Chapter Text
A hooded figure slinked across the shadows through backyards, checking windows of houses, avoiding ones with dogs, until the suspicious character paused at a two story house. The figure made a clicking noise with their tongue before their head jerked involuntarily to the side, he paused a moment making sure the sound wasn’t somehow heard, and continued.
Toby pulled the hood of his jacket over his head and pushed experimentally on one of the windowsills he believed to be unlocked. It made a squeaky noise as the glass slid up and peeled itself from the sill, he paused another moment, making sure the loud entrance hadn’t awoken any residents. When he was certain that no one was disturbed he pulled out one of his hatchets, propping open his way in and crawled through the window.
Lifting his hatchet back from where it was propped he carefully slid the window close and continued into the abode. From what he could tell the house was owned by an older couple whose grown son still lives with them. The inside looked more on the higher paying side of middle class and they definitely didn’t hold back on appliances. He stayed low to the ground as he creeped through the kitchen, straining his ears for any noise.
He could hear the sounds of a first person shooter upstairs, signifying that the son was awake. The brunette crept towards the set of stairs and made way up them, looking both ways at the top step. He saw lights flashing behind a bedroom door to the left so he made the decision to search for the couple in the master bedroom. They would be asleep and even if one of them woke up he was certain he could make quick work of them. Toby tiptoed across the cherry wood floors to the door he rightfully assumed led to the shared room, opening the door slowly incase they were light sleepers.
He closed the door behind him as he took light steps closer to the bedside, taking out his dual hatchets and raising one. He leveled the blade over the man’s neck weighing it out to make sure he got a clean cut, raising the hatchet with a final conclusion and bringing it down with a thick wet thud. Gurgling could be heard from the new gaping wound the man sported right where his adams apple lay, blood spurting from the wound, his body moving sporadically.
A quick intake of breath was his only warning that the wife had awoken, he brought up the hatchet that wasn’t currently occupied and swung. The older woman rolling out of bed barely avoiding the killing blow as it landed in her shoulder and was swiftly pulled back. She wailed out loud, only being muffled when Toby brought a gloved hand over her mouth, roughly yanking her back by the hair and holding the hatchet over her neck.
He swiftly pulled the hatchet back and sliced her throat, he listened as she choked and desperately gagged for air through the blood. She crawled along the floor reaching for the door, her last breaths being taken as said door opened suddenly. “Shit-“ it was the son, who only took a moment to look on in horror before he head on charged Toby. The large man easily overpowered the brunettes scrawny frame and probably cracked a few good ribs as he was flung into the side table.
It took a moment to catch his breath, once he did no time was wasted as his grip tightened on the hatchet handle he still clung to. The back of the hatchet came down on the dirty blonde man’s head, knocking his dizzy before he could throw a punch. Quickly Toby got up, scrambling towards the bed and retrieving the weapon still sheathed in the man’s neck and swerving around as his ankle was grabbed. As the teen was dragged to the floor he brought up his hatchet and landed it into the man’s back.
Howling in pain he let the murderer go who scrambled to his feet and rose his second blade, before he could swing it down however, the man beneath him pulled roughly on the side table. Glass broke and knickknacks scattered from the collision, the dark wood furniture hitting the back of his knees and knocked Toby over. He grunted as he felt a repeated movement over his ankle, a nasty crunch sounding, at least he couldn’t feel it, he’s certain anyone else would’ve at least teared up by now.
Twisting his torso, he swung the back of his hatchet once more to collide with the burly man’s injured back lodging the hatchet already there in further. He heard screaming and moved to quickly grab the other hatchets handle, with the firm lodging of his weapon to his advantage and dragging him using the pain to his leverage. It wasn’t too much of a struggle since if the victim pulled back the blade would rip through his arm harshly.
He took him to the top of the flight of stairs and violently lurched the hatchet from its place making the man stagger before he planted his foot on his back. The man tumbled down the steps, at first he protested then screamed, which dulled down to grunts but after he banged his head across just about every edge of the staircase he laid pretty still at the bottom. Toby whistled, his head twitching to the side as he ran the back of one hatchet across the railing, making hollow sound as wood hit wood.
He carelessly stepped in the puddles of blood that splattered shamelessly down the steps until he reached the bottom. A slight limp accompanied him from his presumably broken ankle but despite this he crouched down next to the man who was laying dazed on the floor. His breath was shallow and he held onto the life he had left with every gasp, and when he gained more consciousness his eyes widened with fear as the man writhed across the floor.
