I'm not sure why I'm typing this.

Obligations are horrible things. Yet, it feels as though obligation has fueled everything we've done since we began running. We run because we feel obligated to live, and waiting around would surely mean death. We stuck around Tori, a proxy who could be ordered to kill us any day now, because our love makes us feel obligated to "protect" her. We took in an undead child, a child of the cold, because we were made to feel obligated by our friend who is probably dead at this point. 

And if you've noticed the use of 'us' and 'our', don't pay it any mind. I use these terms because of habit and nothing more. It's been two years, and Skye is still broken by his own choice. Still hiding and yet as much as a coward as he is, I will admit that he is stubborn. It only took me a week to notice that even though I was mostly free to do as I wished, it was almost as if what was left of Skye had set rules that I had to follow. As far as I've noticed, none of it has been too difficult, but it is annoying sticking around when all I want to do is leave.

I still take care of Alice, I still clean, I still make the meals, and I still work a part time job at the library. All out of obligation. I've tried to break Skye far enough to let me finally be rid of all of this, but it has yielded nothing even after two years. Tori doesn't really talk to me, having given up on forcing the subject of Skye's "imprisonment" after about a year. And as much as it's hurt him to leave her by herself for the most part, he knows better than to actually try to take control back.

I've tried everything. Even to the point of trying to get Tori to kick me out. I treat her like shit, if I actually respond to her presence it's with nothing but irritation. But as frustrated as she's been, as many times as she's threatened to kick me out or kill me, Tori eventually just shrugs everything off and tells me that she still needs help "Paying the bills" and she "doesn't want Alice to lose another family member." 

Alice strangely enough treats me just like Skye. Even when I try to explain to the little brat that I'm not Skye and that Skye is basically dead, she flashes me this infuriating little smile telling me that I'm silly and that of course I'm Skye, just a different part. 

In other news, about a month after I took over, Kris dropped back by. The enigmatic rune teacher decided I would have to do, since I've taken Skye's place, she's began teaching me. I can make runes that do things that you wouldn't even believe, and under her guidance, run of the mill proxies are barely an issue anymore. I don't think that flower maidens will be either, but I haven't gotten the chance to test this because none have bothered us since the last one a couple of years ago. 

I'm not actually sure I had a reason for making a post after so long, but maybe I'll actually start updating again, or maybe I won't.

I don't know.

Okay bye now.

Greetings or something

It feels so good to move around. Even just lazily gliding my fingers across the keyboard is a nice sensation. I'm used to being what could be considered incorporeal. A "figment of the poor kids screwed up mind" I was normally called. No one believed him back before he started running. Maybe that's why he ended up running, because he was sick of the looks. The slightly nervous smiles his parents would give him. Would give us. When the thin faceless fuck took an interest in him he didn't say anything because his parents only believed a 4th of what he said anyways.

I'm getting off of topic.

He finally lost his marbles. His fragile little mind shattered into a million pieces and I was there to pick them up and make sure they could never be put back together. Gone for good is the shy little boy from before. I'm here to stay and I'm overjoyed to say so. There wasn't much of fight and Tori hasn't even noticed yet. I think the brat, Alice, may be suspicious of something.....I always forget she's older than she appears.

The day it finally did happen was the day Tori came back from another mission, this one had been for a couple of weeks. I made sure dinner was laid out as it normally would (I've watched Skye do it so many times I'd consider myself a master chef by now). We had dinner as normal though I made a few off color comments that I'm sure would have made her suspect something if she hadn't been so tired.

We even had a little guest. Apparently a proxy meant to deliver the instructions for Tori's next assignment. It was late and I didn't want him disturbing the fast asleep Tori. So I lead him to the kitchen (didn't want to make a mess on the carpet after all) and stabbed him with one of the larger kitchen knives. It was a slip of the hand. The other six times afterwards were not.

I made sure that he was good in dead before quickly hiding the body...well I would have but when I left him in the backyard for a moment, when I came back the body was gone. (Slenderman I presume) 

Cleaning the kitchen was a trivial task afterwards and a quick shower later I was back in bed. 

Ah....a good first night.

Right then. That's all for now, you can call me....I'll keep the name he gave me. Call me Alter.

Oh. Tori actually will know now. Oh well, this will be fun.

Until next time.

~Alter

Been a while....

Dull green eyes, stared in to mine. They were filled with glee. I weakly struggled against my bonds, trying to escape my chair to no avail. The woman in front of me giggled slightly as she dragged the scalpel slowly up my forearm, cutting deeply and eliciting a scream of pain from me. Though it came out as more of a weak rasp. I stopped struggling. Struggling made it worse, I realized. It was better to just sit there and take it. I tried not to scream, not out of pride, but because it hurt. My throat felt raw from all of the screams. Seeing me not screaming anymore, made the woman frown in disappointment. I dully realized that this was a bad sign. She reached forward with her scalpel and began digging it in to my cheek before slowly dragging it across my face. I felt a scream building in my throat and I opened my mouth to release it-

My eyes snapped open as I bolted upwards from my desk. It only took me a moment to identify my surroundings and realize that it had only been a dream. I looked down and my eyes scanned the familiar symbols that could be found within the book laying open on my desk. I had fallen asleep studying again. I had been doing that a lot lately.

"...it to fucking deal with people." I blinked sluggishly as I heard Tori's voice come through my door.

I had been avoiding everyone lately. I knew I was being childish...I knew I was acting like a pouty teen. To be fair, I am a teen. But I also know that in my situation, one where people depend on me, I shouldn't be acting like this. Tori didn't deserve this, Alice didn't deserve it, I hadn't even spoke to Opal...someone who could relate as well. I should have been helping her adjust to her new life as Tori had been doing.

I heard a dull thud on my door. "All of them don't know what's out there. I hate this. I hate having to keep all of myself hidden from people."

'You don't have to hide it from me.' I wanted to say that, I should have said that. This was the part where I listened to her frustrations, comforted her. Just as she had for me, time and time again. But I didn't. I remained silent as I had for days and days.

"Anyway, I have to go on assignment now. I stocked the fridge yesterday so that's that." I heard her sigh as she began to walk away.

"Thank you...." my voice sounded foreign to me, it felt like I hadn't spoken for weeks...I probably hadn't.

"Anytime." I waited for the sound of the front door shutting before slumping back in to my chair. I stared at my book, the symbols blurred together until I couldn't make out what they were saying. I stared at it in confusion. 

"Why can't I read it....?" 

"It's because you've lost your will." I nearly fell out of my chair at the voice. I whipped around and my glance fell on a figure sitting in my window sill. It was the cloaked figure from before, the voice matched up, as did the cloak. It was the woman who had saved me from the Rose Bride all those months ago. But what was she doing here?

"My will...?" 

"The book can only be read by those with the will to fight, I'm not surprised that the old woman didn't explain this to you when she gave it to you."

"It's just a book. To be read like any other-" She cut me off with a giggle.

"And I suppose the symbols are just doodles that are pretty to look at?" I sighed, she had a point. After seeing what the runes could do, I shouldn't be surprised that the book was semi-sentient. 

"And just who are you?" I probably should have asked this first.

"I...am..." she paused for dramatic effect as I leaned in slightly. "...the book." My eyes widened, and my jaw basically dropped. Was this like Bleach? Was she my zanpakuto? The spirit of my book? My thoughts froze when she began laughing. I stared at her as she continued to laugh. She eventually stopped and wiped a fake tear from her eye. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...just the look on your face just now." 

My eye twitched as I felt irritation, one of the first things I had actually felt other than emptiness in weeks. "Then who are you?!" I would wonder later why my phobia of girls wasn't kicking in here. 

She removed her hood and smiled at me. She looked to be a woman in her early twenties, long blond hair and bright green eyes, her skin not pale, but not tan. If I were being honest I would have called her beautiful. "My name is Kris, it's nice to finally properly meet you Skye." I held back the retort that this meeting was anything but proper. She stood up and walked over to me, circling me and looking me up and down. She stopped in front of me and set a hand under my chin, lifting my face so that my eyes met her's. I gulped and I felt the blood rushing to my face. She leaned in slightly, our noses almost touching. 

I'm ashamed to say at that moment that I froze up completely, it had only been in recent months that I had gotten used to Tori, I didn't know what to do in situations like these. 

Her voice was soft as she spoke her next words. "...and might I add, you're much cuter then I had imagined." Just like that she leaned away again, still standing in front of me but with an amused smile on her face. It wasn't hard to imagine why she was amused, given that it felt like my face was on fire. I was speechless, literally, I didn't even know how to respond to what she had said. She reached forward and squeezed my upper arm and nodded approvingly. "Some muscle but not too much...an agility fighter than. I can work with this." She nodded to herself again. "Well, when you get your will to fight back, anyways." 

My embarrassment mostly gone I looked down. "I don't even know how too...after I...killed...whoever that was, I just felt empty. No remorse, no sadness. Nothing. I don't know if I can fight again, not if I can kill that easy. I think it was my other...my Alter...." I heard a snort inside my head when I said this.

"Then why don't you start there?" 

"Huh..?" I looked up at her, wondering what she meant.

"Enter your mind, you know how right?"

I scratched the back of my head, feeling uncomfortable with the idea with what happened last time. "Well, yeah, but why?"

