Warning: The following chapter contains heavy offensive language and may contain adult themes that may not be suitable for sensitive/young readers. If you're not used to the South Park humor and/or don't like it, then please don't read this fan fiction. If you are not a fan of Yaoi or this particular pairing, then please don't read this Fan Fiction. If you're a perfectionist who insists that the author must get absolutely everything right or it's the end of the world, then PLEASE don't read this fan fiction. XD
***I do not own any of the mentioned characters. All characters belong to Trey Parker and Matt Stone.***

Chapter Eight

The soft hum of the small vehicle's engine was the only thing that filled the uncomfortable void of silence. A young blonde sat in the leather passenger seat, his clothed chest slowly rising and falling, as his baby-blue eyes looked beyond the foggy windshield. Tiny snowflakes slowly fell from the sky, coating everything in the cold, familiar snow that seemed to always be covering Colorado. The skies, which were once blue with a big, golden sun hanging in it's space, was now a light gray, dark clouds covering the sun and the rest of the sky. It was obvious a storm was coming.

"We're supposed to be in school right now..." Butters' soft voice interrupted the lingering silence inside the car. His tone was soft and smooth, yet unsure... and a bit frightened. Butters had always been a nice boy – one who was afraid of breaking the rules and getting in trouble. Though he was used to the consequences (either caused by himself or other people), he never liked breaking the rules and being different. Following the laws that have been set for him, and listening to what people tell him to do was the right thing to do, and he knew that he should always follow that code. But, unfortunately for Butters, he had a big heart, and there was one personal rule that he basically lived for.

Always help others, no matter the circumstance.

It didn't matter who needed his help. Good guy, bad guy, or even an animal. Butters knew that his purpose in life was to help people. And even if that put himself at risk for being grounded, Butters was willing to do anything to put a smile onto someone's face. Helping people was a good deed, and made him feel good inside. So no matter what, no matter who, Butters would always help a person in need.

"Fuck school."

...Even if it was someone like Eric Cartman.

The chubby brunette sat in the driver's seat of his dark blue Lexus, both gloved hands firmly set on the steering wheel. His amber-hued eyes flicking back and fourth between his dashboard, and the road. His expression remained serious... maybe even a little frightened. His brows were slightly knitted together to form a light frown. Against the wheel, his right thumb repeatedly tapped against the smooth leather, giving off the impression that he was a bit anxious to get to their destination. Butters knew better than to ask about his feelings, though. Eric hardly ever opened up to Butters, and when he did, he was usually lying.

"School is important, Eric..." Butters spoke softly, reminding his dark-haired friend. "It gives us the education and skills we need to make it in life. It's bad to miss school."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Eric didn't even face Butters to speak, instead, he waved off whatever Butters was saying to him, as if it didn't matter. Butters would have been offended, if he wasn't used to it. He'd known Eric for years. Being ignored by the older male wasn't new.

Butters looked away from the brunette, and let his eyes scan over the world around them again. The snow had begun to fall faster, and the skies had begun to grow darker. The storm was rolling in quick, and they'd most likely be driving through it, on their way back into town. Butters felt a sense of unease go through his mind. He wasn't looking forward to that slippery trip.

"Eric..." If it was possible, Butters' voice had grown quieter. He didn't look at Eric (even though it was the respectable thing to do when talking to someone), though he knew that the brunette was listening. "I don't understand... how come we can't let that little family move into Jimbo's old place?"

There was silence from Eric... and when Butters realized that the chubby teen wasn't going to answer him, he continued. He spoke with a slightly louder tone, hoping that it'd catch the brunette's voice, if he really hadn't been listening at all. "I mean, Jimbo has been gone for, what... three weeks? Four? You knew that a family was going to move into his old house at some point, Eric..." He dared take a peek in Eric's direction. "I mean, I don't know... what's the point of watching his house, and stopping people from taking a look at it? I mean, c'mon, Eric. This little family is really nice. You should give them the start they want to a new life here in South-"

"NO!"

Butters gave a small gasp and jumped, startled by Eric's sudden, booming tone. He inched closer to his door, almost pressing himself up against it as he watched the brunette with wide eyes. Eric's foot had slammed down onto the petal, causing the world outside to become a blur as the car sped down the snow-covered road. His hands held onto the steering wheel so tightly, that his knuckles were beginning to turn white. His glare had deepened. Butters kept his mouth mashed shut, scared to say anything more. He forced his gaze away from Eric and toward the road again, trying to calm himself by gazing at the falling snowflakes. Silence had invaded the air again, leaving Butters even more uncomfortable than before.

"We CAN NOT let that family move into that house, Butters." Eric spoke from his side of the car again, though he was met with silence from the young blonde. He continued, anyway. "It is very important that we don't let them move in. No one can live there. There is something at that house that I don't want people running into."

