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Cavan was led out of the den by Olcán. He took a slow, deep breath as he followed behind the wolf, nervous about meeting this final guide. He had finally come to terms with the fact that he had been abandoned by Slenderman, and that without these creature's help he would have died.
While he had been working with Olcán and Ámhra, he had continued to throw up the black sludge that he had expelled after first waking up in the forest. He knew that had been His influence leaving his body. As they walked along, winding through the trees he marveled at how light he felt, no longer weighed down with that darkness inside of him. He didn't know what they had done to him, but he appreciated that they had done it. This was like taking an old blade and cleaning off all the rust to find the blade new and shiny beneath. A hell of a trial, but well worth it for the tool we received.
Olcán leads Cavan to a clearing in the forest, a black, starless sky above them.
He'll be here soon. Just remember, he saved you, and you owe us...
I know... I've had time to think.
Olcán nodded and stepped back out of the clearing, heading back to the den. Cavan stood alone, looking up at the sky, trying to listen for a breeze, but as Olcán's footsteps grew quieter, the silence crept in around him. The forest was completely silent, without a breeze, the creaking of trees, or the skittering of the things living in those trees.
At once the trees above him bowed inward, blocking the sky and groaning from the strain. Cavan was startled and jumped at this, looking around him and freezing as he saw a figure standing on the other side of the clearing from him.
This figure wore a black cloak, and a mask that looked like some kind of bird skull with antlers rising from the top.
Hello Cavan... I'm glad you understand how much you owe to me.
The voice just seemed to emanate from the figure, not specifically from his head, but just from his general direction. The figure slowly slid closer to cavan, no visible movement coming from beneath the cloak.
I know how loyal you were, and how... talented you were at your... job, but I need you to come under my employ, and perform a new... job.
He stopped a few feet from Cavan and moved his head so the eye sockets of the skull looked directly at him. Cavan noticed that they seemed empty, as if there was nothing beneath the mask.
Of course... sir, may I call you sir? I'm sorry, actually... what should I call you?
Sir works just fine.
So... sir, what is this job you need me to do for you?
I need you to collect some things for me, and I need you to find Bernard Laguardia, and Razputine Panzerfaust, and bring them back here.
Okay, that sounds simple enough... where is here exactly? This forest doesn't exactly seem... real.
You've got a sharp eye. We're somewhere safe. This is my domain. Just like how He has His. In here no one can be touched. I need all three of you, and you need a journal. The journal will be your first stop.
What's so special about this journal?
For me? Nothing. For you? It has the writings from an individual who has been watching everything that has happened for the last 4, or so, years, and you need to understand exactly what my purpose is, the journal will help to do that, because somehow I doubt me explaining it here and now would make you really want to help me.
The cloak slid open and a thin black hand reached out, the texture of the arm and hand seemed to be that of silk. Cavan noticed that there didn't seem to be a body beneath the cloak, just an impenetrable darkness. He touched the side of Cavan's face. Cavan wanted to pull away, but couldn't move, despite everything in his mind telling him to run, to scream, to cry. The figure moved his hand over Cavan's eyes and-
Cavan awoke beside the lake, the empty casket and hole, which he had dug, still sitting there. He was panting and gasping for breath as though he had been running for hours. He scrambled to his feet and looked around in a panic, afraid that his previous Master would be waiting for him. Nothing happened and no one came. He started to breath more regularly and walked over to the hole. He began talking to himself, trying to formulate a plan on what to do.
Okay I know I need to find that journal... the one I saw being pushed out from beneath the bed in the hotel room that Bernard and Raz had been staying in... Once I find that I need to find them... how the hell do I find them... maybe... maybe the journal will have a clue... Okay... then I... I get them back to the forest... and how the hell do I get back there?
He looked around slowly at the lake and surrounding forest.
Maybe I just need to get them back here... Okay... I've got a starting point.
He honestly did well with what was given to him... which wasn't much...
He clapped his hands together and nodded, walking off into the forest and towards the nearest highway.
