A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

Since the graveyard, no one had left the house, and no news from the security guard reached their ears. Hopefully, she had thought herself to have gone crazy for a little bit that night. Nick ordered groceries online and had them brought to the front door. Ren and Chris worked for their investigation job online, though; after two full weeks had passed since the subway incident, Ren was able to give Deidre a break from helping everyone out around the house. Back on his feet, he aided Chris in getting what she needed and with other tasks that she had trouble with. Deidre began to focus on helping Nick run their investigation business, and they only accepted counseling and research jobs on the paranormal for the time being. Until (f/n)'s prior tormentor was permanently gone, they refused to take any assignments out of the home.

(F/n) understood the pressure that put on Nick and his team since they had to accept a lot more jobs to make up for the income lost in taking on assignments that required them to travel. Nick, though, still had his money from when he had escaped Cankerfell. She had her money left too, but she was presumed dead so it all went to her parents, and she didn't want her parents traveling back and forth to the bank to draw out money, especially when they weren't accepting funeral services at night anymore. There were only a few bank employees, and they'd notice the oddity of that occurrence probably.

Or, she might be being paranoid, but it meant that her parents had to leave the funeral home less often. They weren't in the heart of town, so her prior tormentor could strike at them easily on the road, and no one most likely would notice in time. Even if they did, most probably wouldn't help since they would be too shocked and terrified to do so.

Still when a whole month had transpired after the subway, she was getting irritated. She couldn't help them make money since even an online job would require some verification of identity, and she didn't have the resources to get a fake one, nor did she want to involve Nick and his team in that work. Asking Ether ... she would rather avoid that, not wanting to know what solution he would come up with if he even would agree to it in the first place. As for helping them with paranormal work, Ether didn't allow it since Nick was associated it with it, and he didn't want her helping him. It's his job. Let him worry about it. It'll only increase you seeing him again.

That was another problem. She couldn't freely move around the house even though she could walk again because she might see Nick. Ether didn't want her cleaning either or helping with housework since it might be too strenuous on her even though she could lift things as long as they were less than ten pounds. It was aggravating. All she could do was go between the bedroom and the bathroom. Food would be brought to her, and she sometimes would see Deidre. When that happened, she couldn't even really have a conversation with her because Ether was observing the whole thing as though he would kill Deidre if she said the wrong thing. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise her if he did.

At least, her bruises and some of her cuts were healed. It reduced how much Ether would glare at her. She knew that he was mad at her past tormentor, not her, but it unnerved her from time to time, especially when she woke up to him looking at her like that. The other benefit was that she was able to have more substantial meals. When Ether had given her a plate with a turkey sandwich and bowl of canned peaches on it, she had about moaned every other bite. At the time, she hadn't cared because the food tasted so incredible after so long of having horrid food and then soft food, like yoghurt. Thinking back on it, it had been embarrassing. Even more so given the amused smirk Ether had been wearing the whole time.

Regardless of those benefits, she wanted out of the room. She was tired of going back and forth between the bedroom and bathroom. When they had gone to graveyard, she had seen the rest of the house, and she would like to see it again before Ether and her left. Then again, the others might be coming with them. (F/n) understood, though, why Ether was being cautious, and it wasn't just because of Nick. Admittedly, she ... appreciated his concern, especially since he wouldn't even unthaw his food so that the smell would less likely reach her, but she wished for time to herself or at least with Deidre.

Which was why, even if it was foolish, she was going to attempt to sneak out of the room. It was early in the morning, and Ether was fast asleep. He was on the chair next to the bed, and his head rested on his arms. Steady breathing came from him. There had been other days where he had been in a similar position, and she had tried to leave the room, but he had woken up each time. So, she had to make up the excuse that she was getting up to stretch her legs or needed to use the restroom. Each time, it almost seemed like he had seen through her lie, but he hadn't questioned it and went along with it.

