Mansion in the Forest

She likes me

"Argh!" Blake grunts in agony as per Chantelle almost breaks his arm. She pressed her knee onto his back, putting half of her weight on it.

"Goddamn it!" Trevor groaned, he's panicking upon seeing the blood on the floor dripping out from Jisu's neck. "Jisu!"

"Call someone downstairs!" Chantelle yelled and Trevor didn't know what to do aside from running back and forth. He wants to oblige Chantelle but he can't leave Jisu alone. "Go!" Chantelle yelled much louder.

Trevor finally decided and run downstairs in a rush, skipping two to three steps at a time, until he arrives on the ground floor but no one's in sight.

"Lexi!"

Lexi's spoon stopped mid air and she let it fall on her plate, then she stood up abruptly, dragging the chair behind her as it knocked back.

"What's wrong?" Jazen asked worriedly.

"Jisu.." She mumbled, looking behind her. "She's still not eating."

"Lexi!" Another loud voice booms and Lexi heard it this time. Her heart suddenly beat rapidly because she knew whose voice is that.

"Trevor." She said and run quickly outside the kitchen. "Trev!"

"Oh god! Help me, Jisu got stabbed on the neck!"

Lexi froze, as if all of her blood runs out from her body. "W-what?" She stuttered.

"Come on! I need someone to help her!" Trevor said.

Iris quickly grabbed the metal box of first aid kit and run out. "Where is she?"

"Upstairs!"

"Let's go!" Iris said as she run quickly to the stairs, followed by the others. Lexi still in shocked so Trevor had to grab her hand and tugged her along.

When they arrived at the horrific scene, Iris didn't waste any time and she started trying to revive Jisu, who's almost loosing blood.

"Jisu.." Lexi's hands are trembling violently as she approached her friend. "Come on buddy. Stay alive, you'll be fine." She said, biting her lower lip to prevent the tears to drop.

"Move, I need space." Iris said, turning Jisu's body to the left, so she could have a better position to pull out the blade. Trevor and Jazen pulled Lexi away and they watched Siena and Iris to save their friend.

That's when Lexi noticed Chantelle and Blake, who's on the floor. "You did it?" She asked Blake but she only received a mocking laugh from the latter. Her jaw clenched and she fist her hands into tight balls. "Let him go."

"No way." Chantelle refused and leaned further to Blake, giving all her weight this time. "I will never let go of this douchebag!" She growled, her eyes glistens with tears because of too much anger. She even want to snap Blake's neck but she knows that Jisu won't gonna like it. The nerd is too nice to agree with that way. And for Chantelle, Jisu was the only person who she can trust despite of knowing each other yesterday.

"I said let him go!" Lexi yelled, her voice shaking and her bloodshot eyes were almost bawling out of anger.

"Let him go." Siena said while staring at Lexi's face.

Chantelle groaned loudly before smacking Blake's head and she heaved up, not before kicking the guy so he won't get up quickly to attack her.

Lexi approach the guy, fisting his shirt and pulled him up. "Why did you stab her?" She asked, glowering at Blake.

"You killed my best friend, now we're even." Blake said, holding Lexi's dangerous glare.

"I already told you, we didn't kill Francis."

"Oh yeah? Tell me." Blake spits out blood on the floor. "I told you, I will kill—." Blake abruptly stopped his words after Lexi throw a solid punch in his left jaw, he fell on the floor with heavy thud, almost loosing his conscious.

"If you want to kill me, then do it, but don't include my friends." Lexi growl low on her throat. Trevor and Jazen was too shocked for what just had happened. They are not used to see Lexi like that, they have never seen Lexi gets mad for all matter, but for what happened to Jisu, it's as if she's a different person now. Then Lexi grab a fistful amount of Blake's hair, pulling his head back so their eyes could meet. "If something happen to my friend, maybe, just maybe, you'll meet your best friend early."

"Just make sure that you'll succeed killing me, or else—."

