#ticcitoby x Reader

[rayyyzz]

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓼

≪𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝔀𝓸.≫

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

The cold air hit your face as you walked into your college , hands buried deep in your coat pockets. The streets, covered in a blanket of snow from the night before, sparkled under the morning light. Everything around you was a blur—students rushing past, the sound of cars humming in the distance—but inside your head, it was chaos.

You couldn't stop thinking about him.

The guy that tried to attack you last night..

His face—well, what little you had seen of it—his orange goggles, the sharp reflection of the hatchet he'd gripped in his hand. The way he chased you through the woods when you were going back to your house from a friend's house , the sound of his loud footsteps behind you, closing in. No matter how hard you tried to shake it off, his image remained like a shadow over your thoughts.

You didn't know what to make of it. It was like something out of a nightmare—except you knew it was real and not some fictional story. You had heard the crunch of snow, felt the cold panic hitting at your chest as you barely escaped him last night. Every time your mind went off track, it immediately went back to him, to the woods, to the feeling of being hunted like a lost deer.

You arrived at college, walking through the entrance doors with your head down, lost in thought. Normally, the busyness of campus would pull you out of whatever mood you were in—the noise of people chatting, rushing to class, laughing. But today, it all seemed muffled, like you were walking through a fog. Your focus get away, and all you could think about was last night. That face...those eyes behind the orange goggles.

Your first class began, but your mind was anywhere but the lecture. The professor's voice faded in and out, like a distant echo. You stared at the chalkboard, pretending to take notes, but the words swam in front of your eyes, turning into images of that forest—the snow, the trees, and him lurking behind them. What was he? you thought. A psychopath? A killer? A  drug addict? And why you? Of all the people in the world, why had he fixated on you?

You barely made it through class, and as soon as the professor dismissed the class, you found yourself wandering toward the food court. Maybe some food would help, though your appetite had long since vanished. You bought yourself food from the food court, picking up something simple, and sat down at with your friends, hoping to distract yourself with your friends laughing about embarrassing high school moments would help clear your head.You tried to focus on the conversation but yet, they couldn't distract you.

The memory of him crept back in, his figure getting closer and closer in the night. You could still feel the terror you had felt as you ran to your door, praying to reach it before he reached you. You hadn't even told your parents the truth. If you had, they'd probably think you were crazy—or worse, they'd never let you out of the house again and lock you up, because you were their only child which they cherished so my h that they didn't want anything bad to happen to you. You were so lost in thought that you didn't even notice the news heading that came on one of the TVs in the corner of the food court.

"Breaking news..."

Your head and your friends heads snapped up. The TV screen had switched to a local news channel. A stern-looking reporter filled the screen, her voice laced with tension.

"We have an update on the string of violent murders that have been plaguing the area. Local authorities are warning the public about a dangerous individual believed to be behind the killings. He is described as a young man with a disheveled appearance, often seen wearing a mouth guard and orange goggles, and is armed with a hatchet."

Your blood ran cold. No way...

"This man, known to some as Ticci Toby,' or Tobias Erin Rogers ' is believed to be involved in several brutal slayings. His victims were found with multiple deep wounds, consistent with the use of a bladed weapon or even chopped up into little pieces. Officials are urging residents to avoid going out at night and to report any suspicious activity immediately."

Images flashed on the screen—crime scenes cordoned off with yellow tape, police cars parked outside houses, a body bag being loaded into the back of an ambulance, but they also showed how chopped up the victims were. Then, they showed sketches of Toby: the messy hair, the goggles, the massive gash on his cheek , behind the mouth guard. It was him.

Images flashed on the screen—crime scenes cordoned off with yellow tape, police cars parked outside houses, a body bag being loaded into the back of an ambulance, but they also showed how chopped up the victims were. Then, they showed sketches of Toby: the messy hair, the goggles, the massive gash on his cheek , behind the mouth guard. It was him.Your breath caught in your throat, and the room seemed to freeze around you. This wasn't just a one-off encounter. Toby was real, and he was killing people. "He almost got me", you thought, feeling the full weight of the reality crash over you.

The report continued, showing clips of detectives speaking to the press, but you couldn't hear it anymore. You were too busy staring at those victim photos, at the scenes of violence left in his presence. How many others had tried to escape him and failed?

The report continued, showing clips of detectives speaking to the press, but you couldn't hear it anymore. You were too busy staring at those victim photos, at the scenes of violence left in his presence. How many others had tried to escape him and failed?Your mind raced, racing with questions. Why hadn't the police caught him yet? Why was he still out there? And more importantly, why had he targeted you?

The food you bought in front of you now seemed disgusting. You pushed it away, your appetite gone. The room felt too crowded, too loud all of a sudden. You stood up abruptly, drawing a few curious looks from students around you, but you didn't care. You needed to get out. You needed air. You're friends were asking you if you were okay and you said "I'm fine I'm okay." They tried to figure out what was wrong but,

You pushed your way through the food court's front doors and stepped outside. The cold air hit your face, sharp and biting, but it did little to calm the panic rising in your chest. The college campus, once bustling with activity, now felt wrong. The shadows under the trees seemed darker, and every passing stranger felt like a threat.

You couldn't stop looking over your shoulder, half-expecting to see Toby lurking behind you, watching from the shadows, waiting for another chance. Your heart pounded in your chest, and you hugged your arms tighter around yourself as if that could somehow keep him away.

It was just a coincidence, you tried to tell yourself. "He doesn't know who am I" . He just happened to be there...right? It wasn't on purpose right..?But even as you thought it, you knew it wasn't true. He had seen you. He had chosen you. And the worst part? You had no idea why. And why he made himself known to you. Why didn't ye come into your house and kill you and your parents? Like how they always said he leaves no spare victims he comes into their houses and kills everybody in there. Why didn't he do that to you?

The rest of the day passed quite quickly . You tried to make it through your classes, but your thoughts kept going back to that news report, to the images of those victims, and the idea that you could have been one of them, torn apart, and chopped up into pieces. By the time your last class ended, you were mentally exhausted, the weight of it all pressing down on you like a heavy load.

As you left campus, walking toward the bus stop, you couldn't shake the feeling that he was watching you. Every step felt like a countdown, every sound like the echo of those footsteps in the snow.You looked over your shoulder one last time before boarding the bus, but there was nothing there. Just the empty street. You took a deep breath, trying to pull yourself together. Toby may have found you once, but it wouldn't happen again. Right?

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

Hey ray here, I just wanna apologize for the long ass wait for chapter two, I had 0 motivation to write during the few months but I plan on working and posting chapters 3 and 4 later in October because I’m found to do little one shots of Creepypasta characters x the reader since I have a lot of ideas in mind!

✧─── ･ ｡ﾟ★: *.✦ .* :★. ───✧

[brights-place]

Ticci Toby As your BF

He met you on a mission where he was assigned to help you with killing an detective that was too close on finding out where they were. (Thank Jeff)

He thought you were boring at first and he hated that, you kept quiet

he hated the fact every-time he ticked you glanced at him.

He noticed how you put out your arm when he was about to step into a bear trap.

When killing the detective he thought you where awesome knowing what to do.

Toby was all over the place

You saved him about 3 Times knowing he forgot to take some meds

Slenderman thanked you guys for your work and sent you off.

Toby followed you around the whole day trying to start conversations.

Took him about 1 Month to finally get you to have a full conversation

Whenever he had a tic attack you where beside him and taking care of him.

Him switching emotions quickly didn’t ever make you scared.

Happy that you understood he couldn’t control himself sometimes.

Black cat X Golden Retriever relationship

Started dating after a year.

He was hanging upside down on a tree branch caught in one of your traps because he saw something shiny and eh confessed on the spot when seeing your faces inches apart.

When he gets serious outta nowhere you secretly swoon.

Remind him about his schedule and he hates it yet loves it.

When he yelled at you once because he was under to much pressure he felt horrible. He hugged you and apologised so much

Cuddles

Love language is Physical touch and act of service.

You taught him how to do a trick with his axe, and he showed it off to BEN and LuLu both clapping their hands.

Gives you a peck on the lips when he see’s your stressed.

When he gets hurt on missions instead of going to Dr Smiley or Nurse Ann he goes to you instead making you scold him.

If he does need to go see nurse Ann or smiley he drags you along with him saying you were emotional support.

He just wanted you there cause he didn’t want you to leave him alone.

He brought a racoon into your room.

The racoon lives with you guys now his name is ‘Sir Raco the Third’ you where confused

When you where talking to slenderman and the proxies entered Toby had to be held back by Rogue when wanting to rush up and hug you.

Willson Tells you about how many times toby complains on not being around you while Rogue agrees.

Toby finds it amusing when seeing you cuss out or lose your temper.

One second your arguing about him spilling something on your important paper work then you start cussing in another language or with your accent showing more when yelling he finds it so hard not to laugh and kiss you on the spot.

He likes to talk about his interests with you while you listen.

Whenever you show affection to him out of nowhere he is going to melt like a puddle before he starts ticking.

When wanting your attention he pokes you or taps your shoulders.

He slow dances with you but it’s kind of difficult yet he loves doing it.

[seireitonin]

heyy, i am huge fan of creepypasta (espacially Toby), so could u make headcannons about him in relationship in his 30's? Btw i love your content and follow u on tt :3

I’m so sorry I’m just now getting to this! I get distracted and I’m not on tumblr a lot! Anyway thank you for your patience and support!!

Dating Toby in his 30s

Dating Toby was hard already

With his mood swings, cocky behavior and detachment despite him loving you so much

This was BEFORE he got captured

Now that he escaped the mental institution and is more traumatized than he already was….its worse

He clings to you now more than ever, scared to lose you

Scared you don’t love him anymore, although he’ll never say it

Why?

He got captured. It’s humiliating, embarrassing to him. A hit to his ego

So he’s kinda insecure about the way you view him. He doesn’t want to look weak or helpless in front of you. He’s supposed to be protecting you

He’s also much more possessive and protective over you, so scared something is gonna take you from him

Getting him to eat food has been a challenge

Getting him to do anything but lay in bed and stare at a wall has been a challenge

You thought he was unstable before? That’s worse too

Every single noise makes him jump

He’s so paranoid never able to relax

Some nights he’ll stand in the corner talking to the wall, unblinking. It’s what he did at the mental institution

You’ll have to lead him back to bed and hold him until he eventually snaps out of it

Even then he’ll never be the person he was before he got captured

Your Toby is gone

He’s much more moody and aggressive

“What the fuck are you coddling me for? You think I’m weak?”

