A/N:
First update of the new year! Whoo! I wont waste your time, lol, lets jump right in! XD
Slender walked through the Sickness halls with a weight upon his shoulders formed by guilt and self disgust. As the Sickness coiled around him in the air, he had no choice to absorb it. It tasted sweet, yet it burned under his skin. It tasted of the innocent... The innocent souls of people who should not be there and who should not have been forced to undergo such a fate. But he had no choice. If he wanted to gain strength and put an end to Zalgo, he would have to indulge and consume as much as he could. The worst of it wasn't that he had to do it, or that it was the innocent he was feeding from. No, the worst part of this was that he struggled so hard not to enjoy it.
It was in a demons nature to consume souls. To gain energy and power from them. But most of all, it was in their nature to take enjoyment in it. He was reminded of the days when he used to be one of the despicable creatures that used to dwell in this darkness. It was true, he had once been on the same level as Zalgo, feeding habit-wise and mentally. Until his first trip to the human world... And it was so dark but so beautiful at the same time, he just couldn't bring himself to help destroy it any longer. Everything had changed. He didn't want to kill and feed anymore, he wanted to preserve and explore.
Yet to do that, he was almost back to square one, feeding from the innocent dregs that clung to the darkness like an escape rope and broke down into Sickness... He felt repulsed by his own existence. Focussing on the strength he was gaining by the second and trying to forget about how he was obtaining it. This was for the good of everyone. If he didn't get stronger, fast, then it wouldn't just be himself and his Proxies that would be suffering in Sickness, the rest of the world would be too. And so he fed. Reluctantly and guiltily, he fed.
"My dear old friend... How Sickness suits you so."
Slender tensed against the bite in tone, but forced himself to turn around and face it. As expected, Zalgo gathered himself from the dust, the flames under his skin burning brightly. His jagged teeth presented themselves gruesomely as he sneered, advancing closer with each step. Slender wasn't about to let that intimidate him. He just needed to stall a little longer to gather more energy and then he would be at a reasonable level of strength to set a challenge.
I wouldn't get used to it, Zalgo...
"Oh I'm not. I'm actually picturing how you would look with the Sickness consuming you instead of you consuming it." He chuckled darkly, "I got a small sample last time you came to visit and it was most entertaining."
Slender ignored that for the sake of sanity, Zalgo how long as this feud between us been going on...? Ever since I left this world for the human realm we have done nothing but battle and create false deals with one another for the sake of a seconds peace... Isn't it time to stop...?
"Indeed. Which is why I aim to end it. As interesting as it has been to play around with your Proxies and even creating my own... I find myself also tired of our games."
I would not call them games when lives are constantly on the line...
"No I suppose you wouldn't. I would accuse you once more of spending too long around humans, becoming soft and predictable just like them. Yet here you are feasting just like your old self. Why The change of mind, old friend?"
Slender stared at him with an air of composed hatred, trying to focus on feeding as well as stalling Zalgo. He just needed a little more time, You took me by surprise, my old instincts took over momentarily...
"Yet you still haven't stopped them," he grinned cruelly, "I have a theory... A theory that you were just too weak down here, and now you're reverting back to your old ways. Desperate to hold onto whatever shred of life you can... How ruthless. I'm kind of impressed."
Zalgo was underestimating him. That was something Slender could use in his favour. If Zalgo underestimated him then he was fully able to lead him to a different assumption. Why not play along that he was still weak and was desperate? Okay granted he was desperate, but no longer weak. Once again, it was all about stalling.
"I am curious, old friend," Zalgo continued, "did you really think starving yourself was the smartest move to make?"
We've been through this... I was stopping so that my Proxies would be safe inside rather than as bait for you... Not to mention that cutting off my Sickness trail restored some balance to the overflow you have created...
"And now you've gotten a taste of pure Sickness you just can't help yourself. Honestly I thought you would have fed on Shadow Lurker first before you tried this, but you left him to fester... Again I am impressed with your sudden ruthlessness."
Slender had to struggle not to correct him. He did not leave Shad to die, he left him with the will to escape! But he had to keep calm, Don't bring me down to your level, Zalgo...
"I don't have to."
Zalgo, enough... We've tried to end this both violently and diplomatically, neither have worked...
"Quite right, and you know what I propose?"
Allow me to guess... You are going to make some threat against my life...?
"That is not necessary... I have always been fond of ironic twists, as you know. I think it would be rather fitting if it were your own Proxies that made the threat against your life rather than I."
Zalgo snapped his claws with a cold sneer and waited. Taking an early satisfaction at the idea of the great and oh so perfect Slenderman being beaten down by his own Proxies. Of course earlier on had just been a simple appetizer. What were a few punches and kicks here and there when he could witness a literal tearing limb from limb. But that would not be enough to kill, Slender, he knew that. And that was the point. He wanted Slender to suffer and feel as much torment as possible before he had the honour of consuming his energy for himself. Some may call it devouring a soul, but Zalgo refused to believe that demons such as themselves had such thing as a soul.
