AN: This one's long guys, just bear with me.

Chapter 36: Lea

Jack's reaction surprises me. More than anything he seems confused, even horrified. He clearly knew what was going on in this house before I did, but he couldn't tell I was a Proxy before. Then he acted like this.

The obvious explanation is that there are things I don't know. Specifically things concerning the "Proxy" organizations and how they operate.

"Proxy," from what I've seen they aren't fit to use the term. All three of them were knocked out by a 15 year old girl in less than half an hour.

In spite of all that, I feel my cheeks color a little when I realize Jack saw me hug Slender. It was the kind of hug I'd give to a sports coach after a good season, or my father, or my friends, but it was stil personal. Well, okay, it wasn't exactly like that, but it's definitely comparable. I dislike anyone seeing thinks like that.

I still want to explain though. I owe Jack that, at least, as I have to take him back to The Organization.

"Look," I say with a sigh, "all I know is one moment I'm being molested and the next my attacker is being ripped apart by someone who's not supposed to exist. I pass out, wake up the next day, and The Organization comes calling. Then I get a midnight visit from the same person who killed my attacker. Then, presto-change-'o, I'm a double-agent Proxy."

Jack looks at me, and I can guess under the mask he's very confused.

"I've only been doing this a week. Could you tell me what's going on?" I try.

He shakes his head "A week? That's it?! It takes years to do what you're doing."

I shrug, "Memory upload."

Jack looks up at me, "We all look out for each other, kid. That's just how it works. I watch out for everyone else, and they keep an eye out for me. The world we live in is too crazy to go at alone."

I note his voice doesn't sound so hypnotizing anymore, even if it's still soothing.

"I'm not 'one of you.' If I am, no one told me. I'm just doing my job." I feel guilt hollow out a hole in my chest, "I need to take you back with me."

Jack flinches, "You're a Proxy, for god's sakes, don't you know anything?!"

"I know that somewhere, two miles to the south-west, that's a heavily armed group of Organization officials waiting for me to bring you back to them."

Jack sighs. The pang of guilt almost shows on my face. Almost. I cover it with a frown.

"You really don't know anything, do you?"

I don't reply.

Slender is purposefully directing his attention elsewhere. He's still a little unstable. I can feel his heartbeat, still elevated, pounding, through our shared link. I never would have thought he was claustrophobic.

Jack turns his head towards Slender, "Slenderman, please, you have to tell her. This isn't how we do things."

Slender gazes at him for a moment.

"I know you can understand me. If you have a Proxy-. You have to-. Answer me!"

"tell him," Slender says to me, "that I have no idea what he's talking about."

Which is the truth. Neither of us have a clue what's going on.

I relay the words, feeling ridiculous.

Jack shakes his head back and forth, "Since when do Proxies speak for their masters?"

I hole out my hands, palms up, "I've only been doing this for a few days. I really don't know what you mean."

Jack looks down. When he responds, his voice is tinged with bitterness and defeat. "Okay, Proxy-girl, you win," he spits, "I'll go with you."

"I have a name, you know."

"And I already forgot it. I don't bother remembering the names of traitors; they aren't worth the time."

I narrow my eyes, my body going tense. Guilt and indignation roil inside of me; guilt being the more prominent of the two.

Then Jack goes and says, "Especially not Proxy traitors, damned meddlers, the lot of you, and you don't know when to stop."

Blood rushes to my head and white-noise momentarily blocks out every rational thought.

Without really moving, I'm behind Jack. I haul him to his feet.

"Calm down," Slender cautions.

I nod, but don't relinquish my hold. Instead, I twist one of Jack's arms behind him.

"Right, let's go," I order, "get walking."

Jack obediently steps towards the dor.

I pause, intensely aware of Jack's icy arm clutched in my grasp. I look back. "Sorry, I have to do this," I say to Slender, "You okay?"

He nods, "Go on, we'll talk later."

I nod, even though I can tell he's just saying that, and push Jack ahead of me out the door.

From the way he stands, I can tell he's going to try something. As soon as we get out of sight of the house, far enough into the woods that no one will hear a thing.

I wait.

Jack twists in my grip, kicking out at me and wrenching at his arm.

I release my hold, allowing him to break away. Then I leap forward and strike him with the heel of my hand in the center of his back.

The reflexive movement plus the force of the blow causes Jack to arch his back. I flash out one of my legs and trip him. He crashes to the ground with a startled cry.

I step around him as he pushes himself up onto hands and knees.

"Look," I say, "the only reason I'm doing this is I want to know what The Organization is planning to do. After I know that, I'm leaving."

"And how do you plan on doing that?! No one gets out of there."

