A/N:

Hi! New chapter for you all! XD By the way, a lot of people keep asking about Jack... And I have not forgotten him don't worry! He will be in the next chapter! It's just not his turn to have the spotlight yet but that will change soon! Same for Shad, Toby and the others!

Rochelle backed away from the door, hand covering her mouth to stop a gasp of shock. She didn't stop until her back pressed against the opposite wall of her prison of a hotel room. That voice, it was near unmistakable. The way it so effortlessly moved through the air and reverberated inside her head. It brought back so many memories and so much anger and care... It scared her. More so that she hadn't heard it in decades. And did not expect to hear it again. Her throat became tight, almost choking her. It couldn't be him. It was all a trick. It had finally happened... The isolation and lack of fresh air had finally made her snap. It just couldn't be him!

Rochelle... Slender spoke again, almost pleadingly, My dear, please answer me...

She startled, hands clasping harder around her mouth to stop a shriek. It took her a long time. In which she tried to get her suddenly erratic thoughts together. For years she had planned what she was going to say if this day ever came. But now, it was all gone. Her mind was just a jumbled blur of rage and mourning and fear and another emotion that she swore she would not feel again. She felt her scarlet eyes sting as tears started to form. It took a few attempts of gathering her breath to attempt to steady herself before speaking. And even then her voice gave away and trembled.

"S-Slender?"

He exhaled, both relieved and fearful that she responded. Hearing her voice again was something he had wished for so long, but the horror it was laced with made him deflate in shame, It's me, Rochelle... And... Rochelle I don't know what to-

"Open the door." She ordered suddenly, "Open the door and let me see you."

Slender wanted to. With all his might and being he willed the door to open. He took the handle, and with all his remaining energy he begged it to open. But nothing came from it. He felt his muscles slacken and limbs turn limp as he was forced to rest against the door. Anger at himself for being so damn pitiful at a time like this. He just didn't have the energy. He had gone too long without feeding from his proxies work. He couldn't do anything for her. And he hated himself for it...

My dear I... I can't... He shook his head, ashamed of himself, I'm not strong enough...

Of course, she thought sourly, daring to step a little closer to the sealed door, "I see... M-Mademoiselle Kate told me you had stopped feeding. Do not starve yourself to spite me, I cannot take it..."

I would never do that... I swear to you, Rochelle, if I could free you then I would... You have to know that...

"If that is true then what has taken you so long to even have the courage to speak to me?" She asked mournfully, "Why did you stay away so long...? Do you fear me? Am I that much of a disgrace to you that you must leave me here for eternity? Why... After so long... Why?"

Slender had been expecting this. It was one of the main reasons why he had come here. He had to set things straight once and for all if he was ever going to protect anyone in his clan again. There was no easy way about this, he had been hiding in shame for so long and now it was time to come clean. She sounded so sad and lost, and to think, no... to know that he had done this to her, it was heartbreaking.

The only disgrace here is myself, my dear... I am the one who made mistakes and who acted too harshly... Now I am the one who is facing those mistakes he has been hiding from for so long... And I am so sorry, my dear, I am so sorry...

She wiped her eyes, glad that he could not see her. Crying was something she promised she would not do at a time like this, and yet it's all she wanted to do, "That doesn't answer why... I do not ask for gratitude, but I did save your life. If anything, I did not expect imprisonment for that."

This was not a punishment or imprisonment, Rochelle... Yes, you saved me from what could have been a dire attack on my life, but you were nearly taken from me in the process... I could not let that happen...! I almost lost you... I couldn't risk that again...

"And yet you trap me here..." She whispered, now facing the door directly and resting her forehead against the unmovable surface.

Slender spoke desperately, pleading for her to listen to him, I only wanted to protect you...! You were so badly hurt and I couldn't risk that happening again to you and at least here you were safe...! Nothing could hurt you here...

"Not physically... But you were still hurting me by keeping me prisoner. Despite intentions... Even a rose preserved between the pages of a book cannot live, it merely curls into petrifaction."

Slender hesitated. What was he supposed to say to that? He hadn't meant to hurt her like that. To make her feel that she had been the one in the wrong. Like a defenceless flower in petrifaction. When in reality, it had been his intention to protect her from the brutality that their lives could not avoid.