"Go in to your mind. Talk to your Alter. When you gain your will to fight...to live...back, come find me. I'm staying in town for a while so I'll be around, I'll know you're looking for me when you do." 

I shut my eyes and sighed. "Why would I-?" I opened my eyes and blinked, my room was empty, my window shut. I groaned and muttered something along the lines of 'showoff' before going and sitting on my bed, legs crossed. I would listen to her, what did I have to lose? I took a deep breath and began trying to enter my mind as I had before.

I opened my eyes and found myself in the kitchen of Tori's house. Somewhere I was greatly familiar with at this point. I glanced around for a moment, this was nothing like what I had grown accustomed to when it came to entering my mind. For what the millionth time that night, I was confused.

"You're mind is running damage control on your psyche. It's vulnerable, and with that being the case your mental plane has reverted to the place you view as home."

I whipped around only for my gaze to settle on my Alter. His bloodshot eyes looking in to my own from a seat at the dining room table. His legs were propped up on the table, a surprisingly blank expression on his face. There was something off about him though, and I meant more than usual. Absent was the crazed glint his eyes usually held. He just looked tired. I didn't know what to make of it, since the only thing he ever did was mock me, or scream at me. Any other emotion or action was unfamiliar. It was....unnerving, to say the least.

"So brat, what do you want?"

I ignored the fact that he had just called me brat even though he was just as young as me. "The runes, why can't I read them?" This was the first question that I asked. If Kris thought he would know, than he may have something to do with it.

"The woman explained well enough didn't she? Or did your trauma render you mentally handicapped?"

I shook my head. "All she said was that I had lost my will to fight. How do I...?" I wasn't really even sure why I was talking to him. He had never said anything that was useful nor was he trustworthy.

"That's all you need to know. You've lost your will to fight. Why would the book assist someone who had no use for it?" 

And even Alter was speaking like the book was a person, as if was sentient. He stood up from the table with a groan and then smiled at me, this was the type of expression I was used to when it came to me. The grin was wide, challenging.

"So here's the deal. Since you don't want to live anymore...I'll be taking your body. I'm not quite prepared to do so yet, but soon I will be. You'll have no choice in the matter."

I wasn't actually sure how to respond to that.

"And if you actually feel like putting up a fight...come back. We'll settle things then and there." He glanced over at a clock which read 11:20. "But for now, leave. I'm sick of seeing your pathetic face." and with a wave from him I was back in my room. I had broken out in a cold sweat. As I stared at the ceiling I could only wonder what I was going to do.

I once again felt an emotion other than remorse, for the first time in weeks. I felt fear.

Too simple my ass

Blood....and a pounding headache. That's all I can remember. I woke up in a dark room, my hands bound, and lying on a hard...cold...cement ground. I sat up with some difficulty feeling particularly weak. Looking down I took note that it was rope tying my hands. I pulled on them experimentally, testing the bonds, and grimaced as they dug painfully into my wrists. I wouldn't be breaking those with my own strength. And without my hands I wouldn't be drawing any runes. I glanced around the room, trying to find any escapes.

I found a door, but that was it. The room was dark and my eyes were having trouble adjusting. I leaned against the wall and began to slide up it only to collapse as my legs failed me. They felt weak. I sighed and tried again, this time with success. Though my legs were still shaky. The door was locked of course. Didn't know why I thought it wouldn't be. The click as the door opened made me take a few steps back, stumbling and falling on to my butt with a sharp intake of breath.

Light flooded the room and made me squint my eyes. All I could see was a silhouette. A deep chuckle filled the room, and for some reason it filled me with fear. I scooted back to the wall as fast as I could with my hands bound.

"You're awake...." She began, her voice smooth and elegant. "That's good, I was beginning to worry." I could hear her words dripping with amusement and my brain registered the words, but they were the last thing on my mind. My mind was working on overdrive trying to figure out how I had got here. The woman in front of me was only vaguely familiar. But it wasn't her features, of which I could barely see. It was something else.

"I will let you know though, I was disappointed in you little boy. I'm not sure of the difficulty I expected, but it was not a challenge at all to capture you." She sighed in an over exaggerated way, letting me know she was mocking me and I took a deep breath, remaining silent. I was racking my mind for details, any details of the events leading to this point.

A letter.

A plane.

A cafe.

And then waking up here.

My thoughts were interrupted as the room lit up, as the man hit a switch. The room was cement, bare of anything except for the single light bulb and a mirror on the far side of the room, that I noticed with slight interest. But my eyes finally settled on my captor. Black shoulder length hair, green eyes that were strangely dull and glassy looking. They reminded me of the eyes of one who has been long dead. Her skin pale, white as a ghost. Her smile was wide, one you would expect to see in nightmares on the face of death himself. What she wore was simple, a white dress that stretched down to her shins.

She took a few steps forward and it felt as if the room was growing colder. "What's wrong, do I scare you?" I didn't answer. I was having trouble even processing the situation, it left me at a loss of words. The confusion that overtook me, and the fear that slowly entered my body, as I finally realized the situation I was in. This woman, was not normal, her appearance alone was enough to figure that out.

It took me a moment to register that my other was screaming in my head, as I desperately tried to think of my next course of action. It had been a while since I had heard him so livid. I jumped to my feet and lunged forward, sinking my teeth into her throat, feeling the warm crimson splatter on my face as I ripped her throat out. Salty and....I blinked. I was back at my previous position, cowering against the wall.

Go then. What are you waiting for? 

I can barely even stand, you expect me to rip her throat out?

SHE IS ARROGANT! 

and at the moment, has a right to be.

This silenced my other. It would seem even he can see logic. "The silent treatment? Is that it?" all she got was a blank stare in return, as I calmed myself. There wasn't anything I could do at that moment, and I knew it. She chuckled darkly, "Fine then." Without another word she walked over to me, reaching down before I could make any movements and grabbed me by the hair roughly. I resisted the urge to scream in pain as she dragged me across the room by my hair. She dragged me through the door and out into a hall, she continued to drag me until we ended up in another room, similar to the room I woke up in. The only difference being a single chair in the center of the room. She shut the door behind her.

What happened next, I don't wish to describe, and I won't at least... not right now. I don't think I've ever experienced such pain and it'll haunt me for years to come. This went on for the next week. By the third day, I was broken completely. I didn't speak a word, and was then that I gave up any hope of escaping with my life. After that, she even stopped binding my hands. At the end of each of these "sessions" I would pass out, only to wake up in the same room I had the first time. I also asked her about the mirror, she had only giggled at that and told me that it was so I could admire her handiwork.

Each time I would wake up, there would be new cuts, usually fairly deep, and usually along my torso. Each of the incisions would be sloppily stitched up. The most noticeable had been the slash mark on my face, extending from one cheek to the other, across the bridge of my nose. I asked her over and over why I was here. She said that her boss, had ordered it. I proceeded to ask who her boss was. She only responded with a laugh.

It was after the eighth day that she finally slipped up. She somehow didn't notice the scalpel I grabbed when she dragged me back to my room after another "session". As weak as I felt, I knew that I would only have one chance at this. When she entered my room to retrieve me the next morning, I pounced on her. She seemed surprised, her initial shock was enough to end it. I lifted the scalpel into the air and stabbed downwards into her chest. I felt her blood stain my clothes but I didn't care. I felt her weakly struggle, but I just kept stabbing her over and over again. After she finally stopped moving, I fell off of her and crawled away as far as the room would let me.

I didn't feel sadness, or regret for the life that I had just taken. I didn't feel anything that I thought I should. I just felt, indifferent. I felt nothing. Which worried me. But later I would come to find out that this was due to shock. I scoured the place that had been my prison and found my bag. I took out my cellphone and took a few deep breaths to calm down as I heard it ringing.

"Hello? Skye?" The voice sounded slightly panicked.

"Hey Tori.....yeah, yeah I'm okay...." I slid down the wall, I didn't feel okay in the least. "You think you could come pick me up? Yeah...Germany..."

Just too simple

You know what I find funny about you "runners"? Well #1 half of you stay in the same place for long periods of time. Yet you proclaim to be "runners". You stay in that place, not even thinking about the consequences. The other thing though? That you seem to lack common sense. Some of you may seem smart, such as my red haired friend here. Who thinks that his weak glare is actually intimidating me from the chair he's ... "situated in"....glares are much less intimidating when one of the eyes is swollen shut, imagine that. But anyways, Skye was supposed to be smart. Little bastard got cocky just because he took on a couple of Rose Brides as if that would stop HIM. Smart because he can use a couple of parlor tricks, lot of good they do him with his hands bound. 

But no, he was supposed to be smart. Yet nothing about his situation is rational. First of all, he lives with a proxy. One that claims to have good intentions, one that he has a little crush on. As cute as the whole "star crossed lovers" thing is, won't matter when she kills him in his sleep, because Tall and Faceless decides to hollow her. While I don't claim to understand the suited bastard, I do have a vague knowledge of some of his tactics, at least when it comes to causing pain; usually of the emotional kind. So really I'll be doing him and his little girlfriend a favor when I end his pathetic life. Damn, I keep getting off topic. So no, he's not as smart as he claims. 

You runners....I set the most obvious of traps, and yet you still come. All it took was letter saying I had Roy, and Skye came running. All common sense went out the window. 

