A single voice could be heard, pleading for a slender being to awaken. Their voice was slightly annoyed, yet still worrisome. The tall man laid unconscious, unaware of the world around him as he laid, and the now perfect mansion that surrounded him. In his last memories, he would have imagined it to be simply rubble beneath him. But due to a bargain, that was not the case. Instead, he lost something more. He mumbled her name beneath his breath, the faint lines on his otherwise blank face scrunching in pain. He knew he was supposed to protect her. He knew he had failed. The voice called him again, more persistent than the last time. He just couldn't awaken to face the broken world that Zalgo had shattered with the snap of his fingers.
An icy rush now froze his veins, as he felt the liquid splash off him. Slenderman jolted up in shock, looking around to see his mansion completely intact. He was in his room, in bed. His shredded coat still laid on his shoulders, along with his inky blood splattered shirt and tie. The dark atmosphere of his room was slightly calming, the alluring dim light of his lamp allowing him to calm down. That was, until he remembered her. Aribella. Where was she? His eyes scanned the room, until they finally fell onto the only other occupant of the room. Their golden orbs were focused on him, their face blank as they frowned. A bucket laid in his hands, which had just contained the water that was splashed onto Slender's face. The Puppeteer was here, alive and well. Who else was? Was everyone okay? Did anyone... no, that wasn't an option. But where was Aribella?
"Where is Aribella?" Slender demanded, his voice hoarse and rugged as he tried to stand.
"Hush, you're in no shape to get up," the Puppeteer replied, lightly pushing him back down.
"Answer me," Slender growled, his hands beginning to shake.
The golden eyed man sighed as he sat down in the wooden chair he had pulled to the side of Slender's bed. He cast his eyes to the floor, shuffling his feet as he did so. "I don't know," he replied, looking up at Slender once more. "All I know is that everyone was running. The world was coming to the end, creatures of the unknown appearing and trying to kill us all. And then... it just all stopped. Like the flick of a switch. I came back... and found you here," he whispered.
Slender laid frozen, taking in each of the Puppeteer's words. It all just... stopped? How was that even possible? "She... wasn't here when you returned?" he asked, his voice slightly cracking.
"No."
The one word reply felt like a punch to his stomach. He focused, trying his hardest to remember his last moments with her. He remembered the two of them, hiding away in the piano room. Arguing over who's fault the whole predicament was. Zalgo breaking in... Aribella offering to go with him to fix everything... Zalgo ramming him into the piano, knocking him out cold...
"NO!" Slender yelled, springing from the bed. His muscles felt like fire and the aches flared throughout him, but he didn't give a damn. That beast had taken his angel from him!
"Slender, calm down," the Puppeteer reasoned, holding up his hands. The luminescent orange strings slithered from his fingertips, threatening to contain him if need be.
"How can I be calm?" Slender growled, now towering above the man, malevolent veins popping up on his temples and neck. "He took her!" he yelled, wanting to do nothing more than to burn the world. "That bastard took the most important thing to me, to make her a monster!" he bellowed, his fists popping as he clenched them.
"You don't know that," the Puppeteer replied, shaking his head. "She might come back, just as she used to be. Only now, you can keep her forever. Doesn't that sound nice?" he asked, trying to calm the enraged demon.
"You know just as well as I do that that wont be the case," Slender hissed. "All that's going to be running through her mind is the need to kill. She wont be focused on getting back, let alone care. She possibly wont even be able to remember!" he seethed. "She wont be the same angel we all knew. Zalgo is going to destroy her," Slender breathed, his shoulders slumping.
"You don't know that!" Puppeteer repeated. "You could be getting all worked up for absolutely nothing. She loved you more than anything Slender. And even if it takes time, she will remember. Zalgo can't take that from her. Yes, she might be a bit different. So what? You love her no matter what, don't you? Then be there for her when she comes back. Accept her. She did this to save you, after all. You have everything back because of her. You would have been either destroyed or back in hell if things hadn't continued. All of us would have been killed. The world would cease to exist. Yes, she is an angel. And now you owe her," he boldly stated, standing up from his chair. He looked up at Slender, his gold eyes blank.
"I know," Slender whispered, his head hanging. "And I'm going to accept her. I'm just scared that... that I'm going to lose her. Don't you understand that?" he pleaded, trying to get through to him.
"I do understand. You have every right to be afraid. But you do need to know that things could be a lot better than you are imagining. All it will take is time."
"She might not ever come back."
"All you'd have to do is look for her."
"I wont know where to start."
"Anywhere."
The two beings stood in silence, thoughts racing through both of their heads. Black spots dotted Slender's vision, but he knew he couldn't go back to sleep. There were other matters he had to face as well. "Who else... is here?" he asked. The Puppeteer looked away, his answer not coming as fast as Slender wanted. His patience wearing thin, he stalked from the room, storming down the halls of the mansion. He searched every room, but they all came up empty. Almost to the point of breaking down, he entered the drawing room, finding the only two other residence that were here.
Eyeless Jack and Clockwork were sitting, staring off in different directions. They were the only two besides the Puppeteer who had returned. And the frightening part was that Slender didn't know if the reason behind the others not coming back was by choice... or they hadn't made it.
Both options were terrifying.
Hey everyone! So sorry for not updating for a while . I have been beyond busy, and still will be for the next couple of weeks. Just two weeks left of finals, and then summer will be here! And believe me, it will be full of updates! ^^ Hope you all enjoyed! :) Please review
