- Chapter ten

Lana's POV

I woke up feeling disorientated for a couple of minutes. I realized I'd fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position, judging by the sore pain in the back of my neck. I moved my head slowly, my green orbs studying the surroundings. The color on the walls matched my eye color, as well as most of the things placed in this room...

I mentally punched myself in the face immediately as I saw a really big collection of video-games arranged alphabetically, situated right beneath a big mass of interconnected wires, a mess undoubtedly. Then memories started to fill my empty and confused head, and I mimicked a small "Oh" as a response.

Quickly, my eyes began searching for Ben. He was sleeping next to me, looking like he wasn't going to wake up anytime soon. Strangely, his hair wasn't such a mess when he was sleeping. Although, I could barely see that he was actually sleeping, he was actually alive. The sound of his breathing was so low it almost didn't exist. I felt weird watching him sleep, so I turned my face away from him, embarrassed.

It was dead quiet, so I assumed everyone else was sleeping too. I gently rose, twitching when my feet hit the ground. I didn't want to wake Ben up. He looked rather cute when he was sleeping.

I thought at something to preoccupy myself. I wouldn't usually go and search for paper and chalk in the Slender Mansion unless I was certain they were asleep. Not that I was afraid of them, but I wasn't so sure that they were all okay with me staying here. At least I knew Sally was. To be honest, she was adorable.

I sneaked downstairs, as silently as I could. This was a stupid idea. Although I went with Ben on a tour last night, I didn't know my way around the Mansion.

The first room I entered, I realized, was the kitchen. The Slender Mansion was all wooden built, and, along with the blank sky outside, it had an imposing, bleak, air.

Where would someone keep chalk and paper? I asked myself.

"Certainly not in the kitchen." A voice that wasn't Ben's made me startle. It was the guy dressed in orange, wearing a mask. I knew him from yesterday. Masky was his name, I think.

"Did I say that out loud?" I asked, almost whispered.

He nodded, and I could feel his amusement, imprinted right beneath his mask.

"What do you need chalk and paper for?" He asked, leaning from one foot to another, then rubbing his scalp with his left hand.

"I draw." I replied, simply.

"That's nice." He complimented, after a moment's pause.

I smiled.

His mask, even though it had a painted expression on it, seemed more inexpressive than ever.

I could tell this was awkward for both of us and somehow it made me feel more unwanted in here.

"There's some paper in the living room. But I have no idea where's the chalk. Or at least if we even have some." Masky said, his voice thickened by the mask.

"Thank you." I said quickly, walking past him, towards the entrance. I'm not very good at socializing.

"Next door on the right." He added.

I turned, gazing him questioningly, failing at an attempt to raise one of my eyebrows.

"The living room." Masky said, neutral. "Next door on the right."

"My right?" I asked, although it was a bit silly to do.

He chuckled.

"Yeah, your right." He assured me, his tone still indicating that he was sort of laughing.

"Did Ben tell any of you I was going to come here?" I asked, hesitatingly.

"Of course he did. The hardest part was to make him talk to us the first time, actually, but he did." He paused for a few seconds, then he continued "Don't take it personal if everyone's a bit rude. You're the first human that has ever been here."

I smiled, understandingly.

"Everyone except Ben. He's been spending so much time with you we barely saw him lately. He'd have no reason to be rude."

I didn't know what to say, so my face became unreadable.

"He's changed when he's with you, Lana." Masky said, thoughtfully. "I hope he doesn't do anything stupid, because you seem like an extraordinary person, and it would be a shame for him to lose you."

There was something in his voice I should have noticed at that time, but, instead, I trailed my way out without adding anything to our conversation, completely ignoring that something.

I grabbed some sheaths of paper, after.

I needed chalk.

And I remembered that I owned Ben a new hat, that'd fit him better.

Strangely, I bumped into Masky again, when I was just about to go back upstairs, and I told him two words I forgot about previously.

"Merry Christmas!"

He barely nodded and made his way towards his hooded friend, who was waiting outside, without saying anything as a response.

"Good morning!" Ben greeted, when I opened the door to his perennial green room, smiling childishly. "Where were you?"

"I went searching for some things I needed for drawing." I said, pointing to the paper I held in the other hand. A minute later, I was sitting next to him, on my side of the bed. He turned a few degrees so he was properly facing me, and asked:

"Don't you need something to draw with?"

"Actually, yeah, I do." I said. "Some chalk."

"Well then" he grinned "let's go."

He grabbed my hand and led me outside, and the coldness of his skin combined with the warmth of my palm felt electrifying.

"Consider this late Christmas shopping." Ben said, and I giggled.

"I don't think there's anything open." I started. "But, however, I'll check on my brother."

"I'm sure he is going to be alright." He assured me, and, undoubtedly, he was convincing.

"I like how you can make me feel better, no matter what, Ben." I suddenly said, and I felt my whole face heating when I realized that I told him that.

"I love that I'm able to do that."

His hold grew stronger, and he pulled me closer.

I wondered about how well he'd hidden behind his self-created image, and, in the first place, why it had been necessary.

BEN'S POV

"You're right." I admitted. "Everything's closed."

