A/N:
Finally it's here! Sorry again for the wait! Next chapter will not take as long I promise. But het at elast this is a nice long one for you XD So last we left off Jeff had snuck out anyway even though it's dangerous. An identity will also be revealed! Just who is calling Zalgo 'Daddy'? Read on to find out, lovely people! XD
As it turned out, Jeff had been completely right about security increasing that night. Slender had called on the semi-demons who required less sleep to patrol not only the corridors but also the perimeter of the outside. That included Smile, Shad and Widemouth. Not that anyone particularly wanted Widemouth sneaking around since he did that enough without permission anyway, but it was unavoidable. Of course Ben had also been an option since he didn't need sleep, but since he had so recently disobeyed Slender, he was left out.
By logic of who didn't need sleep, Trixie could have qualified. She wondered into the kitchen the next afternoon with dark shadows under her eyes, feeling heavy and slow. She had deliberately avoided breakfast, choosing to spend her time either attempting to catch up on lost sleep or taking a relaxing bath to avoid the paper and pencils calling to her on her desk. Every time her eyes closed, the acidic burn of Sickness tried to force another image into her head. But she wasn't sure if it was as normal or if it was a Zalgo influence. After the previous night and discovering that neither could be stopped, she feared both.
She walked into the kitchen and hadn't even thought about what she was going to eat before she found herself sighing at the feeling of being watched, "I haven't drawn anything, you'll have to get your jobs from someone else."
"Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today." Alice commented, stirring a cup of tea and arching an eyebrow.
Toby peered a little closer, curious rather than mocking, "Doesn't look like she woke up on any side of the bed. Trouble sleeping, Trix?"
Trixie shook her head, "It's nothing. Just... thinking about last night."
"Yeah," Alice sighed, not hiding the traces of patronization along with it, "A rogue demon invading your head will do that to you."
"You wouldn't know." She muttered.
"Wanna bet?"
Trixie looked up at her quizzically. What was that supposed to mean? She wanted to ask, but the perfect poker face that Alice was pulling indicated that she should just stay quiet. And so she did. In honesty she had enough to think about at the moment. Although that didn't stop her being any less curious. Another time maybe. For now she returned to making a poor excuse for a meal in a bowl of soup warmed up by the microwave. She sat down and started dipping a slice of bread into it, already feeling her appetite slipping away.
"Can we just leave it alone now, please?" She sighed, trying to ignore the headache forming in her temple.
"Leave what alone?"
She, along with the others, turned her head towards the kitchen doorway. Ben leant lazily against the wall, eyebrow arched in a way that suggested that as usual he was hiding something. Trixie looked back down, not in the mood for any jokes he was more than likely to make. Toby however seemed more than willing to answer the ghosts question.
"Leave alone the fact that she drew a picture of a dead guy that could be used for a job but ended up being a Zalgo trick and that it's been given to Slendy." He nodded matter of factly, pausing to take a breath, "Yeah she doesn't want to talk about it anymore."
"Oh she doesn't, does she?" Ben asked slyly.
"Thanks, Toby..." Trixie sighed.
"No worries! Oh... Sorry, Trix."
Ben rolled his eyes, not taking the amused look off his face as he started to hover in the air, drifting forward to get a better look at her face, "Nothing to be ashamed of, Trix. It's not the first time we've seen something like this happen."
Trixie hesitated, a growing feeling of dread growing and just simply knowing that she shouldn't ask. But curiosity gave her a cruel nudge. She looked up, hazel eyes quivering, "What d'you mean?"
"Well think about it. Jack wasn't exactly the most stable when it came to dealing with the stuff that popped into his head. And look what happened to him..."
She flinched, "Don't say stuff like that. I'm not going to be controlled like he was. And Jack is just a kid so you can't-"
"You can't use age as an excuse." Alice shook her head, "Hoody and Masky were a couple of years older than me and who knows where they are."
"What?" Trixie asked, tilting her head.
"I said-"
"N-No, I heard you but I just... I don't really know who Hoody and Masky are. All you've told me is that they were Slender's to-go guys apart from Shad and they've been on a job for the past few years."
Ben shrugged, "Well yeah that's the official story. But lately who knows. It's not like Slendy is keeping us in the loop. You don't just ignore a Zalgo sign like this. Something's up if you ask me."
Toby shook his head, a muscle in his neck twitching, "He'd tell us if it were important, right?"
Alice shrugged, "Doubt it. Personally it feels like old Slender is keeping us in the dark again, just like last time. And frankly I'm not happy about it. We agreed to stay, so the least he could do is show a little respect for it."
"I didn't know you cared so much, Alice." Ben sniggered.