“No. I dont. I’m worried about you”

He wouldn’t talk to you like that before. You know he doesn’t mean it

He used to love when you cared about him, when you held him

Toby can’t stand the feeling of being at another mercy or weak. It’s how he felt when he was being abused by his dad and being at the mercy of his captors brought back that feeling

Has more tic attacks because he has fears/ thoughts and hallucinations about being back in that place. His anxiety is constantly off the charts too, he’s gone back to chewing the skin off his fingers

His tics were less frequent before he got captured but now they’re constant, his tic attacks coming in harder and more frequent than ever

His tics are just straight up begging and screaming sometimes. Those are the noises he would make in the mental institution and they’re permanently part of his tics now

He hates it. Hates that you have to hear that

But you’re understanding and support him anyway

He loves the fact that you’re so understanding. He loves you

He can’t believe he was ever apart from you

He got captured protecting you

You were both surrounded, he pretended that he kidnapped you and that you were his next victim

To be fair he did kidnap you but you were never his victim

“I’m sorry I have to do this” he said as he cupped your face in his hands and looked into your eyes

“What-“

He grabbed you, putting you in a headlock choking you tightly, hearing the police come

Toby whispered aggressively in your ear as he squeezed your throat so the police would believe that you were his victim, not his lover

“Don’t say a word and listen to me. When they ask questions, you don’t fucking know me. I kidnapped you. I was going to kill you. You were trying to escape and I found you. You don’t remember anything. Do you fucking hear me? When they let you go, you go back to our cabin and you fucking lay low. Don’t come look for me. Don’t you fucking dare”

He had never been serious with you like that before as he gave you a story to tell and instructions in your ear

It scared you. As if you just remembered that he was a murderer and could just end you if he wanted although you knew he wouldn’t hurt you

The police surrounded you both soon after and he held the blade of his hatchet to your throat as he kept you in a headlock

“Come any closer and I’ll kill this bitch!” He screamed out making you truly look like a victim

After a standoff and you safely being handed over to the police and being put in the back of an ambulance, Toby got cuffed and shoved in the back of a police car

You exchanged a final glance, as you fought back tears to not look suspicious as you watched the man you love get taken away from you to an unknown fate

Its another reason you’ll never leave his side

He sacrificed himself and what little sanity he had to keep you safe

He told you about everything they did to him there. The experiments, the abuse and him being seen as less than human, the straight jackets, the metal mussel they had on him at all times, the padded room, having to hear people talk to him about his past from his abuse to the murder of his father to working for what they thought was a fictional being called Slenderman

Everyone looked at him with fear. With his many kills under his belt and his unpredictable nature

Hearing all of it fills you with guilt

He went through all that because he loves you

So you’ll never leave him. How could you ever? After what he did for you

Toby wakes up screaming at night sometimes, thinking he’s back in the institution or having a vivid dream about it

He’ll pull on his hair and his tics become violent and he thrashes

You just rub his back “it’s okay. I’m here. You’re here. You’re safe”

He feels bad after it’s over every time but it comes out like aggression because he doesn’t want to be vulnerable

“I know. I’m not stupid.”

He’s grateful. He is. Truthfully he’s scared and anxious but he’ll never tell you.

But you already know and you still love him

He loves you too, just give him time to readjust and he’ll try his best to get better for you again but that won’t be for a long time

You miss your Toby.

Your playful,upbeat, cocky and obnoxious Toby.

He wasn’t perfect but he was yours

Now you feel guilt when you look at him

“Toby…do you hate me?”

“No”

“You’re lying to me aren’t you”

“No! Why are you saying that?!”

“Because I feel like it’s my fault you got captured! I’m the reason that you went through that!”

He looks at you, blankly “no. You’re not the reason. It probably would’ve eventually happened regardless. I just did what I had to do to protect you. That’s it. So don’t say anything stupid like that to me ever again. I didn’t go through that for nothing. I did it for you.”

You tear up and for the first time in months, you hold each other. He holds you. And you hold him and he feels good. You missed him.

He takes you in, remembering how much he loves you. Going through all that for you and being able to keep you safe was enough for him

You love each other despite these horrible circumstances and the new problems that came from this

He lets you run your hands through his hair while your in bed together like he used to before

He’s starting to hold you again

He’s still not 100% his old self and most likely never will be, but he’s trying his best

Because he needs you now more than ever

And you will always be here

[zzzleepy]

HOSTAGE : ticci toby one-shot

notes: i wrote this at work while bored, it’s so stinky and short. BUT ENJOY

cw: swearing, stockholm syndrome (?)

You and Toby stayed in a small house miles from anybody. Truth is, Toby stayed there and you were his “guest”.

Toby kept you in a bland room, there was a window with a view of dark trees, a small closet that held nothing, a bed of dust, a wooden chair, and you, with rope around your limbs to keep you from moving.

Minutes passed like years, you had nothing else to do but imagine a better life for yourself. A life where you hadn’t been taken by a man and forced to be his pet. Toby never harmed you, he’d talk to you about his life. Something about that situation was incredibly sad for both parties. You realized early-on that Toby just wanted a friend but his perception of friendships was skewed, that’s why you’re tied up.

You lowered your head until deep footsteps sounded from down the hallway. You sighed, Toby’s back and wants to see you. This part was important, you weren’t allowed to comment on his stories, you could only nod your head or listen to him in still silence. The door to your room carefully opened and Toby peeked his head inside.

“Hey.”

Why did he always talk so casually as if you’re not a hostage? He should’ve killed you by now and in some odd way you felt that today was the day.

Toby pulled up a chair to sit in front of you. His hair is matted and messy, his eyes are sunken in and show no emotion, his clothes are bloody and mudded, his mouth guard is hung around his neck and his cheek scar is disturbingly distracting.

“How are you?” He smiled wide with a small chuckle.

You stared at him in disbelief. Is he serious? He never asks you questions. Does he expect you to reply? He just watched you, looking at you with that damn smile.

“Come on. Speak.” His stern tone made you shake.

“I’m fine.” You stuttered out. That’s the first time in months that you’ve spoken. Your voice was hoarse and sounded unknown to you. The silence was thick and your breaths were heavy. He just looked at you.

“Okay. Good.” He never took his eyes off of you. You felt like a lab animal in his presence. He could do anything to you and no one would know. Does anyone know you’re here? Does anyone care?

“I always wonder what you’re thinking.” His smile fell.

“Honestly, I’ve been thinking about you a lot recently. I couldn’t fucking focus on my kill earlier, you were the only thing on my mind.” He ran his hands through his hair with a groan. The frustration lingering on him was intense, it filled the air around you. You were afraid to make your presence known, but you were fighting off the urge to speak.

“You’re terrified of me and I think I love you. How fucked is that?” He laughed loudly. You shrunk, you wanted so badly to run. Your breaths quickened and his words echoed in your head. What the fuck is he talking about? Is this some sick joke?

“I’m being serious, you know?” His eyes met yours and his voice softened. He must’ve taken notice of your panicked state. You quickly looked down at your legs and felt heat rush to your cheeks. This had to be the most fucked situation ever. What kind of kidnapper falls in love with their hostage?

In the middle of thought, you felt a gentle touch on your chin. Toby carefully guided your view up to look at him. Your eyes studied Toby carefully. This was the first time you’d take notice of his freckles, his cracked lips, the scars that decorated his face, and his deep brown eyes. Right now, he looked at you with a certain softness.

“No.” You croaked. You squirmed against the rope.

“What?” He looked at you blankly. You couldn’t find emotion in him. Anger? Dejection?

“Toby, no. This isn’t right.” You stared so far into his eyes, you could fall. A certain heat started to rise in you, maybe it began from the frustration you felt of being locked in a serial killer’s house for months. You wanted him to know how you felt.

“You can’t kidnap me, tie me up then leave me to rot inside of a room for months! Then to come to me and tell me you love me? What kind of sick weirdo are you?” You breathed, deep. Toby just looked at you with big eyes. It felt good to talk and even better to tell Toby off.

Toby furrowed his thick brows, he was clearly thinking about something. You tilted your head in confusion. You knew barely anything about this guy, he could be thinking of how to kill you right now. You looked down at your legs again, but this time you were readying yourself for death. Toby quickly put a hand out to cup your cheek and tilt your head up. In a matter of seconds, Toby leaned in and his lips found yours. Nothing about this was right but it didn’t feel wrong. You slowly leaned into the kiss until Toby pulled away.

“Forgive me. Please.” Toby finally spoke. His apology was demanding.

[kagetxiga]

Oh great and powerful fanfic guru please answer my humble plights,

IMAGINE creepypasta of your choice with a s/o who gets cold in like 70 degree weather so imagine when the snow starts to fall and cuddling on the couch under fluffy blankets cause it's cold!!!! >V<

Please and thank you! ☆(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*

Omggg my first request, thank you so so much for this <33 i hope you have such a wonderful day, now onto the creepypasta fic >:)

Winter Summer

Ticci Toby x Reader

Lying in your freezing bed, you were crawled up into a ball with multiple layers of blankets on top of you, no matter how many layers you put on, it would still be freezing. Your speaker playing music in the background was just some white noise to you, shaking and sneezing under the covers, you heard a knock on your wooden door.

Too cold to move you let out a small ‘come in’ yet it was loud enough for the person on the other side of the door to hear, entering without hesitation was none other than your twitchy boy standing by the doorframe. “There you are! Cmon, get up, you didn’t even have breakfast nor lunch yet!” Toby said with a few stutters here and there, slipping his hands under your large amount of layers, he grabbed onto your hands and started to drag you out of your blankets. You were groaning from the coldness and from your lack of warmth from your blankets.

“Nooo, it’s too cold” You whined with your hands in his as he continued to drag you, half your body was on the ground whilst the other half was on your bed with your legs still under the covers. “You need to move, you’ve been in your room all day, besides, i’m bored and I missed you” he pouted, lifting you off from the ground and are now in his arms. “You saw me not even an hour ago Toby” You spoke up, freezing under his touch, as he carried you down the stairs to the kitchen, his body jerking and twitching more than normally, probably from the low weather, not that he knows, he can’t feel.

