It had been a few days since I'd killed Zac. At this point the nightmares had only gotten worse- something I didn't think was possible- and I'd confined myself to my room.

Tim came by to check on me like he'd been doing the past few days, though when I looked up from the nightmarish figures I'd been drawing, I could tell he wanted answers. His face said it all even before he spoke. "I know you're not telling me something."

I cocked my head to the side tiredly and let the pencil fall from my hand. "I told you, I was taken and attacked by Zac, barely got away... It's kind of hard to sleep when the nightmares from all of this keep me awake."

"You left a note."His tone was icy. "I think you should see a doctor, mine isn't too far from here and it's worked out well in the past."

"What?" I recoiled at the thought and got to my feet, tossing the sketchbook on my bed.

"You need help, Ash."

Pain went through me as I limped around him. "Look, sorry I'm not thrilled about it or whatever but I'm not really fond of doctors or hospitals."

I glanced back to see him staring at the drawing with an unnerved expression before following me out into the living room. "Why is that?"

"...After Faith's death and my parents finalized their divorce they thought I was traumatized by the events- at least my mom did. I was taken to a therapist... at the time I'd started seeing that creature more often. I didn't tell them that but, they referred me to a doctor thinking it would help- wasn't there long." I slumped to the ground and stared dully at the carpet in defeat. "They gave me that journal in hopes it would help my anxiety to write things down... Tried to put me on medication for my bouts of aggression but they didn't help- it wasn't me in control during those outbursts so of course it wouldn't... Doctors just don't understand how to help- they don't have a way to get rid of him. Didn't keep going long. I eventually managed to fight him off, build a natural immunity to him- doesn't always help."

"What I take helps me fight off whatever it is those things do to us. Maybe it can help you- wouldn't hurt to try."

"I know." My tone was snappier than I'd intended. "I just need more sleep, that's all."

He didn't seem convinced. "Maybe you'd sleep better if you told me what you were hiding."

"Nothing." I growled back, irritation building up in me; I couldn't just let him know about that demon, not when I barely knew what it wanted. "I'd put him in too much danger."

"You're going to get yourself killed at this rate."

"...Wouldn't be the first time." I gave a drawn out sigh and looked down at the mark on my wrist, still unsure what it was meant for. "...Tim just remember if it does turn out badly, don't try to be a hero."

"What?" Tim seemed caught off guard by the response. "Ashley, what aren't you telling me?"

"I can't lie to him... It'll make things worse if he finds out the truth." I nervously met his eyes. "Please... please, just don't think I'm turning into Alex."

There was dead silence from him and I tore my gaze away to stare back at the floor between us. "I... I did it because I had to. Zac- he wasn't himself anymore... He would've killed us and who knows who else. I-I couldn't save him... It's my fault he became a proxy... I had to be the one to kill him... It was my fault- my responsibility to take care of it."

I was shaking from the guilt and fear of Tim's reaction. Sure, he had killed Alex for killing his friends but would he see it that way? I had killed Mallory too- even if it hadn't been through my own free will. A faint amount of blood smeared my palm from where my nails had dug into the scab. Why wasn't he saying anything?

"...At least tell me I was an idiot or something..." I pleaded, once again looking up at Tim as he remained silent.

"Apparently you already know that was a stupid decision." He finally spoke up. "You aren't like Alex- for one you aren't an asshole, and you didn't kill Zac the instant you found out he was a proxy. You feel guilty about it, right?"

"Of course I do."

"I'd be more worried if you weren't." He observed me for several more seconds. "Trust me, if you were anything like Alex was, you wouldn't be feeling guilty over his death."

***

Later that night I found a message left in my room from Toby. It had threatened Landon and Dillan while challenging me to stop him. I knew it had to be a trap, but I couldn't sit around and do nothing. This time, I didn't hide where I was going from Tim- I couldn't keep doing that to him without eventually destroying his trust. Still, I had asked him to stay behind and at least let me try to handle the proxy on my own; by some miracle he agreed.

I sat and watched the apartment for hours, waiting for Toby to show. When he did, I began hurrying closer in hopes of stopping him before he could make it inside. The screams rose up before I'd even made it inside. I could hear the chaos as my friends tried to get away and picked up my pace, bursting through the broken down front door and rushing in the direction of their shouting.