"I don't. But I don't like being denied a simple explanation. Speaking of which, to go back to what you were asking, newbie, we were told that Hoody and Masky were away for a long job. And now all of a sudden Jack was tricked into joining Zalgo. You can't blame us for thinking that maybe this has happened before. And might happen again."
Trixie felt sick. She pushed her bowl of barely touched soup away from her and stared hard at the floor. Her previous conversation with Slender echoed in her head, how there was no way to stop Zalgo infiltrating her mind, "Y-You think that I'm next... That Zalgo will try to take me."
"We didn't say that!" Toby insisted.
"May have been thinking it." Ben muttered, not quietly enough.
"Don't flatter yourself, newbie," Alice scoffed when she saw Trixie started to grow pale, "Zalgo's after Active proxies, you're just the pawn to send a few scares."
That didn't exactly make her feel any better. It was a horrifying position to be in. Not knowing if she was fated to be taken over completely by a demon hell bent on petty revenge, or to be constantly used by said demon until all of those around here are taken away to slavery and more likely than not, death. And the fact that most of those around here were taking enjoyment in waiting to see which one it was, it hurt. It hurt to think that she was alone in this. Again.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when she felt someone nudge her. And again when she noticed the black and red eyes of Ben looking down at her, "Relax, Trix. We're just messing with you."
"You can't tell me to relax after telling me that there's a chance other proxies have been taken and that I'm going to be next!"
"Don't worry so much, Trix, if anyone is going to be next it's going to be Jeff since he took Zalgo's bait anyways." Toby snickered, and then noticed that the room had gone silent and all eyes were on him, "Eh heh... what?"
There were three different reactions to that. Ben facepalmed. Alice sighed. And Trixie seemed to freeze in position. Her voice cracked, "He went out there! But it's a trap! H-He'll get killed or Zalgo w-will-"
"I think I broke her." Toby muttered.
"Nice one genius." Ben scoffed, "And, Trix, give us some credit will you?"
She held her arms tightly around herself, "What?"
"I said give us some credit. We let him go for a laugh. We're not going to let him get killed."
Honestly that one surprised her. Of course she knew that there was a cruel streak in all of them, and it wasn't that shocking that they would trick someone to a death wish like that. But at the same time, there was that rule still standing that no proxy was permitted to kill another. And the last she checked, Ben and Jeff were pretty good friends despite having opposing opinions for almost everything.
"You're not?"
Alice sighed dramatically, "I'll admit it'll be much more bearable around here without Jeffy-boy but lets face it, Slender would throw a fit." She shrugged, "We're still trying to choose who's the sucker to go and drag his ass back here before he gets us into some major shit."
Trixie exhaled, feeling somewhat relieved, but by no means but at ease. Toby on the other hand looked content, "Well if we can't pick I'm sure Slendy can handle it. He didn't seem to happy about it though..."
Ben hesitated, and then found that the only thing he could do was facepalm once again, "Tell me you didn't tell him."
Toby tilted his head, "Well okay... It'll be a lie but okay."
Trixie and Alice exchanged a look. One fearful and the other irritated. Alice being the latter, "For gods sake, Toby, who didn't you tell?"
"Um... I haven't seen Rake in a while..."
It was a simple job considering it was meant to be banned. Jeff wrenched the blade from the throat of the victim. A large male who already looked like he was on the wrong end of a few fights before Jeff even arrived there. But he matched the image in the drawing and that was all that mattered. Well, that, and the thrill of the kill running through Jeff's veins. His heart pounded against his ribs, blood pumping as if hungry for more adrenaline. But the most important factor about this job, in his mind anyway, was that there was no weird crap to go with it. Unlike the last time when there was Sickness in play, the victim didn't have blackened eyes, or claim to have friends in high places.
Truth be told, it may as well have been just some other job of any other day. Jeff found himself a little disappointed at the anti-climax of it all. The kill was fun, and as usual he relished in the feeling of the warm blood on his once white hoody starting to turn cold in the crisp night air. In a way he was lucky that the kill had taken place outdoors, and in an alleyway no less. It was isolated, dark, and quiet.
"Don't know what the big fuss was about. Fucking Slender paranoia..."
He wiped his knife clean on his front and slid it back into his hoody pocket. He was annoyed, in short. He had been expecting more of a fight. Something to give reason to why he wasn't supposed to be there. But there was none. Find guy, kill guy, go home. That was it. It was a bit of a let down. He huffed, breath turning to mist in the air. It had turned a lot colder all of a sudden. It looked like there was nothing more for him out here than to just head back to the hideout and have done with it.
