Archive of Our Own

A night filled with desperation. He was so hungry. Unable to eat for so long. He couldn't resist. Digging into the first person he was able to get his hands on. It wasn't dignified. It wasn't sanitary. But he didn't care. Thoughts all blurring together, only one goal in mind. To eat. It was ravenous. It was monsterous. But it felt so good. It's not like anyone was watching him.

A scrape. Footsteps. Someone coming. Or someone there? He didn't bother to look. If they were going to cause a problem he could deal with them. He thought he heard a stifled gasp. One eerily familiar. It doesn't matter now. Keep eating.

Skid snuggled closer into the blankets wrapped around him. He wasn't inherently cold, but the copious amounts of cuddly things nearby made him feel safer. He would've liked to have sat on his bed, where everything was even more comfortable and safe. But he couldn't watch stuff on his computer there. 

Happy, cheerful music drowned out any thoughts Skid had. He wasn't quite sure what he was watching anymore, but he assumed it was some kind of peppy disney family movie. Those movies weren't really something he enjoyed anymore, but he couldn't watch his favorites, they'd only make him feel worse. Skid had made the mistake earlier by putting on a movie that looked like it was for kids, but was proved wrong quite quickly thirty minutes in when one character died a gore-y death. It had made him sick. He had quickly put on a movie he knew was friendly and bawled his eyes out for a couple of minutes. He wasn't thinking about it much anymore though.

Skid blinked pain filled eyes. He had been watching cartoons with the lights in for hours now. He had done the same thing the day before. It probably wasn't very good for him, but that was the least of Skid's worries. He also felt really hungry.

Skid's mind was once again brought back to the food he had sitting in his closet. His mom had brought all of it for him , but he hadn't touched a bite. Every time he tried he kept thinking back to what he saw. The dripping, the crunching. He saw the gore in every meal he was given. He couldn't picture eating something like that. Skid ended up putting it in the closet so he didn't have to look at it, right next to his skeleton costume draping off a chair. He had changed into a t-shirt and shorts as soon as he got home.

Skid took a side glance at some candy left on his desk. Pump gave him that candy. On the night when everything happened. Everything was kind of a blur now. After seeing what he saw, Skid just remembered running. He didn't know where he was going, he had just wanted to get away. Skid remembered secretly hoping he'd somehow find his way home, though that was blissful thinking for a kid how wouldn't even dare to look up. He wasn't sure how long he was running before finding Pump. The rest is history.

The chocolate bar was the last thing Skid ate, a little nibble out of the corner of it. But the texture made skid think of the squish. So he couldn't finish it. But there was the sucker. Sure nothing wrong could come from eating a sucker?

crunch

Skid looked away with a whimper. No... No sucker.

A sudden ping from Skid's phone made him jump. He picked it up to check the notifications, but he already knew what it was before even pressing the on button. Pump had been messaging Skid a lot for the past day and a half. This was no exception. Skid read the start of a message that said "Hey Skid-" before turning his phone back off. He had no interest to continue reading.

It wasn't that Skid was purposefully ignoring Pump, or that he was upset with him. In fact, he planned on telling him why he was upset. They told eachother everything. But Skid was so distracted he forgot, and as time went on he just started avoiding Pump entirely. And it was getting harder to find a way to speak to him and bring it up. Skid wasn't even sure if he should tell Pump at all anymore. As much as his friend denied it and said he was getting over it, he knew how Pump could be when he was scared.

Skid continued to stress about it for what felt like forever. He eventually tuned back into the movie, his thoughts merging with the colorful voices playing on screen. He was watching some kind of princess movie, where a girl sang to animals about how happy her life was. Skid wondered if she would comfort him if she knew him. The princess seemed like the kind of person who would help him. She kind of reminded Skid of his mom.

Speaking of his mom, she was another person Skid should've spoken to. But every time he tried he just remembered everything, then his words would stutter up, then he'd start crying. This had happened multiple times. He had gotten the same response from his mom as Pump.

"It's ok son. Take a deep, try to relax, and then tell me, ok?"

Well, it was similar to what Pump said anyway. She had seemed really concerned by his reactions, insisting the Skid tell her if he was hurt. He wasn't, so technically Skid didn't have anything he had to tell her.

