Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Snow coated the landscape as far as the eye could see in the early morning. Towering pine-covered most of that landscape but it didn’t take a genius to know that the cold wasn’t going to let up because of a mere mile or two of mindless wandering.

How he got this far was beyond him. Everything was beyond him right now. Nothing made sense. All he knew was that he needed to move. His head and blood were buzzing. He wasn’t supposed to be here.

He wasn’t supposed to be alive if he were being honest.

But what was he being honest about?

Why was he in a frozen, endless forest?

He couldn’t remember much of anything. Thinking too hard just gave him a headache that he didn’t want to bother with because he had more important things to think about. Like where he was going and what he needed to do. Then again, that just brought on more headaches.

Trudging through snow left his shoes near soaked and the bottom of his jeans soaked. He wanted to lie down for a few minutes but knew he’d end up freezing to death if he fell asleep and seeing as the ground was already swaying under him, he could tell lying down would have him pass out in seconds if he didn’t pass out on his feet.

But he also knew that he couldn’t stop moving.

Maybe he could climb a tall pine tree and try to nap in one of them. He was certain he could figure out how to climb to the branches even in his groggy state but something tugged at him and it was saying that climbing in a tree wouldn’t save him from what was after him. He couldn’t trust the trees.

He shook his head.

There he went confusing himself again.

It was foggy. When had it gotten foggy? It was cloudy, sure, but it was as if the clouds settled down so that he couldn’t see past fifteen feet in front of him. The trees took on distorted shapes. He was seeing figures where there were only trees.

He huffed warm air into his hands. Pushing some of the heat to his cheeks as well. When it stung, he pulled back. His fingers traced the lines of cuts that were on both sides of his mouth. It didn’t feel fresh but he didn’t know. They were sore. He licked at one side, it stung a bit. He wouldn’t mess with them.

The icy breeze nipped at him through his hoodie, through any layer of clothing he was lucky enough to have on him. It was a small breeze but it still sent shivers down his spine. Goosebumps rose along all over his body.

And worst of all, he could feel something watching him.

When it had started was unknown but he focused on his own breathing and movement forward. Any action that demonstrated he knew something was out there could be what kills him. But why he thought this, he didn’t know.

A twig snapped somewhere. He didn’t know if it was him that caused it.

His head hurt again. Like pins and needles were surrounding him and his brain. Poking and prodding without care. He clutched his head, groaning. His hair felt coarse. It was long. He couldn’t remember if that was unusual. Like the cuts on his face, it just was. Like the sensation of being watched. He couldn’t tell if that was normal. He was afraid but if that was normal was also up for debate.

Other than feeling cold, what was normal?

He fell to his hands and knees. He breathed in too sharply and coughed back the freezing air like it was poisoning him. His body could barely hold that position. He couldn’t get himself to stand. The snow burned his hands.

Even his elbows couldn’t keep him upright anymore and he let himself fall to the side. His eyes stared off blankly. Dazed in the white snow that he almost could blend in. Was his white hoodie normal? It felt normal. It was something that felt right above anything else. There was a weight in the pocket that he couldn’t check but it felt almost right as well.

The light of the morning sun was beginning to pierce through the tall pine. On the snow it was so bright, he rolled himself to block the light with an arm over his eyes. He was lying down finally. The cold may overtake him but he was so tired. So tired. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

“So stubborn.”

And so the darkness overtook him without a fuss.

He was floating and swaying back and forth. There was warmth. Maybe that’s what death feels like. Like a warm hug. He leaned in. It wasn’t so bad.

Except it fucking was.

He wasn’t going to fucking die. He didn’t want to die in the middle of the fucking woods in an aftermath of a blizzard. That wasn’t going to be in the cards today or fucking ever.

Not when he fucking marched his ass as far as he fucking did to escape some sort of bloodthirsty demon asshole.

He remembered. He remembered what he was doing. He was strategically running away. It was the only option after he saw the thing towering him like the rest of the trees around him. He couldn’t kill it. Even if he got a decent jab in, which he did. He fucking stabbed at the paperwhite hand that reached out to his neck. It went straight through the palm and he yanked out his knife. He wasn’t going to be straggled by a faceless monster. The blood seeping out from the thing’s hand was black and sludge-like. He had stared at it, bewildered, as it reformed itself with no wound or scar leftover. Even the black slime dissipated, there was no proof that he had even harmed the damn beast.

There were superstitions of the forest he had entered but he never believed in ghost stories not when real dangers were more like him than anything else. He trusted he could handle something like himself. But whatever that was? No. He hoped he was crazy. He would even praise a god he didn’t believe in if it was just hallucinations his mind was giving him as punishment for his crimes.

But he wasn’t seeing things. He had been wrong.

Superstitions were not to be taken lightly. Not when this one was real and no ghost.

So he ran from the tall, thin man with no face.

He ran with everything he had and more. Static rubbed against his ears when the tall man was near. Sometimes his vision would blur if the thing was closer than he thought.

Pushing against the darkness did nothing. He strained and forced his limbs to go along with any plan. The darkness just held tighter. It wrapped itself over his arms and legs, his chest, his neck, and then over his eyes.

Gasping for air and wiggling for freedom reduced him to a weak child. No control. All whims decided from an outside source.

“Folly finds the man who flirts with the fool, so it seems I found the fool and folly to be one and the same.”

He croaked and whatever was squeezing his neck released slightly. Why his mind was quoting fucking Shakespeare was the least of his concerns. With the new freedom, he threw his head back and forth to get whatever was covering his eyes off. He always had control if he could see a situation. He could see through lies- all the bullshit if his eyes were open.

“Hush.”

“Don’t hush me,” he mumbled.

The darkness stopped swaying a moment. It was still for a while. Quiet forests led to no good. After all, why would all the animal life cease to make noise?

“Interesting.”

Movement began again. The small rocking, something was carrying him and walking. That’s what the swaying was. The darkness was talking to him and he was answering.

“What is?”

“This.”

He was tired of the no-answer answers. But his legs were more tired and worn out in comparison to his soul that was still kicking for some damn reason. If he couldn’t escape yet and he was still alive for a reason then he would talk. “Warm. Why warm?”

The darkness didn’t respond. It just pressed more heat onto him. He hummed into the feeling. Any break from the chilling forest was welcomed.

“Simple.”

“What is?”

“Humans.”

“Nah,” he mumbled. “Complex to a fault. It’s annoying as hell.” He thought back to those he knew and met in his life. “All liars. They’re all liars.”

“Are you a liar, Jeffrey?”

At his core, Jeffrey trembled. He hadn’t heard his name in a long time. His stupid, grounding label. “Don’t call me that.” He gritted his teeth. Though he was tied by something he could still dig his nails into his palms. Jeffrey didn’t have another name to go by. There was nothing else, he simply was Jeff and nothing else.

“Are you a liar, Jeffrey Woods?”

Flashes burst in his mind. The headaches coming back twice as strong and with visions of several figures dead at his feet. Some familiar, some not. There was so much running. It was night and the streetlights guided his way to plaster smiles on liars. That was all he knew. But something slowed down. He went to a forest to hide and then this happened.

“I… don’t- not… not anymore.”

Silence again. It was then that Jeff realized he couldn’t describe the voice he was hearing. Was it high? Deep? Human in the slightest? It just was. Jeff hadn’t questioned it, he barely acknowledged what he was talking to. The darkness made sense in a cold and painfilled daze but this was something else. This was someone. Who? And why would they save him from what was chasing him? How would they have? Was he even being saved?

He felt a faint static. So they were still being followed most likely.

It didn’t matter if he was being saved or if he was caught by a random man to be tortured because none of that would matter if that thing captured them first.

“You need to watch out.”

“From what?” The voice sounded amused. But this wasn’t time for jokes. So he urged.

“It’s following us.”

“What is?”

“It!” He shouted. “It’s coming. I can feel it.” He lowered his voice to a whisper. He shouldn’t be alerting the faceless creature to their knowledge of his presence.

His savior, more like kidnapper, seemed to consider his words. Not that Jeff could tell, his eyes were covered.

“We shall be cautious then.”

That didn’t appease Jeff. It sounded like he was being patronized. He hated it. He was angry and he would do something about that to this fucker once he was unbound and didn’t feel like passing out.

Which would have to be eventually.

If he was going to be killed it would have been done in the middle of the fucking woods where no one would find a body for years. He was tied, being kidnapped made the most sense.

How he was able to be kidnapped with the state he was in was baffling. Weren’t people freaked the hell out by the sight of him? Burnt and bleached. Bloodied. Fucking ripped up mouth and eyes. Wouldn’t anyone assume he was already a corpse out in the icy woods? Maybe the guy was hoping to sell his organs. That was a thing. Definitely a thing that happened. Why in the fucking forest?

Too many fucking questions. It didn’t matter. What mattered was the thing out there.

“Be more careful.”

“Sleep.”

“Don’t wanna.” He slurred. Real blankness took over him.

Screaming and splashes of blood. There was a sense of excitement. A thrill that could not be matched. Then one was dialing a number into a phone frantically. That one got away. Fucking asshole. That one couldn’t be a slow and fun one as he wanted but that was fine. He handled it just fine once he found that final one hidden in a cluttered closet with a phone practically glued to their ear.

The voice of the operator on the phone couldn’t be understood, but he didn’t care. That wasn’t what he was after.

More screaming. A struggle. He even got punched in the gut. He got the upper hand quickly. More begging. So much blood. There was always a mess with him.

It wasn’t his fault.

He was just planning on one meal, borrowing their washer, and possibly shower at three in the morning. They weren’t on his makeshift list, but he was interrupted while waiting for his hoodie in the dryer when someone caught him on the way for a midnight snack.

Their shouts would alert the household to his presence. They had to go.

Too bad that little sound was enough to wake someone up. They just needed to go to sleep. So sleepy. They’re just so sleepy. Another two and that final one made a fucking 911 call. He cursed and yelled while searching for the last one.

The closet wasn’t a good pick for a hiding spot on their part. Too easy.

The screaming stopped and he carved a wide smile to celebrate.

“Hello? Are you there?” The phone said, laid on the floor. A crack from being slammed into the wall like the person’s skull he slammed against the doorframe. “Please answer if you’re still there.”

He picked it up. The blood dripping from it made it difficult to hold. He slipped with it a bit.

“Are you still there? Hello? Responders are on the way. Please describe the attacker to the best of your ability.”

“I’m okay. I fixed it.”

“What was that, sir?” The woman’s voice stuttered. Seems like she didn’t believe him.

“Everything is solved, ma’am. Don’t worry,” He chuckled.

“What’s your name, sir?”

“Does that normally work when killers answer the phone?”

The woman on the other breathed in sharply. “Why did you attack this family?”

“Ah, since they’re already dead you’re looking for a motive? That’s fair.” He began walking around the house to the bathroom. “They found me. I was busy and they interfered.” He whipped down the bloodied phone first then place it to his shoulder to hold it in place with his ear and shoulder. He washed his hands, arms, then face. It was a good face. He grinned in the mirror.

“What did they interfere with?” She asked while he made it to the dryer. His hoodie was done.

“Chores,” he sighed while pulling his hoodie out and putting it on, nice and toasty. “Now I’d stay and chat but you said you sent responders. I still had stuff to do,” he whined. It was childish but he didn’t care. “I can’t have you keeping me here longer.”

“What stuff were you doing?” She asked to keep him distracted longer.

“Laundry.”

To the kitchen he went to clean his blade. That went by quickly, especially since they had one of those yellow and green sponge scrubbers.

“Hey, do you think they’d mind if I took their little sponge thing for dishes?” He laughed. “Who am I kidding, of course they won’t mind.”

At this point, he did what he had to do. He needed to leave if he would have even a sliver of a chance to outrun cops. He never had been on so much of a time crunch before and it was so much fun.

He opened a kitchen cabinet.

“Think they’ll mind their dishes breaking?”

The operator didn’t have time to answer. He already shattered a plate on the floor. He laughed harder than ever before. He threw another plate and it did the same as the last. He threw glasses and plates and bowls everywhere. He made a goddamn mess. He threw the spoons, forks, and knives too just because and they clanged on the floor. It was all so funny. He kicked a chair and swiped the table mats off as well.

Then he could the sirens which were even funnier because he hadn’t noticed how much time passed or if the operator was still listening to him.

He wheezed out more, trying to contain himself. “You still there, ma’am?” He picked up the leftover utensils he didn’t get to throwing yet to shove in his pocket and bolted out the backyard sliding door.

“Yes sir.”

He climbed and jumped over a fence.

“Cool. Oh, you should know your responders are here.” He ran through another backyard and climbed another fence, hopping it as well.

It was pretty cold out, the heated hoodie was fantastic.

He panted. “Do you know their chances of getting me?”

“High. You should hand yourself over to avoid the charge of evading arrest.”

He let out an abrupt cackle into the speaker. One that was bound to make her wince. “Ma’am, I killed four people tonight in that house. I doubt evading arrest is going to add much of a sentence if they catch.”

Jumping over another fence and into the streets. It was too open. He ran faster. “They may shoot at you, sir. Do you really want to risk your life? They will find you and depending on how you respond could determine your life.”

He grinned. She was good. Making him think. He panted in the receiver. “I don’t want to die. Not right now. So many liars to take out.” He could hide in a random backyard. But could find him by his footprints? It was about to snow, but if the tracks were still fresh… The sidewalks couldn’t keep track of shit like that but the grass and dirt in the backyard he raced through probably could. He could be leaving a trail straight to himself. More running then but he needed somewhere to go or he’d be a sitting duck. He wasn’t going to pick the dumbest hiding spot just because he was frustrated.

“Is that why you killed them? They were liars?”

“No! I- Fuck! Fuck!” He heard another cop car and he dove behind a bush behind someone’s porch. “They weren’t supposed to die.”

“Then why did you kill them?”

“Fucking hell woman!” He shouted. “They fucking got in my way! There was nothing more to it. Had they not seen me, there wouldn’t have been a fucking issue.”

The car drove by fast to the house he had been at but it was clear they were searching for him outside of the house.

“You didn’t mean to kill them?”

“No! Yes! It wasn’t originally part of the plan.”

He ran over the next house’s porch. He was fucked. The fun thrill sensation was going away it was being replaced with his temper and something unsettling.

“I have to get out of here.”

“You’re not going to. Surrender to the police, sir.”

“Fuck’s sake, it’s Jeff, don’t call me sir, feels weird, ma’am.” His mouth moved without him paying it much mind. Giving his name wasn’t something he felt was a secret and the polite way of addressing her as ma’am was a habit.

Jeff ran to another backyard across another street. Behind that backyard, far away were lofty pine trees. Someone could get lost in there. Someone could run and not be found in there. And so Jeff ran. He pulled the leftover utensils and threw them to other houses. A small distraction if they knew he went this way.

“I have to go. I have to go now.”

“Jeff wait!”

He dropped the phone as he ran deep into the trees. It was beginning to snow. This would cover up his tracks. Things were going his way again.

Dogs’ barking startled him. When had they found him? This fast?

There were shots and bullets hit the trees around him. Something might have grazed him, branches or a bullet. He sprinted around bushes and jumped over rocks. The dirt under his shoes was soft and muddy from the rain and snow and so he slipped. Down he went with a splat. He must have hit his head because there was blood that wasn’t there before. Blurred faces hovered him and held their guns high, their dogs tore at him. He fought and punched and stabbed to no avail. The dogs bit his arms and legs. He didn’t feel a thing. He stabbed at the dogs with a fork he still had. It did nothing to it.

A bullet shot him in the chest and he watched the red bloom on his white hoodie. He didn’t feel it.

A cop stepped forward and held the gun to his forehead. “Doing the world a favor, son.” And Boom!

Jeff shot up a sweaty mess. He was panting and clutching his chest where the bullet was… except there was no bullet. The scratches the dogs gave him weren’t there either. That wasn’t what happened. The cops didn’t catch him. Jeff got away. He remembered running to the forest and that was the end of that. The snow had covered his tracks and he was out.

A cloth was wrapped around his head to cover his eyes. He pulled it off with ease. A blanket that was draped on him fell. His eyes focused on the room he was in. A tiny shack is what it looked like. The walls were made out of old, dilapidated wood. There were no windows. The only light source he had was the hanging cracked light bulb on the ceiling. It was dim but he preferred that for his eyes to adjust.

The bed he was sitting on was rigid as a board. The pillow he had been laying on was flat. Yet it was a bed. Wasn’t often he could use one of those. At the side of the bed were several water bottles. Jeff instantly grabbed for one and chugged the entire thing in one go. He gasped for air once he finished. Further past the water bottle was a few apples. They weren’t fresh but seeing as there was nothing else. Beggars can’t be choosers and all that. He bit into one, it was mushy but it wasn’t rotten so he kept eating.

There was even a toilet in a darker corner. He promptly stood to take a piss. His legs were sore from all the running he had been doing for… for who knows how long. Days? A week?

He tried the door. It was obviously locked but it didn’t look like it would take a lot to break it down if he really put his back into it. He considered it. It wouldn’t be a smart play yet. He didn’t know what was out there and he was sore, exhausted. Whoever put him here wanted him alive if the water and apples were anything to go by. He had a bed, a bathroom-ish, and a cloth to hide from the light. So he was being treated well, or rather as well as this person could provide.

Alive and well.

Interesting. A bit terrifying at the prospect of it but what was the saying of looking a gift horse in the mouth or something?

He settled back into the uncomfortable bed. The room was barren of anything else. Just the essentials. Made sense.

He would have to play the waiting game now and be prepared for whatever situation arose. Jeff would sleep. There wasn’t much else to do and not much to fear when he suspected whoever was keeping him trapped wanted him more alive than dead. He wrapped the cloth he woke up with around his head to block the light and laid back down.

Jeff slept. It wasn’t peaceful but it wasn’t nightmare-ridden. Just sleep.

Waking up many times put a damper in his already agitated mood. He wanted his capturer to come over and they try to kill each other already.

His knife wasn’t there. That probably played a role in his tense energy. He was still dangerous. He knows he can always be dangerous no matter the tool, his own body if necessary, but it was the attachment to it that bothered him the most to be separate from it. He needed it. It was his, there was no other blade he’d trade for it. Nothing. And it was gone. No doubt it was being kept by his captor, wherever the bastard was. It was the only thing that gave him peace of mind for when he would attack and get it back.

Jeff sat on the bed, leaning against the wall legs out. He wished he had a tennis ball to throw at the wall and back but that wouldn’t help his nerves.

There was a creak at the door. His eyes shot up to it. Jeff didn’t hear footsteps outside, but that didn’t mean whoever was there wasn’t stealthy. Jeff crouched next to the bed, ready to lunge.

It opened ever so slowly and a voice spoke from outside.

“Sit. On the floor.”

“Or?”

“I shoot you and you get my humble abode dirty. Sit on the floor.”

It wasn’t the same voice that had been talking to him. Another person. Fine. Jeff could handle two people, it wasn't a big deal. If he had to sit to get a read on the asshole then he’d play the role of the trapped victim just fine until he could slit their throats.

Jeff sat next to the bed, he played with one of the apples that had been left for him. He looked to the water bottles, those could be a sorta blunt weapon. He could make it work if necessary.

A man entered the little shack. He was wearing a white mask and an orange jacket. He didn’t look too imposing, maybe tall but that could have been because Jeff was sitting on the floor. Jeff set the apple down.

The masked man closed the door behind him then he just stood there, unmoving.

It was a blank staring contest. Not that Jeff could lose one of those really. He studied the details on the mask, the eyes were painted black and so were the lips so that there were features to look at but no expressions to understand. Jeff hated masks. Impossible to read the person when they were hiding away.

Jeff sat with his legs crossed on the floor. He tapped at the wooden floor. The masked man still staring at him. Maybe sizing him up now that he was awake. Jeff hated it.

“So?” Jeff prompted.

“So what?”

“Why am I here? Torture? Dinner? Sex toy?”

The man scoffed, “Don’t be crass.” He crossed his arms. “I’d give my apologies but I don’t sympathize with you.”

“Good. I don’t want your fucking pity.”

“Didn’t think so.” The masked guy tilted his head, almost in an exaggerated eye roll if Jeff could see his eyes. “You’ll wish for my help. I’m telling you now, it’s not happening.”

Jeff scowled, “I don’t want your fucking help either.”

“Alright.”

The masked man took a step forward, he kept a close eye on Jeff’s movements. Waiting for him to go feral or something.

“You’re here as… well, think of it as a test run. Disappoint and you’re cut loose.”

“Freed?”

“Dead.”

Jeff figured that would be the case. No harm asking. He needed to know what exactly he got sucked into. “Test run for what then?”

“To see if you can be a messenger or the like.”

“I’m not a fucking messenger.”

“You’re not.” The man agreed. “I didn’t think so either. I suppose I won’t have to worry about being replaced then.”

“Replaced?”

“Yes, Recently there was an… addition to our little assemble. He provided new skills while also not making me or the other obsolete.”

“And if he did?”

“Make me obsolete?” The masked man tapped his chin. “Well then, I wouldn’t be standing here.”

Whatever was going on, wherever he was taken… This grunt wasn’t going to keep him down but Jeff was piecing together some of the pieces. This masked man worked under someone, maybe the one who took him here. There were others. At least two others working under this mysterious boss. If this masked man was a “messager” and the others had other roles then it would be a safe bet to think that this was the weaker of the bunch. It was a guess though. Perhaps they sent their strongest to be able to handle Jeff. He basically said he was the diplomat, so he was the one who had to persuade Jeff to go along with… something.

This was all just a big fucked up job interview. For what? Probably more fucked up shit. It didn’t matter. He had to play along. Play it slow and smart. Hard to do when he had… his erratic times. He’d have to control himself here and fight for every advantage non-physically. It was his forte. He had to get a grasp of what he was good at.

Jeff wasn’t a good talker. He probably couldn’t outdo this guy for his position unless the guy dogshit at it.

“What other spots are there?”

“There you go, finally putting it together.” The man praised. Jeff almost spit at him. “Butcher hatchet man, marksman hunter, and messenger stalker.” He listed off. “There’s obviously more to it, but you’ll figure that out.”

Messenger stalker had to be this guy, next were the marksman and a butcher. Jeff would likely have the most in common with the hatchet one.

“Got a pick yet? Who’re you’re going to make obsolete.”

“The butcher.”

The masked man nodded. “Shouldn’t be too hard. You’re smarter than him.”

There was assurance in being praised by someone who knew who he was up against. “Thanks.”

“Might not be a compliment.” He shook his head and took a step back to lean next to the door. “What makes him so dangerous is that he doesn’t think. Just acts. It’s annoying. Not that you would be much of an upgrade if you make him obsolete.”

Jeff gritted his teeth but sighed. He could be like that too. But if this guy ended up being stronger than him- or if he had something else about him that made him indisposable then Jeff had to be able to bring something else to the table.

“What happens if both of us provide something? Something valuable to your fun little team.”

“Then both stay.”

That was reassuring. Jeff didn’t have to do the impossible, just had to prove worth. Besides, Jeff didn’t have to do anything except escape. If beating someone in a game was the way to do it or cutting them down? Then so be it. But to escape meant he had to pretend to give a shit.

Jeff groaned into a hand, “When does the test run begin?”

“It already has.”

He looked back up to the man, confused.

“I can’t say you passed the first test, but no one can. You lasted quite a while in his territory, suppose I should give you credit. The hatchet man didn’t last twenty minutes.”

“Who’s your boss?”

“He doesn’t have a name, but we called him the operator.”

“Fine.” Jeff rolled his eyes. “Be cryptic. I don’t care.”

The masked man looked him up and down. “Next test begins in a couple minutes.”

Jeff straightened his back, readying himself to stand but he saw the masked man’s hand automatically went to his left pocket. The threat of the gun from earlier had Jeff slow his movements. Jeff pretended to not notice and stretch while scanning the room again as if he’d get a clue of the test.

“Think of it like… hide and seek mixed with tag. You can handle that right?” The masked man mocked.

“A kid’s game?”

“For an immature child. It’s fitting.”

“Fuck off.”

“You have a game to prepare for, Jeffrey.” The man pushed himself off of the wall already reaching for the knob.

“Don’t call me that.”

He paused. “Oh? You go by something else?”

Jeff couldn’t answer.

“You have ten minutes. Go anywhere. Do anything.” The masked man left. The door slamming behind him.

Jeff stood and went to the door, he turned the knob fully and it opened to a snowy forest. The wind roared out there and a foot away laid his knife. He instinctually grabbed for it. Holding it firmly in his hands felt right, even if it was frosty.

An opened door. His knife. Ten minutes to find a hiding place. He peered at the water bottles in the room. Go anywhere. Do Anything. That bastard was going to regret those words.

Chapter Text

Taking care of a problematic psychopath.

It wasn’t the first time Tim had to do that. It wasn’t even the second. That should have been concerning. It wasn’t. Nothing was anymore.

Why He wanted another follower didn’t matter. Just obedience.

Jeffrey Woods.

Strange pick but not to be questioned. Not out loud at least.

Jeffrey Woods… responsible for a string of grizzly murders across a couple of states. So He made clear to them. The carves smiles left the public shocked and disgusted. The Smile Killer is what the newspapers and internet called him. What a stupid name. But that was Jeffrey for a long time.

It was originally speculated that the missing Jeffrey Woods was kidnapped after his mother and father were eventually found dead in their home. His brother miraculously survived when the scene was discovered after neighbors called because of a disturbance. The last he saw when searching was that he was in the hospital, coma or something. Police still waiting for any information he could provide. After a few murders later, some possible evidence later. It was mentioned that the main suspect was Jeffrey Woods himself. No word on his disappearance since it was discovered and then a few months later he was their prime suspect. So it seemed at least. Police didn’t seem to know what they were doing.

It was impressive how Jeffrey managed to evade police for so long but if they hadn’t caught on to him maybe their own incompetence was to blame. Or negligence. Tim found that negligence was often the cause for events to go under the rug. It’s how Brian and he could keep their whole operation under wraps.

That was… until He invited in another. The kid, this Toby didn’t know how things should run smoothly. Or maybe he did and he didn’t care about the meticulous planning Brian and him spent for a series of circumstances. All of it would end up in flames. Sometimes that would be literal.

Tobias Erin Rogers could meet his end soon though. If this Jeffrey held some merit then it could be a potential upgrade. He didn’t have high hopes especially after having a conversation with him. Jeffrey seemingly did have more control over himself than Toby but it was forced. It was there to hide something sinister. Something vicious. Jeffrey was more calculated than Toby. One wouldn’t think so when looking at the crime scenes of his victims. It looked uncoordinated and unnecessarily aggressive but how he could avoid detection, how he could hold his own against several people at once. How he escapes in the face of certain capture.

Disturbingly fascinating.

Jeffrey Woods in theory was sharp-witted and a sturdy bastard. Albeit, Tim found a lot to be desired in Jeffrey when they spoke. He was rude and unmitigated for what He wanted. Brian and himself made sense, even the unruly Toby made sense. He was so easy to mold and shape anew. Not Jeffrey Woods. The stubborn son of a bitch wouldn’t work with them, wouldn’t work for Him. Wasn’t this obvious?

One conversation and Tim could see that Jeffrey was livid stuck in the room. He was immature and impatient. How he managed to keep still while Tim spoke with him seemed to be a miracle in of itself. Granted, that was its own can of worms. A tenacious sociopath. He could be tolerant if the situation forced his hand. Jeffrey wasn’t playing along because he was convinced, he was acting and lying in wait to get out.

The “game” that was prepared would show him that there was no way out. Tim wasn’t alone for this trial after all.

“He out there?”

Tim turned from the grating voice.

“Come on!” Toby whined. “Tell me what he’s like. Is he a, a smooth talker?”

Tim ignored the dig that Toby tried provoking him with. Jeffrey Woods wouldn’t take his place. Tim was too valuable to get rid of. Brian too. Toby on the other hand…

“He’s more of a fighter.”

“That’s fun.”

Tim could hear an annoying grin plastered on Toby’s face even if he couldn’t see it. So he made his own dig at Rogers.

“Didn’t think you’d like that.”

“What? Why not?”

Tim shrugged. “Could make you outdated.”

“Out… outdated…” It finally dawned on him. “That won’t happen.” Toby’s voice went dark and his grip tightened on his two hatchets.

Tim found it amusing but at least Toby would be taking the hunt seriously.