Releasing you from his grasp, you were found in the kitchen on a stool by the island. Resting your arms on the counter and laying your head, he placed a plate in front of you yet frowned from the sight of you, “you okay? You seem cold” he asked, stutters and all. You groaned in response, his frown deepening as he sighed, taking your arm and dragging you to the living room, you immediately sat on the couch and lied there in the cold. You hated this weather, you just wished it was summer all over again, the warm feeling of the sun on your skin, the leaves growing and the flowers dancing with the wind.

Meanwhile you hadn’t even noticed that toby left the room to get blankets and pillows, “I’m back!” His voice muffled, looking over to your boyfriend, his arms were filled with fluffy blankets and pillows, placing them on the ground he smiled at you, taking off his sweater, he handed it to you with pink cheeks. You smiled at his kind gesture and took it in your hands, slipping it on your body. It somewhat helped your body warmth knowing it was his as you felt butterflies in your stomach.

“You lay down, while i make a small blanket fort for us, then we can watch a movie!” Toby exclaimed, while his arm jerked up, i smiled at him and nodded in response as he started to build the said fort, grabbing a few chairs as the walls, making a roof, and even using a pillow as a ‘door’.

Toby crawled into the fort and saw you in the same position, waiting patiently for your lovers touch. Seeing your body still quivering from the cold, he immediately crawled towards you ,due to the low roof of the fort. Slithering next to you on the couch, he placed the extra blankets on top of you both as he cuddled and stuffed his head into your chest, the warmth of his body on top of your cold one instantly heats you up, reminding you of summer relaxation, just you both lying there with peace. Toby loves to hear your heartbeat no matter what, it calms him down on so many levels, and the touch of toby in your arms never fails to give you beautiful and fluttering butterflies.

Feeling his hands around your torso while yours in his dark brown fluffy hair is enough to put you to sleep.

Just you two, on the couch, in the living room.

Until Jeff thought it was a good idea to throw ben on the roof of the fort.

Thank you!! <3

-K.T

A/n: im sorry if this isn’t really what youre hoping for, but i hope you had fun reading!!

[aestheticallyuncanny]

Jeff: So what do you guys do for fun around here?

Ej: idk sometimes we throw shit at Toby

Jeff: Who's Toby?

Ej: TOBY

Toby: *gets whacked by a water bottle*

[lovely-necromancy]

A Cure for Insomnia CH.2

Getting back to your little one story cottage, you can only manage to rush in and run about in a mad dash as you try to accomplish getting ready for work and getting something to eat. Running through choices in your head as you change and freshen up, nothing sounds good. There's not much time since your shift starts at nine and to make it to the store you need to leave by eight twenty. You got home at eight fifteen, and while Nate, your manager, has never seemed to give a fuck what you did at work you're still in your probationary period and would like to keep the easiest job you've ever had.

It's a really simple gig, seeing as the store you work at is actually a front for some illegal activity. The variety of crime you aren't sure of, but you are aware there's no way you guys do no business and yet they can afford to pay thirty dollars an hour. Thankfully just keeping your mouth shut and being nice to little Jo, the owner's daughter, is enough to keep you in the cushiest job in the world. The store's front is a regular old book store, all the books are real, the registers work, you're able to sell books and you've run to the bank to do the weekly deposits twice for Book & Nook. The front is very legitimate or it would be if the amount of customers ever equaled the sales made.

Again you don't ask questions, because for thirty dollars an hour you get to goof off for a couple hours a day, plus you get a bonus when you watch little Jo at the shop. She's a real sweet eleven year old, she's got tourettes and took a shine to you the first time she saw you tic. While you both might not suffer the same disorder she finds the common ground nice, like it's not just her. It's not even hard to watch her or enjoy her company, she'll come bouncing in with her excited chittering and hands clapping spilling all the latest gossip that comes with being in middle school. And boy is there a lot of gossip.

It's really nice seeing that Jo has friends at school and is even considered a “popular” kid. You remember how tough school was because no one understood you and teachers never cared enough about your personality to bring up the fact that it was clear to most faculty members that you had Autism. You excelled academically so what did it matter if you got picked on for oversharing information or for finishing assignments the minute they were handed to you. As bittersweet as the parallels are you're so glad Jo doesn't have to go through that. Never would have thought a southern school could be so accepting, much less a middle school at that.

Tearing through the kitchen you honestly can't find anything that you want to eat right now. And even after a long night of hiking/dissociating you don't think you're that peckish at all. Figuring it's best to at least take something to quell any future nausea you grab a Pedialyte Pop from the freezer. As fast as you entered your home you left, and not before ensuring twice that the door was locked and secured. While living on the outskirts of town saves you from many potential robberies, and worse salesmen, there's still the chance of some lunatic with an ax hiding out in a closet to murder you. Better safe now than sorry later.

Pulling into park behind the shop right at nine is a blessing. You run into the shop to clock in blurting out a quick 'Morning' to Nate, who was carrying a particularly large box, as you passed by him. In a flash you were back at your car retrieving your newly prized deer skull. Lungs burning a bit from the all out sprint you just did you took a little extra time to close the trunk and lock your car up to catch your breath, and avoid any light headiness you might get from the empty stomach workout. Eager to share the wonders of death with your best work friends, and by that you mean Nate your manager...and only other coworker, you rush back into the building.

The shop was quiet as usual as you made your way through the door though you were in the back room where only employees could roam you had the slightest suspicion that the front of shop was just the same. It's there you find Nate, now lugging a medium sized box around to a side table. He did this a lot you suspect some type of smuggling but hey plausible deniability and all those legal matters. The taller dark haired man sees you and just as he's about to wave you over, notices your prize with a raised brow.

“The fuck d'you bring in the store?” he doesn't seem amused by whatever it is he thinks you're up to. “Deer skull.” Lifting it up in one hand and pointing at it, “Found this guy on my hike last night...or rather this morning actually.”

“YN, we talked about this, you said you'd get some sleep last night. No adventures remember.” he's only two years older than you and yet he acts as if he's ten years. He must be an old soul, or enjoys the role of care giver...or you're making him go gray prematurely, anything's possible.

“Eh, I remember saying I'd 'try' and get sleep.” for someone who's body is running on fumes your cheekiness is astronomical, “operative word being 'try', remember.”

It's a long silence as Nate decides if he wants to deal with your bullshit at this moment. After a minute or so he concedes leaning back on the table behind him. “Let's hear it.” and you perk up immediately.

“Cool, so I was walking along the tree line and spotted him, tried to find more but seems there's only one piece. Judging by the size of his antlers I'd say he was nearly fully grown. Now my plan is to do whatever treatments taxidermists do to bones and,” you continue to word vomit at the tired twenty-six year old in front of you, about the joys and wonders of taxidermy and the likely hood of ever finding a skull so nicely preserved.

“I can do that in here right?” even though it's been phrased as a question, you aren't asking permission, you're just being polite and letting Nate know the storage room will house your creepy deer skull antics for today...maybe the week you need to find a taxidermist book to figure out what you need to do.

Nate gives up and leaves with his box of new books to let you have full run of the back to do your weird vulture culture shit. He figures he's just too old to understand the new obsessions with the macabre. He hopes his cousin won't take to shit like this, the kid's weird enough as it is, no need to put another target on her back. Nate sets off to take down the Harry Potter sets in favor of this new comic series little Jo wanted.

Already taking his silence as the go ahead you place your found skull on the table and rush off into the store front to find a book on taxidermy and hopefully more specifically about bones. The set up and organization of the store reminds you a lot of the scene in Brendan Fraser's The Mummy 1997 where Evie is on the ladder and somehow causes all the book shelves to fall like dominoes. So unsafe, yet all book stores and libraries seem to have this set up. With the tall shelves it makes it difficult to accurately get a read on the spines. You don't even know what section taxidermy actually falls under, education maybe?

“Nate, where do you think a book on taxidermy would be?” you called out as you passed by him.

“...hobby?” that didn't sound right but you'd give it a shot anyway.

This should be fun, the hobby section was so disorganized and it took up nearly half the store too, Book & Nook had everything from fishing, to crochet, cooking, the art of film making, hell even had a cryptid hunting book a book that you may have to look into a bit later. You closed your eyes and let your intuition guide you, when you looked up you saw a thin black...vine, no whisp? It undulates in less than rhythmic movements nearly like a snake but it has no head, and not unlike a tentacle but without suckers. It's another hallucination so you were keen to ignore it until it stretched past your head, giving you an added auditory hallucination where you swore you could hear wind rushing past your ears, it swirled around you until it flew to the shelf and tapped on a book. Cautiously you walked over to it, it's never good to play into these delusions. Once you got close enough the black shape was gone but on the shelf was a creme colored paper back titled “Manual of Taxidermy: Complete Guide of Preserving Birds and Mammals.”

Walking to Nate with the book in your hands you asked him to read it and make sure you weren't having an episode and making everything up right now. You'd have to try harder to go to sleep tonight if that were the case.

“Oh you found your book huh?” he said looking down at the title.

Well this is getting weird fast, but you nod nonetheless. Might as well thank the weird hallucination gift right. Leaving him to do whatever it is he plans on doing the rest of the day, you go to the back. And just as the book instructs you set to cleaning the skull by setting it in some water and changing it as many times as the water runs murky. The book is quiet helpful to a beginner like yourself but it does seem a bit outdated from the bits of information you know from taxidermists blogs and vulture culture posts on the internet. Reading it in between water changes is a great way to pass the time though, not like you guys get any real customers anyways.

The bell rings as the front door opens and closes alerting you to someone's arrival on your third water change. Needing a little bit of mental stimulation you walk out into the front where Big Jo and Little Jo are talking to Nate. Little Jo sees you and skitters away from her father to rush you, she stops about a foot away and holds her arms wide open. She's a hugger but upon meeting you had never even thought people could be touch adverse so keeping in mind that you might not want to be touched she's learned to invite you into hugs and it's your choice to allow it or not. Placing a hand on your bicep you give a squeeze, checking your tolerance you find the thought bearable. Placing your arms outstretched at your sides Jo rushes your torso for her hug.

After she nearly body slammed you into the wall, and  let her death grip go she was off on a tangent about so many things. Her excited rapid blinking tic, one she developed after meeting you, triggering your own.

“Ok so you remember how last week I told you that Jessie Kinsleton said that Micheal Saleisa told Gigi B, not Gigi S. that Meghan,” you had no clue the lives of eleven year olds had gotten so complex, from the gossip you heard from Jo it seemed that the school's sixth graders were plotting for a war with an ice cream parlor up the street. No clue why, maybe just to fuck the system, kids are weird, preteens are weirder...and angry.

