A/N:
Sorry for the wait guys, and sorry this is such a short chapter! I've had to sort out housing arrangements and my 21st birthday and all that jazz, but I'm back baby! XD When we left off, Zalgo had taken over Trixie's mind for a moment put a forced image on ehr head to draw. Not a nice thing when someone elses Sickness takes over you... Not that I'd know or anything! Uh heh heh... XD Read on!
How are you feeling now, Beatrix...?
Trixie drank the cool water gratefully and starting to get her breathing under control. The two things that remained to act as a reminder for what had happened, was the ache on her left shoulder along her proxy brand, and the horrifically detailed drawing in front of her that she had no control in creating. As soon as the feeling had taken over her back at the club, the others had spared no time in getting her back to the hideout. Originally, Jeff had made the suggestion to just leave her, since it 'wasn't his problem'. But Alice argued that if Slender didn't hear about this now then it would only mean hell for all of them later. That and she threatened to blackmail him with telling Slender he snuck out without permission if he didn't help.
So by some luck or other, Trixie was now sitting in Slender's office, breathing deeply and trying to collect herself. Her proxy mark looked sore, lined with red welts and left an uncomfortable sting. But it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been. She'd stopped scratching it at least. Her hands had been too busy in the last fifteen minutes hastily scribbling images that were being painfully forced into her cranium. It had been just like before, when she had been forced into drawing the corpses of her fellow proxies. When Zalgo was trying to scare them... She looked down, terrified at the idea of him being behind this again.
Slender put a hand on her shoulder, Beatrix...?
"O-Oh... Um, better thanks Slender, S-Sir." She felt embarrassed at her stutter, still felt unsure what to call her mentor, this demon. She respected him enough to continue with formalities, much like the way he used her real first name, but she also felt comfortable enough to use his better known name. Maybe sticking to using both was best, play it safe or something like that, "I'm sorry... I just, I don't know what happened. Was it because I was out without permission or-"
No, Beatrix, why don't you explain from the start... The others weren't the most descriptive...
She shifted awkwardly, "I really don't know. I felt fine when we went out and then it just felt like... like I wasn't in control. Like someone else was putting the images in my head, and..." She shivered, her tone struggling to stay steady, "It felt like I was back in the hospital. A-And if I didn't start drawing then I'd-"
Calm yourself, Beatrix...
"I'm sorry." Trixie took a breath, wrapping her arms around herself tightly, "I-I'm scared, Sir. The last time this happened, it was Zalgo. Putting the images in my head I mean. A-And I can't go through it again, I can't! I-It hurts and it was like..." She struggled to say it, the fear of it making it all the worse, "It felt like the Sickness is getting to me again."
Stabs of ice manoeuvred up her spine. Memories returning from when Slender had gone missing, and when the Sickness started to spread, her mind had practically burned in agony, her hands moving on their own to draw scenes of what would, or should have been, the deaths of those around her. How they had managed to avoid that one she had no idea. But she was grateful for it. The idea of going through it again , it terrified her. Having no control like that, having some evil thing force those images on her... She didn't want to ever be forced to do that again. The drawing that lay before her on the desk was a horrible reminder that she had no choice in the matter. She pushed it away.
"I'm sorry, Slender, Sir." She muttered, looking down, ashamed at her own panic even if it was justified, "But after last time, it makes me wonder if he's going to come back sooner than we thought. And... I'm scared."
Do not apologize for a perfectly justifiable fear, Beatrix... Fear is what Zalgo is thriving on... Storing it away will only make it stronger, registering it and overcoming it will make you stronger...
Trixie stayed silent. What was there to say? She felt weak. Obviously it was understandable why she was scared, but that didn't stop her feeling pathetic for being so. And it seemed like it was just her who felt this way, the others looked like they were ready for a fight rather than running. But they didn't know what it was like, to have their mind invaded like that. Sure, they'd all been through the Sickness at some point or other, but not without some warning or means of fighting back. She was alone in this.
Finally, she managed to mutter something of a reply, "So, it was Zalgo who did this again? You're sure?"
He is the only demon I am aware of that has that power to control the input of another demons proxy...And he is the only one with something against us...
"But why now? He's got Jack, he thinks he's got an advantage over you, he's got no reason for it."
He's getting reckless... He thinks that by giving us a message as obvious as this then we will venture out to investigate, most likely falling into a snare of his...
She nodded in understanding, "He's using Passive proxies to pass on messages to you so you'll send Actives out. So, he wants to collect us all? What for?"
Control... And to prove a point that he is more powerful... He was always so childish...
A small laugh escaped her, something she didn't expect to happen. She cleared her throat, "So we ignore it? Honestly I'm not sure I can manage if it happens again..."
And you won't have to... He has passed on his message, he won't make another move until we do...
"You're sure? Not that I'm doubting you or anything!" she added hurriedly, "It's just, whenever a drawing comes up the others think it's a job for them. Same with Ben when he gets a notice from one of his games."
