Surprisingly, we all slept soundly outside all night. No one seemed to mind when we woke the next morning, but I decided to surprise everyone that morning and had left early to head back to the mansion to make breakfast. I felt like it was the least I could do for them after everything they did for Marble and myself. I feel a weird sensation flow over me at her name, but I shake it off. It happens every time, so I have grown used to it. Gazing around, I spot the mansion peeking through the trees and walk slightly faster. I don't know if any of them are early birds like myself, but I didn't want to risk it. Of course, I did leave a note so no one would freak out, but if someone does wake up and see it before I get there, the surprise will be ruined.

Making up my mind, I run towards the large building, my feet swift against the hard ground. Pressing my ears against my head to keep the wind out of them (they are very VERY sensitive!), I barely hear the extra footsteps behind me. I slow my run to make sure it wasn't just another creature, but the steps don't slow down for a few seconds before matching my pace. Fear pulses through me and I do the only logical thing.

Run

Picking up my original pace, I blast past trees and feel relief as the large mansion seemingly bursts from the trees with open arms. Stealing a glance behind me, I wish I had kept my eyes straight ahead. Erupting from the trees behind me was two-no three- large mutated dogs, the same from that fateful night. I hold back a shout of fear and continue to race towards the mansion, blood running cold even as my pendant warms against my skin. I can feel their breath on my heels, and without a second thought, I launch off the ground and spin, landing a swift foot straight against the side of the leaders skull. A crack echoes at contact and the canine is sent flying across the opening, shocking the other two and myself. Quickly, I shake off the shock and turn back to rush towards the mansion, only.....

He was in my way.

I scream in fear and fall flat on my rear as I try to stop myself. He looks different, with a large mouths scattered on his body and his skin a dark black. His eyes burn a bright red and he now sports a large pair of wings. I feel fear course through me as he cackles that usual insane laughter. He glares down at me as I scoot back, trying in vain to shout for help. My mind was racing and I couldn't think straight.

I feel fur against my back, and for a split second I think it might be smile until the drool falls against my shoulder. Shouting, I try to rush away, but these mutation hold me down and grips my arms tightly with its clawed hands. I struggle, but as my eyes meet his again, I find myself unable to move. Was it fear or horror that drove me into temporary paralysis? I couldn't tell, but either way I knew this was the end. He speaks something, but I don't hear him. I have escaped into my little world like I always did when he came for us.

Feeling my conscience being pulled away from my body, I allow it to do so at first....

At first...

But.... something stops me.... something.... refuses to give up.
I don't know what it is, and I don't think I ever will, but something forces me back to reality. I could hear him speaking, but I still refuse to listen. Instead of fear filling my whole body, I now feel a new emotion towards this man. Something else was inside of me. I didn't feel alone, and I knew these were not my emotions, but they felt...

Familiar....

No longer did I feel fear towards this man.

No longer did the horrors of what he did force me to cower away.

No....

No more running.......

My thoughts seem to speak on their own, but I agree with them.

No more running......

No more fearing......

This new emotion, I finally realize what it is. It courses through me so much that the two mutations slacken their grip. I can feel the confusion and fear radiate off them in waves. Even this man before me finally shuts his trap. I would not stand for anymore of his abuse, his torture, his experiments. No longer will I cower away from him in fear. I open my mouth, and words come out, but not in my voice. "You killed her." Is all I whisper, shocking everyone. It was my voice that spoke, and yet, I didn't speak the words, at least, not alone.

I feel my body tighten, this new emotion making me feel strong. Quickly, I flash my arms out from my sides, slinging the two monstrosities many feet away. One cracks against a tree, and I smirk. I can feel the man take a step back in shock. Not fear, no..... Not yet at least. I push myself off the ground, feeling a new presence hold me up as well. A familiar voice echoes through my mind and mingles with my own as I speak. "You have done enough." It seems to get darker, maybe clouds had blotted out the early sun, but his face says otherwise. I realize this isn't real, but he was only trying to mess with my mind once again.

