Masquerade🎶!

Paper faces on Parade🎶!

Masquerade🎶!

It was the next day and Laurie stopped by to say her goodbyes for now, her parents came into the room and wished you a speedy recovery, gave you hugs and slight and unnecessary apologizes. That was surprising. They also told you that the Doyle's and Wallace's said they wished you well, and both thanked you for keeping their kids safe, even though they didn't know that no harm would've come to them that night. Before they left, they asked why you had agreed to help Laurie to babysit Lindsey and Tommy. They didn't even sound mad... After what happened, there was zero anger about the lies and plans made for Laurie's friends to fool around, they appeared to simply be curious about why you were so close with Laurie right under their noses.

You answered them saying 'I had a bad feeling that night... I just wanted to help my friend and make sure she was safe.' that was all that was said. No further questions why you were friends with Laurie... They seemed grateful that you were friends with her... She'd would still have someone to talk with when you were both back home... Someone who went through what she did, to help her get through it and she'd help you too. Only that was not the case... You'd be able to help her, but she would be incapable of helping you.

A few hours after they'd left, your family had arrived to see you. Your father looked heartbroken and angry. Your half-sisters seemed heart-broken like Crystal. Your step-mom faked her heart-break for the sake of your real family, witch included your half-sisters, however you could see through her rouse the very second she entered the room. You were skilled at showing the 'correct' emotions so faces (FAAACES) like such as sadness were easy for you to see through. She was probably glad that you had as almost died and all her real heart-ache was over you not dying.

Your father put his hands against your cheeks, looking you straight in the eye. His eyes were filled with so much sorrow for you, and so much more of it was not for you... Crystal must have told him about her ordeal before telling him about you... Maybe the other way around, but you thought it the former because Crystal had gone through a more serious adventure then you.

"Thank god you're okay... " he hugged you tightly, taking just as much care as Crystal had to not hurt you.

"You're crushing me... " you playfully fibbed so he knew wasn't actually hurting you.

"How bad it is?" GE asked, while your siblings and bitch-in-law stayed back, letting him have your full attention.

"I don't really know, dad. They have me on pain meds to help and I can't feel much." you answered truthfully.

"Will you be alright by yourself after this?" he asked, frowning.

"Probably... They might want someone to stay with me for a while, but I think I'll be fine. "

"I can stay if they want you to have a caregiver." Crystal spoke up. All your family members, and the in-law, smiled at you for your stubborn DETERMINATION to stay independent.

"Thanks... " you yawned, still feeling tired. "I'm happy to see you all.... But you already know what's happening, so.... I mean you don't have to stay here, and get bored staring at these gray walls... " you couldn't help wanting to shoo them out as you loved them all except, of course, your mother in law.

"Are you trying to get rid of us already? " the twin girls asked in unison, tilting their heads. They had their mother's red hair, but your father's (E/c). They looked dead tired for some reason...

"Not exactly... " you mumbled. Your father nodded understandingly. You were a terribly cynical realist. (oh! Just like meeeee.) He knew you'd want to talk more with them, individually, before they really left, so he allowed you to remain a hermit for now, saying they'd come back latter when you were in a more talkative mood. The rest of your family left as he stayed just a moment longer to kiss your cheek.

"I love you, baby girl. Please don't be afraid to call for us. " he said gently petting your hair, and then left.

When the door closed, you sighed heavily. You frowned looking at Salt who had suddenly reappeared from his hiding spot under the bed. He purred, finding a comfy spot in the sea of blankets. Once he lied down he meowed at you, begging for attention.

"Hi... " you spoke flatly towards him, unable to muster up the energy to lie to your cat about how you felt. After Laurie had left you felt a little empty. Your family wasn't enough to help since your mother-in-law was ever present.

Empty.

That's one way of saying that you were becoming depressed. But over nearly dying, you would never in all your life feel survivor's guilt guilt, not over anything that you've done or knew had happened. You simply felt empty without knowledge on what exactly happened to Michael. Marion had yet to reappear to inform you of what Laurie had told you a bit about, but there was something missing from this puzzle.

Laurie believed he was dead. Any sane person would believe her too, she said he had come walking out of the fire, encased in the flames and fell onto the ground, but she also he somehow survived seven shots from a six shot pistol. So he couldn't have been dead... Well he could've been, there had been a few people who survived being on fire. Twink Michael, Freddy, loomis, Anikin and Jason, and so on...