They both waited. Zalgo for entertainment to arrive, and Slender for his fallen Proxies to attack. But their expectance was filled only by silence. Nothing happened, and no one arrived. Zalgo snarled, repeated his attempts at summoning them once more. Only to have the same result.
"Where are they, Slender?"
In all honesty, I don't know... Are you too afraid to challenge me yourself, Zalgo...?
Zalgo snarled at him, "Do not mock me!"
I am not mocking you, Zalgo... In one swift movement, Slender lashed out a hand along with a tendril and locked onto Zalgo's throat and body. The energy pulsating through him was both nostalgic and terrifying, but so powerful, and he aimed to use it all, I am ending you...
Zalgo growled and struggled against his restraints, thrusting out his talon and clamping it on Slenders neck, "You dare to challenge me like this? After all these years you actually reduce yourself to this?"
Yes... Like we have both agreed, this has been going on for far too long with no resolution... I did not want to do this... But there's no other way...
"I will not go down without a fight, you know that."
Then by all means, fight...
"May the best demon rule, old friend..."
May the loser be damned, Zalgo...
Jack whimpered, clinging to Kate and Trixie for all his worth. Not again... Please no more dark and no more pain! He was only just starting to get a sense on what was real and what was in his own Sickness. It wasn't fair! No more hurt! No more pain! He didn't want to hurt anyone again! He didn't want to forget who he was or who was around him! He could not let himself go back to that place again! And he wouldn't let anyone else take him back there either! But... what could he do?
"Don't let me hurt anyone... please..." He said, voice barely a whisper.
"Don't worry yourself, little'un," Kate muttered, already pulling out her gun while nudging him behind her for protection, "Ain't nothing gonna happen to ya."
Jane grinned wickedly, standing between Masky and Hoody like she was daring anyone to take a step forward. But of course, she would take great pleasure in anyone that did. She didn't need weapons, she was one. Thanks to her Daddy... She didn't think that three against eight was really a fair fight. But then again, she would soon whittle them down for her Daddy,
At this moment in time, everyone was either trying to make a quick battle plan in their heads, or trying to take as many subtle steps backwards as possible to get away from a battle plan. One of which being Trixie, taking Jack away from Kate and trying to take him away from Jane. She had too much of a dark influence on him still, and Trixie promised to look after him. And although she planned to do that, she couldn't help but take in her first look at the infamous Hoody and Masky.
One was only a few inches taller than her, dressed in a dark yellow jacket and his face covered by a white mask. The eyes and mouth outlined in black, and a surprisingly neat wave of dark brown hair swept over his head. He was skinny, maybe even on the scrawny side, but it was clear he was hiding some bigger strength inside of him. The second one was about the same height but with a little more muscle about him under an orangey yellow hoody. Under his hood, there was a black veil of sorts, a blank, red, pixellated face stitched into it. Trixie found them... terrifying. She understood that they were under Sickness control. But it was so hard to believe the stories that they had once been on their side. She just couldn't picture it. And it didn't help when she made the mistake of making eye contact. And Hoody lunged.
"Get back!" Ben yelled, skidding in front of her just in time to have the knife plunge into his chest. He groaned in agony, but it would not cause damage. He had to remember that. He grabbed Hoody by the shoulders and forced a high level of voltage into his skin, making him convulse before shoving him away, "Alright, Trix?"
Trixie found that she wasn't breathing, clutching Jack protectively to her, "Y-yes."
"Good."
She barely had time to respond or even think before he had darted forward again. This time joined by the others. Jeff naturally went for Jane first, a personal vendetta to settle. He raised his knife and slashed at her throat. And she let him. The pale skin on her neck parted and black liquid gushed down her chest and dampening her shirt. But she just laughed, voice gargling slightly from the liquid in her mouth. Just as all of her previous wounds, they didn't stay for long. Her skin connected itself, and she threw out her hands to clamp around his neck, squeezing tightly as she cackled madly. Jeff fell onto his back growling for air from her pounce and drove his knife into her stomach. But again, to the same result.
BANG!
Kate fired a bullet and only just missed Jane's head, catching her shoulder instead. She was knocked to the side from the force and left Jeff forcing himself to sit up and glare at Kate, "I had it!"
"Yeah it looked like it," She returned, turning around to aim her gun at Masky who was advancing on Shad.
"No, don't!" Shad yelled, raising a hand towards her to stop her, "They are still in there somewhere! We must not harm them!"