I crouch down to his level, "I'm a Proxy. I went through training for The Organization. And you think I can't take down a lab?"

Jack pauses. I'm taking a risk here, as I don't really know if I can do what I'm promising. And half my mind is still back with Slender, making it incredibly difficult to concentrate.

"It might work." Jack says almost to himself, "It might work, and then everything would be fixed, and things would go back to normal. And I could eat regularly, and Jeff wouldn't be so desperate, and we could find BEN and Smile, and Lacy could do her job, and-, and-" His voice is filled with desperate hope and excitement.

I blink, not recognizing anyof the names except Jeff, and not really sure why I remember that one. Still, this might actually work. I can see how it could happen. It would take a bit of doing, but if I, we, pull it off The Organization won't even blame us.

"It's perfect," Jack whispers, "it will work."

I'm beginning to see what he means. Why didn't I think of this before?

"Right, let's get going." I offer him my hand.

"Okay," He grabs my hand, and I pull him to his feet. "I'll go along with your plan, Proxy-girl, but you're responsible for this, and anything that goes wrong is your problem."

I frown, "I know." Well, of course. I was aware of that. Still, I can't guarantee this will work out, and we could die in the attempt. I have a feeling we can pull it off though.

Slender appears behind me, making Jack flinch with surprise.

"I'm walking back with you," Slender says.

"Alright," I reply aloud, turning to the direction I came from.

Jack follows me, a step behind, and Slender moves along beside me. The movement seems natural this way, so that I have a clear moment to think.

This plan seems extreme and dangerous. So dangerous there's a distinct chance I won't come out of it.

From what I've heard, The Organization makes life very hard for people like Jack. They capture and study them, and who knows what else.

At the sudden mental image of blinding light and sharp metal instruments my stomach twists. It's even more horrible because Slender adds to it, staining the light a bloody red and adding the lingering feelings of pain and uncleanliness.

We both pause mid-stride.

"Jack, does The Organization…experiment?"

"I don't know, but I've heard rumors…"

"I'm going to rip them apart," I growl, but choke off in an unexpected coughing fit.

The spasms pass, leaving me with a sick feeling and an unpleasant coppery taste in my mouth.

Slender is looking at me with his head slightly cocked to one side. I wave off the unspoken question, "I'm fine."

We resume walking, a rapid exchange of thoughts taking place almost subconsciously. Jack might've tried to say something, I don't know, but I didn't really hear him.

I was so worried these past two days I didn't even know it. Now, with Slender back, I feel an overwhelming giddy relief. I've never been so grateful for anything in my life.

I try to keep it under control, as we're discussing my spur-of-the-moment plan. Slender agrees to it, and he'll even help out with the setup. That's a load off my mind.

Now all we have to do is give it a day and begin.

I want a good look at the places of importance around the lab before we go in.

Jack taps my shoulder.

"What?"

"What are you doing?"

"Planning,"

"Ya, but, with who? You aren't talking."

"I'm talking." I blink, "Are you saying normally Proxies can't do this?"

"Do what?"

"Talk to their masters."

Slender cuts across me, "It's not like I can say anything out loud."

I nod in response.

"Why're you nodding? And no, it's not normal."

I frown, "Well, what kind of Proxies are they?"

"The average kind. You're the one who's different. And normally, a Slenderman can project their voice about 10 meters."

"Really?" Slender seems interested.

I almost start laughing. A lot of use they must be. How do they take orders? Stay in touch? It's not like cell phones are an option.

Jack shrugs, "At least they know what they're doing." He must have noticed my smug grin.

I pull a face, "I'm still learning, okay? I think I'm doing alright."

Jack snorts, "Well, you did just level a team of Proxies out on assignment. I'd say you made a great first impression."

I glance over at Jack, "Why thank you, I try."

Slender chuckles to himself. It's like I can hear the sound in my head, but not through my ears. It's one of the clearest, most indescribable things I have ever heard.

I take an involuntary step towards my master, fighting down the urge to hug him again.

I don't have to, luckily, as he reaches down and lifts me up. I hang for a moment, startled into silence, then Slender sits me on his back.

I instinctively lace my arms around his neck, and I feel tentacles secure me in place.

And, just like that, I'm getting a piggy-back ride from a Slenderman.

Jack is as stunned as I am, "Are you sure you're a Proxy?" He asks tentatively.

"Absolutely," I reply, leaning my head against Slender.

AN: I have no regrets for any of this. If you have any comments, advice, criticism, etc. feel free to voice it.

Oh, and I'm trying to put together a kind of present for my readers. We'll see how it turns out. It should be ready around Christmas.