Naomi's pov

Jeff and I snuck through the city streets, peeking into windows of places that seemed suspicious. I tried to think of a place that fit Selene's description. A place where people study things. A lab maybe?

I think there may be a couple of lab-like places around here. "Jeff, you come out here to kill, right?"

"Well yeah, where else?"

"Do you remember seeing a laboratory of any kind?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, I'm a killer not a spy."

"Well you're useless," I stated.

"Says the little bitch who has no weapon."

I placed my hands on my hips. "That's your fault, dumbass. You still haven't given me my knife back."

"Well I would if-"

"This is no time for arguing," I interrupted him, remembering the current situation. "Selene needs my help and I plan to do whatever's necessary to help her."

I turned on my heel and walked away. I knew Jeff was following by the way my chain wasn't holding me back.

"Why do you do all of this for her?" he suddenly asked.

I glanced back at him with a serious expression. "Because after everything she's done for me, I owe her. She brought me back from the dead, my life is now hers."

He chuckled. "I wouldn't expect someone like you to be so loyal."

I shrugged and flashed him a grin. "What can I say, she's really growing on me. She's become like my little sister."

"So she's younger than you?"

"Only by a year." I suddenly froze and gasped. "I think I know where to look, let's go!"

The two of us rushed down the dark streets, eventually coming to a building on the outskirts of the city. It was grey in color with very few windows.

"I vaguely recall hearing about this place," I quietly told Jeff. "Scientists run some weird experiments here, or so I've heard."

Jeff's grin seemed to widen. "Let's go then."

We snuck around the building, finding a fire escape door in the back. We quietly entered the building, finding ourselves in a dim hallway. We began walking, looking into the small windows of the rooms we passed.

People in lab coats were in every room. I saw a few studying some kind of odd plant in one room and a large snake in another. This was probably one of the weirdest places I've seen, and that includes Selene's home and the Slender Mansion.

"Hey, Naomi, is this it?" Jeff quietly called.

I turned to look at him. I went over and peered through the small window. Several scientists were gathered around a stand with what looked like an earring on it.

I could see the crystal from here with yellow smoke swirling about inside. "Yes, that's it. Let's grab it."

Before Jeff could say a thing, I barged through the metal door. The people all froze and turned to look at us.

"What the-? How'd you get in here?!" a man questioned.

I chuckled. "Through a door, idiot. I'm here for that jewelry."

"So it is valuable?" one woman muttered.

I frowned at that statement. "Not to you. You have no idea what you're messing with."

Jeff suddenly let go of my chain and charged toward them. They let out screams as he picked them off one at a time, stabbing and cutting away at them Hearing footsteps behind me, I whirled around, seeing multiple scientists now with guns and tazers in their hands.

"Look out!" Jeff yelled as one man lunged at me with a tazer.

I was suddenly yanked backwards and away from the guy. Jeff jumped in front of me and stabbed the man in the stomach. It took me a moment to realize that it was Jeff who had taken my chain and pulled me out of the way.

Seeing a woman aiming a gun at Jeff, I leapt between them. She pulled the trigger, firing two shots at me, one in the shoulder and one in the chest. It stung, but the wounds healed up.

I charged at the surprised woman, punching her in the face and knocking her to the floor. I swiped her gun and finished her off with a single bullet to the head.

I then looked to where Jeff was killing the others. I began shooting the ones that remained until not a single one was left standing. Jeff suddenly looked to me and threw his knife.

My eyes widened and I ducked down. I looked behind me to see a man with a tazer now with Jeff's blade sticking out of his forehead. He fell back onto the floor. Jeff casually came over, took hold of his knife, and yanked it out of the guy's head.

"You almost hit me," I said with a frown.

"Yeah, but I didn't."

"If I didn't have healing abilities, I could've died."

He waved a hand dismissively. "Chill out, we're fine, aren't we? We actually make a pretty good team."

I grinned slightly. "For once, I have to agree with you on that."

