Twelve

Tim and I made our way to the living room, where everyone else was sat. As we entered the room, I put on a poker face, going to sit at the front beside Brian as Tim stayed standing, surveying over everyone. Keith, Jeff, and Liu were all looking at me in concern, but I gave them a look saying that I'd explain. Before he could speak, Lj spoke.

"So…... where's Slender?" He questioned, tilting his head.

"See, that's the main reason we're here." Tim spoke, gathering our attention. "I think Li…. Melanie should explain." He sat down, giving me an encouraging nod. I stood, fidgeting with my hands.

"Okay, so, after breakfast I went to talk to Slender. I didn't know where his office was, so I asked Brian. While I was in the office Tim joined Brian waiting for me to come back. In the office I asked Slender why I got the Slender sickness and he told me he didn't actually want me here. We talked some more, and he said... something that was very concerning to my family's safety, so I threatened him." I explained, talking slowly as I recounted the events. As I finished, my brothers stared at me with pride.

"Good job Mel!" Sully grinned, beaming with pride. "That was a bad decision though, wasn't it?" Liu added.

"And then…... he went into a full form when he even had a face. And then he bit me," I stopped pointing out the tears in my sleeve, "After that, he threw me against the bookcase, where a bottle labelled 'essence of lux et spes' which means essence of light and hope. I threw it at him, permanently banishing him and other ancient evil creatures from the mansion." I explained, my breath hitching at the end as I sat down, Tim rising to speak next.

"Since Slender's gone, any of you that support him can get up and leave if you don't want this mansion to be ran by us." He said, glaring down at everyone, almost daring them to speak.

"I'm not staying." Lj giggled, standing up, "Not when Slender ain't here. He was the one who stopped me from killing those two." He pointed at Ben and Sally. "But hey, I know you'd hate me if I did so." Tim nodded, as a frown was on his face. Everyone bid their goodbyes to Lj, before he disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Anyone else?" Tim challenged, everyone shaking their heads.

"I'm glad he's gone." Jeff grinned, twirling his knife between his fingers.

"Oh, and by the way Jack, Melanie is also a healer so the two of you will be working together in the case of an emergency." Jack nodded, accepting it.

"Wait… why are you the leader?" Jane muttered, her mask making her look pretty intimidating.

"Slender said that when he was gone, I'm in change." Tim explained, making her sigh and nod.

"Is that it?" Nina asked, looking over to Jeff, "I've got things to do." She swooned, making me frown at the girl.

"Actually, you, Jane, and I have to have a little conversation." I grinned, looking between Jane and Nina. Jane wordlessly nodded, but Nina jumped up, huffing.

"But... I was busy…." She trailed off, making me raise an eyebrow.

"Busy ogling at my brother?" I smirked, making her flush with embarrassment as she nodded slowly.

"Well then everyone, off you go. Just do everything as usual, okay?" Tim ordered, making the girls come over to me as everyone went off their separate ways. I noticed my brothers watch me with concern in their eyes before they left.

I said nothing, only making my way upstairs, the two following. "My room?" I asked, seeing the pair both give short nods. I led them to what Brian told me was my room, which was simply plain white with a window and a single bed in the corner.

We all sat down on the carpeted floor. I took a deep breath, as I started to speak. "So…. Liu told me that I should talk to you two so here I am. How are the two of you connected to Jeff and Liu?" I asked, them, Jane immediately scoffing.

"You dear brother Jeff killed my family and then burned my face off!" She hissed, making me frown and gasp.

"He did what?" I gasped in horror. Jane sighed, slowly lifting her mask to reveal a disfigured, scarred face.

"Wait…. If he killed your family, why do you kill too?" I whispered, staring at the girl.

"I only kill the people he's after to make it easier for them." She explained, making me frown.

"Oh my god…..." I shook my head, my hands shooting to my mouth. "He really did all of that to you?!" I exclaimed, a large scowl on my face. She nodded, making me shake my head in anger.

"I'm really not surprised.... But hey, he's still my brother." I murmured to myself, as Jane put her mask back ion.

"What about you, Nina?" I asked the girl, making her happily sigh.

"I've always been a fan of Jeffrey... and so I decided that I wanted to be just like him. And so, I became a killer. Just. Like. Him." Nina hummed, a serene smile on her face.

"But Nina…... you're fifteen. You had so much in life that you could have done…." I stammered, looking between the pair. "He ruined your lives!" I exclaimed, standing up. The pair also stood up, making their way to the door.

"You two can go." I said softly, letting them leave. A few minutes after they were gone, I left the room too, ready to talk to Jeff.

I marched through the halls, keeping my head held high to show that I was confident. I knew Jeff wouldn't be in his room, so I went down to the living room first, expecting Jeff to be there (which he was). I made my way over to him, dripping confidence as I stared down at him. "Oh Jeff, oh dear brother of mine," I began, smiling cheekily, "May we talk?" I inquired, making him let out a howling laugh, patting to the space between him and Liu on the couch. Keith was beside Liu, looking at Jeff in pity.

"Oh, no." I said, shaking my head. "In private." I grinned, making my brothers howl in laughter as Jeff audibly gulped.

He stood, and so I grabbed his arm, pulling him along to my room. Once we were there, I let go of his arm, turning to look at him with betrayal.

"So, when were you going to tell me that you ruined two purely innocent girls' life, turning them to killers?!" I cried, scowling at Jeff, who was taken aback.

"I…...don't know. I was going to tell you once you had at least talked to them a few times." He grumbled, looking down guiltily.

"I don't care about talking to them first! I'm glad Liu told me I should've talked to them, as you should not have done what you did to them! Killing Jane's family," I spat, "A classic. Burning her? Just like you. Making her a killer. You really had no reason to do that, Jeff. And for Nina…." I sighed, "The poor girl. She's fifteen! She had her whole bloody life ahead of her! And because of you its all gone down the drain." I glared at my brother, daring him to retaliate.

"Mellie, I.... I…. Jane and I knew each other for months before I killed her family. I…. was jealous of how she was with her family. And I couldn't take it- so I killed them. I swear I never thought of the consequences!" He cried, throwing his arms about as he spoke, an apologetic tone present in his voice.

"It's not me you need to apologise to, Jeff. It's Jane. It's Nina. Not me." I sighed, walking out of my room, leaving Jeff to his own mind.