The next morning, we all made our way to the next town over. Our recon team, E.J., Hoodie, and Jane had kept a close eye on Zalgo nearly all night. We were surprised that he had managed to stay in place for so long, but we had also maintained our levels of suspicion. By the time we arrived, we warned everyone that this would be the most daunting task we've had to face yet. The little ones stayed behind with Lulu to keep watch as we had dangerous mission ahead of us.

All the time, I'd been trembling with fear. Masky gripped my hand with the firmest hold he'd ever had on me. His index finger pat the ring on my middle finger and it hit me like a brick.

"Patience." we both whispers to one another and I managed to calm down somewhat.

"After this, all of your fears will be over. We can lead a happy little life and live in peace... well, with as much Toby and Hoodie could possibly give us." he laughed lightheartedly. I agreed and kissed his cheek.

The few of us able to make it through the land's stoney barrier first had to keep an almost non-existant profile. Laying low in the tall grass, snaking our way up to the run-down hospital. It had been decaying for years and nobody had bothered to touch it but the hand of death and the demons who've corroded it away. We made our way around the perimeter and found ourselves in the opening of a large courtyard.

Jeff and Clockwork kept their sharp eyes open at any sign of Zalgo as both Slenderman and E.J. drew a huge devil's trap with clear adhesive and other glues with the occasional Flex Seal sealants around the entire yard. Jane, Hoodie, Masky, and I pulled up our copies of scriptures to banish demons and Toby held onto explosive holy water bottles.

By the time we'd all been done, the sun was setting in the usual wintery way. By five in the afternoon, the sun was teetering on the horizon and by six, the periwinkle sky would be engulfed by the inky blackness of the sky and the world would be enshrouded by the demons to torment them like always...

Thankfully, it was barely a quarter into five. E.J. tossed a small rock into the cracked fountain and we all waited for any sign of movement with bated breaths. An entire minute must have gone by when we were having doubts till Zalgo himself appeared in the middle of the courtyard like a cloud of smoke. That monstrous being that had been plaguing my every movement, my every thought, my sane being... I planned on destroying that terrorist. No chance in hell would I have wanted it any other way.

None of us made a single noise, yet, he snapped his head in our direction. Had he picked up my aura? Had he already known we'd be here? Oh no, did he know?! God, couldn't there be anything in my life to just go as planned? He greeted me with a smug and condescending slow clap. Was it common for these assholes to be so cocky? Ugh!

"Ah, you've found me, haven't you?" he inquired egotistically.

I took a step forward and nodded my head, "By six pm tomorrow, it would then be a week, won't it? I've managed to keep up my end of the bargain surprisingly, yet you seem to be hiding away like a coward."

His demeanor towards me changed drastically as he walked around the fountain. He gripped the ornamental cement top and ripped up the entire foundation of the fountain. As if it were a doll, he flicked his wrist to toss away the object as if it were nothing.

"All you're doing is flaunting about superfluous strength. Soon, you'll be degrading us with images and other illusions of our worst fears; things that will drive us mad, but never truly hurting us. You'd still be hiding like a coward behind the little tricks, huh, ya little magician?"

"Silence, insolent brat!" he screamed, prepared to pounce at me, but he couldn't. He was stuck in the trap he fell so perfectly into. Jane began to whisper a prayer from the Bible as Hoodie joined in. Masky took my copies and the three unceremoniously began to read different ones, hoping it would knock this demon right out from another angle. Toby set off the water bottles towards Zalgo. They popped him right in the face. His screams were ungodly, but thankfully they were working.

I could tell he attempted to conjure up our worst fears, but they backfired, "How is this even possible?!"

"See, the thing is, we don't fear much anymore. Our consciences have all either been cleared or we have no regrets to begin with. All that's been done is in the past. The past is kinda like our bitch now." I explained openly as I shrugged my shoulders, "Much like how you'll be."

The others chimed in on reading the exorcism prayers. We shouted them for what felt like forever over his screeching voice as he gradually faded to nothing but a miniscule black cloud... Tossing that final water bottle made him disappear without a trace.

"Is he dead now?" I inquired towards Slenderman. He seemed hesitant, but it was like a "Yes" to me... he was no longer plaguing these two universes, though it would be possible for him to come again through another timeline.

Though that bummed me out somewhat, we finally had gotten rid of him! Masky hugged me tightly as I wept into his neck.

"It's over!" I cried happily, squishing my face into him. He was crying happy tears with me. Had he been that worried about me? I felt so bad that I had caused all this anxiety for him, but I was beyond relieved at the outcome.

We'd finally get home after all this time!