"Or else what?" Lexi asked challengingly. "You can't beat me, I can kill you whenever I want, but for the sake of my image, I will never do that now, not unless you make something unforgivable again." She said and throw Blake's head. She stood straight and turn her heels, giving Blake a chance to hit Lexi, but everyone was surprised to see that she didn't even flinched. The punch in his left stomach was too strong but Lexi felt nothing. She turned around again and smirk at Blake venomously. "I told you, you can't beat me." Lexi said and throw another punch and this time, she made sure that she hit a vital part to put Blake in sleep.

"Wow." Chantelle clapped her hands amusedly, while Jazen and Trevor blinking their eyes rapidly, as if they couldn't believe what they witnessed.

"What the hell was that?" Trevor asked, eyes still blinking.

"Will she be fine?" Lexi asked too, ignoring Trevor's question.

"Iris is a doctor, so don't worry." Siena said to assure Lexi.

"I didn't know that you know how to fight." Jazen commented, and she finally caught Lexi's attention.

"I don't, I think that was just my inner anger, who made that move." Lexi lied but that's Jazen, again, she knew better, but she didn't push further as she can see that Lexi doesn't want to talk about it.

Denver and Lei helped Iris to bring Jisu inside the room, though still unconscious, at least she survived, Iris was just thankful that Blake didn't hit vital parts on Jisu's neck, but she lost a huge amount of blood, so she needed to rest for the time being until she gain her consciousness.

After they put Jisu to bed, Lexi sat on the side of the bed, wiping the blood on Jisu's face, while scanning her friend's face. "I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you." She whispered.

"I'm sorry too, I didn't see him coming." Trevor said while staring at Jisu as well.

"Why are you here?" Lexi asked without looking at his best friend.

"I'm not gonna lie, but I followed you."

"Why?"

"Because I'm worried, too damn worried about you, Lexi."

"You don't know everything about me, Trevor. I can protect myself, I can live on my own, I can survive with my ability, I'm capable to fight everyone and you should've f*****g stay outside!" Lexi's voice began to volume up as she finished her words, gaining everyone's attention. This time, Lexi finally bring her gaze up to Trevor. "Didn't I told you that you don't have to worry?!"

"After what I witnessed last night, tell me Lexi, shouldn't I be worried?!"

"If you were not here, will you still say that?! First, I saw Jisu here, and then I told to myself that it was fine, because I can protect her, no matter what, and then I met Jazen! My girlfriend, she here and her life is in danger too! Now I have two lives to worry and now you're here!"

"They didn't ask you to protect them in the first place." Iris said nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.

"Oh yeah? One is my girlfriend, the other two are my closest friend and my best friend, do you think that I will let them be in danger?"

"To be honest, among the four of you, you're more likely the one who needs to protect, what you did earlier was just a mere, everyone can beat Blake because he's helpless, so I'm not really amazed." Iris said, holding Lexi's unwavering gaze.

"That's enough, don't meddle to them." Siena whispered, tugging Iris's sleeve.

"Just like what I've said, everyone here didn't know me, not even my best friend, not even my girlfriend, especially you." Lexi chuckled dryly, looking back to Jisu. "If you guys are done here, you may leave."

Iris scoffed and without looking back, she left the room, followed by Siena, who's too afraid of the tension, while Denver and Lei brought Blake with them, Trevor and Jazen stayed, didn't know what to do with the situation.

Trevor know that he's at fault, but Lexi couldn't blame him, it's not about his feelings anymore, it's about Lexi's safety. So whatever happen, he already decided to stay and protect his best friend. Meanwhile, Jazen felt too offended, but she doesn't want to speak right now, so she glanced at Lexi for the last time before she finally left the room, tugging Trevor with her.

"Wait—."

"Leave her alone for a moment." Jazen said without looking back at the guy.

When everyone was gone, Lexi let her tears finally drip down. She sobs continuously as her frail body shakes violently. She put her head down onto Jisu's chest.

"I'm r-really sorry, Jisu."

"Yeah, you should be."

"Didn't I told everyone to get out?" Lexi said sarcastically.

"Do you think that I will leave my girlfriend alone with my rival?" Chantelle said, which caused Lexi to whipped her head over her shoulder and there's Chantelle, leaning on the wall with her arms crossed.

"Your what?" Lexi asked ludicrously.

"Aren't you confused as to why Jisu chose to be with me than to stay with you?" Chantelle asked, but she didn't get any response from the girl and she took that advantage to continue her words. "Because Jisu decided to be with her girlfriend."

