project-rosewood-476

[project-rosewood-476]

^^The song this animatic is based on.

Featuring our beloved Adam and Jeff the Killer.

Story: A potential scene for book 2 of ERHIT. Adam goes over to Jeff's house to train and clean up. He finds him going on a bender, and he's trying to help. But some people are stubborn and don't want to be saved. Art was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx editing was done by me.

[project-rosewood-476]

Young!Tabby x Young! Toby comic prologue pages 1-4

Pg. 1

Pg. 2

Pg.3

Pg. 4

Art and wording was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx

[project-rosewood-476]

Please answer

A persons fanfic tells you a lot about them, i , a fanfic writer, realize in terror

[project-rosewood-476]

Progress for the first page of the young tabby and Toby au prolouge:

Art was done by @xxxamerican-psychoxxx story was by me

[project-rosewood-476]

Tag the OC who just loves to hate (anything)

.

[project-rosewood-476]

Tag the OC you'd expect to be the absolute worst person (or at the very least unbearable to be around) but the second you talk to them with respect they become the best person around

.

[project-rosewood-476]

Tag the OCs that are a packaged deal, you don’t get one without also getting the other. (And, who they are to each other, romantic pair, twins, etc.)

[project-rosewood-476]

tag the oc always getting into Situations

[project-rosewood-476]

🐈‍⬛️ The Stray God Who Can't Seem To Die

"Hated by many loved by some"

-She had the weight of the world in her hands at such a young age. Fight runs in her like it's embedded into her DNA. The moment her step dad came back into the picture being made into a weapon to fight a battle that was not her own but someone else's grandiose delusions. Fighting a war that was bigger than her own at the place she called home. Daddys blunt little instrument. It seems that it's all she knows how to do and doesn't know if she can stop.

-Speaking of which she is the spitting image of her mother. Her long dark hair that holds many memories. Her wide knowing hazel eyes that hold many secrets. She has her mother's heart and compassion but the spitting personality of her step-dad. His hatred and rage that courses through her like righteous holy fire. His sharp tongue and wit. She's violent and volatile. Cold and calculating and everything in between. Whether she likes it or not she is her father's daughter and owes a great debt to the man who raised her when her own family didn't.

-Many people would describe Tabby as a feral stray alley cat with her behavior and mannerisms. She's kinda mangey looking and will manipulate to get what she wants, whether it's her next meal, a warm place to sleep or just to barely get out of whatever fucked situation she put herself in. Feral. Has and will dig through the trash for food and get into fights to defend and protect what very little she has.

-Despite being described as cat-like, her fighting style is more of a pit bull with lock jaw. She was taught to go for the throat and attack where it hurts the most. Be it bringing people down to their knees as she's ripping into their deepest insecurities or forcing them into submission with her strength. She has an iron bite and won't let go until they give up or can't get up. She will be the last one standing with flesh in her teeth and blood dripping. This girl has fought her way to the top and just to exist tooth and nail. She'll go out fighting as well.

-Tabby has a very loose guide for morals. She's not completely gone but is very quick to disregard them if that means that she and the people she cares about survive another day. She has done some heinous shit for the bare bones of survival on a Monday. She claims that she's a good person at heart and is not like the other kids there. She's not her step-dad yet the line blurs more every year she's alive. Tabby has so much blood on her hands she'll scrub them and herself raw just to be rid of her past. Of course it never works. But then again not many people can say that they've committed a genocide of their own kind.

-Tabby would be the definition of a kamikaze. She'll take on any and every mission and fight that seems impossible and would ensure her death. Yet every time, she is always the last one standing either beaten, battered, bloody, and bruised or as bodies drop around her. She can't seem to die. She knows she should have died many years ago, and she knows it. Its only a matter of time before Rosewood or her past or somebody else claims her. It is rumored that Rosewood kids are notoriously hard to kill. Yet she can't help but wonder if she unknowingly sold her soul for a chance at immortality the moment she stepped foot on that dreaded property.

-after all hope was lost and her world was falling apart around her she made a deal with someone who could give her the power of a God. And she took that chance every opportunity she got. A hopeless egomaniac with a hero/God complex who had the power of life or death in her hands at such a young age is a recipe for disaster. Yet she thrived in it. A couple of darker and deadlier nick names "karma" and "Judgement" sprung about from that. After it being the only hope she got and everyone else encouraging her she saw no reason to stop at the time. She's ended lives and ended worlds.

-She has a soft spot for cats. She adores them, and she even has a feral orange tabby named "Mac," which is short for Mac and cheese. She treats it like it's one word. Sometimes, after school, she'll feed it scraps and treats and give him pets and scritches. Has attempted to follow her home more than once.

- also has a soft spot for young children. Because she was them at one point in time. She raised her little brother all his life since she was 9. He is her pride and joy and her only living proof that she's not a monster.

-she fears to become anything like her step-dad. She fears becoming an adult despite being 20 now. She views it as becoming an abusive power-hungry shit person since that's what she associates adulthood with. That's all she grew up with and hasn't been shown otherwise. Definitely has Peter Pan Syndrome.