He was crawling away with begs and pleads leaving his mouth as the man struggled, Toby just watched, walking slowly behind before deciding that the show was over. A swift swing and the hatchet broke through the man’s skull, ending his desperate pleading and crawling, by the time Toby had pulled his weapon back the sounds of sirens and red blue lights flooded his senses. His eyes narrowed, the neighbors must’ve called the police, Toby pocketed his dual weapons and hobbled over to the back of the house.
Quickly he unlocked and went through the door and ran as fast as he could into the woods with a broken leg and possible ribs. He didn’t stop until he had finally reached the fog that marked the transition between a regular forest and Slenders. Taking a deep breath in he continued his trek back to the mansion at a slower pace, he knew he was going to get shit for his messy job…
•••
After the faceless entity has fully scorned him and brought up his recently lacking performances saying that “Toby has been cutting it close ever since his level as a Berserker has allowed him more freedom”. When Toby said nothing he was let go to lick his wounds, the being not holding him back long so he could treat his stupid wounds and get some rest. Toby silently limped up the steps to his room, trying to be quiet as to not disturb any housemates. He reached his door and opened it with a relieved feeling at the entrance entrance, a sigh escaping the moment his feet planted on the other side of a closed door.
Pulling his hatchets from his belt Toby laid them in the sink, head jerking to the side as he watched water wash away crimson. He turned off the faucet after a while and started to peel off his accessories that were drenched in blood. Running the shower water Toby proceeded to discard all his dirty stuff in a hamper at the bathrooms corner, setting aside his now cleaned off goggles for fixing later. Sitting on the edge of the tub Toby firmly held his out of place ankle and inhaled before snapping it in place quickly.
With that done there wasn’t more he could do for the ribs, just leave them be, standing up he tested his ankle before deciding it was good enough. He stepped into the shower, making sure to get a good quick scrub of all the irony stains that burned in his nostrils. After a good while of just standing there Toby decided it was time to get out, wrapping a towel around his waist he set out some clothes. Putting on a black long sleeve then a gray tinted brown shirt over it along with ripped jeans Toby set to fixing his goggles, returning his mask to its rightful place as well.
Toby popped out the lenses and opened a drawer, replacing the orange glass before examining his work. That was much better, now all Toby had to do was relax while he can, he knew this mess up was one of many but maybe this marked too many, leaving him to believe punishment was ahead. The brunette sighed, his tongue clicking involuntarily as he sat down on his bed, putting his goggles on his night stand.
It was late by this time and he figured most proxies were eating and taking some personal time as well. A knock at the door almost caused Toby to groan as he begrudgingly got up to answer, there’s really only one person who knocks on his door. Behind said door was Masky, his proxy level was pretty high, giving him lots of privileges but also lots of work, making him a top proxy who takes most of Slenders direct orders.
“Toby, Slenderman asked me to talk with you” straight to the point as usual “O-okay, what’s t-the problem?”. He noticed the other stiffen at his phrasing “It’s not exactly a problem… per say, he said he’s noticed that you’ve been struggling as you have also addressed and has come up with a partial ‘solution’ to this issue”. The way Masky seemed to disagree with this “solution” Toby could feel that he wasn’t going to be quite fond either.
“Bare with me for a moment, before I tell you this I would like to say now that Slenderman says he understands that you may be against this and might even see it as an infringement on your new perks as a higher level proxy”. Toby crossed his arms and quirked a brow as a motion to continue “He would like it if you would work with a partner for a while, see how you do as a team”. His brows then furrowed “What? With w-who?” His sentence was punctuated with a tongue click and whistle.
“He says that he would find it interesting if you would work with… Jeff” Toby blinked letting it set in for a moment then- “J-Jeff?? I don’t even talk to him though!”. Masky sighed, shoulders sagging as he showed a little of his tiredness “Those are my thoughts as well, but I am not one to tell the boss how to run his own ship, he was adamant that it would be a good match and if not then he will make arrangements”. Toby’s face scrunched up in thought, Jeff? But he barely even talks to the guy!! He is a higher leveled proxy due to his ability to make quick work and even quicker escapes from what he’s heard. But he’s heard of the other proxies monstrous anger and lack of teamwork way more often then he does of the man’s accomplishments.
This combined with the fact that he’s not exactly the best at in and out slashings led him to not understand the odd decision either “I guess I c-can’t complain, I-it’s just…” Masky nodded “I understand, believe me but just… try it out okay?? I’m sure it’s not ideal for Jeff either”. Toby sighed “Okay yeah sure, t-thanks for telling me I guess” the man nods “Just don’t be afraid to ask for a different partner, we can pair you with someone else, but I ask that you try”. With that the older proxy left, leaving Toby to think, well this will certainly be… interesting, and if that’s what Slender is looking for, he thinks the entity will get it.