He's been here for exactly one week. It's been fun and I'm sorry to see it end. But I won't kill him, not yet. I'll take you all on a walk down memory lane, and at the end, Skye will be dead. 

Oh would you look at that, he passed out again, I thought he had learned last time, looks like he needs a refresher. Guess that's my cue to leave then. 

Goodbye, for now.

-L

I'm off to Europe. I have something to take care of there. I'll post details later because my plane leaves in 20 minutes.

Tori if you see this, I left a note in my room explaining everything, and I'm sorry.

Goodbye

I heard a yawn and the quiet noise of footsteps as Alice walked into the kitchen. I continued to watch the pan, waiting for the perfect moment to flip the pancake I was making. "Good morning...." I heard her say with a sigh. I looked over my shoulder to see Alice sitting, her head resting on the table. I flipped the pancake, and heard someone running down the stairs. I saw Tori walk into the kitchen dressed for work.

I smiled, "Tori, you're just in time for breakfast." I set a pancake on the plate and poured more batter into the skillet. I turned to see Tori sitting in one of the chairs, quickly tying her shoes.

"Sorry, Skye I don't have time to si-" She began to say before I set down a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich, wrapped in a napkin on the table. She finished tying her shoes and stood up. She gave me a peck on the cheek with a quick "thanks" before grabbing the sandwich and her car keys, she went for the door and rubbed the top of Alice's head. "See ya kiddo." and with that she left.

I set down a plate of pancakes in front of Alice who mumbled something that I assumed was thanks. I sat down and took a sip of my coffee as I watched Alice slowly begin to wake up as she ate her pancakes.

"You're leaving already?"

I saw Roy fasten the straps on his backpack. "I have to Skye, I already told Alice goodbye."

"If you're ever back in town...you know you're welcome here." He smiled sadly at me. 

"Skye, this is goodbye. I'm afraid we won't be seeing each other again." To me he sounded defeated, as if he had simply given up. I found myself growing slightly angry.

"So that's it? You've just given up? Your just going to go find somewhere to die quietly?" I look back at it now and realize that this sounded harsh. 

He chuckled, not the reaction I had expected. He grinned at me, "Of course not. I'm going to fight until I can't anymore, and when I go, I'll go swinging." 

I looked at him in disbelief. "Aren't you scared?" 

"Honestly?" I nodded, "Fuck yeah I am. But that doesn't mean I'm going to spend the rest of my life hiding. Would that increase my life span? Maybe. But that's just not my style." He had accepted it, he was accepting the fact that he was going die. Yet he kept walking, moving forward. I looked down trying to hide the tears building in my eyes.

"What about us?" It came out slightly choked. "You're just going to leave us behind? The rest of us runners?" It sounded selfish, and I knew it was, I could tell that he was tired.

He chuckled, setting a hand on my head. "Skye, it's because of runners like you, and Med, and all the others, that I can keep moving. I'm not afraid to leave this fight to all of you, because I know that you're all strong, and smart." He laughed again, "Hell of lot smarter than me." He lifted his hand and turned to walk away. I watched through blurred vision as he kept walking, he stopped for a moment. "Take good care of her alright?" 

I nodded even though he couldn't see me, "You got it." 

He lifted his hand "Goodbye." 

"...Skye?" I blinked and looked at Alice who looked concerned. I reached up and felt that my cheeks were wet. I shook my head, feeling embarrassed.

"It's nothing, sweetie." With that she went back to eating her pancakes, glancing up at me with concern every now and then. I simply stared at my coffee.

'I'll do my best Roy, I promise you that.'

Surprises are usually bad

"Skye, I hate asking you to do this." I stared at Roy who looked quite uncomfortable. It wasn't hard to see why of course, this was a rather big request. It had been a week but he had dropped by like he had said he would, seemingly unharmed to my relief. At the moment we were sitting in the living room, a cup in front of each of us. Tea for me and coffee for him.

I sighed and took a sip of my tea. "Roy, you drop by and ask me to do this, but you still haven't told me why. Roy that girl would be crushed if you just left her like that. You can see it in her eyes that she loves you. You're all she has." I was referring to Alice, the girl Roy had taken and was raising, who at that moment was in the backyard with Tori, who said she'd entertain the girl while we talked. "Roy I'm fifteen! How am I supposed to raise a child? I'm still just a child myself..." I nearly whispered the last part, not sure of my choice of words.

"Skye I know it's a lot to ask of you, trust me I know. I just didn't have anyone else to turn to...." He looked away, frowning to himself. Looking at him, he seemed just as tired as he had before, as if he hadn't slept for a long time.

"Look I'm sure Tori wouldn't mind you staying for awhile bu-" His eyes widened and he looked slightly panicked.

"No! Just....her...." I raised an eyebrow at the outburst. He looked at the ground, his eyes no longer visible, hidden beneath his hair. He continued to stare at the ground as he spoke. "Skye, please...." I stared at him for another few moments, the room silent as I thought.

"I'm not agreeing to anything, but if I'm even to think about this, I need to know one thing." He looked at me hopefully. "Why? Why can't you take care of her anymore?" He smiled sadly.

"Skye, the path I walk, is not one I chose. But it is one I must continue to walk. This path though, it's coming to an end. I'm not going to be around for much longer, and I refuse to drag her down with me, I care for her too much to do so." My eyes widened for a split second, trying to take in what I had heard. He was saying...he was going to die soon. But....

“You had been visiting Wolf right? How was that?” His smile became slightly strained at the question.

“It was nice, really nice. But there were things I wish I would have said. To each of them... I just...” He sighed.

I smiled at him. “Hey don't worry you can tell them next time.”

It's why he had seemed so sad.....there wouldn't be a next time. "Roy how can you be sure, I me-"

He chuckled. "Skye, you saw him didn't you? He's been following me for weeks now, I can't go more then an hour without seeing him. Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't noticed." At that moment, he appeared, standing right behind Roy, his faceless head tilting as he observed me. Everything had froze, Roy was still smiling and I felt all of the color drain from my face. As fast as he had appeared though, he had vanished. 

I let go of a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. I regarded Roy. He still smiled and yet, in his eyes I could see how desperate he was. I took another sip of tea and shut my eyes. How could I deny a dying man, his last request? I didn't open my eyes as I responded "Fine." Was all I said. I would of course talk to Tori about this later and hope she understood. 

I guess I was right, things had gotten a lot more complicated.

Surprise, surprise!

As I cracked open my book I realized with a sigh that it would be another boring night at work. I felt like I wasn't pulling my own weight, with Tori working now, and also her going on missions, I finally decided that I needed something to occupy my time. I had been hired at the library, I worked the late shift, anywhere from five or six until closing at midnight. It was usually after ten that I wouldn't really see anyone come in. So I would spend my time studying my book until closing.

I glanced up at the clock and sighed, ten thirty. Another hour and a half to go. I glanced up at the ceiling my mind wandering away from my book. I wondered how Tori was doing, she had been busy, busier than usual. I was worried but whenever I'd asked about it she had simply smiled that disarming smile of her's and told me that she would be fine, but she appreciated my worrying. I would trust her, but make sure that I was keeping the house clean and always had a nice dinner ready when she got home, that is if I wasn't working.

I chuckled as I remembered what she said the night before during dinner. She had smirked at me and commented that I would make the perfect housewife one day. I hadn't trusted myself not to stutter so I had simply continued to eat silently, my face aflame. The thought went through my head that she would make a great wife one day. Though having a wife that could kick my ass would be troublesome.....I blinked and shook my head. My mind was moving way too fast. As it usually tended to.

Just as I went back to read my book, I heard someone clear there throat. I had been so absorbed in my thoughts that I hadn't seen a man walk up to the counter, a large book in his hand, strangely enough the cover was bare of any words or even colors other than black. He had a hooded cloak on, his face barely visible. His green eyes, looked tired as if he hadn't slept for days, but as tired as they looked they were bright and piercing. But the smile I could see was kind, it put me at ease. The strangest thing was his posture, while seemingly laxed, was anything but. If one were to look closely enough they would notice that his muscles were tensed, like a coil snake ready to spring.

“Uh, did you want to check that out?” I asked hesitantly. I already had mixed feelings about the man. His smile was kind, but he stared at me intently, studying me, like he was sizing me up.

“Yes.” Was his simple reply, his voice calm and quiet. I simply nodded and took the book from him, not even glancing at it.

“Do you have a library card?” He shook his head, indicating that he didn't, I sat down at my computer and brought up the registration page. “Name?”

“Roy Carson.” My eyes widened and I looked up. I stared at the man, a wide grin now gracing his face. “Hey, Skye. How have you been?” Roy and me had been talking for a while. Even though I'd never met him in person we became fast friends. We had been shooting emails back and forth and chatting. But I hadn't heard from him in months.....

I smiled at him. “I've been okay. But what about you? I haven't heard from you in months! Where have you been?!” I had been worried. I didn't have many friends, and thinking he had died had not been a pleasant experience.

His grin turned mischievous. “You've been more than okay, if what I read on Tori's blog is true.” Cue my embarrassing blush. He chuckled, “and from the color on your face, it must be.” He frowned for a moment, a very tiny moment that if I hadn't been paying close attention I wouldn't have noticed it. But his smile was back on his face before I could say anything. “I was visiting a friend was all.”