-suffers from all of the guilt she has of her past constantly. She'll claim that she doesn't regret anything or the choices that she made. She'll stick by what she said and did and will go down crashing and burning. You know what they say a good captain always goes down with their ship.

-cannot and will not stay in one place for too long. She was locked up constantly in the walls of her prison that she once lived in. No way is anything or anyone who will force her to settle down. Not even the operator. She claims it's for the freedom that she never received growing up. She'll stay for a few months at a time ( the longest she'd ever stayed in one place was 6 months). Enough to get a cheap motel and a shit job as a waitress or linecook in whatever restaurant was nearby and get money for her next run. Long enough to completely ghost or destroy the relationships she tried to make. She seems to have the delusion of outrunning from herself and her past, yet wherever she goes there, she is

-she also can not do stability for very long. So good fucking luck to the poor bastard/bitch who somehow managed to trap the feral stray. She will destroy you from the inside out and everything around her and in her path. She can't have anything good for very long. She doesn’t want to get too comfortable and let her guard down for the next person or thing to blindside her. She has a thirst and need for chaos and destruction, and if life won't provide that for her, she'll do it herself regardless of the people around her.

-Tabby can cook! She's been cooking since she was 9 due to being forced to raise her little brother and cook and clean a house for a household of 5. Does not understand portion control for the life of her. However, if you somehow managed to find where she's at and show up on her doorstep, she'll never turn you away and at the very least cook you a meal. They're all pasta and meat based, so you don't get much variety, but you get a warm and hearty meal before you go your own way. Food brings people together, and she believes that it can't fix everything, but it can start making things a little better. She also believes that if you can't talk out your problems over food, then they can't be fixed. It's the one thing she's good at that doesn't involve destroying everything she touches or is around.

-She's so very tired. Has ran out of fucks to give and so emotionally and mentally burnt out. Very quick to anger and irritate. She sees it as all of the people she held, such compassion and empathy for are no longer around and she can never see again she no longer has a reason to play nice anymore. She does enough to keep a job for however long she needs it. That's it.

-She really does have a heart of gold somewhere in there, but her damaged soul and tormented mind have taken over and pretty soon if it hasn't already. That's all she'll ever be.

[project-rosewood-476]

Sneak peek for the very beginning of the young Tabby x Toby au

[project-rosewood-476]

Chapter 10/ Lyra

Adam's missing his sister more than ever but what happens when he unknowingly saved a ghost girl who may be closer to him than he thought. What kind of bond will form between the unlikely pair?

Adam mullany, Tabby Anderson, Michael mullany and maplehood creek all belong to me

some iterations of the creeps and the pocket belong to @creepypasta-shtick and you should go check them out!

Adam stood by his bedroom window, resting his head on his arms and watching the other kids play in the cold weather. He wished he could play with the other kids, but his father would say no, saying that they’re bad people and that he shouldn’t want to associate with them.

But those are the people he goes to school with. He knows those people. How can they be bad people?

He wishes that his sister was here to explain things to him. To spend time with him, to love him.

He wishes he wasn’t so goddamn alone all the time.

Adam sighed before noticing the room getting colder and the hairs sticking up from the back of his neck. He slowly turned around and gasped as he saw the horrifying sight before him with his wide eyes.

It was the girl’s grave he cleared in the cemetery not long ago.

“Wha- what are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be here! Who are you?” stammered the little boy, startled by the ghost’s appearance. His wide eyes widened impossibly more. The Ghost’s appearance was unsettling. Half of her jaw was unhinged and bloody, and her body was covered in loose, bloody bandages. That seemed to be the only thing holding her body together, save for the scraps of fabric that were once clothes. Some limbs were crooked and out of place, all signs of an accident. 

He’d forgotten that spirits usually keep their appearance their last few moments before death. It took forever for the two to stare at each other before the ghost girl snapped and contorted into a less intimidating form of herself.    

“Lyra…You…?” she croaked out

“Adam,” the boy finally said. “What are you doing here? Are you lost?” he asked, tilting his head to the side as he took several steps toward the apparition.

“Help…” croaked out Lyra.

“Help?”

“You.”

“Help me? Why would I need help?” Adam furrowed his eyebrow in confusion.

“Lost…Sister…” Lyra tilted her head to mimic Adam. Almost as if she's struggling to remember what she was going to say.

“Lost? Sister? Are you a lost sister? Is Tabby lost? Am I lost? W-what do you mean?” 

Lyra flowed to him at the speed of light. Adam barely blinked before he could register her movements. She put a crooked and mangled hand to his heart. He gasped and took a step back at how cold the touch was and the suddenness of it.

“Hurt”. The girl looked at him with a mix of sorrow and pity.

“I-” started Adam before gulping, “I guess I am..” he looked away.

“You…Toby..” Lyra pointed at him.

“No, I’m Adam,” he said, confused as he pointed at himself.

She shook her head.

“No. Toby.”

“Who.. was this Toby?” he began to prod gently. Any information to help her out.

“Brother…You..” Lyra was trying to explain but was frustrated at being unable to speak fluently.

“Was Toby your brother?”

Lyra looked down for a long time before answering.

“Yes.”