"Son!"

Skid realized that that wasn't in his head. His mom really was calling him. For the past day and a half she had mostly knocked on his door to get his attention, so her voice calling him from downstairs was a surprise. As much as it pained Skid to do so, he hopped off of his chair and made his way downstairs, still keeping the blankets wrapped around him. Lila was standing by the front door, talking to someone who was outside. Skid, who was now standing silently behind her, leaned to the side to try to get a better look of who the visitor was. Until Lila stepped out of the way.

"Son!" She tried calling again, before realizing Skid was standing right there.

"Oh, nevermind" she said, looking down to address Skid. "Sweetie your friend came over to play."

Skid looked back towards the front door. Standing there with a wide smile was Pump, all decked out for spooky month in his usual costume. Skid realized how much of a state he must've looked.

"Hai Skid!" Pump said cheerfully.

Skid just blinked at him. He assumed that if Pump were to come over he'd give a heads up first.

Pump must've noticed Skid's obvious confusion. "Uh, you didn't answer back my texts, so I thought you were ok with me coming over" his smile started to fade as Skid continued to stare. "You... Still want to go out for spooky month right?"

Skid was starting to severely regret ignoring Pump's message. Nothing sounded better in that moment then curling back up in his blankets and finishing the princess movie. But Pump had walked all the way there, and Skid had already ignored him so much already...

"Uhm, yeah" Skid said, snapping back to reality. "Sure, just... Let me get ready."

Skid went back upstairs to put back his blankets and put on his costume. He always wore it when they went out for spooky month. Even if he felt really... Really tired, and not in the mood. Skid stared at the costume draping over a chair for a moment, trying to force himself to put it on. But Skid just felt so sick. He really didn't feel up to it. But Skid didn't want Pump to be the odd one out. So, in a split second decision, Skid just picked up his mask and put it on before running back downstairs. It didn't look as good as if he'd worn the whole the whole thing, but at least Skid was wearing his black t-shirt with a skull and bones, so it kind of matched. 

Once he made it back to the door Pump's smile returned. Skid couldn't tell whether it was because his friend was genuinely happy to see him or whether he was trying to cheer him up. Either way, Skid couldn't help but give a meek smile back.

"Have fun you two!" Lila called, sounding much more enthusiastic than usual. Perhaps she was just happy that Skid was able to go out again.

Skid followed Pump down the sidewalk, half-heartedly listening to his banter. Pump was listing off everything he had planned for them to do that day. It was strange, hearing Pump be the one to talk continuously.

"First thing on the list!" Pump said after a while. "We get some candy from the candy store!"

Skid shuddered. The candy store was where they were supposed to meet up the night he... He...

Skid took a deep breath and mentally changed the subject. Candy always cheered him up before, why wouldn't it be the same this time?

It didn't take long for the two of them to reach their destination, pushing open the door to reveal a bright and cheery looking store. Sitting behind the counter, to Skid's surprise, was Kevin. He usually worked at nights, Skid and Pump figured that out a while ago. So it was strange seeing him here when the sun was still out.

"Hey kids, haven't seen you here in a while" Kevin said with a yawn as Skid and Pump approached the counter.

"It's only been a couple of days" Pump replied with a slightly confused expression. 

"Oh, has it?" Kevin asked, rubbing his eyes. He looked tired.

"Yup" Pump said, right before slamming a couple of dollar bills on the counter. "I brought money this time so we can get whatever we want!" 

Kevin blinked at the money slowly. Skid wondered if that's what he looked like earlier.

"Yeah sure. Pick out what you want" Kevin mumbled.

Pump turned his gaze to Skid expectantly. Was he really allowed to pick out the treats they got? With Pump's money? Skid couldn't hide the smile on his face. 

Skid picked out three different types of sweets, the types that were usually too expensive or limited to be given out on halloween. Pump seemed to agree with his choices.

It took Kevin a moment to respond to the children. "Oh yeah, I have to get one of those from the back" he eventually said, standing up and walking away slowly. "One sec."

Skid and Pump were left to stand in silence for a moment. It wasn't uncomfortable of course: Skid and Pump never had uncomfortable silences. They were too good of friends. But feeling a little bit better, Skid decided to talk more about the day that was planned.