“You had been visiting Wolf right? How was that?” His smile became slightly strained at the question.

“It was nice, really nice. But there were things I wish I would have said. To each of them... I just...” He sighed.

I smiled at him. “Hey don't worry you can tell them next time.”

His eyes suddenly had a far away look to them when he replied. “Yeah.....next time.” and he was all smiles again. Like he was slipping on a mask.

“So what are you doing here?”

“Just thought I'd come through time and visit you. There's also something I wished to speak to you about. Just not here.”

I frowned at the response, I went to say something and a shiver went down my spine. That feeling....he was here...but...where? Glancing at the window I saw him. Even without eyes, or a face for that matter, I could tell that he was staring at Roy. “Roy-”

The smile never left his face. “Yeah, I know. He's been following me for awhile now.” He glanced out at Slendy and then made his way towards the door. I went to say something but he raised his hand. “I'll come and visit you sometime soon.”

“But Ro-”

“Don't worry about me, I'll be fine.” He walked out the door after that. I saw him walk past Slender who remained for a moment before vanishing. I sighed and fell back in my chair. I had a feeling that things were about to get a lot more complicated.

Christmas prep.

I looked around me at the vast store that was Hobby Lobby and I sighed. Where to start? I had never decorated a house for Christmas before, with Tori at work the duty was left to me.

"Can I help you, uh...sir?" I blinked and looked over at the woman who had spoken. I realized then that I had been staring at the mistletoe for a good few minutes. I could feel my face light up slightly, embarrassed from how dumb I must look. I saw her sight drift down my right arm for a moment, her eyebrow rose at the bandages that covered my entire arm, stopping just shy of my fingers.

After Tori had learned of what the rune did to my life span she had been furious with me. Asking me how I could be "so smart, but do something so stupid?!" I merely remained silent and had let her rant at me. It wasn't like I could argue against her anyway. She decided that we should try to remove it, with that in mind we removed the top layer of skin from my hand, the rune with it. While painful, it had worked, or so we had thought. After the skin had healed, I was irritated to find that the rune came back with the new patch of skin. So until I could find a way to remove the rune permanently I would keep it hidden and try not to use it.

I was brought back to the present, as I felt the woman staring at me expectantly. I told the woman what I was there for and she led me around the store, bringing me to anything she thought may be what I was looking for. The woman was surprisingly patient. After about an hour and a large chunk of my personal savings, I was leaving Hobby Lobby with large bags tucked under my arms. Twenty minutes later I was back at the house. When I entered the house I heard music coming from the living room. A rather familiar tune.

"Meet me under the mistletoe"

I was surprised, not that I hadn't heard the song before. It was just that no one was supposed to be home at the moment and unless the dog had learned to operate a radio.....

"Baby don't try and tell me more"

I set my bags down on the kitchen counter as quietly as possible and walked towards the living room quietly. I peaked in and was surprised to see Tori standing next to a Christmas tree, stringing up the lights. I thought she was at work today.

"Baby I'll be by your side"

A smile came to my face when I heard her singing along to the song, a happy smile on her face as she continued to place the lights on the tree. It had been a slow process to be sure, but she had slowly revert back to how she was before her ordeal.

"Kiss me under the mistletoe"

This was actually the happiest I had seen her in awhile. I decided to make my presence known and knocked on the wall next to me. She looked over at me, her eyes widening, a small blush lighting her face. I stifled a laugh as she scrambled over the radio and turned it off. I was slightly disappointed, she actually had a pretty nice voice. She looked from the radio to me. "H-hey, Skye ...when did you get home?"


I had an amused smile on my face. "Just now. I'm surprised you're home, I thought you worked today."

The blush faded from her face. "Well I did, but I didn't want you to have to decorate the house by yourself so I switched with somebody." She walked in to the kitchen, looking at the various bags on the table. "Do you need any help with those?" I paled when I remembered what one of the bags contained, but covered my panic quickly.

"That's alright, I got them." I quickly grabbed the bags and rushed upstairs, setting them in my room. In one of the bags was Tori's present.... which since she may read this, I won't say what it is. After I had properly hid her present, I looked in the bags containing decorations. It was time to get started.

Three hours later and I was going over the mental checklist.

Holly? Check.

Christmas tree decorated? Check.

Christmas lights outside? Check.

The halls were properly decked. It was at that moment that my insane other decided to speak up. 'I notice you hung mistletoe as well. Hoping to get a kiss?' I could feel my eye twitch. 'It's for decorative purposes!' I heard my other let out an amused snort.

'Sure, sure....' He went silent at that moment and I sighed. I stared at the tree. Yep, it felt like Christmas.

Wake up call

6 a.m. in the morning....My alarm goes off, as usual I slam my hand on the snooze button, half-tempted to destroy the dang thing with my new rune. I sit up and stretch, a yawn escapes my mouth as I wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness of my room. I roll out of bed and throw on some clothes before heading to the basement. No better way to wake up than with physical training. Stretch a little and then go right into my usual routine. This takes around an hour. 

Afterwards I go upstairs and take a shower. After all of this I make my way to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. I find Alaska looking up at me expectantly and I feed her. I check the fridge and find that were almost out of eggs. I guess I'll make a trip to the store later today. I think as I grab what remains of the carton. I turn on the stove and go about preparing some eggs(scrambled and fluffy of course) as well as bacon, and a couple pieces of toast. I put this all on a plate and set it on the table where Tori usually sits.

I turn around to make my breakfast and I hear someone enter the room. "Good morning." I call out not bothering to turn around. No response, only silence. "I hope you slept well." I try, still no response. I sigh and turn around. "C'mon Tor-" No one else is in the room. I also notice that the plate I set out is gone. I sighed and sat down at the table. I picked at the food on my plate, having lost my appetite for some reason.

It had been like this ever since she got back, she avoided me. The only time I really saw her during the day was at dinner. The comfortable silence was gone, replaced with a tense silence. I saw so little of her during the day, that if I didn't know any better I would say she was using the path to get around the house; just so that she could avoid me. It was beginning to irritate me and I didn't know what to do.

'Let me talk to her. I'll fix her up in no time.'

I scoffed at the idea. 'I don't exactly trust you, ya know.'

'Come now I won't hurt her...much.' I could practically hear the wicked smirk on his face.

'No, I'll figure this out on my own.'

I heard a sigh in my head 'Sadly, it wasn't a request.' I felt a slight tugging sensation at the back of my mind. Before I knew what was going on I had lost control of my body. It wasn't like the other times though. Usually when my other decided to take control I had no idea what was going on. I basically passed out when he took control. It wasn't like that this time, I could still see everything from my own eyes. I looked down at my hands and flexed my fingers, only it wasn't me.

I made way towards Tori's room. My hand grasped the knob and I opened her door. Tori was sitting on her bed, an empty plate on her nightstand. She was staring at her laptop. She looked up at me and I caught a glimpse of her eyes the same dull blue as when I met her, void of any emotion other than sorrow and guilt. She gave me a questioning glance, obviously wondering why I had barged into her room. I went to mutter an apology and realized that like my body I had no control of my voice.

"We need to talk." I asked, it wasn't the loud booming voice my other usually used.

She frowned and shook her head. 

"Not right now Skye, I'm not really in the mood to talk." I grinned and walked over to her bed. I took the laptop from her and set it next to her on the bed. I watched as I picked her up bridal style and her eyes widened in surprise. "W-What the hell Skye?!" She struggled to no avail. She could not escape the tight hold I had on her. I walked into the backyard and proceeded to unceremoniously dropped her on to the ground. She glared up at me and stood up slowly. "The fuck Skye?! I said I did-" I raised a hand and cut her off.

"Let's cut to the chase Tori. I'm sick of your attitude and I'm sick of you avoiding me." Her eyes widened slightly.

"I haven't be-" I cut her off again.

"Bull shit! You've been moping around the house and avoiding me all week!" A growl escaped my lips. "It's time to face the facts. What you did was horrible. They thought you were their friend. You stabbed them all in the back. Killed every last one of them." I could see her eyes watering slightly and I fought desperately for control. "You killed people Tori and I get that it was hard. But you need to move on. Stop being a pathetic little bitch." I could tell she was close to tears.

"S-Skye...they trus-" She started to say, before I cut her off.

"What? Trusted you? Look where that got them! They deserved to die for their own stupidity. Trust is for fools who don't know how the universe works." I could feel the vicious smirk that formed on my face.

"I b-betrayed them...I'm a fucking m-monster..." She said, sounding choked.

"This isn't about your pathetic morals anymore! This is about sur-" I blinked. A grin made it's way onto my face as I regained control. Tori was still looking at the ground, I took a step forward and did the only thing that I could think to do. I wrapped my arms around her and I felt her stiffen. "You're not a monster..." I spoke softly. "You did what you had to, so that we could survive." I felt her relax. "I'm sorry, It's my fault that you had to kill. I feel like I've only caused you trouble and for that I'm truly sorry."

"No, its not your fault," she sighed and leaned into me slightly. "It was my choice Skye..." She shivered when some wind blew by, it was unseasonably chilly out and there was still dew on the grass. I pulled her closer to me and she pressed herself into me in an attempt to keep warm.

