Again I don't own the KND. If I did you'd be watching this instead of reading it now wouldn't you?

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Hard rain pattered down on the wooden walls as whipping winds wickedly threatened to tear leaves from their branches. Bright twisted fingers licked the air in brilliant displays accompanied by sounds a kin to the skies themselves being ripped apart. Big almond shaped eyes snapped open with the horrible din. Cozy comforter pulled closer to her face, Numbuh 3 shivered, hugging her stuffed teddy bear tight to her chest.

It was so dark and spooky in her plushie crowded room. Even the familiar sight of her toys piled around her was twisted and malformed in the brief flashes of lightning that burst through the room. Why did is have to rain tonight? Why did it have to be so loud and scary? It was the perfect foreboding atmosphere for something bad to happen. The storm had started as an innocent drizzle when she was in the hamster generator blowing off the steam accumulated from her fight with Numbuh 4 by shoveling food pellets into troughs and tubes for her beloved rodents. But now sheets of rain were pummeling rooftops, shadows mimicked monsters lurking in silence. Lightning stabbed the purple hued skies. This was not a night to be alone.

Gentle tapping was masked by thunder and rain. Ineffective in its quest it got slightly louder. Still nothing. Again slightly louder, this time with voice.

"Numbuh 5?"

The muffled voice sank slowly into the sleep- fogged mind now rousing to a waking state. Numbuh 5 groaned softly, turning over in her bed debating on whether or not the voice calling her name was real or dream.

"Numbuh 5? Are you awake?"

'Numbuh 5 is now.' She mentally grumbled, getting up and slipping on her hat, robe and slippers and shuffling to the door. Pulling back the beaded curtain, dark sleepy eyes were greeted by a timidly smiling face.

"Numbuh 3, what are ya'll doing waking Numbuh 5 up in the middle of the night fo'?"

The onyx haired girl clutched her stuffed toy close, casting her eyes down at her fuzzy bunny slippers, free hand playing with the lacy frill of her nightgown. Shyly she answered.

"I got scared by the storm and couldn't get back to sleep." She looked up hopefully. "Can I sleep in your room tonight?"

It took a few seconds to process the question in her sleep- addled mind, but Numbuh 5 smiled at her friend's demure request and permitted her entry.

"Sho' Numbuh 5's casa es su casa."

"Thanks Numbuh 5!" Numbuh 3 gave her friend a quick hug before rushing into the room and hopping onto a leopard print couch. Numbuh 5 tossed her a spare blanket before plopping down back onto her bed. Fifteen minutes passed with silence, excluding the storm outside, but nearing sleep Numbuh 3's ears picked up a clicking, scratching sounds coming from the walls.

"Numbuh 5," she said softly, hugging her teddy bear "I heard something."

"It was probably the rain." A drowsy voice drawled back.

"It didn't sound like rain." Three shivered. A morbid memory resurfacing in her mind, making her recoil. "What if it was the slasher?"

"The slasher?" Numbuh 5 sat up and looked to the other girl disbelievingly. "Don't tell Numbuh 5 you really believe all that movie mumbo jumbo."

Numbuh 3 drew her blanket up to her chin and hugged her knees.

"But Numbuh 4---" She began recalling her teammate's insensitive prank.

"Numbuh 4 was tryin' to scare you. There's no such thing as the slasher." Numbuh 5 assured her, "It's just some dumb story made up by Hollywood writers."

Three nodded but continued to fret.

"But what if it was based on a true story?"

Numbuh 5 rolled her eyes in the privacy of the shadow caused by her hat. The scraping sound suddenly returned making Numbuh 3 jump and shriek.

"There it was again! You heard it that time right Numbuh 5?"

The opposing calm to her friend's panic, Numbuh 5 flashed Three a reassuring smile.

"That coulda been anything." She chimed flipping her wrist.

A sudden crashing of glass echoed through the bowls of the tree house. The pinprick of panic now skipped through Numbuh 5's heart. Numbuh 3 nervously bit her finger.

"That on the other hand---" the dark girl trailed off.

"It's the slasher!" Numbuh 3 squeezed her teddy sniveling.

Taking a moment for her heart to settle, Numbuh 5 stood walked to her companion's side. Her arms crossed sternly but her face patient and understanding.

