Neil sat in his room feeling lost. Mallory had just become even a bigger mystery to him. What he had seen, the way she spoke, the way she fought. It was as if she became a different person. She had no fear, no remorse, no care for what was going on around her or the damage that had been inflicted onto her body. In the end, the only time she reacted was when that scary man had threatened his life. He thought back to when he had been taken to the cabin.

Neil wiggled around in the man's arm, he felt pain flare up his body as a point in his back had been hit. He cried out before going limp, the man throwing him over his shoulder and carrying him that way. "What an annoying brat. What does that chick even see in this worthless trash he can't even fight." Neil stared out at the dark forest. It slowly became darker and darker with every step that was taken away from Mallory. He was in enemy territory now. And he couldn't do anything. The man was right, he was useless. After awhile they had come upon a little cabin and the man threw him inside. "Got the brat. That chick got the message and should be coming. Though if I was her, I wouldn't even waste my time." Neil felt himself be picked up and placed on a chair. He then felt the itchy sensation as someone wrapped rope around his body and the chair. "Whatever you say Jeff. Just remember, this boy is the bait. Hell if she actually somehow manages to get him and escape, he'll most likely be the bait all over again. Slendy was pretty interested in the girl."

Neil wondered why they were so interested in Mallory. He wondered what he could do differently so this wouldn't happen again. He then thought about what had happened when Mallory did come. She had saved him, that much he knew to be true but he couldn't help but wonder what had caused her to act so differently. Was she really just that angry that they had taken him? Neil sighed and flopped back onto his bed, his head hitting his pillow. He suddenly felt a drowsy wave hit him. His eyes grew heavy and his mind became cloudy. "I'll...just talk to Mallory tomorrow…" he muttered before falling into a dreamless and comfortable sleep.

When Neil had awoken the next day he was met with nothing but sun streaming from his window and into his face. He sat up, squeezing his eyes shut. "What time is it?" he wondered sleepily. He looked over at his digital clock and saw that it was 1:00 in the afternoon. Neil sighed and slowly slid out of bed and onto the floor. He flinched in pain. His body ACHED. "What happened last night? Why do I hurt so bad?" he sniffed the air and smelled fresh bread. "Is Mallory...baking?" his eyes widened a bit when he had said Mallory's name. His mind flashed back to the previous events of the night and he held his head looking panicked. "W-W-What?! What is she?! What are they?!" he cried out in despair. "I don't know anything!" he screamed falling to his knees. He heard footsteps as someone rushed into the room and kneel in front of him. He looked up to see Mallory looking down at him in concern. "Neil what's wrong?" she reached out and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Don't touch me!" Neil cried pushing her away. Mallory's concerned expression turned into that of confusion and hurt. Neil looked up at her feeling guilty. "I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean it I just-"

"You were scared." Neil pursed his lips and nodded, lowering his head in shame. Hearing Mallory give a heavy sigh, he shut his eyes trying to fight back the wave of guilty tears that threatened to fall. Neil felt Mallory rest a hand on his head and he looked up meeting her kind, pale blue gaze. "Hey. I know what you experienced last night must have been scary, and I'm sorry if I added to that fear. I wasn't exactly my self at that time. But I promise everything's going to be fine now. You'll have nothing to worry about when it comes to those creeps and you don't have to worry about me hurting you. I could never do it of my own free will." she kissed his forehead, heat rising to his cheeks in embarrassment and happiness. He really did love Mallory. She was like his older sister and he knew he could count on her. Even if she was a complete mystery to him. "Thanks Mallory." Mallory smiled and squished his cheeks together. "I could never hurt such a cute face." she cooed. Neil puffed up his cheeks making it difficult for her to squish them. Mallory chuckled and stood up."How about a late lunch? I got up about an hour ago rather confused and hungry so I made some bread and stew. It's rather cold today and I thought a warm lunch and dinner would be nice." she made her way out of his room, Neil quickly following in the interest of obtaining Mallory's freshly baked bread. He knew she could cook but he never thought of her to be a baker. "Well it is November. I'm not surprised it's this cold." Mallory chuckled a bit. "Yeah I guess. You should see Portland around this time of year. The rain starts up and it basically rains all winter long. Really rare for them to get snow. But when they do get some people kinda freak out because they're just not used to it." Neil looked up at her in excitement as they entered the kitchen. "You've been to Portland? Portland Oregon right?" he asked. Mallory nodded grabbing some bowls out of the cabinet. "Yeah. I've been pretty much everywhere. How do you think I got the name, 'The Wanderer'?" she asked. Neil scratched his cheek looking sheepish. "I guess I hadn't thought about that...anyway, I wanna ask you something. It's about last night…" Mallory turned to look at him as she poured some stew into a bowl. "What about last night?"

"Well... you just seemed so much more...different, than you are now. And your eyes were red. How come you were so...different?" Mallory stared at him for a moment before turning away. Neil wondered if she was going to answer and waited. After about six minutes she turned back to him and knelt down holding him by the shoulders. "Neil. I promise you that I will tell you someday. But today is not that day." Neil looked her in the eye. He could see the fear that drifted through the calm waves of her eyes. He decided that he wasn't going to push for an answer. "Okay. But you have to keep your promise!" he demanded. Mallory gave him a small smile. "I promise with all my heart that someday, I will tell you everything you wish to know." Neil smiled and ran over to the counter grabbing a piece of bread and a bowl. "I'm going to go take this to grandpa! He might be hungry." he said walking out of the kitchen.

...

Mallory watched him leave with a sad gaze. She clenched her fists and looked down, her face scrunching up in confusion and pain.

How can I tell such a sweet and innocent boy...that I'm not human?