Chapter 3:

*Ren's POV* (These won't happen very often like I said, but I felt this might help explain somethings)

I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar room. It was dark, not even a single lightbulb. The room was a dark gray, that was cool and damp. I pushed myself to a sitting position. Where am I? And how did I get here? On closer inspection the walls were made out of concrete, and there was no window. Even the door seemed to be made of the stuff, but as I pushed on it I realized it was made of metal and was locked tight. I walked around the small room, feeling the walls hopeful for a secret exit or a switch or anything really. But the only thing I managed to feel was dampness, moss and I think a spider. After searching around 3 times and not finding anything, I gave up in defeat and leaned against a wall. A sudden thought struck me, where was Rin? I stiffened and stood back up and started calling his name. I had no idea how thick these walls were or if he was even here. My voice just seemed to bounce off the walls back at my face. I even called for Mia for awhile, but after my voice started to give out and no responses came I gave up and panted and tried to clear my now raw throat. Finally, I decided to see if I could get a response from my captors or anyone at all. I walked over to the door,

"H-hey! Where the heck am I?!" I called out, my voice cracking majorly

No answer. I fidgeted with my T-shirt nervously, panic was beginning to set in and I was scared. Suddenly, there was a loud BANG! I jumped back, slipping on the wet concrete and falling on my butt. I looked up to the door creaking and saw it was slowly being slid open. It made a sound similar to nails on a chalkboard as it slid across the concrete. I scrambled back, suddenly feeling much safer with the door shut, rather than open. The room suddenly felt colder and the tension rose drastically. The door stopped when it was about three quarters of the way open, and it became deathly silent. I could hear my heart hammering in my chest as time seemed to stand still. Nothing moved.

After what felt like a couple minutes, I saw a shadow seem to wrap around the edge of the door. My heart leapt into my throat as he stepped into my little cell. His blank white face sticking out in the darkness. Was he at full power already? Was he here to kill me and take my soul to increase his power? I scrambled up to my feet as he inched closer, I was pretty tall, but compared to Slender I looked short, so I wasn't terribly fond of him getting near me. I wanted to get past him, the door is right there... I pushed off the wall, giving me some momentum to sprint past him. Unfortunately he was faster and stronger. Three of his creepy tentacles shot out from his back, wrapping around my throat, torso and legs. He held me up in the air and turned me around so I was forced to look at him.

Hello Ren, how nice it is to see you again. He couldn't speak since he didn't have a mouth, so he spoke telepathically, it sounded like he was inside my head, which sent shivers down my back. His 'voice' was a deep, raspy whisper that would make anyones skin crawl. I desperately tried to squirm and pull free from his tentacles but he only tightened the one around my throat making it hard to breathe which slowed and weakened my movements. Tsk. Tsk. You've always been a rebellious one.

I shot a glare at him. If looks could kill, he'd be dead on the spot. I stopped my struggling, breathing was difficult enough as is and I was no match for him in my predicament. But what burned in my head is where were the others? Rin, Mia, Ian. Had he killed them all? Was I the only one here? They couldn't be dead... At least not Rin, we were twins. I would just know if something had happened to him, but that ability was very altered back in the game. When I tried to kill him... The bond wasn't as strong anymore, so for all I know he very well could be. But then what about Ian and Mia? Are they okay?

Think you're the only one here huh? Slender hissed as though reading my mind.

"Wh-what...?" I wheezed. Slender couldn't grin but I felt like he was. "Wh-" I couldn't form the word. Who? Who else was here?

Slender just turned me back around so I was facing out into the hallway. It was pitch black and it took a long time for my eyes to adjust. Even then I could still barely see. One thing that stuck out though was a shadow standing in the middle of the hallway. It was around my size and thin but other than that I couldn't make out any features. Only that they were slowly coming closer. My heart thudded in my chest. Was this thing going to kill me? What was this thing? Or better yet... Who is this thing? It inched closer, my heart beating faster with each step it took, until it was close enough that I could tell what it was... Or better yet, who it was.

It was Ian who stood before me, his hair hung in his eyes and his face appeared to have a blank expression. He looked paler and had a much creepier vibe to him. What was he doing here?! "I-Ian?! G-get out of here... Run... Get help...!" I cried to him, only he didn't move, not one muscle. "Wh-what're you doing Ian...? R-run!" No reaction again. What the Hell was he doing? I was about to speak again, but Slender's raspy laugh filled my brain, cutting me off. Why would he find this funny? Unless... No.

You are quite naive dear Ren, are you sure that's your friend?

