Chapter Thirty

I wake up early the next morning, groggy from staying up so late. I quickly get ready by taking a quick shower and some light makeup. I'm too excited to do anything too extreme today. After rushing to get ready, I head down the stairs and see Slender waiting at the front door. 

"You will be able to use the portal yourself now. But, as he talked to me last night, Jeff will still be going with you. The portal will know where you are wanting to go. Remember, 12 hours. I expect you back by 6:30 Seattle time." Slender says quickly. I nod, excited to see my family again. That's when I hear someone coming down the stairs. I turn and see Jeff. 

"Cool, already down here. Ready to go?" He says to me. I sigh at the thought of him going with me but nod, too distracted by my happiness. I quickly turn back around and hug Slender. I feel him stiffen but quickly loosen. 

"Thank you!" I say quickly as I then let go and run out the door towards the portal. I here Jeff running behind me, surprised by my sudden run. 

I get to the portal and Jeff is close behind, even with my head start. I'm jittery as I step through the portal. I feel Jeff step in after me. Within seconds I'm walking into a foggy forest.  I start to run forward, wanting to see my parents as soon as possible, but I'm caught by the back of my shirt. Jeff is holding me back. 

"Hey what the hell!!" I yell at him. He smirks. 

"First of all, you are going the wrong way," Jeff says and I get red from embarrassment. Jeff laughs." And second. Lemme lead the way. When we get out of the trees, you can't just emerge into the open showing your face to everyone. You are still a top subject of the news these days. I mean you are a cop's missing daughter after all." Jeff finishes and starts walking the complete other direction of where I planned to run. I nod and follow him. 

We walk in awkward silence for about thirty minutes until we reach the edge of the forest that lines a few back yards. I somewhat recognize where we are now. Jeff takes a vial out of his pocket and drinks the liquid inside. His skin starts to turn more tan, his eyelids less dark and the slits on his cheeks disappear, apart from the darkened corners of his lips. He looks like a normal person now, unless you really stared at him. That's when you may realize some things look a little odd for a normal human boy. 

"There, now I can walk a little more freely than you can, but we still have to stay out of the public eye as much as possible," Jeff says. I nod and we walk along the edge of the woods in the direction of my house. 

"Iris said that I'm odd..." I say after a while. Jeff's face snaps up and he looks at me with intense eyes. I continue. "She said that all proxies or unnaturals have to have a meeting with Zalgo to sell their soul. Even after they drink a potion." I say. Jeff relaxes a bit but is still tense. 

"She doesn't know that she's talking about..." Jeff says, his head down as he walks. 

"I mean I think she does. At least she sounded like it..." I say in response. He looks up and stares at me for a moment. 

"Zalgo is the one who gave you the potion to drink. I think he knows what is going on. Plus since you were snapped by me, out of a deal with Zalgo, you have pretty much already sold your soul. So just drop it." Jeff says. I go quiet for a while, really thinking about what he sais, as well as HOW he said it. 

"Okay." Is all I simply say. Jeff looks up to me then stops. He grabs my arm to make me stop walking. I turn and look at him and he looks serious but also sympathetic. 

"Look, I just don't like talking about the whole thing, especially Zalgo right now okay? It's not you." Jeff says, more apologetic looking now. I analyze him before I nod. 

"Okay. I get it." I say. Jeff smiles slightly and lets go of my arm. "Come on let's get going. We are almost there." Jeff nods and we continue walking. 

We walk for about 10 more minutes now and I see my house. I feel my heart racing at how close I am to seeing them again. Once we are just a few houses away, I look towards Jeff. He already knows what I want to do. He nods and smiles slightly, not impressed by the situation but understanding as he nods. I smile wide and turn back around to run towards my house. I get up to the porch and Jeff is close next to me. I look at Jeff and he smiles slightly. I smile a bigger smile at him. I then look back towards the door and take a deep breath. 

I reach up and knock lightly on the big wooden door. The lock clicks and the door opens.