"So, what are we going to do next?" Skid asked with a slight smile. Pump beamed.

"Oh you know..." Pump trailed off, smiling slyly. "It's a surprise."

Skid didn't need to prod any further, as a sudden crash sounded from the room Kevin had disappeared in. The kids looked up suddenly as another crash sounded and a shuffle, before Kevin came stumbling out with candy in hand.

"What was that?" Skid asked.

"Sorry" Kevin replied simply. "There was a spider."

"I squished a spider once" Pump chipped in. "It was really big and left a stain on the wall. It's still there."

Kevin yawned. "That's nice kid."

As Skid and Pump continued their way down the sidewalk they started eating some of the sweets. While Skid wasn't directly aware of it, he felt so happy to be able to eat again without thinking of the crunches, and the splats and drips. Skid turned to Pump, feeling better than he had all week.

"Will you tell me where we're going now?" Skid asked with a hint of teasing in his voice.

Pump returned a grin. "I thought I'd invite a spooky friend along" he said. "Make the most out of today!"

Skid deflated a bit. He wasn't sure he really wanted to hang out with anyone else today. But, if Pump thought it would make him feel better, he would go along with it.

Though he still felt uneasy for some reason.

Pump stopped suddenly, causing Skid to practically run into him. Before he could ask what was wrong, his friend said "hm, I think this is where he said we could meet him."

At the moment, they were standing in front of some unassuming brick building. Wedged in between it and a different structure was a small dark alley. Skid took a step back. He didn't want to be anywhere near that alley. 

So of course Pump ended up saying, "I think he's waiting down there" before pointing right at it. 

Which of their friends would be waiting down a creepy alley? Skid's subconscious could name a few, but his mind pushed out those possibilities. Specifically one in particular. 

Skid didn't notice Pump looking at him, seeing the terror cross his face. Pump paused to think for a moment before speaking. "I'll uh, go check to see if he's down there."

By the time Skid registered what Pump had said he had already started walking into the alley. He wanted to do anything: grab his hand and pull him back, beg him not to go...

But Pump was gone, and Skid didn't want to follow him. He never wanted to go into another alley ever again.

The light from overheard faded away. Skid looked up to see heavy clouds rolling in, covering up the sun and bright blue sky. Skid started to get a bad feeling. He shuddered, wondering if maybe Pump wouldn't come back. Maybe he went into a deep dark alley and never came out. What if he never saw his friend again? What if- 

Skid wasn't worrying very long. Pump emerged from the alley just as quickly as he left. At least if felt quick, surprisingly. Skid was just grateful Pump was back, they could leave and go somewhere fun and less scary.

But Skid forgot about the "spooky friend". Until he showed up right behind Pump. As soon as he saw him, his heart shattered. It was exactly who he was scared it would be.

The monster.

The monster who only ever showed up when he wanted Skid and Pump to do favors. The monster who showed up very rarely. He was here.

It all came back to Skid suddenly like a semi truck driving right into his brain. The crunching, and the dripping. The splats, and slurps. Dead eyes. Bones. Decapitated heads. Blood. Skid found himself shaking. He couldn't move. He was standing face to face with the cause of so many nightmares. Why did it have to be him of all people?

Pump hadn't noticed anything yet. He was staring with a blissfully ignorant smile. No doubt his mind was completely gore free. 

"I was able to get him to hang out for a couple of hours, cool right?" Pump asked. He seemed so genuine, like he had done something really good by inviting him. Skid could only stutter out any form of a response.

The monster craned its head to look down at the two children, it's eyes scanning the both of them. Eyes. The eyes filled with red like the dripping blood from his victim. drip drip drip.

"Yes" The monster crooned in a deep voice. "Though, I am a busy man. Mind if we hurry and start this little game?"

His teeth moved rhythmically when he spoke, his gums bleeding all over his teeth. The tops of them were smeared with with the stuff, yet the tips of his teeth were clean. Like the night where gore stuck and dripped from them had never happened. All Skid could do was stare with wide eyes.

"Sure" Pump said. "I know where to go next!"