"I don't think you're any less of a person for what you did Tori," I told her.

"Why?" She mumbled into my chest.

"Because you did what you had to. I know it's hard, but you need to accept that and move on. You can't hide away forever." I chuckled and rubbed small circles into her back, keeping her warm.

She shifted around so she could look at me. Her eyes nearly made my stomach drop out of me, they were like a glass window that someone had broken and taped back together, but they did a terrible job and they missed some pieces. She opened her mouth and I expected her to argue my last sentence.

"Can we have a Lord of the Rings marathon?" Her voice was small and nearly child-like. She was far from accepting what she did, but at least she was willing to work towards it.

"Yeah, of course," I smiled down at her before picking her up again, bridal-style. She gave a small laugh and just leaned into me, trying to stay warm.

As I carried her in to the house I had a smile on my face, mostly to mask my worry. It trouble me just how easily my other had taken over. But as I looked down at Tori, a small smile still on her face, I realized that I could worry about it later. I chose to ignore the faint sound of insane laughter in my head. I would worry about it tomorrow.

What a lovely smile

"Tori I-" and she was gone. Dang it....whatever I would just tell her when she got back. Sighing I made my way to the kitchen. I grabbed a cup from the cabinet and poured myself a glass of water. I leaned against the counter and took a sip. My eyes wandered the room and eventually fell upon the bouquet of black roses. I stared at them, a frown forming on my face.

"I just don't get it!" What don't you get?"A threat?!" A threat to who?"You're nothing but weak children!" Ouch. So we're threat? But to who? Smiley? Was a fear afraid of us? No....no...that wouldn't make any sense. There had to be another explanation...

I was so deep in thought that when Alaska started barking I payed it no mind. Until she bit me. I winced and dived out of the way as a knife flew through the air where my head had just been. I quickly crawled behind the kitchen counter when I heard a sigh.

"You just HAD to dodge didn't you?" A woman's voice spoke. I heard her huff "couldn't of just made it easy." Another sigh. I reached up and quickly grabbed a knife from the knife rack. I gripped it tightly. 

The woman's voice rang out again. "Fine looks like we'll just have to do this the hard way." I heard her slow foot steps as she made her way to the counter. Alright I'll jus-My eyes widened when I reached into my pocket to grasp at my runes. They weren't there....Fuck! I left them upstairs. My eyes darted back and forth trying to think of what I could do. My eyes fell upon the knife still gripped tightly in my hands.

The woman's foot steps seemed louder than they should have been. My vision was swimming as I began to panic. STOP IT, YOU PATHETIC LITTLE SHIT! JUST CALM DOWN! I winced as the voice boomed in my head. It was a voice I had not yet grown used to. It was my...other...I don't really have a name for him. I tried to calm down. I took a deep breath. First of all, I realized, I need a wider area to fight. Somewhere more open. I quickly jumped to my feet and ran around the counter, I ran for the back door. I risked a glance back at the woman. She just stood there as I ran, a bored expression on her face.

I heard her sigh again."God damn it. They always run...I don't know why." I could see the back door. Four or five more steps an-She appeared in front of me, a lazy smile on her face. "Because the ending is always the same." I stopped just in time to avoid the knife she swung at my throat. She quickly lunged forward and stabbed at me. I barely managed another step back, the knife stopping centimeters from my eyes. She's fast! I thought as I dodged another swipe from her knife.

I made no move to attack her with my own knife, with her speed I couldn't take the risk. I took another step back. I turned and sprinted for the front door. A knife whizzed past my head, once again barely missing me. The woman once again appeared in front of me catching the knife she had thrown and swinging at me. I hadn't expected this, and because of my surprise she was able to catch my shoulder. I jumped back holding the cut. I moved my hand, and looked at the small cut. It was only a shallow cut, nothing too bad.

She sighed again, a noise I was really getting sick of. "Can't you see that it's useless?" Her tone made it sound as if she was bored. "You're going to die." She stepped forward her knife raised. I took a step towards the back door. She tilted her head to the side seeming confused. I jumped towards the door and she made no move to stop me, her only response to my actions another sigh. I ran out the back door and into the yard. I looked around and noticed it had gotten dark out. I ran and hid behind a tree. I heard her speak from the center of the yard.

"Hiding are we? Don't worry I'll find you." I heard her footsteps as she walked to a tree on the other side of the yard. What was I supposed to do? She was clearly superior at knife play and she was faster. Not only that but I didn't have any runes on me. I had to take another deep breath, despite my urge to panic I had to stay calm.

You know what you have to do. You are simply too afraid to do so. 

But the book sai-

I don't give a fuck! Would you rather die?! You told the girl that you would be there for her from now on! That you would help her however you could! How the hell are you supposed to do that if you're DEAD?!

My eyes snapped open and I looked at the knife in my hand. I slowly brought it to the top of my hand and began to carefully carve the necessary lines into my hand. I had to grit my teeth to stop myself from screaming. Once I had finished, I looked at my handiwork. A complex rune, one that I had never tried to draw before. The book had warned against carving the runes into your own flesh. I could not remember why. The rune gave off a dull red glow and I watched in amazement as the blood hardened, making the lines thin and clean. Rather than the mess they had been before.

I gripped the knife tightly in my left hand. I peeked out from behind the tree to see where she was. My eyes widened in surprise when I found that she was no where to be seen. "Looking for me?" I heard from right behind me. I jumped to the side as she slashed the tree I had been hiding behind. I ran to the middle of the yard. I heard giggling, which sounded strange coming from the tired sounding Rose Bride.

"Such a silly boy you are. Thinking that you can fight me?" The yard was suddenly enveloped in pitch black. I couldn't see anything other than myself. The giggling continued. "We were surprised to hear that you had defeated Basilia. A child like you should never have been able to beat her." The giggling paused and another sigh was heard. I looked around, how was I supposed to fight someone I couldn't see? "I always told her that her arrogance would be her downfall. She underestimated you, I will not make the same mistake." I grinned, she thought I was helpless without my eyes. As she would soon find out this was not the truth.

"Blindfolds, really?" I asked her dubiously as she drowned her waffles in syrup. 

"Look do you wanna get your ass kicked by a Rose Bride again?" She asked me, raising her eyebrows.

"No I don't wanna get my ass kicked by you, I'm still sore from my last ass kicking..." I muttered.

"Well then you can kick my ass, or at least try to." She smirked at me as she took another bite of her waffle.

My smile widened slightly, we had practiced everyday. Taking turns wearing the blindfold, learning how to fight without the benefit of sight. While I was no where near as good as Tori was at it, I had to hope I was good enough to take this woman by surprise. I shut my eyes, focusing only on my hearing. The giggling was growing closer and closer. It was hard trying to pinpoint where from. I opened my eyes and threw my knife into the darkness. The blackness around me disappeared and was replaced with the backyard once again. The woman had a look of surprise on her face as she deflected my knife. I rushed forward hoping to take advantage her momentary surprise. When I got within striking range the rune on my hand glowed an angry red. She seemed to snap out of her stupor and swung her knife at me. I ducked quickly and thrust my hand at her.

I lightly touched her stomach with my glowing hand. She was launched backwards with the blast of concussive force. She screamed when she hit the tree with a sickening crack. I was amazed at the power of the rune, it was only a lower tier rune. It wasn't supposed to be that powerful. She slid to the ground and laid completely still on her stomach. I gasped in pain and looked to my shoulder. My shoulder had taken damage as well, it was bent back at an unnatural angle. It was dislocated, I realized. I heard cracking bones and looked forward in disbelief to see the woman slowly standing once again. 

I knew it was dangerous but I couldn't fight with a dislocated shoulder. I had read about it before, I reached over with my good hand and a scream escaped my mouth as I put my shoulder back in place. I rotated my shoulder slowly, it was painful to move, but I could manage. I rushed the woman, picking up my knife from the ground on the way. I had to end it before she had a chance to recover. Once I had gotten in range I swung the knife at her, she reached into her back pocket and I froze when I felt cold steel touch the bottom of my chin. I heard a click as she pulled the hammer back.

"That really hurt you bastard....." She said quietly. "I don't like having to resort to using guns, I usually don't have to." This was it, I realized...There was no way out of this. She would pull the trigger and I would be dead. You know how they say that before you die....your life flashes before your eyes? I never believed that, it didn't make much sense. But it happened, I saw so many things, so fast. I was sad.....because my life, had been so pathetic....My mind froze on one image. A smiling Tori. 

I smiled sadly, and shut my eyes. "I'm sorry." I muttered. I heard the woman scream in pain and my eyes snapped open. The woman was standing a few feet away clutching what was now nothing more than a bloody stump. I looked to the ground and almost puked when I saw the woman's arm on the ground still clutching the gun. Standing in front of me with a sword held outward was a cloaked figure. A hood over the persons head.

The Rose Bride glared at the figure still clutching her bloody stump. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded.

I heard a pleasant laugh from the figure in front of me, who I now knew was a woman as well. "Why does it matter? I need not give my name to someone who is already dead." I could practically hear the smirk in the figure's voice. The Rose Bride went to say something else when something below her glowed. She looked down to see a large rune below her. She barely had time to scream as a large pillar of white hot flames erupted from the ground completely enveloping her.

