"It means nothing to you!" I yelled, my fear and anger rising.

"Oh really? Well what is it then?"

I didn't answer, causing him to shrug his shoulders and say, "Guess I'll find out myself."

With his scalpel, he dug the blade between the crystal and the ring. I immediately gasped and reached my hand out.

"No!" I cried. "Don't hurt him! I'll do whatever you want, but please, don't hurt him!"

"Him?" he questioned.

Before I could say anything else, I felt a terrifying presence behind me. I stiffened and whirled around, seeing Slenderman standing before me.

A loud static instantly filled my head. I screamed in pain and clutched my masked head, the static noise growing louder and more painful each second. I finally couldn't take it anymore and blacked out.