There's No Fire In Hell

We've been walking for at least ten minutes and I have never been more confused.

Just as the name implies it was nothing but a city, completely and utterly desolate.

Devoid of all life except our own.

None of us had much to say. We were all completely awe struck by the towering behemoths of concrete and metal positioned around us.

I've seen skyscrapers, hell I've been to the top of the Empire State Building, but it pales in comparison to what I'm seeing now.

They seemed to never end just endlessly jetting into the sky above.

"Don't look up." Ronny said breaking the silence. "This place is meant to disorient you, if you look for the peak you will always seek."

"Well that's real poetic of you." I chuckle.

For a split second I felt like maybe I had made a mistake, maybe we shouldn't of come, but I shook the feeling away trying to stay focused.

"Josh do you have idea where we're going." Si'La asked.

"Not really, I mean if there's a door to get in their has to be one to get out, right."

"I salute your enthusiasm man but look around us, there's nothing here absolutely nothing. All the buildings are the same, there's nothing that even resembles a door."

But there was something here. A loud metallic screeching ripped through the silence.

"What's that sound!" Si'La screams.

We look around to try to find the source of the sound but there was nothing.

"Guy's I think I just figured it out, look." Ronny says while pointing ahead of us.

The buildings, every last one of them, were moving. Collapsing into themselves, switching positions, some even disintegrating into nothing only to reform again.

"LINK HANDS. NOW!!" Ronny bellowed. "It's trying to separate us."

We all grab hands. This process last for at least fifteen more seconds before everything stops.It's all different, the skyscrapers were gone and were now replaced with low rises. Cars have appeared along with intersections. A low hum now reverberated through the streets, it sounded almost like a bustling city with the volume dropped way low.

"Okay that was probably the most unpleasant thing I've ever experienced." I say trying to gather my bearings.

"We got to get out of here now. I'm thinking the city does this reconfiguration thing quite frequently, next time we might not be so lucky." stated Ronny.

"Before we go any further I think we need to form some type of plan." added Si'La. "I mean this is a Lower One for all we know it could of signaled the others."

"She's right Josh as ambitious as this was it was incredibly foolish. It's very likely were walking right into a trap."

"Okay okay what do you guys have in mind." I ask apprehensively.

Ronny plops his duffelbag on the ground and pulls out notepad and pencil.

"Okay, The Empty City, just like the name implies is completely empty."

"Yes we know this already." I say being as smug as possible.

"I know that you know I'm just going over everything now let me finish. Like all Fears it's a sentient being, capable of thought which means it knows were here hence the reconfiguration. Now also like all fears it can be hurt."

"How can we hurt a city." questions Si'La.

"Even though Fears are mostly made up of energy they still need a physical body to interact with our world. These buildings, these cars, even the light poles are it's body. We do enough damage to the body it might just release us."

"But this place is huge, there's no way we can do that much damage." Si'La exclaimed.

"You'd be right if it weren't for the fact that I brought these." chuckled Ronny as he reached in the bag and pulled out...

"Grenades." I bellowed only barely hiding my excitement.

"Yup, we toss a few these bad boys, and it'll practically throw us out. It's not the most detailed plan but it's something."

A large grin grew on my face, I've always wanted to blow some shit up.

He handed us two each while keeping two himself. I looked to see Si'La staring at them in utter confusion. I had forgotten that she wasn't from here, she doesn't know what the hell a grenade is.

"Si'La." I whisper inching closer to her. "All you do is pull the pin and throw it as far as you can."

"Ok I think I understand." she smiled.

"All right lets do this."

We all nodded and pulled our pins almost simultaneously. With all my strength I tossed it at least a block and half before it landed next to a red station wagon, Ronny and Si'la's landed not that far from mine.

"Cover your ears."

We jammed our fist into our ears.  The grenades exploded, but to our shock they did absolutely no damage. There were no burn marks, no smoke no anything.

"Son of a bitch." screamed Ronny walking away in a huff.

"What happened why didn't it work." Si'La questioned.

But neither of us had time to answer. That familiar screech started again, the buildings were moving again. It was reconfiguring. I snatched Si'La's hand tightly while signaling Ronny with my other. This time the buildings shifted even quicker, moving at a blur. It knew what we were trying to do, and it was pissed. The buildings and cars lifted in the sky, floating up into oblivion. My stomach began to turn, I looked down to try and recover. Small blades of grass began slowly growing from the concrete. Trees began sprouting also, growing high above us. I felt something wet in my shoe. A puddle, no a pond, no an entire lake started to form around us. I throw my gaze toward Ronny only to see him ripped away by a massive current. I was still holding onto Si'La's hand, but my grip was slipping.

