Release - Septiplier

Chapter Three

A/N: I'm not always going to mention Mark taking his pills, but that doesn't mean he isn't taking them - it simply means he did it during a time skip. (: By the way, Slave is finished, yay! That means I get to focus on this story! (You'll be able to tell how much I love autumn in this chapter XD)

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While we were walking through the woods, I kept laughing at how adorable and giddy Jack was. He kept jumping in random piles of leaves that the trees and wind had gathered and would giggle when Chica would pounce on him afterwards, occasionally making him tumble onto his back while she licked his face. I'd sigh contently and help him back onto his feet, wrapping an arm around him tightly and kissing his cheek.

He shivered slightly while we were walking and I slid off my coat, wrapping it around him while he blushed deeply. I wasn't at all cold and was wearing a long-sleeved shirt underneath anyway. The leaves were a golden orange, some yellow, others red. It was an absolute collaboration of beauty within the trees and on the ground. While the trees still appeared full, the ground was nearly covered. Jack would occasionally pick a random leaf from a tree while we walked and would point out all the colors in one spot. His eyes would light up and I couldn't help but smile at how adorable he was and how curious he always seemed to be about the world.

"I'm happy we decided to go for a walk," Jack grinned and I nodded in agreement as he grabbed another leaf that was hanging from a tree. "Oh, this one is pretty! It's so orange!"

"Yes," I simply agreed, and watched as he handed it to Chica, who took it and trotted along side us with the leaf in her mouth. I couldn't ask for a better family.

"Should I go into town today? I wanted to get some apple cider - you know, to continue the fall feel," He thought aloud. "And I think I want to get some Halloween decorations. I mean, I know we won't be getting any trick or treaters, so what's the point? But I think it'd be nice."

"Sure thing, sweetheart. Want me to come with to town or should I stay back with Chica?" I asked, he just shrugged. I patted our dog's head softly as she had started walking beside me and not Jack. "I think I'll stay with Chica, she's not used to being home alone anyway."

"Okay. Do you want anything while I'm out later?"

"You remember that little bakery shop straight across from the market? I saw them advertising pumpkin bars and thought we should try them," I tried to describe the shop I was thinking of, knowing we haven't been to town together and don't know what the other has seen.

"Oh, yes! I brought you a s'mores cupcake from there once, remember?" He asked and I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"How could I forget? When I told you I was sick of s'mores, you started making out with me and suddenly pulled away and shoved it in my mouth!" I exclaimed, remembering last summer and how hard Jack was laughing once he got me to get the cupcake his own way.

"It was a good cupcake going to waste, Mark! I can't eat both our cupcakes, no matter how hard I try!"

"That's because you're skin and bone, you goober," I poked his stomach and he giggled and rolled his eyes.

"I am not! I have plus one biceps!" He raised his arm and I laughed, raising my own and holding it next to his.

"You're adorable," I chuckled and we let our arms fall back to our sides, with the exception of mine laced around Jack. "So, you're going to get pumpkin bars, Halloween decorations, apple cider... anything else? Let's figure it out, so you can get back faster."

"Okay," He giggled a bit and Chica ran in front of us after we turned around, heading back towards the cabin. "Um, maybe carmel apples?"

"Mmm, yes, please! Sounds amazing. Should we get pumpkins now or wait? The market sells those cheap pumpkin carvers too," I recalled and Jack nodded quickly.

"Yes!" He suddenly bursted out laughing.

"What?"

"Oh, I just remembered something. Felix and I met this stoner guy named Sam and he thought my channel name was Jack-O'-Lantern," He giggled and I laughed with him. "Fitting to that good ol' Halloween spirit!"

"Yeah," I chuckled, though shifted uncomfortably at the mention of spirits - thinking of Eli, the nightmare last night, and the bathroom mirror. I never actually believed in ghosts, but lately I've been thinking of changing my mind about that.

"Um, so this might sound cheesy, but promise you won't laugh," Jack stopped us at a large tree in front of our cabin.

"I promise I won't laugh," I crossed my heart and he smiled softly, starting to blush deeply.

"Well... I wanted to - um - carve our names into this tree, you know?" He proposed quietly, gesturing to the tree he stopped us at. I grinned and pulled him into me, hearing Chica bark playfully and turning my head to see her rolling in some leaves.

"Sure thing, sweetheart," I kissed him gently and was about to pull away, when his hands pulled my face back and I felt him smiling into the kiss. We broke away and Jack turned, gasping sharply when he saw the cabin. I frowned and followed his gaze.

'I'm in your nightmares,' was spray-painted against the windows.

"What the hell?" Jack asked in a small voice, clearly scared. I felt him cling onto me a bit and Chica stood in front of us, tail between her legs and growing at the house, bursting out into an aggressive bark. "What's happening?"

"Chica, heel!" I snapped and she whined a bit and stood next to Jack again, who ran a reassuring hand through her fur. "It's nothing, sweetheart. Just some stupid Halloween prank from some kids in town."

"Are you sure?" He asked, frowning and I gave him a small smile, giving him a little squeeze to assure him, even though I knew deep down it most certainly was not just some prank.

"What else could it be?" I chuckled and he smiled softly and leaned into me, grabbing hold of my hand and squeezing it. "I'll spray it off with the hose while you're in town. Now, come on, let's get you inside; your hands are freezing."