“I see,” said Adam as he rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing what to say or do next. What was he supposed to do with this information? Was he supposed to find this Toby? Give them closure? Was he just supposed to pass on a message to them?

“I’m sorry…” he said after a while to break the silence.

“Help.”

“Help.”

“Help!”

The ghost girl came towards him with each help, being more desperate than the last, until she got right in his face at the frightened boy. 

“HELP!”

“HELP WITH WHAT?!” Adam shouted back.

There was a knock on his bedroom door before it swung wide open, startling the little boy, turning to see who the intruder was.

“Who were you talking to in there?” demanded his father as he towered over the boy in the doorframe. 

“I was just-” Adam pointed to where Lyra was, only to discover she wasn’t there anymore.

“N-no one,” he muttered, confused,

“Then stop wasting time and clean the house!” Michael demanded

“But I don’t know how. I never-” he was cut off.

“Then figure it out! Or there will be trouble up ahead, do you understand? I didn’t raise a stupid kid, unlike your sister! God, where is she when I need her?!” he snapped, agitated.

“Yes,” Adam bowed his head in submission. Tabby always told him to do as he was told and stay out of the way. Straight path straight A Adam never go astray Adam.

It was nauseating, but it was a way of survival. Tabby made sure of it. But now that she wasn’t here anymore, he’d have to survive alone.

“Good,” his father answered before returning to his solidarity in his room.

Adam flinched when the door slammed shut. He’d better get to work before trouble finds him. He looked to where Lyra was, but she still didn’t show up. He shook his head before leaving the safety of his room to go clean.

[project-rosewood-476]

oc that is still entrenched in a religious environment that leads them to hurt themself

.

[project-rosewood-476]

Young! Tabby x Toby AU playlist

1) I wouldn't mind- He is We

2) Devil Town- Cavetown

3) Summertime- MCR

4) The Great Escape- Boys Like Girls

5) I'm Glad That You're Evil Too

6) Sweater Weather- The neighborhood

7) Our Love Is God- Heather's the musical

8) Stained Glass Eyes and Colorful Tears- Pierce the Veil

9) One Hundred Sleepless Nights- Pierce the Veil

10) Cemetery Drive- MCR

11) Demolition Lovers- MCR

12) Petals- Hole

13) Devil Doesn't Bargain- Alec Benjamin

14) Savior- Rise Against

15) I Don't Need Your Love- Six the Musical

16) Notion- Rare Occasions

[project-rosewood-476]

A Young!Tabby x Toby au moodboard

[project-rosewood-476]

Perhaps in Another Life in a Different Time

For a brief moment in time everything is perfect in Tabby's life. Her step dad is out of the picture, Shes still graduating Rosewood, Horatio is no longer a threat and she has all of her friends back. Something isn't right here...

all characters belong to me so does maplehood creek and Rosewood prep

Tabby stirred awake with a yawn and stretched. She slowly sat up and blinked to take in her surroundings.

This wasn’t her room, oh no.

She was back in her childhood room. Her dresser had a mirror on top of it, including her many dolls, writing utensils, and papers across from her bed that was tucked neatly in a corner with a mound of her childhood plushies. Her coffee table held all of her books on top of it. 

What was she doing back here? Why was she here? What happened? Where are the others?

Tabby didn’t know what to feel. Confusion, dread, hope, excitement. She let out a whimper and grabbed her favorite plushy. A stuffed animal leopard named Simba before swinging her legs over and having her feet hit the sun-warmed hardwood floor. She shakily turned her doorknob, bracing herself for the scene before her as the door swung open.

It was peaceful.

The sound of the news was playing on the TV. Strangely, the house was less cluttered without her stepdad’s stuff constantly there. She’d forgotten how big their apartment was in all actuality. She looked past the living room area into their dining room and kitchen. Adam was sitting patiently coloring in his Spiderman coloring book, and her mom was making her usual Sunday breakfast shebang.   

Still no sign of her stepdad.

Where is he?

It wasn’t long before her rumbling stomach gave her away, and her mom looked over at her daughter.

“There you are, honey! You’re finally awake now! Why don’t you come help me cook breakfast, hm?” she gestured with the tilt of her head to the bread that needed to be toasted.

“Mom!” Tabby cried out as she ran over to give her mother the tightest hug she had given in a long while. Afraid she'd never see her again if she were to let go.

“Jesus, Tabby, what’s gotten into you?” her mother said, shocked at the sudden embrace of her teenage daughter.

“I’ve just missed you so much... You have no idea..” murmured the more petite girl as she held onto her for dear life, inhaling the scent of her clothes and hair. 

“Missed me? Tabby, you saw me last night before you went to bed. And before that, we went shopping and eating together,” she laughed light-heartedly.

“We did?”

Her mother gave her a confused look.

“Oh, I mean, yeah, we did. I remember,” Tabby bluffed horribly.

Her mother nodded before turning back to the stove to flip the sausages.

“Where’s Michael? Either of them?” 

The older woman hesitated before answering for a moment.

“He won’t be coming back. I’ve promised this to you before, and why are you asking such a silly question? You know his eldest son doesn’t live with us.”

