AN: Well, I'm back. I know I left you all hanging, but I was up until midnight last night cleaning up the set from a play. And my foot got run over by one of the fake buildings, so that's great. Anyway; new chapter.

There were only two reviews last time, and one of them was Violet. Thank you Rosemellon!

And to the new followers: Hello! Nice to meet you. *Tired sigh* Let's just get started shall we?

Chapter 21: Lea

I am not going to cry. Not now, not again. I've done enough crying the last few days, the past year in fact. No more.

I listen to the sound of Slender's heartbeat. It's slow now, I count to ten between beats, but I'm not panicking yet. It's a good thing it's down so low. It means the wound's effects aren't spreading.

There is time.

I'm sitting close to the tent, my back almost touching the canvas, and I can feel dead-cold air from inside. Slender's body temperature has dropped from the usual burning heat to nearly freezing. I think he's trying to save energy.

I'm afraid he'll use up all of his resources before I can find a cure. He needs energy, not from food, but from life. Sure; at first I was nervous when I found out about the whole thing, but really human life-energy is as good a food source as any. Historically we are prey-animals.

That, and Slender promised me that he would never take any of my energy. Trust in that is vital right now.

Because it's hard to store pure energy inside yourself, most Slendermen are incredibly thin, and have to consume life-force almost constantly to stay alive. Slender doesn't have as large an appetite as most, but he still needs the energy, and needs it badly. He somehow holds some of it in himself, like humans with fat, but not nearly enough to survive more than a week.

Okay, granted he's not nearly the thinnest among them, so he probably has something he can use without taking my energy.

I need to help him, but I can't.

Raun sighs, startling me out of my reverie, "So what have you been up to for the past year?"

I look at her, glad for a distraction, "Working."

"Really? You? A job?"

I realize what she thinks, "No, no, not that kind of job."

"Then what kind?"

I hesitate, "The Proxies need people to mop up their mistakes. They tell me what to do, and I do it. Surviving any way I can. That's the trick."

"You just go around killing people then?" The Hunter asks, frowning.

I shrug, "You go around killing other things. Humans can be worse than any monster." I feel a thrill of fear go up my spine.

"But they're still humans with goals and dreams and loves and hates and-"

"Not really," I cut her off. "They're just objects. You have to think of them as meaningless, and they are, in the long run. They just… go. No one even remembers them after a while."

"You're a psychopath."

I shrug, "Not really. I just turn off that part of my mind, like a switch. One way I'm normal, the other and I'm a killer." I look at Raun, "You're like that too, if you can kill something that's half-you."

She's nodding, a hungry look on her face, "You're right. I have no problem with humans or monsters."

"There you go. And you, Rabbit?"

The wolf is gazing at me almost serenely, "I do whatever the person with my card wants, regardless of my own opinions."

If I'm not mistaken that was a jab aimed at me being a Proxy. Is that right? Maybe the creature is simply telling the truth.

"I make him pretend to be my boyfriend sometimes," Raun supplies over-enthusiastically.

I eye her suspiciously, "A wolf?"

I think she's acting a little bit off.

"No," Raun says, "Rabbit; human form."

I see a flicker of hesitation for just a moment, but the wolf dissolves in a flash of light. Not bright like the sun; bright in a way that hurts my mind. I have to close my eyes against the glare, and when I open them again, blinking spots out of my vision, it's not a wolf in from of me. It's a boy about my age with black hair and blue eyes.

Rabbit gives me a look somewhere between pain and understanding. I think I'm wearing the same expression. I feel like I'm looking at my twin.

Raun reaches out and grabs his hand. "See?" She prompts.

I nod not looking away from the creature's face. His gaze is fire and ice. "This is my master," He's saying silently, "And I would do anything to keep her safe."

I close my eyes, breathing deeply. I understand, of course I do. I look and see Raun is still holding Rabbit's hand, squeezing tightly.

I force a smile onto my face, "You look good together."

Raun grins, "I thought so too."

Rabbit is still looking at me steadily, challenging me. I really can't rise to the occasion right now, but I can talk to him indirectly.

"You took him from The Organization?" I ask.

"Yup. They had his card in a glass case. I don't think they knew what it was," Raun replies.

"They didn't know a lot of things," I remember their lab clearly enough. It was cruel enough to justify destroying.

Raun nods, and Rabbit's eyes flicker oddly.

"So you sort of saved him, right?" I address the last question towards Rabbit.

He nods slowly, staying silent.

"This is my master and I would do anything for her." The words echo in my mind.

Anything.

Raun drops Rabbit's hand, tilting her head as she looks at me. I don't make eye contact, preferring instead to look at my hands, which suddenly seem very small, very inadequate.