Rochelle... I promise you, I was only trying to hide you from danger... To keep you safe... I did not wish to become one of the creatures you despised to see... I... I am truly sorry...

There was a silence. And Rochelle, who had waited so long to hear those words, simply sighed and rested her head against the door weakly, "I... I don't despise you... But I can't forgive you."

The words hurt, but he understood, I won't ask you to... Not until I can apologize to you in person...

"There is a lot we have to say to one another in person."

Indeed... And that time will be soon, my dear... As soon as I gather my strength, you will be free and-

"Enough... Kate has informed me that Zalgo is still haunting this world. You must confront him before you can even think of wasting your energy on me... And," Rochelle ducked her head in shame at her own words, but they were true, "I fear the odds are not in your favour."

I know... But I must try... If it means being at your side again, and having my Proxies safe once more, then I will never stop trying...

"I can sense a new portal opening, and now I see them." Her voice trailed off, eyes closed, "I see them and they are not safe."

Slender's featureless brow furrowed, Where are they...?

Her mind was painting a picture, one that had once come in very hand during her Passive days. It seemed that once you had seen so much sorrow, it was not hard to sense it, "Surrounded in darkness... Where two of their pasts are laid to rest but not forgotten..."

Riddles. Deciphering them had become second nature to him over the many years. And tonight was no different. She was talking about a cemetery. And he know which one; after all there was only one place that held such description when it came to his proxies. He took a moment to recall how much he actually missed her riddles, no matter how morbid they may be. And she always spoke so poetically, it was almost a comfort to hear it again. But the matter at hand clouded his nostalgia, not allowing him peace.

What do you see...?

"Another portal is opening, and more shall go into its depths than those who are venturing from it... They will not last the night."

A panic rose in his chest. Zalgo, he was taking everything from him! I have to save them, my dear... They need me...

"I needed you..." She whispered, hurt tainting her voice.

Hearing that was like a shard of ice plunging into his chest, I... I know... And I regret every moment I turned away from you... You must know, If I could I would-

"I am giving you permission to leave me just one more time, Slender," Rochelle said harshly, cutting him off and trying to hold herself together. She didn't want him to go, but she knew what those young proxies meant to him. And to spite him as he had spited her, it just would not do. She too cared for the others. They were so young, and for them to suffer a fate worse than the lives they already live, she wouldn't forgive herself if she caused it. She took a breath, "Just one more time, you may leave me here and I demand that you do not abuse it! Leave me, and save them. But as soon as you are all safe... You must give me your word that you will come back to me..."

My... My dear, I...

"Promise me!" It was so hard to pretend that she wasn't crying, and it was the one time she was thankful for there to be a door between them so that he didn't have to see it, "I know you are weak... You cannot open the door until you are stronger... But you can and will come back to me. Mon cher... I refuse to let you give up on yourself... Not again..."

Slender found that he had stopped breathing. Mon cher... It had been years since he had heard those words. And it tore him apart not to be able to reach out for her. He understood what a sacrifice it was for her to remain in this prison because of his own stupidity. And by god was he grateful that she was allowing him to leave to help the others. Because without her orders, he doubted he would be able to leave her once again. His hand rested against the door, and he hated his own weakness that he could not remove the dark energy that he had embedded in it. He'd been a fool... All this time he had put her through this and for what? His own stupid, irrational fears. Regret was not enough of a word to cover it. He took a breath, and nodded slowly.

My dear... I promise that I will be back for you... And when I do, I will never close a door on you again...

She shook her head, knowing that he couldn't see, but she couldn't let herself believe him even though she truly wanted to. Scars run too deep, and words were not enough anymore, "B-Before you go... Answer me one more question."

Anything...

"You say you put me here for safety, to preserve me... But all that time we were together..." It hurt her pride and her soul to ask this, but she needed to know, "Did you ever truly feel for me the way I felt for you? Did you ever care?"

How could she ask such a question? He didn't hesitate in his answer, not for a moment, My dear... The way I felt for you back then has not altered a fraction to this moment... I more than cared for you...

Rochelle felt her breath catch in her throat, and her eyes clenched shut. That was both everything she wanted and didn't want to hear, "Th-Then go... Hurry, mon cher..."

My dear, I... I will come back, I promise...

