Chapter III

I know him! I remember him! So please! Please just let me...even just this once...please...who is he again...?

°°°5 years ago...

"This is...something."

A 13 year old boy staring at the two older men who's staring back at him.

It was all an accident. He was just walking at the woods to calm down but ended up right in from of the two strangers.

'They look strange. Wearing a hoodie and jacket in the middle of summer'

He tilted his head, a small frown while looking at the two. While the two men are deciding whether to kill that boy or let him be, seeing as he didn't seem to hear their conversation.

It was a good thing that they weren't wearing their masks. As it was already too hot and they thought they would be alone in the woods, or so they thought that is. Their weapons were behind them as well, so it was safe to say that the boy didn't know that they were killers.

"U-Um..." The boy opened his mouth and both killers looked at him as the tension seems to grow even more

"Mm..." He smiled, "W-Who are you?" He asked with a gentle tone, but cracked his neck at the side

Both killer flinched. Now deciding what to do. So the man who wore a jacket cleared his throat and spoke. Dismissing the tics and twitches the young boy gave.

"My name is Timothy." He said and smiled back

The other killer was surprised, he thought Masky would threaten the kid but he didn't. So he looked at the boy and introduced himself as well.

"Brian."

"Hi." He said and gave off a small wave with a smile once more

The young boy gave a bright smile as he went forward and before the masked killer was about to ask but felt his tongue tied as he felt the soft embrace of the young boy.

"My n-name is Tobias Eren Rogers! You can c-call me Toby!" Toby introduced himself and looked up, knowing that both Masky and Hoodie are much taller than him, and smiled once more

The killer felt heat rush up to his face, and instead of his friend to help him he only began to film secretly.

"You sure are one hyper active kid." Masky said and pat Toby's head

Then Hoodie suddenly asked.

"What are you doing here in the woods, Toby?" He asked with a worried look

Toby looked at him, not letting go from his embrace, and smiles.

"Just walking." He said that made the two to freeze and process his answer without even stuttering

Masky flicked his forehead which made Toby to flinch and pout at Masky.

"You know that it's dangerous to just walk around. What if you met were a bunch of...bad guys?" Masky have to restrain himself from saying 'killers' as the boy are already seeing one

"B-But I met you g-guys. So I'm s-s-safe! Right T-Timmy?" He said and both killers know that they can't change the boy's mind

"Toby. You can let go now."

"N-Nope!"

"Poor Timmy. Pfft."

"Shut up!"

2 weeks later...

Ever since their accidental meeting. The young boy kept on visiting the place where he met the killer, he knows that it was dangerous but he can't help it as whenever he thinks of that killer who he hugged, he couldn't help but to smile.

"You're here?"

"H-Hi Timmy!"

Whenever he's with Masky, he felt safe, as if he knows that the killer won't hurt him.

Throughout those two weeks, Masky is silently expecting Toby to come to the forest. That's why he's constantly hanging around, his friend decided not to say a word and would sometimes accompany him throughout the waiting.

Both boys sat down at a chopped down tree and talked. Toby feels comfortable and safe, he doesn't mind telling the killer his problems and the reason why he didn't get to come for the last two weeks.

"So yeah, since I k-kept on running a-away from my o-other class-s-ses, my principal told me t-to stay for t-two hours fo-or a make u-up class and m-my sister would be waiting o-outside. That's why I c-couldn't really see you a-and Brian." He said, not even hiding the disappointment in his tone and the sad expression

And Masky doesn't know why he felt a wave of relief when Toby told him. He felt, at first, disappointed that Toby won't see him again but fate made him see the opposite.

"Toby. It's fine, no need to explain." Even though he felt happy that he did, "But you shouldn't be running away from your classes, it will affect your grade badly." But Toby only pouted and crossed his arms

"But th-those teachers were boring! A-And I kept on t-thinking about y-you so that's w-why." The simple confession of the young boy made the killer to freeze and blood rushing to his face once more

Another week had passed. And finally Toby's principal had stopped giving him extra classes, which gave the young boy an advantage to visit the two men he befriended. Days passed and he kept on visiting them, hanging out with them, and the two killers would walk the young boy to his home just a few blocks to make sure that he is safe. They never knew that they would make sure the boy would be safe when they are the ones who makes people feel fear.

Until one day.

Masky and Hoodie sat patiently at the chopped tree and talked about their current mission. They have to kill a student in Toby's class, at first they were nervous that maybe it was Toby who will be their victim but to their relief that he wasn't.

