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

For awhile, she just stared at the device on her lap as though it would spring to life or summon her parents to her. The conversation left a sour taste in her mouth and a sick feeling in her stomach. She was leaving them to face ... him on their own. Maybe, he wouldn't go after them, and he would remain fixated only on Ether, Nick and his team and her. Unfortunately even if that wasn't the case, she couldn't do anything about it; she had a long recovery process ahead, and if she wasn't careful, her internal stitches wouldn't heal properly. That would cause other problems, and she didn't need any more of those.

"I can't promise anything," Ether began, and she slightly looked up to him. "But, we can head there when you're healed. He'll still be out there, and we can take ... Nick and his team too."

A sigh parted from her, and she managed to adjust herself against the pillow behind her a little to get more comfortable. "I know. I just hate this." From her lips, a bitter laugh parted. "I've been saying that a lot, but I guess ..."

"That's how you feel." Ether shrugged. "It doesn't bother me. You should know that." He giggled. "I've heard it from you so many times before." His giggle fell short, however, and a frown fell onto his lips. "But, I have some news to discuss with you." She raised a brow, and she seemed dejected that more bad information might befall her. "It's about my food." Instantly, she tensed. "I'm not going to take a bite from you. At least, not until you're fully recovered." By a little, she relaxed.

"But, I do need more food, and I know that you'd rather not have me feed on Nick and his team." Now, a giggle, a sadistic one, left him. "Even though, I would love to tear Nick apart. Maybe, sample a little of him, though; he probably tastes the worst out of the four of them." His giggles continued, but (f/n)'s scowl caused him to pause before he released a few more giggles. Ether held up his hands and smirked. "I won't, though. But," his frown returned, "since I won't be eating one of them, I do need someone else."

Dread filled her being. Because of her being injured and needing to recover, someone else was going to have to die. She was glad that she only missed him. Being around him meant constant death, and she still had trouble stomaching the fact that she was a part of it all so that she could live. "However, someone already has died." Her eyes widened slightly. Already, he had killed someone?! Who?! Hadn't he not been wanting to leave her side?! Just when had he committed that act?! Noting her expression, he answered, "You misunderstand. I didn't kill her." Panic now rose in her (e/c) optics. "He didn't either." By a little bit, she relaxed. "The woman died of old age. In a few days, we'll be heading to the cemetery to pick her up, but that means that all of us will have to go."

Things clicked in her head immediately. "You're worried that he'll attack us, then, but you can't let Nick's group go on their own or stay alone. Nor, can you let me be without you." He nodded, and her brows furrowed in thought. "But if he attacks, you won't be able to protect Nick and his group too well unless you leave me." Again, he nodded, and her heart tightened. "So, some or all of them might die if he does attack."

"I need that body to keep up my strength to protect you. Otherwise, it'll be Nick and his team in place of the old woman. Most likely, all of them won't survive that process with how much I would have to take from them in blood and pieces of skin to make up for the lack of organs and/or substantial skin." Crossing his arms, he sighed. "One option will guarantee at least one of them dying while the other has a high risk of one, some or all of them dying." She looked uncertain of what to say. Either was awful.

"Nick wants to head to the cemetery," Ether added, seeming displeased that he revealed that information. He knew that Nick's opinion on the matter might help her decide, and that fact annoyed him immensely, but she did deserve to have the current details on the situation. After everything, he owed her that, and there was more that she needed to know too. "Also ..." Her eyes locked with his, and he could see the dread in them. Most likely, she didn't want anything else to complicate the circumstances, but the news wasn't necessarily bad; however, it did indeed make things more complex.

"Ren and Chris," her tightened in horrid anticipation, "are engaged." Instantly, the anxiousness left, and she simply became stunned. "It happened before we had that conversation. Ren couldn't wait anymore after everything that occurred recently." That, she understood perfectly. None of them knew when that creature would strike again, and they didn't know if all of them would make it through the attack, so he wanted to demonstrate how devoted he was to her beforehand.