When the flames died down, there was nothing more than a pile of ashes left where the Rose Bride had once been. I stared at the cloaked woman in amazement. That was a higher tier rune, one that only a master could use. She turned quickly and before I could thank her.."You idiot! Do you know what you just did?!" I stepped back surprised by the outburst. She took a step forward "Did you wonder why that rune of yours was stronger than it should have been?! Didn't you read the warning in the book?!"

"Well I did....but I-" I tried say.

"What you forgot?! When you carve runes into your skin, it doesn't use your blood as the medium anymore! It uses your own life force!" My eyes widened slightly at hearing this. "So sure it may have been a little stronger than usual, but that one little attack probably costed you weeks of your life!" I chuckled when she said this."What's so god damn funny?!"

I looked up at her with a bitter smile on my face. "So what? It's not like anyone being chased by these fears dies of natural causes anyways."

Her response was to smack me in the back of the head. "Just don't do it again you moron." She muttered as she walked away.

I rubbed my head. "Wait! Who are you?" I asked.

"Don't worry, you may find out soon enough." She called back as she continued to walk. When she had vanished I walked back to the house. I looked out the door to see...The Smiling Man in the backyard standing near the pile of ashes. I was honestly too tired to be afraid. He stared in my direction for a few minutes before vanishing with the pile of ashes. I sighed and then fed Alaska. I made my way up the stairs towards my room. I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Sorry this took so long....There's more to talk about but I'm too tired to talk about it today......So until next time I suppose.

Nightmares, surprisingly not mine for once

There was no sign of Smiley or any of his Rose Brides yesterday. It was a relief. Because the first thing I noticed when I awoke that morning was that, as Tori predicted, I was sore, like extremely sore. I dragged myself out of bed even though my body protested. I went to the kitchen and whipped up some waffles.

Tori stumbled into the kitchen tiredly. She sat down grabbing a plateful of waffles and proceeded to drown them in syrup. She suggested that we spar to which I reluctantly accepted. After the spar was over I spent the rest of the day studying my book. So pretty much an uneventful day.

I glanced at the clock and noticed it was late so I shut my book and laid down. Before long I had fallen asleep. I was awoken by Tori screaming. I looked over at the clock and groaned. 2 a.m. "Just one night, please" I mumbled to myself. I got out of bed and made my way to her room. When I opened the door I saw Tori sitting up in her bed breathing heavily. Her hands gripped her bed-sheets so tight her knuckles were white. The moonlight streaming in from the window made her look paler that usual.

I walked forward slowly, wondering what was wrong. "Hey I heard you scream, are you alright?"

She glanced over at me. "I-I'm fine...it was.... it was just a nightmare.." She sighed and used the back of her hand to wipe her face. She had been crying.

"Can I... help?" I asked unsure. She held out her arms, I noticed just how tired she looked, how scared, and if I were honest maybe just a bit adorable. I felt my blush at that thought.

I looked around the room until I spotted the panda plushy. I grabbed it and held it out to her. "Panda?" I asked weakly.

She put her arms down. "Damn it Skye I want a hug not a panda!"

"Obviously you're fine if you can make Star Trek references!"

She held her arms out again a childish pout on her face. "Hug," she demanded. I sighed at this. A blush still on my face I walked over to her. I sat down next to her and wrapped my arms around her and she laid back down, bringing me with her. "H-hey I th-thought you just wanted a h-hug not-"

"Shut up Skye," she mumbled into my shoulder. I couldn't see her face to tell, but she sounded almost embarrassed. "Just trust me on this..."

"U-um...."

"Look I don't wanna wake you up again okay?" she mumbled and shifted slightly so she was more comfortable.

"O-okay."

It wasn't long before her breathing slowed. I looked down at her, she was asleep. "Uh....T-Tori?" This only caused her to snuggle even closer. My face felt like it was on fire at this point and I began to feel dizzy.

Don't pass out, don't you dare pass out! Don't p- and everything went black. The first thing I noticed when I woke up is that there was a weight on top of me.

I froze up when I saw that Tori had somehow ended up on top of me, her head on my chest and her hands on both of my shoulders. My arms were still wrapped around her. I noticed that she wasn't actually heavy at all and that the only reason she could pin me was because she knew how to pin someone bigger than her. As I idly rubbed small circles into her back and traced over her scars I wondered who exactly taught her to fight. There was still so much that I didn't know about her. She chose this time to wake up. I began to stutter out nonsense. She lifted her head to look at me.

With that unreadable look on her face she said, "You're really comfortable to sleep on." I was silenced by her words. Her mouth pulled up into a smirk before she laid her head back on my chest and fell asleep again. I just stared at the top of her head for a few minutes before shutting my eyes, a blush still on my face. It wasn't long before I too fell asleep.

A long post for a long day

The first sign of incoming danger was the giggling, then of course there were the flowers. Black roses being a sign of death. A bouquet that I had taken inside as soon as I had found it. I walked calmly to Tori's room when I entered the house.

"Geez Skye at least take me on a date first." She said jokingly after I woke her up, a spark of amusement in her eyes.

I felt my face heat up "W-what..?" I looked down, noticing I was still clad only in my boxers and I was holding a bouquet of roses. I'm sure this looked rather strange. "I'll b-be right b-back."  

I ran to my room and quickly threw on a t-shirt and some cargo pants and ran back to her room. After that we discussed what the flowers meant. This of course was obvious. This had The Smiling Man written all over it. The only question was why was he after one of us....more importantly who was he after?

She looked pensively at me. "The Smiling Man you say?" I nodded and tried to look at her without blushing. She had worn a sports bra to bed again and the sheets were pooled around her hips. 

"It's the only explanation, as you know he uses bouquets to warn his victims. Communicating these warnings through the language of the flowers. I'm no expert but even I know that black roses mean death. So it would seem he wants one of us, or possibly both of us dead." I leaned against the door frame shutting my eyes. "The question is why? What reason does he have for wanting one of us dead?" I opened my eyes looking at her. "You wouldn't happen to be afraid of serial killers would you?"

She shook her head. "No I actually find serial killers interesting. The way that their minds work is fascinating." An emotion flickered in her eye almost to fast to be recognized  But for a split second I saw an emotion was all too familiar. Fear. "I just don't want to become one." 

I sighed "I guess it doesn't matter why; he's after one of us now and there isn't much we can do about it."

She took the flowers from me and put them in a vase setting them in the kitchen. Placing an ace of spades in the window next to the flowers, muttering something like "damn cards indeed" with a fond smile on her face. I face palmed when I saw this, and I'll admit I chuckled. Oh yes let's just try to piss off the homicidal straitjacket wearing psychopath. A wonderful idea indeed. The rest of the day was quiet. That was until dinner. Dinner as usual was filled with silence, a comfortable silence.

Then there was the tittering. Echoing throughout the house as it had that morning. I stood and my eyes darted around the house trying to locate the origin of the sound. It was closer this time, not as distant as it had sounded that morning. Yes it was in the house this time. But then how had I not felt it? I didn't have time to worry about that right now though. Is was becoming louder, closer. In the corner of my eyes I saw Tori stand as well looking around for the source of the noise. This was a relief to me, I was not imagining this then.

It was then that a woman stepped out from the shadows, giggling. I examined the woman who had a psychotic grin on her face. Long red hair, eyes sparkling with madness. She stepped forward and Tori chose this moment to act. Taking out a throwing knife I had not known she had. With a flick of her wrist the knife sped at the women and planted itself into the wall behind her. The grin never leaving her face as she faded into rose petals.

"What a rude little girl you are." Her voice filled with mirth, I looked over at Tori, whose eyes were wide, the woman standing behind her. Tori turned taking out another knife and slashing at nothing but air as the women faded into rose petals once again. We could hear her voice echoing from all around. "Tsk, tsk didn't your parents teach you any manners?"

"You..." I looked over and could tell Tori was angry. "Come out you coward!" The only response was more giggling.

"Let's take this elsewhere..." I could hear the back door open and slam shut. I snapped out of my daze at the noise. I ran towards the back door, Tori following me. I threw the door open to see the women standing in the middle of the backyard. I slowly walked forward Tori standing to my left.

"I just don't get it!" The woman whined. "A threat?" she laughed "You're nothing but weak children." I gritted my teeth feeling that same anger that I felt when I encountered Slendy. She shrugged "Well orders are orders I suppose. Do try to make this entertaining will you?" I charged at her swinging, she just dodged the wild punches with ease giggling the entire time. This only proved to make me angrier. A flash of silver and a throwing knife sped past me. The women scoffed and tilted her head the throwing knife planting itself in to the tree behind her. The momentary distraction was enough however to allow me to land a punch to the women's ribs.

She looked at me surprised as she stumbled backwards. A growl escaped her lips. "How dare you strike me?!" She faded once again. Petals appearing in the air, forming a ring around me. I was confused by this. What was this? She appeared in front of me delivering a vicious blow to my stomach. I gasped for air as she disappeared as fast as she had appeared.