"It ain't no slasher and we gonna prove it. C'mon."

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The hall was pitch with inky shadows. The only light flowing through was in the form of lightning flashes. Numbuh 3 bet her lower lip. The lights were on when she had come down this way earlier.

"Why is it so spooky?" she whimpered.

"The lights are out." Five said matter of factly, before stepping back into her room to retrieve a flashlight.

"Do you think the slasher broke them?" Three cuddled her stuffy. The bulb of a flashlight lit the air behind her.

"Yo gonna be on this all night ain't yo?" Five muttered as she led the way.

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Trekking slowly through the hall quickly proved itself uneventful. Numbuh 5 yawned, ennui starting to settle in. Numbuh 3 remained uncharacteristically tense, still convinced that any shadow could pop off the wall and attack her. As they reached the kitchen area the faint sounds of glass clinking and someone humming wafted delicately through the room.

A round figure stood illuminated in fridge light. Expert hands of a builder busily creating a midnight snack. The pair of girls smiled at each other and quietly approached their chubby friend. Numbuh 5 gently tapped the unassuming boy on the shoulder.

"Yo, Numbuh 2---"

He jumped at her touch with a yelp, spinning around; gripping a baguette stuffed with lettuce, Mayo, and speckled pink luncheon meat. He swung it about wildly, cringing, back against the shelves of the open fridge.

"Don't hurt me!" he cried, "I'm armed!"

Numbuh 5 calmly caught the sandwich as it was about to make contact with her head, then looked it over as Numbuh 2 came to his senses.

"With salami?" She cocked her brow at him as he calmed himself and withdrew his snack.

"And Provolone---" he added meekly. Numbuh 3 giggled from behind Numbuh 5. Numbuh 2 closed the refrigerator door and sat at the nearby table, starting to stuff his face. Numbuh 5 put her foot up on a chair and folded her hands on her lifted knee. Numbuh 3 walked to the cupboard and retrieved a pudding cup, which she ate with her fingers as Numbuh 5 spoke.

"So what yo doin' up in here at this hour of the night?"

The mechanic replied casually with his mouth full.

"Well, I was in my room when I heard this sound. It was like something scraping at the walls, it was kinda creepy. I spent a few minutes under my blanket hoping it would go away. But then I got worried that whatever it was was loose in the tree house, so I started looking around. But I didn't find anything, and I ended up in the kitchen anyway, so I thought why not get a snack while I was here?" He swallowed and glanced bashfully at a wet spot on the floor. "Oh, and I kinda knocked over a pickle jar over there."

Numbuh 5 perched herself on the countertop, smugly grimacing. She knew there was nothing to worry about.

"You see Numbuh 3, It was just Numbuh 2 getting' his self a midnight snack. Ya'll had nothing to be afraid of."

Numbuh 3 nodded smiling, sucking the last bit of chocolate pudding off her fingers before throwing out the plastic cup.

"We so glad it's you Numbuh 2. We thought it was the slasher."

The boy stopped eating, in fact he almost dropped his sandwich at Numbuh 3's words, his eyes wide.

"You, you think the slasher is here?" His voice quivered.

"Not ya'll too?" Numbuh 5 sighed, "There ain't no such thing as the slasher."

"But what was that scratching noise then?" Numbuh 3 asked, starting to get scared again.

"You mean that wasn't you guys?" Numbuh 2 swallowed hard, completely loosing his appetite.

"Uh, it wasn't you?" Numbuh 5's expression faulted.

"No." Two's voice squeaked.

"Then what was it?" Three gave her teddy bear a squeeze, snuggling its fuzzy head to her cheek.

"It's probably some branches outside bein' blown by the wind." Five rationalized, glancing out the window.

"I don't know Numbuh 5," Two faced her from his stool, nervously fidgeting in his light blue footy pajamas. "It sounded like it was coming from inside the tree house."

"It's just yo imagination."

"Or it IS the slasher!"

"Oh, brother."

"The movie started the same way. Everyone thought that those noises coming from the library basement were nothing, but then the slasher came out and started attacking people!"

"It was a MOVIE yo!"

Five's rationalities reached ears deafened by fear and paranoia. Two frantically looked about the room. The sudden crashes of thunder not helping the situation.