“You?” Tim glanced back, assuming Brian wouldn’t be far.

Sure enough, Brian was there loading his gun, barely giving him an acknowledgment.

“Well, he’s got about…” Time checked his wristwatch. “Six, seven more minutes. We’ll see what he can do and finish this.” He glanced at Toby. “One way or another.”

They waited. Toby urged Tim to tell how much time was remaining. He complained why they couldn’t go sooner.

Brian stepped forward at the nine-minute mark. Toby bounced.

“It’s time- It’s time! It’s time!”

Tim took a glimpsed at Brian, a silent question if Brian objected to Toby venturing out first, thus ruining any stealth advantages they had. Brian nudged his chin forward, permission for Toby to go.

So Tim extended his arm forward to the foggy woods. “Would you take the honors of going first then?”

“Would I ever!” Toby threw and caught one of his axes laughing childishly but it abruptly stopped for him to lower his voice and say, “Don’t wait up.”

“We’ll be right behind you.”

Toby cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. In a blink, he was bolting into the endless pine.

Tim followed the snowy tracks at a leisurely pace. “Coming?”

Brian cocked his gun, safety off. He was ready.

“You can go next, you’ll fit well for what I have planned.”

There was a small nod and Brian trailed him in tracking Toby. It wasn’t hard. The idiot was already shouting taunts, claiming he was a master at “hide and go seek” and even better at “tag.” Tim would have berated Toby for a stunt like that but this was a “victim” that was more likely to come out because of the goading than to hide from it.

Angering Jeffrey was a coin toss. It could make him sloppy, making him easy to take down. But if Jeffrey wasn’t sloppy, just a furious version of his already brutal nature then shit wouldn’t be easy for them. Tim had the ease of mind that there were three against one.

Far ahead, Toby yelled in frustration. “Asshole!” At a clearing Brian and Tim saw Toby waving only one of his axes, the other was thrown into a tree. He kicked a pile of snow. “Where are you? Too scared? Pissing yourself?”

Toby swiveled around. His eyebrows raised when he saw them.

“It’s not my fault! I thought I saw him!”

Tim crossed his arms, a scowl that was behind his mask contorted his face.

“Really! I did! But it… it was just a pile of snow with branches stuck in it.”

With a sigh, Tim waved Toby off to keep going after Jeffrey.

Toby vanished in the snowy fog again. Tim stared at Brian, they couldn’t see each other’s expressions but Tim believed that if they could they would both have the same exasperated one as any babysitter taking care of a rambunctious child would. Because that’s what they felt like when He brought Toby. Toby was just a replacement for who He lost before, the loss of Alex upset The Operator to put it lightly. Tim truly believes that Toby was brought in as more of a toy that was interesting to Him. Maybe Toby was capable of more and Tim didn’t attribute to Toby’s utilization, there could be more why he was brought in by The Operator.

There was a scream.

Toby’s scream.

It would have been comical but there was no time to spare. Brian and Tim raced after the sound. It got louder and there was shouting.

Tim stopped just short of ice on the ground, Brian too. An empty water bottle laid beside it. A slippery trap to someone who was unprepared.

Brian raised his gun, Tim followed the aim to the wrestling match between Toby and Jeffrey. He couldn’t get a clear shot so he watched over the two’s fight.

Jeffrey had Toby on the ground, likely from the ice trap. Jeffrey had a ragged bedsheet from the shack he stayed in around Toby’s neck as well. He tightened it with a manic grin on his face. Toby waved an ax around, flailing, the other ax too far to reach so his other hand tried to get some release from the sheet.

Dodging the wild ax swings wasn’t easy but Jeffrey managed it dexterously. Jeffrey couldn’t save Brian and Tim a look when he was so focused on Toby but he acknowledged their presence.

“This your hatchet man?”

Toby choked.

Jeffrey laughed at him.

What Jeffrey didn’t know was that Toby hated to be laughed at. Tim watched Toby wind up his arm to stop randomly swinging and make a one-shot throw to hit the assailant. Jeffrey saw this too, he was forced to release his hold of Toby to get out of the way of the strike.

Toby threw the ax, narrowly missing him and landing into a tree.

“Fuck!” Jeffrey gawked at the ax that almost landed in his skull. The throw obviously had more strength to it than he expected. It was amusing to see others’ reactions to Toby’s ridiculous ax skills. Just because you get a one-up on Rogers didn't mean it would last.

Toby coughed and gasped for air. He may not feel pain like the average person but he knew he needed air.

Jeffrey lunged for him.

Tim noticed that he didn’t have his knife. Whether it was tucked away for reasons or forgotten in the snow because he hadn’t seen it earlier was up for debate. Tim would have to check the shack to see after this.

The force of the dive sent the two to the ground. It knocked the air out of Toby again, not that Toby minded too much as he was ripping at Jeffrey’s hair and tried to go for his eyes. An easy target. Jeffrey backed up to avoid Toby’s thumb gouging him. He let Toby’s hands grasp at nothing then grabbed Toby’s shoulders to slam him into the ground over and over. Toby’s head took a few hits on the ground but it didn’t slow him down. He kicked at Jeffrey’s legs and turned the tables to pushed him to the floor himself.

Slamming his fists into Jeffrey anywhere he could while straddling him. Toby didn’t notice Jeffrey reaching for something in his pocket. Tim expected the knife. Tim expected to see Toby gutted any moment.

But Jeffrey pulled out a goddamn apple and smashed it at Toby’s forehead who got pieces of apple over his goggles, giving Jeffrey enough time to slip out from under him.

He ran.

Toby wiped the apple from his goggles, dazed that it happened but he didn’t spare a second and ran for his axes in the snow and tree, the older, worn down one. He threw an axe with everything he had after Jeffrey but it landed at the back of Jeffrey’s heels, missing him.

“Shit!” Toby rasped.

Tim looked over to Brian. “Your turn.”

Brian tilted his head, a silent question. More like a challenge but Tim always ignored Brian’s passive-aggressiveness.

“I’ll work out my idea in the middle of your attempt. Count it as both of our win when it works.”

Brian nodded.

“Aw! No fair! You guys are working together with a plan and everything to beat him but didn’t include me?” The whining was more hoarse than usual coming from Toby.

“You wouldn’t have listened,” Tim dismissed.

“You don’t know that!”

Brian trudged forward and went after the direction Jeffrey darted.

“How can he do that?” Toby stuttered, “I didn’t even- why does he look like he spilled a bucket of acid on his face while trying to clean his bathtub. What am I supposed to do now?” Toby pouted. His shoulders hunching over and picked at his neck as he would do when he was moody. Usually, he’d mess with his hands but the gloves wouldn’t allow it. Tim inwardly groaned. Toby wouldn’t be useful to them if he debilitated himself. Mentally or physically.

“There’s still a way to use you, Toby.”

How the words instantly perked up Toby disgusted Tim. It was just another reminder that willing obedience is better than to have your mind torn apart and memories altered by Him. Tim knew his own mind had been altered, Brian’s too. It had to be. There was no way it wasn’t. Just because he didn’t know what he forgot about himself or his past didn’t mean the mind-breaking didn’t happen. It just meant that He knew what He was doing and what He wanted them to be like. Toby just seemed to be the most… obvious that something wasn’t all there. It could just be him, his personality, but Tim didn’t buy that.

Jay Merrick.

Tim didn’t know why that name why so important to him. Who this Jay was. Probably a dead man now. He couldn’t ask Brian, one of the last things Brian ever said to him was something- no, all of it, everything was his fault. That he was a liar. He was Patient Zero. A vector. The reason they’re trapped. Tim couldn’t remember but Brian’s dislike of him was clear despite him remembering having a strong former friendship. So be it. Tim couldn’t ask and Brian wouldn’t answer. Toby wouldn’t know, he was new to all this, he didn’t know him or Brian from before. Then there was The Operator. It was quite clear that you don’t ask the brainwasher questions about what He brainwashed. So many names, Alex, Jay, Jessica, a Sarah or Seth maybe? He couldn’t remember why they meant something. Jay Merrick was a name that made him emotional for whatever reason. He knew it was a sign that his mind was distorted.

Preventing Toby from another distortion by encouraging him was for the best. Tim didn’t like Toby. He would repeat the sentiment over again, but he didn’t have to let Toby walk into fire again and again. “Broken, but still useful.”

Toby was smiling under his mouthguard. Tim could tell. “What do I need to do?” All too eager to please.

“Just give chase. Don’t fully engage, just stalk by, and play along when you see me.”

He nodded. He likely didn’t understand but his enthusiasm pushed him forward to pursue Brian and Jeffrey.

Tim winced as Toby trotted off. He really didn’t like Toby, but that didn’t mean he didn’t pity him…

None of that mattered. It was soon to be Tim’s turn to try something. Whether it would work on someone like Jeffrey, he couldn’t be certain but it worked countless times before on others. Besides this was a test on them as much as it was on Jeffrey. Tim would want to avoid any interaction with Him.

It was snowing harder than it had been earlier. The wind was picking up too. Tree branches rattled against each other. He took a long breath in. No birds or any kind of animals making a sound. Eerie and familiar. He breathed out, pulling his mask off and feeling the frozen air stinging his skin. His breath was visible in the air.

Brian Thomas. The brain to his brawn. Tim occasionally got bits of pieces of a puzzle but never enough to do anything about it. He wondered if Brian ever got flashbacks as he did, what did he do with them? Nothing. Brian never talked anymore. Tim couldn’t blame him, he was less likely to be distorted by Him.

A shot rang in the air.

A second one followed.

Then a third.

“My turn.”

Chapter Text

Jeff ran like the fucking wind. He was struggling to laugh and keep his speed, clutching his sides while bolting through the misty forest. Hatchet guy even threw one of his axes at him in a fit of rage.

The look on the hatchet guy’s face, what could be slightly seen through the weird goggles, was priceless. He had been so surprised by a fucking apple. It was hard enough for a good hit and mushy enough to explode on the guy.

Taking the bedsheet along was also a brilliant idea. He wrapped it around his arm and ran with it.

Hatchet guy had been going all out, but so was Jeff and he realized that he wasn’t given any rules on how to play or beat the game. Jeff spilled water to freeze on the snow, it wasn’t like Jeff knew that the hatchet guy would fall for it so easily. Or how Jeff had the perfect opportunity to get him into a chokehold. It was worth carrying all the shit for ten minutes.

He got a glimpse of the other two. The masked one and then what had to be the marksman. He didn’t get a decent look but the faded yellow hoodie would be easy to spot first even in the heavy fog.

Jeff opened the second water bottle and let its contents spill, believing he could pull the same trick again. And why not? He kept himself hidden in waiting so he could spring out from behind with the bedsheet and then his knife. Easy. He still had an apple leftover, didn’t know what to do with it yet.

His thoughts were put on pause when he heard the crunching of footsteps in the snow. He peered out and saw the marksman for a blip, his back against a tree.

The marksman walked around the area loudly, it took Jeff a minute to figure out that it was on purpose to draw him out. It would have worked if Jeff weren’t so clear in the head… at the moment and if he didn’t know the marksman had a gun and if this guy’s “name” was anything to go by then he knew what the fuck he was doing with it.

The crunching got louder, the marksman was getting closer but Jeff couldn’t move in case the marksman heard him, besides, Jeff was lying in wait to ambush the asshole.

Sound ceased and he waited for something to indicate that the other was still there.

But nothing.

Jeff poked his head out again. He surveyed the scene. His eyes going up and down the yellow hooded figure whose back was turned. He focused on the dude’s handgun. Hood dude spun around, took notice, and shot at him.

Hunter Marksman.

Rolling behind a tree saved his head.

Jeff pulled out the apple from his pocket and threw it at the hooded man. His mask was probably the strangest of the three that were hunting him. All black with red eyes and a red frown. More gunfire. The guy was paranoid, if the movement of an apple got the dude trigger happy then Jeff had to take that into account. Jeff threw the empty water bottle and ran in the opposite direction. Another shot that didn’t hit Jeff, the water bottle somehow worked.

That split second gave Jeff just enough time to crash himself into the hooded figure, taking them both to the ground just as he did to the other guy. Hooded guy was much calmer about it, or it seemed, his mask covered everything. Jeff fought the gun from him, pulling side to side to wiggle it from his grip.

Hooded dude grunted and rolled out from Jeff’s grasp. They scramble apart and stood away from each other. Jeff held the gun, it was warm and heavier than he thought guns weigh, not that he ever used one before. He pointed it at the marksman who held his hands up. Jeff didn’t know the technicalities of a gun but you pull the trigger, it shoots, and people die on the other end. How hard can it be?

Jeff pulled the trigger, much harder to do than he was expecting but it just clicked. That’s all that happened. It clicked. No bullet came out. “The fuck?” Jeff looked down at it then up to the marksman.

The marksman held the rounds or casing, whatever the fuck it was called, in his hand. While they struggled on the floor he must have taken it out knowing he’d lose to Jeff strength-wise. Clever. Jeff could appreciate a clever victim.

“Sneaky son of a bitch.”

Jeff threw the gun to the side. Maybe the smarter move was to keep it on him but if the dude managed to steal the rounds under his nose then he could probably pickpocket him too. Better for Jeff to see the hooded guy grab it off the floor himself and be prepared.

Hooded dude watched the gun hit the snowy floor, he knew he wouldn’t be able to get to it without getting past Jeff. Jeff smirked. He went to pull his knife out but found it wasn’t in his pocket and he glared knowing who was the reason. The marksman pulled it out, waving it in front of Jeff.

Jeff snarled.

He dove forward at the hooded dude knowing full well what his own knife could do. The irrational side of him was telling him to rip it out of the marksman’s hand and break his hands for touching it, slice through the tendons of his fingers, carve a smile over that stupid frowning face, beat him with the butt of the knife until he gouged the eyes out.

Everything was screaming at Jeff.

The hooded man couldn’t do much with Jeff’s sprinting forward. He just pointed the knife at him hoping it would hit, at least that’s what Jeff thought he was doing. Guy must not have known it was good for diving forward and slicing down otherwise he wouldn’t have been holding it upwards.

Jeff didn’t give the dude a second to react and he headbutted him. Using the edge of his hairline where he knew the thickest part of his skull was. Slamming his head into the dude had the desired effect and he dazed out, dropping the knife to clutch his head. The hooded guy took a knee to the floor, swaying side to side a bit.

The sight was worth a chuckle, Jeff grabbed his knife, flipping it in his hand. He leveled out his breathing. He hadn’t really noticed it getting out of control but that’s what happens when he lets loose for a few seconds.

He looked down at the marksman, he could teach the guy a lesson or two on how to properly wield a straight back knife, might be worth his while. He might scream a bit, but that’s fine. He took a step to the hooded dude.

Then a voice shouted, “Help! Please help! Is anyone out there?”

And it stumped Jeff. They had someone else here too? Someone else was playing the game? Wouldn’t he have been told about that? That he had a teammate in this shit? Were they not teammates, is that why?

“I was taken here, I’m not supposed to be here!”

It was strange, to say the least. Was this person like him or…

“I’m not letting you assholes take me out like this!”

Fine. Jeff would bite. He followed the yelling, trying to get any information he could from it. It just sounded angry, a little panicked. Basically how Jeff felt even if he wouldn’t admit it.

Ignoring everything else, Jeff ran to it.

The shouting continued, confusing Jeff more.

“Is anyone fucking out there?”

Jeff rounded a tree and saw a guy in a red flannel looking around frantically until he saw him.

The guy was obviously startled by Jeff’s appearance. “Who the hell are you?”

“Who the hell am I?” Jeff muttered as he approached. “Who the hell are you? What the fuck are you doing out here?”

“Getting away from these psychos. One threw an ax at me!” The guy ran a shaky hand through his hair. “I heard gunshots, I don’t know what’s going on.” The guy then looked worried. “Are you… one of them?”

“Hell no!” Jeff shook his head but he considered how it would look to this guy. With his ripped-up mouth, it didn’t help… He lowered his head, pulling his hood higher to hide some of his face. “Look, just… just tell me what you remember.” As Jeff got closer he saw that the guy was tall, looked like he could take a fight or two.

“What I remember?” The guy paused, reaching for his pockets. He groaned, “I need a smoke right now.”

“Fuck your smoke. What do you remember?”

“Uh, um, a masked person talking to me.”

“White mask with black paint or something?”

“Yes!”

Jeff nodded. Same mask guy. Probably got the same spiel as Jeff then. He could use him to get out of this shithole. Jeff turned around. He hadn’t seen the hatchet guy for a bit. The marksman’s was probably up by now too. Fuck. That’s what Jeff gets for not taking him out while he was down. Shows him for being distracted.

But this new guy in the picture could be a great distraction for the others. With them tailing flannel fucker then Jeff would have an advantage. They might know the forest well but if Jeff just got a twenty or thirty-minute head start he’d be free. Then again, he didn’t know where he was. He ignored that thought. It didn’t matter where he was, he’d be out of reach from these assholes.

“Alright.” He turned back to the shivering flannel guy. “You got a name?”

The guy hesitated, rubbing at his arms to stave off the cold. “Tim… my name’s Tim.”

“Jeff.”

“Jeff,” Time affirmed. “I think I know a way out this forest.”

“You do?” Jeff perked up.

“Yeah. I used to come out here with friends all the time. This place looks so familiar it must be it.”

Double fuck.

Jeff couldn’t let this guy die if he was a walking map.

Tim started walking in a direction and Jeff had no choice but to follow. Jeff sped up his speed, urging Tim to move faster, he got the hint.

“So how did you get here?”

“I was running from…” Jeff paused, unsure of how to put it. “Something. Got caught along the way I guess.”

“Me too.”

“So your friends with you?”

Tim shook his head. “Pretty sure my best friend is dead.”

Jeff didn’t know how to answer that so he didn’t.

They jogged in silence, taking glimpses behind their shoulders and around trees. Wasn’t long till they heard another voice.

“Come on! No one likes a sore loser! I found you,” the voice drawled, the yelling was the hatchet guy. “Now let me tag you!”

They were running towards the voice. “You sure that’s the way we have to go?” Jeff chastised.

“I know it is.”

Heading in the direction of the way out was exactly what Jeff wanted and yet it happened to be right into the ax-wielding maniac. Not that Jeff could talk in that regard, the weight of his blade in his hoodie pocket.

“Fine.”

They kept jogging until they hit a clearing and then Tim skid on his heels to slow down. Ahead was the one with two axes and walking up was the hooded dude, gun in hand because Jeff didn’t bury that shit when he should have.

“Fuck.”

“Found you!” The hatchet one waved. “By the way, you dropped some stuff,” in the crook of his other arm was an orange jacket and something white. “I brought it for you. Cause you know, I knew you’d look so bare without your mask. Doesn’t look right.”

It clicked.

Jeff turn beside him but he was slammed to the snowy floor. Several punches hitting him in the stomach. He gagged when one hit his throat. He shoved Tim, the unmasked-masked guy off. Jeff rolled to him and elbowed the guy in his stomach as hard as he could.

Tim heaved.

With a spare second, Jeff looked up and saw the ax one winding up. “Heads up!” The ax flew, almost hitting him again. A few strands of hair went with it. The marksman was aiming at him but not taking the shot, Jeff must have been too close to “Tim” to take the shot. He had to take advantage of that.

Jeff took his knife out and held the blade to Tim’s neck. “Back up. I slit his throat otherwise.”

The ax one lowered his weapon. The hooded dude paused but didn’t lower his gun. He tilted his head then shrugged and fired a bullet, the shot grazed his neck and Jeff had to wonder if the marksman was aiming for his head or purposefully threatening him that he always had a clear shot. Jeff narrowed his gaze, ignoring the new scratch and a drip of blood going down the side of his neck. He’ll act like he doesn’t care.

Tim grabbed Jeff’s wrist and squeezed. Jeff tried to put him in a chokehold but the guy was strong and pushed Jeff’s arms out of the way, swiveled, and delivered a blunt strike to his jaw. Like a brick smashed the side of his face. Jeff tasted metal, jaw hurt, eyes stung. He heard a ringing in his ears, even his nose ached. His feet went heavy and his legs didn’t feel as sturdy.

Jeff shook his arms and head to gain clarity back and focus on his opponent. Was he charging? Did he see that he landed a good hit? Jeff smiled wide, one that opened the sides of his mouth as well, it always freaked anyone who saw it out enough to him a moment. He licked from one side to the other for the full effect.

Tim’s face spoke an expression of repulsion. The hooded dude lowered his gun and even the ax guy seemed stunned.

He started laughing, almost popping a lung. It was all so funny. Three were after him and couldn’t manage to take him. They tried. Oh, they fucking tried with all their might but didn’t stand a chance. He was the fucking hostile here, nothing could stop him. The cops and their stupid dogs couldn’t, those who fought with their lives on the line couldn’t, his family couldn’t, and those fucking bullies couldn’t stop him either. No one could.

He lasted this fucking long with them all after him. They even slipped a fast one on him by using “Tim.”

Speaking of Tim… he was backing away, grabbing his jacket and mask from the hatchet one, but he kept his eyes up at Jeff.

The three were staring blankly at him. Jeff stared back, his laughs dying down. They just stood stalk still. Jeff tilted his head. The fuck were they doing… no one was ever this taken aback by Jeff’s appearance especially since they had seen it already. Then he saw that they were looking over his shoulder, something he didn’t see.

Tim put his mask on first, then his orange jacket. The familiar figure Jeff had seen earlier. Honestly, how Jeff didn’t recognize the hair or voice was on his adrenaline-filled self’s fault. Or how Tim didn't question Jeff's features. Seeing as there was no way he didn't see them.

“Very good. Surpassed expectations.”

Jeff’s blood went still and he turned around.

There towering alongside the trees in all black with skin whiter than the snow and no face was the thing that Jeff had barely escaped from. It was far away yet completely distinguishable. His feet moved before his mind told them to. He rushed past the three that had been trying to kill him, none of them made a move to follow. When Jeff looked back he saw that they were still staring at the thing. It looked taller than before, its limbs stretching further. Jeff ran faster.

He almost ran into a tree, narrowly dodging it, then jumping over a log or a rock, fuck it. Huffing and puffing a storm with how hard he was running. He didn’t know it was possible to feel numb and aching all over at once.

The static noise was there again, stronger than before and he couldn’t run any faster than he already was going. He wouldn’t look back. Couldn’t afford half a second. But the static was grinding against his ears even his vision seemed to be going scratching.

Something wrapped around his waist. Jeff’s body was yanked back all at once. He flew back hitting a tree. He cried out at the slam against his spine. It felt like ropes were wrapping themselves around him.

“Steady now.”

Jeff looked up.

He screamed.

The thing that had been following him from before and whatever brought him here were one and the same. He was never saved.

Jeff thrashed and the ropes moved against him, once he looked down he saw that it wasn’t ropes but the being that was immobilizing him. It rounded his entire body tightly until all he could do was dig his nails into his palms. Jeff hadn’t even realized he was still making noise until the bindings wrapped his mouth to quiet him. The only sounds were his own struggles and grunts into what had caught him.

Being eaten, ripped to pieces, or suffocated to death wasn’t a fun fate. Maybe a deserved one. But only for one life he took. Not for the liars that had died, for that, he had no remorse. But there was a regret or two. Jeff continued to fight and flail as he promised himself he would do to his last breath.

The bindings’ ends jabbed him. Jeff tried kicking again.

Settle.

But Jeff fought harder, aching, and sick of the past two weeks. The past two years, hell, his entire fucking life. Fucking everything.

Footsteps crunched in the snow, several of them, all of them slow as if still deciding if walking towards the eldritch thing was a good idea.

Jeff forced himself to look away from the faceless being and to the three figures that had been hunting him prior. They had nothing on the thing holding him. But it dawned on Jeff, this was their “boss.” It had to be. He glared at them with the energy he had left.

“There there, no more disorder.”

He didn’t notice himself giving up his effort against it. He attempted to again but the binding gripped tighter, leaning on painfully so. The tall thing inclined its head to Jeff who was forced to stare right back at nothing.

“I said, settle.”

Static prodded his mind, the attack on his mind and body left him lax, weak.

It looked to the other three.

“I suppose I should commend you. You’ve done remarkably well individually. Though cooperation is quite lacking.”

Jeff groaned. Adrenaline fading away. Pain more prominent than not. He was becoming limp in the thing’s clutches. Dying wouldn’t feel so bad.

The faceless thing sighed. “They don’t hear me. Repeat my words.”

A cold breeze chilled him. He didn’t feel the ground. It took a second to recall why he didn’t feel the ground. A hand grabbed his chin and lifted it to meet the faceless man. He was reminded quick why he couldn’t feel the ground.

“Repeat my words, Jeffrey Woods.”

What was wrapped around his mouth slowly slithered away. Letting him take deep breaths, he coughed at the freezing air that stung his lungs.

“Wonderful work.”

“Let go of me!”

The binding gripped harder and Jeff choked, he would have guessed his face went purple before it was loosened.

“Repeat after me. Wonderful work, boys.”

“Wonderful work, boys,” Jeff coughed out.

“You’ve done exceptionally well as individuals.”

“You… you’ve done exceptionally,” Jeff coughed again, “well as individuals.”

“Though your skills with cooperation leave much to be desired.”

The bindings released Jeff a little more so he could take full breaths. “Though your skills with cooperation leave… uh, much to be desired.”

Jeff tore his eyes away from the blank face and to the three. The one with the axes looked at the other two, obviously confused.

“Was that… was that you, Slenderman?”

Slenderman… Operator… Jeff’s muddled head thought it was weird for the thing to have a name, not that those were names.

“Yes.”

“Yes.” Jeff repeated.

Jeff could see behind the goggles of the one with the axes, his eyes went wide. “Holy shit,” he stuttered. “This is- wow, think of all the- wait did you say we did well?” He perked up, almost bouncing on his feet.

Jeff scowled.

“Individually. Not with cooperation,” the thing said.

“Individually, dumbass, not with cooperation.”

Jeff was slapped behind the head, reminiscent of what his mother did to him and his-

“I don’t recall being crude.”

“But you were definitely thinking it,” he sassed back on reflex.

The ax one hopped up once. “Are we keeping him?”

“Toby!” Tim hushed "Toby."

“What? If we keep him we get to find out what Slenderman says. We can be more useful!”

The masked- Tim’s shoulder’s tensed. Obviously finding the conversation to be unpleasant though not as much as Jeff. The hooded one looked stiff as well. Feet planted in place and hands in his pockets, avoiding any movement.

“Keeping… You are useful. Your attitude, inadequate, but physicality, handy. Another addition.”

Jeff didn’t like the implications or downright admittance to their little cult he was being forced into. There was still hope for escape. Play along and strike when least expected. Jeff didn’t have to kill them, though he fucking wanted to for what they put him through, escape was the priority. He’d wait and “Slenderman” would get bored of his new toy. Jeff gritted his teeth at the thought of being his plaything. Jeff would have to wait and when he was distracted on the other three, that’s when Jeff would make a break for it.

“You’d provide just as they do and more. Clarity. I wouldn’t need them anymore.”

At that, Jeff could feel his heart racing. He needed them. He fucking hated them but he needed them around. It was more for this Slenderman to keep track of, Jeff couldn’t afford to have even one die if it meant more attention on him.

“No!” He writhed to no avail. “You can’t!”

“Elaborate.” Slenderman leaned close.

Jeff’s mouth was dry. “More hands to do what you want,” he blurted. It wasn’t a lie. Jeff wouldn’t lie. “One man can’t do everything.”

“True,” Slenderman agreed. “Humans are so limited and frail. Having spares would be for the best.”

Jeff growled, “Not your fucking spare toy.” Though any intimidation that he could have had wasn’t there with him dangling in the air by a creature that just referred to himself as non-human.

"Not a spare." Slenderman tilted his head at Jeff, sounding amused, and pulled away. He walked through his followers that parted for him, Jeff still hanging in the air by its extra limbs, one that cover his mouth again as a preemptive strike against Jeff’s words.

The three trailed behind.

“A new friend!” the ax- Toby said.

“Indeed,” Slenderman responded but his movements gave no indication that he was speaking to them and Jeff didn’t relay it. “So much to do and so much time.”

Jeff would have to form a plan. He had time and he was for sure going to get the fuck out of the mess he entered.

