Disclaimer: Giggle, I don't own this.
Chapter VIII-The Warden's Key
Ava's POV
"Ha ha!" Jeff exclaimed, a large smirk painted across his face. "I guess I'm irresistible, if you may say."
I rolled my eyes, "Whatever, are you done now? Can I just be alone?"
The little shit actually looked like he had to think about it! "Yeah I suppose."
"And no watching me sleep Jeff! It's creepy and weird."
He grunted a little, "Whatever princess, I'll see you in the morning."
"Princess?" I screeched as he dodged my punch and ran from the room. I let out a long sigh then climbed into bed, "Just a little piece and quiet would be nice."
"Knock knock," Jack's husky voice called from the doorway.
"What do you want?" I hissed, pulling the thick comforter above my head.
"Hey, that's no way to talk to your master," he winked at me, sitting next to me on the edge of the bed.
"You're not my master Jack, get it through your thick skull."
"Ooh, I like it when you're aggressive," he purred.
I snorted, "What's your problem, shouldn't you be off eating some helpless kid's kidney?"
"Why when it's so much more fun to torture you."
I poked my head out from the covers to give him a death stare. "What do you want Jack? I'm tired and if you just came in here to flirt and piss me off then you better pray to god that-"
He interrupted, leaning down over me, his masked face just millimeters away from my own, "You'll do what little Avaline?"
My cheeks felt hot as frustration filled me. I pushed on his chest attempting to throw him off and with much ease and surprise Jack got up. "I'll see you tomorrow little one," he cooed as he almost skipped out the door.
Maybe now I can go to sleep...
...
Fear overwhelmed me, I was so scared, snap out of it Ava, there's somewhere you're supposed to be right?
I whipped around the corner, sprinting away from whatever was chasing me. A low growl came from behind me and I pushed forward. Adrenaline pumped through my veins, allowing me to push my natural limits.
The creature jumped out in front of me, ready to attack. I screeched, coming to a halt and ready to turn and run again. That thing- it was tall. Tall like Slender but lanky and a charcoal black. Its eyes seemed soulless and a crimson red. Its mouth was jagged and filled with crooked razor sharp teeth that dripped fresh blood.
Blood?
I glanced down just as the pain hit me, my arm was torn to shreds and the white bone was standing out against the flowing red.
I felt light headed, nausea filled my gut and the being jumped forward, pointing its horns at me like a bull charging. The long appendages on its head pierced my chest and its arms wrapped around me, pushing the dagger like weapon further within me.
My voice was raw as I stopped screaming; warm arms were pulling me towards a strong body.
"It's alright," his soft and familiar voice tried to comfort me. "It was only a nightmare."
"No," I started shaking like a leaf, "No it wasn't."
"It's alright Ava, you were asleep."
"No, I wasn't asleep, I- I wasn't sleeping! I was reading- I was reading when IT came."
His hand softly caressed my head and he continued to cradle me in his arms, "No Ava, you were asleep."
Tears burst from my eyes, "Why am I like this? Why can't I just wake up, why can't I just be normal?"
"Nah, normal's boring. I like you just the way you are."
"Maybe I should just die, nobody wants me."
Jeff pulled away to look me in the eyes, his own grey ones stricken with fear and anger, "Don't talk like that Ava, I want you. You're my only friend..."
"But why Jeff? Why me? Why do I feel like the nightmare never ends?"
He pulled me back into his arms and ran his delicate fingers through my hair, "I don't have the answers for all of your questions, and I may not be able to solve all of them, but I do know this: No matter what, I promise I'll be there for you. No matter what Ava, I promise you."
"Jeff," Our eyes met. His hand softly cuffed my chin and his thumb reached up and whipped the tears from my damp cheeks.
Jeff leaned down and softly kissed the top of my head, "You think you're going to be alright?" I nodded, too tired to use words; he got up and started to leave but I reached out and grabbed his wrist. He glanced back down at me with questioning eyes.
"Will you stay with me?"
He grinned, "I'd be honored." He climbed into the sheets and wrapped his arms around my waist. Leaning my head against his chest, I buried my face in between his neck and shoulder.
"Ava?" Jeff whispered, his grip tightening just barely.
"Yeah Jeff?"
"Do you like it here at Slender Mansion?"
"Of course, I feel like I belong here and that I might actually have a chanceā¦"
"If you belong here then why do think nobody wants you."
I let out a long breath, "Of all people I'd thought that you would understand that empty feeling. A feeling deep within my chest like a burning desire to want to accepted ."
"But you are accepted, everyone at the mansion loves you, even Jane and Jack."
"Oh please, Jane wants to carve my tongue out and Jack wants god only knows but I hate him so there's a difference."
"Hmm," he got kind of quiet before I figured out that Jeff had fallen asleep.
"Goodnight Jeff."