For a split moment we locked eyes. She was scared, and confused. She should of never came with me. I should of never left the safehouse. I should of been taken instead of Sam.

Why I am I such a fucking idiot.

Battlefield Me

Ja'Lu had given the order that all women and children be sent into hiding deep within the Sanctuary.

Me on the other hand would be gaurded personally by Ja'Lu's elite soldiers.

I was escorted back to my room while the guards kept watch outside.

Once again I was being protected.

A knock came at the door. Before I could answer it the door swung open, it was Si'La.

"What's going on out there." I questioned.

"I don't know."

"Look Si'La I understand you want to keep me safe but if he's here for me I want to be the one to face him."

"I know but this is bigger than just you if Zo'Dul gets what he wants not only will my world suffer yours will too."

" I get that but I can't let anyone else die because of me."

She took a step towards me but then suddenly a explosion rocked the entire building.

"What the hell was that."

Above us the ceiling began to crack. With a loud boom the entire roof was ripped off. Chunks of rock rained down on us, knocking us to the ground. We looked up to one of the most terrifying sights I've ever behold.

It was Agru'Bala but this time he seemed to have fused with a Neverbeast. The gears and cogs were still present but large sections were replaced with makeshift organs. Oil still poured profusely from every orifice. Then to our horror he spoke.

"GIVE ME THE YULA'BULAI."

It let out a deafening screech.

Si'La got to her feet in an istant and raised her hand. It glowed a bright white. Agru'Bala screamed in pain, and almost like a reflex it slammed it's hand down to silence her. I managed to push her out the way before it crushed her.

I pulled us back to our feet and made a dash to the door. The guards on the other side had been knocked out by the falling debris. She attempted to revive them but I urged her to move on.

"We have to go.", I yelled.

"GIVE ME THE YULA'BULAI.", it screamed once again.

We began running down the hall dodging debris as it ripped it apart to get to us.

We were approaching the staircase that led to the dining hall when a figure stepped out.

It was him. Purpose.

We halted caught between a rock and a hard place.

Just like Agru'Bala he looked different, no longer was he wearing the baggy suit, he was now cloaked in a dark shroud, his smile stretched farther then ever before. His hair cycling through colors at an erratic pace.

"Let me guess here your name is Zo'Dul." I said trying to sound as much like an asshole as possible.

"Look at the big brain on Josh, your finally starting to understand,"

His voice drilled into my head with the force of a jackhammer.

"Come now". he said with his hand outstretched.

"Fuck you!" I yelled flipping him the bird.

"So crude, Agru take him."

"No!" Si'La screamed she raised her hand once more sending Agru'Bala into a pain induced rage. The behemoth fell backwards wailing his arm's about. She grabbed me and ran up the other set of stairs.

We came out into the open. We were on the roof.

"What do we do now." I exclaimed.

"There's a Arch up here we just have to get to it."

On the far side of the roof a metal platform could be seen.

"There!'

We ran with all our might. Once again she raised her hand and the Arch burst to life. We jumped through.

Stars and galaxies passed us by and then we landed.

I was back home. In the exact same place that I left before but something was different something was wrong.

All the trees were burned down and there was no sight of Muzen or the others.

"What happened here." Si'La asked.

"I have no idea."

I began leading us back in the direction of safehouse that is to say if it's still there.

We came over a hill to find that the house was in fact still there except that it looked like it suffered from a significant amount of damage. Muzen's car was still parked there but it seemed like it hadn't been driven in years. It was rusted badly and a few of the windows were blown out.

We approached cautiously.

I opened the door to see the house in tatters. The floor boards were torn up and bullet holes lined the walls.

"Josh what happened here."

"No idea."

I was starting to get nervous. Where is everybody.

"Put your fucking hands up!"

The cold steel of a gun was placed on the back of my head.

"Turn around."

I complied, I mean who wouldn't.

I turned to not only see a rifle pointed at me, but a man in his early twenties with a rugged beard and glasses with tape holding them together.

"Ronny?"

"J..,.Josh holy shit dude!"

He lowered the gun.

"Where have you been."

"I was in Crucible. Ronny what happened here where's Muzen and Tasha."

"I don't know I haven't seen them for at least three years."

"Three year's, how long I have been gone."

"Josh, it's been ten years since you left."

Ten years. Ten whole years.

"After you went into the Arch everything went straight to hell."

He started walking towards the back of the house. We followed close behind him.

Ten years. I couldn't believe. This must've been how Muzen felt when he got back.

He opened one of the doors I was kind of shocked at what I saw. Plastered all over the walls were newspapers, talking about. one horrific incident after the next.