Chapter Text

How he could understand the Operator was confounding. Nothing made sense anymore. How in the hell could Jeffrey Woods understand Him. Symbols, signs, assumptions- that’s all they had to go off of. Spoken words? Never. Never had Tim considered it an option. Could Jeffrey hear the Operator? Was it possible?

Tim questioned it but the proof was the conversation they had witnessed.

“Wonderful work, boys.” Was what he said, it may have been through Jeff’s mouth but the words were the Operator’s. They had to be. The proof was there. It was right there and Tim hated it.

Brian’s mind must be imploding.

Toby didn’t seem all that affected. Like it hadn’t completely hit him yet. He more or less went along with it as if it weren’t the strangest occurrence to come across someone that could understand the Operator.

Toby hadn’t been around for as long as Tim and Brian but why it didn’t confuse Toby as much was as good a guess as anyone else. All Toby cared about was being “useful” to Him. Maybe once he saw the potential behind what Jeffrey could do then it would churn inside him.

They had followed behind silently, as silent as it could get with Toby’s excitement and praise of the Operator in finding Jeffrey Woods. Tim grimaced under the mask, ignoring him in favor of thinking about the words Jeffrey spoke to Him before the Operator decided to move them. Jeffrey had been agitated, he had been the entire time, that was obvious but Tim noticed a shift when there seemed to be a “one-sided” conversation. Jeffrey didn’t typically display fear from Tim’s gatherings. No, instead he would go past the fear to anger in a flash. He was frantic and riled by the Operator’s words, whatever those words were.

Jeffrey had distinctly stated that “One man can’t do everything.”

Tim glanced at Brian. If Brian’s stiff posture and fidgeting hands were anything to go by then it was possible they came to the same conclusion, but it was something he would have to speak to Brian about. They never spoke, but Tim would say that the situation would force it to happen.

Toby tried asking more questions to the Operator but when he was met with silence then he moved his energy to Jeffrey who was muzzled. Yet Toby persisted and persisted. Tim couldn’t remember the last time he was this annoyed by someone who wasn’t Toby Erin Rogers.

“It’s still bonkers! Come on, isn’t it?” Toby looked back and forth to Jeffrey and him and Brian. “This could change things. How is it possible? Something about your brain? Did you know? Is that why you came to this forest? It called you, didn’t it? I was called by the forest too. Almost- well, no, I did set it on fire. At least, I think I did. I don’t… eh, whatever.”

How Tim wished the only sound would be their feet crunching in the snow. Not the Operator’s. His footsteps never made a sound.

“Where did you come from? Why do you have the- the uh, things on your face?”

Toby wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Tim may have been slightly curious about Jeffrey’s background but that hardly mattered when his life had been reduced to serving a non-human entity.

“What was your name again?” Toby treaded closely to the Operator and their “guest,” because “prisoner” may be true but uncomfortable. “I was told… Gimme a minute… Started with a ‘J,’ right? Pretty sure. I’ll remember soon enough.” Toby waved off his trailing thoughts. “What does he sound like? I’m picturing a British accent, but with a lilt to it or, or something.” Toby considered that thought process for a moment and Tim was shocked to see that the muzzle that was the Operator’s limbs uncovered Jeffrey’s mouth.

Jeffrey glared at the Operator with unfiltered rage. Tim envied the days he could afford to make a move like that. There seemed to be that one-sided conversation between the two again. Jeffrey scoffed at something He must have said before opening his mouth to speak.

“It’s Jeff, asshole.”

Jeffrey was given a tight squeeze around his waist.

“Fuck, fine, fine,” he wheezed. It loosened. “There’s a goal I need of you to complete,” Jeff relayed. “I suppose my… your fucking what-” the limbs tightened on his mistake. “My collection- it’s,” he coughed, “It’s time I should be collecting what I’ve created. Bits and pieces.”

“Whatever you need, Slenderman,” Toby answered, not acknowledging Jeff’s- the Operator’s words.

“A beast made, whether parted or under me, serves me,” Jeff repeated His unheard words. “I wish to know how they fare. Check on them for me. One by one we can see if they are ready to be of service, harvested if you will.”

“Of course! You can count on us,” Toby exclaimed.

Jeffrey rolled his eyes. “I know I can, Toby.”

Tim wouldn’t get use to how He was using someone to translate. Someone like Jeffrey Woods of all people. Jeffrey wasn’t like them, he wasn’t even like Toby. Brian and Tim had also been forced into the position, but they weren’t deserving of what happened to them. Many nights would go by with Tim repeating it to himself that he didn’t deserve what happened and he wouldn’t believe himself but with Jeffrey dangling from the limbs of their captor, it made it more believable that Tim didn’t deserve whatever the Operator did to his mind.

“What do we need to do?” Toby urged, “Where do we have to go?”

Jeff kept his gaze on the Operator the entire time He seemed to speak, only sparing a glance to Toby when he moved too close.

“Out of the woods and passed the city, further and further- Jesus Christ, what is with all the fucking poetry-” Jeffrey was suddenly pulled upside down to face the Operator whatever was said to Jeffrey was enough to get him to continue. “You will feel something calling you, go to it, whatever it may be, and bring it back.”

Jeffrey was lowered back upright.

He spoke up again, this time as himself. “I could go… What? Why not? Didn’t I do well in your little fucked up interview?”

It was strange to listen to only one side knowing that the other was Him. Tim really wouldn’t be getting over for quite a while.

Jeffrey glared, a slight tremble in his form, no doubt felt by the Operator.

“He says to go,” Jeffrey grunted. “Go and return when you have retrieved it, whatever it is, but uh, something about having to beware of what you may encounter, it may not be so friendly.” He paused. “And… invoke me if need.”

A vague set of instructions gotten by an unreliable source. It was just like old times. Tim wondered what the point of a translator was with the same amount of directions without. Maybe it was just how He was. Pointing in a direction with some static guidance in their heads was about all the info they normally got.

“Anything else, Slenderman?” Toby asked, wide-eyed. The way he looked at Jeffrey was like a child looking at a new toy. It was easy to tell that Toby wanted to keep on playing and pulling the string.

“That’s such a weird fucking name- fuck, fine, fine,” Jeff struggled against the Operator’s clutches. “Doesn’t seem like it. He’s not saying anything else other than don’t be an idiot.”

“Cool, alright.” Toby waited as if more would come.

But it didn’t.

The Operator disappeared into the forest with Jeffrey Woods in tow who saw that they were being separated. He howled and strained while he was surrounded further with the trappings of the Operator.

His footsteps never made noise, sometimes there wouldn’t be tracks left either but this time there were. Tim couldn’t figure out the pattern as to why that was, maybe Brian had.

Toby interrupted his thoughts. “So, you guys didn’t pick up on what we’re supposed to get, did you?”

Brian shook his head.

“Well,” Toby tapped his foot against the snowy ground. “He did say that we’d feel a calling? A calling to it right?”

“He also said it might be dangerous. Think we’re looking at an object or a person?” Tim questioned out loud.

“I think we might be out of a job if we don’t get this right,” Brian said and began walking in the direction they were pointed to.

Tim whirled at the sound of Brian’s voice. His head not quite catching up.

“What do you mean?” Toby whined but followed. “You mean with how Jeff beat each of us, almost escaped, and can speak to Slenderman? Oh.” Toby’s voice went dark. “You mean, we might get replaced.”

Brian nodded but didn’t turn around to look at Toby.

Tim trailed behind, watching Toby’s grip at his axes go harsh.

“Not if we fail. And we haven’t.” They have but Tim wouldn’t mention that. “Gathering whatever it is we need. A retrieval. This isn’t difficult.”

At that, Brian did turn to look at Tim, inclining his head as if to question and poke holes into Tim’s argument. But he didn’t say anything.

“It isn’t as if he can replace us with someone as defiant as Jeffrey.”

Toby perked up at those words. “You’re right! Slenderman was so mad when he kept breaking the rules. We’re much better than that.” Toby placed his hands on his hips and nodded, fully assured. “We’ll find what we have to find, bring it back, and then it’ll show him we’re so much better than freaky eyes.”

Tim sighed. With Toby back to normal it would be easier to manage him, with fewer risks later. It was Tim’s self-proclaimed job to take care of the kid. Brian didn’t seem to care. Not that Tim did, but it wasn’t like Tim could willfully allow Toby to… expire because of a few bad days. He didn’t need Rogers’s life on his conscience as well.

The name Jay Merrick flashed through his mind again. Tim looked up, he could ask Brian especially if he was speaking again, but now wasn’t a good time. It never would be, but Tim wasn’t ready yet. Knowing Brian could still speak and wasn’t stripped of that by the Operator was enough to let him hold off on the question another day.

Toby didn’t understand. Why was this Jeff worthy of communicating but he wasn’t? Not even Masky could hear Slenderman, or Hoodie either but he didn’t really talk so he didn’t count.

Jeff had a smile cut onto his face and his eyes were freaky to look at especially when he looked directly at Toby. He was brutal, the first thing he did was trick him into slipping on ice and then choke him with a raggy blanket. Well no, before that there was a pile of gathered snow that looked vaguely like a laying down person that probably was planned, or Toby was giving Jeff freaky eyes too much credit.

Maybe.

But then Jeff guy dodged Hoodie’s bullets and took him out. Took Non-Mask-Masky out too.

They weren’t on their A-game, sure, that had to be the reason. They could have had him if they all attacked but then Slenderman revealed himself, stealing the show.

Jeffy didn’t last long then. Toby was in awe when he saw Slenderman show up in the flesh, he had been half between laughing at Jeff’s soon-to-be screwedness and Slenderman’s appearance. Jeff was caught and Toby didn’t care too much what would happen next. He was expecting this Jeff person to be impaled on a nearby tree or maybe to be ripped apart right in front of them but instead, he was speaking to them. Not Jeff- well, yes Jeff, but not Jeff. Slenderman was talking to them through stranger Jeff.

Excitement overpowered everything else.

It wasn’t his voice but it was close enough. Slenderman’s words of praise made his knees buckle since he wasn’t supposed to leap for joy. They had done well. He said that he thought they did well. There was more, and Toby would think about it later, promise, but what mattered most was that he was proud of them.

Jeff wasn’t loyal to Slenderman strangely enough, but he should have been since Slenderman saved him, must have saved him, Toby didn’t know the whole story but how different from his own could it be?

Oldest thing Toby could remember, without his head buzzing like a hive of angry bees, was fire surrounding him. It would have swallowed him whole, Toby remembers not minding that fact because he deserved it. He didn’t know why but he deserved it, but instead, he was saved. Told that he was worth the effort and meant for a greater purpose. There weren’t words spoken, of course, but it was felt. Toby just knew it.

Just like Toby knew there was something about Jeff… something he couldn’t put his finger on. Masky had explained some of it, some pieces that mattered and some not so much. Toby was forced to listen to him go over everything again when he kept asking along their walk.

They were given a goal. A mission. One that Hoodie said they couldn’t afford to mess up else Slenderman would be obligated to get rid of them and get others more useful. It only made sense. But Toby knew that they were the best, they just had to remind Slenderman of that. Jeff could either aid them or hinder them in that way. But Masky was talking to Hoodie and from Toby’s listening, it seemed that Jeff may have saved them.

Possibly.

Masky didn’t trust Jeff. Neither did Hoodie. Toby wasn’t so inclined to trust Jeff either but he was apparently gifted with the ability to hear Slenderman.

It wasn’t fair.

“You can stop sulking no point if we hang in a week.”

Toby ignored the first half of Masky’s words. “Is that how long this will take?”

Masky shrugged.

Toby sighed and looked around. He always had trouble figuring the forest out, it felt like it kept changing, at least Hoodie and Masky always knew where they were going.

It seemed like they did. Even when they would walk in one direction for a couple of hours. Boring.

“I wonder what he’s doing right now.”

Both looked back at him, then looked at each other, not saying a single word.

“Aren’t you curious?” Toby flipped an axe in the air. “I am.”

It was silent. Toby waited. Most of the time Masky would answer once a long time has passed in silence.

Sure enough, Masky replied, “More focused on the mission we were assigned.”

“Yeah but no point in thinking about the whole way when we have forever of a walk and we don’t even know what we’re getting.”

Masky sighed and shook his head in the way that said kind of agreed but wasn’t going to say it.

“I’m just thinking about how if we’re going to be away for so long that means Slenderman will have Jeff the whole time. Think he’ll kill him before we come back? You did say how Jeff wasn’t really…”

“Doubtful,” Masky said. “Jeffrey isn’t compliant, but it’s more likely he’ll be made to be no matter how much time has to pass.”

Toby kicked at the snow. It’d be better if Jeff couldn’t understand or if he didn’t exist at all. It may be a useful thing for Jeff to tell them what Slenderman wanted but Slenderman might forget how perfect they were for him. They were loyal. They were reliable. They would always be the better pick over Jeff even if they couldn’t speak to him.

They just had to prove it again. Refresh Slenderman’s memory.

That wouldn’t be difficult.

Chapter Text

A week of being kept in the shack. A week of being dragged out of said shack and into the blur of the snow forest to have a “conversation” with the eldritch horror.

Having been carried away from the other three shouldn’t have been as terrifying as it was. They weren’t going to do him any favors if it was decided his arms and legs would be ripped off his body or if he was going to be hanged by his neck with one of the beast’s many limbs. Yet when their figures grew more distant, a cold settled in Jeff’s veins that had nothing to do with the snow surrounding them.

He fought like hell. He thrashed and tried biting. It all amounted to nothing. Like this “Slenderman” couldn’t feel pain. Jeff had been unceremoniously thrown into the shack he had been locked in earlier. Nothing else. It was too quiet outside but Jeff didn’t bother trying the doorknob for the first ten minutes thinking he was still out there waiting for him.

Once Jeff did try, the knob obviously didn’t turn but eased him to know that he tried instead of cowering next to the wall farthest from the door. That would have just been downright embarrassing. Jeff was many things but a coward wouldn't be one of them.

Bouts of static would scratch his mind and then it would go radio silent again. Back and forth the process went. The only thing lighting the room was the dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling. When his nerves settled, he was able to lay down on the hard mattress. Luckily the blanket from earlier was thrown in with him. So he laid down, uncomfortable in every way.

Jeff was sore. He was bruised and while he considers that he won against those three, he still got a beating for it. He lifted his hoodie and shirt to get a look at the damage. There were pink splotches on his stomach where he had been punched. Explained why it hurt so much when he'd been grabbed by the "Slenderman."

Still a ridiculous name. He probably didn't have a real name. It would be weirder if he did. Some kind of nightmare-inducing monster and his name would be Richard? That wouldn't make fucking sense. Maybe it was a little entertaining to imagine it though.

He pulled his hoodie down. The bruises would set in a couple of days and then heal in a week. He'd be fine, didn't mean it wouldn't hurt like a bitch for a week…

Jeff wrapped himself in the blanket and curled on the mattress. He'd be stuck in the waiting game. Every sound kept him on edge. Any thumps or scratches that the walls made had him spike up, holding his knife to his chest. His head throbbed.

So when he had finally passed out due to extreme exhaustion he welcomed it until he was dragged out by a foot to the outside. Then he was fighting once again. Drowsiness wasn't even a factor as Jeff scrambled to swing at the limb pulling him from the "safety" of the shack. He stabbed full force and was thrown into the snow for it.

Black oozed onto the fresh snow. The limb drew back and Jeff's eyes followed it up to its owner who towered a few feet away. It retracted away, less black blood dripping as it disappeared behind the Slenderman.

Looking at him was no less eerie but he could get the full picture which he hadn't before. Slenderman was several feet taller than any normal person, probably double a normal height when Jeff had tried to run. Other than this distinct detail the next obvious thing was the blank slate where a person's face should be. There were dips and protruding areas where a face's features would be as if the mold of it was in the making but the rest was unfinished. The suit was next. The more Jeff thought about it the more it didn't make any fucking sense. Slenderman as a whole didn't make sense but Jeff tried to piece it out. The only thing he could figure out was that Slenderman seemed to imitate humans with his appearance, or rather, he tried to but it was off. Everything was very off. At least its disturbing factor went lower each time Jeff stared at him.

When Jeff had been dragged out the first time, it was a big mess. It seemed that Slenderman could plainly see that and waited until Jeff ran out of energy, which wasn’t difficult with all the bruises and constant overflow of adrenaline over the past few days. Jeff was drained. A candle that had been burned at both ends for too long.

Then Slenderman talked while Jeff was forced to just sit there and listen. Jeff had been muzzled the first time because he was interrupting and being a “general nuisance” as Slenderman had said.

The topic of discussion? The weather. The fucking weather and how winter was coming around earlier than usual this year. Few people went out and at the same time, they would occasionally visit the forest to see the beautiful views that the season would offer. The small talk was unsettling and the cold went through his hoodie, the wind had no remorse, making his eyes sting and goosebumps rise along his arms and legs. Once he was shaking though, he was thrown back into the shack which he gladly took so he could curl back on the rickety bed.

The process repeated about three times a day, that’s when he’d get a chance to attack, eat, and listen to a supernatural being talk about the forest, hikers that tread too close to his liking, and this newspaper he had from 1968 for some reason.

Weirdest routine to pick up.

The mundaneness of it was something Jeff hadn’t had for years. It was comforting in the strangest of ways that he hated and… didn’t hate…

It did make Slenderman less terrifying, not when Jeff was yanked like a ragdoll when trying to sleep, but still. Kinda hard to stay scared when the paranormal monster was just a lonely dude in need of a chat. Jeff didn’t talk much. He tried after a while but found that those conversations turned too metaphorical and had undertones of threats to them, threats that could turn all too real coming from him.

Descriptions of wanderers in these forests were entertaining when ignoring the whole that could be you next aspect of it. Which Jeff could do unless Slenderman wanted to slip in the warning of what happens to disobedient toys. Jeff had growled at that.

“And you, Jeffrey, are you familiar?”

He stared back at Slenderman, confused. It wasn’t often, but Jeff would surprisingly tune out the conversation if it got too boring, or that’s what he told himself it was as he dissociated.

“With being a practiced vagrant?”

Jeff wasn’t fully sure what the word meant so he shrugged.

“Must be,” he continued without care of Jeff’s participation, “You’re just over your second year away from home.”

That made Jeff pause. He couldn’t always keep track as to what week it was, hell, sometimes he didn’t get a chance to see what month it was, but seasons were consistent. If Slenderman said it was an early winter then it was likely November. If that was the case then Slenderman was right, it’d be just over the second year he lost everything. Jeff blocked any memories from surfacing. He bit his tongue anyway as a preemptive strike against his head.

“Must be so peculiar to be astray from the path you were once on. All the usual places unavailable, activities that were common are gone, the familiar faces a thing of the past…”

It was likely said to unnerve him like most things Slenderman said. But it didn’t, not really, Jeff was too busy being reminded of assholes of the past.

“Familiar faces? Everyone around me was always two-fucking-faced.” Jeff chuckled, his eyes wandering over Slenderman, and waved a hand to vaguely gesture at the whole of the man. “Suppose I don’t have to worry about that with you, huh?”

Slenderman’s shoulders rose and lowered a few times. It took Jeff a minute to realize that was a laugh. Or something mimicking one.

“You would be correct.”

Silence loomed over them and yet it wasn’t uncomfortable.

Jeff rubbed at his arms. He wondered if it was possible for spit to freeze while in your mouth. “Are they coming back anytime soon?” He sighed and could see his breath.

“Soon.”

“Very specific.” Jeff rolled his eyes.

“Are there any questions you may have?”

“Why? You gonna actually answer them?”

“Perhaps.”

Jeff scoffed. He crossed his arms. Slenderman didn’t have a need to constantly bound him. Besides, no matter how fast or long Jeff could run, he knew he wouldn’t be capable of the feat of outrunning Slenderman, he’d have to have a better plan than just dashing through the unknown.

Looking around them, he noticed the trees were different. Not that he had been memorizing trees during his stay but something was distinctly off from what he had seen a while ago.

“Where are we?”

Slenderman tilted his head to the sky then back to him. “Czech I’d say, possibly Poland.”

“What?”

“I find the vastness of European woodlands areas perfect spots for privacy,” he said it so casually as if they had been there all along. “It’s not often that you come across someone, and when you do… well, it isn’t a strange occurrence when someone goes missing.”

Jeff ignored the thinly veiled threat and decided to mention the obvious. “But… we’re in Virginia.”

“We were in North Carolina.”

“So we’re in North Carolina.”

The Slenderman sighed. It wasn’t a thing Jeff could see but the noise reverberated all around him.

“Because, it’s impossible for us to have gone across the Atlantic,” Jeff pointed out. “Pretty sure I would have noticed. I’ve been on a plane before… once but not to…”

“Welcome to Europe then.” Slenderman lifted his hands as if to show off the terrain.

The motion caused Jeff to look harder at the forest. There was still snow everywhere, cold as fuck, and full of trees. Sky was darker earlier but Jeff could have just a warped sense of time. It didn’t have to mean anything. Yet Jeff had noticed that they were somewhere else, it was a gut feeling, but he was always great at that. He looked behind himself, the shack was still in sight.

“But we’re in North Carolina?”

"You're being intransigent."

“But the shack- it’s still right there.” Jeff looked at the Slenderman while pointing towards the proof.

“My home isn’t a shack.”

Jeff squinted. “Dude, I don’t know if you’ve seen yourself but you wouldn’t fit in there.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Slenderman stalked in his direction and for a moment Jeff wasn’t sure if he’d be killed for calling a supernatural abomination “dude.”

His arms seemed to stretch and his hands rested on Jeff’s shoulders. Jeff glanced at Slenderman’s hands. He hadn’t examined them but he saw that the hands weren’t black, not fully, the tips of the fingers were black and faded to grey then white at the palms. A weird detail, it wouldn’t look like gloves so there wasn’t an exact purpose for it if the goal for him really was to imitate humans.

Slenderman spun Jeff back to the shack, only the shack wasn’t there anymore. Standing there was a large, decaying cabin. Windows were cracked or missing, wood was splintered, and paint completely peeled. There was a wall bent out of shape so that the inside was visible and a portion of the roofing was dented as if it would collapse at any second. And none of that mattered because that had not been standing there a mere thirty seconds ago.

“The fuck?”

“It had its uses.”

“It…” Jeff kept staring. The shack was gone, replaced by a big rotting house. “Still looks small for… for someone like you.”

“Yes,” Slenderman agreed. Jeff let his mouth hang open, it was justified. He was in fucking Europe and physics didn’t apply to sheds in the woods. So when Slenderman’s hand gripped at his chin his entire body went rigid. “But that is because,” Slenderman jerked his chin to the faceless man who lowered himself to match Jeff’s height. “It isn’t finished.”

He held like that and Jeff’s eyes looked back and forth frantically to where the eyes of the Slenderman would be. Holding his breath when the grip went tighter. It was as if time stood still around them.

But then he let go. Slenderman’s hand retracted and he let himself straighten his posture to his natural height, leaving Jeff to continue to stare vacantly, wondering if there was a moment there where his head could have been ripped from his shoulders.

"Much better now, wouldn't you say?"

It took a lot for Jeff to force himself to tear his eyes off Slenderman. Every reminder of his own fragile humanity was uncomfortable, especially when most times Jeff didn't mentally feel human anymore.

But Jeff moved himself to look at the newly formed structure where the cabin had once been.

It was five times the size of the cabin. There were stones and bricks in the foundation. Old, dead plants surrounded areas of the large… manor? The fuck do you call something that fucking massive? There were still cracked and missing windows, still spots where wood was rotted and falling in, and still stains of caked dirt.

"Still looks pretty uninviting."

Slenderman didn't respond, instead, he stepped towards the place. Jeff couldn't say for certain but as Slenderman ducked through the doorway it appeared that it had grown so that he wouldn't have to lower himself as much. Jeff absent-mindedly followed the creaks and groans of the building. He reached out to touch the doorway but let his hand fall to his side instead.

“What is this?”

Passing the threshold was more than accepted to get out of the freezing forest. A rundown place or not, shelter was shelter. Jeff looked at the wide and open room, then up at the ceilings must have been about twenty or thirty feet up, to the left were deteriorated yet ornate stairs that led to nowhere because of the large gap where more stairs should have been to connect, to the right, there were more stairs, these led to somewhere, but it was far and too dark for Jeff to see. The floors creaked loudly under Jeff’s feet as if it was shifting as he stared at them.

“This is purgatory.”

Jeff stopped examining the entrance and brought his eyes back to Slenderman who was already watching him from several feet away. Or it looked as if he was watching. It was like he was trying to see what Jeff’s reaction would be but Jeff hadn’t really acknowledged the words. It was stupid. Jeff shook his head. But the Slenderman had originally stated he’d answer questions.

“Like… hell?”

“No.” Slenderman’s voice said with an air of amusement. His hands behind his back. “Not hell. An in-between. A way to get us back. They have to find us again after all.”

Jeff figured he knew that the Slenderman was talking about the three he met a while ago. “Who are they?”

“Followers.”

Jeff played with the dust and dirt on the floor with his shoe, trying to act casual as he asked, “How many are there?”

“More than a few.” Slenderman lifted his chin up slightly. An acknowledgment of what Jeff was trying to do and a silent challenge to what Jeff would do about it.

Jeff swore silently to himself. He knew he wouldn’t get any important information. A part wondered how he got “followers.” Were they loyal? That ax one seemed blindly loyal, were the others? They seemed to have Slenderman’s trust regardless.

Trust.

Jeff would have to build trust. He didn’t fucking know how to do that though. This wasn’t a normal circumstance and if it were, Jeff never could socialize. He always depended on Li- on… on… Jeff ignored that train of thought. Pulling the breaks before it’d crash. He was on his own. He would figure this out.

“Got a name?”

Jeff cringed as the words left his mouth. They sounded stupid. They came out flat. He wasn’t made for standard communication. But names were the first step in talks so naturally, it had to be the first step in trust. Trust meant freedom. He’d pull the rug right under the Slenderman if need be, maybe it’d get him to have a stupid shocked expression on his no face.

“I am called many things. Any of which may suit me.”

“But those aren’t names,” Jeff said. His nails dug painfully into his palms. Getting nowhere. He wasn’t good at it before, didn’t look like he’d be good at this either. Humans or supernatural entities. Both can go fuck themselves. Jeff lowered his head.

A hum echoed throughout Jeff’s mind. “Yours is an interesting one. ‘God’s friend.’ How fitting. Did you know what your name meant?”

“Thought it meant peace or something.” Jeff didn’t appreciate the change in topic. He lifted his head to glare at Slenderman. “They said it meant that in first grade or some shit.”

“That as well.”

“How’s it fitting?” He hissed.

“Well.” Slenderman took a step forward and it took a lot out of Jeff to not take an equal step back. “Aren’t we friends?”

Jeff pushed the words aside, they made him uneasy and likely meant nothing coming from the Slenderman. “You’re not God.”

“Aren’t I close enough?”

The words vibrated in Jeff’s skull as if each word gave a pulse. They sounded wrong. Distorted, garbled. A shiver ran down Jeff’s spine.

Slenderman took another step forward, Jeff stayed rooted in place. So Slenderman toyed with another step. Jeff was offended by the little “test” he was in. If he thought Jeff would cower away just because he used his little spooky voice then he was dead fucking wrong.

Jeff wasn’t a moron. He was brought, taken care of, fucking had a “tryout,” and could do what apparently none of the others could. Hear the Slenderman. Jeff wouldn’t allow any threats to scare him. Didn’t mean he could stop the feeling of his stomach dropping.

The Slenderman approached, his hand reaching down and grabbed at a clump of his hair. Jeff bit his tongue, his hands balled into fists. But Slenderman didn’t yank or do anything except play with it.

Just holding it in place.

“Are… Are you…” Jeff’s mouth went dry. Pretty sure if he could check there would be fucking cobwebs in his throat. He didn’t know what he was planning on saying, he hadn’t quite gotten to point B yet, but sometimes Jeff would just open his mouth at point A with no regard with where point B would end up. He used to do it all the time. Hell, he did it so much that his brother would know where point B was better than he did.

No.

Something sharp prodded his mind. Like it had been there but was taking root and Jeff noticed.

No.

Jeff could feel his breathing going heavy but had no control. His feet stuck in place with no care that he was urging them to move. Muscles along his back tensed painfully and he resisted the desire to vomit. Jeff didn’t know how- didn’t fucking care how- but he knew it was Slenderman’s doing.