Toby's back was to me and I jumped him from behind, dragging him backwards as Landon dragged Dillan to his feet. Both of them were bleeding heavily already. An elbow to the chest forced me back and I coughed before going in for another attack. A shrill screech echoed in the small bedroom and I stared in horror as Toby yanked his hatchet from Dillan's leg. The blow had permanently crippled him, though he was already going unconscious.

"No... No! I'm here to save them!" I glared at Toby from under my mask. "I have to at least draw him away- so Landon can get to the window."

I once again rushed Toby, this time ramming into his side and shouldering him into the wall. Behind me Landon didn't move, too in shock to flee. The proxy gave a menacing laugh and pulled out a lighter, tossing it to the floor a few yards back. Heat rushed up and ran through the house on the trail of gasoline.

"What? How did he have- was this set up before I saw him?" I staggered back as Toby kicked me away.

"Y-you th-ink you're s-such a he-hero." Toby sneered before tugging Landon up by his hair and dragging him closer to the flames. Moments later he shoved Landon into it; his scream of agony did nothing but fuel my rage.

"I'll kill you!" I snarled and tackled the proxy, making sure to deliver a hard punch to the side of his head.

Behind me, Landon's cries were getting weaker... I already knew he'd be dead before I could get him out. "Why... why did they have to die!?"

Toby threw me off and kicked me in the stomach before I could get back to my feet. I coughed and barely dodged his next attack. As soon as I got my footing, I ran. He was right behind me as I got out of the apartment. I rounded on him upon reaching the parking lot and kneed him between the legs, hoping it would slow him down... It didn't. Toby only seemed to lose his breath for a second before grabbing me by the throat and pinning me against Landon's car.

"Sh-ould I say 'o-w'?" He cracked his neck and pressed more weight on my throat. "W-as that sup-posed to h-hurt?"

I struggled to get out of his grip before crashing to the ground as he flung me to the side. My choked coughing was interrupted as he kicked me in the ribs. Another kick hit my kidney, which sent sharp pain throughout my body. I laid there stunned, barely registering I was being hauled back to my feet.

"Y-you aren't s-such a g-good fighter no-w... Ma-ybe Z-ac went eas-y on y-you." He let go and used the flat side of his hatchet to strike a blow at my head.

I crumbled to the ground and gave a groan of pain, my eyes half closed as I fumbled for my phone. The message was already typed out- a safety measure for situations just like this- and I had barely hit send before the device was kicked out of my hands. A second later, he lashed out again, crouching down and delivering a hard punch to my temple.

"G-get up a-and fight." He growled, attacking me again when I shakily attempted to move.

I slumped to the ground in defeat, the pain still radiating from his unrestrained blows. He stood up and casually swung his hatchet over his shoulder, as if waiting for me to try again. When I didn't, he glared down at me and kicked me onto my back.

He raised his hatchet above his head only to pause as the sound of sirens drew close enough to hear. "L-looks like w-we're out of t-time... h-how lucky for y-you."

I gave a weak cough and watched him leave down the street. Once I was sure he wouldn't be coming back, I forced myself to my feet and unsteadily limped away. Last thing I needed was firefighters and paramedics finding me outside a burning building while wearing a mask. My coughing grew worse and I pulled it up, forcing myself to stagger a little further out of sight, before falling back onto the ground. Blood stained the grass as the fit got worse and my entire body was trembling from the attack.

"Tim... said he'd be nearby..." I dizzily lifted my head in hopes of seeing him before letting it drop limply to the ground when I saw a silhouetted figure running around the corner.

"Ash!" He was next to me in a second. "Shit, I knew this was a bad idea."

Vertigo spun the dark alley as I tried to get up and I sank back to the ground. "I-I'll... be... fine..."

I gave a weak sound of pain as he picked me up but didn't protest once he began carrying me back to the car. "You should've messaged me faster. What happened?"

"...They're dead..." My voice sounded hollow. "I... I couldn't stop him..."

My eyes closed as the effort to keep them open became too great. "Stay with me, Ash. It won't take long to get back, I'll-"

I passed out before he could finish.