Tabby stood there dumbfounded. She was relieved but also angry. Why did it take this long to kick him out? Why hadn't she done that sooner? And what happened? What was the last straw to kick him out? It wasn’t fair that she had suffered for ten years only to be able to enjoy the tail end of her childhood after missing out on so much. 

Still, she looked at her mom, who looked more lively and happier than she’d ever been in all the years she had known her, and then back at Adam, who was happily coloring away, brimming with personality and fully happy and relaxed. She supposed that it was better late than never.

“Are you going to help me cook or what?” asked her mother, tearing Tabby away from her thoughts.

“How can I with my hand-” she cut herself off as she held out both hands and let out an audible gasp as she examined her left hand. It wasn’t broken anymore. She could move it and feel everything again; she had complete control of her hand. 

That means that the Rosewood Massacre never happened.

That meant all of her friends were still alive.

The older woman looked at her daughter with a weird look.

“N-nevermind, I’ll start toasting,” Tabby said quietly as she went to work.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby took her sweet time helping to cook breakfast and sitting down to eat with her family. If this was all too good to be true, then she wasn’t going to miss any of this, and she was going to take full advantage of this. Besides, she didn’t know if she would ever see her mother and baby brother again. Hell, she didn’t know if she could get food like this again!

“This was what a family is supposed to be,” said Tabby in thought as she listened to Adam complain about the 3rd grade, how they’re doing multiplication already, and how the minute timed hundred questions worksheet gave him so much anxiety. Tabby chuckled as she remembered that all too well. Adam never stopped talking, even in between bites of cereal and pancakes. He was always the chatterbox in the family, and she was amazed at how he never choked on anything. The children’s mother ate daintily as she sipped her coffee, watching the news.

“So, do you have any plans today? I was thinking we could get together with the rest of the family and go to the lake since it’s beginning to warm up now, and lake pass season started last weekend!” Tabby’s mom turned to her excitedly with that glint in her eye, watching her daughter scarf down her second plate of everything.

“Um..” she trailed off, wiping her mouth on her sleeve and scrunched down. The lake! She’d forgotten about the lake. It was one of her favorite places to go in the summer. It felt like it’d been years since she returned there. She itched at the opportunity to take it as she didn’t know if she would have this chance again.

“I was thinking of going to see my friends…You know, to hang out and check up on them if that's okay..” she asked meekly. She felt terrible for rejecting her mom, but she had to know if they were still there, okay, and what they were up to.

“Well, why don’t you invite them to join us and make it a family and friends outing?” she offered.

Tabby’s ears perked up.

“Really? You mean it? All 14 of them? But what if they can’t come?”

“Then invite as many as possible.”

“O-okay, I’ll do that…” Tabby said excitedly between mouthfuls of food and scarfing the rest down before jumping out of the seat and trying to do everything simultaneously.

“Jesus, Tabby, slow down!”

“I can’t, Mom. I have to hurry! I’ll be back in a bit! I love you!” Tabby said in a rushed voice as she put her plate in the sink, grabbed her plaid jacket, and gave her mom another tight hug and kiss. She hugged Adam tightly and ruffled his hair before heading out the door.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby walked slightly taller with confidence and pep in her steps. The town was exactly how she remembered it, yet it was more colorful. 

She knew exactly where she was stopping first.

She stopped by the familiar barn red, worn-down house just a few blocks before Rosewood. Tabby knocked briskly before stepping back and praying she would be there.

The door creaked open, and a pale, lanky girl with a ginger pixie cut poked her head out the door to see who it was before opening it fully.

“Autumn!” Tabby said as she ran to her, practically tackling her into a hug.

“Tabby? What are you doing here?” asked Autumn, who was equally confused but always welcomed the shorter girl into her home. She’d never been the one to turn down Tabby’s affections.

“I’d thought I’d never see you again! Or find you here! I missed you so much!” she said, almost bursting into tears and holding onto her for dear life, afraid to let go.

“What are you talking about? You saw me and the rest on Friday, remember? What do you mean you wouldn’t find me here? You’re acting like you returned from a war and had no idea where we were!” Autumn said as she tried to pry Tabby off of her.

“Oh, you have no idea,” said Tabby, sitting crisscross and looking up at the ginger girl.

“So what are you doing here so early in the morning?” inquisitive Autumn said, getting her siblings nice and comfy and turning on the TV for them.

“I was wondering if you had plans today. My mom wants to take us all to the lake today! I still have to see if the rest can come, but I hope you will go,” she answered as she made herself at home with a cup of coffee and set one up for Autumn.

“I can’t”

“What?”

“I said I can’t,” Autumn went about her morning routine.

“What do you mean you can’t? If it’s about Riah and Mere, we can take them along, too! My mom said she was okay with it, and I’m sure your mom will be too!”

“It’s not that. I just don’t belong.”

“Nonsense, you’re like my big sister to me. You’re already family whether you like it or not. Now stop making excuses!”

“No, I mean I don’t belong here,” said Autumn, emphasizing the ‘I’ and coming up to Tabby, resting her thin hands on her shoulders and looking her in the eyes. “You don’t belong here.”