“No. Stop it.”

The words came out but Jeff felt that they weren’t coming from his mouth. It felt like it came from the left or above or down below while it echoed as well. Floods of thoughts flashed in his mind. He saw a scene of him accidentally smashing a neighbors pot, someone next to him shoving at his shoulder and teasing him for it. Then him in a convenience store, trying to snag a small package of his brother’s favorite candy. His brother.

“Cut it out.” He was speaking again but it was that same distant sound despite it coming from his own mouth.

Slenderman continued to gently hold some of his hair.

More flashes of clearer scenes with clearer faces.

Liu.

Just a string of Liu nonstop. Him smiling, shoving at Jeff playfully, a fight over a ripped pair of jeans. A constant stream of images that was making Jeff sick. Even a second of Liu and Jeff throwing dirty laundry at each other.

Liu’s laugh was distinct. As if it was happening at that very moment and not years ago.

“Fuck off- whatever you’re doing.”

Then a sight of a plain bedroom. He stood at the foot of it. It was dark but it was like his eyes were adjusting to it. There was something on the bed. Jeff’s entire chest clenched. He knew this. His eyes wouldn’t move away as the memory became apparent.

And Liu’s eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, he was wholly unmoving. The slick feeling of warm blood on Jeff’s hands. Liu’s mouth hung slightly open, his last words in screams. A weight rested in his hand, one that was all too familiar. His brother’s hand was flopped off the side of the bed, red dripping from it.

Jeff screamed.

He lurched to the ground. His hands balled into fists on the floor, his knees stung from the harsh fall. “Fuck off! Fuck off! Fuck off!”

The world swayed under him. He gagged but nothing came out except for some spit that dribbled out. He was painfully there and somewhere else altogether.

Jeff pushed and fought at the mental strain that was in his head. All the thoughts he had blocked and put aside were ripped to the surface and he was shoving it all back down, one by fucking one if he had to.

Whatever that had tried to take root, was gone. Its lingering sensation remained but dissipated slowly until Jeff could breathe normally again.

“What did you see?”

Jeff wiped at his mouth with his sleeve, still on the floor on all fours. “Fuck you.”

A hand lifted his chin lightly yet pulled to stretch him too far.

“Someone you cared for?” Slenderman hummed. “Then why kill them?” He paused as if wondering it himself. “Such complicated creatures.”

Jeff felt the need to explain- to justify his mistake but shook his head, this asshole didn’t have to know anything.

“No? Then why?”

“None of your business.” Jeff spat.

“I suppose not,” Slenderman said. His hand still held Jeff’s face and his thumb brushed against his cheek. “Maybe you’ll tell me.”

And Jeff felt fire when he snarled, “Not on my life.”

“We’ll see.” His hand let go and pulled away. Jeff watched as he straightened himself back up from his awkward crouched position.

Jeff followed suit to not be on his hands on the floor.

Once he stood tall and didn’t feel like he’d keel over he bit out, “Don’t do that shit again.” Even if he couldn’t compare to the Slenderman he glared. Not a single part of him shook anymore.

“Not unless I need to.” Slenderman held his hands up. “I promise.”

It didn’t mean shit. Jeff narrowed his eyes.

“You value honesty, Jeffrey. I’ll honor it.”

Somehow… Jeff allowed it. He’d remain wary. He’d still hate the guy- whatever he was. But Jeff would believe it and allow some trust, the two-way road.

He nodded.

“Good,” he said. “I do hope you forgive the intrusion. A necessity to see character.”

Jeff scowled, “Isn’t that what introductions are for?”

“For the ordinary person, but you aren’t.”

“For someone with no mouth,” he shivered with indignation. “You sure talk a whole fucking lot.”

“Call it the abundance from lack of use.”

Jeff rolled his eyes but caught the open door in his gaze. He didn’t know what those three were “collecting” but Jeff wanted them back. If for no other reason than to just be a distraction so Jeff wouldn’t have to deal with the one-on-one presence of the cryptic in the forest.

He was done talking.

Chapter Text

They were lucky it hadn't become a disaster.

It could have gone much worse.

That was becoming the mantra Tim would repeat to himself.

They followed the directions, had to feel intently to whatever would "call for them," and they found it. Tim was the one who had to break into the abandoned house. It may have been on the outskirts and hadn't been used for a couple of years but they could never be too cautious with what they do.

Brian and Toby waited outside in case Tim needed backup, it was always better to have secret backup that could ambush anyone that could be there and attack or try to escape as witnesses.

The floorboards creaked under him, the only noise in the house. He tried to feel out for the "calling" that was supposed to happen. Tim sighed, he used to believe that was bullshit until he would actually start sensing something like the Operator had promised. His skepticism was long gone when it came to the Operator and his capabilities.

Tim wandered around the home. It looked to be cleared of most items except for those too heavy to move or too worn out to want. It was a mess. Whoever was here last hadn't cared about upkeeping. There was no one there, that was for certain.

He stared at the dusty couch in the living room. If they couldn't find what they needed to find then they could stay for the night. Tim stretched his hands over his head, allowing some bones to pop and crack.

It was time to bring Brian and Toby inside. With three searching, they'd find whatever they needed to. He began his walk to the front door when he felt it.

He could tell there was something under the floorboards he was standing on. Like a ringing in his ear was telling him he found something.

This had to be it.

Tim looked at his feet, to the floor that held whatever it was they needed to retrieve. He lowered himself and touched the wood with his gloved hand. He felt over the area and found the exact spot.

This was it. Whatever they needed to bring.

Without falter, Tim stood and walked to the front door, swinging it open to beckon for Brian and Toby to come in from wherever they were hidden.

He didn’t bother looking back when he reentered the house.

Tim stretched his arms and back before looking back to the spot on the floor. He tried not to think about what could be under the floorboards of an abandoned house. Whatever was hidden under floorboards usually was hidden away for a reason. Reasons that Tim didn’t want to know.

“Did you find it? Did you find it?”

Tim tilted his head to the floor and vaguely gestured to it.

Brian and Toby took the hint and looked down for a while before feeling whatever Tim was feeling as well.

Toby lifted his ax to strike it straight into the floor, Brian's quick thinking prevented it by holding Toby’s arms in place as he was winding up to break through the floor.

Tim rolled his eyes. "Let's not accidentally destroy what we have to bring back."

"Oh. Whoops?"

Why the Operator brought this one in remains an enigma to Tim.

Tim cracked his neck and knelt to the floor to peel the floorboards back. He tried to force it to move and while it would wobble, the piece that kept them apart wouldn’t budge. Brian and Toby knelt beside him.

Brian stopped him before he would hurt himself. He pointed to Toby’s ax who handed it over easily. Brian then used the ax’s edge to dig into the floorboards and under a nail that held the board down. He loosened it slowly until he felt confident enough to pull it out. Once he was satisfied, he looked up to Tim to pull it out.

It took two tries but it came out. Tim was able to peel the board back and a resounding snap filled the house. He tossed the board to the side. Hidden away was an old, faded shoebox. Brian didn’t waste time. He pulled the box out without show and threw the lid over to Tim who threw it to Toby who threw it across the room like a frisbee.

It made Toby happy to watch the cardboard fly into the kitchen Tim noted.

Tim glanced back to Brian when he stood up, putting the contents of the box into their bag. Tim would leave his curiosity of what the box contained for when they delivered it.

Brain gripped the backpack tightly and motioned for them to leave. Tim turned back to get a final look around the house to get a feel if they had missed anything. When there were no itches or tugs pulling him around the house, he trailed Brian.

Toby whined while he followed along. “But the couch! My feet hurt. Can’t we stay till morning?”

Brian unsurprisingly didn’t answer. Neither did Tim while he took a second to really think about Toby's words. The boy didn't feel pain. It was something Tim noticed very early on. Hard not to figure it out when Toby would bite his hands raw or scratch at his arms, neck, anything until it bled. Tim didn't care for Toby, but anyone would be concerned if the new guy came in bloody and bruised and stayed that way of his own volition. Tim would complain to himself, he did it often, maybe to Brian, even when he wouldn't answer. Toby must have picked up on it, trying to replicate it. It was a strange way to try to get closer to Tim and Brian, to create familiarity. Tim seriously pitied Toby.

“We’ll rest once we return,” Tim provided. Brian looked back at him. Masks covered what expressions could say but Tim felt that Brian and he both knew they had to return right away. There had only been brief words but their jobs and thus lives were on the line with the “new arrival.” Tim was praying that they’d return to the Operator and the entrails of their guest would cover the surrounding area or even better, no one would be there like he was never there at all. It was a lot to hope for, but with Jeffrey Woods gone, their lives wouldn’t be on the thread that it’s on now.

The faster they returned from their task successfully done then the more evidence that they were still needed.

God, starting to sound like Toby with that.

Tim’s train of thought was brought to a hard stop when there was growling in the trees. It snarled and rustled fallen leaves in snow.

Brian held his hand out to stop them from moving so that they could listen closely to where it was coming from.

“What’s that?” Toby whispered. Tim tried to silence Toby with gestures to no avail. “Doesn’t sound… right? What forest are we in?”

Tim paused at that. He nudged Brian to consider Toby’s words. What forest they entered mattered. The Operator wasn’t the only monster in existence. Just seemingly the most powerful.

Toby continued whispering, though louder than before. “'Cause this kinda reminds me of the cult forest that one time, you know?”

This caused Tim to really take in the surroundings. Toby had a way of being more perceptive than he let on, he was right. The last time they were here was with the Operator. For all the Operator’s… faults… they never feared danger outside of the Operator. He had been planning something. Pulling the strings somehow, someway here. Tim didn’t know. Didn’t much care. It felt long ago and Tim would let himself go through the motions at times. But Toby was right. This was the forest where a cult would stay occasionally and perform rituals. Gruesome ones now that Tim thought about it. Tar was involved if he remembered correctly. So was mutilation, blinding...

But the cult didn’t have a monster, not that Tim knew of. Tim couldn’t remember details. He would have to rely on Brian for that.

Brian’s hand motioned for them to step back. Tim did without more prompting, trusting Brian to know what to do. Tim pulled Toby by the sleeve to get him to follow.

“Is it? The cult forest.”

“Yes,” Tim answered to shut Toby up. Toby liked being right, but now wasn't the time.

Something appeared, scratching at the trees nearby.

The first thing Tim could see was blue. Blue and then two holes leaking black ooze. Tim immediately connected it to the tar substance the cult used. It croaked out something, words most likely but they came out garbled and more tar came out from under the blue.

“What is it? It's not human, is it?”

Tim shushed Toby and continued to back themselves away. Beast or human, it seemed that it was making it clear that this was its territory. They moved back, a different course back wouldn’t be difficult. Though with this creature here, it meant they had information to deliver to him as well.

Brian found a pace that wouldn’t bring the thing to attack them and they left to find a different path.

Tim let Toby’s sleeve go when he trusted that the idiot wouldn’t have a go at throwing a hatchet at the thing that threatened them.

He sighed once tension left Brian’s shoulders. More monsters. Tim didn’t really keep track of what the Operator did but knowing him then he must have had some part in the creation of it.

Or he didn’t and the world just had more monsters than Tim ever knew.

The way back was longer than it could have been. It was not as eventful as the encounter with whatever that thing was. Tim was grateful for the boring journey back. He was grateful that the only complaint he had was on Toby’s incessant musings out loud about whatever came to his mind. He would jump from topic to topic without care if hadn’t completed a thought. He would talk about what they just did, a rabbit he saw cross their path, and often The Operator.

Sometimes Tim would be grateful to have something to hone in on and listen to when hours would drag on. Listening to Toby was a walking TV show that you only put on for background but are so bored you watch it anyway.

Though Toby’s strange prattling was an appreciated distraction it was… a distraction. If only Toby knew when times called for silence so that they could be warier when a situation arose. Keeping Toby in the back was a somewhat strategic move so that Brian could read, listen in on what’s ahead and then Tim next to confirm and handle the situation and then Toby, their ambush.

When the sounds of footfalls on crunching snow ceased and the ramblings stopped, Tim turned around to see what Toby was up to, if he sent himself into one of his moods. Tim internally groaned. He hadn’t been too focused on Toby’s words before the uncalled for silence, He couldn’t be sure what set him off, it would be harder to get him back to his normal, annoying self.

Tim stopped when he saw Toby’s hand at his chin, eyes trained onto the floor intensely. Toby was mumbling something but the sound was too low for Tim to hear what his mutters were about.

Brian must have stopped in his tracks as well because all Tim could hear was incoherency from Toby.

“Rogers?”

Tim wasn’t sure what disposition Toby was in but he would have to gauge it out.

“Rogers?” Tim repeated.

Toby looked up. His expression serious.

“Do you think that Slenderman has kids?” He blurted. It was in a cold, low tone.

Tim shuddered at the thought. “What?”

“They’re both pale, strong, and-and he understands him.” Toby counted off on his fingers.

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“Jeff!” Toby shouted. His dark and serious tones faded, becoming light once more which Tim was grateful for. “There’s like, something there? Why did we have to, you know, test him- wait or uh, that was our test wasn’t it? Both? Uh, I don’t remember, but- come on- don’t you see it- there are similarities- you see it, right? Do you think his hair could do the thing Slenderman does? You know- the, uh, the whoo whoo thing he does with his extra arms?” Toby wiggled his arms as if to demonstrate the extra limbs the Operator has.

Tim squinted at Toby. He was sure he was making a face of disgust under his own mask. He looked back to Brian who shrugged at him. Tim was mildly shocked he got a response at all which showed how unsettling what Toby just said was to Brian as well.

Tim looked at Toby. He wasn’t sure how to convey the idea that Jeffrey Woods being the Operator’s child was impossible and simultaneously the worst thing he had ever had to hear with his own ears. Tim mentally took back what he thought about Toby being perceptive. He sighed, “Toby…”

“Yeah? It’s a good theory, right?”

A snowball landed square on his nose.

Tim spun around to see Brian still in position from throwing a snowball. “No.”

Toby wiped the snow off his face with his sleeve. “I’m not crazy- Slenderman could be trying to keep it a secret.”

“Jeffrey Woods isn’t a child of The Operator,” Tim intoned.

"Now you both are just jealous that I thought of it first," he whined and crossed his arms.

They continued the walk back. They were close. They had to be. Even if the walk wasn't as far, it just meant that the location shifted closer to them, possibly for their convenience, which was a silver lining in the shit that they had to trudge through.

And sure enough, up ahead stood the looming manor. "Almost there! Look! He made it all big again." Toby sprinted forward past the trees. “Think he’ll let us stay in it?” Toby didn’t wait for an answer.

Tim and Brian let themselves walk. Neither were ever in any hurry to come face to- well, face to face with the Operator if they could help it. The winter may be cold and only for an extra minute, but it was that extra minute to mentally prepare that had them consistently take their time once they finished a task.

Toby rushed into the open door manor, no hesitation.

Tim and Brian followed, then stopped at the entrance together.

"This could be it," Tim said.

But Brian just shook his head and stepped in first, leaving Tim to watch him walk away.

Brian still wasn't ready to talk to him. Not fully.

But Tim didn't have time to worry about that. He trailed behind soon after.

The sight was an unexpected one that he should have anticipated but it was strange nonetheless.

Toby had run up to the still living Jeffrey Woods and was probably asking questions that Jeffrey didn't want to answer, or couldn't answer. Jeffrey's posture was something that Tim read as disconcerted.

As was to be expected when anyone is around the Operator.

“And I found a cool rock on the way, Hoodie threw it though but you’ll have to take my word that it was a pretty cool rock. You’ll tell him, right? Tell him about the cool rock I found.” Toby bounced from side to side.

Jeffrey’s face grew confused, glancing to the Operator with a hint of unease, then back to Toby. “He understands you fine.”

“Right!” Toby snapped his fingers. “We’re the ones that can’t understand him. I almost forgot.”

Jeffrey leaned his head to the side. Tim assumed it to be because he was listening to the Operator.

His gaze traveled on them, the room was still as the awaited the Operator’s words.

“Welcome home,” he began.

Tim ignored the shiver going down his spine. Even though it was Jeffrey doing the talking, it didn’t change that it was his words.

“I trust your journey went well. Please rest. There will be more but your bodies require you to retire for now.” A pause before Jeffrey mumbled, “Jeez, could have just said to 'go to sleep' instead, would have been easier.”

The Operator seemingly ignored Jeffrey’s rudeness, so did Toby.

“I get to have a room tonight? I call one that has a hole in the floor!” Toby cheered and began running in a random direction. It didn’t last long as he was stopped by a long limb that had extended its way in front of him. Toby halted before coming into contact with it.

Toby's blank stare traveled from the Operator's limb to his face, Toby still stared blankly at the Operator, tilting his head at him. He then looked at Jeffrey who realized what Toby was asking.

So Jeffrey looked at the Operator for the answer he’d have to convey. They stared at each other silently. It would continue to disturb Tim. He vaguely wondered when that feeling would go away.

Jeffrey nodded and then turned to Toby. “He says to not get lost.”

Toby vigorously nodded and bounced. “I won’t- promise- can I go now?”

The limb retracted. Off Toby went, sprinting into the unknown.

“Yeah, doesn’t seem like the type,” Jeffrey said to whatever the Operator said.

Tim watched the seemingly one-sided exchange. There wasn't much for Tim to really tell but the casual casualness of Jeffrey's words unsettled him. They hadn't been gone for too long yet this Jeffrey Woods, an all-around unstable individual, a killer on the run, was getting friendly with the Operator. Maybe it wasn't what Tim was making it to be. Jeffrey was a stubborn and prideful person, his calm nature now could be an act. A facade for his means to escape.

That made sense. Much more sense than thinking Jeffrey Woods suddenly sided with the Operator. Tim internally scoffed at the thought. He didn't know Jeffrey Woods but the information he gleamed on news sources about the "Smiley Slasher" and from a conversation and fight with the man, Tim felt he had a decent gauge on the guy's inner workings.

Jeffrey's thought process may be fucked, as one would assume for any murderer, but Tim knew that anyone wouldn't want to be under the thumb of the Operator if they had any of their senses.

Toby did not have those senses.

Not that Tim blamed Toby for that. Being stripped of your survival instincts, past, and regular fears would do that.

Tim found himself on the trail of thought of pitying Toby again. His eyes went back to where Toby disappeared off to. He spared a moment wondering if his feelings of help towards Toby were a misguided way of trying to save someone, anyone when he failed to save himself and Jay.

Jay.

There was that name again. Someone important. But he didn't know why. Tim shook his head. Whoever this Jay was, he was gone. Permanently. And Toby was off finding a room happily. Tim didn't have to concern himself with the impossible of saving someone who was dead and someone who didn't want saving.

No. Instead Tim had a task to complete. Their entire mission, then he could rest. The Operator seemed to understand the limitations of the human body and human mind. He would let them sleep here. He likely prepared it for their return.

Tim sighed. Brian had what they had to deliver. He let his eyes wander over the grand yet rotting room for both to take it in as it was never the same twice, and also for Brian.

He didn't search for long as Brian walked to him wordlessly, handing the backpack over with ease.

Tim didn't respond, opting to take the bag and take its crucial cargo out for the final delivery.

Their arrival caught him way off guard.

Jeff had been focused on avoiding Slenderman as much as he fucking could. One would think it’d be easy in a big ass manor but Slenderman was always able to find him. He kept trying to give warnings about the place whenever Jeff was exploring. There wasn’t much else to do but Jeff was close to battling it out after he’d been, well, he wouldn’t say he was scared when Slenderman popped into the room when Jeff was staring down at a large hole in the wall and floor but startled. Yeah, startled. When Jeff was startled and almost fell into an abyss only saved by an outstretch of limbs, it took all of his willpower to not start a fight in the middle of what looked like a burnt-down kitchen.

Jeffrey found a disgusting seat to lay on. It looked molded in places but it was squishy enough for Jeff to not care. Jeff glanced around the room once more before settling into the seat.

Wherever Slenderman was, Jeff had to always keep an eye out for him. He seemed to desperately want conversation. Tough shit then. Jeff would think to himself because if the Slenderman was going to be a total asshole about it then he wouldn’t lighten up to a chat with an eldritch being.

Unless it was just that Slenderman was shit at talking. Then it was fucking hilarious. Jeff didn’t like that he’d have something in common with Slenderman but it’d be worth it for the laugh of the supernatural monster in a suit being bad at small talk. Guess paranormal beings weren’t excused from regular social conventions.

Jeff was laughing to himself about it when Slenderman showed up again in the main room.

“Find something entertaining?”

There was an air of amusement in his words as if he was enlivened by Jeff’s own delight. It was very human. Jeff couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or not so he decided to have fun with it if he was going to be forced to have a "friendly chat" at all.

“You.”

“Me?”

Jeff grinned at the confused tone, real or not, it was funny. “Yeah.” He played with the idea of not saying anything else to leave him guessing or being completely open with what he was thinking to see a reaction.

And Jeff was nothing if not honest.

“You’re pretty bad at this.”

Slenderman seemed to bristle at the words as he questioned, “At what?”

“You know,” Jeff dragged. “Talking, speaking, conversing, more synonyms.”

Slenderman seemed to pause for a moment. Jeff expected him to deny it. Maybe he’d see the Slenderman be childish and defensive.

“Lack of use will do that, I suppose.” He stepped towards Jeff.

Jeff frowned. It hadn’t been the reaction he wanted so he pushed. “Like really bad though. I don’t think I’ve met someone as pathetic at it as you.”

Slenderman took a few steps closer. Jeff stayed still, only moving his shaky arms behind his head as if he was relaxing.

“Is that so?”

“Yeah,” Jeff ignored his drying throat. “Well, maybe there was a friend’s cousin. He was pretty bad at it too, but he was in diapers so I don’t think he counts.” Jeff ended it with a laugh. He let his eyes daze over the shoulder of Slenderman because there was no point in seeing his death come for him and he was fine dying if it meant he got to be an asshole right back to the thing that kidnapped him.

“We’re home! We’re back! We got the thing stuffs!” A voice had Jeff jump to his feet only to see the ax guy at the entrance. Never had Jeff felt so much relief. Not when he had escaped police that were right on his tail. Not when he successfully snuck out of a store with an unpaid candy bar in tow.

Jeff shook his head. He was certainly not ready to die. He was reckless but not suicidal. He would push the Slenderman’s buttons but he’d have to be more cautious about it.

“Masky found the thing super fast! Too fast actually.” The guy was hyperactive. Way more than Jeff could handle at the moment. He stood too close and moved his arms all over the fucking place as he talked. “I wanted to stay in that house and sleep on the couch there. We had to break the floor, Hoodie used my ax to loosen the nail in the floor and Masky tore it out.”

He swayed from side to side as he went on.

“And I found a cool rock on the way, Hoodie threw it though but you’ll have to take my word that it was a pretty cool rock. You’ll tell him, right? Tell him about the cool rock I found.”

Jeff stared, unsure of what to take from that. “He understands you fine.”

“Right! We’re the ones that can’t understand him. I almost forgot.” The guy with the axes on his hip laughed.

“Wouldn’t a good conversation start with a welcome, Jeffrey? Welcome them home.”

Jeff took the calm words in almost enthusiastically, if Slenderman was willing to make fun of the conversation that could have gotten Jeff killed then he’d oblige. He wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. “Welcome home.”

“I trust your journey went well. Please rest. There will be more but your bodies require you to retire for now.”

Jeff repeated the exact words but he rolled his eyes at them, “I trust your journey went well. Please rest. There will be more but your bodies require you to retire for now.” He mumbled a retort under his breath.

The ax one spoke first. “I get to have a room tonight? I call one that has a hole in the floor!” He didn’t seem to wait for an answer and began running in a random direction. He was stopped by Slenderman. A long limb blocking the path.

The ax one stared blankly at Slenderman, tilting his head at his boss. He then looked at Jeff who realized what Toby was asking.

So Jeff looked at Slenderman for the answer he’d have to convey.

It seemed that Slenderman understood that. “Don’t get lost, Toby.”

Jeff nodded needlessly to him before turning to Toby. “He says to not get lost.”

Toby bounced and nodded vigorously. “I won’t- promise- can I go now?”

The limb retracted and off Toby went, sprinting into the unknown.

“He likely won’t listen.”

“Yeah,” Jeff said on reflex. “Doesn’t seem like the type.”

“As long as he doesn’t leave then he won’t lose his soul to purgatory.”

“Is that where we are now?”

Slenderman hummed to affirm.

Jeff shrugged. “Don’t like staying in one place?”

“Not much of an option.”

Jeff didn’t get the chance to question what he meant by that because of a cough by one of his other lackeys. Jeff glanced over and saw Tim, if that actually was his name, holding a bag and taking out a dirty teddy bear.

“Is this what you wanted us to bring?” Tim held up the teddy bear that had a button eye, the other was missing. The thing looked like it was one bad shake away from falling apart at the seams.

Jeff resisted the urge to laugh and simultaneously roll his eyes. All that time and all they got was a fucking plush toy? And not even a good one, a fucking ripped and worn-out one.

“Ah, this must be Mr. D. How delightful.”

"Seriously? That's what you wanted?" Jeff couldn't help himself as he watched the stuffed bear be gently grabbed and dusted by Slenderman.

"Amongst other things…"

He couldn't help himself. "So there's more useless shit out there that you want?"

Slenderman ignored him. "Ask what else they found with it and if they encountered anything unusual."

Jeff crossed his arms but didn't have much of a choice but to fulfill the command. "What else did you find and did you encounter anything out there that was, uh, unusual?"

Tim nodded once. "Of course, this,” he held up the teddy bear, “was in a box we found, the rest of the contents of that box are in the bag.” He held the bag up with his other arm. “As for something unusual… Something did approach us when we were entering the forest. We thought it was human but it didn't sound like one. Once we left its territory, it left us alone."

"Describe it."

Jeff glanced over. "You know every monster out there?"

Slenderman hummed, "Most."

"Cryptic. Mostly creepy as hell. Alright." Jeff looked back to Tim. "He says to describe it."

"Most prominently was its blue mask that leaked out something black."

"A tar-like substance."

“A tar-like substance.”

Tim nodded. “Exactly.”

Slenderman hummed again. “Working fast… how strange.”

“What is?”

“I may need to bring Kate to investigate.”

“Who’s Kate?” Jeff was growing frustrated but he didn’t fail to notice Tim flinching at the sound of this “Kate” person.

“Ask if what they found was alone.”

Jeff groaned. “Was it alone? He’s asking if whatever the fuck you found was alone.”

“To our knowledge, it was alone,” Tim confirmed.

“Interesting. They failed.”

“That’s a good thing?” Jeff asked.

“Most definitely. I’m gaining in numbers even where I don’t manage.” Slenderman’s voice sounded cheery.

It was unnerving. “Didn’t think you could get this giddy.”

“Oh, you don’t know me yet, Jeffrey.”

Chapter Text

The Slenderman was busy.

Whatever the fuck that meant for a being like him, but he wasn’t tailing Jeff anymore and he could be grateful for that. His head hurt enough without the lingering buzz feeling Slenderman left. The others were back from whatever they were sent to do. Fucking Teddy Bear bullshit.

Jeff glared at the worn-out raggy toy sitting across the room on a table that was missing one of its legs. This Slenderman must have sent them to get the disgusting old thing just to assess Jeff. Maybe he was going to kill him. Maybe it was all a game that would eventually lead to him killing Jeff.

And Jeff encouraged him… He shook his head as if he could fling the thought far away from him. He had almost been killed. He had almost given up everything, for a joke? Because why?

Just because Slenderman was occasionally fun to mess with was not a reason for Jeff to forget his goal of escaping him.

He’d find a way. He just would also have some fun doing it. Which wasn’t a crime, Jeff would assume. There weren’t any laws that involved the supernatural. Unless there were… But Jeff had never heard of the paranormal being anything other than shitty edited photos or videos online that Liu would watch and laugh at during the nights Jeff couldn’t sleep. Jeff would pretend he would get tired watching them but he was always the one clicking the next to get scared at and for Liu to laugh at and explain why it was “so fake, dude, look at it.”

Jeff was spiraling again. He shoved the thoughts away. Long gone. If he thought about it he wouldn’t be able to get up again and besides, there was no point in thinking about past shit. Good or bad. Except to remind himself what his purpose was. Why he had to escape… he needed to clear liars wherever he found them. They infect everything around them. If he could get rid of as many as he could… “Sweet, cheese!”

