Mission Log: Segment Four

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*Mike's POV*
I sat in the living room in my tank top and jeans, struggling to keep my eyes open while everyone did their own thing.  Lulu played with Sally and Toby, Jack watched Dr. Phil on TV, Jeff was fighting with Ben while Nina cheered him on, and Jane was talking to Clockwork about something.  I was too tired to hear.  I dozed off for a few seconds before someone gently shook my shoulder.  I cracked open one eye and managed to make out Clockwork's silhouette.
"Hm?"  I moaned sleepily.
"Are you okay?"  She asked.
"Mm-hmm.  Just tired."
She nodded and sat down next to me.  She then grabbed my head and laid it on her lap.  She gently stroked my hair and I sighed as sleep welcomed me.

I woke up a few hours later and immediately noticed that Clockwork and I were alone.  It was dark outside, so everyone must've gone to bed.  I wouldn't be joining them.  I sat up slowly, trying my best not to wake Clockwork.  I gently scooped her into my arms and carried her upstairs and into her bedroom.  I laid her on her bed and removed her jacket and boots, which I set near the foot of her bed.  I pulled a blanket over her and brushed her hair out of her face, then smiled and kissed her forehead.
"Sleep tight Nat."  I whispered.
I tiptoed out of the room and quietly shut the door before going to my own room.  I slipped into my hoodie and my high tops, then snuck downstairs and out the door.  I pulled up my hood and went into town.  Once I was on the sidewalk I slowed to a casual walk, keeping my head down in case someone else was out and about.  I pulled out my iPod and clicked the home button.  The battery was almost dead and I didn't have a charger.
"Gotta be an Apple store or something around here."  I muttered.
I started walking around aimlessly until I noticed a pair of headlights in the road ahead.  It was a pickup truck, but I couldn't tell what the make and model was.  There were LED lights mounted on the roof and I could see men standing in the bed of the truck.
"HIDE BOY."  Abaddon ordered, "YOU MUST NOT LET THEM FIND YOU."
"What?"  I whispered, "Why not?"
I took a second look at the truck and noticed something in the hands of the guys in the bed.  AR-15s.  One for each of the five guys.  I ducked into an alley and flattened myself against the wall.  I held my breath as they rolled past, watching them intensely.  On the side of the truck was a crude drawing of Jeff's face with the eyes crossed out.
"HUNTERS."  Abaddon growled, "NO DOUBT LOOKING FOR THE PROXIES."
"No, ya think?"  I hissed sarcastically "I thought they were the entertainment for kids parties."
They disappeared around the corner and I sprinted out of the alley.  The truck wasn't the only car on the street.  During my search for an Apple store I came across five more, all carrying heavily armed passengers.
"STRANGE." Abaddon said.
"What now?"  I hissed as I waited for another car to pass.
"THESE MEN WERE NOT ON THE STREETS LAST NIGHT, SO WHY ARE THEY HERE NOW?"
He had a point.  On my first trip into town, there hadn't been a single car in sight.  But the answer was a simple one.  Slenderman said we'd need to lay low and now I understood why.  He was worried about these guys.  The guys who had enough firepower to shred the proxies in seconds.  The car disappeared and I ran out of the alley, right into the lights of the pickup truck from before.  I froze and one of the guys jumped out and walked towards me.
"Can I help you?"  I asked.
The guy studied my face, no doubt noticing my scars.
"I haven't seen you before."  He grunted, the scent of booze on his lips "Who are you?"
"Just a tourist."  I answered.
His eyes narrowed and his grip on his gun tightened.
"Take off the hood."  He ordered.
I did as he asked and showed him my face.  Then he looked at my clothes and his eyes widened slightly.
"Is something wrong?"  I asked.
"Maybe.  See, someone broke into a department store last night and stole the same clothes you're wearing right now."
"And you think that's me?  That's rude, accusing me without proof."
"I wasn't done.  That same guy broke into a Dick's Sporting Goods with a bunch of Proxy bitches.  A buddy of mine was one of the cops that tried to catch them.  The girls got away, but the guy stayed behind to stall the cops.  The report said he had black hair and scars on his face.  So, who are you again?  Cause I know you can't be a tourist."
"Any why's that?"
"Because it's still winter.  We don't get a lot of tourists during the last few weeks of winter."
"WE HAVE BEEN EXPOSED."  Abaddon said "FIGHT OR FLEE BOY.  IT IS YOUR CHOICE."
I chuckled and raised my hands in an attempt to calm him down, but he raised his gun and aimed it at my head.
"Don't move another muscle."  He warned.
I stopped and glared at him.
"You're going to shoot me?"  I asked "I'm unarmed and I'm not a threat.  You shoot me and it's murder."
"Ain't murder if the corpse belongs to a Proxy."
"Which I'm not."
"Sure you are.  You're a freak and that's all the proof I need."
My eye twitched.  Freak?  I looked different, so he could kill me?  He pressed the barrel to my head and grinned.  My anger grew and the barrel began to heat up.
"Get that gun out of my face."  I growled.
"Or what?  You gonna cry?"  The bully mocked.
"Pal, you're pushing your luck.  Get that gun out of my face or things get ugly."
"What are you gonna do Scarface?"
"I'm not gonna do anything.  You on the other hand...well, you're gonna say hello to my little friend."
He took off the safety and placed his finger on the trigger.
"BOY!"  Abaddon shouted, "IF YOU DO NOT ACT NOW YOU WILL DIE!"
"Easy there pal."  I responded.
"Shut up freak!"  The thug barked.
"Abaddon?  Take care of this guy would ya?"
"WITH PLEASURE."
Fire shot out of the ground around us as Abaddon reached out and flattened the truck and its occupants.  Once he formed the rest of his body he reached for the sole survivor, but I held up my hand to stop him.
"Okay buddy, here's how this is gonna work."  I explained "You're going to turn around and go home.  You're going to tell all your little friends that there's a demon in town, and the demon doesn't like you."
I stabbed my thumb at Abaddon, who folded his arms and scowled.
"Next you're gonna make sure everyone knows that the Proxies are off-limits.  If any harm comes to them, this whole town is gonna pay for it.  Think you can do that?"
He nodded frantically and I smiled innocently before I dropped him and watched him scurry away.
"THAT WAS UNWISE."  Abaddon commented.
"Maybe, but at least they'll get the message."  I shrugged.
"WHAT IF THEY RETURN IN MASS?"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. Right now we need to get back to the manor.  Slender needs to know about this."
"AS YOU WISH."
Abaddon disappeared into my back as I pulled my hood up.  I sprinted back home and snuck inside.  I went back to my room and flopped down on my bed.  I stared up at the ceiling and sighed.
"THIS PLACE IS MORE COMPLEX THAN I HAD ORIGINALLY PERCEIVED."  Abaddon commented.
"People are hunting the Proxies, monsters are hunting me and I've got a demon living in my back."  I muttered, "It's not that complex."
"I SUPPOSE NOT.  HOWEVER—"
Just then, I heard a loud crack coming from outside.  I rushed to my window and tore the curtain aside just as something retreated into the woods at inhuman speeds.
"SHOULD WE PURSUE?"  Abaddon asked.
"No.  I'll let Slender know once the sun is up."
"WHAT IF IT IS ONE OF OUR TARGETS?"
"If it is then we'll deal with them.  The Proxies don't need to get involved."

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