Laughing Jack walked slowly back to my side, gauging his steps carefully, as to not frighten me. He didn't know how much I truly appreciated it. Everyone was silent in the room. Their expressions were blank, yet I could tell they were worried. Jack seemed cautious as he stood by my side, his gaze set on Ms. P. I heard him mumble something to her, his eyes pricking as he did. My eyes narrowed as I looked back and forth between the two, only being able to capture something about 'the three of them.' There was three more here? That thought made my stomach churn.

"So you don't remember anything, dear?" Ms. P. asked, breaking her crimson eyes away from Jack. The corners of his mouth turned down into a scowl, appearing exasperated. I decided to pay no mind to it.

"No, I don't," I replied, shifting my weight between each foot.

Jack left my side for just a moment to pull up a chair. I sat in it, gratefully. Little Sally went over and sat by Smile, giving me my space. Jack, however, hovered diligently. For whatever reason, that comforted me.

"I suppose it is story time then, huh, candy cane?" he asked, smiling ruefully. He sat down by my side, his towering height requiring him to still look down at me even though he was sitting.

I wasn't entirely sure if I wanted to know. My eyes were locked on the dark floor, as I anxiously twiddled my fingers. But I had to know. Eventually, I would. So I suppose now was better than never. Jack let out a deep sigh, leaning back on the chair.

"Where to begin?" he huffed, his partially dilated eyes popping up to the ceiling. The silver was returning, showing his anger had faded. "I can't necessarily start from the beginning, because I wasn't there from the beginning," he chuckled, although his smile did not meet his eyes.

"I can!" Sally chirped. "I remember," she nodded, persistently. Jack shot her a warning glance, but allowed her to continue. "You ran into the mansion one day," she began, her emerald eyes locked on me. "Everyone was surprised. Benny and I were playing a board game, when you just ran through the door. Slenderman was chasing you," she continued, pursing her small, pale lips.

"I remember that..." I murmured, "Partially. So he didn't kill me?" I scoffed, finding it hard to believe.

The small girl violently shook her head. "No, Slendy would never hurt you, Ari." Her eyes were sincere. "We all wanted to at first," she shrugged, as if it didn't matter. "But Mr. Masky told Slendy that you should stay with us because you made it to the mansion alive. Slender gave you a week to decide if you wanted to become one of us," she continued, petting Smile Dog softly.

Jack then cut in, I guessed to finish it off. "That's when the Rake and I arrived. You see, sweets, the Rake wasn't as... accepting," he murmured, lightly biting his onyx lips. "He was about to kill you in the library. Do you remember any of that?" he asked, his silver eyes flickering to me.

I blinked, my face heating up. I couldn't believe it... and to think I had been so friendly to him at Zalgo's dwelling! The thought made me sick. It also made me wonder what all Zalgo had done. My eyes narrowed. "I remember you saving me," I whispered, still debating whether or not that was the exact memory. "You said something like, 'Now, now, Rake, that's no way to play...'" My voice drifted off.

Jack nodded, his lips twitching into a smile. "Yes, that's right. That was me. His claws swiped across your back. Slender arrived then, and tended to your wounds. After that, you basically spent time with all of us. Trained with Masky and Hoodie. Played games with Ben and Sally. Watched TV with Jeff, EJ and me. That sort of thing," he chuckled. "The Rake returned one of those days to finish you off. But Slender... stopped him."

"I remember that!" Sally chimed, bouncing where she sat. "Slendy protected you and the Rake hit him. The Rake was very bad..." she whispered.

I mentally cringed, yet I was honestly wondering about the Slenderman. Jack and Sally made it sound like he was so... sweet to me. I didn't really understand.

"Anyway," Jack cleared his throat. "After the week, you apparently decided you didn't want to be a pasta. Slender took you home instead of killing you... although he made all of us think you did." He sighed, leaning back on the chair. "Truthfully, I don't know exactly what happened after that. All I know is just a day later, you were back with us..." he stopped speaking, like he wanted to say something else, yet didn't exactly know if he should.

"What is it?" I questioned, my heart stuttering. There was something he was hiding. I could see it.