"Muzen wasn't kidding when he said they were all coming because they sure as hell did."

Some of the headlines were; MYSTERIOUS DISEASE SWEEPS THE NATION!

HORRIFIC CREATURES SIGHTED NEAR THE GULF OF MEXICO!

MASS DISAPPEARANCES OF CHILDREN REPORTED ALL OVER THE GLOBE!

"I've been researching this stuff for some time now. At first it was small things disappearance here, killings there you know the usual. Then about six years ago shit escalated. Large groups of animals started dying off I mean thousands of species wiped out in the manner of a few weeks. People vanishing only to be found again completely massacred. Entire populations of people slaughtered overnight, Josh this has gone way beyond just frightening people, this is an extinction."

"Josh, this exactly what happened back home.", Si'La added.

"Who's this." Ronny asked just noticing her standing there.

"This is Si'La, she's from Crucible."

"Do you have any information as to how to stop them."

"It's the same thing that helped our people you have to stop fearing them, without fear they have nothing to feed on."

"That might be easy for us but the rest of the world is in a state of permanent panic. Anything else."

"Nothing ,I'm sorry."

"Great, were fucked then." Ronny sighed plopping down onto nearby chair.

"Now we're not."  I started. "Muzen fought against these things while he was in Crucible he might know a way."

"What are you talking about." He asked while removing his glasses to clean them.

"Muzen fought a war against them he might have a way to stop them for good."

"Well good luck finding him, he could literally be anywhere."

"We've got try."

"Do you even understand what you're saying right now. You want to know why I haven't left the safehouse?"

Ronny gets up and heads back to the living room. He points out the window into the distance. The only thing out there was Muzen's car and a.....door. Just a plain white door.

"What is that." Si'La questions.

"That my friends is the Empty City. A Fear."

"But it's just a door."

"Not exactly. You see I've tried leaving a few times only to be greeted by door after door after door. And just when I thought I was getting away I would only end up back here at the house. The only way to get past is to go through that door."

"I know of this one our people call it "Muna'Dera", the Last Walk."

"Well whatever you call it, I call it suicide. No one goes in the Empty City and comes out to talk about it."

"There's a first time for everything."

I made my way outside more determined then I've ever been. I turn around to see Si'La right behind. She placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Josh if you walk through that door you'll be playing right into Zo'Dul's hand."

"I know but what other choice do I have, either I go to him or he comes to me."

I turn and face the door.

"Hold on just a second."

I turn to see Ronny walking towards us with a dufflebag and several rifles draped over his shoulders.

"What's in the bag."

"Supplies. Even if there is a way out of the Empty City, which it isn't, it's best to go prepared besides your still a kid.", he says with huge grin on his face.

"Fuck off."

He tosses me one of the rifles.

This time I'm going to use it.

The Stories They Tell

I woke up in a daze.

Images of the day before played out in my head over and over again.

I was getting sick of this. Not knowing anything, just blindly walking into situation after situation, I had to know the truth.

I got up and headed to the door determined to get the answers I deserved. I pulled open the door with such force it threw me off balance. I caught myself and looked up to see Si'La standing there. She seemed even prettier then before.

I blushed a little.

"Good morning, I hope you slept well", she smiled.

"I did", I said even though I was lying.

She smiled and turned to walk away motioning me to follow.

She led me down a dimly lit hallway lined with beautiful murals. They seemed to depict some kind of battle.

"What's all this about"? I exclaimed.

"This is the Battle of Iti'Nusra, it was fought back when the Lower Ones first appeared here in Crucible. It's said that it lasted for over three hundred years".

"That's incredible."

I could recognize a few figures shown on the wall. The most notable of them was Slenderman, he seemed much different then does now. Everything was pretty much the same except instead of a suit he was wearing what looked like armor. Then their was that Agru'Bala thing from yesterday.

Then I saw someone else. Someone that should have no business there. Someone that just can't be there.

It was Muzen. The drawing wasn't that detailed but I could tell. The same expression, same everything.

"Who's this." I said pointing at the painting, even though I knew who it was.

"That's Vera'Lu "The One Who Came". He appeared towards the end of war and fought against the Lower Ones. If it wasn't for him we would of have been defeated"

Now those markings on his face make sense, Muzen's a war hero.

"After the Lower Ones retreated he vanished, we didn't even have a chance to thank him."

I couldn't believe it he was only gone for a few hours, to think he fought an entire war in that short time.

I noticed that his grandfather wasn't shown anywhere on the mural. He must've died before Muzen got involved with the war.

How many more have to die because of me?

We walked about another five minutes before we reached a set of staircases. One leading up and another leading downwards. We took the one going down.