"J-Jane?" Trixie asked nervously. For the first time in a while praying that this was just someone dressed up as she peered over Ben's shoulder at the figure. The young woman, or at least that was the most roundabout way of describing her, for her pure ivory skin and blackened eyes could not be called human.

"You know me, little one? I'm so happy." The intruder grinned, sounding genuine as she walked closer without a fear. Hips swaying in her skimpy black dress, her teeth sharper than what was natural as she spoke in a distant, airy fashion, "I know you too, that makes us friends... Such good friends... Yes."

Ben arched an eyebrow, "Christ, someone pulled out all the crazy with you huh?"

"Well, aren't you... in character." Jane giggled in a sultry manner, eyeing the clothes he was stuck to wear since his death.

"Well, aren't you..." He eyed the plunging neckline of her short black dress, which didn't quite hide her suspenders, with a sarcastic glint, "...classy."

Trixie have him a look, was he flirting at a time like this? Honestly it was difficult to tell. And it this wasn't the time to be thinking that either. Jane cackled, almost looking as though she were drunk or just... too young mentally, "That I am... Daddy raised me right you see."

"Daddy, huh?" Ben scoffed.

"And you know who he is don't you?"

"Hard not to with the amount of crap he's giving us. Much appreciated by the way..." He rolled his eyes, surprisingly steady, "Any news on how the others are doing? You know, the one's you kidnapped not too long ago?"

"My friends..." She smiled, if it wasn't so terrifying, she would be beautiful, "They make such wonderful playmates. Daddy said I can feast on them too when I'm done playing with them. The Sickness tastes so wonderful... You should feast with me."

Where the hell were Jeff and Alice? Ben had called for them pretty loudly and there was no way he went unheard. Trixie quickly glanced backwards for a split second only to see that there was still no sign of them. And she was getting worried. Well more worried than she already was anyway. What if something happened to them? What if Jane had attacked them first? More questions would have followed, but her thoughts were interrupted her thought process by leaving her. He was actually taking a few steps closer to Jane!

"Well as long as you're taking care of them." He said passively, "Think your old man will let us see them sometime?"

"Oh I think so... If you come with me. My Daddy can help you... After all, your Daddy was not a nice man last I heard."

For a split second, Ben lost his casual demeanour and tensed. It didn't go unnoticed. Jane or Trixie. But where one furrowed her brow in concern, the other sneered in glee. But Ben didn't allow himself to remain vulnerable for long. And he quirked an eyebrow at the demonic beauty, "And last I heard, you were pretty hungry," He commended idly, rolling up his right sleeve and extending his arm to present the black Proxy mark sitting on the inside of his elbow, "Fancy a bite?"

"Ben!" Trixie hissed, grabbing his arm and yanking it back down, "What are you doing?"

"Don't be jealous, Trix, the lady looks half starved,"

She could only stare at him, "This isn't about- I'm- She's-"

Jane was practically salivating, black eyes wide and shimmering dangerously as she stalked forward. Her voice tainted with a laughter that wasn't completely human, "Oh you know how to play... I like you... One friend to play and feed from, and another to be my little doll..." Her eyes suddenly snapped towards Trixie, laughter gradually getting more manic, "Frightened and frail and fantastically fun for after I feed..."

Trixie shivered in terror, only to have her vision blocked by Ben standing in front of her. He clapped his hands slowly and patronizingly, "Amazing alliteration, Angel of Anarchy, alas I'm afraid you're avoiding the action I'm appealing to you..." He held out his exposed arm again, arching an eyebrow, "Appetizing?"

Trixie wasn't sure if she was impressed or even more terrified! One thing was for sure, her head was throbbing, and her shoulder that held her own Proxy brand was burning. And if she looked carefully, she could see Ben's brand was slightly darker than usual, sore almost and a harsh contact to his pale skin. He was in pain like her. Why was he doing this when he knew the dangers and he was struggling with Sickness? It didn't make any sense!

"I'm Daddy's little girl..." Jane smiled, showing off her teeth that had altered into jagged shards. She spoke as if reading from a script, trying to remember what it was that she was doing here in the first place. But was too enticed by the offer Ben was making. She was trying to remember something "And daddy wants me to bring my playmates home. He so wants to see you. And I so want to play... I'm so hungry... Daddy won't mind... No... Daddy won't mind!"