"He could be hiding in the air vents, waiting for us to go back to sleep---"

"Wearing his scary glowing mask---" Numbuh 3 added.

"With his knife---" Two shuddered.

"Or a hook---"

"Or a spoon---"

The frightened boy and girl shivered, huddled closely together. Numbuh 5 shrugged.

"Numbuh 5 thought you liked that gory stuff."

"I did when it wasn't me!" Numbuh 2 shouted. "I don't wanna die!" He hugged the nearby Numbuh 3 for security.

"Me either!" She hugged back.

Numbuh 5 took a deep breath. It was late, she was tired and her patience was wearing thin.

"Ya'll not gonna die, because there is no slasher here."

Numbuh 3 looked up with pleading eyes.

"How can you be sure?"

Five rolled her eyes.

"Ok, let's say hypothetically that the slasher was real. Why would he bother chasing us?"

"Because we're helpless little kids?"

Five gave her friend an offended glare.

"Now I've heard everythang." She took Three's hand, "C'mon, we're going back to bed. There's nothing scary out here."

The girls started to leave the kitchen area heading back into the shadowy halls. Numbuh 2 stood alone for a moment baffled, until a crash of thunder and lightning jostled him.

"Hey guys! Wait up!" He sprinted after them. They stopped at the sound of his call and turned, awaiting what he had to say as he caught his breath. "C, can I spend the night with you guys?" he asked with uncertainty.

Numbuh 3 smiled, Numbuh 5 crossed her arms.

"Ah, no! Numbuh 5 is not spendin' the night with a boy in her room!"

Said boy got down on his knees.

"Please Numbuh 5, just for tonight?" He pleaded sincerely.

"No way!"

"Aw, come on Numbuh 5," Numbuh 3 sympathized, "He scared. Besides," A wide grin graced her lips "It'll be like a sleepover!"

Numbuh 5 looked at her friends and their pleading faces. It was that kind of pathetic cuteness that you can't say no to. Her stubbornness faded with a smile.

"Fine, just fo' tonight. But yo'd better mind Numbuh 5's personal space."

"Gee, thanks Numbuh 5, you're the coolest!" Numbuh 2 got up and ran to her side. "I get dibs on the beanbag chair!"

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With every crack of lightning and clash of thunder Numbuhs 2 and 3 became more and more intensely frightened as they slowly made their way towards Numbuh 5's sector.

"Why's it so dark down here?" Numbuh 2 trembled.

"The lights are out and we don't know why." Numbuh 3 answered holding the frilly cuff of her sleeve close to her mouth.

"Relax," Numbuh 5 recommended. "If somethin' bad was gonna happen, don't you think it woulda happened already?"

A scratching noise resonated through and off the walls. The trio scanned the hall but saw nothing. Two and Three whimpered and huddled closer to Numbuh 5 who had the flashlight.

"You mean like that?" Two asked.

"Branches." Five explained pointing her light at him.

The noise was gone as quickly as it had come and the young ones continued walking. As they passed a fork in the hall Numbuh 2 caught a flash of light in the corner of his eye coming from the opposite way.

"Did you see that?" He squeaked.

"See what?" Three shook.

"That flash of light!" He whispered.

"It's called lightning." Said Numbuh 5.

"No, it was coming from down that way." He explained, walking back to the opening to the other passage. He looked in wondering if he'd see the flash again but instead caught a glimpse of something walk by and disappear into the shadows. "N, Numbuh f, f, five---" he quavered as he slowly took a few steps backwards. "The slasher is here!"

The girls rushed to his side and gazed down the hollow hall. Empty save a few harmless shadows plastered on the walls.

"The slasher huh?" Numbuh 5 looked to the boy who was still shivering.

"He was here! I saw him!" He looked down the hall, and saw nothing but shadows. "---I think."

"It's just the dark playing tricks on yo mind." She told him shaking her head before heading back to her room. Numbuh 2 lingered, staring down the corridor.

"I could have sworn I saw something." He turned to Numbuh 3 before walking down the hallway; she followed him cautiously, double-checking the darkness for any moment. They peered down the way he had seen the phantom go but still nothing was there.