Without realising that the young boy had heard their conversation.

Those three would always hang out at that place. Completely forgetting that they're killers and the young boy in front of them is just an innocent civilian.

"Mm...y-your hurting people Timmy, Brian? That's fine, y-you have a reason and I'll l-listen to it someday!"

But both killers didn't expect that the young boy won't run away, but instead, stayed and smiled.

They would smile, laugh, the other killer would tease his friend and the young boy on how they look perfect together.

"But Tim. Remember, he's a kid. Don't be a pedophile."

"Shut up Brian!"

"P-Pedophile?"

"Brian!" But the other killer just laughed

They never expected they'd befriend a person out of their league. They never expect that innocent boy to just accept them.

2 months later...

"T-Thanks for h-helping me, Timmy!"

Toby suddenly went forward and hugged Masky, but what made the two killers to freeze was when Toby kissed Masky on the cheek.

Ever since Toby heard them, Brian had kept his camera and started filming. Wanting a bit of a good memory to be filmed by the camera. And for Hoodie, he felt like he won the lottery when he get to film the kissing part.

"Toby..!" But Masky couldn't even form any words as he felt himself to blush even more

"Looks like Masky's gonna die because of overheating." Hoodie said so casually that made Toby to actually believe

"D-Don't die, Timmy!" He hugged the killer with sudden force which made the two to fall down, the young boy on top and the blushing killer at the bottom

Hoodie whistled and takes a good angle to film. Not even bothering to help his friend.

"Toby...! Y-you shouldn't be k-kissing people on the c-cheek just to say thank you!" Masky said while stuttering which made Hoodie to even be more amused

'I am so gonna blackmail him afterwards' Hoodie thought with a knowing smirk paste to his lips

"But...L-Lyra told me to k-kiss people at the c-cheek when you want to thank them. Is it wr-wrong to k-kiss you?" The young boy frowned

But before Masky can even comprehend any answers, Hoodie answered for him.

"Well, what he meant was you can't kiss other people. Just Timmy." Toby smiled at the clear answer and Masky to glare daggers at his friend

"Brian!"

"So I ca-can only kiss y-you? That's fine by m-me, Timmy! I like ki-kissing you!" Hoodie have to cover his mouth and force himself not to shake as he saw how Masky's ears turned red

"This is so worth it." He muttered and saw Toby leans once more and kissed Masky at his cheek

"Pedophile."

"BRIAN!!"

4 months later...

Toby just turned 14. Masky and Hoodie greeting him when Toby complained on how his sister surprised him with a confetti.

"Wait. It's your birthday? Today?!" Both killers are surprised

"Well yeah." Toby's tone as if he answered an obvious question without a stutter

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hoodie asked with crossed arms

Throughout the months they've been hanging out, he felt comfortable enough to the young boy to show much of his expressions than to stay silent.

"Um. B-Because it's n-not important?" Both killers didn't know if that was sarcasm or sass that they heard

"Toby." Masky flicked his forehead and Toby has to whined for Masky to stop doing that action

As time passed by, it was already 6:30 and Toby knew that have to go back home. Even though he knows it wasn't his home the moment his father arrives.

"I h-have to go b-back now." With a defeated sigh, Masky have to hide the frown and forced a smile

"Why so glum?"

"I w-wanna be h-here more w-with you guys!"

"Why don't you just ask him on a date, Timmy?"

"Brian! Stop it!"

"D-Date? Why? A-Are we dating?" And so another heat had came to the killer's face as he hides it while looking away

"No. Brian's just being an idiot."

"I'm here helping you get his heart and my payment is you calling me an idiot. Ouch." Hoodie said and act as if he got hurt while holding his chest but smirked in the end

It was rare for them to act like this. Buddies. As if nothing was wrong, as if they were just normal friends. As they talked, Hoodie asked him, completely forgetting about the boy who's looking at them in amusement.

"You like him, don't you?" He whispers at Masky's ear which made Masky to flinch

"I do not like him! I don't like guys who's way younger than me!" He gave a glare then a disgusted expression, he knows it's not true, but he's a killer

And that answer made Toby to be silent, a part of him felt like it broke as he saw the two killers bickering. Without saying anything, he went home with tears at the corner of his eyes as he clench his fists.

As the two finally stopped. They both looked in front of them only to see the young boy to be gone. They panicked at first but when they went to Toby's house, they saw the boy already in his room.

