When we got on the bus, we were all shaken. Mr. Sting had called the police before we ventured out so we got on the road around 2 PM. Throughout the ride, I clutched Lucas's hand for support. The killing of three human beings, two girls and one boy, had rocked me to the core. "The two girls had their throats slit open," I heard the police say, "the words "Go to Sleep" scrawled in their blood on the sides. We also found a black substance leaking from their mouths and eyes. We're not entirely sure what it is. The same for the boy, although he was electrocuted to death."

We all sat in eerie silence, neither of us daring to breathe over the sound of the rolling bus. The trees started thinning until fields of grass spread on both sides of us. Every time, I kept thinking of the policeman's words, the sights of those freaky killers, the shriek of the elf one as he sparked to nothing in the water. Smiley's rough, leather-like hand strangling my neck, the scent of blood rolling off of him. My body shuddered, releasing a breath I didn't know I was holding. Lucas tightens his grip on my hand and I look over to him.

"It's going to be okay," he whispers quietly, giving his best reassuring smile.

I sigh heavily and tighten my grip on his hand, my frown never wavering. I know he's trying, but it's still kind of weak. But was it weak of me to think of my own life rather than others?

This thought stopped me. Was I being selfish? Selfish to run? Selfish to save me? Tears threatened to spill as I thought of how selfish I had been. Three people are dead because of you! They were looking for you! Those lives could've been saved if you had just turned yourself in! A voice screamed inside my head.

"Laila?" I turned to the sound of his voice. "Why're you crying?" I touch my eyes and feel the wetness staining my cheeks. I blink, trying to rid the incriminating evidence. "Please tell me." I turn away as a sob starts building up in my throat. "I'm your friend. I'm here to help." I bite my lip to keep the noise inside. He just stares at me in shock and brings me into a hug. I silently let the tears fall down, staining his shirt in my fluids. He just silently hugs me, stroking my ponytail as I just released the emotion inside. I could tell he was releasing what he held inside too because I felt something wet touch my head.

When we got back, the sun had started setting. I checked my phone and saw it was only 6 o'clock. We silently shuffled around to quickly unload. We didn't take the bloodstained tents. The police wanted them as evidence. We waited patiently on the side of the road as our parents came to pick us up one by one. My parents finally arrived and I gave Lucas one last hug before hopping into the vehicle.

Once the door closed my father said, "What happened." It sounded more like a demand than a question.

I inhale and start recounting my journey, starting with me waking up and ending with, "And it's all my fault." The tears spilled as I sobbed uncontrollably in front of my parents. This shocked them both. I was usually a strong person. The one who never cried but not because I didn't have emotions, rather I redirected them into something more useful rather than wasting them on something senseless. Crying was something senseless to me. But now, what could I redirect my emotions to? The killers? I couldn't, they were looking for me.

"Oh, honey," Mom soothed as she leaned back and patted my shoulder. "It's not your fault. It was those awful sons of bitches who killed your classmates."

"But it was me they wanted! And all I could think about was saving myself. I...I'm an awful person."

Mom frowned. "It's perfectly normal to think about one's self in emergency situations. It's a survival instinct."

"But, but, but I…" She put a finger to my lips, effectively shutting me up.

"It's not your fault." She said sternly. "Now if you don't get your head out of your own butt, then you're going to get crap all over it. The sooner you stop blaming yourself, the quicker we can find them and put a stop to their evil deeds."

I nod dumbly, stunned by her words. My tears stopped and I lost my will to cry. It felt like my body was hardening and I'm not certain whether I like it.

We arrived at the house, my parents carrying my bags as we entered. I heard gasps and footsteps as my siblings came crashing through the hallway.

"Laila!" they cried and crushed me into a hug.

"We heard about what happened! Are you okay?" Shay said

"It's awful! They didn't hurt you, right?" Sophie cried.

"I-I hate them," Evan said shakily.

Ella just cried into my shirt.

I patted them all, trying to assure them I'm alright, massaging the area where he gripped my neck. I was amazed that there was no bruise.

"Kids!" Dad shouted. "Move away from the doorway and we can talk about this in the living room."

This made everyone shuffle over to the living room and take a seat. Mom and Dad sat on the loveseat, the two sets of twins sat on the couch and I sat in the easy chair. All eyes turned to me, some fearful, some worried, some sad, and, yes, some angry.

"I'm sorry," I murmur, not sure of what to say.

Shay, who was the closest to me, squeezed my leg. "It's okay. Nobody knew this was going to happen. Especially since…"

"It should've been obvious."

"Well, um, it's interesting that they are still coming after you. And at such a distance…" Sophie trailed off.

"That just tells us they're determined to get to me."

"Well, we're not going to let them have you!" Evan said bravely, puffing out his chest and putting his hands on his hips.

"Thanks, but, you should've seen them. They were like something out of a horror movie."

"Then all the more easy to kick their as-butts!" Shay corrected himself as Mom and Dad glared at him. No cussing in front of the 7-year-olds.

"Yeah!" Evan chorused.

"Will big sissy be gone?" Ella asked shakily.

I get up and wrap my arms around her, saying, "Of course not. Big sissy isn't going anywhere."

A knock on the door made us all jump. Dad got up and we heard the door opening. The sound of stomping boots on wooden floors came and I turned to them. They were dressed in what looks like SWAT uniforms. I raise an eyebrow as the go around the couch to face us.

"Miss Laila Moonstone, you're coming with us." One of them said as he grabbed my arm.

"What?" I uttered in surprise as the second guy grabbed my other arm.

"What do you mean she's going with you?" Mom stood up and got right into the man's face.