But you nod to Jo listening to her every word, and trying to calm your eyelids so you could actually open your eyes. After being told the sequence of events that would happen in the Tween Armageddon, something to do with Marco Salvator ordering three dozen donuts and a flock of geese, your eyes finally gained their ability to see back. Black whisps, much like the one from earlier, wandered all around your vision, it looked like a  dark smoke had settled eye level within the shop and was snaking through the isles.

Catching the movement of your eyes Jo looked around the shop too. Seeing nothing she turned back to you concerned, “Hey it's okay, nothin's there.”

Hearing the drop in volume of the normally chatty tween, Big Jo and Nate pause their conversation to turn their attention to you and follow you're gaze.

“Kid, you ain't sleepin' again?” Big Jo can already gauge by the bags under your eyes but he's a polite man so he feels the need to ask rather than state his assumptions.

“Day 6.” You answer simply, ever since you've started at Book & Nook the whole Cowell family became acutely aware of many of your disorders. By their record your longest time spent awake was ten days, you however adamantly say that you were an hour's mark away from ten full days so the longest you've been up is nine days in a row. And those are just the cases they know of since you've moved to Kepler.

Big Jo shook his head as a stern father would, which he is, “I have half the mind to send you home to rest.”

“That won't work.” you really don't mean to sound so coarse but it's so irritating having to go over this at least once a week.

“What about those gummy things Dia got you?”

“Long term that kind of stuff has no effect, sure it'll make me drowsie for an hour or two but even if it made me sleep one night I can't use it all the time. And before you ask the same questions again, caffeine has no real effect on me so limiting my intake will do nothing and weed doesn't do a thing for me either.” you state plainly, monotone as you present facts that everyone in the room already knows.

Looking at the stern face of Big Jo's and the exasperated face of Nate you continue, “I know it must be frustrating for you to not be able to help, but I'm content living like this. I like my late night adventures and when I do sleep it's really pleasant.”you threw in a smile for added comfort.

“Kid tha's not the point, there's somethin' wrong with you, medically I mean.” he's pinching the bridge of his nose, probably counting to ten to calm himself from raising his voice.

“Tons of people suffer from insomnia and there isn't anything a doctor could do for me except look for underlying conditions.” Big Jo's about to retort when you continue with, “Plus my dad and uncle both have insomnia as well so my case is due to the genetic lottery I lost.” You say with a hint of finality of your situation, you had to come to terms with this condition all the way back in high school. Having a decade to get used to your strange condition and the limitations it places on you from time to time. Whereas the Cowell family's only had two months to process this information, and you understand it'll take awhile before they stop being concerned. Same thing happened with you parents and friends back then too.

For now you're only met with more head shakes as if they were saying 'what are we going to do with you'. Leaving your medical issues aside Nate and Big Jo continue to talk shop, when the set up Nate just put on display catches Jo's eye.

Like lightening the tween was away from your side and by the new display shelf it looked like it held graphic novels. That's a first since you've been here, you walk over to join Jo knowing the second you do she'll start on about what's got her so excited. Most people might say you over indulge the child and coddle her but you actually just think it's really important to take interest in what makes kids happy. It helps them find their voices and also shows them that it's normal to get excited and like things.

“We got the TAZ graphic novels in?!” you hate rhetorical questions but smile and nod at her anyway.

“Have you read them? No, well you've listen to the podcast...what omg! Ok so there's these three brothers and their,” Jo begins regaling you with tales from the podcast known as The Adventure Zone and how fun they've made dungeons and dragons seem with their amazing story telling and funny characters.

You aren't sure if a show where the main group of heroes being called Tres Horny Bois is exactly age appropriate but when you look to Big Jo he kind of just shrugs it off. Turning you attention back to Jo who's now monologing about mongooses you just smile at the weird family you've found yourself in.

Let it be said that a tween with a slightly unhealthy fixation on something can find anyway to drag it back to that fixation. The day flew by with Jo explain the inner workings of dungeons and dragons, fifth edition, to you, her father, and her cousin after you mentioned why she didn't play. Apparently she'd love to but wanted a story fitting for her friend's to adventure. So being the good older cousin, father, and weird family friend you all were you came up with a story plot for her to use with her campaign.

The Jos had a lot of fun bonding over this little workshop and you guys even had food delivered so you and Nate could stay later. What was meant to just be a quick workshop turned into a mini family game night after you made several nearly impossible puzzles that wouldn't be used in Jo's campaign due to no one at the current table understanding how to solve it even after you showed them several times.

Overall it was fun and you think you might actually be tired enough to go to sleep tonight. You tried to stay and help clean up but Big Jo put his foot down and told you to go get some rest, he'd seen the way you occasionally look around the room as if something was moving behind them all. You may have started off as a cashier two months ago for him but his daughter has opened up a lot since meeting you and discovering that tics aren't so uncommon and there are people who wouldn't care or make a big deal out of them. Because of that you've earned your keep in his family, he already has you down on the list for Christmas cards.

Knowing you can't fight the six foot four man you roll your eyes and bid everyone good night, little Jo coming in to steal another hug from you and thank you for helping with her game. Checking on your skull you see the water's clear and dump it in the sink of the break room before leaving the skull to dry overnight, it's for sure gonna make Nate scream tomorrow, you can't help but chuckle at that.

Leaving through the back door and into the dusk colored parking lot you notice your trunk is popped open slightly. You definitely heard it shut earlier this morning. You blink before your head jerks to the right, unsettled by possibility of a break in and not risking it you head back inside.

“Hey, I think my car may have been broken into.” you stand awkwardly in the door way unsure of how to proceed.

Big Jo and Nate are out of the door as fast as they can. They find your car unlocked with the trunk popped, you know they weren't trying to brush you off when they asked several times if you did in fact lock your car this morning. After hearing your affirmative response each time, they began to inspect your car checking to make sure all wires are properly secured under the hood, Nate even retrieved the jack out of his own car to take a look under the car, ensuring the brakes hadn't been messed with. They started the car up just fine and it didn't appear tampered with. Even though nothing looked out of place and Nate's car, sitting in the same parking lot, hadn't been touched you appreciated them checking to make sure you were alright.

Knowing you're perceived as a woman by most, even outside of this small town, makes you uneasy when it comes to terms of abductions and violence. You know the chances and hear the stories whether it's from the victim's mouth or a podcaster's telling the story the dead can't. Nate offered to follow you home and make sure you were ok but you declined and said you'd call them both when you got home. Big Jo said to just call his home phone because Nate would be coming over tonight anyway, and if they didn't make it there before you called Dia was already at home and would pass the message along. You'll probably still try and give the shop a call if Dia answers, it wouldn't sit right with you if you wound everyone up just to not and at least try to settle their nerves.

With one final check of you car, the men even going so far as to lift seats up and feel under them, they sent you off. You drove carefully on the road tonight, ready to pull off into the shoulder at the slightest hint that something was wrong. Not even the radio was on something that you really didn't like driving without, but if there was the chance for you to catch a shift in tone of the machine you wanted to. Eventually you did end up making it home in one piece and you had called the Cowell family home, from the safety of your car, and got a spazztic eleven year old asking if you'd made it home alright. It took a little bit of coaxing but Little Jo calmed down and shouted to her parents that you were on the phone and alright.

“Kid,” looks like Big Jo took the phone away from Little Jo, “Everything ok on the drive.” Big Jo could hear the movement and shutting of your car door, he'd have to say he was relieved you waited until you were on the phone before exiting. He knew you lived out past the quiet zone in Old Lydia's house. A fact that did little for the unease he felt when he thought you were being watched.

“Oh, yea drive was fine, too quiet but fine.” you said simply as you began circling the cottage. Nothing seemed out of place on the outside, even looking above eye level where people tended to get sloppy in stalking or home invasion cases, everything seemed fine.

“Hope you don't mind if I keep you for a bit.” You had just unlocked your door and stepped in.

“Nah, kid 's fine.” you give a hum of acknowledgment as you look through the kitchen in cabinets, under cupboards, and even under the table.

“You're a smart kid.” he's taken that fatherly overtone that makes you roll your eyes. You understand the sentiment of parents and parental figures having pride in their child or ward but it's always been so weird to you when they feel the need to bring it up. Especially when they bring it up in situations that are dangerous, like can you not make it sound like someone's about to die.

Finding nothing in the living room, hall closet or bathroom you make sure all the windows are locked and dowels are in place to keep them from opening. And you double check that both the back and front doors are secured. You can hear the hushed whispers on the other end of the line, Dia must have just found out about your car, as you rustle through your kitchen utensil drawers taking out two forks before you make your way to your bedroom.

Once in your room you checked your closet and under your bed. Finding nothing you  went to the window in your room, the one right by your bed, you checked the lock, secured it in place with two dowels, and then covered it throwing a thick blanket over the curtain rod to ensure no one would be viewing you in your sleep or the precautions you were about to do. Turing around and locking your bedroom door you then jam one fork into the closed door crease, right below the locking mechanism, and jammed the other fork perpendicular through the prongs. You attempted to open the door with all your weight but only could get an inch in before the forks would stop more movement.

“Kid you alright over there?” it's rushed, he probably heard the commotion with your make shift lock.

“Yea, just had to add another lock to the door.” you trust the Cowell's but you understand how stupid it'd be to let them know exactly how you were defending yourself. Even if it wasn't them there's no telling if the person who broke into your car was outside and just good at hiding. You could also be too jumpy from your true crime shows but you figure it's better to be safe.

“I think everything's good Big Jo.” taking a final glance around your room eye's landing on the bed, “Think I'm even ready to go to sleep tonight too.” a small half laugh leaves your mouth.

“Alright kid, you call if you need anything got it.” it's an order not a request.

“Got it, good night.” Big Jo might think that'd been rude coming from anyone else but from you he can only roll his eyes at the brevity and the dial tone he's met with. He has his own sweep to do, if they were targeting his employee there was a reason. He hasn't had any problems since coming to Kepler but someone always eventually comes along who can't take a hint.

Even combing through your home with Big Jo on the line you didn't feel safe having your bed by the window anymore and moved it away and in front of the closet door. You'd rearrange your room later but for tonight this would have to do. By some grace of god you were actually able to shut your brain down tonight and rest. Maybe it was the excitement and merriment from hanging out with the Cowells or more likely the situation you find yourself in of perhaps being a target for something insidious.

