READER-CHAN'S POV

I just froze there, not knowing what to do. Because, actually, I don't believe it. I don't believe what he said because I would never love a killer, would I? The mark on my left shoulder hurts and I think I'm going to pass out again. Before I could reply, he pulls back just in time and looks at me with those exhilarating eyes and it took me all the strength not to pass out now. He seems worried, and he was as he saw the disbelief evident in my face. He sighs, and grunts, combing back his hair in frustration.

He smiles, and it looks like it hurts. "You don't believe me."

And I think I don't. But I feel like I should. He stands up, and my eyes follow his movement, just to be sure. He takes a look at me before turning away and closing the door behind him. I stare at the door and I breathe out, something I didn't register to do a while ago. My hand goes to my heart and I could feel it beating so fast. Why was that?

I frowned and looked down, relaxing as I lie back down on the bed. The mark still hurts and I don't know why.

What the hell is happening? It's been more than a week that I met him and less than three days that he told me that we should just have fun. But I ruined it. I wasn't ready and here I am now, thinking about what the hell to do next? I don't know why but I seem so sad and I felt like crying. I bit my lip and I can't stop crying now.

I hiccup, facing the pillow to silence my sobs.

I feel so pathetic. Here I was crying when I asked for the truth. What's so bad about that? I don't think loving him would be bad and he seemed so nice to me so I loved him dearly then? And he, to me, back? I don't, I just can't believe it. I don't know why.

He's too good for me.

That was the problem, huh? Not him being a killer?

I smile. I feel ashamed and pathetic. I feel loved, though, as I look at the bowl of soup. I need to say sorry. I sit up and jumped out of the bed, creaking the door open silently so I can surprise him—well, hopefully. I smile at this and wipe the almost dried tears in my eyes. I walked down the stairs and quickly heard mumbling. I thought he was talking to himself until I heard a shout. It wasn't him. At first I thought he was being attacked until I heard him shush the other.

Who was it? I went up closer and leaned in the wall so I wouldn't be seen.

"I told you she won't believe you!"

Slenderman.

"You didn't tell me that! But fine, you're right. She won't love me now."

Jeff.

"And you're going to give up now?"

"Hell no." I smile at this. At least he won't give up on me. I'm just hoping he really can make me fall in love with him. I try not giggle. How wishful I am. I think I can really love a killer. But I want to love him like I did when we really first met.

"Jeff, please. You know there's a war brewing—"

"Hell if I care! We're gonna win!" I try not to giggle at this but shook my head. What the hell does he get all his confidence from? He's so freaking weird and funny. But it didn't seem funny to Slenderman as I heard him sigh. I bet he looks frustrated—oops. I roll my eyes and continue to listen.

"Jeff..."

"By the way, why'd you bring Savannah, Red, Silver and Sonic?"

Wait, what?

There was silence. Before, "To do this—hold him down!"

My eyes widened as I sneak a peek on what's happening. Savannah, Red, Silver, and Sonic held Jeff down and he's struggling and confused. I am, too, confused. What was happening? Why is Slenderman doing this? Slenderman disappeared and I wonder where he is.

"At your back."

My eyes widened and I looked back to meet someone faceless. I ran towards Jeff as he started shouting my name but a tentacle wrapped around me. He says something soothing and somehow I believe him.

"Calm down, child. I am here not for harm." He says in my mind and I feel myself stopped struggling and look at Jeff. He seemed in pain as he kept on shouting my name. The four creepypastass were trying to handle and stop the struggling and they seemed fine. But what was happening? Is Slenderman mad? The tentacle made me turn around to me the faceless again and I wasn't scared or surprised this time. I glared at him and he chuckled.

"I told you, child. Do not worry. I'm here for your memories."

At my back, Jeff erupted in a shout. Did he hear Slenderman?

"FUCK NO! YOU AREN'T GONNA DO THIS, SLENDY! I DON'T FUCKING CARE IF IT TAKES ME A WHOLE YEAR FOR HER TO REMEMBER! Just...please....Slendy." His voice broke in the end and he seems like he's crying. I've never seen him cry but I feel like I shouldn't turn around because it will only hurt me. Slenderman didn't move and stared at me, he looked like he's contemplating. But I knew he had a sure decision on this. He finally moves and he just straightens his posture.

"Are you ready?"

I am. I am. This time, I am. I want to remember. Him, everyone, what was my life—everything.

"PLEASE SAY NO, _________! YOU KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HIM? HE WILL—"

"Shut him up!" Growled Slenderman and Savannah looked at Jeff with a look of sorry before biting Jeff's arm and he screamed in pain. Red put a cloth between his lips and he's spluttering now, unable to talk properly. He's vulnerable. I'm so sorry, but I want to continue this, Jeff. It's the only way I can actually remember you. I'm sorry.

