Chapter 33

A funeral was held for Helen the next day. All of the pastas laid flowers on his coffin and said their words of peace, Smile and Seedeater whining in sadness in the background. After all was said and done, the casket was lowered into the ground and buried. One by one, they left until only three pastas remained: Masky, Hoodie, and the Puppeteer.

"You promised," the Puppeteer mumbled. Hoodie sighed. He was wondering when the Puppeteer would start chewing him out for this. All day, yesterday, he felt like he was walking on eggshells, waiting for the Puppeteer to go off on him.

"Puppeteer, I-" Hoodie started.

"No!" the Puppeteer interrupted. "I don't want to hear it! You promised you'd bring him back alive! You lied to me!" He tackled Hoodie to the ground, wrapping his hands around his neck and sqeezing.

"Puppeteer, stop! Masky shouted, trying to get him off of him. "Stop it! You'll kill him!" He watched Hoodie kick his legs as he tried to pry the hands off of his already bruising neck, gasping for air whenever he could.

"If he dies, then he deserves it!" the Puppeteer screamed. "He deserves everything he's going get!"

"But killing Hoodie won't bring Helen back!" Masky screamed back, pounding the Puppeteer's back. The Puppeteer froze. He knew the Masky was right, but he didn't want to let Hoodie go. He wanted Hoodie to suffer just as much as he was. Though he also knew that if he killed Hoodie, he wouldn't suffer anymore and Masky would kill him as a result. So he decided to let Hoodie go and leave. Hoodie gasped for air, coughing and sputtering as he took off his hood and mask so he could breathe better.

"Hoodie, you okay?!" Masky asked worriedly, helping him out sit up.

"Yeah," Hoodie answered, still coughing a bit and rubbing his neck. "I'll live. He did do a number on me though. I'm gonna end up with a bruise on my neck." Masky looked down, taking off his mask, revealing saddened eyes.

"Hey," Hoodie said, noticing the sad look on Masky's face. "What's wrong?"

"This is all my fault," Masky answered, wiping tears from his eyes. "I'm the reason all of this happened." Hoodie pulled him into a hug.

"What are you talking about?" he asked. "None of this was your fault."

"But if I'd just stayed in the mansion, none of this would've happened!" Masky shouted, pushing Hoodie away. "If it weren't for me, Helen would still be alive!"

"Would you listen to yourself?!" Hoodie shouted back, grabbing Masky by his shoulders. "There was no way of knowing what happened was going to happen! Absolutely none of this was your fault!" Masky stared at Hoodie with tear streaming down his face. He knew it was his fault and he knew Hoodie knew it too. He dropped his head in his hands. Hoodie looked at Masky with sad eyes, not knowing what to do. So he just pulled him back into a hug.

"I love you, Masky," he whispered, rocking him back and forth. "I love you so much it hurts. I wouldn't be able to live if I ever lost you."

"I love you too, Hoodie," Masky whimpered, hugging back. They stayed that way for awhile until Hoodie gently pushed Masky away.

"We should go inside," he said. Masky nodded blankly and stood along with Hoodie, grabbing his mask and walking back to the mansion.

Later that night, Hoodie sat in his room with his mask and jacket off, playing his guitar. He never really played it unless he felt down or not himself.

"Isn't that Marilyn Manson's version of 'Sweet Dreams'?" he heard. He stopped playing and looked up to see Masky leaning in the doorway.

"Yeah," Hoodie answered. "It was the first song I learned how to play. Oddly enough, it just so happens that it's Jeff's favorite song." Masky walked into the room, laying down next Hoodie and taking off his mask.

"Keep playing," he said. "I want to hear more." Hoodie pet Masky's hair for a little bit before putting his fingers back on the strings and strumming.

"I'm a whisper lost upon wind," he sang. "I'm the ember that'll burn you down. I'm the water that'll drown you. I'm a star that's just a black hole now. I'm a terrifying danger. I'm a fruit decaying on the ground. I'm a swallower of anger. I'm a tree that falls and make no sound. I will make no sound." Hoodie looked down to see Masky sound asleep next to him He sighed and got up to put his guitar away, laying back down and pulling Masky into his arms. He fall asleep shortly after.

Yes~ Hoodie has a guitar~ He's always had one, he's just never played it until now~ The two songs I mentioned obviously don't belong to me~ The first one belongs to Marylin Manson as Masky has already said and the second one is called "Nobody Praying For Me" by Seether~ I'm sorry I didn't update last Monday~ I haven't feeling good as of late and I almost update today although I had a chapter ready~ I hope you guys can forgive me~ Also, one more thing before I sign off... FUCKING REVIEW! To those of you who think I don't read them, I do and they're the reason I'm continuing this story. If you don't like it, I'll gladly stop and move on to something you will like. I just need to know what you guys are thinking. Anyways, remember to read, review, and enjoy~ See ya~

-Cheshy