✶✶

Coming back from a fresh kill, a half ate kidney in my hand as I strolled within the woods. I had begun to finish my supper when blood found it's way up my nose and into my mind, intoxicating me into a state of hunger. It couldn't hurt to have another meal, I was supposed to lay off the kidneys but I can't help it.

I shuffled through bushes and shrubs, following the scent of pure bliss. The victim was a male who recently injured his left leg and was limping, I couldn't see any fear or direness in his expressions, he seemed oddly calm. I'm very particular to who I ate but wasn't going to complain about a free meal. I began to sneak closer to the figure, faint giggling then turned to laughter. I tilted my head, what the hell is this guys problem, I mean I am insane but damn.

"" My sockets widened as his head turned to me, now full-on sprinting towards me, stumbling back in shock, I took steps back but remembered. I'm immortal, this guy is human, he can't hurt me. Stopping my steps, I waited for him to come for me.

Pulling out my syringe and when he was close enough, I swiped at him but he ran right past me and behind me. Before I had the chance to get back into my position, he kicked my back, forcing me to the ground and landing on my hands. My pants smudged into the dirt, I uncontrollably dug my fingers into the soft dirt. I got up quickly, jumped up, and tried to kick this bastard in the face. He fumbled back, covering his face with his hands.

I growled under my mask, knowing I had the upper hand. My stance tensed when he began to laugh, his hands moved from his face slowly. His eyes weren't the same anymore, they were a flaming red, A familiar smile reached up to his cheekbones.

"" his voice raspy almost like mine but deep and it felt like it shook the ground underneath my feet. The figure had begun to change its form and once I got a better look at him I realized who he was. Zalgo. The word played over and over in my mind, it felt like poison on my tongue.

Zalgo was another ruler beside slenderman that had a group of proxies that he ruled over that did his dirty deeds because his lazy ass can't do it himself for some reason. His eyes hadn't left mine since he looked up, I hadn't liked zalgo lately since he's been causing slenderman's proxies trouble and causing threatening wars between the two proxy groups.

""

"Cut the shi-it, why... are you- here?" My voice was shaky from lack of use but still fierce, Zalgo shook his finger and head. I stood my ground, waiting for him to make some sort of move. My fist around the scalpel tightened, digging my nails through my gloved hands. Without warning, his image faded in an instant before appearing just behind me. It didn't give me enough time to turn around as he slashed at my side, causing me to grunt in pain.

My sockets widened at the contact of nails to skin, causing me to instantly push away and dash into a random direction. I can't die but I can be scarred or even bleed enough to cause a slumber, the amount of time depends on the wound. It's not like it hasn't happened before, it wasn't a very good experience for me.

"" His voice was like a snake hiss, I got enough distance to stop to think things through. A voice broke my thoughts, I inched my body behind the tree I was leaning against. Looking around the tree, I could see a figure with a bright flashlight in their hand. A girl with (H/C) hair maneuvered between the trees, hair pulled back enough to see her face. It was an advantage looking face, (Y/e/c) eyes, etc.

She looked exposed, fearful of her surroundings, and what lurks within them. I just watched as she walked towards my direction, unaware of the danger she was about to walk into. When she got too close, I moved farther away from view, moving around the tree when she walked past. An idea popped into my head and without a second thought, I crouched down.

With swift reflex, I lunged out and seized her ankle to keep her put. She fell to the ground, I could smell her fear. I snarled threateningly, trying to show her that if she moved, I'd kill her here and now. She looked down at my hand around her ankle, trailing it up to my arm and finally to my mask. Her (F/C) eyes gazed in horror, shaking in utter disbelief.

"" zalgo grinned at her, what a piece of shit. Everything was going downhill from here, someone was going to die.

"Zal... g.. o." The word held so much hatred, all I wanted was a simple meal. Is that too much to ask?

What a fuckin nutcase, who talks to their victim before killing them?

Welp, I'm going to die. I'm giving all my organ jars over to L.J-

"No..." My eulogy was cut off, she stood up from her pose. I didn't let her ankle go, she could try running and leave me here with this fucker. I tilted my head in confusion, this girl has some mental issues. Take one to know one, I guess. Zalgo's stance was tense, not taking her seriously. All of a sudden, he howled out in laughter.

" I mean, he's not lying. Zalgo wipes an imaginary tear away from his eyes, the girl suddenly directs her attention to me. I could tell she was contemplating her life decisions, I mean, who doesn't. I watched her study me, then took her to stare off me and directed it to Zalgo.

"I'm not going to let a person get hurt when I could have done something, no one's life is worth that much not to care." Her words hit me like a punch to the face, no one has ever said anything like that about me. Can I be forgiven that easily for killing innocent people?

Zalgo laughed at her outburst, " He whispered something into her ear, I knew it was something about me, it always was. At the back of my mind, I knew I'd kill her after Zalgo left us. It was the right thing to do to keep me secret, otherwise, I'd have to watch over her and I am not a babysitter. Zalgo disappeared out of sight, I took the opportunity to make my move.

I fastened her down to the still-damp ground, she didn't resist my assault nor did she fight back. Her eyes started to pour tears, she seemed so weak and pathetic, it made me angry. Don't look at me like that, I hate those kinds of faces. My grip on her wrists contract as my anger fuming inside of me, she said three words that struck me.

"Kill me... please..." I tilt my head in confusion at those words, choosing to ignore them, I now noticed that she isn't conscious making me get off her, I stared at her motionless body. Did I scare her to death? oof. I sighed, bending down and placing my arm under her legs and my other arm behind her back. She was as light as I thought, well, compared to other bodies I've carried.