"What about you?" Rabbit asks.

"Me?" I look at him, surprised. The two of us are so similar is feels like I'm looking into a mirror.

"You're a Proxy," He says simply.

I don't think he knows exactly what that word means, or what it implies. But, unfortunately, I know what he means. "You know my story, now tell me yours."

"He saved me," I say simply. I hope it's enough. I don't want to tell all of my secrets quite yet.

"What from?"

I feel myself go pale, shivering. I swallow the memories hard, my skin crawls at the thought. I just shake my head.

The being gives me a look but I ignore it. I can't tell him, not when we're this similar. The conversation will have to be resolved eventually.

"Didn't you say earlier that being a Proxy was a lot like being a Hunter?" Raun sounds distrustful, "that doesn't sound similar at all."

I look at her, "It's the same. I was just a little early to the job interview. Other people have it worse than I do."

Raun "hmms" and looks away. She shifts uncertainly, hopping on the balls of her feet. Maybe she wants to go chase down that monster.

I expected her to be gone hours ago. I wonder why she stayed. Not that I'm complaining about having company. Normally all I get are Jack and Jeff. Sometimes Lacy shows uo, but generally it's just Slender and I, which I don't actually have a problem with either.

My vision starts to blur again and I reach for another bottle of medicine. It's been doing this all day, and I have a pretty good idea of what's going on. My diagnoses is it could be worse, but this will be sufficient to kill me in the long run.

I swallow the liquid, glad I ate the fish earlier. As my senses stabilize I catch Rabbit watching me warily again. I shrug and toss the empty bottle into my bad where is lands among the other bottles with the sharp sound of glass on glass.

"I've been wondering; what is that stuff?" Raun asks.

I pause. Of course I know what it is, but I'd rather keep that, and why I take it, a secret.

"Want to see one?" I pull another bottle out, tossing it across to her.

Raun jumps back and the glass object unluckily lands on a rock, shattering. The translucent liquid spilling out into a shining pool. It steams slightly, warmer than the mid-day air, and begins to separate. Red and whitish droplets move away from each other, repelled by their different qualities.

I scowl at the mess; I could have used that, but instead it's broken. "Why didn't you catch it?"

She glares at me, "I don't know what it is. It could have killed me."

I just stare at her. That stuff, kill her? Not likely, but I just shrug.

Raun is looking at the liquid, which is remaining aloof from the dirt and leaves, though I know eventually it will be soaked up.

The Hunter pulls out a butterfly knife, which I assume is how she got out of her bindings earlier, and deftly nicks one of her own fingers, red blood running down her hand.

I glance towards rabbit, but he's closed his eyes like he's resting. Which means he's not worried, and I'm not perceived as a threat.

Raun lets a few drops of her blood fall into the medicine. They spark, fizzing and sending up flashed of light. I frown at the sight; that's worrying.

"Hunter blood doesn't react will with 'darke' substances," Raun explains, making quotes in the air to catch the word "darke," leaving me in no doubt what she means.

The mixture is being consumed rapidly. That could have kept my heart beating for a good six hours, I reflect bitterly. That's time I just wasted, and quite a lot of it. It can't be helped now.

"It's pretty," I say, because Raun is waiting for me to say something.

"It is," She smiles. "You would love the New Year's celebrations. The fireworks are just Hunter Blood and demon-made gunpowder."

I shrug, accepting the statement. The gunpowder I've never heard of before, but there's a lot of things I don't know.

I've heard rumors of dragons found deep underground. I'm sure the SCP Foundation has that under control though. That and the Labyrinth, which I heard they have an entrance to. I'm not going to question it.

"It's been a while since I saw fireworks." I reply, "Some don't do well with the noise." Jack mostly. He's never told me the specifics.

"That' no reason why you can't see them," Raun says jauntily, her friendly demeanor putting me as ease more than I care to admit.

"I guess so," I reply, uncurling slightly. I look at Rabbit. Blue yes gaze back at me, both placid and warning.

I'm not going to do anything. He shouldn't worry. At first I was going to ransom her, but really from the sound of it there's no point. I know enough to realize ransoming people doesn't work anyway. They would just kill me and be done with it. But it was nice to dream for a moment.

Now I have a slightly different aim. Raun's acting off; she has been since Rabbit told me about the antidote. My conclusion is that he lied to me, and Raun knows it. Not that I blame him; he's trying to protect something. I will not cross the creature. The thought of an angry magical wolf is enough to give me pause. So now I want the truth.

And if I can get Raun to trust me, I'm already halfway there, she'll tell without me asking.

No one needs to die here.