Jeff was pulled out of his cluttered head to glance over to the goggled axe one holding a plastic bag of bread and in the other hand what resembled… well Jeff wasn’t sure what it looked like but probably molded cheese if he guessed.

The axe pulled down his mask to take a bite, there was a large scar on the left side of the guy’s mouth, it didn’t look like Jeff’s, it didn’t appear like a smile or half-smile, it just looked torn and open. Not that Jeff focused much on it when the guy took a full bite that made Jeff grimace despite having eaten weird shit as well to get by in the past. Still, he never ate something that looked like that. Jeff remembered his name started with a T but same with the other masked one. He shrugged it off, he’d hear Slenderman or the other one call him it, not that it mattered since he wouldn’t talk to the guy if he could help it.

The guy that approached steadily with the green blob in hand… “Want some? There’s lots.” He held it out in front of Jeff’s face. It somehow smelled worse than it looked.

“Fuck no.”

“Well can’t say I didn’t try to share.” He shrugged and sat down next to Jeff but before he could protest the axe one was speaking again. “Hey hey, uh, so did Slenderman tell you about why we got the bag of stuff- ‘cause the, the teddy bear? That was weird huh? But he’s always got a big reason, he’s so smart. Like I’m pretty sure playing chess with him would be over in three moves. But the bag, did he say anything ‘bout it?”

“He didn’t say anything.” Slenderman hadn’t. Jeff would think it was strange since Slenderman had been trying to talk to him the entire time his minions were away but Slenderman had also said to him, “You don’t know me yet, Jeffrey.” The thought sent chills down his spine but it made him resolute. He wouldn’t stay long enough to ever know the Slenderman. There would be no fucking yet.

But if Jeff was going to get out, he needed to use his resources. Even if it meant having to talk to whats-his-face with the moldy bread.

“Aw, damn.” The axe one’s shoulder’s sagged.

“Well,” Jeff started and paused to get his attention again. “He said he was gaining in numbers.” Jeff paused to see if the guy would respond.

Sure enough. “Oh! Oh! That’s cool. He’s been trying to- to, uh, what did Masky say? Expand? Yeah, expand.”

But that didn’t help Jeff. It wasn’t helpful at all. He tried another question. “He mentioned Kate would investigate.”

Toby nodded, notably more serious. “Kate,” he said as if he was agreeing. “He sends her out a lot. But that’s because,” he leaned in, voice growing to a whisper, “because he’s having me coach Masky and Hoodie. Personally, I think it’s ‘cause they have trouble staying determined on a mission so I’m there to teach them!”

Jeff severely doubted this one was doing any teaching, the masked one had told Jeff they got a newer recruit. This one was it. But it was interesting to note that the other two weren’t loyal to the Slenderman. He could use that, but he’d have to get close to them, and the masked one had warned him…

Fuck.

That bastard. That fucking masked piece of shit bastard knew Jeff would come to this conclusion eventually, that they weren’t loyal to Slenderman. He knew that Jeff would try to use them to escape and told him right off the bat that he wouldn’t help Jeff. The masked one had likely tried multiple times before, who knows… maybe the axe one had as well… And the Slenderman could… enter? Enter minds… He got into Jeff’s head and sleuthed around and Jeff couldn’t do a damn thing but beg he stop like a little bitch.

But the implications that this axe one’s mind had been messed with so fucking much that he was devoted to serving an eldritch being was enough for Jeff to know he’d have to use their mistakes as his lessons.

“Kate’s got a great handle on things though, so I don’t have to show her anything.” Axe guy nodded, leaning back, and taking a chunk out of the bread from the less darkened end.

This one was too dedicated to Slenderman for Jeff to stake his escape plan on, but Jeff could count him as reliable to Slenderman. Which could work in his favor. He just needed to pretend to be just as loyal, they’d be on the “same page” and Jeff could get more insight out of him, maybe he could even convince this one that Slenderman told him to do something and he’d go off and do it on Jeff’s word.

Jeff would have to wait to use that one. He’d have to gain trust. Trust would take too long. He just wanted to slit their throats and get it over with. He wanted them dead, their eyes blanked out while they leaked red from each stab. He wanted to carve a slow smile on their faces. It itched at Jeff. Knowing the answer to escape but wanting to go in an entirely different direction. He had years of having to train himself to have any resolve like his… as Liu had. If he snapped now and killed one or maybe two he’d be set back and constantly watched until he went crazy or his head would be messed with, or worst of all he’d die being torn limb from limb by Slenderman. None were appealing, and so Jeff had to wait even if it made his skin sting and jaw clench painfully.

“Still, the teddy bear wasn’t what I was expecting, ya know? Do you think you can ask?” Axe one tilted his head.

Jeff could try. He could also cover up his prodding by saying the others wanted to know and that’s why he was asking. He didn’t think it’d work but he could try. “Yeah, yeah I’ll see.”

“Yeah you will,” axe one chuckled. “Does it hurt?” He pointed to his own eyes. “Now that I can see you all up close, you sorta do have eyelids but like, only halfway? It’s so weird! Your blink is a half blink!”

Jeff stared at nothing in particular over the axe one’s shoulder, refusing to acknowledge the conversation because if he did, he’d likely kill the guy which he unfortunately decided would be a “bad move.”

“Like that!” Axe guy pointed. “Like you’re tired or glaring at me but you’re just blinking. Freaky. It’s so cool.”

Jeff resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

“But yeah,” Axe guy sighed, “Teddy Bear. Should we name him? He looks like a cool fella.”

“Mr. D is what Slenderman said,” Jeff vaguely recalled.

“Huh, wonder what it stands for,” he hummed. “But that sucks, I wanted like an ‘e’ sound ending name ‘cause then we’d all match.” He started counting on his fingers. “We’d have Masky, Hoodie, Toby, Jeffy, Slendy and- and, we could nickname him Dee Dee.”

Jeff paused, cringing. “Slendy?” He leaned against the seat, staring at the ceiling.

“To match, duh,” Toby said as if it were the most obvious thing.

His knife suddenly felt much heavier in his pocket as did his thought on how his nuisance bar was running high. Jeff groaned. At least Toby wasn’t a liar. This Toby would work in whatever Jeff could plan later. Besides, if Slenderman hadn’t offed Toby himself then that was a clue enough that Jeff should steer clear of taking that matter into his own hands.

“Do you ever question your purpose in this world if it isn’t to be of service and that you’re worthless without an active duty?”

Jeff blanked and focused back on him.

Toby studied him with a level gaze, a little too closely. It made Jeff wonder if Toby was smarter than he let on or if he had some kind of bullshit supernatural power like reading minds or if he was just staring to stare.

“I think you’ll find that you’ll like your purpose, in time,” Toby started. “I know you don’t like it, it’s clear as glass, but you will. Then you can be a proxy like us. You’ll be useful.” He stood up abruptly, he lifted his mask up to cover his mouth again and left, wandering off from the large entryway into the unknown maze that was the deteriorating building. It happened so fast that Jeff was still staring off in the direction Toby went.

The whole place was unsettling. Slenderman was unsettling, his minions weren’t an exception.

Jeff sighed and looked back to the Teddy Bear, Mr. D that sat still in its spot. Toby had said that no matter how strange, Slenderman had his reasons. Reasons that were just beyond what was known or expected. Slenderman had also said he was growing in numbers even where he didn’t manage.

These were clues. Pieces of a puzzle but Jeff didn’t have the edge pieces to get an idea of the bigger picture.

So he’d need to think outside the box. The stupid, ugly teddy bear could be a fucking demon that transforms into something harmless like a plush toy. It could be a thing meant to summon another thing. The teddy bear could just be a fucking teddy bear meant to show that his “proxies” were his errand bitches.

Jeff pushed himself off the seat and walked over to it.

He didn’t want to be an errand bitch to the Slenderman. He’d tear a fucking smile on him before he’d work for the entity.

The teddy bear looked up blankly, missing a button eye. He vaguely wondered how old it was as he reached out for it and gripped it in his hand. It wasn’t soft but it wasn’t scratchy either. It was an old and used toy that had been put away for a long time only to be brought here. Whoever it belonged to was long gone.

“Taken a liking to it?”

“Shit!” Jeff jumped and spun on his heels. He hadn’t noticed how deep in thought he was. “Fuck,” he mumbled once he registered the voice in his head. “What? No. Why- No, it’s just a raggy old toy. What’s there to like?” He looked up, the teddy bear still in his hands.

Slenderman towered over. “Sentimentalities I suppose,” he said. “Do you feel it?”

Jeff glanced at the bear. It was old. Like pretty fucking old and even if some stitches were loose from it being overplayed with, there were new stitches, showing that even if it was ripped, someone was there and made sure it would always be put together again. Jeff found himself envying a toy bear. He pushed down the feeling. “No.”

Slenderman reached out his hand and it took effort for Jeff to give no reaction as he slowly moved for the teddy bear. He lifted it from Jeff’s grasp. “It was cared for so deeply that an attached energy lingers, one that I can call upon.” Slenderman held it close to his… lack of face, dusting it off.

“Energy?” Jeff questioned. “What do you mean?” He remembered Toby. “Why’d you want it?”

Slenderman turned his head to “look” at Jeff. He reached a hand down and pet Jeff’s head, his hand traveled with Jeff’s hair, holding onto a lock again. “Another utility.” He hummed. “You’ve proven to be convenient. If accessible, so may this one. But it will need time. As will you, but both can build off each other.” The back of Slenderman’s hand caressed the side of Jeff’s face.

Jeff flinched away, keeping his feet firmly rooted though. Jeff could feel himself furrowing his brows and squinting his eyes. “The fuck?” He whispered. He didn’t sense any dishonesty in the words, rather Slenderman was very frank. Another utility… one that he wanted and would make Jeff more likely to undertake jobs set by him. Jeff didn’t understand. “Another utility…”

Slenderman handed the bear back with his other hand. “Take care of it. That shall be your task. Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” Jeff was forced to take the toy bear back and keep his eyes on Slenderman.

Jeff fumed. He had no loyalty for Slenderman yet he was being made an errand bitch. Despite it being a necessary step, Jeff found it increasingly difficult to adhere to it. He raised a brow, but couldn’t keep the heat from his words. “Aren’t you the devil?”

Slenderman’s shoulders shook momentarily and he pulled his hands away from Jeff. Still eerie as before for Jeff to see even if it was supposed to be a laugh. “You’re already familiar with dancing with the devil. This won’t be anything new.”

Jeff’s grip was crushing the teddy bear.

“Do be gentle. It is now your responsibility.”

The “task” could be done by leaving the damn thing on the table. It was bullshit but it was given to him as a test. It had to be. There was nothing else it could be.

“Should be simple enough, it shall be familiar in new ways.”

Jeff swears that being convoluted must be the Slenderman’s favorite pass time… Slenderman stood straight yet looked down at Jeff to say something.

“My responsibility’s a fucking teddy bear?”

“You’ll need to keep an eye on it.”

Slenderman turned and walked away, leaving Jeff alone in the room, the teddy bear still in a tight grip.

Fucking asshole.

If Slenderman wasn’t so set on training half-eyelids Jeff then the role would have likely gone to Toby. He nodded to himself. Yeah, it just made sense, that’s why Toby had Masky and Hoodie to watch over. But Jeff was different. He could hear- understand Slenderman. Toby wasn’t bristling with envy or wishing to bury an ax into Jeff’s back. Or maybe he was a little bit. But just a little.

Because… Because it was unfair! It was Toby’s role and desire to follow Slenderman and Jeff didn’t even want to be there. Even Toby could see Slenderman was annoyed with him. Or maybe Toby was looking too deep. Slenderman didn’t have any expressions after all.

But Toby wasn’t crazy. He wasn’t. Slenderman knew that. That’s why Slenderman made sure that Masky and Hoodie were with him at all times. That’s why Jeff spoke to him about what Slenderman and he were talking about.

They talked a lot.

It was fascinating to watch. So when Toby “left” Jeff after they talked he actually stayed to see Slenderman, he was always near if Jeff was nowadays. He probably wanted to keep an eye on him in case he tried to run. Not that he’d really be able to if he left the manor. It wasn't that he had any interest in the random not corpse in the forest.

Jeff did ask Toby’s question about the teddy bear. Toby couldn’t hear Slenderman’s response but he did catch Jeff’s words of it being another utility which meant that Slenderman would be bringing in someone else. The teddy bear? Probably not, right? Maybe it meant whoever’s teddy bear it was would come for it and then be under Slenderman.

That’s what Masky and Hoodie had talked about. Mostly just Masky talked out loud to himself while Hoodie was in the same room but still. Masky talked about the cult forest and the blue thing they saw and how when listening to Jeff’s one-sided conversations with Slenderman… It all seemed to be adding up to Masky that there were “more monsters out there”.

So that’s what Slenderman wanted. He wanted to collect monsters. Their mission to get the teddy bear was significant.

Toby nodded to himself again. He figured it out. He collected Jeff who could understand him and he wanted more variety of skills. That’s why Jeff was his favorite right now, so he wouldn’t be the favorite for long. All the attention would move on to the next collectible because Jeff wasn’t a proxy and even Toby could tell that he never would become one. Jeff would never want to work for Slenderman. Jeff wasn’t a proxy. He was a tool. A means to an end.

It was Toby, Masky, Hoodie, and Kate that mattered. And Jeff wasn’t like them. That’s why Slenderman gave so much of his attention, not out of preference…

Toby felt reassured.

This teddy bear was Jeff’s responsibility.

Maybe it’d kill him?

Maybe Jeff would fail and Slenderman would get rid of him?

Or maybe it was just to keep Jeff away from important things like growing Slenderman’s horde.

Toby would keep a side-eye on Jeff. He already knew Jeff was disloyal to Slenderman so Slenderman must know it too but Jeff's smart. He had caught Toby off guard after he slipped on ice when chasing him. Jeff threw an apple at him. He dodged multiple ax throws.

Jeff would use any opportunity to screw them and Slenderman over. He could try to win the others over, but Toby wouldn’t be fooled and he would make sure Slenderman wouldn’t be tricked by Jeff either. Even if Slenderman was too smart to fall into any trap Jeff could lay out.

Toby would keep his eyes open to any attack.

Chapter Text

Time felt fucky. Everything felt fucky in the Slenderman’s… whatever the fuck anyone would call the shack that blew up to the size of five houses.

Whatever. It was unsettling. There didn’t need to be more said.

If Jeff were trying to be positive then he’d say that at least he got to have four walls to block out the other assholes from sight and to feel a pinch of security while sleeping.

But Jeff was incapable of thinking of anything remotely positive about being in the clutches of a supernatural entity.

It was bullshit.

It was making Jeff irrational. He knew it, and he couldn’t make it stop.

He hated it.

Jeff hated that he couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, couldn’t leave.

Of course, Slenderman would comment on Jeff’s “lack of care.” He would say bullshit like Jeff could eat as if the food weren’t molded over or sleep perfectly fine in his very own room as if he could pretend that the thing such as the Slenderman didn’t exist or that two of his minions seemed to fucking hate him off the bat. Mask Fuckface and Hood Dickface were both shits he’d have to be wary of Toby seemed naive, but then he’d say something just slightly off. Jeff didn’t know if Toby was happy to have Jeff there or not, it constantly fluctuated.

So Jeff laid on a ripped mattress that sat on a rickety bed frame that would wobble back and forth if he moved too much. All alone in the room that he found. It was one that didn’t have a draft and had a mattress. Really living the fucking dream… The window in the room was higher up and smaller than Jeff wanted, he already tried to get the locked to budge but nothing worked. It was too high up to really break and then try to crawl out of. As if the noise of breaking it wouldn’t call attention then him bleeding out from all the glass would.

He got himself acquainted with the room. The sheet meant to wrap around the mattress was torn in several areas but since the room didn’t come with a blanket, he used it as one. Efficient enough. He could look in other rooms to bring one back another time.

During the first night he had his “own room,” he threw the teddy bear to the floor and tried sleeping. He tossed and turned until he passed out from exhaustion. And also after he moved the entire fucking bed to block the door so that it would keep at least the minions from opening the door and if they tried, he’d feel it. Might have been cheap security but it was security.

Nothing happened the first night or even the entire day, at least Jeff assumed it had been a full twenty-four hours. Time felt fucky.

Either way, he was left alone which somehow was both peaceful and the most unsettling thing.

He'd stare at the teddy bear that had fallen to its side. It stayed that way a long while before he got bored and because there was nothing else to do but stare at walls and a teddy bear he decided to have the little raggy thing sit next to him as he tried to sleep. He felt stupid doing it. Like a child that hugged a plush toy in the dark because the bed monsters would come. His only solace was that no one knew he had a teddy bear right next to himself as he slept.

Not that he played with it, but there were a few minutes where he talked to it. Not about anything important, but he was bored and stuck in a room so he talked to a fucking teddy bear as if he wasn't fucked in the head enough. He was now talking to inanimate teddy bears. Though the thought of an animate teddy was far worse.

Jeff never had anyone to talk to. The past couple of years had been isolating, talking to himself had become normal for him, that's why it was so easy to talk to the bear, or at least that was his excuse.

"Mr. D… wonder who named you," he mused while he flicked its arm with his fingers. "You must not have it all together either, you got caught," he sighed, "and now you're trapped here, same as me… Except I wasn't shoved in a backpack, but small wins."

The teddy bear didn't answer to his teasing. Jeff would be more concerned if it did, the worst part would that he wouldn't be able to tell if he was the one with a fucked up head or if this teddy bear just did that.

"We could be a team… Just you and me, getting out of this shithole." He stretched and laid back on the bed, the bear next to his head. "First thing I'd wanna do is probably either break into a supermarket for some decent food or go to some diner, have to cover my face, but I could figure that out. We can do that, promise."

The wind outside rattled the cracked, dusty window and frail walls.

"Yeah, promise. You like eggs? We can get some eggs or other stuff."

Silence was deafening. Only its singular button eye there to respond. He groaned into his hands.

"What am I doing?" He groaned again against the mattress.

Jeff rolled off the bed and began pushing it out of the way from the door. Without much thought, he held the cold metal handle and turned the knob. His own boredom was killing him, he’d rather have someone try to kill him first. At least it’d be entertaining to see them try.

It was quiet as he stepped out into the hallway. He looked side to side. No one was there, he figured he could manage to find something, even a half-rotten something would be great.

But something prodded the back of his mind. He turned around, back to his room, the teddy bear still laid there, its back facing him. For some reason, it just felt like he couldn’t leave it there. He just had to have it with him. He had to take care of it.

He scoffed to himself. He was spending too much time talking to it and getting mind-fucked by Slenderman. He wasn’t going to carry it around.

But we’re a team.

He rolled his eyes. Now his head was using his own words against him. “And you’re just a teddy bear. I’ll be five minutes, damn.” He was cursing out a teddy bear. He really needed to get out of this awful place. Yet in the back of his mind, guilt wormed its way in, like it was telling him if it’s only five minutes then it wouldn’t be so hard to bring the little guy.

He was barely three steps away from the door before walking back, stomping into the room, and swiping the teddy bear off the bed.

Jeff glared at it. “Fine. But next time I’m not carrying your teddy bear ass around for a midnight snack. Gonna have to figure that out yourself."

It wasn’t midnight. Or maybe it was and they were in some random Europe place. They had fucked time, didn’t they? Like the sun could still be shining and it’d be ten at night or something.

He didn’t know and Jeff certainly didn’t care.

He shoved most of the bear in his hoodie pocket, the bear’s arm and head hung out awkwardly as he walked the halls. The only noises were his footsteps creaking and the entire place shifting. A house settling would be normal to here except that it was this place. A place that looked like a shack. It shifted for other reasons… Nothing good could come from it moving so much, Jeff figured it meant something else was moving as well. Like the Mask and Hoodie fucks or maybe Slenderman. Even if... Slenderman didn't typically make noise.

He went to reach for his knife, some security, but the teddy bear sat in the way. “Fuck’s sake. Don’t be a liability.” Jeff kept walking.

At the end of the hallway was a turn down another hallway but there was a window at the end that he stared out of. Nothing but thick trees. Jeff wondered how far he could go if he ran. Would anyone know? How would they? There was no one watching him. But he didn’t know what forest this was or what he would do after. Did that matter?

It didn’t.

Jeff checked the hallway and listened closely for footsteps. There was nothing. He smirked to himself and unlatched the lock. It was tough to move but he managed little by little to open the window as quietly as he could.

Once it was opened, Jeff could smell the forest. Fresh and crisp, not musty and dust-filled like the manor. Just looking was relaxing, as if nothing else surrounded him. Nothing mattered. He stuck his head out, feeling the soft breeze outside. It was cold, fucking freezing actually, but he could feel the sun warming the back of his head.

“What’re you doing?” Came a voice from behind.

Jeff startled and while pulling himself back in, hit his head on the window and tipped to the floor on a knee. “Fuck!”

“Oh, ouch…” said the voice while Jeff cradled his head. “Is what I would say, but can’t relate.”

Jeff looked up and saw Toby.

“Yeah... not at all. Anyway, I was gonna say ‘Boo’ but apparently just saying ‘hey there’ does the same thing for you. So jumpy. I thought I was jumpy.” Toby circled around him, looking out the window. “Did you see anything?”

Jeff stood up and went to shove his hands in his hoodie pockets when the teddy bear blocked his hands again, so he was stuck with letting his arms dangle next to him. "No."

“Never is much," Toby muttered to himself yet Jeff heard, then he shook his head and knocked on it in a manner that Jeff could only describe as very showman-like. "There’s never much to see out there,” Toby began, “well, not unless Slenderman wants you to. Pretty boring right now. There’s probably nothing but forests for miles upon miles and even more miles on top of those miles. Never anything close by unless he wants there to be, you know?”

Jeff gritted his teeth. He knew what Toby was doing. It was a thinly veiled way of telling Jeff that Slenderman was in control. There wasn’t an escape unless he wanted them to have one.

No way out.

Nowhere to go that Slenderman wouldn't know about or couldn’t get to.

At least Jeff knew that trying to escape directly from the manor was pointless. One less mistake to make and another incentive to gain the Slenderman's trust to send him out.

“Hey! It’s Dee Dee!” Jeff looked to where Toby pointed, the teddy bear sticking out of his pocket. “You’re giving him a tour of the manor? Cool, but you always start with the kitchen, not the hallways, bro.”

Toby walked off, glanced over his shoulder to get Jeff to follow him. Jeff didn’t have much of a choice, he was looking for it to begin with, and besides, the dangerous glint in Toby’s eyes said he knew what Jeff was actually doing sticking out an open window in a seemingly deserted hallway with no one there.

Jeff wasn’t going to push his luck.

Not until he would be ready for it. At least this asshole running into him told Jeff something. Toby wasn't an airhead. He was watching Jeff, or maybe it was a coincidence, still, he had been monitoring the halls. Likely because of Jeff. It was appearing more and more like the dumb one was only letting it seem that way to make Jeff slip up around him. Jeff would keep it in mind, but he'd still find a way to use him if he needed.

"There's always new stuff popping in- you just gotta know where to look. And sometimes, it isn't expired!" Toby cheered while Jeff could do nothing but tag along.

The food was gross and he basically got called out for trying to be a sneaky shit. So understandably, Jeff didn’t leave his little room until he was practically starving. He did whatever he wanted in the room, even if that meant pacing, throwing himself on the mattress to see if he could launch the teddy bear up high, or trying to reach the window lock to see if he had somehow loosened from the last time he tried it.

"Like to see you try- what are you? Like a foot tall?" He glared at the bear when the window didn't even squeak no matter the force he put on the lock. "Yeah, that's right, shut up, I'm doing the leg work while you just sit there teddy bearing it up."

It had to have been a day and a half or something. He sighed, throwing himself on the mattress, the bear bouncing as he landed.

"At least you like that. One of us has to be having fun." The teddy flopped over. "What am I doing?" He couldn't see his face but he just knew it was in a grimace. "I'm hungry," he whined, flicking the bear's arm. "Damn, I don't wanna go out there," he mumbled yet stood, resigned to leaving the room yet again.

When trying to leave the teddy bear behind again, he faced the same problem as before. Something at the back of his mind was telling him not to leave it. That he needed it with him.

Request denied. He was hungry and didn’t need to have to worry about dropping it or it getting in the way from his knife. Priorities. And Mr. D was just a teddy bear, he could wait.

Jeff stealthily traversed his way through the halls that looked different. The place shifted again. Jeff hated it. As if the manor wasn't a maze to begin with. But the kitchen was closer than before and it didn't take more than half an hour to get to the empty, dilapidated kitchen. Seriously, the cabinets looked as if they would rot off their hinges. He played around in different drawers and made sure that they wouldn’t squeak too loudly.

And he found his goldmine. An oasis in the desert in the cabinet missing its top hinge. He grabbed at multiple granola bars and a pack of beef jerky and that’s when he heard footsteps. Jeff glanced over his shoulder while he grabbed at more. He was grateful he heard footsteps at all. Had it been Slenderman, he would have just appeared behind him with no warning.

He swiped at more and ran off with that. He wasn’t in any mood to have to talk to any of them, or just have to deal with them in the same room. He just wasn't willing to fight over a package of beef jerky and old granola bars.

Jeff silently cheered when he didn't hear anyone follow him and he repressed the urge to laugh along the way back. He’d celebrate once he got to the room. Probably with eating everything he collected in one go. Liu and him would raid the kitchen all the time- then regret it with stomach aches and lack of snacks later. He shook his head of that thought. Pushing it far away.

Down the halls and to the door that had a long crack down the middle, he opened the door clumsily since his hands were full. “Guess who brought back the jackpot,” Jeff hyped himself up while shaking old, but still wrapped granola bars. “Like sixteen or more of them too, God I am awesome.”

He lifted a leg to kick the door shut and planned to move the bed to block the door like usual but when he looked up to the bed, there sat someone. He barely got to process it as his leg already was kicking the door shut and plunging the room into complete darkness.

Two glowing green eyes stared back, he dropped what he was carrying. It scattered all over on the floor, its sound not even registering for him. Jeff gripped at the handle to open the door for escape and some light to see what he was up against.

Once he had it a crack open, looked over his shoulder to see the figure didn’t move. No longer a shapeless blob of darkness. Sitting still on her knees was a little girl, all in pink with thick, tangled hair, bleeding from her head. She had big, wide eyes, welling with tears as she hugged tightly Mr. D.

She wiped at her eyes, sniffled, and hiccupped, “Why– why did you leave me? Why did you leave me?”

Chapter Text

“Why- why did you leave me? Why did you leave me?”

Jeff stood, feet planted into the floor, utterly perplexed at the literal injured child in his room that he had never seen before. “What the hell? Who the-”

The little girl sniffed and choked on a cry that she muffled using Mr. D.

Jeff looked back and forth between the girl and the teddy bear, back and forth at the raggy plush toy and the actual child that appeared in his room. “What are you doing here?” He shouted.

She flinched but Jeff ignored any guilt for that, he refused to be killed by some gremlin Slenderman sent just because it came dressed up as some helpless five-year-old. Or seven-year-old, Jeff was terrible with ages. Besides, kids kinda all looked the same. “You brought me here! You did!”

Jeff glared. “I would have noticed if I brought a kid!”

“You brought me! You brought me!” She hit a fist against the mattress multiple times and then held up the teddy bear, shaking it wildly to prove her point.

Jeff stared at the bear. “You’re Mr. D?”

“No!” She screamed, holding up the bear. “This is Mr. D, I’m Sally!”

He was so confused. “Then why the hell are you here?”

“You brought me!” After she shouted she went back to sniffling and hugging the teddy bear. Then she whispered, “And you played with me.”

“I have never seen you before!”

“You said you weren’t going to carry around Mr. D anymore!”

Jeff vaguely remembered telling the teddy that he wouldn’t carry his teddy bear ass around.

“So I would. I’m going to carry Mr. D and you would bring us both! Because you said we’re a team!”

Jeff took his hand off the door handle and took a step towards the little girl. She wiped her nose and kept her eyes on Jeff as he approached. When he stopped, she held an arm out and her hand grasped at the air as if to pull him in.