Well to put it simply you didn't believe he was gone, you were unwilling to accept it as the truth. And you'd get your confirmation that he was still alive hours later on when you'd receive a new visitor.

"Miss, (l/n)?" A nurse asked, standing by the door, mostly behind it.

"Yes?" You looked over at her, having a temporary laps in your façade, letting a pinch of your depression show.

"There's someone who wants to see you, he says it's about... That night." she spoke carefully, not wanting to upset you.

You were quiet for a moment and nodded. "He can come in." No name, no face, nothing except wanting to talk about Halloween night. The nurse stepped out of sight and a moment later a man came into view. He was wearing black clothes and a black Fedora.

"Hello, Miss (l/n). I'm terribly sorry to hear about what you went through this Halloween, " he offered his pointless condolences and walked closer to the bed. Salt snarled viciously, but lowly, hugging up against you defensively. "I'm sure a lot of people have said their 'sorrys' and tried to comfort you..."

"Well... I guess... But that doesn't matter much.... I'm alive. " you stated calmly, not feeling up to giving him a real chipper attitude.

The man smiled lightly at you. "At least your positive about things, " that almost sounded like a jab, but nothing about his posture and presence said that it was. I'm fact he nodded his head in vague understanding of how you were feeling. "The nurse told me about what happened to Miss Strode. Is there anything specific you remember about that night?" he asked, speaking tentatively to you.

You felt.... Exceedingly uncomfortable with this man around, but safe at the same time. Your cat clearly thought otherwise or else he wouldn't be fluffed up snarling beast, obviously willing to protect you with his life. "Uuuhhhmmm.... Well I... " you hesitated, while the man remained calm "It was probably just a dream or a drug induced imagining, but.... " you went quiet, seriously debating on whether or not to tell him.

"It's alright, Ma'am. You don't have to tell, but if you do, I assure you that I won't think your crazy. It was a very terrifying night, and it could have be just a hallucination as you said."

You shook your head slightly "I think I was up for just... A short little while in the hospital and... I... I honestly don't think it was a real, but I... I think I saw Michael while I was walking around. " you admitted to him with increasing apprehension about it. You did indeed want to tell someone, the person you wanted to confide in was Laurie, but she was shaken up over the whole situation and by god you were not about to tell her that you beloved Michael didn't intend you any ill-will towards you in your venerable drug-haze.

The man only nodded slowly, absorbing the information as you sounded one-hundered certain that it happened.

"Uummm... You... Do you know what happened...to... Him? " you asked curiously. He shook his head no, but you didn't believe it. He knew what happened, he just knew and you knew it too...

"I do hope I haven't disturbed you too much, Ma'am, I know you need to rest." He started, but noticed you had shrugged dismissively.

"I don't need rest, I need to get back home and move on. " Surrounded by familiarity, you thought as you finished speaking. You lied back against the bed, petting Salt slowly to calm him.

"It seems you have a strong spirit, just like your friend." He smiled and bowed his head slightly. "It was delightful speaking with you; I hope you get well soon."

"Same to you, sir... " then you realized that you hadn't got his name. "Wait," you called to him just as he turned to leave. He looked back to you, giving you a curious look. "You never told me your name, sir."

"Oh, I apologize," he smiled warmly at you and reached to shake your good hand. Salt hissed and swatted at the man's hand. He instinctively pulled his hand back, looking shocked at the feline.

"Salt!" you half-heartedly yelled, frowning at your Tom cat. "I'm sorry." you smiled at the man and grabbed your companion, holding him back.

"It's alright. You may call me Whyn." he smiled at you for the last time and left you to rest. There was a queer (Means strange, unusual, abnormal, ect.) feeling you got from him... Salt had acted like a feral creature the second the man entered the room... You started getting a terrible feeling about this...

Oh shit this one was ready and waiting for me while last chapter had only been half transfered...

I totally got my shit together. *facepalms* I'm disappointed in my own stupidity right now.

Also that well of completed chapters, ready to transfer is drying up (｡ŏ_ŏ) *Anxiety Intensifies*

~ 💮 Masky