I stretch out, forcing my posture to be more open, inviting. I brace my left hand against the ground, mindful of my wound. I don't want to push myself.

Raun is looking at my left arm, her eyes dark and stormy. "Lea, what's that?"

I look down to see what she means and find my sleeve is bunched up, revealing the tail end of my scar. I glance at Raun again and see she's glaring at me, eye narrowed.

She must thing I've been cutting myself. That Raun would consider that worries me.

I lift my hand from the ground, offering it to her palm-up.

The Hunter steps forward, pulling me to my feet and then holding my wrist tightly as the pushes up the sleeve of my shirt.

The ropey scar is raised slightly, twisting down the length of my forearm. It's clearly not something you do to yourself; it's at the wrong angle to get the proper leverage, and Raun knows it. She gives me a questioning look.

I can't bring myself to relive the memories, though I try. That story is not one I plan on sharing yet. Instead I imply what happened, giving only a single moment of the eternity.

"I spit in their face and they slipped," I say. The memory brings both a pang of satisfaction and a terrible dread. I block it out forcefully. I can't afford to dwell on that right now.

Raun gives me a look which is half confusion, but I don't offer anything else. Aftr a few moments she lets go of my wrist, giving me a hard look before turning away.

I relax slightly, glancing yet again towards Rabbit, making sure I'm not crossing any boundries. He's watching me, but he knows I'm referring to him on this matter. I realize the creature is more dangerous than his master. She has some qualms about killing me, but Rabbit will not hesitate.

Still; Raun is in charge of him and I trust her to remain in control.

I close my eyes, listening for Slender's heartbeat. For what seems like a long time I don't hear it, and I start to feel nervous, but it's still there, struggling to keep going.

I didn't expect his heart to just stop, though at this point it might be the favorable option. I'm expecting him to wake up for a few minutes, as his brain will override the trance when it becomes pointless. It should be just enough time to say goodbye if it comes to that.

As I consider the possibility I shudder. No. I refuse to accept that. He can still maintain this state for a day or so. I have time.

"So what's it like?" I ask, "Being a hunter?"

Raun frowns, "The entire network is one huge family spread across the globe. Everywhere I go I meet brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. They're mostly honorary, but it doesn't matter. Blood, whether real or imagined, is our strongest link."

I nod. One huge family; it sounds nice, in a way. "So you're all protective of each other?"

"No one leaves the family, not ever, and when one of us is killed the thing that did it is put down without mercy. Nothing escapes."

I feel a thrill of fear go through me. I killed one of them. I'd barely thought about it, but I did. At this rate I'm going to die, one way or another, before the week it out.

I can't tell Raun; she'll kill me on the spot. Secrets upon secrets, but it's okay. I can hold onto them for as long as I have to. That Hunter was trying to kill me, after all. It was self-defense, but I doubt they'll care. All they see is that I killed one of them.

I pause for a second, my mind spinning, thinking. I need Raun to trust me. I need to give her something, something so incredibly earth-shaking that she loses any inhibitions about helping me.

I know Slender would get mad at me if he knew I was about to do this, but I'm only focused on saving him, which means I'll do anything to keep him alive.

"I need to show you something," I say to Raun, and gesture for her to follow me. Rabbit immediately gets to his feet, walking over to where we are.

I turn around, carefully crouching down and unzipping the door to the tent. I say a silent apology as I do so, and then step inside, glancing back to make sure they're watching.

Raun leans down as I navigate, sitting beside Slender in the tiny space. If a watch closely I can see the rise and fall of his chest as he takes slow breaths. It's freezing cold in here. I'm shivering in seconds.

The Hunter starts coughing, her hand flying up to cover her nose. I forgot she can smell things I can't. It must be overpowering.

Rabbit has crouched down, and is looking at me with an expression that sets my teeth on edge. He's really angry at me for something.

I look away, reach out, and start undoing the bandages around Slender's chest. I hear Raun's intake of breath, but I don't glance at her. It's taking all of my strength just to hold it together.

The wounds are sewn closed now, but thy still look brutal, and the green marks are woven into a web of poison. I feel my throat close up, and tears threaten, but I wipe them away. No crying today.

I glance behind me, confirming that both Raun and Rabbit are still watching. Good; they see.

I take a breath, "Now you know what a Hunter can do to a Slenderman."

I start doing up the bandages again carefully, my hands shaking slightly. I try not to think about what I'm doing here. This is a huge gamble.

I'm so cold my teeth are chattering slightly. I know my own temperature is feverishly high, but the chill is taking the heat. I hope Slender is getting some of the energy.

I hear Raun clear her throat, and I grin; gotcha. I wipe the smile off my face as I turn to look at her, my eyes showing only desperation.