Tabby looked back, confused.

“What do you mean?”

“This isn’t your story. This isn’t your timeline. I don’t know how we both got here, but we’re not supposed to be here.” she explained gently.

“B-but can we just stay here…just for a little longer… I just found you again after months of pain, loneliness, and mourning. I’ve seen my mom happy and Adam… We have everything good again. This was what was supposed to be,” she trailed off, failing miserably at the onslaught of tears streaming down her face. 

“Perhaps in another life in a different time, huh?” Autumn said solemnly, wiping the tears from her chubby cheeks.

“It’s just not fair!” Tabby wailed

“I know.”

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I know, but your people need you.”

“I don’t want to go.”

“I know. That’s why I’m forcing you to.”

“Huh?”

Autumn pushed Tabby as hard as she could back into the abyss that was her mind. It sucked her in like a black hole.

With that, Tabby woke up.

[project-rosewood-476]

Underneath The Willow Tree

It's just another drabble between Tabby and Autumn. Sometimes, you need motivation from your best friend to keep going. Tabby Anderson, Autumn Lemmory, Rosewood, and Maplehood Creek belong to me.

“How much longer do I have to stay still?” complained the younger brunette, holding an uncomfortable pose as her friend furiously scribbled and sketched across from her. Looking up at her every so often.

“Just a few more minutes…” murmured the ginger girl, not looking up from her masterpiece. 

Tabby sighed and looked at the willow switches swaying gently in the breeze. Being the only muse for your best friend is hard work. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, enjoying the serenity of their secret hideaway.

Only for a few moments, of course. 

“Hey, I didn’t say we were done. Please pull your knees up a bit more and turn your head to the left, tilting up slightly, looking wistfully,” Autumn commanded with her pencil.

“Must I have to endure more? I already do enough as it is!” Tabby said in a vicious outburst and collapsed onto the ground, wincing at the impact it had on her bruises from the night before. Tabby realized what she had said quickly and turned over so she wouldn’t have to look at Autumn in shame.

Autumn stopped what she was doing, tossed everything aside, and went over to the sulking brunette beside her, soothingly rubbing her arm.

“That bad last night?”

She didn’t have to specify she knew what Tabby was on about.

Tabby hesitated for a few minutes before silently nodding; before she knew it, the silent tears came.

“It's just relentless...It's never-ending..it just keeps getting worse. I don’t know how much more I can take.”

Autumn has noticed that the bruises Tabby keeps coming in with are worsening, but she didn’t want to say anything about it.

Only she knew the full extent of what goes on at home.

Autumn didn’t know what to say for the longest time. She just sat there powerless, rubbing tabbys arm in an attempt to comfort her and let her cry it out before Tabby calmed down by shaky hiccupping breaths and handing her a tincture that helps heal the bruising faster. Something that she carried on hand for her at all times. She watched Tabby down like a champ before speaking again.

“Look up. What do you see?” asked Autumn gently as she pulled Tabby onto her back, looking up at the sky, and laid down with her on the opposite end.

“I see the willow tree branches hanging above us?” said Tabby, unsurely if that's what Autumn was getting at. 

“Exactly, and do you know what willow trees symbolize?” she prodded.

Tabby sat up on her elbows.

“They stand for the ability to withstand hardships and loss; what's your point?”

“My point is,” Autumn began,” That’s you. You are the willow tree. I mean, look at you! Lord knows you don’t have it easy.”

“No one does here.”

“But especially you. No one has the mental strength to survive here and at home like you do! You are unbreakable enough to come back daily for your friends and family! You are an inspiration and a hero to us all, and I think that deserves some celebrating.”

Tabby sat fully up, blushing a little with that lopsided grin. “You think so?”

Autumn laughed. “I know so.”

That made Tabby laugh in return.

“Alright, I guess we can continue.” she can never say no to her best friend.

Autumn returned to her art supplies and picked up her pad and pencil again.

“Okay, now from the top.”

[project-rosewood-476]

Chapter 9/ New School New Me Or So I Thought

Hey everyone sorry for not posting this chapter for a little over a year and a half. I was working on it little by little but then I graduated and got a job at a nice restaurant as a line cook which takes up the majority of my time now a days. Also got a bf too and he takes up the other half of my time. Also working on getting a car and have to find an apartment by January or else I'd be kicked out of the housing that my restaurant provides. So things will be hectic for awhile. But when things slow down I'll get into the habit of writing and posting more.

Other than that here's Chapter 9

Summary: It's Tabbys and Toby's first day of school again. What was supposed to be a cakewalk turned into something more difficult than their used to. Not to mention Tabby has to face her fears and feelings and come face to face with an enemy of her past. Sometimes the past just won't leave you alone. Will she give up for good? Or will she try and try again?

TW: swearing, portraying of panic attacks

Portrations of some characters and the pocket belong to @creepypasta-shtick. Mapplehood Creek, Tabby and Horatio belong to me.

No one knows how long Tabby was asleep. She was asleep if she wasn’t caring for herself, picking a fight with Hoodie, or having brief interactions with Toby. That's all she seemed to do nowadays. They say that people who just got out of a horrible situation will sleep for a long time to begin healing because their bodies need it. Maybe that's what Tabby was doing.