My stomach twisted into knots. No, there was no way! Ian was a strong being personality wise and physically. How could he give in to Slender?! Unless, if he didn't. Ian gently lifted his head and his hair fell back out of his eyes. Instead of both eyes being completely black like a normal proxy but one was still a piercing blue where the other one was black with a red iris. That's not normal, that must mean that Ian hasn't fully lost himself yet, there's a part of him still in there. "I-Ian?! I-it's me Ren!" Ian didn't react, but he was now close enough to me that if I could move I would be able to grab his arm. He kept coming though, closer and closer.

You know Ren, I realize Ian here kinda took your place, but then again, having two apprentices can't be SO bad. Slender hissed.

Ian's arm shot out quicker than lightning, wrapping his hand tightly around my throat. I wheezed as air was cut off and I weakly struggled against both things holding me. I saw Ian's other hand go to his pocket and my eyes widened when I saw him pull out a needle. I squirmed, desperate to get away but Slender only shot out more tentacles holding me still. I felt like a trapped animal about to be devoured, I was scared and desperate. Ian pricked the needle into my neck and injected whatever was inside. I yelped and my breath quickened as I felt my body start to go numb. The cold liquid rushing through my veins as my heart pumped faster. "Wh... What was that...?" I whimpered.

A toxin, to keep you immobile while we secure you.

I scoffed. "Like I'm not secure enough already?"

I received a head slam to the wall, causing my vision to break out into stars. Do you want another dose Ren? You know, too much of this stuff can kill a man, and that would be such a shame.

"G-go to Hell." I spat glaring daggers at him.

Slender's grip tightened immensely till it felt like every bone in my body was being crushed. I let out a strangled scream. Don't be cocky Ren, your time is coming oh so soon.