Slender sighed, Yes I see your point... I will explain the situation to them, from this point on any premomitive drawing you make that doesn't feel right comes right to me and does not get passed on...
That made Trixie feel a little better, especially when he picked up the hexed drawing and moved it to another desk to analyse later. Out of sight, out of mind. Of course she knew it was easier said than done. But the fact that she had someone on her side made her feel a little better. It would be a lot easier to do if she started drawing the victims she saw while she was alone. That way she'd be able to keep the ones that were out of her control a secret. Even if it meant going through it alone... But it was better than risking sending the others out to get killed.
"Slender, Sir? C-Can I ask you something?"
Of course...
She shrugged awkwardly, eyes down, "Is... Is there a way to stop it? I mean, I know it's part of the demon influence to so I know the images I see and draw won't stop. But... Zalgo's. Is there a way to stop him specifically from putting them in my head and making me feel so Sick?"
Slender didn't answer for a while, the atmosphere getting heavy and uncomfortable. And from that alone, Trixie didn't need him to. The silence was answer enough.
"Okay..." She sighed, standing up to leave and wanting to cry but keeping contained. She had to, "Thanks anyway."
It was heartbreaking to know that even her own protector, the one that was meant to be looking after all of them, couldn't help her. Slender's brand on her shoulder allowed her to document those who deserved some form of punishment, it filtered the good from the bad. But Zalgo, he cared nothing for that. He could make her see the sufferings of the most innocent. And what scared her the most, was that in time she might not be able to tell the difference.
And as this little exchange was taking place, they both forgot one thing. Sometimes, the walls have ears, and most commonly, so do computer screens. And rarely, the computer screens can sprout an arm and collect a certain item from the desk before vanishing without a trace...
"Alright, lady and gents, let's start the bidding!"
Ben held his signature smirk along with the drawing that Trixie had been so terrified of just minutes ago. He waved it tauntingly as he hovered cross legged near the ceiling. It didn't take much energy to lurk within the computer system and eavesdrop on what was going on. And in all honesty, he wasn't happy about what was happening to Trixie, mainly because it meant trouble was brewing for all of them. A little selfish but as was his nature. And also, he didn't understand why Slender was being so paranoid. Sure Zalgo was pulling a few jump scares, but in his opinion that's all it was. Plain and simple. No need to go hiding jobs from them when they could just as easily go out to complete them and have done with it. No sense in getting too suspicious or else nothing would ever get done.
Jeff jumped, trying to swipe the sketch from the ghosts hand, "Knock it off, Casper, hand it over!"
"Don't look at me," Alice shook her head, playing a game of solitaire to the side of the common room, "I fancy keeping as far away from any Zalgo shit as possible."
"Paranoid too, Alice?" Ben sniggered.
"Cautious." She corrected, "Aren't you?"
"I'm dead, what do I have to lose?"
"Your neck attached to your body if you don't give me that!" Jeff snapped, attempting to jump again, "If I don't get a kill soon I'm going to go stir-crazy in here!"
Toby looked up from his comic book and tilted his head, a series of cracks following the movement but they went ignored, "We were only outside a couple of hours ago."
"Are you sure you don't have a killing problem, Jeffy-boy?" Alice asked wryly.
"I don't have a 'problem' with killing," he replied, using his fingers for air quotes, "I enjoy it."
"Thank you for proving my point."
"Whatever, bitch, there's a job up for grabs and I'm taking it. Got it?"
Alice just shrugged casually and went back to her game. Toby pulled a face behind his mask and looked back down at his comic, "It didn't come from Slendy..."
"Fucking wimps the lot of you." Jeff scoffed, reaching up to try and grab the paper again, "Now hand it over."
Ben sighed, letting him have it. It was no fun unless there was a scrabble for it, "Your funeral. When are you heading out?"
"Uh..." he shrugged, taking a look at the paper as if memorizing the details of the future victim, then folded it and put it in his hoody pocket, "Tomorrow night. Knowing Slendy he's going to go all anal on lock down tonight."
"And here I thought you were going to make some dramatic great escape." Alice pouted, trying to wind him up all the more.
He just stuck his middle finger up at her and moved on, "Anyway, I'm heading to bed." He paused a moment to look smug in Alice's direction, "I've got a job tomorrow night."
They watched as he left the room, his arrogance shining through as always. In truth, they all knew that it was a stupid idea to go taking a job when it didn't come handed to you by your mentor. It just wasn't right. But Jeff, he thought he was invincible. He was one of the most famous killers of the time, who would dare try and mess with him? Or rather who on the outside would dare mess with him. Because lets face it, reputation didn't really count for much in where they were right now. In fact as soon as he left, Toby couldn't help but wonder aloud.
"Is Jeff gonna get killed?"
"Most likely." Ben nodded.
Alice sighed, "One step closer to peace."
A/N:
Damn it Jeff, leave the cursed demon induced premonition paper alone! So this won't go well, if Jeff goes out on this job, Zalgo is getting what he wants. But if he stays, then he's not going to be a happy chap. Next chapter coming up soon! XD