A Deadly Game, A Dangerous Midnight

Three Players

A/N: Phew, another chapter done :D! I'm so sorry for not updating in six days. i'll try to update in a short while. Anyway, here it is! 

Paisley's P.O.V

The eerie silence seemed to envelop the whole house. The darkness was suffocating in its own way. Shivers ran up my arms, my legs, although the weather was pretty warm. I could not stop trembling and so did Alex. Jake looked distant. His eyes carried a faraway look. He seemed to be lost in thought. his troubled face was too hard to ignore.

"Jake, you alright?"

"I'm fine," his tone was assuring, but I could easily see through it. 

He glanced at me, once, and a flicker of emotions flashed before my eyes. He showed a look of remorse, sadness, hopelessness and defeat in one single pained expression, though he did not show any signs of confusion, which caught me off guard.

There I was, feeling as confused and frightened as ever while a million thoughts raced through my head. Was what happened to Walter real? Were our eyes just playing nasty tricks on us? Did the Midnight Man actually exist? 

And.... there he was. Although he did look fearful and anxious, hi did not carry one single sign of confusion. It was as if he was expecting the whole scene to unravel itself at one point. He was not lost, he was ready for just about anything. I wonder.....

"I wonder where Jared is right now." Alex whispered in a hushed tone, breaking the silence and my thoughts.

My eyes widened as I thought of him. Jared! Oh God. We had not seen him in a while. Without thinking, I broke into a run. 

"Paisley!" Alex hissed, jerking my arm back. 

"Ow, what are you doing?" I shook my arm free and massaged it, cringing at the lingering pain.

"Where do you think you're going?" 

"What?" I was gobsmacked. "To find Jared, of course."

"And why would you do that?"

"Well, you wondered out loud where he was." I pointed out. "He might be in trouble."

"I can't risk anybody getting caught by the Midnight Man again, so I can't let you go searching for him if there's trouble." she confessed glumly.

"Omg, what is wrong with you?" I accused. "Fine, stay here if you want, but I'm going."

"Paisley."

"God, I don't care, I'm going!" 

"Fine," she huffed. 

I stomped away before realizing that I was making a huge racket. 

"Jared, you in here?" I said as I peeked up the stairs. 

No response, but I decided to give it a try, anyway. Walking down the dark hallway, I saw yet another staircase, probably leading towards the attic. I crept up the narrow staircase and stood just a few steps away from the attic.

"Jared?"

"Oh God, Paisley?" I heard his relieved sigh. 

"Omg Jared, I thought you were in some sort of trouble!" I ran to where he sat on the attic floor and squeezed him in a hug. It was only then that I noticed the salt circle around him that served as protection. Protection from the Midnight Man. 

"Jared, did you get caught?" I asked in a hoarse whisper.

"Yes, I did, but luckily, I made the circle in the nick of time."

"Phew." I breathed.

"I hope the four of you make it to the end without having to get stuck in this thing."

"Four?" I mumbled, confused. Oh! He still thought Walter was alright. 

"Yeah, umm, about that." I stammered, dreading to tell him the horrible news. After all, Walter was his close friend.

"Yeah?"

"Walter, didn't make it."

He stared at me in confusion before the news finally sank in. His shoulders slumped, unable to support his drooping head.

"No." his voice was full of sorrow. 

"I'm sorry." 

He stared at me and we were quiet for a few minutes before I realised I had to move on. 

"I should probably go." 

"Pais," he grabbed my wrists, holding on to them tightly. "You have to make it."

"Hopefully," I said without thinking.

"Pais, I'm serious."

"Yeah yeah, I was just joking. I mean, okay, of course I will. I will!" I spoke in a hurry, trying to reassure him.

"I don't know what we've invited to this house tonight, but I don't want it to hurt you, to hurt anyone." he continued to speak. "Promise me you will make it."

"Of course." 

"Good, now go." he urged, releasing my wrists. 

I looked at him one last time before heading out the attic. 

Three of us left to survive this game.....