Trixie shrieked and attempted to drag Ben away when Jane suddenly made a lunge to attack. But the action was quickly interrupted by an animalistic yell and a sheen on a streetlight beam bouncing off a metallic surface. Jane jolted unnaturally, leaning forward and a sharp point of something metal poking through her pale throat. A thin trickle of black liquid poured down her neck and curved downwards to her chest. She froze, just out of arms reach of Ben, who simply rolled his sleeve back down and winked slyly.

Jeff pulled his knife back and kicked her aside, "Play with this you bastard!"

Trixie had a moment of confusion where she finding she was actually happy to see Jeff, and then found it had shattered when Jane suddenly started laughing, twisting her body to wrench herself away from the weapon and turn to Jeff. Her throat punctured and yet healing impossibly fast, but her voice could not return past a dry cackle. Before she could attempt another attack. Alice ducked in out of the shadows, sweeping her leg high into the air and colliding her heel to Jane's forehead. Jane gasped, stumbling backwards against the wall.

"I had that one..." Jeff growled.

"Yeah you all looked so in control." Alice sniffed, poising her body ready for another strike.

"You took your time." Ben commented boredly.

"Oh piss off, it worked didn't it."

In response to Jeff's answer, Trixie had to shake her head and take a step backwards, "She's getting up!"

Of course, no one really expected a stab in the neck and a kick to the head to keep Jane at bay for longer than a few seconds. From both stories and experience, they knew she was fuelled by Sickness and physical damage was not going to stop her. But they had hoped she would back off for a little longer so they could at least form part of a plan. They were fully aware she wasn't going to stop. Last time when she encountered Jeff, that had been a warning. A game! But now she had taken two of their own and was back for the rest of them. Her 'Daddy' was getting impatient. If they didn't do something soon to get away from her then they were as good as taken.

Jane took a big gulp of air, a faint gurgling sound in her throat where the stab wound was shrinking back into flawless skin, and let out a slow laugh. She looked almost joyful at the idea that she had just been attacked. They were all thinking the same thing, apart from a multitude of curses and swears, and that was that she was insane! On a level way above them all. Plans hissed in their heads. Jeff gripped his knife and Alice clenched her fists, Ben allowed small sparks of static to crackle up is arms and Trixie even took her stance of bravery by holding her breath and raising her hands to either push a threat away or to grab hold of one. She wasn't sure what she'd be able to stomach just yet.

"Fun friends..." Jane sighed, grinning devilishly, "Let me take you home to play instead..."

Leave my Proxies alone...!

A black tendril shot out of the darkness and coiled itself around her slim figure, blinding her arms and legs in place to stop her struggling. The harsh tone that snapped through their minds belonged to a tall inhuman being that was stalking its way towards them. Slender lifted Jane from the ground to bring her closer to his level, and yet still managing to loom over her with an air of intimidation that made goosebumps appear on everyone's skin. His shoulder's shuddered faintly, his energy faltering by the second. Strain coursed through his being and begged him to stop. But he couldn't allow that. He had to save his Proxies. He had to save Rochelle...

Jane only struggled for a moment. More pouting like a child rather than angry at being restrained and caught. But she froze solid when she saw the tall, faceless figure that she had become entrapped by. For a moment, her face was still, almost shocked by what she was seeing. And then, like someone reuniting with an old family member, her blackened lips spread into a wide grin. Malicious and striking, but no less pleased. It wasn't surprising that she knew who he was. Anyone involved with Zalgo was bound to know who Slender was. Especially someone in her position.

"Oh..." She chuckled deviously, "I've been waiting to meet you..."

"Just kill her already!" Jeff yelled.

Enough, Jeffery... Slender ordered, keeping his visual direction on his prisoner, Jane I assume, yes...? Tell me... Where are my other Proxies...?

"My Daddy's taking such good care of them... And he wants the rest of them too. And I want to play with them. They make such good toys after I feed."

Tell Zalgo that I want them back, unharmed... I will not negotiate on this...

"Daddy wants to see you, to negotiate. And when you come with me, he says he'll think about leaving your pets alone..."

"We're not pets you little-"

Enough, Alice... Jane, I won't be going anywhere until Zalgo hands over my Proxies to me, and that is the end of the matter...