"Skye!" Tori yelled as she ran towards me. When she came close I heard her gasp in pain as one of the petals touched her. I looked at her seeing that the petal had left a cut on her cheek. My attention was drawn from her when I felt pain explode in my temple as the women delivered a kick to the side my head. I stood to my feet shakily. Only to be punched in the face. I stumbled backwards as she struck me again. My eyes darted back and force trying to track the woman's extremely fast movements. She struck me again. This was a Rose Bride? Another powerful strike. The beating continued on. My mind raced. What could I do? What cou-another strike.

The familiar taste of blood in my mouth. Wait! The runes...I had my runes.....I reached into my pocket grasping the small slip of paper. I had not used them in a combat situation yet. I had to make contact, I just had to make contact. The thought passed through my mind as I felt another brutal punch to my ribs. She appeared in front of me a smirk on her face as she struck me again. I tried to track her movements. I found it to be a impossible task.

"I'm disappointed, I expected more from you after that punch earlier. Is that all you have?" the voice was mocking me. It echoed all around me. "I grow bored of this boy, I might as well end it now!" the voice yelled still echoing all around me...no wait...It was coming from my left! I turned already anticipating the blow. I side stepped her punch and she was thrown off balance her momentum carrying her forward. I quickly delivered a palm strike to the center of her back. What she did not notice was the small slip of paper I stuck on her back.

She caught herself with her hand and lashed out at me with her leg. Delivering yet another powerful blow to my face. I fell back on to the ground. She stood up glaring down at me. "You have an opportunity and that's how you use it?" She asked in disbelief. I looked up with at her with a grin, a small trickle of blood escaping my mouth. "What's with the smile kid, it's over don't you realize that?"

"Yea I do...because I've already won." I said. She opened her mouth to say something before she began to convulse violently as electricity traveled throughout her body. The rune on her back glowing a bright blue. When the glow faded the woman fell to the ground unconscious. I stood up feeling slightly dizzy and noticed the petals that had been in the air had vanished.

I looked over at Tori still smiling. She smiled back tentatively, and I noticed that her arms were bleeding. "Oh, I tried to get her off of you but the bitch kept blasting me with her razor petals," she shrugged as if it was something that happened every day.

"Regardless," she smiled wider as she walked over to me and patted me on the back lightly so she didn't hurt me. "I think that's the single most badass thing I've ever seen you do so far kid."

I smiled back at her before looking over to the unconscious Rose Bride. "What should we do with her? I don't think she's dead, I just knocked her out."

Tori crouched down and pressed two fingers to the woman's neck, searching for a pulse. She stared blankly into space as she counted. "Well she's alive and her pulse is normalish for a human. Want me to just chuck her into the path?" Tori looked up at me from her squatting position and I noticed that the cut on her cheek was still bleeding sluggishly.

"Can't think of a better option... So sure," I shrugged. I watched as Tori carefully drug the Rose Bride by her arms into the shadow of the tree. I blinked and they were gone. A couple seconds later, Tori was back.

"Now let's make sure you don't have any fractures or internal bleeding." She was all business now. It was easy to forget that this was the girl who actually had medical books piled up in her room

"But you're bleeding Tori, at least take care of that first." She looked at me with that unreadable face before shaking her head.

"Fine, I'm pretty sure there's a first aid kit in the pavilion. I'll need help cleaning and bandaging the cuts on my back though," she called over her shoulder as she made her way to the center of the yard where the pavilion was. I followed her and assisted with minimal blushing and stuttering. She hissed in pain slightly when I cleaned out a few of the deeper ones, but other than that she was silent as we both cleaned and bandaged her.

"Sit." She pointed to the picnic table and I obeyed, sitting on the table. She started poking and prodding me gently with her fingers, asking occasionally if anything hurt and if it did to explain it. She'd hum when I answered, give wherever hurt another jab, and then move on. She concluded that I probably didn't have any broken or fractured ribs, punctured lungs, or anything like that. She did say that I would probably hurt like hell tomorrow from the beating I took though.

Wish I could have shot the messenger

I snapped awoke to the sound of giggling. The way it echoed through the house, the very sound of it made me uneasy. I looked over at the clock. 6 a.m. I groaned when I read it, the sound was muffled by the pillow that I covered my head with. "One full night of sleep, is that too much to ask for?" The incessant tittering suggested that it was. I got out of bed not bothering to put any clothes on. So I set off making my way through the house clad only in a pair of boxer shorts. Yea I was tired....

I first went about checking the runes that had been placed at each of the potential entrances of the house. They made it so I could feel it if someone other than Tori or myself entered the house. I had to draw them with ink that had been mixed with my and Tori's blood, Tori did not actually question me when I told her I needed some of her blood.

"Hey uh...T-Tori?"

"Yea Skye?"

I fumbled nervously with the pockets of my pants. "C-could I have s-some of y-your blood?" 

Cue the blank stare. I imagine that the question sounded quite strange.

"Some of my blood?"

I nodded. "S-some of your b-blood." 

"You want me to give you some of my blood?"

"Y-yes..."

A shrug is placed here.

"Alright, sure"

I shook my head and continued checking the runes. I was relieved to find that none of them had been tampered with. Meaning had someone entered I would have felt it. The giggling however continued. It was coming from outside then, I decided. With that in mind I went for the nearest door(backdoor) and walked outside. I shivered slightly at the cool morning air. But kept moving nonetheless.

The louder seemed to grow louder, echoing throughout the yard as it had in the house. That feeling of uneasiness only grew. I made my way through the yard slowly, cautiously. I found nothing. The giggling grew even louder as I grew frustrated. Taking a deep breath I walked around to the front of the house.

Slowly the giggling subsided and I sighed. When it had fully disappeared I made my way to the front door. I froze when I saw what sat in front of the door. "N-no......" was all I managed to say.

What sat in front of the door was a bouquet of black roses.

Pancakes for breakfast

I had stayed up the whole night making runes. Knowing that we would need all the protection we could get. I had read Tori's post. So he had been the reason she was crying. I walked to her room that morning. I felt as though there were things we needed to discuss. I knocked on her door and I heard a quiet "come in".

When I opened the door I saw that she had a variety of weapons laid out across her bed. I was slightly surprised. "What do you want Skye?" She asked as she went about sharpening the knives.

"You're not actually going to go through with this are you?" She glanced up at me before going back to sharpening the knives. "You can't do this. You're going to be killing innocent people....."

She stopped sharpening the knife and she looked at me. "Oh did you wanna die then?" I was taken aback by this. "Look I'm saving your ass by doing this. I thought you'd be a little more appreciative than this. But noooo all the guys I give a damn about have a fucking DEATH WISH!"

I found myself becoming angry at her words. "I don't have a death wish! But I don't want you to have to kill   innocent people just because you won't kill me! It isn't right!"

"Well what you expect me to do?!" She stood up at this point. I was quieted by this. I wasn't sure how to respond to that. "Look," Tori sighed, pushing the weapons aside so she could sit down on the bed. Her posture was slumped, very unlike the confident way she usually held herself. "I know that this isn't really.... ideal... but...." She took a deep breath and shook her head slightly. "What else could I do?"  She looked up at me and I was taken aback at how broken her eyes were. I found myself becoming angry again, not at her but at that suit wearing bastard.

I ran a hand through my hair, sighed and leaned against the door frame. "I don't know.....But what I do know is that, I meant what I said the other night. I'm not going to let you deal with this on your own. I don't know how much I can do but....I know that I want to help you in anyway that I can. We'll get through this, together." I felt a confidence that I had never felt before. For some reason I found myself actually believing what I was saying. I had that feeling, that feeling that tells you that everything's going to be alright. Even though the voices were yelling at me that everything was definitely not going to be alright. That if I didn't run I was going to die. I was surprised to find myself ignoring them.

She looked up at me, blankly at first but then her eyes flickered from emotion to emotion - so fast I couldn't make out what she was feeling. "That...." she smiled up at me, "that means a lot to me." I found myself smiling back at her.

"So....what's for breakfast?"

The calm before the storm

"No!" My eyes snapped open at Tori's yell. I looked at my bedside clock. 3 a.m. gahhh so late......

 I slowly got out of the bed. I rubbed at my eyes and began to make my way to my door. I opened it stumbling into the hallway. I was exhausted. I walked to where the scream had come from. I walked into the kitchen to see Tori on the floor with her eyes closed tightly.

"Tori?" I asked, concerned. "Tori are you okay?" she looked up at me, fear shining in her eyes as she began to frantically crawl backwards. "What happened?" She looked up at me again opening her mouth as if to say something, but all that escaped was a choked sob. I kneeled down in front of her trying to figure out what was wrong. She shut her mouth shaking her head. "Hey, hey what happened?" I asked softly, I could see tears running down her cheeks.

She seemed confused at the question bringing her hand up to her face as if only now noticing she was crying. "I..." her eyes moved around the room quickly before settling back on me. She flung herself at me surprising me. I froze up for a few minutes not too sure what to do. I slowly put my arms around her making shushing noises as I rubbed her back as she had done for me. She continued to sob into my chest as I held her. I was of course rather confused, at that point not sure what had happened, still not exactly sure.

She finally seemed to relax, her sobs coming to a stop. I looked down to see that she had fallen asleep. I froze when I felt it. That familiar feeling that all runners know. My eyes darted around the room looking for what I knew was there. My eyes stopped on the window when I saw HIM standing outside of it. I shook slightly with an emotion that I did not feel often, pure rage. I glared at him and he simply cocked his head to the side.

