BEN Drowned | Hopes And Dreams

Chapter XXV

Tomorrow came almost instantly as I lie in bed, motionless to the world. My eyes stuck on the fake stars studded on my ceiling.

A gentle knock in the room bombarded the silence that uninvitedly swept. When I didn't respond, a gentle voice spoke.

"It's Jack.. May I come in?"

"Sure.."

The knob to the door clicked open as its hinges creaked. In came a man in all black, the only contrasting color he had was his dark blue mask and auburn brown hair. He finds my frame within the room as he moved it from one corner to another until it landed on mine.

Almost immediately, his poise demeanor loosened as he tensed at my sight. "I.. Uhm.. I-" he jumped when the door closed on its own.

I kept my gaze on him as he kept fumbling for words until he ended up with an awkwardly said, "So this is a girl's room."

Smiling a bit to myself, I sat up on my bed, rustling the duvets, making him tenser than he already was. Patting the spot beside me, I told him, "Sit with me."

He did. He moved his legs and strode in front of me. I craned my neck to meet his mask that gazes down to meet my eyes. He was fiddling his thumb, swaying on his feet and was actually.. Being an extra goof than I took him to be.

THE Jack of Slenderman's Mansion.. The one that's supposed to be cool and collected. Was before me. Awkwardly standing in front of me, fiddling with his thumbs and swaying on his feet.

"Jack, are you okay?" I asked worriedly, he shook his head, which surprises me. Most refuses to say they're not okay. That they're not in pain. But Jack..

"What's wrong?"

He took a while to answer as he hung his head low. "I.. Don't want to hurt you again." His voice came out rough and husky, filled with every layer of sadness in them. "I don't want you gone."

I held his gloved hand in mine, making his head snap to meet my gaze once more. Not worried that he would not see my smile, I flashed it anyway. "I'm not. I'll be here. Most probably before any of us dies." I giggled, and he didn't find that funny(of course he didn't).

"I just," he paused, his hand in my hold twitching involuntarily. "I just don't want the events of Flowey to happen again. I don't want to go back into seeing this mansion so dark and gloomy. All blaming each other for having him killed.. Especially Ben."

I pursed my lips as I squeezed his hand gently. "I won't be going anywhere, Jack. Besides," I stood, making him take a few steps back. I placed a hand on his shoulder, "You'll be training me in order for me to protect myself. So don't hold back, okay?"

Reluctantly, he nodded. The slight lift of his mask made me assume that he was smiling underneath it. It was just a harmless hunch, but I liked the idea of making him laugh. He rarely does it, after all.

"We should have breakfast before training."

"Of course."

-

I hid behind a tree panting eagerly for my life as I clutched my sides that burns with deep desire to dodge and dodge and dodge.

I'm being poetic, of course it burns because of running too much!

I heaved in a deep yet silenced breath, in fear of being heard. Sweat trickled down my forehead.

How I got into this kind of situation?

Let's start with breakfast, shall we?

Breakfast was—The table was as lively as it used to be.