Today was a new day, the day Tabby and Toby were supposed to go to this new school for the mission. Greengrove High, it was called. Toby was up and at em already; meanwhile, Hoodie would have to be the one to wake Tabby up, and he was not happy about it.

And Tabby was not happy about the way he did it.

“Hey, what the fuck was that for!” Tabby groaned, annoyed at the rude awakening, and the mattress flipped over and on her. “Boss said to wake you up, so I did. Get up; you have school today,” stated Hoodie coldly and simply, although amused that he was able to inconvenience her first thing in the morning mildly. 

He gave her a condescending look before walking out of her room and closing the door behind him. As he walked out, Tabby gave him the finger before flopping back down for a few more precious minutes of sleep.

Everyone was already downstairs before she headed down. Toby was scarfing down a bowl of cereal. Masky was sitting at the kitchen table drinking his coffee while trying to chat with Hoodie, who was doing his best to ignore him while reading the paper. Everyone’s eyes landed on Tabby as she made her way down the last few steps, grumbling as she adjusted her clothes.

“Good morning, Tabby. Hoodie told me you had a..uh.. difficult time waking up,” Masky said slowly while Hoodie snickered unkindly as he turned the page in the paper. 

That led Tabby to give him the dirtiest glare up to date thus far. She didn’t even bother to provide them with a response as she felt like they didn’t deserve her precious waste of breath. She went to make a cup of coffee for herself, too anxious to keep anything solid down. She made it to her liking before downing that, making herself a second cup, and sipping that one more slowly. “So, how are you feeling?” asked Masky, trying to break the awkward tension in the room.         “Fucking miserable, thanks for asking,” answered Tabby into her cup as she was taking another sip. 

“How are you feeling about starting school again?” asked Toby between bites of cereal.

“Don’t talk with your mouthful! It's fucking rude and disgusting!” snapped Hoodie.

Toby took a bigger bite and chewed more loudly and obnoxiously, causing the two to bicker back and forth before Masky had to step in.

“Guys, knock this shit off! It is 6:45 in the morning! I don’t need this shit first thing!” Masky said irritatedly.

Tabby chuckled at the fact that Hoodie was getting what he deserved and at Toby’s antics. A lot of people would find them annoying and obnoxious by now. But not her.

“Honestly, I’m anxious as fuck to the point where I’m nauseous. I haven’t been to public school in 8 years. I reek of Rosewood; I have a lot of Rosewood mannerisms. Not to mention I’ve been missing for about two to three weeks now, so people know what I look like and have been looking for me.” she looked pale.

“Oh, man…” she ran to the bathroom, holding her hand to her mouth to not let anything escape. You could hear her yakking up in there. Masky looked at Hoodie worriedly. Hoodie just rolled his eyes and looked back at him, annoyed, and Toby just stared down his food, having completely lost his appetite.

A few moments later, she came out and wiped her mouth on the sleeve of her jacket.

“Okay! Let's get this shit show on the road! Toby, let's go! We got a half-hour walk, and school starts at 7:47!” she said with an upbeat tone, trying to hype herself up. “Have a good day at school!” Masky gave a small wave with his hand.

“You’re not my dad! Don’t tell me what to do!” yelled Tabby as she was halfway out the door.

“I’m coming!” said Toby hurriedly as he shoved some more food in his mouth before running to catch up with the girl already out the door.

The door closed as Masky gave Hoodie another look of worry.

“You think they’ll be able to do this?”

“They better be.”

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tabby was already a few feet ahead of Toby as he ran to catch up with her.

“You know where we’re going?” he asked, breathless.

“Of course I do. I know this town like the back of my hand. It's just a few blocks away from Rosewood Prep. It takes about 30 minutes or so from where we live. I used to walk to Rosewood from where I lived for eight years, which took about 20 minutes. We will pass the place on our way there. I know many escape routes underground and the back roads,” said Tabby, proud to show off her knowledge but also talking out of anxiety.

Toby nodded. He understood.

“Hey, will you be okay?” 

Tabby just sighed and groaned.

“I can take care of myself just fine. I’ve been dealing with this anxiety for as long as I can remember. I promise you it won’t compromise the mission.”

Toby remained quiet for the rest of the walk, hearing her annoyed tone. Would he be bullied again? He would have no idea how to act around humans. He could stand up for himself but didn’t want to jeopardize the mission.

It wasn’t until they came across Rosewood and he felt a dark, suffocating energy overcome him that he was pulled out of his thoughts. He had never felt so uneasy and had the urge to fly so much before. Tabby, on the other hand, looked very relaxed. Like all of her stress and worries, it dissipated. It was good to be back in familiar territory again. Tabby stopped in front of the Rosewood gates and hung off the bars on the outside, looking in. She took a deep breath and let out a sigh of contentment.

“Hey, uh Tabby, I think we should get-” said Toby anxiously.

“You’re free to go ahead without me, and I’ll catch up with you. If not, I’d advise you to look around here.”