Whatever the case may be you are off to the land of dreams before you know it. And unbeknownst to you the same eyes from this morning watch your home. They may not have seen what you did in there but they'd be sure to catch you when you come out. They'll wait all night to catch you if they have to.

[darkangelwalker]

Toby...Are you okay

Y/N: TIM, YOU NEED TO HURRY THE HECK UP. THE POLICE ARE FOLLOWING ON US!!!

Masky/Tim: |Tim driving|

QUIT YOUR COMPLAINING BITCH, I'M TRYNA FIND A WAY OUT! WAIT, WE MIGHT NEED TO CRASH INTO THE LAKE.

Toby: NOT MY LAKE OF TEARS! *sobs*

Y/N: .....toby...i-

Masky/Tim: Rogers...what the actual fuck-

[hit-me-with-a-ladle]

Ch.12 (Creepypasta x Fem!Reader)

MAJOT TW WARNING: blood, gore and violence so if youre not able to take that please do not read

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There he stood, under the moon's dull light, looking up at the stars, a single cigarette tucked behind his rough fingers as smoke escaped his lips. Usually, he would use this time to calm his nerves before work, but right at this moment, he was furious. He, the Operators greater soldier, his right-hand man, was sent to do scut work. To clear the mess his comrades made. It was absolutely below him. Crossing his arms sharply and inhaling the last of the cigarette, he angrily threw the bud to the ground. But that wasn't even the worst of it, he was sent to do that work with non-other than Jack. The man he despised most in this world, even the mere thought of him made the masked man shake in rage.

Looking down at his pocket watch he saw the time, twelve-thirty-one-am, he was late. Both of them were supposed to be there on time at exactly twelve-thirty-am, but it was so like Jack to be inconsiderate of others time. The man grumbled tilting down his head as he propped his back on a lamp post. It was the dead of night in a rich neighbourhood, this place was the last thing from dangerous, the type that most people who lived there would leave their doors unlocked at night. Most of the houses looked the same, blending into one another, with a white picket fence and freshly cut green grass the smell of which wafted through the night air. It looked sterile, right out of a horror movie. But that wasn't the man's concerned, right at this moment, he was focusing on the one in front of him. A nice large white home with a big front yard and a front porch.

The sound of footsteps approaching snapped him out of his thoughts. " You're late." He declared, not bothering to turn around and look at the person behind him. " I got the memo late all right, it's not my fault, get off my back." The tall man quickly shot back standing next to him, starting to analyze the house. " Yeah of course it's not." Masky spat under his breath staring at his pocket watch once more, calming his nerves. "So why were we called here? This isn't exactly our jurisdiction." Jack asked, beginning to carefully approach the house. "It's The Rake, he went nuts and ran out of bounds, we were sent to subdue him and get him back before they kill him. Here take this." Masky replied while quickly throwing Jack a small silver pistol. "It's got three sleeping darts inside of it, so use it sparingly, it's all we got. Also, be VERY careful the darts are strong and sharp it can knock someone cold with just a prick." " Yeah yeah, But why do I have to use it? Aren't you the one with the shooting experience? Plus shouldn't you also have something to subdue him with?" Jack asked in confusion as he analysed the gun, it was a standard-issue shooting pistol with a nice leather handle, where the operator symbol was engraved on, and metal body. " My shooting arm is broken, it happened a while back. And for your information I do have a way, I have a blade laced in a similar liquid the darts are made from, it's only a little bit weaker." Masky finished quietly climbing up to the front porch, the wooden steps cracking softly under his weight as he neared the front door. Jack only sighed in exasperation as he quickly followed suit.

Masky put his gloved fingers on the doorknob and without any effort, it creaked wide open, exposing the barren hallway. Dead silence filled the room in a flash as both of the men stepped inside, things were very off. The small hallway led to three doors, one was on the right and centre of the wall presumably leading to the garage. The one across from the front door led to the living room and the third door was right under a staircase on the left side of the hallway that led to the second floor. Jack readied the gun holding it tightly in both of his large hands, while Masky gripped the knife. The hallway itself was quite cold, both of the men had begun to examine it, at first they only noticed the few misplaced shoes and the dirty circular carpet but looking at it further under the dim light protruding from the front window there's seemed to be scratches littering on the floor.

" You take upstairs and ill take this floor," Masky said peering at his protege. Jack quickly nodded as he carefully began going up the stair. Masky took in a deep breath, steadying his nerves and once again checking his pocket watch for reassurance, before approaching the garage door. Carefully opening it he scanned the inside, empty. Closing it gently, he went towards the living room door that was slightly open. Pushing it further he was careful to go in, something in the back of his mind was telling him to be extremely careful, he gripped the somewhat large knife even tighter as he fully walked in. The room was very plain, immediately he noticed the tv was on, but the sound was muted, though he didn't try to turn it off as it was the only source of light in the room. Masky learned from his past missions that turning the lights on in a house can be the stupidest thing you could do. Walking further his steps silenced by the large almond carpet as he tried to find any kind of clue as to Rakes whereabouts.

The Rake, one of the most dangerous creatures in the forest, and to most, the most terrifying, with its large, pale, human-like body and sharp talon-like claws, able to cut through a thick tree with a single swing. But what made Masky fear him wasn't his appearance but his behaviour, unlike most of the brain-dead, animalistic monsters that littered the forest, that acted on only instinct, he was fully aware of what he was doing, having this level of intelligence and sentience that made shivers run up the mans spine. He was unbelievably dangerous if not handled with the utmost care. Though the stranges thing is, he wasn't the type to kill humans, he was a monster that didn't need human meat to sustain itself, The Rake was also a territorial being, so him going out of his territory bounds was rather peculiar.

Making his way through the room, he noticed there was a sign of struggle, crimson stains dirtied the carpet and there were more of the same scratches on the walls and floor. A few chairs from the wooden dining table, that was in the middle of the large room, had been misplaced or knocked on the grown. There weren't any kind of decorations on the walls except one large painting hung right above the fireplace, depicting five people, a mother, a father and three children. A dash of blood was covering the father's face. Advancing his way even further there were no singes of any bodied all until he reached one last door, the door that lead to the kitchen. The first thing masky noticed were the dark drag marks leading to it, they were very faint, barely detectable if you didn't pay attention. Taking in one last breath he swung open the door and bolted inside.

The first thing he saw would make most people scared for the rest of their lives but it barely fazed the masked man who only seemed to get more frustrated. There, in the middle of the narrow kitchen, piled atop of one another like trash, where the lifeless bodies were the residents of the house. Their bodies, barely recognisable from their past forms. A giant puddle of blood had formed around them, seeping into the crack of the kitchen tiles. The stench was almost unbearable as flies flew around them in circles, the mother's cold dead eyes stared into Maskys soul as her tongue hanging loose from her dislocated jaw. Chunks of flesh were smeared across the walls and furniture indicating that the struggle lead over into the kitchen, but something was missing. Masys eyebrows furrowed as he counted the bodies. One, two, three, four...the father was gone.

Meanwhile, as Jack climbed up the stairs he carefully investigating every step, being very mindful with every stride he took, not wanting to make any unneeded noise. The first five steps out of all ten didn't have any tell-tale sign, but the moment he reached the sixth he too started to notice the strange scratched on the hardwood, and all the wait up the remaining four there were faint drops of blood. That seem to peak Jacks interest as he quickly walked up the rest of the steps. Now standing on the edge of another narrow hallway he made a layout of it in his head. On the right wall was another single door while on the left wall were three doors and right across from him, at the end of the hallway was the last door.

First, he approached the door on the right, preparing his gun he softly opened the circular handle and checked inside, an empty bathroom. Closing the door once more he went to check the door on the left side, first checking the one that was closed to the stairs. It was a bedroom, most likely for a young boy, other than an unmade bed there was nothing out of the ordinary. Next, he checked the middle door, another bedroom this time belonging to a preteen girl, and again the only unusual thing was the unmade bed. Confusion laced the tall man's masked face as he made his way to the final door, right before he opened it something caught his eye, more bloody drag marks. They were again faint but still somewhat recognisable. They both lead to the last room on the left and the room at the end of the hallway.

Jack readied the gun once more quickly opening the last door on the left, revealing another bedroom with an unkempt bed. But something told him to fully search it. At first glance there was nothing out of the ordinary, it just looked like a room a teenage girl would live in, all until he walked up to the bed and threw the thick purple blankets to the side. Lying stiffly on the bleached white sheets was a long severed finger, staining the sheets with a dull red. Jack grunted, picking it up with his gloved hands and inspecting the stump. It was sliced off with something very sharp. Placing it in his front jean pocket he made his way to the final room, it was the parent's bedroom. A king-sized bed was placed in the middle of the room, which itself had a very minimalist look to it. But unlike the other rooms this one was destroyed, again showing signs of strain, with torn pillows and bedsheets, red-stained feathers everywhere and most importantly, large, deep claw marks.

But even so, there was still no one in the room, as the tall man was about to search further he heard his comrade calling him. " Jack, you got something," Masky said, loud enough for him to hear. " No. What about you?" He shot back leaving the room carefully, still being on guard. " Me neither, but there's something wrong. Five people live in this house, three kids two parents, four of their bodies I found but one is missing. I think that Rake might have taken him somewhere, have any idea where that could be?" Masky replied with correctness, his voice full of authority. " No, but I found a severed finger in one of the kid's rooms, and something went down in the master bedroom." Jack quickly replied going down the stairs, Masky only humming in response as he stood in front of the entrance. " Is there a change he took the last body and fled?" Jack asked finally reaching Masky. " There's no indication, plus Rake isn't the type to flee like that with extra baggage." Masky said calmly, going deep in thought. " Then where the hell could he have gone?" Jack muttered in frustration, staring bullets in the back of Maskys head. "There's only one room we haven't checked..." Masky began talking to himself, quickly strutting to the door under the stairs, he glanced at Jack before twisting the knob. Briskly opening it, he saw a narrow concrete flight of stairs going downwards. " There was a basement!" Jack whispered in delight as he began to walk down with his protege. They both took small precise steps, making sure that whatever was down there could hear them coming, both preparing their weapons as they reached the last step.