"That's impossible."

"Why tho?"

"Because she likes me." Lexi said without hesitating and immediately regretted it when Chantelle scoffed. "I mean—."

"Aren't you a bit of an asshole?" Chantelle stood straight and walked around the bed before sitting on the other side, staring at Jisu's face who seems still in pain even though she's unconscious. "You know that she likes you but you're not telling her?"

"Give me reason why would I tell her that I know?" Lexi asked mockingly.

"Actually, it's better to stay like that or she'll get hurt, knowing that it's one sided." Chantelle could feel the betrayal for Jisu, but it's better to stay like that, the nerd was too kind to get hurt. She's been hiding her feelings and tolerating the pain seeing Jazen and Lexi together. "She knows your secret, everything about you." Lexi was surprised to hear that, but she didn't show it to the girl as she stayed looking at Jisu. "She knows but she stayed silent."

"She's too kind."

"No doubt."

"Is she really your girlfriend?" Lexi asked curiously.

"No, not yet but I like her personality." Chantelle admitted honestly, she didn't notice the smile appeared on her lips while saying those words.

"Good luck with that then." Lexi said smiling too.

______

As the night approaches, everyone went back to the room where they left Lexi and Jisu with Chantelle. They brought food and water with them, enough for one night since they can go out at morning. They sat in silence while waiting for what's about to happen. They thought that staying inside the room will keep them safe since they already did it once.

But little did they know, Sakura planned something else to make the teenagers fight the monsters inside the mansion so she could take back the place. While everyone is waiting in silence, they could hear footsteps outside, thinking that those are coming from monsters, but no.

The footsteps are coming from Sakura's men, sprinkling animal blood around the door where the participants are hiding. Monsters cannot see, but they can smell, specifically blood. Once they smell blood, they know where their pry is.

"What's that?" Denver asked when he noticed something flowing under the door. He stood up and was about to open the door but Lei pulled him back away.

"Don't open it!" He whispered hardly. "It's blood." He added.

Everyone felt frightened, thinking that the blood were from human but whose blood might it be? They already hid Francis's remains in one of the room downstairs, it's impossible for the monsters to find it as they covered it with thick carpet.

They fell in silence once again, waiting for something they don't know. Lexi glanced at her watch, saying it's almost 9 in the evening. Last night, she saw the first monster around 12 midnight, so probably, the monsters will attack any moment from now. Until they heard more footsteps, but this time, more heavier and louder, running across the hallway. Then growling, as if the monsters are around the vicinity of the room.

"They're here." Jazen whispered, she's gripping her gun tightly while her other hand searching for the particular hand she's been wanting to hold since earlier. Lexi found her hand and squeezed it lightly, which made Jazen smiled a bit while both watching the door.

"It'll be fine, you should get some sleep." Lexi whispered to her ear but Jazen shook her head in refusal. "They won't find us here—." As if on cue, the footsteps stopped abruptly, exactly in front of the door, making everyone confused. They could even hear the growling became low but they are sure as hell that the monsters are behind the door because they could see some shadow under the c***k of the door. And they started to panic, especially the boys. "Everyone silent." Lexi shushed, putting her index finger in her lips as they watch the door.

The knob slowly twisting, but luckily they made sure it was lock before they settled inside. Then followed with a banging, the growling grew louder, as if the monsters know where are their prey.

"Shit." Trevor exclaimed as he stood up. "Go put everything to block the door!" He yelled and everyone quickly obliged. Denver and Lei pushed the cabinet, then everyone help each other to carry the shelf, and everything they could put as the banging grew louder and louder, vibrating into the room.

"Get something to protect yourselves." Lexi said and since Jazen already has her gun, the others just look for things that they could use. There's this blade inside a box, sitting at the corner of the room, everyone picked antique things, didn't even notice the blade. Lexi pad over it and break the glass using his elbow, they looked at her and was surprised to see the blade. She tried to take it but it's glued at the table, then there's something moved behind the table, the whole wall spun, taking Lexi inside of it.

"Lexi!" Jazen yelled, banging the wall hardly. "Lexi, can you hear me?"