As we descended the stairs the pain in my leg returned. This was beginning to annoy me.

"Si'La, that thing you did to my leg is starting to wear off I think."

She turned around and smiled. Even in the dim light her eye's glistened brightly.

"I need you to bear the pain for now once we speak with my father I heal it completely."

"But how exactly are you doing this."

"I was going to let my father explain but since you insist. Here in Crucible the laws of nature greatly diffee from the ones in your world."

"In your world you need technology and machines to harness the energy around you but here were able to manipulate it to certain degree for our own personal use, like so."

She kneeled down and placed her hand on my leg but this time a green light shined from her hand. It was warm and soothing, for a second my leg went numb and then suddenly the pain was gone.

"Now that should do it."

I stood there completely awe struck. And completely confused at the same time. Molly did this exact same thing back in the safehouse, and I'm pretty sure she's not part of the Denil.

I followed soon after to find myself stepping into the one of the biggest rooms I'd ever seen. I mean it was huge. It was lined with burgundy curtains, with tables placed from one corner to the next. A giant chandelier fashioned from the same glowing rock as the outside of the building.Hundreds of people strolled past me all wearing similar clothing as Si'La. The smell of food was overwhelming, and I sure as hell was hungry.

"You just going to stand there or are going to eat." Si'La smiled

We headed to a table situated in the dead center of the room. It was adorned with candles and flowers. Plates stacked with unrecognizable food littered it.

"Good morning.", said a voice behind me. I turned to see her father standing there. He was wearing a blue robe this time with a jeweled necklace layed loosely around his neck.

"My name is Ja'Lu, and I am the chieftain of the Denil people and I welcome you.

"My name is Josh and I'm confused as hell."

"I'm sure you are, take a seat. So let's not waste anymore time ask me any question and I'll answer them to best of my abilities."

I hope this guy has his schedule cleared cause this is going to take a while.

"Why are they after me, what do they want from me, and how do I stop them."

Ja'Lu chuckles repositions himself to face me directly and says, "They want to understand."

"What does that even mean.", I question trying not to sound annoyed with such a vague answer.

"Let me start with this, The Lower Ones appeared in our world several thousand years ago. Death and disease followed close behind, the world as you see it now is not what it's always been. Their leader Zo'Dul was ruthless in his rule, he slaughtered our livestock and polluted our skies. They reigned unopposed for six hundred years before the chieftain at the time, my ancestor, figured out there one and only weakness; They're hunger."

He picked up some kind of fruit as if to emphasize his point.

"They do not eat like you and I.", he continued. "Instead they feed off of energy, a specific kind to be exact and that's fear. Emotions of any kind give off very high amounts of physical, mental, and spiritual energy, but emotions dedicated to fear are stronger and more potent.

"So what exactly did he figure out.", I questioned.

"He learned that if we were to stop fearing them we would respectively starve them. With this information he began the first offensives against them which in time culminated into the Battle of Iti'Nusra.

"The battle raged for three hundred years. Towards the end of the my people had grown weary of war, many of generations had fallen in our quest for independence. Our hope began to wane, that was until he showed Vera'Lu "The One Who Came" did our spirits rise once more. With his help we drove the Lower Ones back. But before the Lower Ones fled Zo'Dul spoke of another one to come one that would signal there return. "When the Tower walks and the light has shown only then will our knowledge grow.". You are that light Josh, there "Yula'Bulai" their savior.

My heart fell. It does that a lot these days. I'm some type herald of the end. I stood up knocking my chair over in the process.

"But how, how!" I stuttered.

This is really all my fault. Maybe the entire reason the Fears are in my world is because of me.

"I'm pretty sure after Zo'Dul became aware of there flaw he looked for ways to fix it. And the only way to do that is to Understand." Ja'Lu stated.

"But that's the thing I don't understand anything I'm pretty stupid if you ask me."

Si'La stood up, she had this look in her eye that seemed way too familiar.

"Father...this....this is bad."

"What is Si'La.", he asked with an equally worried look on his face.

"It's Zo'Dul....he's here."

The whole room grew silent.

Here we go again.

Hour Of Decay

How did I get here. I mean I knew how I got here.But the events that led me here just don't make sense. Nothing makes sense anymore.

I've comprehended things pretty well so far. I get the jist of what I've been told. But, what's really going on? Why is this happening? What does it have to do with me?

I pondered these questions for quite awhile. I didn't care that I was in some otherworldly dimension. I didn't care that my leg was broken. I just wanted to go home.