It was a large rectangular room, its walls made out of cold concrete blocks that bearly isolated the room. There was a washer and drier bolted to the wall and a few misplaced articles of clothing, but the thing that truly caught their eyes was the hunched over monster trembling in the middle of the room. Disgusting slushing sounds escaped from its large agape mouth as blood sprayed all around it. Right next to it was the decaying body of the last member of the house. It hardly had any meat on its bones, its ribcage fully showing from its paper thing skin, slowly its head began to turn to expose its large sharp teeth smeared in flesh and blood, its stiff dead eyes wide open and staring at both of them with hunger, in its arms it held the severed head of the father. His brain was fully showing as half of it was completely eaten. Jack stammered back a few steps, shocked by the sudden sight.

Regaining his composure he cocked the gun and turned off the safety. But before he could shoot it lunged...

[rayyyzz]

𝓐 𝓻𝓪𝓲𝓷𝔂 𝓭𝓪𝔂

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ (Tᴏʙʏ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘎𝘌𝘕𝘙𝘌：ꜰʟᴜꜰꜰ

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘍𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘖𝘔：Cʀᴇᴇᴘʏᴘᴀsᴛᴀ

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘗𝘈𝘐𝘙𝘐𝘕𝘎：Tᴏʙʏ Rᴏɢᴇʀs x ɢɴ!ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘗𝘙𝘖𝘔𝘗𝘛：ᴀ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛɪᴏɴsʜɪᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛᴏʙʏ ʀᴏɢᴇʀs ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʜɪs ᴍɪssɪᴏɴ

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘊𝘖𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘕𝘛 𝘞𝘈𝘙𝘕𝘐𝘕𝘎𝘚：ɪᴅᴋ ᴘʀᴏʙᴀʙʏ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴs ᴏꜰ ᴅɪsᴏʀᴅᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏᴜɴᴅs

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ 𝘞𝘖𝘙𝘋𝘚 𝘐𝘕 𝘛𝘖𝘛𝘈𝘓： 𝟐𝟎𝟔4

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

You and Toby have been dating for over 3 years now even though he was a proxy to Slenderman, but the was grateful that you stayed with him even when he was in his lowest and he was there for your lowest too. One day, you were waiting for Toby to come back from the mission from slender. Until it started pouring outside and he still wasn't back home after a few hours since he left early in the morning and didn't even tell you anything.

After a couple of more waiting in the house, you were on the bed you share with Toby watching TikTok. Until you heard the front door unlock and footsteps come into the house then you heard Toby say. "Love! I'm h-home!" He stuttered due to his Tourette's but he sounded tired from the mission he went on. He was injured but he couldn't feel the pain due to his disorder.

You heard his voice in the living room by the front door, so you got out of bed before you turned off your phone and walked through the hall to get to the living room where Toby was at. You saw him soaking wet from the rain and trying to get as much water out of his hair, but he looked silly and You leaned on the wall before you crossed your arms. "Got real soaked getting back home huh?" You said playfully to enlighten the mood because you knew Toby was feeling exhausted and irritated. Toby looked at you before giving a playful glare and rolled his eyes. "Shut up. I-It started pouring out of n-nowhere." He said before he took his hoodie off, tossing it to the side in the laundry basket. He then took off his gray undershirt, but there were many scars and injuries on his body when he took off his shirt. Some was still bleeding but he didn't seem to notice or care.

You knew he couldn't feel physical pain but You still worried about him and whenever he gets injured "Toby you know you can't getting yourself hurt like that." You said in a more worried tone due to his fresh injuries on his body because of the mission he went on.Toby glanced at you once he heard your voice get to a more worried tone and he sighed. He knew that you got worried about him especially when he would come home from missions when he was hurt or injured."I-I'll be fine L-love. It's n-nothing major."He stutters as he sat his hatchet down on the table and looked at you before his eyes glanced down at his scars and injuries.

Toby seemed to notice some of them were bleeding, making the blood soak into his black jeans slightly. "M-Might need to p-patch myself up a-a-a-little bit t-though." He said in a casual tone as if getting hurt and injured after a mission was a normal thing and not that big of a deal. But the scars were a reminder of his many past missions and all the many painful lessons he had to learn the hard way.

"You should take a shower first before doing anything else." You said softly to Toby before You walked over to him and kissed his cheek gently. "I'll be making dinner while you're doing that." You then walked to the kitchen before you started getting the ingredients you needed to cook. Toby couldn't help but give a gentle smile after you kissed his cheek and he nodded softly. "M-mhm. A s-s-shower does s-sound nice rn." He said with a stutter before he walked over to the bathroom.

Toby turned on the hot water and undressed himself before stepping into the shower and let the warm water hit his body and run down. For the first time in a while, he actually relaxed when he was taking a shower.

You decided to do something simple like shrimp Alfredo because you were feeling tired from waiting for him all day, so you got the ingredients which were :

1/2 lb. medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 lb. fettuccine

2 Tbsp butter, divided

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup heavy cream

3/4 cup Parmesan

1/8 tsp salt (or to taste)

1/4 tsp freshly cracked pepper (or to taste)

1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Your shrimp was frozen, so you thaw and peel before beginning. Then you removed the tails. You brought a pot of water to a boil for the fettuccine. Once it was boiling, you add the fettuccine and you boiled until tender (7-10 minutes). Before Reserving a ½ cup of the starchy water before draining the pasta in a colander.

While the fettuccine is boiling, you prepare the shrimp and alfredo sauce. After that you place the peeled shrimp on a cutting board and you pat it dry with a paper towel. Then you season the shrimp with a pinch of salt and pepper.

You added 1 tablespoon butter to a large skillet and you heat over medium. Once hot, you swirl to coat the surface of the skillet with butter. You added the shrimp and you cooked it for 1-2 minutes on each side, or just until opaque and pink (do not overcook the shrimp). You transfer the cooked shrimp to a clean bowl.

You reduce the heat to medium-low. You add 1 tablespoon butter to the skillet along with the minced garlic. Sauté the garlic for 1-2 minutes, or just until it is very fragrant but not brown.

You added the heavy cream to the skillet and you whisk to dissolve any browned bits off the bottom of the skillet. You allow editing the cream to come up to a simmer. You whisk the Parmesan into the hot cream until melted. Season the sauce with salt and pepper.

You added the cooked and drained pasta and cooked shrimp back to the skillet with the sauce (make sure to add any liquid from the bowl of shrimp). You toss everything until coated in sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick or dry, add some of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up.

You taste the pasta and add more salt or pepper if needed.

(added a whole ass recipe fr 💀)

Toby was still in the shower as he was washing his body and hair. He couldn't help but smile at how peaceful he felt with the warm water hitting his body and he didn't know how long he was in the shower for. But eventually, he turned the shower off before he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out of the bathroom. However, he took long enough that You even finished cooking the shrimp Alfredo You were barely making the shrimp Alfredo when he barely took a shower. You began to get two plates for me and Toby before you serve the shrimp Alfredo onto the plates and putting them on the dinner table.

Toby walked into the kitchen after getting a pair of gray sweatpants on and walked over to the dinner table. He looked at the plates and couldn't help but his eyes light up when he saw the shrimp Alfredo that you made. "That s-smells good. As u-usual." Toby said before he sat down in a chair at the dinner table and took a bite of the shrimp alfredo and swallowed it. His eyes widened slightly when he tasted it. "Damn." You were getting two cups and you put ice into the cups then you got the Dr Pepper out the fridge. You poured the Dr Pepper into the cups then gave one of the cups to Toby when You made your way over to the dinner table and sat down. You warmly smiled at him. "Do you like it?" You asked him as he ate the shrimp Alfredo You made.

Toby was enjoying eating the shrimp alfredo and he took a few more bites before he responded to you's question as he swallowed what he had in his mouth. "Hell y-y-yeah I like it. This is f-fucking delicious. Your an a-amazing cook."

Toby said with a big smile as he sipped the Dr. Pepper. You chuckled when he said that because You didn't think my cooking was THAT good. "You don't have to exaggerate about my cooking." You said playfully as you continued to eat the food and sipping on your cup of Dr pepper here and there.

Toby chuckled with you as he shook his head. "I'm n-not exaggerating about your c-cooking. It really is a-a-amazing. You're a-a p-pretty damn good cook s-sweetheart." He said as he ate more of the alfredo and took sips of his Dr. Pepper every now and then. You playfully rolled your eyes as you were about to finish with your meal, so when you finished eating. You got up from the dinner table and put the dirty dish in the sink as well as the cup "I'm going to take a shower." You said to Toby as you walked to the bathroom and closed the door behind you.

Toby was almost done with his meal and he smiled when you jokingly rolled your eyes. "I w-was being s-s-serious though." He said before nodding at what you said when you said you were going to take a shower now.

"Alrighty. I'll just w-wait in the b-bedroom until you're d-done." He said before going back to eating and drinking his Dr. Pepper.

After you finished taking a shower, you dried yourself with a clean  towel then you  put on the clothes you had put on the bathroom sink before you took a shower. Therefore, you left the bathroom now walking to the bedroom. You entered the bedroom you and Toby share to see him laying in the bed watching a movie on the tv. "Hey Tobs." Toby was laying in the bed with his back propped up against the wall with pillows and he was watching one of his favorite horror movies. He looked over at you when you walked in the, giving a gentle smile in greeting when he saw you in clothes you put on after your shower.He reached over, grabbed the remote and paused the movie so he could talk to you. “Hey love” He said simply as he patted the spot next to him.

You walked over to the bed and went to go lay down at the spot next to him, so you wrapped your arms around him, snuggling with him while you two watch his favorite horror movie. Toby smiled when you laid down next to him. He wrapped his arms around your back as you snuggled with him and rest his head against yours, the movie now unpaused on tv. It was clear after a few minutes of him laying next to you, that Toby was already getting tired.

Toby's eyes were starting to slowly close a little bit and his eyes were trying to stay open as he was beginning to struggle to stay awake.

