The Proxy Trials 2... Annihilation (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 17 - Sorry to burst your bubble

Xandra's P.O.V

"So..one of you have killed Emily then." Ben jumped off the table he was standing on and paced along the room. We were all spread out around the round living room, trying to figure out who would have done such a thing. Maybe Axel? Maybe Sakura? Maybe even Rose? All I knew at that moment is the fact that everyone's attitudes towards each other were changing - everyone just wanted to survive I guess, including me.

"I guess it's allowed though, so I congratulate you for being so sly. Whoever you are." He pulled his hat off and chewed his lip, analysing each and every one of us. "Whatever, I don't want to get involved. The truth's out and there's nothing any of us can do about it."

Rose scratched her elbow, lost in thought. "H-hey. What if she's not dead? I mean, have you like found her body?"

Ben took a few steps forward.

"She's dead, Rose. There was blood all over the walls, and that was evidently the murdered. We've rounded up all the guys and got them to check the whole perimeter, and there were none of her fresh footprints,"

" - how can they see, just with foot - "

He scowled at Sakura, putting a finger to his lips.

"Get over yourselves, guys. She's been murdered."

Everybody froze suddenly, and I noticed the gentle sobbing coming from the the spiral staircase just along the corridor. Nobody else seemed to notice, but I rose and chose to follow the weeping. It just...sounded so familiar.

I left the living room with great gusto, feeling a tremendous sigh of relief flood through my blood as I escaped the bitter atmosphere emitted from the small crowd there. The sobbing only grew to a crescendo for my ears, and soon I became unable to ignore it. I was pretty sure I could identify the weeper - but I had my doubts.

As I ascended the stairs, the sobbing became louder and louder, and then I reached the second floor, the one with the filing room - and it hit me with such a great force when I matched the voice with the face that I literally stumbled backwards and had to regain my composure.

"Wha-h-how...what. I don't, wait no you're supposed to be..." 

I just stood there, transfixed at the girl in front of me, eyes wide and unable to register what they were witnessing.

WHAT THE HECK. NO SHE IS DEAD, THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE WTF

Rinwana finally was aware of me, startlingly green hair shielding her eyes and she looked up, mouth in a pout. Oh my, she was alive and she was sobbing and she was real and she was ALIVE. And...one of her arms were shiny and metal-like. 

"Oh...Xandra, it's been a while hasn't it?" Her lips contorted into a forced smile and she eventually turned to face me. RINWANA IS ALIVE WTF NO SHE CAN'T...OH GOD I'M HALLUCINATING IT MUST BE THE CHEMICAL SHIZ THAT'S RUINING MY HAIR. "Erm...I...Yeah I'm not a ghost, if that's what you're thinking haha."

I took two uneasy steps forward, eyes still wide with shock, and in a matter of seonds I had my arms around her, hugging her awkardly. I most certainly was not hugging a dead person and only then did it occur to me that Slender must have kept her alive. "OH MY GOD RINWANA WHAT THE HECK, you can't just ditch us like that we were so WORRIED oh god you're here, and I think I'm gonna be sick this is too much. Wait why are you so pale?!" I chose not to comment on the arm.

"Haven't  been out much, also the transformation stage has given me the worst complexion. I look like I'm straight from some monochrome film."

"Yeah but - WAIT WHAT they transformed you? Into a...Into a creepypasta?" I covered my mouth,  releasing a squeak of horror as I tried to process everything. "Oh my god, they were actually being serious about it all. Hey wait, why have they already turned you into one? That's not fair...does it hurt?" A shiver ran down my spine and my knees were shaking in tremors. 

"We've been kidnapped, and...and we're not even trying to look for an escape anymore . We're just suddenly...okay with it.  I think it's called Stockholm syndrome or something. I don't know, but we're suddenly forced to act all bloodthirsty and savage, and we're liking it. Gosh half of us are taking a liking to our captors too. And we're accepting this new horrible life, Rinwana. I feel sick."

Rinwana brushed away her fringe to reveal the most abnormally pink eyes I've ever come across. They were actually pink. Like the rich interior of a pomegranate. Seeing her eyes, I felt myself go weak. I felt like I was about to throw up at any given moment. Or spontaneously combust or whatever. 

Actually, spontaneous combustion didn't sound nearly as bad as being transformed. Into one of them. I felt her hair, her fingers and tried to blink back the tears.

"Hey, it's okay." She picked up my chin with her index finger, dangerously compelling pink eyes searing into mine - it felt like that time when I sprayed a deodorant into my eyes (accidentally) - that pain, and yet I couldn't bring myself to close them, a hypnotic trance it seemed.  

"Xandra, chill. The transformation isn't that painful. Kinda feels like  being pinched all over, everything is tight and compact and eerily newborn. It's weird, but not as painful as I was expecting. But now I'm like this...It's impossible to just run away. I'm basically a criminal fugitive." She sighed as the realisation struck her reluctantly. 

"But...I can still help you guys." Her mouth turned into a genuine smile, and a fresh tear escaped down her cheek. "I just...I've grown kind of used to living like this. I'm one of them now. I'm a creepypasta so, there's no changing that I guess." She laughed sardonically, it pained me to see her like this. 

"Oh Rin, you're not one of them. They're killers, psychopaths. You're one of us and...and we're going to get you out." I straightened my posture with confidence and folded my arms. She was one of us and therefore she was coming with us.

Her eyes sparkled, maybe with a sliver of desire. "Thank you."

We hugged again, and it wasn't so weird this time. Her terribly strong metal arm kind of scratched against my neck but I didn't care, I had missed her and now there was hope. We were going to plan an escape, and it was going to happen. I would finally be able to return to my home and my family. Live my old life, and that was something I had wanted very much for AGES. 

"Also, uhm, you may have walked in on me crying. It's just that...I think they've killed Violet. They're holding back, refusing to...gah, why can't they just-"

"- WHAT."