At the same time ... Dread returned. Going to the cemetery ... "He wants Chris." Somehow, she managed to keep her voice from shaking. "I know he does after what she did." Her fingers intertwined, and she squeezed her hands lightly together. "We can't let him get either of them. That applied before and to all of them, but now that's especially important."

"I can't promise you anything now either, and I won't let you risk your life for them." He leaned forward, and his left nails twitched. She eyed them carefully, but they didn't move towards her anymore. "You almost died, (f/n)." For a moment, it looked like he might cry again. "I'm not going to go through that again. I can't witness that again. I could feel myself breaking." His right hand rested over hers, and he squeezed them firmly. Slightly, the action hurt, and she winced. Immediately, he removed his hand, but she comprehended his message. "If it comes to you or them, you'll always be my first option."

Almost, she looked ready to argue, but she remained silent. (F/n) knew that would be his answer; however, she didn't want to accept it. She wished for them to get married and live a happy life. It would bring some sense of normalcy back to her. They shouldn't have to live the current nightmare with her. Nick and Deidre too should be exempt from it. That's why she had left Faller's Grove like she had, but that came crashing down thanks to ... him.

If she decided against going to the cemetery, though, they had a higher chance of living if Deidre or Nick sacrificed one of themselves. That thought, though ... She hated it. Considering it gave her a nauseous feeling, and she looked over to the pitcher of water. Getting the message, Ether poured her another glass and held it up to her lips while she took several sips of it. Done, she mentioned, "Thank you." He nodded and set the cup back down.

"What do you want to do? I'm already set on the cemetery, but ..."

"The cemetery." She didn't like the option, but she despised sacrificing one of them to Ether too. Her eyes fixated themselves on his. "I know that you can't promise anything, but ..."

"No, I can't. He comes. One of them probably will die. The others aren't safe either." Her mind didn't want to accept his words, but she already had processed them. He was right, and she wished that he wasn't. "And if I need to injure or kill one of them to get you out of there, I will." Quietly, she gulped, but he didn't take back his words nor did he regret them.

"So, what exactly is the plan when we get there?" she inquired, trying to distract herself from the brutal reality of the situation. Her eyes shifted over to her legs, and she frowned. "I haven't even tried walking. How ..."

"I'll be carrying you." She diverted her attention back to him. "I'm only really acting as deterrence. If he comes when I'm carrying you, there's not much I can do for the others except maybe kick him. Even then, I might not be able to since the action might hurt you in the process." (F/n) parted her lips to offer another solution, but he cut her off before she could get a word out. "I'll be digging into the grave, however, but you'll be right by me. The others also will be surrounding you. They'll have lights, though."

"That'll barely do anything since we can't attract attention to ourselves. Light will, regardless of whether he's out there or not." She frowned, and her tone was accusing. "They'll be nothing but human shields to me. I ..."

"It's either that or we stay here, and one of them definitely will die." His tone was harsh, but it bore the truth. There was no way to make the situation any better. They only could do so much with him on the loose still. Until he was dead, horrible struggles and potential sacrifices constantly awaited them.

"But ..." She trailed off, feeling the weakness behind her words. Her mind wanted to clutch at something that was impossible. "And, weapons are out of the picture." The phrase left her mouth with a lack of energy and sounded less than pleased.

"Correct. He'll only be able to steal them and use them against us. If we bring weapons, I'll be carrying them, but I probably won't. I'd rather focus on carrying you and keeping you safe. I have my nails and my strength. I don't need anymore." She couldn't argue against that last statement. He basically was a walking death trap. "However, they'll be holding onto the shovel until we get to the grave. It's not much, but it's something."

Upon her lips, a bitter smile formed. "Yeah." She knew that a shovel wouldn't do anything unless it was swung hard enough to knock that creature out. Unfortunately, she already had seen how much force it took to knock one of them out, and she doubted that Nick or any of them could pull that off. They could stab her past tormentor in the heart with the shovel, but he wouldn't be standing by and waiting for them to execute that action. No, they probably wouldn't even get the chance to aim, let alone hit him. "I think that I'm going to rest a little bit more," she finally stated, wanting to forget about the dismal thoughts for the moment. Ether understood and helped get her situated back on the bed.