Their was rustling in the woods next me. I turned my head to catch a glimpse of it. A thick fog had settled in which drastically reduced my vision eyesight.Whatever it was it was fast even if I could get away I'm pretty sure it would find me.

The rustling stopped.

A voice spoke but I couldn't understand the language. It was a soft voice. A woman's voice.

It spoke again in a more aggressive manner.

The fog cleared ever so slightly, just enough for me to see her. She was beautiful. I mean stunning. I know I said Tasha was cute but this girl was like a goddess. Her hair was black and ridiculously long. Even in the fog it glistened. Her skin was brown and fair without a blemish in sight. Then I noticed she had the same black markings on her face that Muzen did.

She started talking again but I just stared. Her eyes were the brightest green I'd ever seen.

She grabbed me and lifted me on my feet. As soon as my weight hit that leg I screamed in pain, but she didn't let go.

She stared at me such concern it made me blush. She put her hand on my leg and a familiar white light shone from it. Once again a loud crack echoed, my leg was fixed. Who was this girl. For that matter what was she.

"Better?"

I jumped back.

"You speak english?" Did she know what english was.

"No I speak the language of the Denil I just gave you the Gift Of Understanding."

"Thanks I guess, but who are the Denil."

"There are my people I'll take you to them,
 come it's not safe here."

She grabbed my hand and led me through the trees. Her grip was strong she was damn near dragging me along.

"What's your name?" she asked me.

"I'm Josh, what's yours?"

"They call me Si'La, it means strong in my language."

"Well Si'La I have a question." I pulled away from her grip.

"Before I go any further I need to know something, have you seen a girl with blonde hair anywhere around here she would of arrived right before I did. She was taken by some kind of monster."

"No I haven't seen any girl, but this monster you speak of could very well be a Neverbeast."

"That's the whole reason I'm here I need to find her."

"If she's been taken by a Neverbeast it's likely she's already dead."

Great just great. I've failed before I even tried. What did I expect to do anyway?

A thunderous boom ripped through the sky. A violent scream followed behind it.

"What the hell was that?"

"It's them the Lower Ones. We have to go....NOW!"

The Lower Ones?

She must be talking about the Fears.

We ran as fast as we could, three more explosions sounded each one closer than the last.

"There..were getting close." she said pointing ahead of us.

Above the tree line was the largest structure I'd ever seen. It was a building of some sort, it looked like a cathedral. It was made out of some kind of glowing rock that shined brightly against the otherwise dark and hazy sky, The roof was easily concealed inside the cloud cover.

Who ever was chasing us was right behind us. There footsteps were massive, the ground trembled beneath us.

We reached the end of the forest and the cathedral was about a football fields length away from us.

I turned around to try and get a glimpse of what was chasing us. I got more than I intended.

Towering above us was a mass of horror and metal. That screaming I heard was actually it's gears grinding together. It was literally gushing oil it was spilling from it like a waterfall. It was humanoid in shape and was ghastly to look at, and it was gaining.

"Oh my god." I cried out.

"Just keep running were almost there."

She held up her hand and it shined brightly.

The doors of the cathedral began to open.

Two men appeared in the doorway motioning us move faster. I'm not much of runner so making it this far was a blessing.

A dark shadow casted itself over us, I look up to see a hand ready scoop us up into it's cold metallic embrace.

I never really liked hugs.

Only a few more feet.

We dive bomb inside. I turn one last time to see it attempt to reach inside after us. A gust of wind blew past us and sent this thing flying shattering it into millions of pieces. But in a blink of an eye it reconfigured itself, let out a monstrous screech and retreated back into the forest.

The doors began closing behind us, so I was safe to fully freak the fuck out.

"What was that?" I screeched trying to catch my breath.

"One of the Lower Ones his name is Agru Bala the Living Clock."

I turn to see a older man approaching. He was dressed in a long white cloak that trailed behind him. His voice was deep yet calming, stern but welcoming. His hair was pitch black and braided

"Father."

This was her father.I can see the resemblance.

"What did it want."

"It wanted you."

"Me why me."

"You have something they want, something they need." added Si'La standing up.

Thats when I noticed everyone was looking at me. It had to be at least a half of million people in this one room alone.

"And......what would that be."

He extended his hand to me and lifted me up. He smiled a big smile and said "You be exhausted, all will be explained for now you rest."

He led me away. Si'La stayed behind watching me.

I didn't want to be alone.

The Crucible

The search has officially gone into it's second hour, and still no sign of Muzen or his grandfather.

I don't know how much ground we've covered but if I had to take a guess it was at least a few miles.

We haven't said much of anything since we fought the Proxies, well they fought the Proxies, I just stood there like a jackass.