"Oh!" She cackled, arms suddenly lashing out of his grip to clamp around Slender's throat, using impossible strength to pull him downwards towards her. She looked manic as she laughed hysterically, eyes wide and voice distorted, "You don't have a choice!"

Slender tried to straighten up out of her grasp, but it only left blackened scars on his ivory neck where her dark nails scored over him. The ground rumbled and the next thing the others knew, there was a colossal force of air that knocked all of them backwards. Trixie grunted weakly as her back and head smacked against the brick wall, slumping to the ground. A weight landed on her right side while a horrific burning sensation pulsated through her left shoulder. Dust and grime from the ground flew against her face, forcing her to squint to save her eyes. She could barely see what was happening amongst the chaos.

The sounds of Jane's maniacal laughter blended in with the loud whistling of the wind. It looked as though someone had created a whirlwind of grime and darkness within the ally way, and at the centre was their mentor struggling for freedom. He was too weak. So weak that even a minion of Zalgo was too much for him. The ground started to crumble, and they were sinking fast into it. The yells of the others joined in the cacophony of destruction only to be blended into nothing. There was an explosion of darkness that sent them all into a momentary blindness. And then... it was silent.

Trixie gasped as the pain in her brand stopped. Her eyes peaked open and she blinked in surprise at the normality of the space around her. The ally looked as though it had never been entered that night. But that, in a way, was what made it even more disturbing. For although she and three of her comrades were still there with her; Slender and Jane were not.

"He's gone?!" Jeff yelled, so filled with rage that there was almost colour tinting his pale face, "He's fucking gone!"

"Yes thank you, Jeff, we can all see he's gone!" Alice snapped back, moving away from where she had landed on top of Trixie a moment ago.

"What the fuck was he thinking?"

"He didn't have a choice!" Trixie exclaimed, struggling to her feet too, "Jane was-"

"He could have killed her! Cut her to shreds! Taken her hostage! Anything!" Jeff returned.

"None of those are really his style..." Ben commented with a shrug.

"Who the fuck cares? Now we're back to square one of forever ago! This is- Why does he do this every time? Why does he have to go and play hero and then it's always up to us to pick up the fucking pieces!"

"Why bother this time?" Alice asked with an air of calmness despite her furrowed brow, "Why do we have to go after him this time? Why not just wait for him to come back if you're so sure he can handle it?"

Either Ben was going to make a sarcastic comment, or Trixie was going to try defend their mentor, but in reality neither actually happened. Because Jeff cut them off trying to find a decent answer for her. But he couldn't find one, "Because he's- I don't- That psycho whore has it coming and- For fucks sake because we all know he's not going to make it down there and who else is going to get off their ass and do it?"

That... they were all forced to agree, was a good point. And one that Jeff looked regretful for pointing out. He didn't want to seem weak or anything like that. It was just his opinion on things. He folded his arms and scowled through the silence. Alice rolled her eyes and him and leaned against the wall, pushing her hair back and looking at the ground where Slender had vanished as if that was going to give them a clue as to how to follow. They didn't have the power to open up a portal again. And with Shad gone too, they were stuck.

As for Slender, they could only hope that he could hold out until they managed to find a way to get to him. They knew he would not be fond of the idea of them going after him to say the least. But he was weak, mostly starved, and there was no way they were going to let him get himself killed. Some had their reasons that they didn't want Slender to be killed for their sake, or any sake. Others had reasons that they didn't want Slender to leave them hanging bait for Zalgo when shit hit the fan. But at the end of the day, reasons didn't really matter all that much when it led to the same goal. Because like Jeff said, who else was going to do it?

"Couldn't have agreed with ya more, little'un."

Trixie jumped out of her skin, having a mini heart attack for the hundredth time that week and turning around to see Kate standing in the mouth of the ally way. She adjusted her cowboy-eque hat and marched forward to join them. Her face looked slightly coloured in the cheeks where she had evidentially sprinted a long time just to reach them, and was more than miffed that she had missed the action along with missing a chance to stop Slender doing something stupid.

"Where've you been?" Ben asked, "You missed-"

"I'm aware. Just been making some acquaintances is all. And next thing I know Slender's left me hanging." She held up a hand to hush more questions, "Long story, I'll tell y'all later. So, plan?"

Alice rolled her eyes, "Let me guess, Sheriff, you have one?"