Reluctantly, Toby stood by Tabby, becoming an outsider looking in even though every instinct was begging him to run away from the place. 

It was an old, ancient, and broad building. It would be charming if it didn’t have an eerie and sinister feel. You can tell by the way there was the smell of blood, despair, and stale death that accompanied all Rosewood people that some shit had gone down there and that there was a dark and rich history behind it. There were many fields and pathways—an old, dark academic vibe. Many students were in waves of reds, whites, blacks, and tans for the uniforms. They were all off in their respective groups. Instead of Rosewood society's usual hustle and bustle, they were quieter, skittish, and withdrawn.

“Did you hear about what happened to Tabby?”

“I heard she got done in by Horatio!”

“I heard she got did in with her group as well!”

“I heard she started the fires as a distraction and ran away, never looking back. Pulled a real Laura Nightingale there!”

“Guys, I think she's still out there! There’s no way she would just leave us like that! I believe she is still out there as our guardian angel, waiting for the right time to strike and put the wrongs to the right and exact her bloody revenge!”      The students whispered and gossiped in their groups while Toby looked ready to bolt. Tabby had the devil's grin on her face.

“This is awesome; they think I’m dead! I’m an absolute legend here! I’m like the next Laura Nightingale!” giggled Tabby as she broke away from the bars of the gates and walked with more pep in her step and a more visibly relaxed posture.

Toby ran to catch up to her, thankful to leave the place.

In the back, somewhere, a dark-haired boy was prowling around the courtyard, doing his daily rounds of which kids would be his target next.

He thought it was good now that Tabby was gone for good since she hadn’t shown up for months. He finally won. He proved to be Rosewood’s Top leader, and the King of Rosewood has finally regained his tyrannical reign.

He thought that would make him happy.

But it didn’t. Quite the opposite, he was worried, no he was paranoid.

But why? Didn’t he get what he wanted? It’s not like Tabby has the mental and physical strength to fight him again, as proven by her cowardice to run.

Still, he didn’t like the rumors that were going around. Some better, some worse, and all greatly exaggerated from spectrum to spectrum. Pretty mixed reviews.

However, all rumors held to the same message.

Tabby will be back one way or another, and Karma will collect her dues. 

No doubt that she’ll be getting him first.

That thought scared him to death.

He shook his head to get rid of the paranoid thoughts. No matter that, it was neither here nor there.

Besides, he had places to be.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Who is this Laura Nightingale?” he asked, finally catching up to her and catching his breath.

“She's kind of our folk hero and urban legend there! She went to Rosewood way back when it was Rosewood Asylum. She set up the foundations of our culture and society for what we know today! She fought against the tyranny and corruption of the asylum as best as she could with her group in hand. She was the leader of the Cult of St. Jude, which was like a resistance group somewhat. Some say she was the one who started the fire that ended the asylum days. Legend has it that she walked into the woods in the back of the property, never looking back and never to be seen again,” explained Tabby, excitedly happy to share her knowledge on the subject matter.

“Wait, you mean THE Laura? The one with all the tattoos who is like the cool aunt that you threw knives with?” asked Toby, speaking fast with the realization.

“Wait, you mean to tell me that the woman I threw knives with was THE Laura Nightingale? The legend in the flesh?” 

“I mean, she came to the pocket about 30 years ago. They said that she came out from fire, brimstone, and ash, and the Slenderman had been watching her for some time and made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.”

Tabby looked at him in disbelief and embarrassment.

“So you mean to tell me the entire time I looked like an amateur idiot, I was talking to THE Laura Nightingale?”

Toby laughed.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Tabby huffed, crossed her arms, and looked away.

“Well, now I feel embarrassed.”

“Don’t be. I’m sure at some point in the future, you can talk to her again and redeem yourself,” he chuckled as he moved past her. Tabby ran to keep up.

The rest of the walk there was uneventful and quiet, both mentally preparing themselves for the new school day. They finally got there, and both looked at the broadening stairs and doors before looking at each other.

“You ready?”

“Have no choice but to be.”

They gave each other a reassuring look before heading in.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

School proved to be a lot tougher than they thought it would be. They both struggled to fit in as they stuck out like sore thumbs. To each for different reasons. Toby was more of a social outcast. Being homeschooled all his life and being a proxy created more of the uncanny valley effect for the rest of humanity. They knew something was off about him that was dangerous and made people stay away. Plus, his school knowledge was abysmal compared to Tabby’s. Tabby had that sickly dark rosewood aura that accompanied all rosewood kids who went there. It's how they identified each other. The longer you’re away from the school, the less noticeable it is on top of her Rosewood mannerisms. Never speak unless spoken to. Not mingling with the other kids who had their own established groups. She sat prim and proper as all Rosewood children were taught to do when they stepped foot into the classroom. Not to mention, her academic prowess exceeded the rest of the children there. She looked at the other kids with pity as she rapid-fired answers to the questions. They wouldn’t survive an hour back at home. Tabby played her role as the teacher's pet well.