I had never seen anybody die before, and strangely enough it didn't effect me the way I thought it would. Maybe the shock of it all hasn't really registered yet.

We suddenly  came into a clearing the size of a football field. There was something weird about it for instance; it seemed like the grass had recently been cut, in several spots their were what looked like tree stumps but on closer inspection were in fact small metal platforms,

"What the hell are these." I questioned 

"No clue." said Ronny bending down to get a better look.

A troubled look came over Ronny's face.

"Sis you might want to see this." he said.

Tasha approached rather cautiously like she knew it was going to be bad news.

One glance and Tasha's expression change drastically. It was a mix of fear and confusion.

"What's wrong." I asked taking a look myself. 

On the platform was a red symbol. A circle with an X overlapping it.

"I don't get it."

"This a operator symbol its Slender-Man's insignia. Proxies use it to communicate with him." Ronny explained.

"Okay, so what's the problem."

"The problem isn't necessarily the symbol. The problem is what the symbol is on. This platform is what's called a Arch, a doorway."

"A doorway to where?"

Suddenly as if the Arch itself heard the question it began to shine with a brilliant white light . Ronny screamed in pain as his face was hovering directly over it. The Arch began to roar like a thousand lions. It was deafening. A warm liquid started to trickle down my cheek. My ears were bleeding. As soon as it started it stop. The light dissipated and standing on the platform was.....

"MUZEN!"

Smiles erupted on our faces but almost immediately vanished when we really looked at him. His clothes were torn to shreds and soaked in blood. His eyes were vacant. He seemed older even.Strange markings were etched all over his face.

"Muzen, what happened."

He didn't answer he just stood there.

"Muzen, answer us!" screamed Tasha trying to keep composure but obviously failing.

I started to walk toward him. I'm not going to lie I was scared. Horrified even, too much was happening at once.

"Dude please say something."

He let out a huge gasp and said,"They're coming." he stepped off the platform and sat down.

"Who's coming?" asked Ronny still rubbing eyes.

"The Fears...the whole lot of them." His voice sounded deeper.

"What, what do you mean all of them.?" Tasha screamed, all her composure was gone.

He sat quiet. The more I look at the more I notice how different he looks. His hair is longer and extremely wild. The beginnings of a five o clock shadow were appearing on face even with those strange markings it was pretty noticeable.

"That Arch leads to a place called the Crucible. It's sort of a common ground between the Fears. A meeting place where they congregate. They all were they're, every last one of them. The Dying Man, The Rake, hell even Rapture, thank god he was in his larval stage."

"But wait if they were all there why did Molly sense that The Rake was here." Ronny questioned.

"I don't know, I'm pretty sure it was a mistake on her part."

"Molly's never been wrong before."

"There's a first time for everything." Muzen grunted while standing up. He turned and faced me. His eyes pierce me like a spear.

"Muzen." Tasha said interrupting his gaze. "Where's Grandpa?"

Ronny's head whipped in Muzen's direction. He didn't say anything he just looked down. We all knew what it meant.

Tears flowed for a good while, it was quiet except for sniffles and sobbing. I felt bad for them, in a matter of a week there whole lives have changed.

It's all my fault.

I turned to walk away. One step and a jolt of pain shot through my leg. Molly's whatever must be wearing off.

"Josh."

That voice. No. No. No. I whip my head around to see nothing. My head begins to ache.

"Guys he's here."

"What are you talking about?" wondered Tasha.

"It's Purpose...he's here. He's HERE."

I look to see Muzen walking toward. He seems distorted, stretched and elongated. Abruptly the Arch bursts back to life. The roaring is even louder this time around. It cripples me, I drop instantly.

My visions blurring but what I see next makes my heart fall into my stomach. A face the size of a minivan creeps out of the Arch. All the skin had been removed and the eye sockets had smaller similar faces inside of them. The mouth was a gaping maw with it's jaw falling loosely to the ground.It roared adding to the complete bombardment of sound, my ears go out completely except for a distinct ringing.

What the hell is going on.

I look up to see a figure approaching the monstrosity. A small figure. A girl. It was Molly.

Muzen attempts to approach her but an unseen force sends him flying out of my vision. I don't see Ronny or Tasha either.

What was she doing here. How did she find us. Why isn't she affected by this.

I try to stand, the pain in my leg is getting worse. I make it to my feet only barely. I reach out my hand silently mouth Molly's name. I stumble forward, catching my balance I begin a small stride. The pain is unbearable at this point. I'm on the verge of passing out. But I can't. I won't let anyone else die. I just won't.

She extends are toward the monster. It stretches his mouth wide and completely consumes her. It begins to retreat into the Arch. No I won't let it have her.

