Maliki's pov.

After running from the mall, we hide in the back alleys for the time being. While back there, I take out my bow and load the arrows into the quiver, before attaching the quiver to the body of the bow via the rail. After which, I attached the shoulder strap and slid it onto my back, so the case wouldn't be so heavy. I also take off my handcuff

"So you all have any ideas on what to do next? It's only 2:36, and I don't really want to be home right now. I'm content with staying here." I say.

"Umm... I know, we can explore abandoned houses. Since it's November, it'll get dark at like 5:00 or something. All we gotta do is wait a few hours." The puppeteer says.

"What could we do until then?" I ask.

"Um... I dunno." The puppeteer says.

"Well, if you two would excuse me, I'm gonna go take a piss and think of what we can do until the sun goes down." I say walking away.

I walk further down the alley and make a turn, stepping in the space between two dumpsters and take my leak, thinking of things we can do until then. Once my business is taken care of, I look at my hands and feel disgusted at the lack of a sink and soap. Perhaps one of the girls has hand sanitizer at least? I walk back to the girls.

"Anyone have hand sanitizer?" I ask.

"I do." Kagekao says pulling it from her side bag, and putting some on my hands.

I thank her and rub my hands together, cleaning my hands of any... bacteria.

"So we're just gonna wait? Well, I have a plan. An idea, you could say, that would allow is to do whatever the fuck we want." I say.

"What's the plan?" Kagekao asks.

"We just do it." I say.

"There's no one stopping us right now." Kagekao says.

"Right? No one at all. So, if you two want to, let's do something else until it gets dark. I don't want to draw attention with my bow. And there's no way I'm puttin this beauty back in the case. It deserves to be shown to the world. Like you without your mask, Kagekao." I say.

Kagekao blushes.

"So let's go to an arcade. An ice rink. Hell, There's a pretty nice park on the outskirts of town that would be a nice resting area. Let's enjoy this day like it's the last day of our lives. It's the last day of someone's life." I say.

"You have a strange way of speaking, Maliki. Some of your sentences are so strange, I can't understand them. Other things you say are kinda inspirational." Puppeteer

"Yeah... yeah... Thank you... Hey, Something... Something's... Follow me." I say before walking out of the Alley.

After walking for a bit, we stop at a house that seems abandoned. This house used to scare me when I was younger, because one day when I was only 7, I saw a little girl in the windows, her face covered in blood. She smiled and waved, and I ran home in fear, but what was pulling me to this house? What force brought me here? I just had to see what it was like inside. I walk over to the door and turn the handle. It's locked. I'm not giving up, so I kick the door in.

The door swings open and I walk in, setting my case against the wall and smelling the stale air with a tinge of iron. I walk through the house, and see drawings on the walls in crayon. They look aged. On the center of the living room floor, a paper sits, a drawing of a man, and the name "Sally" on the bottom left corner of the page.

"Sally?" I ask, looking at it.

From the corner of my eye, I see something move. Something small. When I focus my vision, I see no one. I lift up the drawing. Who is this man? I have so many questions.

"Slenda?" Kagekao asks from behind me.

I turn and see Slenda looking around the house.

"I didn't expect to see you three here. What are you doing in this place?" Slenda asks.

"We wer-

"I had a feeling. An urge to come here. Something lead me here. And... I think their name is Sally." I say holding up the paper.

"Hmm... Kagekao, Puppeteer, would you please return to the mansion?" Slenda asks.

"Sure... I guess?" Puppeteer says, walking over to me, and kissing me on the cheek.

"I'll see you when you return, dear." She says before leaving.

Kagekao runs up to me and hugs me, kissing me on the lips.

"Goodbye, my love." Kagekao says before leaving.

"Slenda, please follow me. I'm not crazy, I know what I felt. There is someone else here with us." I say.

"Of course there is, Dear. I can sense someone nearby." Slenda says.

We look through the houses, inspecting the drawings on the walls, until the ground floor is covered. As we ascend the stairs, the pitter patter of feet catch our attention. We speed up the stairs and look around. I can see the shadow of two feet under the door at the far end of the hall. Slowly walking towards the door, I try to be a silent as I can as to not spook the person on the other side, until I'm within grabbing distance. I try turning the handle and it's locked. I have one final idea.

"Sally?" I call to the door.

After a few seconds, I call again, my tone softer and more lax.

"Sally, please open the door. I only want to talk with you, and understand what is going on." I say.

After a few seconds, I hear the lock from inside turn, and the door knob turn, opening the door slightly. I push the door open and walk inside the room. The pungent iron odor fills my nostrils. In the middle of the room is an eight year old girl, staring at me and Slenda, with a smile on her face.

"Hi there. Are you Sally?" I ask.

"Y-yes." Sally responds meekly.

"Hello Sally. My name is Maliki, and this is my wife, Slenda. We... We felt as if someone needed our help. Can we help you, Sally?" I ask.

She seems a bit apprehensive to speak with me, as she remains silent after trying to speak.

"I'll take this from here, Dear." Slenda says walking forwards and kneeling in front of Sally.

"Hello there, dear. My husband and I want to ask you some things. May we ask you some questions?" Slenda asks.

"Y-yes." She said, her voice weak.

"Would you like to hold my bow?" I ask, unclipping the shoulder strap and placing it on the ground in front of her.

Sally hesitantly grabs the string and pulls the bow closer to her and sits down on the floor. I sit down as well.

"Who are you, Sally?" Slenda asks.

Sally taps her chin before speaking.

"I'm me. My name is Sally Williams." She says.

"Well, My name is Maliki Castello." I reply.

"Slenda. I have no last name." Slenda says grabbing my hand.

"Do you have a question for us? I think we should each have questions for each other." I say.

"Um... Are you good?" Sally asks.

I look at Slenda.

"Our version of good is not the status quo, Dear. If you are asking if we will harm you, Of course not. We are here to ask questions and help." Slenda says.

"U-um... Alright." Sally says.

"Do you know who this man is, Sally?" I ask, showing the the picture from the living room.

Her face becomes filled with tears as she sees the drawing and clings to Slenda.

"What... What is wrong little one? You can tell us." Slenda said.

Sally looked at Slenda and cupped her hands around her mouth. Slenda turned her head and brought the side of her face real close. I moved away to provide more space for the two.

"Oh... Alright... I see... Oh my... I promise I won't tell anyone, Sally. I promise." Slenda says, before moving her head away.

"One last question. You seem very lonely in this house all alone. Would you like to come with is, and live in our mansion? Except for Maliki, it's all women. You will have you own bedroom, breakfast, lunch and dinner, and I'm sure the girls at the mansion would just love you. Having tea parties and playing dress up, or doing what children do nowadays. Would you like that?" Slenda asks.

Sally looks around the room, and then back at Slenda before nodding.

"Alright. Would you like me to carry you?" Slenda asked.

Sally nodded again, and Slenda lifted her up and stood.

"Let's get going, shall we?" Slenda asks.

I pick up my bow and sling it around my shoulder, before grabbing the case as well. We walk back to the mansion.