Lana shot me an amused 'I told you' face.

"You know, I wanted to buy you a new hat, as I once promised." She teased.

"Aw, man!" I complained, and she laughed.

It was so wonderful to see her laugh, I thought.

I observed that she had a habit to partly cover her face when she was laughing, so I reached out my hand and uncovered the left side of her figure.

"Don't do that anymore." I told her. "You're pretty when you laugh. Don't hide yourself."

Lana didn't know what to say, and neither did I.

I was happy I had the chance to go Christmas shopping with her when every singe shop is closed. Why did it take me so long to realize that Slender was right?

I drove her friend mad. Alex killed himself because of me, because I thought he was too weak for my plan. And then, my other interpretation hit my mind. Maybe I misunderstood what the Moon Children had asked. Because maybe people weren't truly bonded to me if I haunted, if I brought them almost to madness. I had to make someone love me, just as much as I loved my father.

The only difference was my father never cared about me.

But in my case, I'm not sure what to say.

"Do you have some money?" Lana asked, all of the sudden, and I was brought back to reality.

She was gazing at an old guy dressed up as a Santa, awfully singing some Christmas carols. I smiled, and she returned it. I handed her the money she asked and then Lana gave them to the Santa.

"Merry Christmas, young lady. Thank you so much!" He exclaimed.

When we walked past him, I felt his eyes heavily staring at me.

I swear that, when I instinctively turned, he had a bleak mask covering his face.

A bleak mask I could recognize anytime.

"He's going to be okay. The doctors said he could wake up any day now, but they'll have to keep him under observation until after New Year's night." Lana said excitedly, although I could tell she was still worried about him and that she was disappointed he's going to stay that long.

"See? I told you he's going to be fine." I said.

She hugged me, and I couldn't feel more guilty.

A part of me hoped she'd never have to know about anything.

But the other thought that she had to know she deserves better.

"Let's go back to the Mansion." I said, my eyes searching for masked humans upon a sudden. I had to remain calm. I can't panic. Not now.

"Slender's cooking this night. It's going to be fun."

"Okay." Lana agreed.

Her good mood was contagious.

She only let go of my hand when she checked on her brother.

Judging by the blue sky, shadowed by clouds, it wasn't time for dinner yet.

"We can stop for a while if you want to." I said, and she nodded. The humid air curled up her red locks again, and I felt something strange, definitely not humidity, curling my stomach.

We slipped over to a gathering of leaves, which were comfortable to sit on.

"You were going to buy me a new hat, but you didn't bring any money?" I asked, remembering that I borrowed her some.

She laughed and blushed.

"I thought I had some in my coat." Lana defended herself, but her face denied this affirmation clearly.

"Sure." I snickered.

She pouted, gesturing dramatically.

"Can I ask you something?" Lana then asked, pressing some leaves with her palms to make her side more comfortable.

"Go on."

"Remember when we first talked?" I nodded my head. "That wasn't the question." She added rapidly. "You said, back then, that you couldn't kill me even if you wanted to. Why?"

When she finished, she inhaled deeply, the endless green sea of her eyes watching me with expectation.

"To be honest, I was just messing with you back then." I answered.

At least that was true.

Lana nodded, licking her lower lip with the tip of her tongue.

"I'm really glad I didn't kill you." I said, because I had the impression that she now somehow felt different. I had to admit it sounded worse that I imagined it would.

"What I'm trying to say is-"

"No." Lana cut me off. "I understand."

The corner of her lips rose up into a reassuring smile.

I looked down at the patch of leaves, all dried out of life. I cupped some of them and threw them at her. She was surprised for a few moments, but, before I knew it, she threw back leaves too. Before I met her, I'd never in my life only thought of doing this.

"I surrender!" Lana shouted, when a handful of leaves flew to her face, some tangling within her hair.

I grinned, victoriously.

Then, I reached out to grab those rebel foils, and I found myself inches apart from her. My hand froze and I saw her body tense.

There's something weird with human emotions. Sometimes they take control upon you.

I lowered my hand to the level of her chin, and rose it slowly, shyly. Her face was warm and soft.

"You change me." I said. "Don't ever stop doing that."

Before I knew it, I had already leaned in and kissed her, and I was so startled. I looked back at her, preparing to see rejection. My fingers cupped her chin no longer.

"I'm sorry." I said, and looked away.

"No, don't be." Lana said quickly. She grabbed my hand to pull me closer, and I pressed my lips on hers again, this time with more confidence. She put her arms around my neck, like I've seen in movies, and I could feel her smiling. I didn't notice the moon, too early occupying her place on the sky.

You cannot undo actions, Ben Drowned.

I should have heard that. But I didn't.

I was ignorant, because I finally realized what everyone knew all this time.

I didn't want to be human, as long as I could be with her.

Yet actions cannot be undone...

Author's note : Hii everyone! Happy Easter! :)

Thanks again so much for your support! It means so much to me.

I don't think I'm going to update so soon in May and June, because I have exams and they're really busy months. I'm sorry! I promise I'm going to find some time and update too!

But again, Happy Easter and thank you so so much for everything!