I reach the platform.

I'm taken off of my feet and thrown forward. I see stars and planets. galaxies pass me by in an instant. In a flash I hit the ground.

I lay there staring at a blood red sky. Dead trees surround me. There are screams in the distant. Then it dawns on me.

I'm in Crucible.






 

Welcome To the Grove

Twenty minutes had passed since my encounter with Purpose and my head was still throbbing!

His face kept flashing in my mind like a strobe light.

"You ok?" Tasha asked.

I didn't want her to know I was troubled so I played it off.

"Yeah I'm fine. Hey I got a question what exactly do Proxies look like?"

"For the most part they look no different than me and you, the only thing that sets them apart is their undying loyalty to Slender-Man."

"How does someone become one, is there like a interview process."

"Something like that, whenever a Fear gains interest in a person two things could happen; One , your killed or Two your turned into a Proxy. One thing to remember though Proxies are only the servants of Slendy, each Fear has it's own kind of slave."

"Wait a minute, if that's the case then why doesn't the Rake bring his own minions instead of using the Proxies."

Tasha stopped in her tracks.

"Now that you mention it I haven't seen the Rake at all, and it's not the type for hiding. Somethings wrong here, things aren't  adding up. Molly detects the Rake except there's been no sightings of him, Proxies show up but basically gives us the run around, and then there's Purpose."

His face flashed again, this time it caused me to lose my balance. Tasha didn't notice.

"HEY."

We turned to see Ronny running toward us.

"Ronny, where's Grandad and Muzen?" Tasha questioned.

He was hurt, a stream of blood trickled down his face.

"I don't know but we have move their right behind me."

As soon as those words left his mouth a figure sprung from the bushes behind him.

"Move!!!"

Time seemed to slow. Ronny turned just in the knick of time to dodge what seemed to be the largest knife I've ever seen. It was easily a foot long with a brass knuckle handle. The guy wielding it was just as menacing, a man in his late 30's, his hair was pure white with the most crazed look in his eye. It became obvious that this was a Proxy.

Before I could do anything Tasha dashed forward. She was fast and efficient. In less than a second she disarmed the Proxy, breaking his arm, threw him to the ground and driving  the knife into his chest.

We didn't have time to recuperate before another one came sprinting towards us, this one was a woman. This time Ronny sprang into action. It was amazing for a kid younger than me he was surprisingly athletic. Planting his foot on a tree he pushed off executing a flawless aerial spin kick straight to the jaw of the Proxy.

The sheer force took the Proxy off her feet, she landed with a thud.

Now this kid was a badass.

Tasha grabbed the shotgun from my hand cause I obviously wasn't using it.

"Move and I'll fucking end you." She said aiming it at the center of the woman's chest.

The woman started laughing completely unfazed by it all.

A look grew on Tasha's face. Her eyes became wild like a animal out for blood. Strangely this took her hotness up by like a thousand.

"What are doing here, why are you attacking us."

The woman just kept laughing. It became apparent that her lights aren't fully on.

"Damn Ronny how hard did you kick her?" I laughed

"Not hard enough it seems." He giggled.

"Shut up!" Tasha screamed. "She's been sent into a Loop we're not  getting any information from her."

"What's a Loop."

"It's almost like a self defense mechanism." Ronny answered. "If a Proxies ever captured this keeps them from giving out any valuable intel. Their psyches are fragile as is it doesn't take much for them to break."

In a way I felt bad for the woman. She didn't  want this. To be some slave.

"Tasha it's best you end it." Ronny said placing his hand on her shoulder.

She nodded and handed the gun back to me.
She walked over to the other Proxy and pulled the knife out his chest.

"I think it's time we found grandpa and Muzen." She said while glancing over her shoulder.

We both nodded in agreement.

She turned back around her hair cascading over her face. She gripped the knife and dropped down.

The laughing had stopped.

Confrontation

The suspense was killing me. Muzen, Ronny, and their grandfather went to confront the five Proxies outside.

"I can't just sit here." I blurted.

"What do you expect to do, you have no training , and your leg is broken. Don't be stupid Josh." said Tasha with a very serious tone.

"Then train me, this thing is after me and I'm not just going let it take me, not without a fight." I grunted

She smiled. She must of liked my enthusiasm.

"Fine I'll train you but after your leg gets better."

"Awesome." I yelled throwing my fist in the air with  such force my joints cracked.

"Guys I don't mean to interrupt your little whatever but the guys are in big trouble. I figured out what that other presence was, it's The Rake." whispered Molly.

"A Fear, here at the safe house don't you guys have like a barrier of something."

"Well yeah but they must of found way to get past it."

