Chapter Text
Like any other day, Tommy walked home from school, taking the scenic route during this nice spring day. Like any other day, he would walk up the steps to his house, getting out his keys, ready to head inside after a long day. Like any other day, it was routine, the same old same old. Nothing special, nothing different, nothing to change as it was comfortable.
Until today...
Today, sitting innocently on his porch was a medium-sized box. Taped up, nothing but a note on its lid, right in front of his door. Strange, Tommy tilted his head, 'Who the fuck left me a package?'.
He bent down, picking up the smooth cardboard box then looked at the note on it.
'There is more going on here than you understand - Clay'
Tommy felt his blood run cold for a moment, rereading, again and again. He wasn't seeing things, he wasn't imagining things. Clay, a name he hadn't seen in a while save for on the posters, in the papers, and spoken now only in sadness.
Clay was a friend of his, a missing friend of Tommy's actually. A month by now, no trace, no words spoke, just up and vanished. Tommy wasn't sure why either, Clay and he were friends, but even he didn't even know why his friend vanished. Kidnapped? Killed?
Tommy shook his head of such thoughts but found himself still holding the package. And without much hesitation, he went into his house.
This here was different, could it be a prank? Tommy wasn't sure who would be so tasteless to do a prank like this. But he was curious. Tommy bent down, opening the box carefully with a knife, cutting through the green duct tape on it, and opening the box.
Tommy wasn't sure why he felt hesitant, if it was a prank he wasn't sure how he'd react. But, he could also contact the police... though the package was innocent enough. Taking a breath, he opened the flaps to see a group, series if you will, of discs.
Now Tommy had quite a few of these, mostly music disks he got from friends. He picked up one, flipping it over his hand. They were worn, dull edges, but still in good condition. The center was of a bitch forest, with words in soft red.
The Bitch Man
"Is this one of those fucking story discs?" Tommy grumbled a bit, looking in to see others, but they weren't labeled. Not like this one, the one on top and front and center. "So it is a tasteless prank?" he huffed, but still the curiosity gnawed at his mind.
And he did have a jukebox? The worst that could happen was it didn't work or it might just be some creepy screams and other stupid shit.
With this in mind, Tommy decided to go play it. He left his bag on the kitchen table. Not like anyone would mind, his parents were away, this was just the summer home he was using to take his classes. He went to a bigger named school and was taking college credits, here was closer than his family home.
Spinning the disc in his hands as he walked, humming to himself, and with nothing to do, Tommy put the disc into the box. He settled back on the couch, as the machine turned on, getting something to snack on. He was hungry after school, and the walk, while not long, was still tiring.
There were a few moments of silence, crackling, then the disc took and started up.
. . . .
Tommy frowned at the silence though, the disc was working, right?
Then he heard it, soft coughing and deep breaths. "He's here." the voice spoke softly, gravely, was that Clay's voice?
-0-0-0-0-
Raspy breathing, in and out, as if the person was having issues. Like they just ran miles and were trying to cover their breathing.
"They know I'm here." the voice spoke again, Clay?
A few more breaths, the sound of crickets, there was also the gentle wooshing of the wind through the trees. Night, in the forest.
"He can hear a pin drop, he can find his prey quickly," Clay whispered to the recording softly. "The Bitch Man."
There was a sharp snap, the sound of fabric shuffling, quiet breathing as one could tell Clay was trying to silence himself.
Silence rang again, "Close, too close. Coming to the forest was a bad idea tonight, but I need to get this done." Clay breathed out softly. "But he knew this, of course, he knew I'd need to do this."
There was a shaky breath, the sound of shuffling again, "I'd not be surprised if he planned this if they planned this. Always two steps ahead."
Another shaky breath, the sound of a soft sob, a hand over skin. "I can't keep doing this, he's dragging me down. He's always there, always following me. I can't keep this up." Clay said with a shaky, fearful voice.
It was quiet again, save for the soft, faint sobs.
Then a loud snap, the sound of Clay's gasp. The creaking was heard, snapping, the wind was heard again.
Silence...
"Shit!" Clay suddenly swore loudly, then the sound of running footsteps. Branches snapping, the wind picking up, there were another pair of steps over Clay's own though. Faint, cracking, catching up.
The wind whipped harshly.
The sound of water, a loud splash.
-0-0-0-0-
The music disk crackled, then ended with a click. Tommy sat there, a white-knuckled grip on his water bottle. His eyes were wide as he stared at the disc, baited breaths of silence in the lonely house.
What the fuck was that?
Tommy got up after a few tense moments of nothing. Then took out the disk, looking it over with a slight frown. That did sound like Clay's voice, was he being chased? This all seemed too strange?
For a joke, it sure felt real.
"The Bitch Man?" Tommy echoed again in a confused tone looking at the disk over and over again. Short, cryptic, strange, but all too curious, all too enticing, and Tommy found himself growing more curious of the other disks... but this was also confusing.
Swiping up his phone, and holding it to his ear Tommy let it ring. "Hey Tommy!" a voice cheered on the other side. "What's up?"
"Hey, Tubs... I think I found something, can you come over?" he asked curiously as he stared at the disk in his hands.
Toby hummed, "Something like?" he asked Tommy with a curious tone.
"Looks it's hard to explain over the phone, just can you come over tonight?" Tommy asked a little amused and huffing. Toby liked to poke the sleeping bear so to speak.
There was a small scoffing laugh, "Yeah I can big man, I'll be over in fifteen, better be good though." he said in a slightly teasing tone.
Tommy hummed now, looking again at the package in the kitchen. "Yeah, but you'll have to knock, doors will be locked," he told him.
"Any reason why?" Toby asked, slight concern in his tone.
Tommy went over to the doors and windows making sure they were locked. Not sure why himself, but he felt the need to. "It'll make sense soon, don't worry about it Big T. Sorry for the cryptic bullshit but... it's hard to explain." he said honestly, even he wasn't sure what to make of this.
"Nah it's fine, I get it, surprises and all." Toby chuckled, "See you in a bit!" he said and with a beep, the other hung up
Taking a breath, Tommy put his phone in his pocket and back over to the kitchen table. His eyes lingered on the rest of the discs in the box. Innocently laying still, despite the contents of the first one.
Odd, strange, and all sorts of freaky vibes.
But Tommy tapped the table, he wanted to know more, not sure why, but he did. If this was just a prank, nothing to worry about, Toby would agree too. Just some tasteless prank with a mystery.
And Tommy liked mysteries.