It didn’t make any sense. No fucking sense whatsoever, but then again Jeff was having the weirdest fucking month of his entire life. This kid, this Sally, was a part of the teddy bear. Alright, it made no sense but neither did watching the shack turn into a fucking mansion, and neither did the existence of the Slenderman so sure, fine, mysterious little kid popped out of the teddy bear that he was given? He’ll assume it’s normal.

But that made him pause. Jeff was given Mr. D by Slenderman with clear instructions to take care of the teddy bear. Jeff had mocked the idea but this could be what Slenderman meant. To be responsible for the child that shows up along with the bear, like a buy one teddy bear get a child for free deal.

Slenderman… That motherfucker handed him a whole ass child that was crying and bleeding out from her head for him to… to what? What did take care of mean? He couldn’t even remember what the Slenderman said to do. It was just words about looking after a teddy bear or some other bullshit, of course, Jeff wasn’t retaining any of that information. He was preoccupied with making a plan to get out of the cult house and also not getting fucking speared through one of the fucking tentacles.

He took another step towards the kid. Something felt familiar in the best and worst ways. He allowed himself to think about it as he approached skeptically of what she was doing, existing when Slenderman was probably the one that sent her.

She held her arm out still, reaching for him to come closer. Her eyes never left his even as he studied her features. Most notable were the green eyes, kinda like his… kind of like Liu’s. Her hair was thick and brown, kind of like Liu’s… Obviously, it didn’t mean anything, but the association was there no matter how unsubstantial it was.

Jeff was a step away from being in her reach. “Who are you?”

“Sally and this is Mr. D.” She held up the bear.

“What are you doing here?”

She furrowed her brows. “I already said, you brought me here.”

Jeff groaned while he threw his head back. “No– ugh, like right now. Why do I see you now?”

Sally tilted her head, the angry expression disappeared and in its place a confused one. “I… was sleeping… for a long time I think… and then you were there, talking to me. Napped with me. Played with me,” she paused, “it would be boring to stay asleep after all that. To not be alone anymore.” She finally looked away from Jeff to the teddy bear in her hand but then brought her gaze back to him. “I like eggs.”

Despite the situation he laughed, a sharp one that just fell out uncontrollably. He brushed a hand through his hair, sighing, “Sunnyside up?”

“My favorite,” she beamed.

“Good. That was the only acceptable answer.”

His better judgment of backing away was gone, he took the final step forward and she gripped onto his hoodie sleeve. “What’s your name?”

It was an innocent question. She just didn’t know but Jeff didn’t know either. He wanted no attachment to his name, any part of it, full or shortened. But he didn’t have an alternative. He just was. He didn’t have people talking to him, not until recently because of a supernatural entity kidnapping him. There were titles though, maybe… Killer was too edgy, Mister was too old, and Brother… Brother was something he didn’t have anymore. Can’t be a brother if you don’t have one-

Titles were out. Names. He was back to square one.

“It's just Jeff.”

She stared with wide eyes. “Jeff.”

“Yeah…”

“Jeff.”

“Yes.”

“So just Jeff?”

He sighed.

Sally pulled on his sleeve. “You dropped stuff.” He looked over to where she pointed. All his loot from the kitchen was everywhere. "Everywhere."

“Shit, yeah.” As he went over to gather all his shit up with half the mind of thinking that he probably had to share all it since she was now existing in his space, he accidentally pulled her along off the mattress as she didn’t let go of his hoodie sleeve.

She tumbled off with the sheet but laughed it off enough for Jeff to ignore her and pick up the nearly expired bars.

Jeff didn’t really know what to do. He didn't have a reference. He never had a younger sibling. He was always the one doing the dumb shit. But now he’d have to stop the dumb shit? But this was a little girl, not a boy. Was there a difference other than the pink and blue things? Probably but he didn’t know.

He didn’t want to have this on him at all. He’d have to send her back to Slenderman. He’d do that… But right after they finished the beef jerky and granola bars because Jeff wasn’t gonna risk having his room raided by any of the other fuckers just because he couldn’t carry everything in his pockets.

So he threw a bar at her wordlessly for her to catch and figure out. He sat on the floor and ate. She watched him as he ate before unwrapping her's to eat. "My mouth's not as big."

"What?"

"Your's goes like ahhhh." She opened her mouth as wide as it would go.

Jeff subconsciously licked his cuts.

"It's like a big smile."

Jeff glanced over to her. "It is."

She poked at the sides of her face, tracing the lines of the corners of her mouth. "Does it hurt?"

"Not really." He took another bite. "Not anymore."

"How'd you get them?"

"I did them."

She scooted closer to him. "When did you do them?"

"What's with all the questions? Eat your granola, don't kids like granola bars?"

"Never heard of it." She took a bite. "And this isn't eggs."

"You and I are gonna have to wait on eggs," he muttered.

"Okay."

They continued eating, wordlessly. Jeff would send her back tomorrow.

Whatever stunt Jeffrey Woods was trying to pull, Tim just hoped it didn’t have to include him.

When Jeffrey confined himself away in a random room, Tim was just grateful. Sure it meant that Jeffrey was planning something but it meant temporary peace and the Operator hadn’t been in view. Of course the Operator was around, he was just out of sight. It was always better to assume he was watching, even if he wasn’t, it was never worth the risk. Tim knew that now.

Toby had brought Jeff around the manor, Tim watched from afar. He didn’t want to engage but another set of eyes on him was better. Toby rambled about the strange cabinets that if you opened them enough, there would be something there. Tim and Brian had tried storing any canned food he had found before, but they’d get lost in all the draws and cabinets. They were there, but the effort needed to find them again made it seem as if they weren’t.

“So now you and Dee Dee will know where everything is,” Toby had said. Tim had rolled his eyes. Nothing about the manor they were at ever stayed the same, one path you took one day wouldn’t exist the next. It was exhausting.

But the mention of a “Dee Dee” caught his ear, it didn’t take long to see that Toby was referring to the plush toy they had retrieved. Its head stuck out of Jeffrey’s pocket. Tim couldn’t figure out why Jeffrey would decide to carry the thing around but he supposed they all needed company, no matter how pathetic it was.

Tim did it with Brian, Jeffrey with a toy bear. Seeing as Brian responded as much as an inanimate toy did, he and Jeffrey were unfortunately in the same boat.

So when a couple of days passed with no sign of Jeffrey it was weird to hear screaming and shouting from somewhere in the manor. It was too far to make out but it had startled Tim because the manor typically only held the sounds of floorboards creaking and wind blowing through cracked windows.

It didn’t last long, but for those two or three minutes, it left Tim on edge for whatever the hell Jeffrey Woods was doing. Letting Jeffrey Woods have his own room with no one to watch him was concerning. No one would let a random sadistic murderer sit around in their home let alone without keeping vigilant eyes on them. Tim had the peace of mind to assume that the Operator was somehow keeping tabs on him.

So Tim kept his distance. Not that it mattered when the very next day he’d see the butcher. Slashed face and all.

Having Jeffrey Woods approach him was unsettling, especially without the threat of the Operator to keep Jeffrey in place. Yet Jeffrey asked for where the Operator was.

Tim didn’t want to think too hard on why Jeffrey suddenly wanted to- by choice- see the Operator but the implication that Jeffrey Woods was getting closer to the Operator was creepy enough.

“Around,” Tim had said vaguely. “Comes in and out.”

Jeffrey crossed his arms. “That’s not helpful.”

Tim shrugged. While keeping a calm exterior along with the mask to cover any facial expressions, he made sure to feel the heavy presence of a gun in his jacket pocket. He had taken to wearing the mask more often and carrying his gun around the manor since Jeffrey’s arrival. There hadn’t been a need before. Toby wouldn’t hurt Tim on purpose, Brian hated Tim but wouldn’t kill him, not that Tim would exactly stop him, and the Operator... Well, if the the Operator wanted him dead then a gun wouldn’t do him any good. Alex learned that lesson.

Alex.

Who was Alex? Who was Jay?

They must have been important at some point. Tim didn’t bother reaching for it mentally anymore. It was never in reach anyway.

“The Operator doesn’t really tell us anything.”

“Shit… Right, right,” Jeffrey groaned while throwing his head back to look at the ceiling then back to Tim. “Look, there’s a problem.”

Tim shook his head. “I already told you I won’t help you in any way-”

“Not that!” Jeff interrupted. “Another problem.”

Before Tim could ask, Jeffrey sidestepped for Tim to see a young girl, possibly ten or younger behind him. She was bleeding from her head and it slowly oozed down her forehead and face. She stared up at him then back to Jeffrey which she held onto his sleeve.

The fact that he hadn’t seen or heard her moments before was ignored completely because how the hell did Jeffrey Woods get a child?

Jeffrey wouldn’t have been able to leave the manor, even if he had, the Operator would have taken care of it- they were too far from civilization to worry about anyone coming across them- and even if there were, well, the Operator would know long before they would.

Jeffrey didn’t let him stew in his thoughts. “So this uh,” Jeff paused.

“Sally,” said the little girl.

“Sally, yeah, this Sally appeared and I’m pretty sure your boss should know.”

Jeffrey said it so casually, pointed to her as if it wasn’t suspicious that she was here at all. She looked fine, calm even holding on Jeffrey’s sleeve and bleeding from her head. Tim hoped this wasn’t some sort of sacrifice or victim that the Operator wanted. Tim had to stomach a lot of things but he drew the line here. He wouldn't be able to watch her fate. Tim’s throat went dry. “I- I’m sure he already knows…”

“Oh… then should I like, wait here?”

“Are there more snacks?” The girl whispered to Jeffrey while tugging his sleeve. Tim stared at her, once focused on Jeffrey Woods' every move now transfixed on her and the familiar toy in her other hand.

Jeffrey nodded to her. “We’ll be in the kitchen… once we find it.”

“I’ll mention it… if I see him.” Tim wasn’t going to, but the semblance of a normal conversation felt required and happened out of habit. His eyes stayed on the teddy bear. The bear he and Brian and Toby had retrieved.

Did they bring her to this place?

Sally waved to him as they walked away. “Bye-bye!”

Whatever the Operator was doing, was planning, Tim didn’t like it. If this was set up by him then what purpose would it serve to have a manic obsessed with killing liars paired with a child. Weren’t children notorious liars? How long would this last?

Tim wished he had a cigarette to smoke. Something, anything to push off even half of the stress in his body.

It wasn’t his problem. Whatever would happen wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t his fault. And eventually, he could believe it if he said it enough.

Having someone as young as Toby was scary enough for Tim as it was, he really didn't want to think about what it meant for this child.

Chapter Text

"Alright, it only took an entire fucking hour, but here's the kitchen, or a moldy burnt version of one." Jeff tried to pull his arm away from the child but she just latched on tighter. She stared up at him. "Fucking go and look for shit."

"That's a bad word."

Jeff rolled his eyes. The last person that told him to watch his language was his mom. "And you're an annoying kid, let go." He tried to wiggle his arm again.

"Where're the snacks?" She asked, completely unbothered at his attempts to shake her off.

"Somewhere? I don't know. Why don't you look?"

She nodded and began to pull him to the nearest drawer.

"Alone."

She ignored him and moved the drawer items around before moving on to the next one. She let go when she wanted to use both hands to shift the contents of the drawer as if it was a mission to find something edible.

Jeff walked off to a cabinet to search, just more broken plates and bent spoons like last time he checked. He sighed, moving on to the next cabinet. There was something in the back that forced him to climb on the counter to reach for it but he found a box of crackers, another bag of beef jerky, jelly beans, and a bottle of water. Shoes on the kitchen counter. Jeff could imagine the nagging he'd get if he was caught... if it were three years ago and not...

He shrugged off his thoughts and grabbed any and all food he found, climbing down with one arm as he shoved the rest in his hoodie pocket.

“Pretzels.” Sally held up two bags.

Jeff hummed. It was the only response he could give since those were the same type that his brother always had around the house. “The minute I get out of this place I’m breaking into some fucking supermarket and eating anything and everything that isn’t expired.”

"Eggs."

Jeff licked at the cut inside his left cheek. "Yeah, sure, we'll get eggs."

She didn’t give a response and Jeff didn’t wait for one as he opened a final drawer to swipe out a couple of bags of mixed nuts before leaving the kitchen to find his room again. Sally trailed behind, occasionally stopping to stare down long hallways and asking where they led to.

“Leads to assholes.” Jeff groaned. “Plenty of them. So let's not run into any.”

The winding halls were annoying on day one but added creaking and rundown-ness of the place just made it worse. It looked like the kind of house in all the historical fiction movies but it was all in ruins.

“You’d think this place would have a good drink, don’t they say the more aged the better it is?”

“That’s to make it refined, but truthfully, it makes it weaker when oxygen interacts with it.”

Jeff flinched at the sound of the familiar voice. He vaguely felt Sally squeeze his arm.

“Something that distorts the mind isn’t something I’d allow for my proxies to intake. Messes with the senses.”

“And they already have you for that,” Jeff said while forcing a brave face to turn around and look up.

Ever slowly he moved Sally along with him and found the Slenderman peering over them much closer than anticipated. Sally squeaked while shoving her face into his side. Jeff attempted to shake her off.

“I am all they need. You need.” Slenderman tilted his head towards Sally as if he was just seeing her. “And who’s this little pet?”

Jeff rolled his eyes, unwillingly pretending to not care. “Don’t play. Why’d you send her?”

“I don’t recall giving you a child,” The Slenderman hummed.

“Yeah, well neither do I, but you did.” Jeff grabbed at the teddy bear that Sally kept tight in her grip so they both awkwardly held it up. “This!” Jeff shook it, thus shaking Sally who kept her face at his side to avoid the situation entirely. “This- this thing! And then, then- I don’t know!”

“Surpassed expectations,” he said, it came out low, like a mumble, ignoring Jeff, and something else in his voice, something like amusement that Jeff hated to hear. While the Slenderman towered him, he lowered himself as if to look Jeff in the eye. His hand going for and playing with Jeff’s hair again like a taunt. “You’ve impressed me.”

Jeff forced himself to look straight at Slenderman. A feat that was becoming harder and harder. He kept his expression hard. Jeff wanted to question him, wanted to be defiant. Wanted to say, And why would I want to impress you? But it died in his mouth as he felt the hand that had been playing with his hair begin to play with his ear and the side of his head.

Slenderman continued on and his arm slinked away. “An energy if you remember. Another utility, though I hadn’t expected it to be so small.” Slenderman moved his head in what Jeff assumed was an exaggerated motion to show where he was “looking” which went to Sally. “A shame it can’t hear me either.” Slenderman looked back to Jeff. “But you’ve awakened it, how excellent and pitiful that you’ve pulled it out.”

“Awakened?” Jeff heard his own voice say, it felt hollow as he tried to ground himself.

“How else would it be here?” The amused tone was back making Jeff want to swear at the thing. “So, so lonely… Who called out first? The spirit or you?” A laugh echoed around Jeff. He shook his head to get it out.

Sally pulled on his arm and whined, “Jeff…” Jeff tore his eyes off Slenderman to look at her wide, green eyes that refused to look at the faceless monstrosity.

It was like a little Liu.

Jeff hated it.

Jeff adored it.

Jeff wanted it far away from him and wanted it right next to him at all times.

He just wanted Liu back more than anything.

And here she was.

Not his older brother that always took care of him but someone to take care of.

Somehow, in Jeff’s eyes, she was the spitting image of Liu, maybe young, maybe a girl, but the similarities were painfully there.

A laugh echoed again. “Coincidences I could not have planned for.”

Jeff ground his teeth.

It was unfair how the Slenderman knew about Liu when no one deserved to know.

“How fortunate for her.”

The Slenderman’s hand reached out to Sally who whimpered and shook beside Jeff. He could feel her trembles along his side.

Jeff blocked him before the hand ever touched her head.

Instead, the hand moved to Jeff’s shoulder, its grip hard. It forced Jeff to stare back at the void.

“It would be a shame if this would distort your senses," he said, “and after all that time we spent and will spend together.”

Jeff hadn’t noticed he was squeezing her hand until she squeezed back. He loosed his grip on the girl. “Well, you can remember that’s on you for starting it. No more random teddy bears from now on.”

Slenderman pulled back. He loomed over the two of them though he was noticeably shorter than from the time he loomed over Jeff at the ridiculously grand entrance room. It was hard to notice when the Slenderman was still ducking in the hall.

“Everything must have a use… and if it doesn’t…”

There was a small hum in the air and then nothing at all.

The Slenderman was gone.

“Shit.”

He wanted to get rid of her. That was the whole point of the outing. Jeff didn’t want to leave the room except to get rid of her. He didn’t want another obstacle in the way of his escape. She’s an obstacle.

“Jeff?”

Just an obstacle. He was supposed to hand her over to the Slenderman and Jeff just caused shit.

“Jeff?”

Caused more shit with the Slenderman than Jeff can afford. Who gives a fuck if the kid looks like his dead fucking brother? She’s probably dead to just like every other sorry fuck in the big ass haunted house.

“Jeff?”

Stupid big green eyes and gross, tangled ass hair. She doesn't look like his brother because she isn’t his brother. Liu is dead. Liu is nothing but a sack of blood and organs that he tore apart and slit open on Liu’s own bed. Liu is a corpse in the ground at best and a pile of ash nowhere to be found at worst and either way, it wouldn’t matter because Jeff would never see his brother ever again for the rest of his miserable fucked life because he fucking ripped apart the only thing that ever mattered to him.

“Jeff?”

Something shook at his arm and he blankly looked over. Liu was so concerned. There were tears. It was weird since Liu barely ever cried.

“Jeff, I wanna go back,” Liu said.

He nodded. “Yeah… yeah, we can go back. Let’s go to my room.”

Liu grabbed his hands and started pulling him forward and little by little, step by step they walked down the hall.

Jeff wondered when the hall got so long, they should have passed the living room by now. Mom would have nagged them to not have any snacks before dinner was ready since they had just come home.

Liu guided him back to his room and they sat on the floor. They counted their secret snack prizes. Liu had his pretzels. He kept playing with the bag.

And then Liu wasn’t there.

He never was.

Sally was playing with the bag before tearing it up and eating each pretzel one by one.

Jeff watched her do it as she played with Mr. D. She was talking but Jeff wasn't listening.

Liu wasn’t there.

Liu wasn't there.

Liu wasn't there.

But Sally was.

Sally was there.

Jeff needed Liu and he wasn't there.

Sally needed Jeff and he was there.

Jeff could get himself out of the creepy, teleporting house. It would be easy. So what if he also had to drag her around? He could do it. Jeff would get both of them out of the manor and they could get their sunnyside up eggs. He was making plans for himself so adding Sally would be child's play.

And there wasn’t a damn thing the faceless monster could do about it.

Because Jeff already had some ideas.

Chapter Text

It was weird.

Jeff knew that. He really did, he just chose to ignore it.

But to say that Jeff was surprised at the growing “bond” between him and the ghost of a little girl was an understatement.

He didn’t manage the breakdown of her whole existence very well. Jeff also didn’t handle the last run-in with the Slenderman very well.

It was painfully clear that Sally was some sort of tool to the thing. Just like he was. But the problem was Sally didn’t have a purpose that Jeff understood. The hood fuck, mask face, and scattered-brained Toby had reasons to be there. Even Jeff could see how he was useful, he was the only one that could hear Slenderman.

But Sally was a kid. A dead one. Jeff assumed that at least. Nothing made sense in the haunted manor and he resigned to not understanding and rolling with the punches. That or he could hang himself. That was an option. A boring one.

Sally was a mystery that had been thrown in his lap and now he needed her to go along with whatever plan he had. It hadn’t taken long for them to become familiar with each other. She never seemed scared except for that one time he punched the wall. Which was arguably the most normal thing he had done.

Jeff wanted to blame her for the “closeness,” he wanted to believe that she was a manipulative little bitch that wanted to use him. But really, he was the manipulative bitch using her.

She latched onto him because she was confused and scared and he was there. He wasn’t comforting or soothing in the slightest, he knew that, but he was there. Sally latched onto his presence and embarrassingly enough, he did too. Sally didn't care if he was an ass or if the cuts on his face bled. She bled from her head and it dripped down her face as well. She probably liked how it made them similar. She also didn’t mind his “bulging” eyes, she said she liked how blue they were. Then she had made him compliment her eyes back.

Those eyes that reminded him of… of what it meant to have something given so unconditionally. Sally did that and then somehow without intending to, so did Jeff.

He never had a sister or a younger sibling. Jeff didn’t how it exactly worked.

Liu.

Liu would have known what to do and he would have been great.

But if Liu were still around then Jeff would have never been there from the start.

Liu wasn’t there.

Jeff took a breath in.

Liu wasn’t there and Jeff was.

He let out a breath.

So now it was Jeff that had to care for Sally as Liu would him. That poor fucking kid. Even Jeff could tell the whole thing was worse for her. She was dead. Unless that was a bonus when in a place like the decaying manor in the middle of anywhere in the fucking world. In which case, Jeff was in the shittier position.

Slenderman had given Jeff a teddy bear to “take care of” but Jeff wondered if Slenderman knew what kind of responsibility he was giving Jeff. For fuck’s sake. It was a fucking kid. A dead one. A probably dead one.

She was tangible enough, which was weird since one minute she hadn’t been there and the next she was.

Based on the occasionally bleeding head and appearing and disappearing bruises and scratches, Jeff assumed she was murdered. How and why he didn’t know or care but staring and being trapped meant he had plenty of time to think. Those bruises and scratches moved around or were gone altogether. She could look like a normal kid, clean, bright, and happy. She could look like she didn’t belong in a place like this.

Once they got out of the shitty manor then at least she could blend in better than he could.

The first plan was simple. There were windows around the manor and the outside was right there. Slenderman claimed that he controlled where the manor was so Jeff couldn’t leave whenever. He needed to wait for Slenderman to move the place closer to civilization and then Jeff would strike. If Jeff could keep an eye on Slenderman and his minions when he sent them out then that’s when Jeff would follow.

Jeff would wait until they were being sent out and then collect Sally and crawl out the nearest window and run to civilization that was bound to be close because they always returned with something to suggest they were near places with actual people.

When the time came then he could manage it easily, even with Sally coming along.

To put the plan in motion, Jeff had to actively leave the room to see what the others were doing to find that opportunity. Maybe it’d make him look like he was adjusting to the place. He hoped it did.

Sally never let him go alone. Jeff knew she was afraid of leaving the room and yet she always followed with her hand in his with a death grip. She had her teddy bear and Jeff to cling onto when wandering.

Jeff tried to mark every place that seemed familiar. Rotting table with equally rotting flowers in cracked vase, burnt rug on the floor, splintered window, several long hallways. He tried to make a map of it in his head. He tried to make sense of it as well as avoid anyone in the halls.

They found no one.

It left the manor eerie but Jeff would take the silence, the wind outside making the wood creak, the cracked windows whistling… It was better than running into anyone else.

“The flowers are there again.”

Jeff looked toward where Sally pointed while Mr. D hung from her hand. There was blood coming from her forehead. Meant she was scared or something. Jeff ignored it.

He looked at the flower vase on the table. Jeff made them walk over to it to get a closer look. It was the same one. Same pattern on the cracked vase, same flowers wilted exactly as he saw it last time. The table still had that same wobbly leg and faded color to it.

Jeff turned around. They had turned a corner. Last they saw that flower vase, there wasn’t a turn like this to see it. It was a long hallway with this at the end. The manor moved. Jeff knew that but before he could tell himself he wasn’t familiar with the manor and forgot his sense of direction. This was proof that the place was unmappable. It moved and changed.

How did he ever manage to find a kitchen or his own floor in this place? He didn’t even know what floor he was on. Were there multiple floors? There had to be.

He walked forward to try something else. Jeff wasn’t trying to go anywhere before so instead he would go with the goal of getting to the kitchen. Sally followed him wherever he went with no complaint. Several turns later, they found the open kitchen. Large, burnt, abandoned with cabinets with broken hinges. The floors were different. They were checker-patterned yet Jeff recognized it as the kitchen Sally and him had been before. The counter he stood on had a scuff mark from his shoe.

Sally and him shared a snack while they were there. Jeff took in the fact that the manor changed even when they moved in it.

Then Jeff tried it again. This time he walked with the intent to go to the entrance. The front doors.

Several turns, passing rooms, walking down a hall, there it was.

The doors were shut. They didn’t creak or let any wind in like other places in the house. The hinges were tightly in place. The wood of the doors looked sturdy. The rest of the place could take a few kicks and collapse but not these doors. It was the nicest part of the manor. If Jeff remembered his English classes right then he’d say that it was symbolism for how nothing was meant to get out once it entered. Invited and never allowed to leave.

But Jeff didn’t believe that. Where a door closed, Jeff would break a fucking window.

Front door was too obvious anyway.

Still, Jeff approached it. The manor was silent. He hadn’t run into anyone during his and Sally’s wandering of the manor though that could be because of his intent to avoid. The place worked off of intent. That or Jeff was crazy. He wouldn’t delve deeper into that thought.

But it did mean that the others could possibly find him just by having the intent to find him. Unless there was something else to it. Jeff would have to figure it out later without letting them catch on to what he figured out about the manor.

All because of a vase.

Jeff put his hand to the door handle. He looked around waiting as if the ceiling would collapse. Or if someone would interrupt him. Sally looked around as well, mimicking Jeff. Everything was as it was. He let his hand turn the handle.

It barely turned when it clicked stuck.

Locked.

Somehow locked from the outside.

Jeff supposed that made more sense seeing as Slenderman was keeping people in rather than out. It wouldn’t be that easy and if it was then Jeff would be an idiot for bolting the first chance he got when it would clearly be a trap.

He looked at the keyhole, studying it. Could he find the key in a manor the size of six houses? When most of it looked ready to cave in from age or mold?

He could look for it with intent but the problem was that he didn’t know what key he was looking for but maybe key to the front door would be enough. It would have to be otherwise Jeff would have to stick to the idea of crawling out a window and running to the nearest city.

Jeff was working it out. He would follow along to whatever Slenderman and his little slaves wanted and when they were distracted then Jeff would leave. If he could take Sally, then sure, he’d leave her and her teddy bear someplace a dead girl would like. A toy store? A playground? Something like that. Then Jeff would be free.

That’s all he needed.

“Are we done?”

Jeff kept his eyes on the keyhole.

“I don’t like it here.”

“Trust me, I don’t either.” Jeff glanced back at her.

She looked over to him as well. Big, green eyes and thick, brown hair.

This was some sort of universe punishment. Something made him want to strangle her.

Jeff squeezed her hand instead. “We’re getting out.”

She nodded and squeezed his hand back.

Tim didn’t understand why the Operator’s lack of trust in Jeffrey Woods had to become their issue. If Jeffrey was the Operator’s voice then it meant that thing was out of their heads more. Tim was all for keeping that thing out of his mind. The Operator’s sleuthing knew no bounds.

It was always headaches and vomiting if it stayed too long shoving whatever he wanted in or around their heads.

If one good thing came from Jeffrey Wood’s arrival then it was that it kept the Operator away from them. Then Tim could pretend to have any semblance of control in life. Jay would have had some good advice for him. Or maybe not. Jay wasn’t with him.

But then again… who was Jay?

Tim’s memories were always fuzzy. More so when the Operator invaded their minds. It caused Tim to lose more of himself. He wondered what memories were getting further from him or what was lost. The fact that after all this time, “Jay” was still an important name had to mean something. With Jeff’s unexpected ability to understand the Operator meant Tim had a chance of remembering again.

Though the Operator had another task for them and seemed to keep Jeff out of it. They wouldn’t have to deal with how unsettling it was to hear what the Operator had to say with actual formed words given to them instead of concepts, feelings, and headaches. Something about the Operator being able to structure words in ways they understood made it feel more like a person and that thing wasn’t human. It wasn’t. Tim didn’t believe the Operator capable of understanding humans or something able to be understood.

It meant nothing that the Operator was capable of understanding language enough to communicate. It couldn’t because then this thing would understand other parts of humanity such as the tasks he gave Tim or Brian, Toby and Kate, being undertakings no human would want.

Tim wasn’t far gone enough to think the Operator is doing any of them any favors like Toby seemed to. The kid could worship the ground that thing walks on for “saving him” and “giving him an identity.” But it was only one that was “given” after Toby had his torn out of him.