"What is up with you huh?" I asked her even though she was unconscious or even dead, words echoed in the woods like a bird's song. I sighed again, feeling stupid for even considering keeping her. I had to find shelter though, the rain is starting to pour. And with that, I jogged with a supposedly dead body in my arms, my footsteps with crunching leaves echo.

✦✦

I woke to the sound of crackling and warmth, I could feel little drizzles of sweat beaming down my brow. My tired eyes pervade my surroundings and that's when I realized, I'm in a cave. I sat up in a crisscrossed position in front of the slowly faltering fire, the flames made my mindset at ease. The second my mind was clear, a thought came to my head. How did I get here? A voice abruptly arose from the dark side of the cave where the light didn't want to touch.

"You're awake." The voice was distant and raspy, conveying a shiver down my spine. Once my eyes had adjusted to the dark, I could make out a figure sitting down, seemingly against the back wall.

"Who are you? W-where am I?" I gave the person a confused frown, hoping it'd respond to my question but it just sat there. Motionless, it was starting to look like a doll. With enough courage, I stood up and started to walk towards the figure, I didn't get close enough before it stood up. I stopped in fear, then, something was tossed to me. Catching it, I examined it before realizing it was a canteen.

"drink." It spoke, the words almost seemed like a demand. I wasted no time chugging the cool water down, not even wondering if it was poison. The feeling of it going down my throat was exhilarating, I gasped for air when I finished and wiped my mouth with my sleeve.

"Thank you.." I muttered, holding the bottle in my hands before setting it down on the ground. I glanced up at the figure before settling down on my hands, fidgeting with them nervously.

"What are you doing?" It questioned, stepping closer, their shoe now in the light. I glanced up before returning to my hands, it really wasn't a big deal, was it? I've seen so many people do this with their fingers.

"Oh, t-this is an old habit of mine?" It came out more of a question than an answer, I expected a laugh or it to make fun of me but instead. It just stood there, silent as a mouse.

"I see..." Their voice softened that time, making it easy to tell they were curious. I smiled for no reason, a groan and a thud came from the figure suddenly, my head snapped up to see them on the ground.

I got closer to them but was stopped by a raising hand, "Come closer and I'll kill you." Their voice told me they were in pain, I ignored the threat by taking another step forward.

"Can I please help, I don't like seeing people hurt-" My eyes went straight to my jacket, without thinking, I began to take it off and tear the sleeves.

"Are you fucking deaf? Get the hell away from me." The fierceness in its voice made me flinch but it didn't stop me from advancing. I was just trying to help, why be a dick about it? geez, men. (sorry to you men out there)

I couldn't take no for an answer even with his royal dickness. I walked up to the stranger, kneeling. My heart began racing. I finally saw the familiar blue mask crying tar, his all-black outfit all too familiar.

"Y-you're the boy from earlier.." I declared out loud, he didn't decide to kill me after the Zalgo encounter. Memories of the event came rushing back like a flood, a whimper reached my throat.

"No shit sherlock-" He pauses momentarily, must have realized something.

"You're petrified of me." He declared like it was a fact, huffing right after. I sighed, stretching out to put my hand onto his leg. His body cakes at the odd contact, I was indeed scared of him but I still had a sense of wanting to calm him. He reminded me of a child, a child that just needs a hug.

"Thank you.." I muttered to myself, not wanting him to hear it. He didn't do anything but spare my life, but I guess a little gratitude is needed.

The guy didn't say anything in return so I presumed to treat his side, tenderly taking my hand off his leg and towards the wound. I could feel his gaze on me, it was very nerve-racking. But, my focus was on attending his wounds. They appeared to be getting worse, I could see the blood clotting even with his sweatshirt on.

"Can you take this off? I'm sorry if it's uncomfortable for you but I can't do anything without it removed." I clutched his sweatshirt, tugging it lightly as to signal for him to take it off.

"What makes you think I want your help?" He snapped, a shiver of panic caused my body to tremble. This man was giving off aggressive flags.

"W-well, you can't do anything do to blood loss so... Unless you don't want to get better?" I inquired, sitting back away from him to give him room and to soothe my nerves. He hesitated before forcing a nod, taking his sweatshirt off slowly. Wincing when the fabric that stuck to his wound tugged at it, I took a second to gaze at him.

His skin was indeed gray, almost an ash color. His chest was hairless, a very skinny and fit guy that I believed ran around a lot. A blush rose to my cheeks, it's the first time I've ever seen a man's chest up close. Why am I staring? he's going to bleed out, snap out of it (YN)! I immediately seized the two sleeves I tore.

"Do you have any more water? I need to cleanse the wound." I peered up at his masked face, trying to hold a soft expression. Without notice, he reached for another water bottle in his hoodie pocket and gave it to me, with the bottle in hand, I undid the lid and poured the liquid onto his skin. When I was finished, I worked on wrapping the sleeves around him.

I was close to his body, I tried stirring away but it was no use. I could overhear his heartbeat within his chest, it was slow, almost like it wasn't there. Hm, weird.

"Is that better?" I sat back and looked at my handy work. He studied the wound then looked at me, the seemingly endless black holes making me uneasy.

"You did fine." Oh, no thank you? what a prick. His voice tense and low, almost like he was in a library.

I rolled my eyes but smirked. Wait, I grimaced. He's been nothing but mean, why the hell am I smiling? da fuqk. Quickly but carefully, he put his hoodie back onto his grey body. The guy shifted away from me. I sighed, this was going to be a long night.