Soft pain radiates from my back and lower spine, but I ignore them, my focus utterly and completely locked onto the monster before me. An insane grin creeps onto my face and I slightly tilt my head, raising a hand to my mouth. "The shadows seek your blood." I say, my voice different. Before I could attack, I feel the ground shake and the man grins. "Finally, you break." Something breaks through the ground behind me, and I don't react fast enough. I know what he's doing, but I don't move, knowing it would be useless. I keep my eyes open, and try to brace my body for the pain that's about to come.....

But as I said before, I'm not alone.

Though my reflexes were not fast enough, someone else's was. A barricade blocked the black tentacle from sticking me like a marshmallow, but I didn't know what it was made of.

'Your wings, friend.'

A voice, a familiar voice at that, tells me what happened. I mentally gasp in shock as I feel fur brush against my hand as I lower it from my head. Straightening out, I can feel the confusion and shock emit off of the mans body. I don't even have to look down to know who it is. "I-Impossible! Y-You're....!" I feel her fur move as she turns to gaze at the man, having been gazing behind me before.

'You missed.'

With that, we both spring towards him, prepared for an attack through my body....

But we phase through him and land on the sunlit ground. I gasp for breath as the realization hits me. 

This wasn't a dream.

I gaze around to find the mansion only a few feet ahead of me. I whip my head around to make sure that it was all real. At first, I find nothing, but as I gaze to my right I spot a tail disappear into the woods and a puddle of blood slowly dissipate. Still panting for air, I sit down and feel..... something.... blocking me from sitting. I try to sit anyways and pain rockets up my spine. Launching off the ground, I turn around to find....

Nothing?

I turn again and feel as though something is dragging through the air behind me.

Still, I find nothing.

I continue to turn until I grow dizzy and stop, falling flat on my rump again. I hear soft chuckling, and whip my head up to find myself no longer facing the mansion, but facing the tree line that now sheltered a tall man with a pure white head and no face. I glare at him as he walks out, amusement radiating off of him. "I thought you said you would only ever look at me like that if I was one of your pasta's or a proxy?" He chuckles again, a little louder this time. "I could not help but be amused at you 'chasing your tail.'" Now it's my turn to laugh. "Slender, I don't have a tail ya goof!" He seems to continue watching me in amusement before walking around behind me. I don't turn to watch him, because I trust him... maybe a little too much. As I begin to turn, I feel a yank on my backside as if someone just.... well....

'Pulled my tail.'

"Ow!" I say, standing up and rubbing my butt. I stop as my hands hit against something else. Grasping it gently, I follow it down as it starts to wind back towards my front until a fur covered end is in my hands. "It seems that you do, indeed, have a tail, child." I glare at Slender before returning my focus to my tail. it was black and bare until the end where fur began to protrude from it until it basically explodes at the tip into a puff of fur. I also make my wings move around towards my front to inspect them, but I am only able to see half of them. They are completely black except for the tips and a few stripes on them. The tips are crimson, along with the few, thin stripes. I slowly turn, trying to get used to these new.... appendages? 'I guess you could call them that, Alisa.'

As the voice speaks, a ghost version of my friend appears before me, her eyes gleaming with joy. "M-Marble.... y-you're...." She grins and walks closer, ignoring the tall man behind me watching us carefully. 'Yes, and no. I am not alive, but I live in you.' I don't question her, but I feel relieved as I am able to touch her. Instantly, I latch on to her, wrapping my arms around her neck. "I don't care, as long as I can do this, I don't care." I feel her leg rise up and lay against my side as she hugs me back with a chuckle.

A hand gently lays across my back as I release my old friend. "Were you planning something for the pastas this morning?" I realize Slender must not have seen the earlier confrontation, so I keep it to myself and nod. "Oh! Right! I was going to cook you guys breakfast!" Quickly I stand, and Marble walks to my side. 'Then let's go!' She rockets ahead of us and phases through the door, sending a shiver down my spine. "I agree. Come now, child. We have a lot to do..... and a lot to speak about." I follow Slender in through the large doors and straight to the kitchen, joy filling me despite the conversation I knew I was going to have with Slender. Right now, that didn't matter. Marble was somehow with me again, and I could touch her. I have new appendages that need testing as well.

But first, breakfast.
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((Edited August 22nd, 2020))