Chapter 10:

Virgil's POV:

I gasped for breath, trying to get air back into my lungs. This guy was more insane than the freaks I've seen tonight. What the hell was his problem?! I get that I'm not good for Aaron, but I didn't need the shit kicked out of me. "Fucking hell..." I groaned, as I tried picking myself up. I needed to get to my feet before the bastard tried stomping on my head or something.

"Dad! Stop!" Aaron cried out, in the arms of the freak that wanted to kill him. The idiot was going to die and he was pleading for my life to his own father. How fucked up can a situation get.

Staying crouch to the ground I did a quick footsweep to trip Aaron's dad and launched myself toward Aaron and his capture, ignoring all the pain radiating in my body. "Let him go you fucking psycho!" I demanded, trying to through a disarming swing so I could get rid of the blade at his neck and pull him away. Apparently, I was too slow if the dodges Eyeless Jack was able to maneuver with Aaron as his shield, was anything to go by. I couldn't get an opening.

"Are you sure you can stand to focus on me Takeout? As flattered as I am." He goaded. "Don't you have bigger fish to fry?" I didn't need that stupid blue mask gone to know he was smiling. And I didn't have the time to focus on Aaron's stupid, psychotic, homophobic dad!

It was like a sick version of a tango with three people as I tried to get Aaron away from the guy.

"Do you really want him that bad?" Eyeless Jack chuckled, and pushed, Aaron at me.

Pain blossomed in the middle of my back as I caught him and fell back into his dad who had been sneaking up behind me. It took a second to realize that the new sound in my ears were my own screams and Aaron and other voices saying something. My vision was blurry as it focused on Aaron. Eyeless Jack seemed to have launched himself at Aaron's dad, probably deciding it was best to take him out first, since I was hurt. So, he probably thought we couldn't get away. Ignoring Aaron's panic babbled a grabbed hold of his shirt as I climb to my feet and pulled him close. "Are -Are you hurt?" I demanded, wincing as my throat feeling strep from the screaming I had done.

"N-no… But your back... My dad….I'm so sorry!" He rambled, his hands hovering in mid air like he didn't know what to do with them.

"Sh -shut up Aaron. I-it's nothing." I growled out. "Now run!" I instructed, pushing him ahead of me. I was getting out of this damn hell hole. We were going to get out!

"But the knife!" Aaron insisted already walking and keeping a very tight grip on my hand.

"Leave it in. Its nothing." I insisted, pushing with all I had left for Aaron to keep moving. Jack would kill his dad, and we only had until he actually grew bored with Aarons bastard of a father before he resumed to come after us. "It's fine." I insisted again, pulling us out of sight as more freaks like Jack ran by all covered in blood, covering Aaron's mouth so he wouldn't draw attention to us. "Keep quiet." I cautioned.

He nodded, and I pushed forward. We got out of the building just fine. Everyone else seemed to preoccupied to really bother with us. We had just cleared the tree when Clockwork the girl with the clock in the eye stepped out. Aaron yelp his hands coming up to stifle the scram of fright that had almost escaped. "Well, well, well. Hello little worm. How have the vipers treated you?" She sneered, as I pulled Aaron away from her.

"Fuck off." I spat.

That got a laugh out of her.

"Virgil. That's Clockwork." Aaron whispered shouted, going panicky again.

"I know. Breath Aaron. I got this, she's not going to hurt you." I reassured.

"That's right. Your marked. Already baited on a hook. But I also don't like playing by the rules. What do you say worm. Would you give him to this viper if I promised to get you out of this pit?" She asked, stalking closer to us.

"I'd kill you first." I threatened

She brought her face close to mine and gave me a manic type smile. "I know you will. Or at least you would definitely try." She smirked, her eye moving to lock on to Aaron who shrunk back from further behind me and held tightly to my hand, with both of his.

"What the hell do you want? Trying to lead us to another trap?" I accused, subconsciously rubbing my thumb in a circle on Aaron's knuckle as a way to calm him.

"And ruin all this fun." She cackled. "Never. I simple adore a foolishly brave idiot after all. Never thought a walking corpse could be so fun." She said her smile going wider. "I wish I found you first worm." She said, poking my nose as she straighten and walked around me. I followed her movement, keeping my eyes on her, while keeping Aaron behind me. "I won't stop you if you run, but you'll have to get past the Boss if you even want a chance of making an escape. And judging by E.J.'s prey behind you. Your not going to have long. Tick Tock little worm, better start running. E.J. wants you as well as that thing behind you. And I'm pretty sure that E.J. is done playing with his food. There's enough terror radiating from it, make my own mouth water."

"Get to the point. I don't have the patents to deal with you." I growled out.

She chuckled, with a chaotic gleam in her eye. "Fine, fine. You win little Worm." She smiled. "Don't say I warn ya." She sneered pointing down a path.

"Yeah, because I am definitely going to trust a killer." I spat. "Come on, Aaron." I encouraged, feeling how terrified he was, by how his body and trembling and how sweating his palms were as he clutched desperately to my hand. "We're going this way."

"Suit yourself, Worm." She shrugged. Watching us go with that carved smile spreading wider.

Slenderman's POV:

The boy walked past Clockwork and her warning, and into my playground. Woods. Nothing but woods. This particular pest was an annoyance at best. The kind that did not fear death, because they themselves were already dying. And this one was going to die, as well as the prey that clung to it. Eyeless Jack was dancing around too much, and I could only guess that the reason was that to keep his toy, he was going to have to do it though, he was going to have to finish the game soon.

However, it wouldn't hurt if I was to help him along. After all, he brought pests into the Mansion. It was only fair that I force his hand and end his game. So, as soon as the two boys were well and lost in my woods, and the targeted prey was starting to show signs of the Sickness getting worse I made my move.

"AAAHHHHH!" Eyeless Jack's prey scream when I let myself flash before his eyes, in a form of hallucination.

"The fuck! Aaron! Shit, calm down!" The other boy tried to calm his flailing friend.

"NO! No! Its here! He's here! He's worse than Eyeless Jack!" The prey wailed. His eyes going wide when I appeared behind his friend. "Virgil! VIRGIL!" He tried to warn. Eyes going even wider. Voice pitching higher from fear. Sweet fear.

I didn't let him warn his friend, as I grabbed the knife in the other boys back and yanked it out. I could hear the breath leave the boy, as he gripped E.J.'s prey in shocked surprise at the sudden pain, and slowly turned his head.

"You fucker..." He groaned, with the little breath he was able to get into his lungs, as his legs buckled underneath him, unable to hold his weight with the knife no longer blocking the blood from leaving his body.

"Virgil!" The prey wailed as I let myself flicker in and out of his view, vanishing as soon as E.J. revealed himself. Finally catching up to the boys he had been playing with this whole time.

TBC