You were also slowly falling asleep due to the peaceful environment at the moment, but listening to the soft thunder and rain outside was already getting you sleepy. Before you knew it your eyes slowly closed and you began to fall into a peaceful sleep as you cuddled with him.Toby didn't have trouble falling asleep as the soft thunder and sound of rain outside made him even more sleepy than he already was. He wrapped one of his arms tightly around your waist even as he slowly began to fall asleep. It didn't take long for Toby to fall asleep due to how tired he was after the long day he had and the long mission he went on. He was now in a peaceful deep sleep next to you.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

Hᴇʟʟᴏ ⵊ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ sʜᴏᴛ ᴏꜰ Tᴏʙʏ ⵊ’ᴍ sᴏʀʀʏ ɪꜰ ⵊ ᴍɪsᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀɪᴢᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ʙɪᴛ 😭

Nᴇxᴛ ɪs : Eʏᴇʟᴇss Jᴀᴄᴋ ᴏʀ ᴊᴇꜰꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟᴇʀ ʙᴜᴛ ⵊ’ʟʟ ʟᴇᴛ ʏ’ᴀʟʟ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴏɴᴇ

ⵊ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀs ᴀ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ɴɪɢʜᴛ/ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀɴᴏᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ, sᴛᴀʏ sᴀꜰᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴄᴀʀᴇ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜʀsᴇʟꜰ!

⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾ ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☁︎

[poweranon]

Ok so I’m dumb and did something and I deleted the ask lmao but here you go

I’m doing this as a gender neutral reader! AND I KNOW IT’S LATE BUT ITS STILL TECHNICALLY TODAY!

Y/N curled up deeper under the covers, wishing that the daylight that was creeping in the window and past the white curtains would go away. They didn’t feel good. They also didn’t feel bad. They felt nothing, like a blank slate, with absolutely nothing in life to live for. All Y/N wanted to do was sleep, to sink down under the thick blankets and into the white sheets, further and further until maybe they could unbury a reason to get out of bed.

Hearing a knock on the door, they inhaled deeply, held it for one, two, three seconds before releasing, hoping the person behind the wooden door would get the idea and leave. After the second round of knocks, with a soft, worried “Y/N?” they broke.

“ Yes, Toby?” they croaked out, wishing that they could stay in that hazy dreamland, away from the crushing, drowning abyss that they felt inside.

Toby opened the door, the creaking the only thing breaking the silence of the room. He padded over to the bed, taking in the figure that lay curled up under the blankets. His neck cracked, a loud snap in the silence. The figure moved a little, Y/N’s face peeled out. Their blank eyes, encircled with dark rings and a heaviness that seemed to encompass the world made Toby hurt inside for his lovely Y/N. Lifting the blankets, he slipped underneath them, then wrapped his arms around his partner, kissing their shoulder.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, “I’m here too, and I’ll always be here for you. I love you.”

Y/N didn’t say anything, but Toby felt a squeeze on his arm. Everything would be fine, eventually.

[rayyyzz]

I know I haven’t posted chasing shadows, but tbh I don’t really know if I should continue it 😭

Also this is nothing related to chasing shadows, but I don’t like Ej x Toby in my opinion though. :p

[rayyyzz]

Y'all the chasing shadows chapter 2 is coming out in another week or so because I have no motivation and I'm hella busy on weekdays

[rayyyzz]

𝓒𝓱𝓪𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓼

༄𝓒𝓗𝓐𝓟𝓣𝓔𝓡 𝓞𝓝𝓔 ༄ (REWRITE)

╚══════✮❁•°❀°•❁✮══════╝

It was a snowy Friday night. You were walking home from your friend's house after a study session, headphones on, music filling your ears. You lived just five streets away, so you decided to take a shortcut through the forest. As you made your way through the snow-laden trees, the song in your headphones ended, and "Tag, You're It" by Melanie Martinez started playing. It was instrumental, which made it feel even eerier—especially here, alone, in the woods. You suddenly felt a chill, like someone was watching you from afar. You brushed it off, thinking it was probably just an animal.

If only you knew.

High up in a tree to your left, a man was watching you. Messy brown hair, orange goggles over his eyes, a mouth guard covering his face, and a hatchet gripped tightly in his hand. This was no random stranger—it was Toby Rogers, Slender Man's main proxy, tracking you from a distance.

As you neared the street where your house stood, you felt a presence. Turning around, your heart nearly stopped when you saw him—a figure closing in on you, hatchet gleaming under the dim streetlights. You couldn't make out his full appearance, but the sheer terror sent adrenaline rushing through your veins. Your hands started shaking, and you felt frozen in place for a moment before your fight-or-flight instinct kicked in.

You sprinted toward your house, not daring to look back. Fumbling with your keys as you reached your front door, you could feel him getting closer. The door clicked open just in time—you slammed it shut behind you and locked it.

Breathing heavily, you sighed in relief, only to notice your guardians standing in the hallway, both looking at you with confused expressions.

"What's wrong, hun?" one of them asked.

"Yeah, why did you just slam the door like that?" the other chimed in.

Panic flared inside you. What do I say? If I tell them I was chased by a killer, they'll never let me out again.

"Uh... a pitbull chased me," you blurted out. They seemed skeptical at first but nodded, remembering how the neighbors often let their aggressive dogs out at night.

You headed upstairs, trying to calm down. First, you laid out some comfortable clothes, then grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom. You peeled off your clothes, feeling sticky and sweaty, and took a long shower to wash away the fear. After drying off and doing your skincare routine, you slipped into your comfy clothes and collapsed onto your bed, scrolling through TikTok to take your mind off things.

Your eyes grew heavy as you watched an edit of Ticci Toby—the very person who had chased you tonight. You eventually drifted off to sleep.But at 2 AM, you jolted awake. The sound of breaking glass echoed through the house. Footsteps—heavy, deliberate—approached from the kitchen, growing louder as they climbed the stairs. Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. The steps stopped right outside your door. You held your breath as the doorknob twisted.

You had locked it, but it didn't matter. The intruder had a hatchet. The door began to splinter and crack under the blows. Then, the door gave way, and he stepped into your room...You shot awake, gasping for air, drenched in cold sweat. Looking around, everything was normal—your door was intact, untouched. What the hell? You checked your phone. It was 6:43 AM. Shaken but needing to move, you remembered your college exam at 8:20 AM.

You quickly got ready, left the house, and headed to McDonald's for breakfast—trying to shake the lingering terror of the nightmare.

𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭)

[lovely-necromancy]

A Cure for Insomnia CH. 22

“So...you wanna talk about whatever...” you gesture vaguely in the direction you just came from, “all of – that was about?”

You and Toby had just gotten into the Car after walking through the small woods that hid the Cryptonomica. The walk was completely silent and set at a brisk pace, Toby urgently guiding you – somehow expertly through the trees. You'd barely managed a quick goodbye to your friends before Toby pushed your shoulders, directing you out of the building before Tim and Brian could make their way over to the two of you.

He seems really off tonight, and considering just last night he spilled his soul right out in front of you – telling you of his haunting past and the murder he committed...well he seemed to handle that a lot better than he was handling the current situation going on with his roommates. Despite his weird behavior tonight it's his silence that unsettles you.

There's a knot in your stomach as you think of why Toby had been so hell bent on making it seem like you two weren't talking throughout the movie. Why he wanted to keep where you were going hidden from the others. The fact that he went so far as to make plans with you on his phone's note app, it just doesn't sit right.

You'd really like to know what changed between the trio in such a short time span.

A muffled “Mrrow”, is the only response you get as Toby faces the window and leans against his hand.

This isn't normal Toby behavior and you're worried. As your stomach knots itself up a bit more you aren't naive enough to think anything other than you're concerned for your friend.

Toby's been upset at the other two before but this was different. He'd normally be steaming and ranting right now but he's just sitting near catatonic in your passenger seat as you drive home. He didn't even bother with choosing a playlist. But you hadn't even thought to hand him your phone so maybe that one's on you.

Your brain is just totally scrambled tonight.

The silent car ride was not doing either of you any favors. Leaving you both with your thoughts, you with your worries escalating and Toby stewing in his own negative emotions.

Needless to say it was a long ride to your cottage.

It's quiet as you enter your home with Toby right on your heels. He's made it a point to practically be on top of you all night, as though he was trying to shield you from a danger you weren't aware of. Now that you're thinking about that, he's mentioned Masky being dangerous, but Masky wasn't fronting tonight. Could Toby not tell who was the face of the system? Or was he just being hyper vigilant in keeping you from any and all Masky encounters?

Looking at the silent brunette his movements and motions are stiff – anamatronic like. He's only moving when needed and the bare minimum at that like he isn't programmed for his normal fluidity and his tics have lessened so he can't be tense right now.

It's very weird for your friend. Especially since he's normally so animated and almost always constantly buzzing with movement.

“Ok-ay” drawing out the word, “No talking about your dumb smelly roommates tonight.”

Honestly it's all you want to talk about right now, just to get to the bottom of why Toby's acting like this tonight.

But seeing Toby perk up after your declaration, loosens the hold your obsessive thoughts have. He practically melts into your couch and a mirthful glint is back in his eyes. The same ones that have been near dead all night.

Maybe he just needs a break, you can give him that for the night at least.

“I know we've had a lot of sleepovers technically...but we haven't actually ever done sleepover sleepovers.”

“The fuck are you – wrong- going on about?” even his tics seem to be coming back. You never thought going almost an hour without witnessing Toby tic would be so disconcerting.

You gesture vaguely, “Y'know like games or movies or...or..”

Toby places a hand over his chest, “Gossip?” he fakes a gasp during your lapse in thought.

He laughs when you flip him off.

“Oooooh the finger, what are y-yo-you seven?”

“Man...I changed my mind you can leave. Door's over there.” you say pointing behind the grinning man as you take the seat next to him.

The glint in his eye twinkles as you plop down, “Eh, I don't think so. Your couch is comfy, I'm stayin'.”

Rolling your eyes you pull out your phone and remember Toby has his on him.

“D'you play Cookie Kingdom?”

At his confused look your eyes sparkle. You make him connect to your wifi and download the cookie game to play with you.

Everything is moving along very nicely. He'll be the first to admit it wasn't optimal to loose His three best proxies for a few years, but He's a god – He does have a surplus of time to spare after all. And it might suffice to say that the team has been building up their bond to surpass His already surprised expectations of them. Become stronger as it were.

Maybe they've just needed a plant in their ranks to round the system out.

His nonexistent eyes travel towards YN. They seem to be progressing quickly, a few more weeks of torment and they might just pass initiation. Oh wouldn't that be fun.

Not that it matter much in His plans. Though Tobias' recent obsession with them has certainly spurred along his own development. Maybe a new weakness to play on...a new reason to keep him in line. He's never really had much of a choice in that matter before but after his instance on leaving His thrall, the boy's had too much control over his own mental state.

The Operator had been too lax with that child, He understands that now. Perhaps YN will be useful in keeping the boy in line in the future.