The killer turned his back against the sliced body and started to make his way back out into the open, his hood pulled low over his head to cover most of his face. However, he hadn't walked more than five yards before a shrill cackle split the air. He froze, eyes narrowing as he tried to focus in on the source. Almost on cue, the laughing slowed, becoming broken and replaced with a sickening sound that could only be described as slurping. Like a parched wonderer relishing in an oasis pond. All senses on high alert, he cautiously turned around.
Instantly he darted back into attack stance, knife out and back against the wall ready to push forward if necessary, "What the fuck are you supposed to be?"
The body which was once laying alone in the dirt, throat slit deeply, was now partially hidden by a figure dressed in black. It was a girl, or rather a young woman, with long tresses of sleek ebony hair. She had very pale skin, practically moon-white which was mostly on show thanks to her skimpy black dress that complimented her model figure. Something Jeff had to take a moment to eye before continuing to look suspiciously at her. She was bent over the body, her long fingers trailing in the pool of blood forming on the victims chest. The slurping sound came from her mouth as she licked the liquid away greedily.
The female stopped when he yelled at her, speaking without fear, "Hello, Jeff..." her voice was sultry, but fractured. Like the shattered remains of a once perfect masterpiece. She giggled and stood up to look at him, "I was hungry... And I'm a fan of your work."
Jeff grimaced. It all suddenly made perfect sense to him who she was trying to be. The pure black emptiness of her eyes and heavily made-up face complete with black lipstick, even the tight black attire and pale skin, it was perfect and to the stereotype. This was one hell of an impressive cosplay. Jane the Killer. He hated that story with a passion. Not only was the story total fiction, but there was no such thing as Jane. She's just some fan character that fangirls like to dress as when they don't want to dress as him. He hated it. He hated that he now had a cosplayer in front of him right now, daring to approach fangirls... Wait. How long had she been here? If she saw the kill then she had the Sickness and he would have to kill her too just to avoid having another Trixie episode... And the fact that she was dressed as someone like that was just too ironic. Jane the killer was as real as Casper the friendly ghost.
He growled, stepping closer, "Piss off, I'm not in the mood for this shit."
"Oh?" she laughed again, "But I think I have some news for you that might put you in the mood again. Or... my mood anyway."
"What the fuck are you talking ab-Hey!"
The seemingly drunk cosplayer lurched forward with surprising speed, grabbing his wrist with one hand to stop his knife plunging down on her, "Shh... Let me look at you, Daddy's told me so much..."
"Did Daddy tell you that you were going to bite the dust tonight?" he snarled.
Out of morbid curiosity, or the stunned anger, he wasn't sure, but Jeff remained still, hand tightening on the handle of his knife ready to get payback as soon as he was done humouring her. She put her hand flat on his chest, the fresh blood from his kill warming her palm. Her black eyes were alight with a curiosity that seemed to be patronizing in their own way. Jeff eyed her with an air of warning to get the hell off, but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't taking advantage of the closeness to eye her for her low neckline. Attempting to push her luck and extend the mockery, her other hand came up to his cheek to trace his scares. However this time she was cut short as he snatched out a free hand to grip her wrist and bend it backwards.
"I'd get the fuck away if I were you." He warned.
"No you wouldn't." She giggled, a distortion to her tone. She seemed to enjoy the pain he brought her as her bones threatened to crack. If anything, she leant into it, craving more, "Are you going to kill me Jeff? In my story I thought it was I who killed you." She blinked and shook her head as if scolding herself, "No, bad Jane, Daddy won't like that..."
He cocked an eyebrow as her hand on his chest flexed to grab his hoody, the blood staining her ivory skin, "Well that story is as big a bullshit as the others. Hate to burst your jacked up bubble but Jane isn't real. Props for the dedication." He shoved her away from him, "Now fuck off."
"She wasn't real, no." She stumbled backwards, a sadistic grin forming, "Until Daddy made it so."
"I don't actually give a shit. You're going to end up same as everyone else." He raised his knife and started to advance on her. Sickness or not, she was annoying him and he wanted her gone for good, "Sleeping..."
She didn't even flinch, "Oh? Then I guess everyone is just... like... me?"
With each word she grinned wider. Way to disfigured for a person of her frame. Jeff swung the knife down, aiming for her throat. There was a jolt, and a sickly squelch as the blade sank into her skin. But... there wasn't the satisfactory sound of a dying gasp of breath. Jeff stared at where the knife had embedded into her neck, and almost recoiled at the thick black ooze that trickled from it. He jarred back, pulling his knife free. Her pale skin seemed to seal itself instantly like a deformed set of stitches. She stroked her throat with a slim finger, gathering up the black blood and licking it clean with a moan almost erotic.