With Jeff taking hold of my chain once more, we approached the earring. I can definitely see why Selene's sister called for help. The very surface of the crystal has a scratch on it and the smoke inside swirled around as if it were panicking.

I carefully picked it up, staring down at it in the palm of my hand. "It's okay now, you're safe with me," I muttered to it.

"We've got it, now let's get outta here," Jeff said.

"Wait, Jeff, look at this," I said, pointing to a few papers lying around on a nearby desk. We both silently read the scribbles.

'The odd piece of jewelry we uncovered is a true mystery. Our studies have shown that the jewelry is of no relevance, only the crystal embedded in it. Oddly enough, the crystal seems to radiate with life, the smoke-like substance within moving about and reacting to certain things, leading us to believe that it is, or once was, a living creature.

'Adding to the mystery, the crystal just started emitting a strange wavelength, as if it were calling out to something. We've concluded that there must be a person or creature out there somewhere with a connection to this strange object.'

"This isn't good," I said to Jeff. "They're catching on about Selene. Damn these nosy people, can't ever mind there own business."

"Then let's go so you can tell her about it."

I nodded in agreement and placed the earring in my pocket. We rushed out of the building. I could hear sirens in the distance. Jeff and I sprinted down the darkest streets, avoiding streetlights and houses.

With the sirens and flashing police lights getting closer, Jeff suddenly stopped and pulled me into an alley. He pressed me against the brick wall, hiding us both in the shadows. We waited.

Minutes passed. The police lights and sirens went by us and faded into the distance. Jeff remained in front of me, his hands against the wall on either side of my head.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Jeff, they're gone. Get off."

He chuckled and leaned closer. "Why? Am I making you flustered?"

I could feel my face heat up. "N-No, I'm just ready to get out of this damn city."

He inched closer to me, his breath hitting my face. "You know, you're quite pretty. If I carved you a smile like mine, you'd look even better."

I quickly placed my hands on his shoulders and shoved him back. "Don't even try it, my skin would just heal up anyway."

He laughed, pushing me back against the wall again. "Good point, I guess that won't work. But that's fine, you'd look hot either wa-oww!"

He flinched back and I looked down to see Bella and Edward biting into his ankles. I laughed and bent down, prying them off and picking them up.

"You two troublemakers know you're not supposed to follow me into the city."

Jeff growled. "Damn it, those annoying rats again!"

"They are not rats!" I yelled back. "They're opossums and my precious little babies! Don't you dare yell at or threaten them!"

The two opossums climbed onto my shoulders and hissed at Jeff in response. I was surprised when he didn't reply. He'd usually have a comeback, but this time, nothing. He simply grumbled, took hold of my chain again, and led me back out and down the street.

Rushing back toward the woods, I was shocked to see Selene and Jack sitting together. Jack had his arm around her while she rested her head against his shoulder. They immediately jumped apart and stood when they noticed us approaching.

"Aww, it seems you two lovebirds had a nice time," I teased, a smirk spreading across my lips.

"Never mind, how'd it go?" Selene asked, changing the subject.

I decided not to push the subject upon hearing the enthusiasm in her voice. I took Bella and Edward by the tails, picking them up and placing them on the ground.

"We got the crystal," I said, sliding the earring out of my pocket and holding it out to her.

She instantly smiled and graciously took it. She clutched it in her hands and held it close to her chest.

"Thank you, Naomi," she said, suddenly wrapping me in a hug. "Thank you so much. She's safe now because of you."

I awkwardly returned her hug. "Hey, no problem. That's what I'm here for. But we do have a bit of a problem."

Selene released me, a small frown gracing her lips. "Scientists have started connecting the dots," I explained. "They knew of your presence before we killed them."

"We should tell Slender about this," Jack said. "He'll know what to do."

I was a bit concerned about Selene's sudden silence, but I didn't say anything for now. The four of us climbed onto our beasts and rode back toward the mansion.

As much as I don't want to place my trust in these guys, I fear we may not have a choice. I have a bad reeling that the final crystal will be the hardest to find.