Mine (Unedited) (Discontinued?)

Chapter 36

EJ pressed the end call button harshly, glaring at his phone in agitation. He couldn't believe that after ten years of living on his own, Slender was making him leave the comfort of his cabin.

"What was that about?" BEN asked, raising a blond eyebrow at EJ as he paced the basement floor.

EJ shoved his phone in his pocket, shaking his head as he moved and thought. He couldn't leave home, not when Seedeater wasn't back from his hunt for hikers. Of course, he could just send BEN off once EJ was sure the arm was healing properly, but Slender would probably come and get him and force him to come to the mansion.

"Damn it, old man," EJ grumbled, ignoring BEN's questioning look.

"Seriously, Jack, what's going on? Why does Slender want you at the mansion?" BEN asked, grateful when EJ finally stopped pacing. Watching one of the most levelheaded people he knew be so restless and irritated was setting his own nerves on edge.

"Apparently there's something in the woods that's hunting us and had Slender scared out of his mind that we're gonna get killed," EJ explained, sighing while thoughts on what to do raced through his mind.

BEN paled, wondering what could have Slender, the most powerful thing in these woods, afraid for their lives. If Slender was afraid, then surely they should do as he asked, why would EJ even consider wanting to stay where he couldn't be protected?

"If Slender's scared, I'm out. If you're really as smart as Jeff says you are, as you claim to be, you would come with me instead of waiting here like a sitting duck during hunting season," BEN said, ignoring EJ's scoff as he grabbed his shirt.

EJ watched as BEN struggled to get his shirt on, the pain in his healing arm making excessive movement difficult.

"You should wait here with me so I can be sure your arm is healing right. If you leave now, there is no way I'll be sure that there won't be any infection and not only that but if you move your arm too much, my hard work might get messed up and a piece of bone could lodged into your flesh," EJ said, crossing his arms and making no move to stop the elf.

"Then come with me, but otherwise? I'm going to risk the infection and my wrist breaking again if it means I can avoid whatever is scaring Slender," BEN replied, wincing after he finally got his shirt on.

EJ scowled behind his mask, shaking his head at BEN's stupidity. Fine, if the asshole wanted to fuck up all of his hard work, he wasn't going to stop him; but EJ was determined to stay right where he was and face this danger head on whether Slender liked it or not.

BEN moved to climb the stairs, hesitating when he reached the bottom step and looked back at EJ in concern.

"Look, you're Jeff's friend, and while I hate him, you seem like a pretty cool guy and you have helped Jeff not make as many fuck ups since he met you. So here's some advice from me to you, don't do this. Come back to the mansion and stay safe so you can live another day and tell Jeff when he's fucking up and give me some peace of mind."

EJ said nothing, only stood where BEN had left him and pretending as if the elf hadn't spoken at all. BEN sighed, shook his head, then climbed the stairs and left the house. He could only hope Jack changed his mind about what he was doing before it got him killed.

Slender looked up when he heard Toby's panicked thoughts and Jeff's irritable mind from his doorway. He chuckled at Jeff's glare, shaking his head.

"You can go now, Jeffery, just do not leave the perimeter of the clearing. There is too much danger in the forest now for you to be wandering aimlessly out of sight."