Her onyx eyes glinted unnaturally, teeth starting to show as she pulled back her shadow-stained lips further into a grin. Those teeth... So white and, jagged! Her canines seemed to resemble that of a python while the others were a sharp, rocky terrain of fangs and strength. Jeff narrowed his eyes, it wasn't the weirdest thing he'd seen but it certainly wasn't something he expected. Neither did he expect the black, pointed tongue that snaked out over her lips and smoothed over her teeth. As her tongue touched them, they seemed to dissolve back into the human shape that had once been. With another giggle, she leant upwards closer to his face.
"Well?"
He shoved her, forcing her to back down but neither one of them gave up on their grip be it on clothing or wrist, "What the fuck are you supposed to be?"
"Jane... Daddy's little girl, and he's so proud of me." She whispered dreamily, like she wasn't fully conscious of what was going on anymore, "Daddy promised me the world..."
"And who the fuck is your Daddy?"
She stopped, almost insulted by the question. But quickly recovered and pouted teasingly, "Daddy knows you... Daddy made me... Daddy made me all better... And Daddy promised me the world..."
The knife raised again, threatening to hit her skull this time, "Bullshit! Now answer the fucking question!"
"The story of Jane..." she sighed, drunk on her own twisted glee. Her grin widened, teeth pointing and fracturing once more into a monstrosity even he had to double-take on. Her eyes becoming sunken and damp, "Are you going to be the villain in my story? Daddy says you will. Oh... I'm so hungry..."
He yelled out as her teeth enlarged again, lunging at him. He just managed to duck out of the way, swiping his knife at her. Her skin slices at her shoulder blade, but once again healed almost instantly. She snarled, a sense of enjoyment altering her tone. She turned and grabbed the blade in her hand, half trying to wrench it from him, half trying to force him backwards. Jeff tugged harshly, her palm splitting open with a line of black blood to follow. It was as if the girl had Sickness running through her veins. She wasn't human!
"Go to sleep!" he spat, grabbing her hair and yanking her head back to hit the wall.
"You won't wake up!" She cackled, unphased by the blow and swiping her hand up to claw his face. Jane grinned as she drew blood. Her body slammed into his, pinning him against the wall, too strong for someone of her size, "Just like Liu..."
Jeff struggled against her, but his arms were trapped and she wasn't moving. It was like she'd turned her body to stone, refusing to move. The only satisfaction he felt was when his blade had stabbed into her abdomen from the force, "You don't talk about him!"
"Then don't talk." Her black tongue slithered out, seemingly oblivious to the wound. She leaned in closer, "Just let me feed..."
He struggled and twisted the blade harshly as she closed in on him. Yelling abuse and trying to avoid her hand that snaked to the back of his neck, seeing out his proxy brand. The last thing he felt, was her black nails, sinking into his skin. And then the images returned. His brother, lying in a pool of blood under him... His parents dead in the next room... All sanity lost... Everything ruined... And the lust to kill... To Go... to... sleep...
And then, just like that, he felt a colossal slap to the face.
"Wake up, Jeff, you son of a bitch!"
He jolted, the cold air stinging his eyes. Sore pain throbbing all over his body. A blurred figure crouched in front of him. He found himself on the ground. In a split second he darted out to grab the figure by the throat, "Get away from me!"
The figure struggled, gabbing his hoody and kneeing him in the gut, "It's me you bastard! Wake up!"
He hesitated, knowing only one person with that tone of voice, "Alice?"
"Who did you think?" she spat, glaring up at him with her cold blue eyes, "Get off."
He did so, panting for breath and holding the back of his neck, feeling pain burn down his spine, "Fuck... What are you doing here?"
"Saving your ass as always."
"I didn't need saving. Ah..." Another jolt of pain hit him, he looked around, "Where did she go?"
"You mean the goth chick? She ran for it." Alice sat up, brushing herself off and flicking her hair back, "Who was she anyway?"
He snarled, "You're not going to fucking believe this..."
"Try me."
Jeff was about to open his mouth, to tell her just what had happened. Who that demonic girl said she was. And who he had a pretty good idea of who her 'Daddy' was. But he was interrupted by a voice echoing in his head. Alice had the same reaction, freezing and looking more annoyed than anything. It was a voice they knew well. It was the same silky voice that had warned them all not to go out on this job in the first place. They looked to the side, seeing Slenderman looking down at them with an air of near anger.
What... happened...?
A/N:
And now they're in trouble. So... Jane the killer isn't just a story like everyone thought. Zalgo's been busy... Is there more to this that meets the eye? Lets find out! XD Can't wait to hear from you all!