"Here," She thrusts a bottle towards me.

I snatch it from her immediately, staring at the tiny object. There's no label. Could this little bottle be what I want?

"It's the cure," Raun says almost grudgingly.

I look towards Rabbit, who blinks at me a moment, then nods once. "It's an injection," He says, "doesn't matter how much, but for a large wound the more the batter. One dose only."

I nod my thanks and reach trembling fingers out for a syringe. I swab the bottle and needle with alcohol before using them.

I fill the tiny cylinder up nearly all the way, and then say a silent apology to Slender before I slide the needle into his arm, forcing the liquid into his bloodstream.

Even if the stiff is poison, and the thought has crossed my mind, his body will most likely, neutralize the substance. And if it really is the cure it will save his life.

Jack has one of those little devices you use to dispose of used needles, so I use it. Then I pull out another syringe and prep it. This one I fill only a quarter of the way, estimating.

I push the sleeve of my shirt up and deftly jab the needle into my own wrist. It hurts, but I need the antidote. I pull the needle out carefully. I don't want to accidentally hurt myself. I break off the needle in the device.

I close my eyes; it's done. I don't think I can do anymore.

I wrap my arms around myself, shivering uncontrollably. I get up and leave the space, welcoming the sunlight warming me, even though the ball of fire is sinking towards the horizon. I wordlessly pull my jacket on over my head.

When I bother to check I find that Rabbit has pulled Raun to the other side of the clearing and they're having a rapid-fire conversation. I can imagine Rabbit berating her for giving me the bottle.

I feel the weight of it in my hand, still more than half full.

I approach them both, letting my footsteps cause sound so they know I'm here. Raun looks towards me, but Rabbit doesn't bother.

"Here," I hand her the bottle. "Thank you. You don't know how much this means to me."

The Hunter nods, smirking triumphantly. She's won this battle.

I glance towards Rabbit, and the creature is glaring at me. I keep eye contact for a moment before going on, "You risked your life when you gave that to me. I would have understood if you hadn't." That earns me a reproachful glare from Raun and a nod from Rabbit.

Then I blink, one hand coming up to my throat. There's an odd feeling there; like something is trying to come up.

"I'll be right back," I say to the two of them, and turn away, walking into the forest. Once I'm out of sight I run fifty yards or so, then lean against a tree, my hands on my knees.

It doesn't feel like I'm going to be sick. This seems like it's from somewhere deeper than my stomach, and it's more tangible.

I cough, then gag, my body heaving but nothing coming up. The feeling lasts thirty seconds or so, and then I hiccup, sort of, my eyes closed, and something indefinable comes out of me, hitting the ground with an almost solid squishy sound. I cough, opening my eyes slowly.

A lump of black gunk sits before me, and I stare in disbelief.

What the hell is that?! Did that come out of me?

I swallow down my nausea, kicking leaves and dirt over the stuff. This is horrifying and makes me think something is very wrong with me, but I should be back with Slender right now. Whether the antidote worked of not he'll be waking up soon.

I straighten up, turning to go back. Rabbit is standing behind me, making me flinch and jump. He's still in his human form, and I feel like I'm staring into a mirror.

"You shouldn't worry," He informs me, "Your body was just expelling the impurities from the wound. It should start healing soon."

I nod, "Thank you."

"It was Raun who gave it to you."

I grin, "I meant for lying earlier. The guilt from that is what made her do it."

"You should be more careful."

I look away; I just knew I was going to get a lecture.

"Why weren't you trying to help?" Rabbit asks, "Why didn't you go looking for something, tear apart the world trying to save him? I can't pretend to overlook this, even though you are a Proxy. You know what it's like, and you almost threw all of it away." He stops there, waiting for an explanation.

I think for a long time, trying to figure a way out of this. I come up with nothing. I was wounded, but that's no excuse. I know I should have tossed my own weakness to the side, but I didn't. That guilt is going to stay with me for a long time.

"I was scared," I say finally, "I still am. I don't have a reason besides that."

The creature gives me a look which means he's not impressed. I can't offer a better reason.

I need to get back. I have to be there when Slender wakes up or he'll tear apart the whole place.

"Come on," I tell Rabbit, "before either of them lose it."

He gives a little laugh, more of a huffing noise than anything else. "I know what you're getting at," He's saying without words.

I pause to consider that the creature understands this aspect of my life. Jeff might get the killing, and Jack is capable of seeing past it, but Rabbit is the first to really understand my attitude towards Slender. He probably experiences close to the same thing with Raun, maybe less quiet and more tantrums.

We all have our burdens to carry, but maybe we can share ours, just a little.

AN: Well there's that finished. I'll see you all next week!