Kate nodded and turned her attention back to Jane as she and Jeff started to claw and stab at one another once more. Toby made a run and jump into the air, landing on Masky's back and clamping his arms around his neck and tugging backwards, trying to pull him off balance. It didn't really work, but it didn't buy some time for him to pull out one of the hatchets from his belt and tried to use the handle to press against his gullet to block the air flow. He'd heard Shad's warning, and he also happened to remember liking Masky when he was normal, he didn't want to hurt him.
Meanwhile, Alice dropped low to the ground and swept her leg out along the ground to knock Hoody off his feet. He hit the ground hard but rolled into it to his knees and pounced forward towards her. She waited till the last possible moment before pulling out one of her personalised playing cards, each one was lined with a thin metal boarder, sharpened so only the skilled could use them. She pulled one out and sliced it along his hand, lining his palm with a deep cut to shock him. It worked for the most part and he lost his balance. Ben was waiting when he did. Grabbing him and delivering more electric voltage to stun him.
Trixie watched, shielding Jack protectively. She couldn't help but feel so useless. The others were doing something, fighting and protecting. All she was able to do was sit on the sidelines. Don't get her wrong, she was fully aware that she was not a fighter. And was not as strong or skilled as the others. And the idea of going anywhere nearer to those people terrified her. But she still wanted to be of some help!
"B-Beatrix?" Jack whispered fearfully.
She flinched, almost forgetting he was there, "Yes? I'm here, it's okay, you're not alone."
"A-Are they going to die?" He looked up at her, tears black and thick pouring down his face, "Are we... going to die?"
She didn't know what to say. In all honesty she didn't know what was going to happen. But it wasn't fair to scare him all the more and admit that. But it also wasn't fair to outright lie and say they would be okay. He was so young, so similar to her little brother on awakening from a nightmare. It hurt her as much as it hurt him to be like this. She cupped his face and brushed his hair back gently, fingers shaking.
"W-We're going to find Slender and get out. You're not going to die. And I'm not going to leave you, remember how I promised?"
He nodded, trembling and clinging to her, "I'm scared..."
"Me to," she admitted, trying to block out the yells and cries of pain from the others and the cackling from Jane, "But I'm not going to let them hurt you again."
"H-He has my n-name... I-I can't leave... Don't leave me, please!"
"I'm not!" She insisted, hugging him close, "I'm not leaving you. You gave your name to Zalgo but you can give it to Slender too when we find him. Slender will be able to claim you again. It'll be okay and you'll be with us."
"N-No!" he cried, sobbing against her shoulder, "I-I want Slender... But not give my name... No more Sickness. P-Please, no more demons..."
She didn't know what to say, "I don't know how else you can do it, Jack... You have to."
"No... Please... Slender will help but he will be in control like Zalgo! I-I don't want anymore Sickness in my head! Please, Beatrix!"
The sounds of battle echoed around them horrifically. She covered his ears and started to cry silently herself as he shuddered in her arms. The poor boy, the poor little boy... There was nothing she could do. She understood his fears and wanted to help him but without him giving his name to Slender, she didn't understand what else there was to do. She tried to think more on it, but was distracted when he tugged her arm, trying to move his head closer to hers.
"J-Jack?"
His voice was so small and feeble, it felt like it was going to shatter, just like him. He sniffed, "You're not a demon... You help me... You don't leave me..."
She didn't understand, so she just nodded, "That's right, I'm not going to leave you."
"O-Okay... Um," He brought his mouth closer to her ear and held onto her tight, nails digging into her shoulders. And before she knew what he was doing, he spoke so only she could hear, "Jackson Wen Langford..."
Her eyes widened as his words hit her like a rock and something snapped inside her chest. And for that split second, she could feel and embody everything that happened inside his head, and it hurt so much. But just like that, it was over, "Jack... what did you do...?"
Meanwhile, the battle raged on around them like a pack of savage animals. Jane was being restrained by Alice, Toby and Ben while Jeff struggled with throwing punches while avoiding attacks from her legs and venom. Kate wrestled with Hoody, avoiding use of her guns while Shad managed to keep Masky at bay. Madness, it was utter madness.
Shad threw both his arms out and turns his wrist, willing the shadows to obey him. They snaked out like liquid and coiled around Masky and Hoody like ropes, starting at their ankles and looping up to their shoulders. He clenched his fists, making the shadows tighten and restrain the two so they could only squirm like worms on a hook. A moment later, Shad had smacked his fists together, hard. And as a result, Masky and Hoody were lifted off the ground and thrown towards each other. With a stomach churning smack, their heads collided, and they fell limp against their restraints. Shad breathed heavily as he released his grip on them, letting them slip slowly to the ground and lay there. They were still, but they were breathing. Alive but unconsciously.
Kate stared in half amused surprise, nudging the two with her foot to confirm they were still alive before arching an eyebrow at Shad, "Must not harm them, huh?"