The walk was filled with silence. Or rather, anything said went right past Skid. He kept his eyes forward, not daring to look at the monster walking on the other side of Pump. He grasped his friend's hand tightly, seeking any sort of comfort in the gesture. He heard the monster speak occasionally, but he didn't pay attention to what it was. His voice just made Skid hold Pump's hand tighter. He couldn't look at him, he wouldn't look at him.

Little did Skid realize that, while he wouldn't look at the monster, the monster was most certainly watching him. It peered at the strange acting child, never having seen such behavior from him. It got his mind thinking about something. Skid on, the other hand, was oblivious to any eyes watching him. But he still felt uneasy. He still felt anxious being anywhere near that... That...

That monster.

After walk felt like an excruciatingly long time (even though it was probably only a few minutes), the three stopped in front of a building. Skid knew he had seen this building around before, but he had never actually gone in. He forgot what it was for.

"Aw man" Pump spoke up. "It's closed."

Skid looked up at the door to see that, sure enough, a closed sign was plastered on the glass door.

"So" the monster started to speak, making Skid shudder. "We were going to play mini golf?"

That's where Skid remembered it from. The glow in the dark mini golf place. Him and his mom had passed it a couple times and talked about going, but it wasn't something they ever did. Looks like he wouldn't do it today either.

"No no" Pump said, shaking his head. "There was a cool secret place near one of the holes. I was gonna show you."

Pump looked visibly disappointed. Skid wanted to try and cheer him up in some way, but he still felt frozen. He couldn't move a muscle. 

The sound of a vehicle driving past. Skid didn't bother turning around, assuming it was just car.

"Oh look, ice cream" the monster said in a weirdly fake voice. Skid wondered if it was the normal guy they got ice cream from. "Pump, why don't you go get us some?"

By time realization hit it was too late. Pump replied with a "sure... Ok" before running off. Leaving skid alone. With the monster. Who was standing right in front of him peering down.

Skid was ready to run blindly after his friend. But the monster took just one step to the right, trapping Skid between him and the wall. Skid felt his hands start to tremble. Last time he saw someone trapped between the monster and the wall, they ended up as a decapitated head and a pool of blood.

"You seem off today child" the monster started off in a weirdly casual way. "Did something happen?"

Yes, something did happen. But Skid didn't want to tell the monster what he saw. Who knows what he would do? Skid tried to deny anything, but all he was able to do was shake his head meekly.

"Hmmm" the monster droned on in an eerie way, blinking slowly at Skid one eye at a time. There was a thoughtful look on his face, like the gears in his head were turning and thinking. What he was thinking about Skid didn't know. But it made him nervous nonetheless.

The monster reached his arm out. All Skid could see was a menacing reach towards him, like the monster was going to grab him and kill him right there. Skid couldn't suppress a flinch, trying to stumble away even further with a whimper. The monster's arm was raised to his face so he could tap his chin. But he had already seen what effect his seemingly harmless action had caused. Something clicked.

The monster stopped, eyes widening in realization. The gears stopped turning, he finally came to a conclusion. "Ohhh" the monster said, his grin seemingly widening in amusement. "I see what's going on here."

The monster took a step forward, and Skid pressed himself as much against the wall as possible. "You saw everything that night didn't you? The little tippity tapping of feet, those were yours weren't they?"

Crunch

Drip

Slurp

Splat

Skid didn't need the monster to elaborate to know what he was talking about. The sight he saw the night was engraved in his brain, clear as day. Skid didn't even bother to question what the monster was talking about to sound believable. He just rapidly shook his head while his body started to tremble. The monster just gave him an amused expression.

"You mean the little tip tap tip tap..." the monster droned on, using the two fingers on one hand to imitate walking. "That wasn't you?"

Skid shook his head once more.

"Not the scraping then... Or even the pitiful gasp..." The monster continued on, not bothering to look to Skid for answers anymore. 

"I admit I was quite barbaric that night" The monster's voice was casual, like he should be pacing back and forth while speaking. Instead, his head was tilted and his eyes looked up thoughtfully. "I should've been watching as well. One of my many regrets from that night."

Skid stared with wide eyes. How could this nice sounding person be so terrible? 

"But you know, I haven't changed" the monster continued. "I'm still the monster you know and trust."