Stars and blackness danced across my vision. I let out another scream and everything went black.

~~~

I jolted awake and sat bolt right up. My face and hair were slicked with a cold sweat, but as I looked around I realized I was back in Ian's apartment. I let out a small sigh of relief. What the hell was up with that dream? That was way to vivid for my liking. I stood up and walked over to a mirror. I could still faintly feel where I'd been strangled, but there were no bruises, no sign that i'd even been touched. I decided to take a hot shower to calm down and help me think. I grabbed a towel and headed to the bathroom. I turned on the water and stripped while I wasted for it to warm up. I stepped in the shower and just kinda let myself melt in the hot water. For awhile, I thought about the dream and how it was super vivid, too vivid to just be a dream. But I'd never had a dream like that before. So was it just a dream? Or was it something more?

I sighed, running my hand through my hair, I'd worry about it later. I stayed in the shower for a while longer, letting it ease and calm my nerves. Maybe tomorrow I'll tell Rin and Mia. Maybe... I gently rubbed my temples. Memories flooding back on when I first met Slender.

~Flashback~

Rin and I were young and not horribly smart. We were running around the forest when we were about 8. Mom was home taking care of dad who was really sick. Eventually, Rin and I came across a creepy, old, rotting house. Rin was always the more cautious of the two of us, so when he didn't look so sure about going in, I should've listened to him. Then maybe all of this would never have happened. But, of course I didn't listen and I went inside anyway. Rin tried to follow me so I didn't go in alone but I told him to wait out here for me. Reluctantly, he did and I went inside alone. The house was extremely rotted on the outside, but strangely on the inside it wasn't in too horrible of shape. It was similar to our own house and I explored every inch of it for secrets, treasure, a safe, something out of the norm for our family.

In the main bedroom I found a small key ring with two keys on it with a note underneath it that read: For basement. Do not open. Now being an 8 year old and also being outrageously curios I went in search of this basement. I went downstairs and tried opening every door on that floor. Until, one didn't open, and one of the key's slid in perfectly. My lil heart raced as I slid the key in and slowly turned till I heard the click that meant I had unlocked it. I carefully opened up the door and tip-toed down the stairs. I wonder what would've happened if I'd never found those keys. If I had listened to that damn note. What would be different? Maybe... Maybe mom and Rose would still be alive...

Anyway, I continued down into the basement, and at the bottom of the stairs, across the room was a box, that looked similar to a treasure chest. I ran over to it, but as I got closer I realized there were chains and strange pieces of paper all over it. I now know that those papers were charms and spells to keep things in. But at the time my excitement and curiosity didn't understand or care. I ripped off all the pieces of paper and I slid the smaller of the two keys into the keyhole of the rusted lock. I twisted and it snapped open, I pulled the lock off and the chains slid of the crate with a clatter and clang. I was about to open it, when it started opening itself. And HE climbed out, his unusually long and slender form in a black suit, his blank white face sticking out in the darkness. At first I was terrified but my excitement soon took over. "Hi! I'm Ren!" I greeted.

He moved his 'face' to look at me. Are you the one who freed me? He said in the same raspy voice he had now.

"I think so, I came looking for treasure! But, I wasn't expecting to find you."

He was quiet for a long time, just seeming to look at me, learn about me. What is your last name?

I wasn't sure why that mattered but I told him anyway. "Danmore, Ren Danmore.

Again silence, and I couldn't really tell what he was thinking since he didn't have any facial expressions. I could only assume that was an answer he was okay with. Suddenly, I realized that I'd left Rin outside by himself for a long time. He was probably getting worried.

"Umm, sorry mister but I have to leave."

Oh? Where too?

"Back home, my brother is waiting for me. He was too scared to come in with me."

Hm... Before you leave, take these. He held something out in his hand. I walked over and took whatever it was. I opened my own hand and looked at what it was. It was two pieces of candy I think. One said out on the wrapper and the other said in. I took them and headed back upstairs and outside to Rin. I ran over to him smiling. If only I'd known what I'd just done. If only I'd known... That I'd just released a monster.

~Flashback end~

I let out a sigh. I was looking at the lil shower mirror that guys would normally use when they shaved their face and neck. I stared at my own reflection. I didn't always have green eyes, and Rin didn't always have blue. We both had brown, but when I gave us each one of the pieces of candy (me out and him in) it changed our eye color and gave us our powers. I gently ran my finger over a scar on my chest from another experience with Slender... I shuddered, I had a lot of times with Slender I didn't like to remember... So many emotions and stories bottled up that I was too afraid to tell. My dream one day is to finally be able to tell Mia and Rin those stories to get it off my chest, and I don't know... Receive the family love I've been really missing I guess. That won't be for a while though, I want to wait till we find Ian and get everything back to normalish... I say ish because I don't want to go back to the game. I wanna stay here. Then I won't have to worry about anything bad happening to us. Pathetic, isn't it. I can't even muster up the courage to talk to my brother about something important. The reason it bothers me so much is that he would tell me anything. He's like an open book, even to complete strangers like Mia and Ian. I envied that trait about him. Rin was kind and accepting to almost everyone, even if they weren't always the greatest of people. Where I kept up walls and barriers making me hard to be friends with. Lately, they've been stronger than ever, the guys would try to connect with me even though they still were a bit wary around me and I've just keeping them out. Even Mia and Rin keep trying to get past them, to show the guys who I really am. A happy, fun, nice to be around person. Someone who likes to tell stories, who isn't afraid to hide their flaws or past. Someone who is trusting and trustworthy. But, that person has hidden himself away deep in my barriers... And I don't know if I'll be able to find them again.

Eventually, I turned the water off and stepped out of the shower out of the shower and started drying myself off. I put my sweats back on and stepped out of the bathroom. I decided to mess with the computer a little bit. I went to Ian's computer room and sat at the computer. The techy one of his friends, I think it was Jason had managed to get Slender's title screen off the computer and Mia taught Rin and I how to play some cool games on the computer. She showed us one called Minecraft and a couple others on a website called Steam I believe. I thought maybe playing a game would calm my nerves so I went to click on Minecraft when the computer made a noise and a message popped up.

Crainer: Hey Ian, it's been a long time. You're really worrying me... :(

For a moment I considered replying. This must've been another one of Ian's friends and he had no idea what was going on. My stomach twisted into knots and I suddenly didn't feel like playing on the computer anymore. I'd tell Mia about this Crainer person tomorrow. I got up and started to leave when the computer suddenly went black after a loud clap of thunder, only the screen turned off and a static noise came from the speakers. I ran out of the room, shutting the door behind me, a shiver running up my spine. I debated waking up Rin, but I didn't want to worry him so I went back to Ian's room. I sat on the bed and stared out the window watching the thunderstorm take place outside. Lightning cracked lighting up the neighborhood temporarily, followed by a low rumble or clap of thunder. I stared at the other at the sidewalk across the street and at one point I saw a silhouette slightly illuminated by the lightning. I blinked thinking I was seeing things but there it was standing on the other side of the street, seeming to be staring directly at me. I moved away from the window, shutting the curtains and lying down. Why do I feel like I'm being watched? Or is it just my head playing tricks on me? I curled up under the blankets letting their soft texture cuddle and calm me. Maybe all this was just coincidence with the storm. Yeah, that had to be it. But, then again... What if it's not?

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A/N: Yay! I kept my promise! This was a really long chapter over 3000 words 0.0 didn't look like that many when I wrote it out.

I hope you enjoyed anyway though :3 this was more a bit of a filler chapter but I felt you guys should get to know Ren a lil bit more. Cause I love him and I want to show why a lil bit (when you love your OCs so much)

But yeah! I hope you enjoyed and next chapter you get to meet Mia's friends so yay! Oh speaking of that I need one or two FEMALE OCs for some friends of Mia. I have two already but I want one or two more so if you could pretty please comment a female OC I appreciate it very much! Thank you and I'll see you in the next chapter! Byyyyye

Mo