"Miss, your daughter has just witnessed three murders that are possibly related to her. It is wise that we take her to a facility that can keep her safe until these criminals are dealt with."

"You're the witness protection?" Sophie blurted as she examined the guys.

"Yes. Now, please don't disturb us."

"But…" Ella whimpered as Dad held her.

I looked at her and gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'll be okay."

"But I don't want you to go."

"I don't wanna go but…" I sigh, "if it's for everyone's safety...then I have to."

"Will we ever see you again?" Evan asked

I shrug. "Of course!" I put on a brave face for the littles. "I'll be back when you get older." Of course, I was lying. I just didn't want them to be worried.

"It's time to go." The first guy yanked on my arm.

I look back at my family one last time and said, "Goodbye!" before I'm hauled off to their vehicle. It was a regular armored transport truck with flashing red and blue sirens and the words WPP printed on the sides in bold, white letters against the vehicle's dark exterior. The two men proceeded to nearly toss me into the back where two other soldiers sat on either side of the vehicle, guns in their hands. I sit down in between them as the door slams shut, leaving us in faint light coming from the bulb above. I heard the front doors of the vehicle open and slam shut and the engine rev up as we begin our journey to God knows where.

I turn my head in the direction of my house and whisper a final goodbye as the vehicle lurches forward. The ride was tense with silence as any noise besides the vehicle and our breathing made them aim their guns. I was almost afraid to sneeze or cough for fear they would fire on me. I don't know how long it has been when the vehicle comes to a sudden stop. The tires squeal as I hear multiple thuds as our bodies collide with the walls.

"What the hell?!" One of the soldier's shouts as he aims his gun around. I hear screams and gunshots and wince. Was that scream even human?

I hear muffled voices outside when the door suddenly flies off and standing there is...five men whom I've recognized. These five men were from the mall. The cops aim their guns and bullets start flying at the creeps as they dodge for cover. The one with the black and red mask pulls out his gun and pops one at the cops, missing by an inch.

I gasp and get down as this fight has gotten deadly, trapped between two deadly weapons. Escaping would mean death, but so would staying. The two soldiers started walking toward the doors as they reloaded and I took my chance to look for an escape route. There has to be an escape route! I scramble around trying to find anything to escape when more gunshots sounded. When I looked up, one of the soldier's was slumped in a puddle of blood while the other was holding his own hand where blood gushed from both sides. My heart thudded when I realized that these guys had the firepower to go through a human.

"We just want the girl." The raspy voice hissed.

The soldier narrowed his eyes as he stepped further out of the vehicle. I closed my eyes and turned away, already knowing the outcome. I heard the sound of stabbing and a thump. When I look back up, the one with the white mask was in front of me, his gun in his waistband, and grabbed me. Too stunned, I just let him carry me as I passed by the dead bodies of the soldiers'. As I passed by, I noticed that their fluid wasn't a dark red but black, like tar. What's with all this black blood? I gasp in surprise as I'm yanked from the vehicle.

The killers slammed the vehicle doors and dumped the bodies off to the side of the road haphazardly. My mind finally snaps back to reality and I yank hard on the white masked killer. Surprised by this sudden action caused him to stumble a bit as I broke free. Taking no time for him to recover, I kicked him in the back of the knees, making him collapse and started booking it toward town. Maybe somebody could help me.

The other killers noticed this and five pairs of footsteps chased after this girl on the outskirts of town at night. I screamed, hoping someone would notice and come to my aid. I'm suddenly tackled to the ground and warm liquid spurts from my nose from the impact. The guy pinned my head to the asphalt as I struggled to get up.

"Well aren't you a pain in the ass." The raspy voice spoke close to my ear. He must've been the one that strangled me!

"So, do we take her back conscious or…" The voice of Elf boy said.

"I thought I killed you…" I mutter.

"Can't get rid of me that easily, sweetcheeks." I could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

"Bring her unconscious. She'll be a nuisance if we try to bring her awake." The white masked man spoke.

"I'll do the honors." Elf said and I heard joints popping. "You've met a terrible fate, haven't you?"

Wires latched onto my neck and electricity coursed through my body as Smiley released me. I screamed in pain as my muscles spasmed from the sudden contraction before passing out.

Jeff

Laila passed out from BEN's electric shocks and he retracted his wires.

"Now what?" BEN asked.

"Now, we take her back," Jeff replied, going over to the girl's limp form and hauling her over his shoulder. BEN poked her in the head.

"You didn't get away that easily," he smirked. Masky whacked BEN, earning a yelp of pain from the blonde elf. "What? Just saying."

"Come on, let's get her back to the mansion," Masky said. "She's the last one."

"Q-quite a fiesty one. But so was that Lucas kid." Toby said, twitching from time to time.

"That's because he was always with her!" Jeff snapped. "This girl has caused us a lot of troubles. If I hadn't caused a rift in her and that boy,- what was his name?"

"I think it was V-Vincent."

"Oh, yes! Vincent! If I hadn't caused a rift in her and Vincent's," Jeff snickered, "friendship, I don't think we would have caught him. Very resourceful if I do say so myself."

BEN rolled his eyes. "Sure."

Jeff glared at him. "Let's just get back home."

The group of five sprinted back to the Slender mansion, all the while Laila bounced against Jeff's shoulder as he ran. Being Creepypastas definitely had its advantages. When they arrived, EJ changed her into some simple pajamas, being the only other Creepypasta that wasn't shy or perverted to do this. He gently laid her on her bed and closed the door.

"Everyone should be waking up soon," EJ muttered.

"Great," Masky said. "Let the tournament begin."