For a moment, Skid was swayed by his gentle manner. He felt like he could see the same creature he grew to know as a friend. A friendly smile and a kind voice that said nice things to him was fresh in Skid's memory. It brought back a sense of carefree optimism that Skid hadn't felt in days.

But it was quickly shattered once the monster opened his damned mouth again.

"I'll always be sure to prepare the food properly from now on. No more wild bloodbaths. It's just not as fun that way."

Skid felt a sudden surge of anger, disbelief, and confusion. He didn't understand it. He didn't understand it at all. 

"WHY?!"

Skid exploded. He hadn't meant to, and he knew a few seconds from now he would be regretting it more than he'd ever regret anything. But he couldn't take it anymore.

The monster's eyes widened, but he still had a slight smirk on his face. Like he found it amusing.

"Well that's easy" the monster started to go off again. "It's like how you enjoy candy. This is my candy. And I enjoy getting it."

Skid couldn't fathom hurting anyone to such a degree, let alone enjoying it. He could understand wanting to give someone a bit of a spooky scare; in fact part of him had hoped that the monster would reassure Skid that a scare was all it was. But reassurance was not something Skid got.

"Plus" the monster added. "I still need to eat."

"S-so then..." Skid stammered out a reply, his courage from earlier renewed. "Go to the grocery store! That's where everyone else buys their food!"

The monster laughed. A harsh, sickening laugh. It made Skid want to curl up in a ball and hide forever.

"They don't serve human flesh at the grocery store now do they?" 

Skid swallowed, looking up at the towering figure above him. He no longer found himself able to speak through his dry throat.

The monster paused, his entire body freezing in place. One hand rested on his chin, and his eyes stared down at the ground. His pupils flicked back and forth slightly in a way Skid had never seen anyone's do. After a few moments, he turned his attention back to the shivering boy in front of him.

"I suppose this means you won't want to help me anymore." The monster shifted, his body contorting into a straighter position as he stood taller. It sounded more like he was making a statement rather than asking a question.

"Are- are you gonna-" Skid stamped down his fear the best he could. "Are you gonna do to them what you did to that guy?" 

The monster looked up almost fondly. "Perhaps" he said in his oily voice. "Though I'd be much more creative than that. Of course some of these are just revenge plots."

Skid shook his head slightly against all good reason. "Th-then I don't wanna help anymore."

The monster's eyes narrowed into piercing red slits, peering at the child with a continuous smirk. Skid's breath hitched when he saw him move again.

"Well that's too bad" The monster said. "You see I had a list."

He then bent down closer to Skid's eye level. But not in the way normal a person would. His body scrunched up like a pressed spring, bringing him a little closer to Skid's height. He might've found it funny or entertaining before, but now it just made the monster even spookier.

No, not spookier, scarier.

"And if I miss that many meals, well..." A voice that was once gentle and calm twisted in a sinister way. His voice rose and dripped with savage undertones. "I might just be hungry enough to go for the easiest meals."

Skid suppressed a gasp. His heart pounded more than before, and his lip trembled from under the mask. He had a feeling he knew what the monster was implying, the exact thing he was worried about. Skid eyes started to burn. He wanted desperately to cover them.

"After all," Skid felt something on his arm. A shiver ran down his spine as the monster tapped a part of his arm that wasn't covered by his t-shirt. "You are human as well."

As if right on cue, a loud crack of thunder sounded, as well as the pitter patter of a few rain drops. Skid nearly jumped out of his skin. With another grin, the monster took a couple of steps back, giving Skid the room to breathe.

"Lovely weather" he said casually, like he had not been threatening Skid just moments before. He titled his head up. "It's always a treat when it storms."

Skid clutched his chest, breathing so rapidly he was borderline hyperventilating. The monster now had his back turned to him, giving the opportunity to try to slip away. Skid shuffled a little bit at a time, pressed to the wall behind him like his life depended on it. Just a few more steps and he could get away.

"Oh, and Skid?" He froze in his tracks once the sickening sound of the monster's voice arose. 

"If you do, by any chance, want to get in my way or call authorities..." He turned around with a wide, toothy grin. "Then I'd be happy for dessert."