Tim didn’t know who Toby Rogers was before the Operator. It didn’t matter except that Tim had glimpses where he did. Maybe it was to distract his mind from how cloudy his own memories were. Either way, the Operator had his control on them. Tim couldn’t even kill himself. He didn’t know what the Operator could do that was somehow worse than death but that thing could do it. That monster was his god now. Whatever comes after death now that he belongs to it, it’s worse than for all the regular people out there. Brian might know. Tim remembered Brian dying. Falling. His corpse being used by Alex to taunt him. Only he didn’t know who Alex was and Brian was alive next to him. Memories could be twisted…

Didn’t matter. Tim envied real people.

It’s why he liked being able to pretend to be like them when he was sent out into real civilization again. Maybe he couldn’t talk much to them but he relished hearing people talk again. Grating or about the most trivial, stupid shit to complain about, and he wanted that.

He wanted to be “Timothy Wright,” whoever that was. The Operator could free him and Tim wouldn’t know how to be a normal person again, if he ever was normal. He can’t remember much anyway. Just fuzzy images of the past and faces he can’t always connect to names or actions, if they were friends or strangers.

Tim would be fine if he could die.

Simple death. Nothing more to do with any monsters or being their lackey.

He was tired.

They had another place to go.

A city.

Tim and Brian went. Toby would wait on the outskirts of a forest for their return.

They didn’t know what to do. Both Tim and Brian had to go by the vaguest of instructions and have to feel for the Operators intentions for them. They followed wherever it led them. No masks. It was like Tim and Brian were old college buddies again. Maybe they were catching up or getting a drink.

Onlookers would think that Tim and Brian finished some sort of major final or paper. Brian could be clearing up his final thesis for a PhD. They both probably looked haggard but that could be explained with work or school and not their lives going to shit. Still, Tim wondered if people could tell by looking at them how fucked up they were.

Hospital. Morgue. Archive Facility.

Tim and Brian went to an Archive Facility.

And Brian knew all the right words to say. Family friends, an accident years ago, playing along when the secretary asked if they were reporters because of the sensitive case surrounding it. Tragedy. Yes, truly tragic and such a shame. Then getting a family file pulled up.

The Woods’ family file. Brutal deaths. Two confirmed deaths.

They looked over the file. Jeffrey Woods is the prime suspect for his parents’ deaths. It made a shiver go down Tim’s spine. A kid being responsible for killing his parents after an accident and attempting to murder his brother next. Liu was lucky enough to be brought to hospital to be held together. His throat had been cut open yet had Jeffrey cut just a little deeper then he would be ash like the other Woods. A concerned phone call had been made about noise and Liu was rescued. Liu Woods was under watch in a hospital. He was a critical witness to the crime yet stuck in a coma because he had been put under to make up for the pain he was in.

Then gone.

Two deaths. Two disappearances.

Tim and Brian scanned the pages.

No one knew where Liu Woods was. Last he was seen was asleep. His wounds would have been healed after the time under. The security for him would have been low because of how busy hospitals were as well as there being little need to heavily monitor a permanent sleeping patient.

Liu Woods was someone out there.

Why did it matter? What good was this information? Something the Operator would use over Jeffrey? The Operator could offer to finish the job seeing as Jeffrey Woods killed the rest of his family. This could be what this “Smiley Killer” wants more than freedom or anything. Tim wouldn’t know. He wasn’t sick like Jeffrey was. They got more questions than answers.

Tim pushed the file away and farther into Brian’s hands. He grunted. “We’re getting info for some killer’s completion wet dream?”

Brian shook his head as he kept looking over it. Putting it to memory probably.

“Deluge.”

Tim looked back up to Brian, hoping for more, but while Brain could speak and did, he simply didn’t with Tim. Not unless strictly necessary.

Brian figured something out that Tim didn’t see. Tim couldn’t care. It had something to do with an insane serial murderer that the Operator was housing. It was something to hang over Jeffrey’s head to get him to follow along with his game. That’s all.

They got what information they needed and returned to the outskirts of the forest where Toby waited, balancing his axes’ handles on his hands.

If Tim and Brian took longer to walk back to pretend they were normal, then it wasn’t noticed.

Tim looked back at the city before they disappeared back into the forest back to their own personal hell.

Chapter Text

Their walk through the city was calmer than it should have been. Somehow they were surrounded by people and completely lonely. Tim itched at the feeling. Real people living normal lives were right there in front of them. It really was like the Operator was teasing them, toying with how they’ll never have that again.

He glanced to Brian. They had a lot to talk about. There was plenty they were ignoring because to breach the subject was uncomfortable as well as impossible with Toby around. He wouldn’t be able to stand a topic like this. Worse yet, he’d bring it up to the Operator.

“That thing might replace us,” Tim started. He warmed his hands with his breath then shoved them back into his pockets. “It’s got Jeffrey Woods,” he whispered the name. No need to cause anyone to eye them for saying the name of a suspected serial murderer who last lived in this exact city. “None of us ever came close to understanding it and then it comes back with Jeffrey who can repeat whatever it says. We didn’t even think it could use actual words. It shouldn’t be possible.”

Brian didn’t spare him a look.

“You heard what he said before,” Tim kept going though he knew he was mostly talking to himself. He wished he had a cigarette to fidget with and smoke to blow out of his lungs instead of cold air. “Practically begged to keep us around. Only reason I can think why anyone would do that is because he still thinks he can leave and wants to– I don’t know, divide his attention.”

People walked past them in beanies. Tim was mindful of his voice as they passed. He glanced back at the group then back to Brian.

“Does that make sense?” Tim asked himself knowing that it had to be the answer. “We’re not gonna last much longer like this.”

Brian groaned. His shoulders slumping.

“But you don’t care,” Tim spoke for Brian as he worked out the problem in front of him. He got used to doing that ages ago as long as Toby wasn’t around. “You want to die.”

Brian shifted his hands in his pockets. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Tim looked over. “You did die,” he confirmed. “I remember seeing you fall.”

Brian shrugged.

Tim shivered but it wasn’t the cold.

“You remember things?”

Brian didn’t answer.

Maybe Tim didn’t want him to. A lot of Tim’s hope rested on believing Brian was so much smarter than him and that Brian knew things Tim lost. If Brian had his past then Tim could live in a make-believe world that he could solve their problems and break them out of their ongoing nightmare. It didn’t matter if Brian didn’t have a plan or wasn’t even trying to make one. It only mattered that Tim pretended he did.

They reached the outskirts of the city where a road met a dense forest and fence.

Tim and Brian put their masks on as fast as possible. Sometimes it felt more like Tim’s real face than his actual one. Toby was gone from the edge of the forest. He hated going too close to cities and its people. Tim knew that. Kid hated people so much that he must have walked back to the manor to get away.

Their mission had gone well enough. They got whatever they needed and walked back down their path to the manor. It was a windy path but not one they could get lost in nor would they be afraid of being off path in any forest. The silver-lining to having been infected by the Operator was that it was marked on them. The only thing allowed to make them suffer was him. And any human that could possibly cross their path wouldn’t stand a chance. Ambush advantage or no, it was easy to say Tim and Brian were the bigger threat than any homeless or psychos they might encounter.

Nothing was quite as frightening as the Operator. It made the rest of the world lose its edge.

Monsters being real was the bigger punchline than even death. Then again, the Operator being in control of death was the biggest punchline.

Without Toby’s ramblings to keep the silence at bay, Tim and Brian trudged through the woods awkwardly. The sunlight would fade soon but they were near. They could feel it. Tim could feel the Operator. It felt like static rubbing and scraping in his head, a buzzing itching the inside of his skull.

Leverage for Jeffrey Woods. That was the purpose for the outing. It was unfortunate that Jeffrey was to thank for Tim getting to see and talk to people living normal lives instead of running into those normal people and having to take care of witnesses.

The whims of a human psychopath controlled his life. This felt familiar.

Brian would know. That’s why he was always so close-lipped about everything. Or he knew nothing anymore. Like Tim.

How the hell did things turn out this way?

Life endangering situations weren’t enough to relieve boredom.

Because he was exhausting his options. Jeff needed to do something clever to get out of that thing’s trap. He didn’t have a clever option. Jeff had the plan of running into the woods but he could only do that if he knew a city was close and everyone else wasn’t paying attention.

There was also the plan of gaining their trust but Jeff wasn’t about to waste his time with that. Slenderman knew Jeff hated being there and hated all of them. No amount of bullshitting would get them to lower their guard. Jeff tried little things like walking around the manor with Sally who wouldn’t leave his side. He purposely tried to do nothing that garnered attention or suspicions. Slenderman’s little slaves would get used to Jeff wandering around. Maybe they’d learn to ignore him. Or he was building up their suspicions. Jeff had to consider everything.

He hoped they would become blind to his wandering. If they did, it meant when he saw a chance to bolt out, he could take it out of the first window to the outside he could get to.

Problem with wandering the manor was running into that thing.

Slenderman.

Stupid ass name in a stupid ass manor because he was the idiot to go too deep into a forest and find out that monsters from bedtime stories were real.

His and Liu’s stories were scary. They would stay up late and try to up the other in making stories and monsters to freak each other out. Jeff hated remembering it before but their stories used to scare him until Liu had to remind him they were all fake. Liu told him he would fight all the monsters for him.

Then he lost to a real monster in the night.

“Mr. D wants to know why you’re sad.”

Jeff glanced up at Sally from where he sat on the floor. She was laid out on the bed with her head dangling off it. She wasn’t bleeding or covered head to toe with scrapes, bruises, and dirt. When she laid there holding her teddy bear up on the bed with her wide eyes staring at him, she looked like a normal kid. The room didn’t match her nor her company.

Jeff stared too long at her and saw Liu again. His head was over the edge of the bed with his neck open. He was slick with blood. Red and shining from the streetlights outside the window. Jeff swallowed harshly but took in the scene because he never knew when the face in his memory would distort to a point where he wouldn’t recognize Liu.

“Little old to be talking to dolls, aren’t you?” He asked Liu.

She rolled over onto her stomach and kicked her feet back and forth. Her socks were white. They shouldn’t have been. He’d seen them completely stained and they had walked what felt like miles in the big fucking house. Yet even the soles of them were clean.

Sally. It was Sally. He knew that.

She pouted. “Maybe I also want to know why you’re sad.”

Jeff motioned to the entire room around them. “Trapped in the Boogieman’s haunted mansion not enough of a reason,” he snarked.

“You don’t get sad about that,” she said. “You make us walk around it for hours and hours and hours and hours.”

Jeff groaned. “You’re annoying.”

“You’re annoying.” She stuck her tongue out so he stuck his out right back. She stared. “Can you stick your tongue out the sides?”

“What? Like this?” Jeff swiped his tongue from one corner to the other. The pain was dull.

“Ewww.” She laughed. “Do it again.”

She was easily entertained, but so was Jeff because he did it again and she made her disgusted face but still laughed at it.

“How do you drink without stuff coming out? Do you hold your cheeks like this?” She held her hands at her face and squished it together as if trying to stop food coming out the sides.

Jeff tilted his head and repeated words his mom used to say to him and Liu. “You’re gonna make your face stick like that.” For added grimness he said, “And then you’ll have to cut it up to make it go back to normal like me.”

Sally pressed her face harder and stuck her tongue at him.

They really were bored and out of their minds if they were reduced to making faces at each other.

She smiled widely.

Glimpses of Liu flashed in Jeff’s eyes. He would get used to it. Just like how he got used to the phantom feeling of Liu’s hand messing with his hair.

“I want stuff in here,” she said, rolling on the bed again.

“What stuff?”

“I dunno.” Sally sat up. “Mr. D could use a blanket.”

“We have blankets.”

Sally got up on her knees on the bed and grabbed the corners of the blanket to wrap herself in it. “Another one.”

Jeff shrugged and leaned his head back against the wall. “You can check the other rooms.” He waved a hand at the door. “Good luck making it back.”

She whined. “I don’t wanna go out there.”

“Damn right. They’re assholes.”

“Bad words.”

“Best words.”

It stayed silent for too long. Jeff couldn’t stand it. She was bored. He was bored. In a haunted mansion with a ghost child and Jeff was bored with no sense of direction.

“Fine. Fine. Whatever.” He pushed himself up.

She unraveled herself from the blanket and skipped over to him by the door.

He glared at her from the side. “You just want to practice the codewords.”

She grinned as they stepped out of their room and into the manor again

Jeff tried what he learned and Sally practiced saying her codewords along with the false alarm codewords. The ax-Toby one was around the manor. They made brief eye-contact with the ax one staring at them until Jeff and Sally continued their wandering. Jeff was setting up their escape. He needed the others to fuck something up and give them their chance.

He found the vase with the wilted flowers. He found the rundown kitchen. He found the beaten up bathrooms. Jeff found anything he set his mind to finding and when he didn’t have something in mind then every room was either collapsed in, empty, or full of random furniture as if it were in storage. It made him wonder if even those rooms meant that they had something he was looking for but he didn’t bother to think too hard on it when Sally tugged on his hand to get away from the dark and dusty rooms. Jeff tried the intent thing again and he found the entrance. Finally knowing how the ever-changing manor worked was good. He didn’t want to overdo it though. He couldn’t tell if Slenderman was watching. Jeff doubted it. He hadn’t felt that brain scraping experience that was around when that thing was so he was betting on them being in the clear for their exploration. Ideally, they would look lost.

The entrance with the massive doors stood clear and only several feet away. If it weren’t locked then Jeff would say hell to consequences and run out if he could.

He hated looking at it without being able to use it.

Jeff turned around and walked back into the manor, trying to think of where it’s key was and if he were capable of getting to it. If it were Jeff’s logic-defying forest house then he’d keep it in the most blocked off place he could, probably his own room.

Did the Slenderman have a room of his own?

Could things like that sleep?

Or somewhere specific for him to stay? He had to, didn’t he? Where did he go when no one knew where he was?

Something for Jeff to consider when thinking of another route for an escape.

As he rounded a corner with Sally, the front doors creaked open. Jeff froze in place as did Sally when they heard the door. She took a peek first but they stayed behind a wall and listened as the masked and hooded guys came back from wherever.

He eavesdropped and peered to see if it was anything that mattered.

Jeff pictured playing out one of his plans in perfect clarity. He saw it.

A flaw in Slenderman’s game.

So Jeff had to take advantage of it.

There was purpose out there, meaning, and something for Jeff to strive for. He had to take it.

There was a window on the first floor. It wasn’t high like the room Jeff had been thrown in originally. It was a genuine window with easy access. It had a latch that would take Jeff moments to break and slide Sally and himself out.

He could see himself going through each step he made.

Axe-shit Toby had been wandering the halls. Jeff felt watched but the Masked One pulled Toby to the side to speak to him. Slenderman hadn’t come to gloat so Jeff had to assume he was busy being an abomination somewhere else until he did see him.

They handed over something to Slenderman. There were a bunch of papers and they were clean, barely wrinkled. Jeff watched that Masked One- Tim give it to the Slenderman. That had to mean they were close to a city for those to look the way they did. Whatever they handed was something Slenderman wanted. He didn’t have eyes Jeff could see but he looked focused and that was what Jeff needed off of him. Whatever it was didn’t matter to Jeff, only that it got Slenderman off of him and could keep him busy.

Close to a city. Good.

Slenderman busy. Also good.

His little fucks wandering around the manor. Bad.

But Jeff knew how to avoid real people and get away from them. The manor had a way of doing that, didn't it? He thought so. As for Slenderman... He didn’t know Slenderman. If Slenderman didn’t know what Jeff was doing then it was the best time for Jeff to try to make a break for it. right under all of their noses.

Jeff squeezed Sally’s hand repeatedly. It could happen now.

Their codes would come into play now. Jeff couldn’t be seen looking at every nook and cranny of the place, but Sally could without suspicion. What started off as a harmless way for Sally to make known that she was scared, was Jeff’s way to know if anyone was close by. Perfect plan.

Jeff made the next codes for if they were spotted and not the other way around. Sally would talk about snacks if she saw the yapping ax one. She would talk about a scrape on her knee if she saw the white mask one, her favorite color for the hooded one, and finally, Mr. D if she managed to see Slenderman. But the rule was that she could only start talking about those things if she knew for sure that any of them saw them.

Reason?

Jeff didn’t want to look suspicious while looking around. Sally and him acting like they invested in a stupid conversation wouldn’t look like Jeff was figuring out what windows looked easy to crawl through or break.

Something else Jeff learned about the manor was that while the layout changed, the materials themselves didn’t. The kitchen typically looked the same except for the floors. There was always that cracked vase with wilted flowers on a wobbly table. Same ripped paintings in the halls. The exact same rug that had a hole and stain on it with distinct shapes.

The pieces were the same. They were just jumbled.

This meant that even if the map changed, Jeff could always count on these pieces being there. If there was a window with a broken latch then that window always existed somewhere in the manor, it was up to Jeff to find it and if he was right then focusing on it would lead him to it.

So Jeff did that.

He knew what he was looking for and he had to find it fast.

When Jeff got it all down, he grabbed Sally, and just like that, the plan was in action.

Something itched in the back of his brain saying that it was all too easy and simple to work but Jeff had to try. He couldn’t let an opportunity slip because he was a coward. He wasn’t a goddamn coward.

Sally squeezed his hand before they began their journey through the manor to find that busted latched window. Slenderman had his little games he played on them but Jeff was about to start his own.

Toby listened to the manor creak and shift because of the wind. He wanted to know what the manor felt like. Could it feel? It grew and shrunk and moved. Could it feel its splinters? Or feel when they walked on the floors?

He laid on a dusty seat. Half of it was ripped but that just meant Toby had to sit on the other side. The couch thing was big enough.

They went to the city.

Not Toby. Just Masky and Hoodie. They didn’t have scars on their faces like he did. Not that Toby wanted to go into any city. He was over cities and their people-filled streets. Toby was over people in general. He didn’t remember why. Not fully but he wanted it that way. Slenderman took out everything that made him hurt.

Pain.

It wasn’t a real thing to Toby. Not like how it was for the rest of the world. The world said he was broken for that. Slenderman showed him that it was exactly what made Toby better than the world.

The world.

The rest of the world was wrong.

Toby was better than any of them and it was because he served a higher purpose than any of them. Masky, Hoodie, Kate, and Toby were greater. They were chosen. They were brought to be a part of something greater than themselves. The past didn’t matter. Toby was free of it and all their sickness.

But Slenderman brought someone new.

Toby never liked that.

Someone from outside meant something that could ruin everything. Poison them. Destroy them from the inside out.

Toby stood up at that thought.

Masky and Hoodie were already back after forever. Hoodie probably disappeared into one of the rooms like he always did and Masky would try to follow him or maybe not and he’d sulk, fidgeting his hands, and disappear around the place too.

Toby wandered.

He wanted to find Jeff and the little pink girl with him. Whatever Slenderman wanted from Jeff, he wouldn’t get because Jeff wasn’t like them. It didn’t matter that Jeff could understand him. That was nothing! Nothing at all. Toby was better than him. He only needed to prove that to Slenderman. He would see for himself how useless Jeff was and get rid of him. Toby didn’t care how only that he would get to watch. Maybe Jeff would be torn into two from the waist and flung against the trees and he’d hang there to rot. Toby liked the idea.

Slenderman didn’t know the dangers Jeff brought being there. He’d ruin everything. It was up to Toby to watch Jeff and his wide eyes that could only halfway blink or sorta blink. Could Jeff blink? Toby forgot.

It wouldn’t matter because he’d be dead.

Toby knew he was up to something. He had to find him and prevent it, or maybe he’d let it happen and Slenderman would see Jeff for the lying schemer he was.

But that was wrong.

What was wrong? Toby bit his gloved hands. Masky’s solution to him biting until he bled. He said it was disgusting and got gloves for him at some point. Toby liked the look of them though they had teeth marks with how he used them.

It’s wrong.

What was wrong? It distinctly didn’t feel like a thought he had. What was so wrong?

Not letting Jeff scheme or letting him go wild so Slenderman would finally see the danger for himself? Wouldn’t that be a betrayal to Slenderman to let it happen? But Toby wanted Jeff hooked and hanging from the branches of Slenderman’s forest. He wanted Slenderman to tear him apart. Maybe he would reach and grab Jeff and rip him apart from the torso down.

That wouldn’t happen if Slenderman liked him. He kept Masky, Hoodie, Kate, and him. He liked them. He had to. They were special and better than all the rest. They were chosen.

Not Jeff.

Toby paced the halls, imagining his ax splitting Jeff’s head open.

Jeff kept a level pace to not make the floors squeak. They creaked louder in areas Jeff hadn’t thought they would. It didn’t make sense but Jeff had walked by rooms, down halls, by that fucking flower vase and most times it never made a sound. Now every other step made a fucking noise. Sometimes the floorboards squealed louder when trying to be quieter or even when walking over old rugs.

He stopped them in the middle of a hallway, taking a half-step forward only to hear it creak.

He stared at the floor, hating how it could be what gave them away.

Sally squeezed his hand. Jeff looked over at her. “Like this.” She held one finger over her lips with it holding Mr. D. She took a step forward with no noise. “See?”

He did not, but he took a step while he looked at her and when the boards made no noise he looked down at the floor again. “What the fuck?”

“Bad word.”

“It’s the best word,” he whispered unconsciously while trying to figure out what didn’t make the floor announce their presence.

She took another step and it made no noise.

Was it because she wasn’t real? It didn’t make sense. Jeff was holding her very real hand and he hadn’t made a sound on the same board. He took a step and was fine.

They began walking.

Jeff had to chalk it up to weird haunted manor shit. He just hoped it wasn’t too late and that they hadn’t wasted too much time over the goddamn floor.

His next step squeaked.

“What the fuck?” He hissed.

Sally grabbed his arm with both hands. “Stop it.”

“I’m fucking trying,” he whispered back.

She shook her head. “You can hold Mr. D.” Sally held out her teddy bear. “He helps me when I’m scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

She tilted her head and took a step forward. It was a big step that forced Jeff to be pulled along or risk Sally toppling over and making a sound louder than tip-toes down a windy hall. The floor made no sound for her but Jeff’s movement caused a groan in the wood.

Jeff stared at the floor, trying to make sense of it when it had been fine seconds ago until… until what? What was he doing wrong?

They heard footsteps rounding a corner. Sally hugged her bear with her free arm. Jeff steered them to the wall. Footsteps stomped and with a brief glimpse, Jeff saw orange. The hood fuck opened a door and slammed it behind him.

That was one out the way but they still needed to pass that door and floorboards creaking meant the hooded one could check it out.

Jeff took a breath, trying to listen into the room the hood one went into. Footsteps and more footsteps. Probably pacing. It could be their chance.

Jeff stepped forward and made a noise. He winced.

Sally shoved her teddy bear into his chest. Jeff grabbed it and made a face at her so she made a face back and walked ahead, pulling Jeff along to no noise. Sally led past the door and further into the hall as Jeff stared at the teddy bear in confusion.

When they turned a corner, Sally looked at him. “I told you Mr. D would help. He always makes things less scary.”

Jeff looked at the teddy bear and shoved it back to Sally.

He didn’t need the bear. Jeff had walked these halls without making a sound before, it was only now that it was a big deal.

He realized something.

Could the fucking floor read emotions?

He didn’t give a shit before so the house wasn’t alerting anyone in the vicinity since he wasn’t actually trying anything? Jeff gaped at the notion but took a breath and tried to think of the window with the latch while also ignoring how he was executing an escape plan.

It didn’t matter. No one knew. They didn’t do anything yet and couldn’t get caught when they were only walking around like he always did. Jeff led the way as if it were any other time. He was only checking the broken-latched window as he did every other time and kept himself focused on that alone.

A squeak echoed in the hall. It didn’t come from Sally or him. Jeff swiveled around, looking for it, but Sally squeezed his hand and they kept going forward.

Jeff could see the window that had lines splintered in it and a broken latch.

They stopped in front of it.

“Sally.”

She looked around the hall then held up a thumb up at him.

Clear.

Jeff reached for the rusted latch and crouched for a better look. It was stuff in place. He nudged it harder and harder each time. It became looser with each attempt. He heard it scrape the window pane. “Come on.”

“Pink is my favorite color,” Sally said.

Jeff took his hands off the latch instantly and stood up, turning around.

Sally looked at him with a concerned expression. Her eyes pointed to her left then back at Jeff.

Fuck.

Jeff leaned on the window and crossed his arms. He covered the progress he made. He casually looked to his right and saw the hooded one. He was looking both ways down the hall as if questioning what they were doing in that hallway and standing by the window.

“You got a favorite color?” Jeff inanely asked him.

The hooded one didn’t say a word. Only stared, at least, Jeff assumed he was through the mask that was frowning.

Jeff kept talking, “I bet it’s pink too.”

“No,” Sally said, “It’s orange.” She pointed. “Look at his jacket. You wear the colors you like.”

He turned his head to her. “My favorite color isn’t white.”

“Your jacket is dirty. That’s why.” She said very matter-of-factly.

The hooded guy walked away without a word.

Jeff sighed in relief. He hoped him leaving was a good thing.

“Did he see?” Jeff mumbled.

“No.” Sally turned to him. “Can you open it?”

Jeff went back to the latch. He gave it two more nudges and it came undone. The rusted latch laid on its side on the window’s edge. Jeff lifted the window up in spurts. Listening to it crack under the force wasn’t reassuring but he paused and repeated the motion. Cold air brushed by them. Jeff forced it open enough for them to go through. He stood up straight again.

“Is it high?”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s the first floor. It’s fine.” He lifted a leg, ducked, and crawled through it. It was cold and the side of the haunted place had bits of snow piled on the edge of it. Jeff took in a breath of the air outside of the manor. It wasn’t dusty or moldy but fresh.

“Jeff?”

He looked back and Sally looked back at him from the inside. “Come on now. What’re you waiting for?”

She looked worried as she looked out at the forest. “It’s getting dark.” Her lip looked like it would start shaking. “I don’t like it.”

Jeff tilted his head, remembering words from a long time ago when he was younger than her that his brother said to make him laugh at him. “The scariest thing out there is me, come on.” It was a lie. Liu wasn’t scary in the slightest so that’s what made it funny. How was Jeff supposed to know that when he said it it’d be true? He shook his head. “Eggs?” He tried lightly.

She smiled weakly.

He reached out his hands and Sally crawled out.

Jeff couldn’t help but notice that she was bleeding again with bruises along her legs and arms. Her dress had dirt stains on it and one of her socks had a splatter of blood on it.

His mind flashed back to Liu’s room when his throat was sliced open and blood splattered against a dresser with a sock hanging out of it. He could see Liu’s room perfectly.

“Jeff?” Liu asked.

The trees croaked around them. A shiver ran up Jeff’s spine.

“It’s getting dark, Jeff.” Liu looked up at him. Jeff wasn’t taller than Liu though he would be now seeing as Liu was nothing more than a rotting husk of what used to be his– “I don’t want to be out here.”

He shook his head so he was back in the forest. “It’s fine. There’s a city close.”

They were out.

Easy as that.

A direction. They needed a direction.

Jeff looked at the ground around the manor, hating how they had to circle it to find footprints. They watched mask and hood guys get back from wherever they came from and the snow was old. Jeff only needed to find their tracks wherever they led. From the large entrance, he could see from the corner of the place, was a pair of tracks skirting the boundaries and coming from the woods.

They followed the path of footprints.

Remnants of snow crunched under their feet. Soggy leaves softened the sounds that felt like they echoed in the woods despite it only being the blood rushing throughout Jeff’s body and making his ears thud with it. Birds flew fast overhead and away from them. Sparse light filtered through the branches overhead. Their shadows looked like hands reaching for them at every turn. It made Jeff dodge shadows and pick up the speed all over again despite wanting to cover any sound they made. He panted and got himself dizzy from it.

But he could picture the city and with it being close to night, they would have the perfect cover for themselves until Jeff figured out what to do next.

Rule one was to never go near a forest again. It was shit to have to lose convenient places to hide but he never wanted to see that Slenderthing again. Monsters and ghost stories were real. He wouldn't doubt them anymore.

He wanted to go on that late-night supermarket plan and raid whatever they had. He had promises to keep to Liu.

Sally.

It was Sally.

And he didn’t need her.

He looked to his side where she held his hand and the other hugged Mr. D as tightly as she could. She used her teddy bear to cover her face at times to avoid looking at the dark forest around them.

