A/N: German speaking is underlined. Thank you all so much for following this story!

It felt like the split second that her eyes met the faceless visage dragged on for minutes; her heart had all but stopped. Sera could tell you every detail; the way the presumed mask dipped slightly to create a light shadow over where eyes should be, the particularly crisp clean suit he wore, how he towered over her and the ever-calm Jack...

This man was going to kill her, wasn't he?

Her hands acted of their own accord, pushing the tall man away by his stomach. Her impulses were a fight or flight reaction- and she was choosing flight. She had ran down the hall, her blood pumping in her ears too loud to hear anything. She couldn't even register the pain in her ankle until she slammed and locked her bedroom door.

The whole scene had gone so fast, and only now that she was alone did she realize she was utterly fucked. Sera sunk down onto the floor, panic flooding her. She had probably ensured that she was going to die tonight; or at least that's what her mind kept repeating. She had assaulted the one man that had her life in his hands. The woman curled in on herself, unable to even think in this panic.

Her breath kept coming faster, her face was warm and clammy, her shoulders wouldn't stop shaking. Sera's mind almost was blanking- she was shutting down from the situation. Her chest hurt but she couldn't stop her quick, rasping breath. She was blinded by tears, hot as they dripped down her cheeks and onto her hands. Everything was silent, but her ears rang louder and louder.

And then, after what felt like hours, her eyes opened. Her panic subsided, leaving only adrenaline. This was just a bad dream, and there had to be a way out, right?

Gripping at her chest, she forced herself to control her breathing. Sera had to call the cops, had to flee from whatever this was. No matter how sane they seemed, they still were in her house, covered in blood and wearing masks. Pulling herself up, she quietly moved over to grab her bag and dig inside for her phone.

There were numerous texts and calls from Wen filling up her screen. Oh god, they were supposed to go shopping- he must be freaked out by now. It was 1 in the morning- a full 16 hours since they last spoke. As she cleared them to get to the dial screen, it buzzed to life with another call. It only took a heartbeat before she picked up.

"Holy fuck- Sera?"

"W-Wen, listen to me." She knew he'd try to ask questions right away; her voice was almost a whisper, there was no time to try to answer them all. "I need you to call the police and give them my address."

"Sera? Where are you?"

"I'm at home, just please call the cops!" As she spoke, she peeked out her window. The bloody man- Jeff, was it?- was already standing with his back to the window. This wasn't a good idea...

"Hello? Sera?"

She turned from the window. "Wen? Can't... Can't you hear me?"

"Sera, say something! If this is a prank... It's not funny."

"Shit- Wen? Wen! Oh god, please no..." Fresh tears pricked at her eyes.

"Look- just stay where you are, I'll use your phone's GPS to find you."

Sera's eyes widened. "Oh my god! Wen, don't! Don't come here!" But it was too late- her warnings fell on deaf ears. If Wen was face to face with what she was, he might get himself killed. But if he couldn't hear her, there was no way she could get the police to hear her either. She opened up her messages, shooting a series of texts:

"dont come"

"call police"

"its dangerous"

Relief flooded her when it read 'sent'. Hopefully he would do what she said- but now she had to find a place to hide. Sinking onto the floor near her bed, she glanced around. Her closet? It had a lock, after all. Slipping her phone into her back pocket, she crept over to the doors of the closet; keeping low would make sure Jeff wouldn't see her moving around from the yard.

"What am I to do with this?"

The voice sent chills up her spine. Perfect German, but the voice rang in her ears and sunk inside of her head. She recognised it- the tall man of the forest. But how did he get in? Sera was frozen in place, knelt on the floor just inches from the closet. There has to be a way out, this can't end yet...

"You... Don't have to do anything. Just let me go." Her voice was a hoarse whisper. She could interpret German well enough, but it had been a long time since she had to. Not since her grandmother were alive.

There was a beat of silence. Her back felt achingly exposed, and the pressure in the room felt choking. "Stand." She didn't waste time- adrenaline pumped as she stood up, one foot only lightly on the floor to mind her injury. Still, she didn't turn around yet- she couldn't handle facing the man.

"Please, I won't press charges... do not..." Sera's dictation was rough, but it was the best she could remember. Maybe if she used a few words in German, he would let her go? Her shoulders were shaking, and the atmosphere felt like it was pounding on her skull.

"What is your name?"

"Sera. Se... Seraphim Weber." She didn't want to give her full name at first, but the anxiety of trying to stay alive won over.

"Is that your great grandmother's name?"

"Her mother's. My... Great great grandmother." Why was he asking this? How did he know it was an inherited name? "I won't tell anyone. Just go... The police will be coming."

"Turn around."

As he spoke, the nightlight in the wall beside her flickered on. It only illuminated the corner she stood in, casting light across her face. It took her a moment, but Sera turned as he had asked, looking up to the man. His head was bent slightly to accommodate her ceiling, and his pale featureless face dimly glowed from the far light.

"You really are her very image."

This statement took her by surprise- what did he mean by that? She was only now aware of her phone buzzing wildly in her pocket, but her eyes were on the man. How could she respond to this situation? A lunatic is ranting in German in her house- she just prayed the police were on the way. Her heart felt like it was going a mile a minute...

"You should settle down. No harm will come to you."

"Settle down?" Sera lost control, snapping out words in a hoarse voice. "You're in my house, in masks and blood, tall man, and you want me to relax?!"

Immediately after she spoke, the woman clapped a hand to her mouth. This was hardly the best time to rant at her captors. Her grey eyes met his blank face- one couldn't tell if he was even reacting. That just made the whole mess worse...

It was the perfect moment for red and blue lights to flash in from the window. She turned her head for a moment to glance to the lights, relief filling her heart, but when she turned back...

The man was gone.