       It wasn’t until lunch that things went downhill. It didn’t take long for Toby to use his awkward charm to make a few new friends. Which Tabby didn’t like and scowled at them. She spent her lunch alone with her head down in her hand, shoving food into her mouth to drown out her problems. She knew that socializing was a part of the mission, and he played the part well. But seeing  Toby smiling and laughing with a small group of people, which consisted more of females, did something to her and nothing good. It made her blood boil and made her feel hurt and rejected. Did he not want to be around her anymore? Did he not like her? She admits that she could be mean and selfish, and bitchy and lacks empathy. It was tiring to be around that constantly could push anyone away. Why did she have to constantly push people away who even remotely get an inch closer to her? Why did she continue to do so? Why did it bother her so much that he was hanging out with other people? She wasn’t usually a jealous person. She believed in free will, and they both could choose to do whatever and whoever they wanted. It’s not like they were exclusively dating. Hell, they weren’t even friends!

Still, why did she feel so hurt by it?

Tabby sighed and shook her head, resting it on her arms. She supposes she’ll sleep her lunch away.

That was until she felt an eerie, dark, all too familiar presence enter the room. She opened one eye to see what all the whispering was about, and she almost had a damn near heart attack with her breath sucked in, and her eyes widened in fear and despair at the sight before her.

“No, it can’t be..” she begged in thought.

“Good afternoon, everyone! My name is Horatio Galloway, and I’ll be joining you briefly to get a feel for the student body here and see what changes I can do to make the school better,” he faked a laugh. However, it was a laugh that everyone bought as most kids were cheering and clapping along. He seemed to make eye contact with Tabby as he had a smug, triumphant smile, almost like he figured her out.

All except a handful of students who looked massively uncomfortable and Toby as he saw Tabby’s fear and distress and what seemed like a panic attack going on.

Tabby made a bolt for the cafeteria doors to the bathroom to hide, and Toby excused himself and followed suit. 

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toby quickly found Tabby as he could hear her vomiting and coughing through her sobs.

“Tabby..are you okay in there?” he called out cautiously as he knocked on the nearest girls' bathroom door.

Tabby vomited again before responding.

“No..” she said in between coughs.

Toby debated for a bit before deciding to come in. The bathroom was white and pinkish-red. And it smelled of perfume, flowers, and chemicals, with sinks lined up in a row and a big mirror stretching from one end of the wall to another. And to top it off, a white and pinkish red tile floor. Oh god, he hoped that there wasn’t anyone else in there... How embarrassing that would be? Still, he cared for Tabby despite what she thought; all of the embarrassment and shame was worth it. He recognized those dirty, beat-up Converse from anywhere. 

“Tabby..Can I come in?” he said meekly.

“yeah ..” she weakly said and struggled to push herself up to unlock the stall before collapsing against the wall next to the toilet and sliding down.

Toby busted in there, and the sight of Tabby was heart-wrenching. She was a hiccuping mess between crying, vomiting, and hyperventilating. She was pale, and her eyes were red and puffy. She was taking quick, shallow breaths. Still hyperventilating but didn’t have the energy to. She looked at him, petrified, with her legs pulled up and her arms wrapped around herself in an attempt to make herself small and protected. Didn’t even care that he was in a girls' bathroom in a stall with her in it!                                                                                                                                                                                                            Right now, she was vulnerable.

“H-hey, what happened?” he jerked his head hard to the left, almost banging it on the stall wall.

“He’s back…why is he back? What is he doing here? I thought I was safe..” she whispered, holding herself tighter to self-soothe.

“Was that the Horatio guy you were telling me about?” he whispered back as he yanked on his right ear.

Tabby nodded.

Toby sat up in realization as he put two and two together. Now, he had a face for the name, which was helpful to him.

“I thought I was safe here..I should have known better..” muttered Tabby in a defeated voice.

Tabby’s comment pulled him from his thoughts, and he hesitantly hugged the girl and pulled her close. He wasn’t exactly big on physical contact, but he could tell she needed it, and she didn’t pull away either. She only clung to him for dear life and buried her face into his chest as she inhaled his scent to calm down and hide away from the world in pitch black.

She knows she is safe with him even if Toby didn’t say it and probably never will until he dies.

Ironic, isn’t it?

It wasn’t until Toby gently pushed her off of him that she sat up, albeit visibly shaken, but doing much better now. She had that tired, slight smile on her.

“Do you wanna get out of here?” he asked, jerking his head again. Even though it was a tic, he was using it as a gesture to get out.

“Toby Rogers, are you suggesting we skip our first day of school and go home?” she playfully scolded. 

“I mean, if that's what you want. Staying here for the rest of the day will probably make you much worse, y’know, seeing him again. And besides, we got three months to figure this -fuck- shit out. With us working together, we’ll do this mission in no time!” he said excitedly, trying to hype her up and reaching out his hand for her to grab it.

Tabby sat on the ground for a minute, contemplating. Sure, Tabby has skipped classes occasionally, but not the rest of the school day deliberately. However, it wasn’t a bad idea. Besides, if all of the other days will be like today, it’s probably best that she stop while ahead and try again tomorrow.

“Okay, sure,” she said as she broke into a complete smile, grabbed his forearm, and lifted herself.

“Awesome!” 

With that, he grabbed her hand and practically ran out the door.