"Nothing, lollipop. After you came back, the Rake found Slender. The sour skittle told Zalgo that Slender was keeping a human at the mansion," he growled. I tried not to laugh at the candy analogy. I just figured he didn't want to cuss with little Sally in the room. He still managed to make me smile. It soon fell when I realized just exactly what he said. Zalgo... "Slender gathered every pasta he could to the mansion to stand with us, for when Zalgo arrived. All for you, sugar." He nodded his head, his silver orbs soft.

I could not stand for Zalgo to kill her, or change her in any way. If you stay and understand, all you must do is stand with us to show Zalgo that we accept her, and love her. No fighting will be necessary. If it comes to that... I will be the only one to. All I beg of you is to help to show Zalgo that she is not a concern.

My eyes watered due to the memory. So I shouldn't be afraid of the Slenderman? But that other memory... so cold... "So what happened after that?" I whispered, my voice so soft.

"Everyone stayed and got to know you. The Observer went to Zalgo to find out how long we had until his arrival. Turned out, it was three days. So everyone trained until then."

Laughing Jack continued with the story, telling me about Zalgo's arrival. The debate that led to the ultimate fight. How everyone had tried, but failed due to his invisibility. Slenderman losing his tentacles... everything. Then, the song that ended the earth. My eyes were wide throughout the tale, hardly able to believe. But watching everyone else's expressions in the room, I knew it had to be true.

"Last I know, Slender carried you back to the mansion. But seeing you here now... and the fact that after I went to my realm, only to return to see the world back to normal... I am betting you left with Zalgo to make the change. I collected everyone I could find during the incident," he nodded to everyone in the room... and I guess the three others he mentioned.

"Did anyone die?" I breathed, my chest clenching. I wouldn't be able to stand it if anyone of those people had died for me. I then saw Jack's face fall, and the tears that gathered in Sally's eyes.

"Yes, a few," he nodded, forlorn. "Tails Doll, Herobrine, and Bob did not make it." My face fell right as he finished, causing him to sit up in his chair. "Now, what exactly do you remember, from when you woke up?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

I gladly took the opportunity, telling him of waking up by the Rake and Zalgo. How they wouldn't tell me anything... the Grim Reaper, Observer... The only thing I left out, was my first killing. "He called me the Temptress," I shrugged. "Apparently I have an ability to charm victims into trusting me, drawing them to me." I looked away, for some reason not wanting him to know that I killed. I was beyond positive that everyone in this room had; I was no different than them.

"Temptress," Jack scoffed, rolling his silver eyes. "Don't trust him ever again."

"Jack... with how you spoke of the Slenderman..." I mumbled, my eyebrows furrowing. I just couldn't put it into words, but he seemed to understand.

"Yes. You and the Slenderman... well, once you return to the mansion, I'll allow you to figure that one out," he chuckled, his cryptic remark causing me to scowl at him. His only response was a giant grin, and a wild laugh.

"We're going back to the mansion?" I asked, my heart off beat. My eyes were wide as I stared at the clown, worry twirling in my stomach. I... I didn't want to go quite yet.

He paused, before nodding one stiff bob. "Yes, sweets... that's your home," he replied.

That word again. Home. I decided not to reply. I then heard voices on the outside of the tent. It caused me to stiffen where I sat, slightly worried.

"Is LJ back yet?" a chipper voice asked, before a head poked in. That caused me to freeze where I sat, staring at the being who stood at the opening.

Another Slenderman? Although this one looked different. He wasn't faceless; he had a simple smiling face. Two happy eyes, and a bright smile. A small top hat on his head, and his suit was decorated with colorful dots. When his gaze landed on me, however, the happy face became shocked.

"Aribella?" he breathed, before the smiling face returned. "ARIBELLA! Oh, dear, it's so good to see you back!" he joyfully bellowed, swooping forward before enveloping me into a giant hug. My tense body did not respond, my eyes wide.

Jack cleared his throat, therefore causing the man to back away. "Calm yourself, Splendor. Aribella... doesn't remember much at the moment," Jack coughed, crossing his arms.

Splendor's shocked face returned, before looking slightly sad. Two more men entered the tent, looking the same as Splender. One had glasses on his otherwise blank face, and wore a brown vest. The other wore a trench coat that was opened, exposing his bare, chiseled torso. A fedora laid on his head, and the only thing on his blank face was a shocked smile, with razor teeth.

"Aribella, this is Splendor, Trender and Offendor... Slenderman's brothers," Jack informed me, as I stared in awe.

How much more could I take in one day?

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