Butters dared to peek over in Eric's direction again. He looked to be calming down, which was good. Butters' racing heart was beginning to slow to it's normal pace again. Okay, so... it was obvious that Eric wanted no one living at Jimbo's old house. But... why?

The blonde gently readjusted his black glasses on his nose... a habit he'd formed on his own ever since he'd been given them. He'd needed glasses ever since he was thirteen. Without them, it was impossible to see anything. Why he'd suddenly needed glasses was a very interesting story... that would be saved for another time. For now, Butters had to focus on Eric, and try to – without causing the brunette to rage – discover his reasoning.

"What do you mean, Eric?" Butters' voice was, again, gentle. It was important that he didn't set Eric into another angry frenzy. The brunette was the current driver of the car, after all, and the blonde didn't quite feel like getting into a car crash today.

There was a small moment of silence from Eric. The fat teenager's nostrils slightly widened as he gave little sighs. His eyes began to flick back and fourth as he gazed at the windshield – possibly watching the different road signs as the car passed them. His thumb had stopped tapping the wheel, and thank God, his foot has risen a bit from the gas petal. The car drove at a slower pace... giving Butters a chance to calm down.

"Butters... when Kyle, Kenny, and I were kids, Stan took us to his uncle Jimbo's house..."

Butters lightly tilted his head to the side and watched Eric with another curious gaze, suddenly very interested in whatever story Eric was about to tell. He knew Eric had been one for lying, but... the pain in his voice... that strange, foreign emotion in his eyes... Butters just knew he was telling the truth this time.

"Just like a month ago, Jimbo wanted us to watch his house for him." Eric continued, his sentences slow. "He and Ned went off to go camping, and left us in charge. He knew that the four of us together could watch the house... he even offered us ten bucks each." A small smile slipped onto Eric's lips, but it quickly faded. His eyes began to cloud with... was it nervousness? Butters couldn't quite tell. "But... the night that he left, we heard a noise. It was coming from Jimbo's basement. It was a growling sound... like a dog, but... different. The others were too scared to go investigate, so I decided to grab a flashlight and search the basement alone."

Butters began to grow more terrified by the minute. In fact, he was so wrapped in the story, he jumped when Eric caused the car to turn at a corner. The blonde's heart beat quickly in his chest. He gave slow breaths, trying to calm down... and nodded for Eric to continue.

So Eric did. "They waited at the top for me. Stan even gave me one of his uncle's guns. They thought I was brave for looking." Eric spoke bravely. "So I turned on the flashlight, loaded the gun, and walked on into the basement. It was quiet... the growling had died out. But I knew that whatever was in the basement wasn't gone. So I continued to search, venturing deep into the darkness of the room-"

"Were you scared?" Butters quickly interrupted, his voice breathy. "Did it see you, Eric?"

"If you let me finish, you'll find out, Butters." Eric's tone was laced with irritation, and he shot a quick glare toward the blonde's direction. Butters quickly shut his mouth.

"Yes, I was scared, but not the pansy kind of scared, like Stan or Kenny or Kyle. I was scared that whatever this was would bring danger to my friends."

"Wow..." Butters whispered, eyes wide with awe.

"Yes." Eric mumbled. "I continued on through the basement, shining my flashlight in different directions. ...Though... all I met was darkness. And then, suddenly, I heard rustling. Rustling coming from behind me. I turned around, but nothing was there. ...That's when it attacked."

Butters gasped. Eric ignored him.

"It tackled me to the ground, and the gun was knocked from my hand. It slid across the floor of the basement, and disappeared under a desk. All I had was the flashlight... and as I shined it up at my attacker... I finally saw what it was."

"What was it, Eric?" Butters asked, eyes even wider than before. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Eric, what attacked you?!"

There was silence from Eric. He didn't dare look at Butters... only kept his eyes on the road. His eyes were still, as if he was experiencing the scene all over again. It sent chills up Butters' spine.

"It was terrible..." Eric spoke at last, voice soft. "It had the body of a giant bear. It had four-inch claws, and... the ugliest face I had ever seen. I can still remember it's breath wafting off of it's giant, rotting teeth." Eric closed his eyes for a split second, before opening them again. "It was half man, half bear, and half pig."

Butters, who had begun to shake, rose an eyebrow in a questioning gesture. "Y-You mean ManBearPig?" He asked. "Like how Al Gore was talking about at our school assembly?"

"Yes, exactly like that." Eric said, flashing Butters another, lighter glare. "I didn't believe Al Gore either, at first. But the more I stared, the more I realized it was ManBearPig, and that he was going to murder me if I didn't get out of there. So I whacked him in the face with the flashlight, and took my chance to run as he let go. I bolted up the stairs and slammed the door shut. ManBearPig was outraged, and tried to get through the door." Eric sighed. "While Kahl sat in the corner like a chicken, and crying for his Mom, Stan, Kenny, and I blocked the front door with pieces of furniture. After that, we bailed, and promised to never go to Jimbo's house again."