Great they just find ways to get in.

"I gotta warn the guys, you two stay here the seal will keep anything from getting in."

Tasha gets up and runs out into the hallway.

I feel so useless. Their out there fighting to keep me safe and the only thing I can do is sit here.

"Josh."

"Yeah."

"You want to help my brothers and my sister don't you."

"Yeah I do but theirs nothing I can do."

"Their is."

She held out her hand and placed on my cast.

"What are you doing." i asked.

"Helping you help them."

A white light started to glow right where her hand was. My leg started to burn.

"Ow what are you doing."

A loud crack echoed through the room.

"Their your leg is healed only temporarily now go help them."

My leg it was better, she healed me but how. I stood up but this time no pain no aches or anything. I ripped the cast off and threw in the corner.

"Thanks Molly but what do I do now "

"My grandfather keeps the guns in the cabinet in the living room, go!" she ordered.

I felt awesome, my leg was fixed and now I'm ready for action. I pulled open the door to the gun cabinet. Holy shit!! There was guns out the anal man. Big guns small guns long guns short guns. I felt like Rambo. Their was a riot shotgun that had my name on it. I grabbed it and made my way to the door.

The sun was so bright I had to shield my eyes. When my eyes finally adjusted I could see that their was no one out here. No Muzen, no Ronny, no Proxies, no nothing. I walked to the end of a dirt path to get a better look. That's when I saw them run off into a nearby tree line.

"Hey guys wait up."

I ran as fast as I could to catch up.

The brush was thick leaving only a few feet of vision in any direction.

Walking deeper into the forest I shouted out to them, "Hey guys where are you."

Gun shots rang out deeper in the forest. Their in trouble I gotta move fast.

Branches whipped me in my face as I trekked through underbrush, overbrush, or whatever you call it. A clearing was in the distance that must be where they are. The gun was heavy in my hands I struggled just to hold it.

I was getting closer, the clearing was just a few yards away. But then I felt it.

That overwhelming sense of impending doom. That only meant one thing....A Fear was close by.

I stopped and spun in a circle surveying my surroundings. There was nothing, but I couldn't shake the feeling.

I did another quick twirl, the gun at eye level. I've played enough video games to understand the concept ; point and shoot.

The feeling started to become more intense, my head began to spin, my vision blurred in and out, and then I heard a voice. I immediately knew who it was.

I turned to face the source and was surprised to see...just a man.

Just some guy. He was wearing a suit very reminiscent of Slendy's, except it seemed loose fitting like he just shed a few pounds.

His hair was black, no red, green. It seemed with every blinking of my eye it changed colors.

But the strangest thing about him was his smile, it was unsettling wide as if it wasn't attached to his face.

I stepped back, placing my finger firmly on the trigger absolutely ready to blow this asshole away.

"So...your Purpose I'm guessing". I asked trying not sound scared which I definitely was.

"I could be". He answered.

His voice reveberated in my head giving me an instant headache. My legs felt like jello, I was gonna collapse at any second.

"What the hell do you want from me". I asked my words sounding drowned out and distant.

"I want what all Fears want...understanding".

His hair started changing colors more quickly, his smile grew to unholy proportions, the corners of his mouth jetting away from his face.

"Please stop"!! I begged him. I fell to my knees in anguish. Just looking at him caused immense pain.

"I'll never stop Josh, this is only the beginning, the game hasn't even begun yet."

He let out a laugh that boomed in my ears. I began to roll on the ground, clasping my hands to my ears.

For a split moment I began thinking about Sam. Is this what he went through?

I started to give up. I wanted it to end. Tasha was right there's nothing I could I do. For all I know Muzen and the others could be dead. All because of me.

"JOSH you idiot"!

That voice, even above Purposes booming laughter  I could hear it.

It was Tasha.

Suddenly the laughing stopped.

"What are you doing out here, how are you even walking, did Molly do this, why are you on the ground?"

"Let me guess you didn't see him," I asked trying to stand up but still very weak from that sensory overload.

"See who, was it the Rake?" She inquired while helping me back on my feet.

"No it was Purpose, the one from the phone call, the one who killed my parents."

My head began to clear and the only emotion I could feel was anger.

"Where's Muzen and the others."

"I don't know, we ran into a few Proxies and got separated."

"Well we gotta find them." I said picking up tbe shotgun trying to be as badass as possible.

Tasha looked at me and smiled. I guess it worked.

"Ok if your going to help I need you to do exactly what I say. Proxies won't hesitate to kill you. You got that gun I hope your ready to use it."

And at that moment I fully realized the gravity of the situation I was in. This could be the day I lose my life.