Shad collected himself, "Well no more than necessary anyway..."
"You're not playing fair!" Jane yelled releasing such a force of volume that the Sickness rose at her feet and knocked everyone away from her. Her eyes starting to leak black ooze in frustration. Not unlike Jack when he was crying, but this was nowhere near empathetic. This was just fearful, "It's not fair! You're my playthings! Daddy said so!"
"I warned ya that ol' Daddy was a liar," Kate stated, venomous teeth bared, "We're no ones toys."
Jeff attempted to lunge again, knife raised. But the moment he was about to make contact with her, she melted back against the shadows and practically stumbled out from another just out of reach. She was getting tired. Or more so, she was getting hungry. The hunger clawed at her insides and she longed to grab the nearest one and feed to her hears content but she didn't have Zalgo's permission. She whimpered, running her thin fingers through her hair, at a loss of what to do. She wanted to feed... But Daddy said no... But...
"Wait right here..." She growled, "Daddy's going to let me kill you, you'll see!"
They watched as she scrambled to her feet and ran off into the dark. In seconds she was gone. But the others were frankly unsure how to take this. On one hand, she was gone and they had a chance to breathe. But on the other, she was heading right for Zalgo and possibly telling him right now what had just happened. And that would not be good for Slender especially.
"Did she seriously go running to her Daddy like a spoiled brat?" Alice questioned.
"Even I don't do that." Toby muttered, "Well to Slendy I mean."
"Yeah, we get it," Ben interjected, "Are we going after her or what?"
"We have to." Shad stated, using the shadows to move the unconscious Hoody and Masky together against the wall to offer some comfort to them, "Slender is facing Zalgo and cannot afford distraction."
"Lets get moving then!" Kate demanded, adjusting Jack at her side, "Think you'll be alright, little'un, or are you waiting here?"
Jack squirmed, shaking his head, "D-Dont want to be alone again..."
"You won't be." Trixie offered, putting a hand on his shoulder comfortingly.
Jeff narrowed his eyes, already marching off in the direction that Jane had vanished, "Then what the hell are we waiting for? Move it!"
There was no time to argue, plan or contradict, and so they all followed. It was a hard choice leaving Hoody and Masky behind like this. But at least they were unconscious and together, free from doing anyone else or each other harm for now. They would be back for them soon enough. It was an unspoken vow between them all. That they would all get out of this alive together. They ran as much as they were able, still weak and exhausted from fighting and Sickness. But they had to continue. The darkness spread for what seemed like hours even if it were only seconds. It wasn't hard to follow Jane's trail when she was so frustrated like this. And they eventually caught up to her. But... Something wasn't right. She wasn't moving, stuck in apparent shock at what was going on in front of her. And it was only a matter of time before they caught sight of it too.
They stared in awe at what was before them. Two of the most powerful Sickness entities locked in a stance that emitted death and darkness into the very air around them. Slender and Zalgo, both out to destroy the other. It was both a fascinating and a horrifying sight to see. Zalgo had a talon clamped around Slender's neck, piercing his pale skin with blackened claws. His opponent was not faltering so easily, as multiple tendrils coiled like serpents around Zalgo's body and seemingly attempting to squeeze the embers right out of him. They twitched and grunted from the sheer effort of causing this must restraint on the other.
But, although this was clearly a battle, not one of them moved to make another attack. They struggled to stay in that stance, bound against one another with the electric burns of Sickness scolding the air. They glared at one another with a hatred and determination capable of destroying any passerby on sight if they so wished. And as terrifyingly amazing as it was; needless to say it was not what was expected.
"What the hell is he doing?" Jeff demanded.
"Should we do something?" Trixie asked, eyes wide in panic.
"Why aren't they fighting?" Toby asked, "I was promised a smack down!"
Kate raised her gun, "Then allow me ta give ya one..."
"No don't!" Shad exclaimed, grabbing Kate's wrist and yanking it back down, "This is it!"
"What's it? This is insane!" Alice spat.
"It's the end," Shad insisted, "This is..."
"Shaddy-boy, I hate to interrupt the fanboy moment you're having right now but some explanation would be glorious..." Ben hissed.
"I apologize, I have just never seen this in person. It's a war of internal Sickness." Shad elaborated, "They are trying to take possession of the others entity through sheer force of will and-"
"English, Shadow-man..." Kate growled.
"It's a battle of Sickness. They restrain one another and try to purge out the others Sickness and replace it with their own. Basically their Sickness is fighting to make the other their Proxy."
A/N:
Well... how am I getting on with action scenes? I hope that was good for you guys because it tired me out big time! So who will win the fight to make one the others proxy? Slender or Zalgo? What happens now that Jack willingly gave Trixie his name? What happens to Jane? Find out next time readers! XD