Slenderman looked at me. "Are you ready?"

Everything seems to move so fast as I nodded. He smiles—I think—and he draws a circle around us and I feel like we're going to have a demon sacrifice. He started chanting something as soon as he put me down. He said in my mind that I cannot leave the circle no matter what. And no matter what, I don't look at the back. I nodded and just stared at him as I heard mumbles from him which I cannot understand. I don't know if he's looking at me or closing his imaginary eyes but I just really stare at him, not knowing what else if left for me to do.

And then the mumbling stops. I look at him with a confused expression. Then, he disappeared him in my view. My eyes widened, a headache coming through. I could see memories so vivid but fast. Every one of them from my past. I cherished it that's why it was still on my mind. Every memory comes flashing in but it's so clear that even I can hear it. Because of so many, I felt my knees give in with all the power. I clutched my head because all I hear was him. I don't see anyone but I only see the memories. It's all around me, surrounding me. I finally closed my eyes as the last memory dropped in. The dream, or nightmare, was it?

And before I could register everything, my eyes saw black and I lost all my strength to stand up. But I saw a faceless man and heard Jeff calling my name. I faintly smiled because...finally. I closed my eyes.

JEFF'S POV

I was screaming the whole time. Even though it was just a short period of time, my lungs and throat hurts. Red took off the cloth and all of them stopped handling me down. I dashed towards Slendy, who looks dead and much even paler. I panicked because I don't know what to do. I looked at the four Creepypastas who looked baffled and scared just like I am. I glared at them and shouted, "GET HIM TO A ROOM!" And they quickly did, but with struggles. I look at _______ and cried.

"Please. Please. Wake up." I slap her face gently but she wouldn't.

"Fuck," I cursed before carrying her and bringing her up. I gently laid her on her bed and Savannah tackled me, hissing and clawing my jacket.

"What the hell just happened, Jeff?" She hissed, mad. And wasn't I supposed to be mad? Didn't they know that will happen? Didn't Slenderman tell them? Weren't they informed? Fucking hell. She looked really mad and her hair is standing up, with her tail standing straight. I looked away from her eyes because I am ashamed. But why should I? I didn't do shit.

And that's the problem. I didn't do shit.

I growled. "You guys didn't know?"

She kept on hissing and I wonder how's the hissing helping her to fucking stay calm. She grabs my collar and pushes me back down on the floor, my head hitting it. The pain was tolerable but I just scowled at her. Okay, she's not gonna be calm. I knew I was stronger than her, but I don't feel like hitting someone right now. I feel like crying. She stops, and stares at me and I wonder what's wrong. Did she finally realize? But it's not that. She gently got off me and helped me up and I felt something fell on my hand. It's wet and it's from my eyes.

She mutters an apology about the pain but it's not that. It's not physical at all. I sit down next to Slenderman's unconscious body. He might be dead for all we know. I wipe the tears and for the first time hating that I didn't have eyelids. I could've just stopped me from crying in front of Savannah if I ever had. I sigh and she waits for me to stop crying. I did stop after a while.

"He can regain memories," I start and the four of them is listening. There's silence as I think about what to say next. It's weird because I thought they already knew this. But they don't. And Slenderman fooled them—that bastard! I gritted my teeth but realized they were waiting.

"But there's a catch," I stop to see if they're still listening and they are being attentive.

"It's like...a sacrifice. Slenderman, for all I know, has got to be the strongest Creepypasta. He can teleport, he can control anyone, he can kill without even touching the person, he has telepathy and he can regain memories. He doesn't use the power of regaining memories since he is a stone-blooded killer. He doesn't need those. So he kept it away from his life. Until now." I told them and sighed.

"I told you, it's like a sacrifice. And the sacrifice is his life. He might be strong but we're not cats." I looked at Savannah and she knew what that meant. We didn't have as many lives as a cat did. I actually don't believe that cats have nine lives. I've never seen them die.

"And the chant?" Silver had asked. I turned to him.

I shrugged. "Some old chant that can bring back memories I guess." I sighed. I looked at Slenderman and scowled. He was so vulnerable and I don't even know if he's alive or not. We needed him in this fucking war and here he is, unconscious and maybe dying. It's making me anxious. Both Slenderman and ________ have been asleep and I'm worrying. The five of us are. It's not fair. It's not fair for the both of them. I love them dearly and this is what happens?

There's buzzing in my jacket pocket and then a ringtone. I don't know this song. It's full of shit but I decided to answer it.

"Yo?" I greet but my voice breaks.

"....he did it, didn't he?"

It's Theo. And damnit, he's right. He did. Slenderman—that fucking bastard! I can't believe it. Now we don't even know if he's ever going to wake up. Or if _________ will ever wake up. It's silent and I realized I didn't answer him but it sounded more of a statement that it was a question. He's silent on the other like just as I was. It's awkward but true.