"So wait a minute, I don't understand, Eric... how come Jimbo never mentioned ManBearPig?"

"ManBearPig brainwashed Jimbo and Ned, Butters. Duh." Eric spoke quickly. ...A little too quickly... but Butters decided to brush it off. "They had been protecting ManBearPig. But a couple months ago, they had broken out of the spell that ManBearPig cast upon them, and they also bailed. That's why they moved. They didn't tell anyone about ManBearPig. They were too scared to do anything about it."

Butters gave a small 'hmm...', before speaking up again. "So, you don't want the family to move into Jimbo's old place, because you're worried they'd be murdered by ManBearPig?"

"Exactly, Butters!" Eric agreed. "That little girl's life is in danger. I can't risk having her be killed by ManBearPig. She'd be torn to shreads, just like..." Eric's voice suddenly grew quiet. "Just like..."

"Eric?" Butters asked, a little nervous now. "Just like who, Eric? Did ManBearPig kill someone you know?"

Eric slowly nodded. "Butters... remember when Stan went to go watch Jimbo's place while he was gone last month?"

Butters did recall... and when he did... his eyes widened. "You don't think..."

Eric gave another sigh. "Butters, Kyle and I went up to Jimbo's house to tell Stan to leave. Stan knew what kind of trouble he was in. When we... when we got there... we were too late. ManBearPig had killed Stan. We tried to leave, but ManBearPig realized we were there. He grabbed Kyle, and... and..."

The car came to a halt, in the middle of the dirt road that led up to Jimbo's neighborhood. Eric shifted the gear into PARK before burying his face in his hands. Butters sat quietly, watching Eric with his wide eyes again. Eric was never one to cry. Never. Butters had only seen the brunette cry a few times, but... never over something like this.

Slowly, Butters reached out, and placed his hand on Eric's shoulder.

"He died before I could save him..." Eric sobbed through his gloves. "I had to leave. I bailed and told no one. Butters... Stan and Kyle didn't run away to the circus. They died. ManBearPig killed them both, and that is why I need to stop this family from buying this house. It's my fault Stan and Kyle are dead, and damn it, I'm not going to let it happen again."

Butters gave a slow nod and continued to pat Eric's back, in hope of giving him some sort of comfort. "So what are we going to do, Eric?" He asked softly. "Whatever your plan is, I'll back you up one-hundred percent." He gave a reassuring smile, even though Eric couldn't see it. "I'm here for you, buddy."

Before Butters could inspect Eric's face, Eric undid his seatbelt, turned around, and climbed into the back seat. Butters watched with a confused stare as Eric leaned over the back seat and began to rummage through the trunk of his car.

"Butters..." Eric's voice seemed a bit normal now, almost as if he hadn't been crying at all. ...Butters decided to ignore it. "Do you remember the time... when we were kids, when you dressed up like a girl for us and went to the girls' sleepover to get the Future-Telling-Device?"

Butters thought for a moment, remembering how he was chained up in the basement afterward, because his parents thought he was a demon spawn. They tried to feed him a nice lady, though he'd much rather preferred Spaghettios.

He slowly nodded. "I remember, Eric."

"Well, after you went home, the fellas and I decided to destroy it. Do you remember us telling you about that?" Eric asked.

"Yes?"

"Well..." Eric pulled a box from the trunk, and sat it in the seat in front of him. He began fiddling with the lid, trying to pry the cardboard open. "We're going to do to the house, what Kenny did to the Future-Telling-Device."

Butters was hesitant. He watched as Eric pulled out a long red stick, with a fuse on the top. He turned toward Butters and grinned.

"We're going to make up for our lack of explosions in Science class today."

WOW. Okay! This was posted four days later than I wanted it to be posted. I am so, SO sorry you guys! I am back, and ready to be back on track! I first want to apologize for the long wait: The trip was longer than I had expected it to be, and so I only got access to the internet yesterday. Secondly, I want to apologize for the chapter being so short. In the program that I write this in (OpenOffice), I usually go up to about five or six pages before calling it an average-sized chapter. However, this chapter was only four pages, and also poorly written toward the end. I was in a hurry to get it out, though, because I know you guys are dying to read more. The next chapter will be out as soon as possible... you guys definitely won't have to wait as long though. Next chapter is where shit hits the fan, so be prepared!

On another note: Butters, why are you so damn gullible? And Eric, why are you such an evil bastard? And why, you ask, does Butters need glasses? Well, my friends, it's a story saved for another time. (Also: If I got any facts wrong in this chapter, PLEASE let me know! I am a bit nervous about that. XD)

Beware of ManBearPig.