Skid was ready to run. To book it. To do anything to get away from the monster. He felt like running, and screaming, and crying, and never looking back. Which is what Skid probably would've done if it weren't for Pump's sudden arrival.

Everything else seemed to stop as Pump merrily made his way over, holding three ice creams in his hands. He stopped a few feet away from the monster, but Skid wished desperately that he would stand between them. He spoke up, his more cheerful sounding voice a breath of fresh air from the last conversation.

"I got the ice cream. Sorry it took so long, other kids kept getting some and falling asleep in line."

"Asleep?" The monster, who once again had his back turned, replied without bothering go turn around.

Pump's face was straightened out from the smile he had before. "That's what I was told anyways."

Asleep? The Ice cream guy said they were asleep?

Skid felt light headed for a moment. "Asleep" made him think of a very different scenario. Was the ice cream guy scary too? Were they wrong about him too?

Who else were they wrong about?

"Oh, are you leaving?" 

Pump's voice brought Skid out of his thoughts. His friend was looking up at the monster, who had started to walk away. The monster once again addressed him without so much as a glance.

"Sorry, but I must be leaving now. I'm terrified of storms."

"Oh... Ok" Pump said, his voice faltering.

Skid exhaled a relieved breath as he watched the dirty liar walk away. He wasted no time, looking Pump straight in the eyes and asking, "can we go to my house now?!"

Skid had wanted it to sound like a normal request. But then he would've been pushier, staying that they were going to his house. He hadn't been able to push the terror out of his voice, not in the slightest.

"Oh uhm, ok-" Pump started to say, before Skid grabbed his arm and raced off, not bothering to even take his ice cream off of Pump's hands. 

Skid didn't look back. He felt a sob rising in his throat, and the formation of tears in his eyes. But he wouldn't cry yet, not until he was home. He couldn't. He couldn't go sobbing about what had happened until he knew for sure that the monster was out of earshot.

"Skid! Skid wait!" 

Pump was stuttering out all kinds of things while being dragged along by his friend. Skid should've stopped, slowed down and talked to Pump about it. But he didn't. He had too much adrenaline.

The monster's words rung in Skid's head, powering him forward. He couldn't find any way to get them out. All of the discussions about murdering people, and about eating them, and and- about enjoying it. The thought of him doing that to the people Skid cared about...

Skid clutched Pump's arm tighter, getting a reaction from his friend.

"Did I do something wrong?" 

Skid felt a surge of guilt. No, of course Pump didn't do anything wrong. If anything Skid was the problem for keeping him in the dark. Skid would tell him. It would probably hurt him, but at least Pump wouldn't have to go through what Skid did if he left out all the bad details. Then he would be able to defend himself if the monster ever tried to-

Realization hit Skid like a bat over his head, almost stopping him dead in his tracks.

Then Pump might not do the monster's tasks. 

He might get in his way.

"Then I'd be happy for dessert."

Skid couldn't get that image out of his mind. The monster's wicked, toothy grin watching him while he spoke. The thought of him hurting his friend, doing anything to harm Pump-

Why it only powered Skid to run faster.

"Skid I'm sorry!" Pump tried getting his friend's attention again. "I thought you liked hanging out with him, I won't invite him next time!"

Skid must've missed some earlier parts of the one sided conversation, but that wasn't what caught his attention. What Pump said only reminded Skid of the fact that he was the one who made friends with the monster. That he was the one who decided to do as the creature asked instead of waiting the extra two seconds to think like Pump might've. That he would be responsible for anything bad happening to his friend. 

No, he would be the one to make sure that wouldn't happen. 

Skid wouldn't tell Pump about the true intentions of the monster. He couldn't. Not to anyone he cared about. He would occasionally help out when he had to, hopefully saving as many people as possible by failing. And he would keep Pump safe from not only the monster, but the other shifty people in town he wasn't aware of before.

Skid tuned out the world around him, including the protests from his friend and the ice cream in Pump's hand that was dripping onto his arm. He had one goal: getting home. Skid still had no idea of what events awaited him, but one thing was for sure: his life wasn't going to be the same again. Just like the princess in the film he was watching. But then, Skid wouldn't know what happens to her.

He never paused the movie.