"I'm fine!" Lexi yelled back to assure the girl. She looked behind over her shoulder when the torches automatically light up one by one, giving her good view of the whole secret room. "Wow." She awed upon seeing different kinds of equipment. Swords, spears, blades, guns and anything you could name to protect themselves against the monsters, but there's one thing she's not aware of. There's a monster watching her across the darkest spot of the room. Waiting and finding a chance to attack Lexi.

"Lexi, talk to us! Are you okay in there?" This time, Trevor asked worriedly. The wall is thin which gave them chance to hear each other clearly.

"Yes!" Lexi answered. "Try to lift the blade there!" She said, which Trevor and Jazen gladly obliged, but just before Chantelle join them, she used all of her strength to carry Jisu, since the latter is only 5'4 while she's 5'8 and has more strength than Jisu. The moment Chantelle reached the space where the wall can bring them behind, all the things they used to block the door knock on the floor, one monster's head peek at the ajar of the door, growling wildly.

"I can't believe that no one helped me!" Chantelle hissed, holding Jisu tightly between her arms.

Trevor and Jazen looked down before Iris lift the blade up. The two accidentally heard the conversation between Chantelle and Lexi, which gave them the reason to feel upset at Jisu to not even think to save her, but their actions are not justifiable, at least for Iris and Siena, who both heard the other parties as well. Denver and Lei already both having guys in their arms, Blake and Hans.

When the wall spin around, they immediately look for Lexi, who's standing not too far from them, her back against them.

"Lex.." Trevor called, but the latter didn't respond nor even look behind her. She's just standing frozen in her spot, while eyes holding the gaze of the monster in front of her. "Lexi—."

"Don't move." Lexi cut him off, she held her hand in the air to prevent anyone to get closer to her. "There is one in here." She added, they immediately got what she's trying to say and they stepped back, trying to figure out how to help Lexi in her situation.

"In the count of three, you have to duck." Jazen said, holding her gun and pointed it to Lexi. "One.."

"Wait—."

"Two."

"You might hit her." Trevor said panicking.

"Three!" Jazen yelled and Lexi did what she asked to do, so she duck down and Jazen shoot the monster even if she has no any idea where is it hiding because they are in dark area of the room,, but luckily, she gets the chance to caught the monster's attention from Lexi. Then Iris and Siena leaped off to get Lexi away from the monster, who create an extremely annoying grating sound. "f**k! It's coming!" She yelled when they heard heavy footsteps coming towards them.

They had to move quickly to get any equipment to protect themselves, but just before they could face the monster, Lexi charge forward and when she's about to meet the monster who swung its arm to catch Lexi, she slide on the floor to cross behind it through its legs, then she pressed her palm to balance herself so she could stand up, then she jumped off, piercing the sword before cutting its head from its nape using the sword. She successfully severed its head and roll on the ground, along with its body fell on the floor with heavy thud and Lexi, who's panting so hard because of the adrenaline rushing into her body.

Everyone was so amazed by that move, that they couldn't react right away. They were just standing on their spot, holding weapons with wide eyes open.

"The f**k was that?" Denver, who reacted first, said in amusement.

"You were right about her." Chantelle whispered to Jisu.

"I told y-you." Jisu replied breathily. Little did everyone know, Jisu is awake since the moment they brought her inside the room and she heard everything, she witnessed everything.

"Their nape." Lexi said, still catching her breath.

"What?" Siena asked.

"Their nape is their weakness, so you have to attack them from behind."

"How'd you find out?" Iris asked curiously.

"While I was watching it from the dark, there is something kept bugging him, its reaching for his nape and I saw this sword." She said, that explains the sword that came out from nowhere. "I think its been here since then, it seems already weak so it's easy for me to severe its head."

"So you're meaning to say that you just got lucky?" Iris asked mockingly. Though she's already convinced that Lexi know how to fight, she's still want to see how good she is, of course, not only because she defeated a monster, wherein its already dying anyway, she needs more and she know that Lexi could do better that what she showed earlier.

"I guess." Lexi shrugged her shoulders. "We better stay here for the mean time, then get everything you can get and sooner or later, we have to fight those monsters so we could all get out of here." She said and everyone nod their head in agreement.

_________