She was dead. Some sort of ghost-thing. He could leave her in whatever supermarket they raided and she’d haunt it or something and he’d be free to go.

Birds fluttered from behind them.

It set Jeff on edge.

“Come on. We’re not out yet.”

Jeff yanked her and they picked up their pace in the murky maze of towering trees. Some made him or Sally flinch, seeing Slenderman in the giant trees along with their strange, stretched branches.

Branches crunched under their feet and brambles scratched Sally’s ankles. She never let go of his hand. He had to save her a couple times from slipping in the half-thawed mud and leaves.

“It’s so dark.”

She was right. The sun had almost fully set. If they didn’t reach the edge of the city soon then they’d be navigating the forest in pitch black and Jeff didn’t think he could do that. Especially not when Slenderman found out they escaped.

More birds fluttered from behind them.

Jeff licked his cut mouth.

He heard a branch snap that wasn’t from himself or Sally.

It could have resounded off of every fucking tree with how focused Jeff was on it. Sally squeezed his hand twice for their code of believing they were being watched. She probably wasn’t wrong but it made a pool of dread set in his stomach.

They kept moving ahead.

Jeff mumbled. “Can you run?”

“I think so.”

“You’re gonna have to.”

“Okay.” Her voice was thin, on the verge of a whine.

“Count of three?”

She nodded.

“One…” He waited for her.

“Two…”

Jeff braced himself. “And thr–”

An ax hit the tree a foot away from him. Jeff spun around, his eyes scanning every tree and bush. He saw Toby in the mix of it at a far distance. Too far for a hit that close to Jeff.

“Fuck!” Toby’s voice echoed. Jeff saw him pull his arm back for another throw.

Jeff jerked Sally forward. “Three!”

They sprinted, no longer following any path except for the one that was not getting hit by flying blades.

Jeff heard something thud close behind on the ground. Toby had to collect the axes but he was unpredictable. Who was to say he wasn’t going to run after them instead without the weight of his axes?

Jeff had his blade tucked away. He’d beat Toby but Toby had the supernatural working on his side and Jeff couldn’t underestimate what that meant. He didn’t know what other tricks Toby had. Could be stronger. Could be faster.

He probably was faster seeing as Jeff still had Sally’s hand in his.

Jeff didn’t need her.

He could let her go and run.

A city was close enough and she was already dead. What did it matter if he ditched her when she already fit in a haunted house. She was closer to that than he was.

Jeff instinctively opened his hand but Sally didn’t let go.

“Let go–” Jeff snapped, turning to her and seeing her sob as she ran alongside him. Tears poured down her cheeks to her chin, wiping blood and dirt from her.

Liu’s face flashed in front of him that night. Those wide eyes in shock morphing into fear but it was hazy, unreal, something Jeff hadn't been in control of or understanding when he moved.

“No–”

“Don’t leave me!” Liu’s voice blended with Sally’s as she cried. “You can’t leave me!”

“Fuck– Fuck!” Jeff kept charging through the forest with only the destination in mind without any trail, pulling along Sally, before giving up and grabbing all of her and running with everything he had. She gripped to him tightly, her hands clenching his sweater and some of his hair.

“Stop running!” Toby shouted. “Or keep running! It’s not me who he’ll pull apart!”

Jeff panted. His lungs burned as well as his throat and eyes from the icy air.

"Can't wait to see you hanging from every tree here!"

Branches under him snapped and branches overhead felt like arms reaching for them. Mud squished and nearly made him slip. Tree’s bark he scraped by scratched along with bushes grazing him and Sally. Her grip on him had her pulling his hair.

The city had to be close.

Branches crunched loud and close to them. Sound distorted around them in the trees. He couldn’t tell what direction it came from. Crashes and heavy sounds formed from behind. Jeff didn’t spare the effort to glance back, instead he focused on another spurt of energy to bolt forward, dodging trees, roots, bushes, and rocks. His legs ached from it all already. Hunger grew more obvious and he was tired.

Jeff took a harsh turn against a tree and stilled, panting, and his heart racing.

It was too dark and he was far enough that Toby couldn’t have seen him. It had to be enough.

The forest was dead silent.

He heard nothing from birds or crickets or anything that filled a forest, only the blood pumping through his body.

Sally shook in his arms. He resettled her in his grip and listened close for any sound of Toby.

But there was nothing.

Jeff sighed and leaned back against the tree he used for cover.

A sudden gust of wind rattled the branches above. It made both Jeff and Sally flinch.

He leaned forward and trudged through the woods as quietly as he could. It was near pitch-black with light from a moon that was only half-filled but Jeff could have sworn he saw the edge of the forest. The trees ended. He barely held back a laugh as he dragged himself ahead to it.

Something moved in the corner of his eye. His attention snapped to it but he was too close to his escape to let trees or bushes scare him. Jeff looked back ahead of him to a tree ahead of him in his path, nearly blocking all view of the end of the forest. Jeff swayed to the side to go around it when one of the branches moved. A tree that walked.

Jeff’s heart was in his throat.

The tree was a massive, terrible shape with angled limbs protruding in wrong directions. It blocked the path completely, even more as more branches stretched and moved around not like branches in the wind but something that flowed and curled.

Jeff’s eyes trailed from the limbs to the looming body and then from the shadows, Jeff could see the glow of white from the moonlight of the faceless monster that they had been escaping.

“No…”

“I am every shadow.“ A voice from inside his mind called.

“No– no no no–” Jeff stepped back.

“Have you enjoyed this outing? Did you have fun?”

Jeff continued to walk backwards, never looking away from the thing that loomed over with his arms slowly rising.

“I sincerely hope you did.”

Jeff’s back bumped into tree bark with nowhere to go.

“Because I will make you regret every second of it.”

Jeff lurched to the side, nearly tripping over his own feet and the weight of Sally in his arms.

“I will catch you every time.” The voice rumbled.

Limbs twisted and blocked the hints of light that filtered through the trees. It laughed and laughed. The sound came from everywhere. It came from inside Jeff’s head. Jeff couldn’t see where he was going. He didn’t know what he was doing.

He fell into something. It wasn’t mud, leaves, or any part of the forest ground. It ensnared him, wrapped around him, and a low hum traveled under his skin.

“My courtesy remains.”

Jeff froze as he was trapped. “No no no–”

“Unwind.”

The grip Jeff had on Sally slackened. He lost the hold he had on himself. Jeff rolled in the grasp of Slenderman. All he could do was lie on his back. He was wheezing while the world around him burst with greys and agony. There was that low kind of hum that kept him trapped inside his own skin. It twinged and ached. Voices filled his head and braided together. Blood trickled down from his nose. The cuts on his face ached as if fresh. He couldn't scream.

Slenderman’s voice gently shushed him. “You have offered your warmest ardor. Surpassing expectations yet again rather pathetically.”

Jeff gasped for breath and tried to move his limbs that wouldn’t respond.

“Closer, Jeffrey Woods. I’m not done with you.”

Darkness encased him.

“I need you closer still.”

Chapter Text

Echoes of screams stretched for a long hour from the forest. It stayed that way for a while. Briefly, it turned blood-curdling, then to gasping wails, and then muffled shouts. The sound came closer to the manor with nothing that Tim could do. As it got closer, Tim could see what it was, but he had figured it out before seeing the Operator carry back Jeffrey Woods who was writhing in his grasp.

The screaming stopped when they were only a few paces from the manor and Tim could see Jeffrey Woods limp in the Operator’s hold, likely having passed out from whatever the Operator did to him.

Tim hadn’t noticed Jeffrey’s disappearance. It must have been a recent occurrence because there was little room for error with that sort of thing. Jay had been able to escape the Operator before but that hadn’t lasted forever.

Tim fought to latch onto that memory to cling to himself but it was gone with confusion surrounding the name Jay.

The Operator carried Jeffrey Woods back to the manor. At his heels was the small child who clung to Jeffrey wherever he went. She had tear tracks running down her face, was covered in dirt, scrapes, and bruises but she didn’t slow down. She kept pace with the Operator to keep up with Jeffrey who she tried to watch even if it meant she would trip over roots and rocks.

Toby was the first to enter with his two hatchets in hand. Tim watched him.

A part of Tim was grateful to Toby for his likely aid in getting Jeffrey back. It would be their heads on the line if Jeffrey had escaped, but on the other hand, seeing that girl wipe tears and dirt off her face while tripping through mud to keep up with Jeffrey made a lump form in his throat. He heard her screams too but she followed the Operator without her visible wounds causing any delay. She was spared. Jeffrey was not. Tim justified it that way.

“Caught him,” Toby muttered.

Tim tried to disregard the girl. Jeffrey deserved any fate the Operator gave him and she wasn’t real anymore. Tim, Toby, and Brian were real. They needed to look out for themselves. Selfish? Maybe. But Tim had to value practicality above morality.

Still, Tim forced the discomfort down in his chest. “Good job, Toby.”

Toby shot up with his eyes gone wide, his goggles pressed firmly on his hairline so Tim couldn’t ignore his humanity.

For all his praise for the Operator, Toby occasionally did extend that admiration to Tim and Brian. He didn’t know anything about them except that they were there before him and were extensions of the Operator. They showed him how to be the Operator’s slave and he was thankful for it as well as arrogant. Tim pitied the kid for thinking that being part of this was an honor.

Toby immediately turned more playful and swayed on his feet. “Aw, well, it was Hoodie that pointed out the open window.”

Tim made no move. “Open window?”

“Yeah,” Toby stuttered, “was going around trying to find him when Hoodie pointed out an open window and footprints leading away. Didn’t take long to find them. Then there was running, so much running. I threw too soon. I could have hit him.” Toby fidgeted with the ax he didn’t latch back onto his belt.

Brian got them caught.

Tim didn’t know how to feel about it. With Toby, it was simple. He clearly wanted to do anything the Operator wanted with no hesitation or questions. Toby had no doubts in the Operator. A faithful believer. That’s what made him so dangerous. Comparing Toby’s loyalty to the Operator to that of a religious zealot would be accurate. Everything else about Toby was a kid who had been marked and captured by the Operator. Even Toby’s lack of pain wasn’t anything supernatural unless the Operator extended it, but Tim couldn’t be sure. When the Operator brought Toby, a kid, bleeding, smelling of smoke, and knowing nothing but his gratefulness for a beast of nightmares “saving” him… Tim knew nothing and was angry at life, himself, his helplessness, and he let himself teach Toby. Because he was a kid with dangerous habits that Tim had tried to make up for. Despite the time he was with them and everything he had done, Toby still felt like that kid the Operator brought in. It was wrong. Toby wasn’t a child even if he acted like one.

But for Brian to have been the one to sick Toby on them and then the Operator? Tim took a deep breath and stepped away from the window as the Operator got closer. Toby stayed by it to have a closer look.

“Slenderman blended in with the trees. I didn’t even see him until the end,” Toby gushed. “Only felt him out there, helping me.”

Brian must have assumed the worst if Jeffrey escaped. The Operator would punish Jeffrey for this attempt but it wouldn’t have amounted to what would have happened to them if he did succeed.

Tim tried to drop the sympathy again but the doors opened and in ducked the Operator with that little girl still bumping into its legs to keep up. She cried and in jumbled words, begged for him to be let go, how she was sorry, and how he only wanted to get her food and blankets. It was a mess that Tim barely understood. He wondered how Jeffrey ever thought he could escape with a child in tow. They were close to a city. Jeffrey’s city as a matter of fact. Or the one he had murdered his entire family in.

Only that wasn’t true.

His older brother was alive and no longer a vegetable waiting to have the plug pulled. As far as Tim was concerned, he was dead but now was out with police searching for their one witness to what happened the night Jeffrey Woods went missing and later became the prime suspect in his family’s murder. If he was looking for Jeffrey then he would be disappointed. The Operator could have changed their location the second the doors closed behind it. The fact that Jeffrey got so close was already a strange mistake and Tim knew better to be able to guess that it had been a test in the first place.

Not a test.

A reminder.

A reminder for all of them.

No one escapes unless the Operator allows it. Unless it didn’t intend for this, but Tim couldn’t be certain of anything. He was more inclined to believe it was capable of more than he attributed. It probably let Jeffrey get a glimpse of freedom only to yank him back. It had done that to them before.

The girl continued to cry and even latched onto the Operator’s leg, pulling at it and sobbing for Jeff back. Tim held his ground, wincing from under his mask at how easily she could be ripped away and thrown aside.

The Operator looked at Toby and him.

The familiar tendrils that weeded in Tim’s mind were back. They were rough and jolted his mind as though bashing his head with rocks. He hissed and held his head.

“What’s he saying?” Toby asked.

Tim’s head pounded and his eyes were led to the girl. Sally. Sally was her name. It had been said before he thought or maybe it wasn’t and the Operator forced it into his head. Then the pain faded. The instructions were unclear, but Tim had to assume he was being asked to get her off and away from it.

Tim approached cautiously, crouching down beside her, and holding a hand out. “He’ll be fine,” he lied. She sniffled and looked at him. “He’s asleep. He needs it.”

“No he doesn’t!” She shouted and her forehead bled more. “He was fine! He was– he was– You’re hurting him!” She cried but let go of the Operator who then walked away, morphing into the shadows with Jeffrey Woods.

Tim’s eyes tracked them until he couldn’t. It was wrong to empathize with someone like Jeffrey and yet… Tim blocked it. He looked back at the crying child in front of him.

“He wanted to leave me! Why did he want to leave me?” She screamed and wiped her eyes with her fists.

Tim reached out but pulled back, thinking it wouldn’t be the smart thing to do. She wasn’t human. Not anymore. Tim didn’t know what she was. Ghost might have been the easy answer but there was nothing straightforward about the paranormal. The rules he could have once believed as a child held little weight in the reality of ghost stories.

When she pulled her hands back and saw that the Operator and Jeffrey were nowhere in sight. Sally screamed again and began moving in the only open direction where the Operator and Jeffrey could have gone.

Tim had to grab her wrist and hold her in place. He chose to ignore how if she wasn’t real or alive then how could he be holding her. Ghost was the straightforward answer. It wasn’t it. Unless it was and his interpretation of a ghost was wrong.

“He’s fine,” he lied again. “He’s okay.”

Sally wailed.

“He’ll come back,” he said, “I promise.”

Sally hiccupped on her cries but they softened. That couldn’t have been a lie. The Operator had uses for Jeffrey Woods. It would not get rid of Jeffrey. He would come back and maybe more malleable to the Operator’s needs.

“There you go,” Tim soothed. “He’s coming back.”

“Really?” The tears waned until they were only bubbling over the edges instead of spilling out continuously.

Jeffrey had no choice. If the Operator didn’t already kill him then he wasn’t getting out that easy. So Tim nodded. “He can’t leave. He’s coming back.”

“But only if you tell us what happened.” Toby piped in, his voice raspier. “What did Jeff say? He took you out a window and what?”

Sally looked up at Toby.

Tim could feel her shaking as he held her wrist. He softened his hold but didn’t let go.

She sniffled again and looked down. “He said we were going to get sunny-side-up eggs.”

The room was silent. She was lying. Jeff was obviously trying to escape and she joined him in it but it was useful to know that she sided with Jeffrey no matter the consequences even with three strangers surrounding her. Tim motioned for Toby and Brian to take a step back.

Toby groaned. “All that for some stupid breakfast?” He waved an arm in a random direction in the manor. “We have a whole ass kitchen here. There’s leftovers all over the place there.”

Tim refrained from rolling his eyes at how Toby accepted a bold-faced lie.

It wasn’t exactly a great feat to manipulate a child, but Jeffrey had been able to coax and guide her into a plan, one that could have succeeded if he weren’t against something that was the omniscient paranormal.

Tim rose from his crouch. “You can wait in your room.”

“What? No she can’t!” Toby interrupted. “There’s still questions she has to answer!”

She hugged her bear tightly.

Sally may have been in on whatever plan Jeffrey had but it didn’t matter. She was a child and one that had just proven would lie to them and likely even the Operator for Jeffrey because of a misguided bond that Jeffrey tricked her into.

Besides, what answers would they need? Jeffrey’s plan consisted of crawling out a window and running into the woods. What was clever about that? Despite knowing this, Tim couldn’t help but feel this was only the beginning of Jeffrey’s attempts unless the Operator cracked him early.

But something told Tim that Jeffrey was already demented enough that the Operator may have to consider new forms of persuasion.

Tim guided Sally back to her room.

“We’ll finish this later, Toby,” he said. “We’ve got plenty of time.”

“We do, don’t we?” Toby laughed.

It echoed behind Tim as he led Sally away.

A piece of him felt stolen. It was as if something was missing.

Jeff had woken up like that. He checked his arms, legs, fingers, toes, and scars on his face. Everything was as it needed to be. He felt over himself and his head. He went through what he did the prior week and mapped out exactly what happened. Then he went further back and through important events. If he was missing memories then he didn’t know. He didn’t know what he didn’t know.

He sat up on the floor, scanning the room, and found that he was on a blanket and the room he was in was huge. The ceiling went so far that three rooms could have fit in the space. Looked like an empty, dusty, old ballroom from those old, history movies his mom used to watch.

“I despise insolent pets.”

Jeff turned side-to-side to try to find the sound but it didn’t come from anywhere. It came from his head.

“I imagined having you face the wrath of death itself.” The voice echoed.

It buzzed and itched in Jeff’s head as he scanned the room again. His hands gripped at the fabric under him that he realized was less of a blanket and more of long, dusty, and ripped curtains on the floor.

“The foolish apparatus.” A sound like a chuckle vibrated in Jeff’s head. “Wishes to be slaughtered. Blinded by greed? Of what? Where would you go, Jeffrey Woods? What purpose do you have if you’re not laying your life at my feet?”

He should have been afraid, but Jeff never did what he should. He felt brasher more than anything.

Pissed off. Trapped. Embarrassed for getting caught more than scared.

Jeff was alive.

He was breathing and while he felt off, he was all there. This Slenderman needed him for something and that’s why Jeff wasn’t dead… or worse.

It made Jeff laugh.

“Something amusing?” Slenderman asked pointedly, “Didn’t learn your lesson the first time?”

Jeff laid back on the curtain. “Never was good at studying,” he said nonchalantly.

It was silent for a beat longer that told Jeff he was throwing off an eldritch entity. “You never had the right teacher.”

Jeff had his arms behind his head to cushion it as he looked at the ceiling. “Right. Never did have any of them torture me.”

“I’ve found that some need a nudge of encouragement.” The voice in his head moved. Jeff tilted his head from side to side to follow it. “As close as you may get to it, that world is not yours, Jeffrey Woods. It hasn’t been for some time now. Perhaps it never was. There’s nothing left for you in it. Why run back for it? Stay. Stay here.”

The ceiling was caving in on some parts. There was a chandelier a little to Jeff’s left. He didn’t know how it was still hanging. Magic seemed like a good answer for anything now.

“What are you thinking? Be a good child, and speak.”

It was a threatening tone. It sent a shudder along Jeff’s spine, but he didn’t sit up. He laid there and tried to think.

Monsters existed. Ghosts existed. Magical, shape-shifting, teleporting manors existed. That was long established that the impossible existed. And he somehow still existed in the middle of it.

The aches in his body were dissipating. Jeff survived last night or however long ago it was. If monsters were real and could out-run him, catch him, keep him– then he was alive for a reason. The others couldn’t talk to him. Jeff could hear Slenderman’s voice. They didn’t know why. Jeff didn’t know why.

But it was important enough to keep Jeff alive. There was a line he was toeing and he didn’t know when was the point that could be considered crossing it. This wasn’t it. Running for it with a ghost girl didn’t do it. Having an attitude didn’t do it. Messing with his little, weird fucking servants didn’t do it. He could speak to this Slenderman, but that wasn't it, at least, not completely. The others got by for however long not communicating with words. They did little tasks, his bidding, and anything this faceless fuck wanted. They didn't have Jeff before and they got by. If Slenderman couldn't stand Jeff then he'd had gotten rid of him or... been more willing to go further. Jeff could think of a few thing Slenderman could have done for punishment. Not like Jeff needed functioning legs to translate, but here Jeff was with the aches of yesterdays pains going away.

“Speak.”

“And say what?” Jeff snarked because he could, because he was testing it.

Silence fell over him long enough for Jeff to feel uncomfortable.

He spoke again, “What am I supposed to say that makes you feel like you won,” Jeff bit out, but Slenderman didn't reveal himself. “You did it. You got me. Great job. Didn’t know monsters needed reassurance they’re monstering right.”

Another rumble of something resembling laughter. “Close, but not quite. The praises of those lesser, while, touching–” that sounded mocking. “–offer little. Sentimentality... such a vain thing. No… This isn’t that. This is a teacher asking a pupil what they gathered from this exercise.”

“Learned to run faster.”

“What else?”

Jeff didn’t think his sarcastic reply was an answer. He thought back to what went wrong. “Could have thrown the ax one off my trail by making sharper turns. Could have lost him in that forest. Or could have thrown his ax back at him. One less idiot giving away my spot.”

“Toby,” he mildly corrected. “What else?”

Jeff went further back. “Should have held off on the plan when almost caught.” He thought that hoodie one. Sally warned him in time but they came off as suspicious. He took it as a good sign when that hooded one left, but he was letting Jeff dig himself into a bigger hole. He was probably the one who tipped off the others about it. How else would Jeff have been caught? “No. Should have taken him out. If that was the plan then should have gone all out. Would have meant a body would be in the manor, but still would have bought me more time."

"That would have benefited you, yes. What else?"

Jeff went through his plan. "Run faster." He glared.

"Come now. What else could you have done?"

Jeff thought of how he tried to fling Sally off of him. She wouldn't let go. She started crying. It was loud. It signaled their location. Had he gotten rid of her, he would have been faster, he wouldn't have something making noise to tell everyone where they were. That's what could have helped him. It must have been, but-

"Fuck,” he swore. “The broken latch on the window," he said instead. "It was too easy. It wouldn’t have been easy.”

Slenderman hummed. It echoed in Jeff’s head. “No, it would not have been… as fallible as humans are, as my followers are, they do serve their purpose.”

So he underestimated them. Was that it? Was that the lesson? Jeff groaned. Static rubbed in his head. “That’s what you wanted? Wanted me to get how handy your scouts are?”

Another hum. “Almost. Come closer to me. I’ll free you of your binds. Be my instrument. My voice. My being.”

Jeff sat up, giving into the urge to look for Slenderman.

“What your former world calls magic has been here far before humans and will likely be here long after.” Jeff swiveled his head to where he thought he heard Slenderman, but there was nothing there. “But humans… their presence has lessened it. Diminished it to the point that it is an abstract. You didn’t believe in it before you encountered it.”

A haze of something unsettling was surrounding Jeff’s mind. It made him nervous. It made his breathing shallow.

“But it is not gone. Dead in most parts of this world, but not gone.”

Jeff forced himself to control his breathing.

“Some humans don’t cower in the face of it. Quite a feat. After all, when encountering all that goes against the natural laws in place, the human mind seeks to rationalize it. It can be, but not in the way humans restrict it. It is not defined by a single word or concept. It is. To translate it is to diminish it, dwindle it to what those around it believe it to be.”

In the middle of slowing his breaths, Jeff still caught that. “If no one believed in it– it goes away?”

“Ah, you are paying attention. So studious despite claims to the contrary,” he teased. “Close, but no. It is humans. Human disbelief.”

“Doesn’t seem like that could make you stop existing.”

“Good… Yes, I am not the abstract,” he said. “I am not a figment of imagination nor the shadow in the corner of one’s eye.”

Jeff turned around again and this time saw Slenderman. He was stretched tall but obviously not to what Jeff had seen before. He wasn’t a hidden tree in a dark forest, he was a shadowy, looming figure in a dusty, worn-through ballroom.

And very real.

“I am.”

Jeff gulped, but he was unwilling to give up the act. “So belief creates.”

Slenderman's head tilted. “So limiting. So human-centric. This is why it has been dying in this world.” Slenderman stepped forward. Jeff’s hand slipped on the curtain he was sitting on in a weak attempt to try to get back. “To explain it is to translate it. To translate it is to describe it. To describe it is to limit it. You simply come a fraction closer to understanding or you do not.”

A wave of terror over Jeff. He could barely move. He knew he couldn't escape Slenderman. That was the lesson he wanted Jeff to grasp from it and looking at him knowing how he had been caught and the agony that started in his head and spread everyway else made him want to lock up in fear. Jeff forced himself to hold his breath and fix his position to sit up again, crossing his legs like he were in elementary again like the curious kid he was. He forced himself to try to be rational, logical. If he wasn't dead, if he wasn't being ripped apart, if he wasn't even getting the other mild but sick shit done to him then nothing was going to happen to him at all. He let out that breath.

“It existed before humans and will exist after. It has diminished, but not disappeared. But, you do have a point, my diligent pupil.”

Jeff felt his face pinch up at that.

A small chuckle then, “There are forms created by human belief. Not the original. I have classified this as the artificial. Many of those running around now. I am curious if this form will persist when humans are gone or if it will die alongside its believers. But, until then, we persist in discovering these new forms. Where are they? What are they? How have they changed? Have they already? What can these new forms do? There is a plethora of inquiries to make.”

Jeff stared, confused why he was being told any of this if his little human brain couldn’t handle it. “But what about it?”

Slenderman stepped closer.

Jeff regretted asking.

He came closer until he towered over Jeff, but wasn’t he tall enough to look like he had to crouch in the room anymore. Jeff hadn’t noticed when it happened, but Slenderman made himself smaller. Didn’t mean he wasn’t still massive and clearly a monster only a few feet away. “It is everything. You will understand this eventually even if I have to pry your skull open and whisper to it myself for it to take. There are many ways for information to cling to every crevice of a human's soft tissues hidden in that shell weaker than stone.”

Jeff felt his face twist up at that description. “No.” He drew the word out, “Nooo.”

“Yesss.” Came a teasing reply in the same tone. “Now. Rise, would you? Jeffrey Woods, you are the first pupil, the first true disciple, the first human I have found to be moldable to the old form. What a perfect student to have fallen into my lap.”

“I am not.”

“Yet.” If he had a mouth, Jeff would have thought Slenderman said it with a smile. “I’ll make one of you yet. All you need is the divine and infernal and I will make something of it from the remains. It is only a matter of time.”

Slenderman wanted to keep him. This was long term.

This the worst and best news wrapped in the shittiest way possible.

If Jeff was wanted this badly then Slenderman wouldn't let him go, but he wouldn't kill him either. It was sparing his life but what was it people said about fate's worse than death?

This got more complicated.

Sally stayed curled around Mr. D, eyeing him as he kept checking over himself. She didn’t say anything. He liked that. Sally knew when he didn’t want to talk.

He came back a little while ago. He was okay. They didn’t lie to her. Jeff was okay. He came back.

But she had so many questions.

Where was he?

What happened?

Would they get sunny-side-up eggs another time?

Why did he try to leave her?

She hugged Mr. D tighter.

“What?”

She jumped at his voice.

“If you got something to say then get it out.”

“Are we still getting sunny-side-up eggs?”

Jeff turned around, his brows were close together and his eyes were a little red. “What?”

“Sunny–” She stuttered. “Sunny-side-up eggs.” Sally took a deep breath.

But Jeff turned back around, fixing his hoodie over himself again. “Yeah. Yeah, we are. Think you can wait for it?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll think of something for us.”

Sally nodded even though his back was to her.

“Don’t mention it to the others.”

“I won’t.”

“They don’t like us leaving.”

“Yeah…” She thought of how Jeff and her ran, how it was so dark, how Jeff screamed when the tall monster grabbed him. “But what if we did tell them?”

Jeff spun to look at her. He squinted a little in the way he could.

“And they let us go.”

“They won’t let us go.”

“But if we say we’re going–”

Jeff’s eyebrows rose up. “And get the opportunity to get outside… huh… plain sight. Take the chance to run. Would require a long time to wait until they’re off our case, but it could maybe…” Jeff mumbled to himself and started walking around the room.

Sally watched him.

“Something to think about, but–” he paused and looked at her. “You’d be waiting longer for those sunny-side-ups.”

“That’s okay.”

He nodded then went back to pacing.

Jeff seemed happier again. Or maybe not happy, but not so sad. When he first came in, he closed the door and leaned on while looking at the floor for too long. Now he was moving around and talking to her. Whatever made him sad was mostly gone. That could be their happy.

Sally liked that.