Thankfully despite the obvious ire amongst His best group, the proxies still seem overly attached to one another. A miscalculation on His part, He'd kept them together for too long. Should have cycled them through other teams more. Even gods can make mistakes.

Originally that had been the plan for Tobias, as Masky and Hoodie were already a bound set at that point and proven to be stronger when together. But then the boy began showing interest in a few other proxies who in turn returned and rewarded that interest. Ultimately distracting all involved from their tasks. He'd placed Tobias with Masky and Hoodie in hopes they'd settle him down and reign him in and it worked a little too well. He'd never calculated the older men taking the child in as if he were their own.

A misstep – but for a while it'd been a very beneficial one. The trio had worked so well together that He often found His plans ahead of His projected schedule. Although He had time to wait and be a patient god, efficiency was appreciated and in turn He had allowed the trio certain...luxuries not many of His proxies obtained.

However, as it seems His rewards made His control over the trio sloppy. That's how He found Himself in this current predicament. Shaking His head, He's learned from His mistakes – and His proxies' transgressions.

In the future He shall not be so lenient.

They may still be kept together though. They're more effective as a unit. And if YN does happen to raise to the occasion, well they'd be a stronger tether for Tobias. After all Hoodie and Masky have proven bonded proxies don't do well when separated.

But there's still time to weigh the options.

And as He watched YN bring Tobias down onto their bedroom floor and set up a mini nail salon an amused huff leaves Him. He'd molded this child since they were young to be the perfect plant, they'd always been such a willing vessel – so unassuming. It had been easy to pick their mind and move them into any position He'd needed. All they were missing was a reason to follow Him, a divine purpose. Looking to Tobias He just may have found the leverage He's needed to push them.

He continues to watch as YN rubs lotion into the brunette's hands trying to get some moisture into the scuffed and calloused mitts.

He finds it amusing they'd try to soften the hands of a killer. Their actions towards Tobias have not changed since the reveal, if anything it seemed to spur them into a nurturing role with the boy. Perhaps contacting Masky and Hoodie to “open” up would produce a similar response. Tobias might not enjoy that, and he is the one most in need of a tether at the moment.

Surprise jolts through His system when He catches Tobias snapping out of the haze that normally befalls him when He's around. It's unintentional that His presence effects the sleeper but the man has never once broken or even attempted to break out of the controlled state...since becoming a proxie that is.

Tobias grins at YN, having said something amusing, most likely some smart remark. YN in turn gives a confused tilt of their head before they are being smothered by Tobias' weight. He had lunged at them and draped himself over them. Very different from how his interest in previous proxies had been.

If He'd had the ability to do so He would be smiling right now. Or maybe smirking is a better term for the down right devious and vicious feeling swelling throughout his being. His plans were moving fast now and with minimal effort on His part. Sure He'd summoned an enchantment over the two last night and they'd both took part in the beginnings of the binding ritual, something He'd had His doubts about working. But the level of familiarity between the two solidified the attachment.

It's barely been a month and a half and they are acting inseparable. A bond so easy and quick to form but so deadly to break. This bodes well...for Him at least.

As always His top proxies don't disappoint with their efficiency.

Thinking of disappointments He should collect the puppet He had cast aside weeks ago. If the thing really wants to prove its worth to Him so be it. It will help with YN's allegiance to Him. Maybe break the last few pieces of their humanity so they can fully fall into His thrall.

But it can wait, for now He wants to watch this new bond play out. Bonds were such temperamental things He's learned – had He paid more attention to Masky and Hoodie perhaps it could have saved Him the trouble of reviving Hoodie. Idly He wonders if His silent watcher has figured out His plan for the two before Him. It's quite obvious just looking at the two for the ancient being, and since a part of Him is in the watcher – He believes there's a chance he knows as well.

As the young adults retire for the night or rather early morning, it's nearly impossible to miss the way YN restlessly huffs until arms find themselves wrapped around them – or how Tobias waits to fall asleep until YN's breaths even out and steady. Not unlike a faithful watch dog.

It's a fast bond for sure but that may be due to the over whelming lack of hostility. Hoodie did die early on in the bonding stages, He suspects that stunted things for Masky and Hoodie. Before them it'd been so long before he actually bothered to bind a pair or set of proxies. Often just not caring about their petty needs, not to mention most humans just couldn't function effectively with such a liability. But this group seemed to thrive on that liability, thrive on the attachments that made them human. Given to them by the very being that made them inhuman.

He thinks it'd be befitting to say 'How poetic.' but no one is here for Him to speak to. No one's been here for many many years.

But this is His sick twisted game to play, and to Him it couldn't get any better. It was going to be wonderful to have a plant among His top proxies. YN proved to be a most useful plant indeed and they weren't even officially His yet. But that will change in due time.

Speaking of...it's time to find that puppet. Plans are in play and moves need to be made.

You wake up to light in your face, you'd grumble if it weren't for the soothing warmth it gave off. No idea if the light was trying to wake you up or lull you back to sleep. And you would have readily burred yourself in the citrus scented pillows if you hadn't noticed the weight in your arms was missing. You definitely went to sleep with YN fast asleep in your arms last night...this morning?

Were they already up? It's so early – looking around the room you notice they don't have a clock in their room. Fuck, and your phone's dead from playing that fucking cookie game with YN all night. They offered you a charger last night and now you wished you took them up on that instead of insisting it wasn't worth it. Though it really hasn't been worth it to charge your phone since getting to this town, you can't even use it most days other than some offline game or maybe the reminder apps. Downsides of a radio quiet zone, you guess. You don't see how they can do it.

Stretching as you decide you can't go back to sleep, you're too alert. Though you've been alert and on edge since the moment YN mentioned Masky. You tried confronting the fucker yesterday but Brian kept butting in, the bastard knew. He always does, for someone who was killed by the fucker he sure saved his ass a whole lot. Hell you wouldn't be surprised if Hoodie was conscious too, he always was better at keeping a low profile. Some days you couldn't see where Brian ended and Hoodie began.

But you'd told them this would happen. Begged them not to fall into any sort of mind games due to Tim's paranoia. You told them falling into His habits would be a bad idea but no one fucking listens to you. Like normal you guess, maybe it comes with being the youngest of the group. You don't really know or care at the moment. It just pisses you off that they still ignore your ideas and now their shitty alters are probably running loose – ruining your normal lives.

There's an urge bubbling within you, you're trying to ignore it. But the hunger is there the need for a hunt. Late yesterday afternoon you got turned around in a heavy fog...and...and that worries you. It's a clear sign The Operator's near by.

How close, you have no clue but you can't let your guard down. Not with Hoodie and Masky facing, not with whatever's going on with YN. You don't want to go back to that life, you aren't going back. You've all finally found a place to live out normal lives, or as normal as your trio can get.

Now you're stuck worrying over YN getting dragged into this mess and if you're gonna get hit over the head with a brick and wake up to see a faceless entity towering over you again.

You'd push them away but at this point it's safer if you just stick by them in case someone tries anything. If the least you can do is make sure they don't get killed or sacrificed then you'll count it as a win.

It just can't be a coincidence that after a year of not showing his ugly personality, Masky just pop right back into your lives just as YN enters the picture. They're being used for something, every instinct in your body is screaming that much. It's unsettling to be stuck wondering what plan is being put together, especially when it involves your first normal friend. A non murderer friend.

Getting out of their bed you try to make your way out to the living room without stumbling. The busted eye has been throwing off your depth perception. Brian's pretty sure you'll have cataracts from the trauma, says it's in the fogginess of your eye. It's still pretty bruised from the punch last week so you're putting off that doctor's visit until it clears up some more, that a doctor would be able to access it. Might be damaged nerves causing everything, not like you can feel it anyway.

But it'd probably be better for you to wait, no need to worry mom – she was already in tears when you had to call at the hospital for your insurance information. You'd left the card in the RV and didn't think to grab it when Barclay shoved you into the mini van.

You should really visit her soon...maybe check in with Lyra too. Unfortunately the thought of being stuck with Brian and Masky for over ten hours on a road trip through Virginia doesn't sound appealing in the least. Maybe YN would be down, they've got family by the beach and mom did move out to Suffolk after everything. Only an hour difference and you both could rag on Virginia and locals the whole time, yeah that'd be nice.

But there's time to think on that later, hopefully after The Operator and Masky leave again.

Today you were gonna kick back, go on a hike and not think about the possibility of being back-stabbed by your roommates who aren't really themselves at the moment. It's gonna be great, you have a friend – one who's being targeted by the same entity that probably killed you sister and tormented you since childhood – you'll have nature sounds, and there's nothing more you could possibly want.

Your neck snaps and shakes, a chill running up your spine. You're feeling hungry again. You'll ignore it...just like you've done for the past three years. There's nothing else you want

You are happy and safe. You are happy and safe. You are happy and safe.

“Morning Tobes!” YN's voice knocks you out of your affirmations, when'd they get so loud? They're in the kitchen standing at the stove, flipping something as you walk in.

“I don't have breakfast foods so I just made grilled cheese, hope that's cool.”

You're happy, but you should probably call Clarise for an emergency session. Something just isn't feeling right.

“Mornin', that's fine.” when you go to sit down at the table you find their fidget toy already on it. They've really got a thing for you not picking your skin.

Another chill runs through you, but this time it leaves a warmth in your chest.

“You good? Oh shi- sorry was that a tic?” they ask placing a plate in front of you.

You shake your head, “'s good.” and with that you two settle into a comfortable silence over breakfast. That is until you start talking about the hike today.

Discussing how long you'd be out, they wanted to have at least a few water bottles on hand and maybe fill their backpack with snacks.

Really just wanting out of the RV you were down for anything today. Hell the longer you were out the better. Might even go up to the lodge for the night without tell Tim or Brian, let the fuckers sweat tonight. You probably won't do that, Connor would be sad. Knowing Brian he'd bar you from your dog saying you were a risk to the both of you in your current state. He'd probably call Clarise and tell her about you supposedly erratic behavior lately.

Just thinking about how much control he actually has over you reminds you of The Operator. But Brian's a human he can be taken down and bitten...fuck are you a rapid dog now?

“I'm really excited. Y'know I haven't gone further than that stream.” like a fresh breeze your mood is reset. And you focus in on them instead, them and the day you two had semi-planned.

Okay, a walk through the forest with a friend by your side should do wonders for clearing you head. It's gonna be a good day.