"I ain't no Sheriff. And, well I think it's all pretty plain and simple." Kate shrugged, "We go after him."

"And how are we going to do that?" Alice asked flatly, "Magic up a portal on our own again? Shad's not here to do it for us this time."

"I know. So we get someone else who can. But we gotta hurry..."

"And who's that?" Trixie asked quietly, anxious for what the answer might be.

Kate smiled knowingly, "Some little hair-ball that owes me a big favour..."

Back at the warehouse, the group had been following Kate around like a tired and irritated bunch of pups after an authority figure who moved too damn fast for them to keep up. They had no idea who they were looking for, or rather what they were looking for. But Kate seemed to know. And that was as good as they were going to get for now. Their minds were too abuzz with what happened back in the ally to really pay too much attention.

They knew things were bad, but they didn't think it was that bad. Was Slender really that weak that a Proxy could just... drag him down into a portal like that. Make him vanish into nothing. Either that or Jane was a lot stronger than they gave her credit for. Maybe even a cruel mixture of both. Whichever category it fell into, it was scary, and unnerving. Knowing that at any moment, they could be next.

"Why didn't Jane take us with her too?" Trixie asked as they searched, "I'm glad she didn't obviously but... she said Zalgo wanted all of us, so why only take Slender?"

"Simple really," Ben shrugged, "We're the disposable prizes but old Slendy is the main trophy."

"But, we were all there and-"

"It's like this," Alice interrupted, "If Zalgo gets all of us first, then Slender will follow and we're done for. But if he gets Slender first, then he'll have free reign to get us and we're done for. Either way we're screwed unless we do something."

"And we're gettin' something done if y'all would hush up." Kate insisted, on her knees and looking under the sofa, she sneered suddenly and reached under it, "Get your hairy-ass hide outta here now before I put a hole in your head!"

Jeff stared at her, "...the fuck?"

"Hey! Oh no you don't!" She recoiled when the snash teeth echoed from the dust. Kate reached under the sofa once again, this time with lightening speed to grab something and yank it outwards. She slammed the grimy little ball of matted fur against the wall, her expression calm as if she was no more relaxed unless she tried, "Y'all wanna try that again?"

Trixie's eyes widened. She recognised that thing! It was hard to forget that large lump of black and grey matted fur, topped with large eyes and ears along with a wide, cruel mouth full of gnashing teeth. Not to mention that husky, old male smokers voice that made her wince.

"Get offa me!" Widemouth hissed in Kate's grip, trying to swipe at her with his claws, "I said you aint getting nothing out of me, sweetheart! This crap is your own problem!"

"Well that's the thing, Zalgo's not really going to care that much who's in his way if we don't get down there to pay him a little visit, right? So seems to me like it's gonna be your problem real soon if you don't help us. And you owe me..."

"I don't owe nobody nothing!"

"Y'all sure about that? Because last I checked, I spared your hide when I caught ya sniffing around my room... Now you can either cough up your debt..." She let the suggestion hang in the air for a moment before pulling her pistol from her belt and poked the barrel under the creatures chin. Her golden eyes half lidded and lips curved smugly, "...Or we're gonna have ourselves a problem..."

Widemouth flinched, a flicker of panic in his black eyes. He tried to scramble away but it was useless when he was being held there dangling like a ragdoll, "Y-You wouldn't dare! Ain't it against old Slenders rules to harm another proxy? You can't touch me!"

Kate simply arched an eyebrow, taking a moment to look around as if to make a head count of the group behind her. She painstakingly took her time with this, before shrugging and turning back to Widemouth, "I don't see no Slender here, rodent," Her thumb reached up to unclick the safety on her gun, finger on the trigger, "Do you?"

For a moment, Widemouth looked as though he were debating trying to make another escape, or just going for the usual route of spouting abuse. But in the grand scheme of things, he knew when someone meant business and this girly was not playing around. He flinched again and raised his claw-like hands in defeat.

"O-Okay, okay, sweetheart, you win... It's your own funeral." Widemouth huffed, slumping in her grasp and glaring at each of them in turn, "I'll get you a portal."

A/N:

For those people who were asking about Widemouth, lol XD So, next chapter will have a little more of the other characters and... well I'd say more but, spoilers! I hope you enjoyed! See you in the next chapter! XD