I knew that whatever had happened to Tori HE was to blame. I grit my teeth standing to my feet still holding Tori. I began to walk to her room my eyes never leaving HIM. Tentacles began to appear behind him. Swaying angrily almost. I could not stop the small growl from escaping my lips. I knew that I should be scared, terrified of this creature. But all I felt at the moment was that intense anger. I blinked and he was gone.

I sighed as I continued to Tori's room. When I entered I set her on the bed and tucked her in. I exited the room shutting the door quietly behind me. As I made my way back to my room my mind was racing. HE was back....and that meant danger. I needed to prepare. I wouldn't let him hurt her, I refused to.

With that in mind I entered my room and sat down at the desk. I took out a small jar of ink with a red tint to it, as well as a small slips of paper. I took out my calligraphy pen dipping it in to the ink. I began to work. I would be up till dawn.

Until next time, Skye.

Magically magical magic

Interesting title, ne?

I should probably explain. It refers to the book I found recently. I've never to believe what we call "magic" and I'm not sure I so now. But this book, the things it says it teaches seem unreal. The book Tori referred to that I kept reading that she said was "bigger than the 7th Harry Potter book".

I did not find this book, you see it was handed to me. A rather strange individual in a book store. It was shortly after I had left. One of the cities I had came to. A strange little town, it was..empty. I was walking through the town when I came across a small book store. I did not know why but I felt drawn to it. It seemed quite old like it had been there forever. I walked in and noticed the place was quite dusty. I called out to see if there was someone else there. I got no reply.

I began to walking around the small shop looking through the various books on rows of shelves. Each of them seemed worn no covers. The titles were to faded to read. I reached for one of them.

"Hello there." I jumped at the sound of a women's voice and turned around quickly. The owner of the voice was an older women. She had grey hair that reached her shoulders, kind emerald green eyes, and an equally kind smile on her face. "What brings one as young as yourself to my shop?"

"Y-your shop?" I asked stupidly, for some reason surprised.

"That's right I am the owner of this shop." She answered calmly. Her voice, I found, had a sort of calming effect. Because I suddenly found myself at ease with this complete stranger. "If I may ask again, why is it you are here? It is not often I get visitors so young." She asked me again, but something in the way she spoke told me she had been expecting me. I dismissed this ridiculous thought.

"I saw your book store and I was curious is all." I answered honestly. She looked at me curiously for a few seconds. I looked around at the books around me. Her smile grew slightly.

"Is that so? How curious...." She seemed to think about something for a minute or so. "I think I have just what you need dear." I froze, what I needed? What was she talking about? "If you would just wait here." She began to walk the rows of books. She disappeared as she walked further into the store. "Ah! Here it is." She came back with a large black book. No words could be seen on the front or back of the book. She handed it to me, I was confused as ever as I examined the book.

"I believe this shall aid you in your journey young one." I was just completely lost at this point. Journey? Was this lady off her rocker? I looked at her the same smile still on her face. "I believe it is time for you to go though. I am sorry but it is not in your best interest to stay here any longer than necessary." I looked at the book and she guided me to the exit. She opened the door and I walked through as I was walking I heard her speak. "Take good care of it, I hope it helps you. You have a long path ahead of you, be careful....Skye." The door shut behind me.

Wait...I hadn't told her my name. Nor had I paid for the book. I turned and opened the door "Wait how did you-" I stopped when my eyes settled on an empty room. The books, the women, they were all gone. I stepped out of the store not able to comprehend what had just happened. I looked back to find that the once empty streets were bustling with traffic. I looked back at the now empty building. Had it just been another hallucination? I looked down to see that the book was still in my hands though. I needed somewhere to think. I did not open the book and set off looking for a library.

When I found one I sat down at one of the many desks. I slowly opened the book to find it was written in a strange language. Letters and symbols I had never seen before. But somehow I found myself able to read them. The book claimed to be a guide of sorts on runes. Claiming these runes held powers. One's that could alter reality momentarily. For an example there was one rune in the book that the book said would release a torrent of flames when activated by the user.

I am looking to you science types(Med) for an explanation here. Is any of this even possible? If so...how? and what was with the bookstore and the strange city?

Hoping for an answer, Skye.

Progress as of yet? None whatsoever.

She looked at me after I had pinned her, after I had snapped and harmed her.

"And I said I'd help you with the voices right?" That you did. "We can work on it, alright? I want to help you." and I want to believe that you can. This reaction had surprised me for many reasons. Kids in the past that have witnessed my....fits, we'll just call them fits. Anyways kids in the past that have witnessed my fits tend to avoid me afterwards. Any chance of friendship long gone. I would then be avoided like the plague (with one exception I suppose in the form of Katrina).

I found myself wondering how she hoped to help me. Tori could not even begin to understand what it was like. To hear these voices in your head, could she? It is a possibility I suppose, but how? She is not schizophrenic I assume. She does not have any signs of multiple personality disorder, that I have seen anyways. So how then, would she understand? While at first seeming to be rather simple, and easy to read. I have found that my hostess is rather enigmatic. 

Early that morning she came to fetch me from my room or "cave" as she has began calling it. She went about going over many ways one can ignore the voices in their head. The first idea one that I was to work on was....

"Meditation." She stated. I gave her a strange look.

"Meditation? Does that really work?" I asked with doubt clear in my voice. I did not know if something as simple as meditation would work.

She just stared at me. "Are you doubting me?" she asked.

I looked away quickly, blood rushing to my face. "N-no of c-course not!" I said louder then I had meant to. I looked back to see she was smiling.

"Good, now cross your legs and shut your eyes." I did as I was instructed. "Now I want you to clear your mind. It may be hard at first, but it shouldn't be too hard for you." I focused on doing as I was told. I remembered once reading about meditation. I did not know much but I did know that it was said to help if you focused on something, on anything. I chose what people chose most often. I focused on my breathing.

After what felt like hours (in reality it was only about 20 minutes) I felt something change. I opened my eyes to find that I was in a rather peculiar new environment. The sky was blue not a cloud in sight, nor was there any sun. As I stood to my feet I noticed they felt wet. I looked down to notice ripples in what seemed to be water. It felt as though I was standing on solid ground except I could see none underneath the water.

I looked around confused to where I was at. Was this supposed to happen I wondered. No....Tori would have surely warned me. I began walking in a random direction, trying to find anything at this point. There was nothing as far as my eyes could see until I spotted it. It was a mirror. It stood straight up nothing about it was out of the ordinary. I walked towards it, feeling drawn to it.

I could see my reflection in the mirror. Still nothing out of the ordinary it would seem. That was until I saw my eyes. I froze when I saw my rather unusual eyes. They were the same color as always. But they were bloodshot and they contained mirth. This mirth was mirth that only one who had been consumed by madness was capable of having. I took a small step backwards from shock.

"Finally payed me a visit I see?" This other me said. His voice was the same as mine if a bit raspier. Quieter.

"Who.....?"

"Am I? That is a rather simple question with a simple answer my boy. I am you." I was surprised by this answer, he continued a frown finding a way on to his face. "or rather the true you."

"I don't understand."

"I represent all of your true desires. Your need for the hunt, your lust for blood." My eyes widened at this statement.

"B-but I don't l-like to hurt people..." God damn stuttering.

"Oh but you do. You simply repress these urges and from them I was born." He grinned wildly. "You continue to lie to yourself." At this point the grin on his face threatened to split his face.

"Stop..." I begged weakly.

"You remember don't you? That joy you felt....must I remind you?" after he said this I grabbed my head in pain as began to see flashing images.

"Stop..."

"The fear in there eyes."

All I could do was continue begging him to stop.

Skye

"There agony filled screams as you broke each of there bones....." His voice was a mere whisper at this point as I fell to my knees clutching my head.

Skye

"Who will be next I wonder? I can not wait to see. Until next time boy." He chuckled darkly.

SKYE!

My eyes snapped open and I once again found myself in Tori's house. I saw with my wide opens a very concerned looking Tori. "Skye what...?" I tried my best but I couldn't stop them. I felt the tears begin to run down my cheeks. So many painful memories. Ones that I would never forget. I froze when I felt Tori hug me. After a few seconds though I began sobbing again my face buried in her shoulder as she rubbed circles into my back. As I look back at this now I am still terribly embarrassed.

When I finally stopped crying I stood up suddenly realizing what had just happened. I felt my face heat up, she looked up at me.

"Are you alright now?" She asked concerned. I found it a chore to form words at this point. 

"Y-yes th-thank you.....I-I'm s-sorry." Still not looking at her.

She chuckled. "It's fine kid. Sometimes you just need to cry while not fun at all and being the primary endorser of Headaches and Being Really Tired It's unhealthy to bottle up your emotions, ya know?" She frowned. "What happened anyways?" I still refused to look at her. The flashing images came back, all the things that I had done. I shook my head.

I looked down. "N-nothing.." I turned quickly and walked away not wanting to think about it anymore. I walked into my room locking it and collapsed on to my bed. I sighed in frustration. I've been hiding in my room ever since. 

Until next time, the always embarrassed Skye.

Sparklers, explosions and independence.

On this day 237 years ago our country published the declaration of independence from Great Britain.

Happy 4th everybody! (that's all your getting)