"How's everyone doing there?" I change the topic but my voice breaks again. Savannah wipes a stray tear from my face and I ignored her. Theo sighs and I don't know whether he's annoyed, frustrated, or tired. Maybe all of it?

"We'll be going there at 11:45 PM. Where are you?"

I nod and realize he can't see me.

"Yeah," I answer a best too late. "Yeah, it's fine and uh, Sonic will just...say it to you."

"Take care," he breathes and adds, "Don't get too dramatic in front of us when we get there." I laugh a little because it's not that funny at all. He may be right. I might get a little dramatic only though. That's a lie, by the way. I will get dramatic so much, since, yeah—I've considered Slendy as my father since he took me in. He saw my talent as a killer and well, I was glad. I think he's the first guy I actually didn't want to kill.

Okay, that was a lie. When I was 14—just as fresh and new as a freshly squeezed orange—I was blood-thirst. And sometimes—just sometimes—I wanted to kill Slendy since he was so annoying. He'd pester me, scold me, nag me—just a fucking parent. Apparently, Slendy has a soft spot for kids like me when I was young. In general, he has a soft spots for kids.

The phone rings again and—I hate that ring tone! I grab the phone and answered, "You should change your ring tone—it's fucking annoying!"

I heard laughing. And it was Theo. It sounded from afar and I realized someone different contacted.

"Oh, uh. Who's this?" I asked, mumbled actually.

He laughed and I instantly knew who it was.

"Liu, Liu, Liu." I taunted and he laughed but not too much. I smile. But his laugh faded quickly and I wonder what just happened.

"I heard what happened." He explained to me softly and I felt like crashing all over again. I do not want to have this talk with my brother because my heart is aching again. It hurts so much and I think I might cry for the third time this day. The reason isn't pointless, but still.

"I'm just calling on how you holding up." I smile faintly.

"Such a caring brother." I tease, but I'm not happy.

"You know me, 'such a caring brother'." He tells me and I laugh quietly. He's weird. But he's my brother so that indirectly points at me. I know he's smiling and I am now, too. Red is looking at me weirdly and Silver's just quiet. Sonic went back to the others and I could already tell him he's speeding all around. Savannah's downstairs, moping, I think and I feel sorry.

"And you know me, I'm a dramatic brother."

"Oh please, you've been that dramatic since you went into puberty."

I heard both Silver and Red snickered so I glared at them.

"Fuck off, Liu."

"Okay, I'm sorry."

And then there was silence.

"I suppose you're fine then." He says two beats late. I nod. "Yeah." I smile and add. "Thanks, Liu." I could tell he's smiling and we said our goodbyes.

By 11:38 PM, they were here.

They were all hovering both Slenderman and _______ with worry. I feel weird because I think that both of them seems like suffocating. I told them what happened and luckily, I didn't cry too much. Liu congratulated me for that, as well as Theo. And now, everyone's worrying for the two. I am, too, but we just have to wait. They kept soothing me, too but I knew nothing worked now.

Because, if Slenderman doesn't wake up before midnight...

He dies. For real.

And here I am, really anxious to slap him in the face. I hope he wakes up. I never told anyone about that since they were all hoping. And I don't wanna crush their hopes down on the floor. My leg is jittery and my hands are shaking. I'm not crying but the tension really gets to me.

I look at the clock and it's 11:50 PM.

No, no, no, no.......!!!!

Ten minutes before the clock strikes midnight. I wait intently. Everybody's sleeping unlike me.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five...

Five minutes before midnight and he's still not waking up! That damn bastard!

Six...

Seven...

Three minutes and I'm losing hope. I turn around because I didn't not want to see this. Looks like he's not waking up. I stand up and start not to cry as I did. This was all a waste. Just a fucking waste. Just as I was headed for the door, the creaking of the bed and deep voice calling out to me made me stop, "Jeff?"

I turned around and had the biggest smile on my face. I couldn't help but shout in delight as I tackled him into a hug. He groans because he's still hurt but I could careless for now.

"SLENDY!"

Everybody's awake and they're going in the room, fussing over the awake Slenderman. Slenderman's brothers looked really relieved and I can't help but be satisfied a little.

Slendy looks at me and smiles. "You look like shit, Jeffrey."

I laughed and combed back my hair. "How the hell would you know? I'm still hugging you!"

He chuckles. "I just do." And he hugs back.

Everyone's quiet now as they stopped fussing and mumbling in delight. I don't know why, though. Slendy lets me go and everyone's looking at the side. I looked there too and I found a young woman smiling.

...she—she's...

"Oops. Am I interrupting a father and son reunion?"