There was another issue, however. Even if she made it out of the room, she ran the risk of him waking up while she was gone. If that happened ... A chill ran up her spine. She imagined that things wouldn't go too well. He might not wake up, though, but he might smell a different scent on her, which would be troublesome. The excuse of Deidre coming in and giving her food was out of the window since she always knocked, which would wake him up if he was sleeping. So, she couldn't eat anything.

Unfortunately, there might even be the possibility that he could smell that she was gone. She didn't know how likely that was, but it remained a potential concern. Nearly, she sighed out loud at the annoying thought, but she managed to hold back.

Today, she still wanted to try. She only would be gone for a little bit if she made it, and he only had fallen asleep an hour ago, so he probably would sleep for another four hours at least if there were no interruptions. With that in mind, she carefully positioned herself into a sitting-up position. Ether shifted a bit, but he didn't wake. A smile fell on her lips. So far so good.

Quietly, she lifted the sheets off of her. She paused when he moaned in his sleep; she didn't want to know what he was thinking about. At least, there wasn't some creepy smirk on his lips. When he settled down, she moved again. He must've really been out. With the sheets pulled back, she placed her feet on the floor and into her grey slippers.

Standing, she began to take quiet steps towards the door. Never had she reached it before. Once she did, she couldn't make up a lie. She knew to wake him up if she had to go to the bathroom; he made that perfectly clear, and she almost shivered at the memory of his threatening tone when she first had been able to walk again.

Passing by him, she almost stopped. Nearly, she turned around and hopped back into bed from fear of what might happen if she reached the door and he woke up. She told herself, though, to continue; she had made it so far. It was like back in Cankerfell; she couldn't stop, or she might never make it. At least now, she wouldn't be killed slowly, but his punishment could be horrendous. Even with her injuries, she knew that he knew how to hurt her without killing her or reopening her stitches. The only reason he hadn't yet was because she had followed his rules and he was being ... considerate as odd as that sounded.

Despite that, he couldn't use her parents against her presently, which was a nice relief. Well ... he probably could, but he never had brought that up or their deal for that matter. Besides, it sounded like he wanted to maintain his deal with her parents so that they would have somewhere to live comfortable together without drawing suspicion. It also relieved her that her parents were doing well and that her prior tormentor hadn't tried anything ... yet. If only she could recover faster so that she could check on them physically and take care of her past tormentor with Ether.

Right now, however, she had another task. She couldn't stand in one place for too long. Already, she was wasting time getting lost in thoughts that she couldn't address at the moment. Resisting the urge to sigh again, she continued towards the door. He remained asleep. Her right hand reached out towards the doorknob. (F/n) noticed that her limb was shaking, and she tried to control it, but it continued regardless. Frustrated, she gripped her right wrist with her left hand. That helped somewhat, and she started to turn the knob.

Behind her, there was no movement. The knob turned fully, and the door opened. She winced when it creaked. Quickly, she looked behind her. He was breathing steadily, and he didn't move. Ether wouldn't pretend since his actions came from pure worry and a desire to protect her; they weren't playing a game. No if he knew she was up and by the door, he would be up too.

Using that knowledge to her benefit, she stepped out of the room, and she quietly closed the door. It clicked shut. She waited a few moments to listen for movement on the other side. There was none. Safe ... for now. (F/n) focused her attention away from the room. To her right, she knew that the hall led to Ren and Chris's room. Towards her left was where she wanted to go.

Being as silent as she could, she progressed down the hall. She didn't bother with any of the doors; she would be satisfied with reaching the living room. Otherwise, she accidentally might enter Nick's room. If the creature woke up and found her in there, Nick might not live through the rest of the day. As she neared the living room, she heard a faint sound. The television, perhaps?

Curious, she turned the corner at the end of the next hall and looked to her right. Sure enough, the television was on. She couldn't see anyone on the couch from where she was at, however, and she felt her heart skip a terrible beat. What if ... What if ... No, she needed to check first before she freaked herself out. Softly, she stepped towards the couch. Almost, she gulped. On the television was a cooking show; she recalled how Ether would watch them at the funeral home. Did her prior tormentor ... have a similar habit if he had a television? That time, she couldn't resist gulping, and she heard movement that wasn't hers follow afterwards.