"Wonder why he went home like that." Masky muttered to himself

"You're so stupid when it comes to this." Hoodie said and both killers decided to head back home

Not knowing it was the last time they would be seeing the young boy.

1 year later...

That young boy is now 15, no, he was about to be 16, and he never visited the woods again. Sad and heartbroken to what the killer said.

He ignored the two as if he never knew them from the very beginning. He denied at his mind that he feels disappointed at Masky's remark and had tried to forget about the pain he felt.

"Q-Quite the irony. I c-c-can't feel pain but I'm f-feeling my h-heart getting broken."

He got taller, his hair now styled in a mess, his eyes looked tired, as the moon illuminated its light at the window of Toby's room. Back when he was 14, he had asked for his mother to make a small balcony at his room. Wishing that maybe Masky would be there and they would talk. But he knew it was only a dream.

He opened the window and let the wind come in as he leans with a sigh. He was tired. To his studies, his bullies, and his father. But he can't do anything. He just can't.

But as he was about to close the window, his eyes went wide when he saw a figure of a man just in front of his room.

He felt scared at first. Thinking that it might be a psycho. But when that figure came to light, it showed the person he loves.

He didn't know why. Why his body suddenly reacted. He felt his own legs to start running outside his house and towards the man he left without saying a word.

And once we saw him, he stopped. Not knowing what to say. Not know what to do. He was still catching his breath. No one's awake at this hour at their house, just the two of them.

"W-What are y-you...doing he-here?"

But the killer didn't say anything. He went near the teenage boy. The moment Masky had seen him up close, he felt like he couldn't breathe. It was torture.

A year ago.

They thought they'll still see him.

But it was just a silly thought.

And that thought woke both of them up.

They were killers. Proxies of Slenderman.

And Toby was just a student they accidentally met.

"You'll be turning 16, right?" Is all Masky asked

Toby only nodded and when Masky took a step closer, he took a step back. The killer noticed and sighed, this is why he hates emotions. It makes him weak.

"Why?"

But Masky smiled at him. It was a tired and sad smile. As if telling Toby.

This will be the first...

"Advance happy birthday, Toby." He took Toby's hand and placed a small box on top of his hand

And the last time Masky will be seen.

Eyes wide. Lips quivering. As his sight never left the small box. He heard the footsteps of his once friend, stepping away from him, walking away from him. And he didn't know what to do.

Would he just stay and let their connection finally be broken. Or run to Masky and hear him out.

'But they did say. Love is something we need to fear too. Because it makes us feel emotions we never thought we'd have.'

"T-Tim!"

Masky stopped. Surprised when the teen shouted his name. He was about to walk again when he felt cold arms snaked around his chest.

As if time didn't exist. As if the whole world stopped just for that sensation to be felt like it was forever. Like it was meant to be.

'I should've wore my mask. Damn it.'

He knew tears will be coming out. If he doesn't get out of the tempting situation. If he doesn't get out from the embrace he has been longing for. Loving to feel the warmth once more.

"I m-miss you. I'm s-sorry." Two phrases. Five words. And it made the killer to spill tears

"You'll be fine." He said and even if he was still yearning for the touch, he pushed the warmth away

That action made Toby to be surprised. It made him feel the pain again.

It was dark. It was silent. It was cold.

And the killer made it worse. By breaking his heart.

With teary eyes, a frown, and a defeated sigh. Toby spoke a word both boys never expect to hear.

"Goodbye."

It was heartbreaking. It was the end.

But Masky doesn't want it to end like that. So he turn around. But he was too late.

Toby's gone. Back inside his room. Where he would be resting his broken heart. And for the first time, he regretted saying those words to the person he still loves.

'I'm sorry.'

But little did he know.

They will be seeing each other again.

While Masky was away. Hoodie was given a file.

Name: Tobias Erin Rogers

Age: 15

- abusive father, multiple disorders, dangerous lifestyle.

- potential proxy

Hoodie didn't know. If it was a nightmare...

Or a dream.

"Whoa. Potential proxy. That's new." Hoodie looked behind him only to see Jeff

"What–!"

"It'll be quite amusing to see how Masky would react. Knowing Slenderman would be giving him the task to watch over the kid." Jeff said and walked out, hands inside the hoodie's pocket, with a glint of mischief in his eyes

"How'd you knew?"

"Obvious as fuck."

To Be Continued...