Slenderman stood, his empty gaze focused outside the widow. The sun was beginning to rise, its light shining dimly between the bare trees. It seemed like he has stood in the same spot for hours on end, not moving a single muscle. The anger that ran through him like rough tidal waves refused to waver, along with the despair that rang in his ears. His fingers were close to snapping due to how tightly they were balled into fists. How could she? How could she have done this to him? His question went unanswered, drifting off into the shallow air of his clandestine piano room.

He slowly backed away from the windows, heavily debating whether or not he even wanted to touch his grand instrument. It seemed a waste, at the moment. Too many memories, ones that he would give anything to erase. That infernal Nerperdian Hivemind has stolen everything from him, and there was not a single thing he could do about it. Seeing her in the arms of that eyeless bastard, their voices echoing in the halls. Slender's tentacles ached to break free as his fury boiled. He wanted to kill him. He should have killed him. But hearing that one voice forced him to stop, those unbelievable words continuously crushing him. He didn't do anything wrong! Why are you so mad?

Slender chuckled to himself, a sour grin pulling across his face. His forked tongue trickled out of his jagged, visible mouth as he thought about ripping that traitor to shreds. Leaving his organs in bags, replacing them after brutally ripping them out. Eyeless Jack had known. He had known from the beginning the feelings Slender had for her. Yet like a Shakespearean romance, he meets her in the night, holding on to her like they were lost lovers hiding from the world. Hiding from him. What other reason had she been out so late? Awake? Had that been the reason she was crying all those days before? Or seemingly lost in her head? How could he have been so blind... He looked back at the piano, his anger receding into the dangerous pit of his mind, leaving nothingness behind.

That was beautiful.

Her voice haunts him, all those old words.

I wanted to see you… and you left your 'secret door' cracked. I heard the music.

At times, he welcomes it. Others, he begged for it to stop.

Could I hear one more song?

That sweet angel, the one whom loved him.

Slender… why are your songs so sad?

Now with someone else... leaving him alone, after all that has been done. He grimly laughed, shaking his head. It was true that the world was a cruel place. He ached to make that bastard regret even saying her name. Although a part of him was conflicted, knowing how much pain that would inflict on Aribella. The other part, however, did not give a damn. He would watch that man burn.

Storming out of the room, into his office, he called for his proxies. His booming voice echoed the halls, drawing the two men to him within minutes.

"Yes, Sir?" Masky asked, his tired blue eyes holding nothing more than curiosity. Never had their master called them so early, without a reason.

"I have something you must do for me..."

"Ha ha ha!" The dark beast clapped his hands together, an impish smile on his face. He could not help but be amused of the story; after all, he didn't want her to go. The effects of her departure were enough to put his mind at ease.

Zalgo folded his fingers as he sat back in his chair, still beaming as his invisible gaze peered through his guests. The malformed being, which acted as a servant, flitted around nervously, still not used to all of the company as of late. Especially of the likes of these.

"Coffee? Tea?" he asked them, roughly swallowing as Zalgo's smile vanished.

The first one appeared shocked, as if not expecting Zalgo's dwelling to offer accommodations as such. Perhaps just not expecting there to be anything nice in Purgatory at all.

"No," the first mumbled, brushing off the offer.

"I'd like some coffee," the second chipped in. "But make sure you add quite a lot of sugar," he laughed, offering a smile to the small form.

With a quick nod of his head, the servant was off, leaving the guests to Zalgo as before.

"Honestly, I'm quite interested," Zalgo mused, tapping his claws against each other. The light from the fireplace glimmered against him, causing him to be a tad more intimidating. "The memory loss has taken quite a toll on their relationship. The poor fool thinking her heart was claimed by another," he snorted, shaking his head. "But what interests me more, is the reason behind you informing me, Jeffrey Woods."

Jeff the Killer sneered in response, carelessly kicking his feet up on the couch. Zalgo huffed in annoyance, but held his tongue. "I want you to give her her memory back," Jeff replied, more like an order. The fearlessness the boy possessed impressed Zalgo to a certain extent, yet it angered him all the same.