"I guess Numbuh 5 was right." He decided, "It was probably my imagination."
The pair turned to head back the way they came. In the direction they faced a shadowy figure entered their field of vision. Muted with fear, they stood in shock of it. Its cloaked body frighteningly still, its back facing them. Softly Numbuh 2 took a step back, preparing to run. His hand tightly grasped to Numbuh 3's. His motion caused the floorboard beneath him to creak suddenly.

The figure spun around quickly, the tail of its cloak billowing in the wind it caused. Its face was lit up like a beacon, erasing all sign of facial feature that could deem it human.

Two and Three screamed loud enough to rival the thunder and ran to say the same for the lightning. Numbuh 5 stopped in mid pace upon hearing their cries and turned only to embrace the impact of her comrades crashing into her. A look of annoyance past over her face as the two hugged her arms muttering incoherently about something "spooky."

"What did Numbuh 5 say about personal space?" She gave them glares menacing enough to be felt from beneath her hat brim.

Numbuh 2 sheepishly removed himself.

"Sorry Numbuh 5."

"We saw the slasher! He's here!" Numbuh 3 buried herself into Numbuh 5's chest.

"The slasher?" Five looked to them doubtfully.

"Yes!" Two flailed his arms. "He's here and he's going to get us! He's down the hall! With his cloak and scary glowing face and everything!"

Five placed her hands on her hips as Numbuh 3 withdrew from her hug sniffling.

"C'mon, if you really saw the slasher why didn't he attack you?"

Silence to ponder the thought.

"Well," Numbuh 2 contemplated, "Uh, because, ---we weren't alone." He smiled remembering this rule, "The slasher never attacks people in pairs--- " He paused, his face faulting, "Unless they're kissing." He stuck out his tongue disgusted. Numbuh 3 did the same.

"The slasher is weird." She commented.

"So as long as the three of us stick together the "slasher" will be no problem." Numbuh 5 stated as she starting to walk in the opposite direction.

"Where are you going?" Numbuh 2 asked.

"To find yo slasher." She said slipping around the corner. Two and Three looked to each other before chasing after her. They found her probing the haunted hall with her flashlight. Making sure every shadow was accounted for. "Numbuh 5 don't see nothin'." She told them.

"Well, he was here." Numbuh 2 defended himself.

Five chuckled to herself.

"Maybe he decided to go after some dumb teenagers instead."

"What if he went after one of the others?" Three worried.

"Yeah, Numbuh 4's room is down that way." Numbuh 2 gasped, "What if the slasher went after him?"

"Fine," Five submitted, "We can go check on him." They began to go down the proposed direction when the mysterious scratching noise once again made itself know.

"He's here! Run!" Numbuh 2 panicked.

"Hold up!" Five held out her arm. "There has got to be a reasonable explanation fo' all this."

"Yeah," he agreed, "we're all doomed."

"Come on, we can't be lettin' some phantom scare us! We don't even know if there's really anyone even here. Now look at yo'selves. What would Numbuh 1 say if he saw ya'll like this? Slasher or no slasher we've faced tougher thangs then this."

Numbuh 2 dug the toe of his footy pajamas into the floor. His face downcast in shame.

"I guess you're right Numbuh 5."

"Yeah," Numbuh 3 agreed, "We were being silly."

Five smiled, her patience returning.

"S'ok, now let's go find out what that noise is so we can go back to bed."

They traced the echoes down the hall in hushed tones. The rattling got softer until they reached a split in the antechamber were it stopped completely.

"Where'd it go?" Numbuh 2 asked nervously.

"It stopped." Numbuh 3 whispered.

"Guess it was nothing." Numbuh 5 whispered back.

"But we all heard it right?" Two wrung his hands.

"This is spooky." Three hugged her toy.

"Maybe it was just our minds playing tricks on us." Five began to laugh softly. "Heh, you guys actually got Numbuh 5 to start believing the slasher might actually be in the tree house." She smiled at how irrational they were all being, taking a few steps away from her teammates. "Imagine the slasher being here, heh, that's just---"

A flash of light from the neighboring hall stopped her words. Too isolated to be lightning. A dark streak suddenly leapt from the passageway, its cloak billowing out behind it as it landed on Numbuh 5. Forcing her to the ground, pinning her under its strength. Two flashlights hit the floor.

[To Be Continued]