Why won't you save me? (Book 2 of the Misguided Killer Series)

Chapter Two: Lost

Jack led them to the sight of Jeff's kidnapping without incident. It was obvious a skirmish of some sort had occurred. Trees were wounded with slash marks. Blood spattered on the grass in seemingly random streaks. The ground had been ripped up in some places from deep gouges. Fragments of Jack's mask lay forgotten in the grass.

"Woah," Ben commented, looking at the mess, "whatever happened here...it was big." Slenderman nodded silently, taking in the dark aura that lingered over this place. It was certainly one he recognized, but not one he could place a name too quite yet.

"H-...-ere," Jack managed. He was by one of the most damaged trees, hand hovering by a scrap of white fabric spattered with something dark. Slenderman eyed it suspiciously.

"Black blood?" Ben asked, peering at it, "what the hell bleeds black blood?" A chill washed over Slenderman as his recognition of the dark aura looming around then finally clicked. Suddenly it all made sense. The black blood. The animalistic gouges on the trees. Jack's strange drawing of a black figure with a gaping smile. His tentacles slid free, the appendages agitated by the situation.

"I know exactly what, or rather who, did all this damage."

"Really?" Ben asked, "Who?" An oppressive presence passed over them, and Slenderman tensed.

"You're about to find out," he said. A soft hissing laugh echoed through the trees, ruby eyes glittering.

"Well well, isn't it a pleasure to see you again." The being slid from the trees, razor sharp teeth stretched into a grin.

"Zalgo," Slenderman said, "I could have gone several more millennia without seeing you again." The demon chucked, looking amused. "Where is he?"

"Who?" He asked, "your child lover?"

"He's not that young."

"Ah, he's young enough. But don't worry my slippery little friend. He's safe enough." Zalgo flickered away, reappearing beside Ben. "But perhaps we could issue a trade of sorts." Jack snarled, swiping. The demon stepped away, hissing in return. "Next time it won't be your mask I break you little beast."

"We're not trading one of our own," Slenderman said, "when this is all over he'll be back safe with us again."

"So you think. Good luck. I'll just enjoy my fun until you catch up." The demon vanished with a laugh, leaving them in silence.

"Well," Ben said after a moment, "Where do we start looking?"

<•><•><•><•>

Jeff hissed as the door banged open. His shoulder stung from its encounter with the wooden surface, but he didn't think he was seriously injured. He looked around the hallway he'd ended up in. It led up to a set of stairs, another door at the top. 'Somehow I think that door's gonna take a lot more than my body weight to force it open.' He shook his head, trudging up the stairs.

To his surprise, the door was unlocked.

He pushed it open, looking around the central room cautiously. There appeared to be no one in sight. He grinned, stepping out into the light. 'Alright. This was way easier than last time.' He looked around, trying to judge the fastest way to freedom when something flickered in his gaze. He looked down, watching as something flickered in and out of existence around his legs. He dove forward as it solidified, narrowly avoiding being trapped by a square block of stone. "What the hell!"

"Only God can help you now..." He rolled over, eying his attacker. He knew of them, but the attack was odd. The Minecraft based Creepypasta was meant to be basically non-threatening. He was one of the few who was. The other strange thing was his appearance. He looked nearly human, yet the edges of his form were rough and blocky.

"What the fuck Herobrine," he hissed, "so not cool." The other said nothing, only raising an arm. A platform of diamond flickered above him and he rolled aside just in time for it to crash down beside him. The platform struck the ground, exploding into pixels. "Alright. Let's fight then." He rolled to his feet and dove, knocking the other to the ground. Herobrine flickered but didn't vanish, pupiless eyes boring into him.

Before he could say anything, a large gold ring materialized around his neck. It nearly choked him as it yanked back, and he twisted away. 'More of them?' He thought. Sonic.exe gave its chilling laugh, several rings hovering around it. Herobrine moved behind him, getting to his feet.

"I see you've met a few friends of mine." Jeff glanced over at Zalgo as he walked towards them. Two other Creepypasta stood beside him, vacant stares focused on him.

'Pikachu.exe and Lost Silver too huh. What the hell's going on here?' Because while the former was certainly violent, the latter was anything but. All in all the setup didn't make sense.

"You won't be getting out of here," Zalgo said with a sneer.

"There's no escape," Lost Silver echoed.

"For now it's time to play," Sonic.exe chimed in. Their voices were lifeless, eyes not entirely there.

"You're controlling them," he accused. Zalgo's smirk fell, anger flashing in his eyes.

"I gave them freedom," he replied, "Herobrine and Lost Silver are no longer confined, and Pikachu.exe and Sonic.exe get all the violence they could ever crave." Jeff eyed the Creepypasta around them.

'Then they're here of their own will?' He wondered. Zalgo held his stern expression for another moment before the grin returned.

"Or perhaps I'm just playing puppet master after all," he teased.

'I knew it,' he thought bitterly. Zalgo stepped closer to him, and Jeff felt a sharp pressure pass over his mind.

"I'll give you one chance," Zalgo said, "give yourself over to me, and I'll give you freedom. I see the bloodlust in your eyes and mind. I know exactly what you crave. I can give it all to you. Just relinquish control." The demon's words sounded extremely tempting. After all, freedom was something he had sought all his life. Then, images of Slenderman and the Creepypasta back home flickered through his mind. Reminders of why he couldn't stay.

"Thanks but no fucking way." Zalgo recoiled as if he'd been stung, and the pressure on his mind faded. His anger returned full force, and he snarled at the demon. "I'll never relinquish control to anyone, least of all you."

"Fine you little whelp," Zalgo hissed, "I tried to give you a chance but now I fear I must destroy you."

"Try me," he challenged.

"Oh I will. You think your precious lover will come to save you. That your friends will storm in and save the day. Or maybe you're delusional enough to think you'll escape on your own." Zalgo waved a hand, sending Sonic.exe into action. Three rings materialized around him, trapping him within their grip. The ring around his calves made him unsteady and he fell, narrowly avoiding a concussion on the way down. "Let me enlighten you a little Jeff. You won't be escaping, and your friends won't come for you."

"Just you wait," he growled, "when they get here you're gonna be toast."

"I must agree with you little killer," Zalgo said, "I would indeed be in a tight spot were they to arrive. However, they'll never make it this far."

"You can't hide anywhere they can't get to," Jeff replied.

"Ah, but alas...how can they ever find you when they're not even looking?" Jeff blinked, uncertainty clouding his mind. "Those proxies of Slenderman's can barely stand you, and you and that Ben boy are always at each other's throats. Slenderman might miss you, but likely he's tired of cleaning up your messes. So that leaves the cannibal, and do you honestly think he's going to risk his life for you?" Jeff was silent, flickers of past arguments entering his mind. "Take him back to his cell. I'll be in the check on you in a week to see if you'll reconsider my offer." Sonic.exe and Herobrine grabbed him, pulling him to his feet. "You'll see soon enough little killer."