"Quite the way you'd ask for a request," his grizzly voice replied. "So many questions, though. I suppose I see how you managed to get here. But why you would be obliged to take him, Laughing Jack, is beyond me," Zalgo chortled, his usual smirk returning.

The monochrome clown's smile never wavered as a disturbing cackle broke through his black lips. "I'm a guy who likes to have fun," he grinned, his smile broadening as the servant returned, his coffee on a tray. Taking it into his claws, he took a sip, pursing his lips afterward. "Hmph. Could have had a tad more sugar, but I'll accept." The servant flinched, before hurrying out of the room.

Zalgo sighed, turning his attention back to Jeff. "I suppose another question would be how you managed to see all of this occur, unnoticed?"

"I went out for a kill. Saw Jack and Ari in the woods-" he paused, his lidless eyes flickered to Laughing Jack, as if there was something he didn't want him to hear. "Jack was on his way back from a harvest. Ari was out... getting some fresh air?" he offered, although he did not fool Zalgo. "After killing I came back to the mansion, paused at the doorway when I heard them talking. Jack was just trying to make her feel better... and Slender came. Just a big misunderstanding, and frankly I'm just tired of things not being normal at the damn mansion. Everyone watching their words, being careful not to say or do the wrong thing. That's why I want your ass to get back there and fix things," he hissed.

Laughing Jack spit out a mouth full of coffee, his eyes wide as saucers as he stared at Jeff. Zalgo just laughed heartily in response, shaking his head. "Quite the way with words once again, Jeffrey."

"It's Jeff the Killer, you son of a bitch. And you are going to fix things there, because it was you who fucked them up in the first place," he spat.

Jack jumped up from the couch, dropping his forgotten coffee to the floor. The liquid stained the crimson carpet black, the china cup now cracked. "I believe it is time for us to go now," Jack nervously chuckled, yanking Jeff up by one of his claws. "But do think about what we said, okay? We would appreciate the help, now good day!" he called, before dissipating away with a cursing Jeff.

Zalgo grinned widely, stroking his chin as he sat, listening to the crackling of the fireplace.

Perhaps Slender Mansion would receive a visitor...

Eyeless Jack sighed as he sorted through the refrigerator in his office. He barely slept last night due to his shoulder, leaving him in a scornful mood. He would have to throw half of the bagged organs away. When he dropped the bag before being slammed into the wall-not to mention Aribella's stabbing beforehand-it left most of the organs destroyed... beyond the point where he could eat them. He would just have to go out and find more.

He gathered the unwanted bags, throwing them away. That would surely smell lovely, but he didn't give a damn at this moment. With his good arm, he reached forward, grabbing his mask. Placing it back on his face, he instantly felt better. He wanted to kick himself for letting Aribella see him so easily, but it wasn't like it had mattered. He couldn't breathe. Looking down at his arm that was hoisted up in a sling, he scowled behind his mask. Leave it to Slender to jump to conclusions. Then again, he didn't blame the guy... it didn't look the best.

To think he had been with Aribella, Jack snorted. Then paused, thinking of her smile, the tears in her emerald eyes. She surely was a sweet girl, but she belonged to Slender. He knew that... He began to think of all she had said, being afraid of Slender. What he had done last night hadn't necessarily helped the case at all. He just hoped that she would listen to him and talk to Slenderman. Only then could things be resolved. She needed to remember...

"Damn it," Jack growled, accidentally knocking his bad arm against the counter. Scowling, he realized this was going to be a long wait for his collarbone to heal. An agonizingly slow wait. Harvesting was going to be rough. Cracking the knuckles on his free hand, he headed out of his office.

Right as he exited, however, he nearly ran into two people. Masky and Hoodie were standing in front of him, seemingly waiting for him. This caused wheels to start turning in his head, warning sirens going off.

"Hey, Jack. Would you mind coming with us?" Masky asked, his blue eyes focused on Jack.

Jack frowned behind his mask, shifting his weight between each feet. "No, I'm sorry. I have to go out," he replied, nonchalantly sliding his scalpel into his hand from up his sleeve.

"It's not a request," Hoodie's deep, raspy voice replied, momentarily shocking Jack by speaking. Then, Jack focused on his words.

His grip on his scalpel tightened. Damn it.

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