⋆˚｡⋆୨✧୧˚ Unknown Proximity ˚୨✧୧⋆｡˚⋆ ~1~

WARNING: MENTIONS OF BLOOD, VIOLENCE AND MILD GORE. DO NOT READ IF THIS BOTHERS YOU.

⋆˚｡⋆୨✧୧˚ ONE: Likely Concussed ˚୨✧୧⋆｡˚⋆

I passed out again— I guess. But now I found myself in a place that felt completely unfamiliar. Everything was different; the rooms were gothic and Victorian, and wherever I was lying felt soft. I looked around and noticed my knife and scarf lying on the carpet next to me. Narrowing my eyes, I slowly got up, aware of my new tendency to faint. Once I felt steady enough to stand, I hopped off the bed and retrieved my belongings.

I continued to explore, taking in the aesthetic of the room. The pain in my face caught me off guard, and I sighed heavily. I needed something— I needed stitches. Reluctantly, I narrowed my eyes and stepped through the bedroom door, feeling winded as I walked down a strikingly long hallway lined with countless doors, each labeled with different names. Some were basic, some intriguing, and others quite bizarre.

"B3n Dr0wn3d's 3p1k G4m3 C4v3"
"Eyeless Jack's Room (+Seedeater)"
"Laughing Jill"
"Ticci Toby's Space"

I nearly kicked one of the doors in frustration when I couldn't find a bathroom, but I was relieved to find a large one straight ahead after crossing into a different area. I walked inside and shut the door, feeling slightly uncomfortable with how at home I was already making myself. I got right to work, searching through cabinets until I found some stitches. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate any scissors, so I decided to use my knife instead.

I turned on the water and caught sight of myself in the mirror, nearly passing out yet again. My face, now resembling my little brother's, bore deep slashes across my cheeks that created a permanent smile. I glared at my reflection in disgust and began the stitching process. It was painful at first, but I quickly got used to it and managed to finish in under three minutes— a new personal record for me.

I knew how to stitch and suture from my time volunteering at a vet clinic, and I ended up getting quite good at it. It's a skill I'll always need, so I didn't mind honing it. As I stared at the remaining stitching material, I decided to put some in my back pocket, just in case I might need it later.

When I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, I noticed a small but deep cut running across the bridge of my nose, which confused me. How had I missed that before? It didn't matter, I told myself as I carefully stitched it up. Once I finished, I realized that I had no idea how I got here—if I had passed out in the woods, how did I end up in this giant house?

I walked out of the bathroom and cautiously looked around before heading back to the room I had originally found myself in. If someone had brought me here, then they would eventually return to explain their purpose—then I could worry about whether or not I needed to fight.

I entered the beautiful bedroom again, but my heart nearly stopped when I saw a boy sitting in the corner, on the verge of tears. I stood still for a moment, unsure if I should say anything, but then he noticed me, and his face lit up like a decorated Christmas tree.

"You're awake!" he exclaimed, his voice sweet and kind, yet tinged with pain. "I thought you left…"

I observed him closely as he meticulously examined my features, and I couldn't help but find him endearing. He had a compact frame, reminiscent of a twin-size bed, and his smile—bright and inviting—felt like it was gently pulling at my heartstrings. As I looked closer, I noticed a distinctive chunk missing from his cheek, which exposed a glimpse of his white teeth underneath. Surprisingly, this unusual detail didn't detract from his overall charm; if anything, it added an intriguing aspect to his appearance. In all my experiences, I had never encountered a guy quite like him. It made me think that perhaps there's a first time for everything, and I could easily see why the ladies would be drawn to him, completely captivated by his unique allure.

"I'm Toby, what's your name? I saw you in the forest, you were unconscious, so I had a friend lift you and carry you home!" He smiled at me, and as I looked sincerely into his eyes, my heart did a quadruple somersault in my chest. He was so full of anguish and pain, it was almost unbearable to look at him. Something told me that he'd been deeply hurt, abused, or even worse-- maybe all of the above.

"Liu Vicky Woods, nice to meet you, Toby," I said slowly, wary of the situation. "Who is your friend? Where is he now?"

I noticed Toby's gaze drift away from me towards the doorway, so I turned around in curiosity. I gasped when I saw an incredibly tall, faceless creature hunched over me. Dark, spider-like legs protruded from its back, moving wildly as if it could see me regardless.

"Hello, child," it began, its voice so deep that the ground trembled with each word. "Welcome to my mansion."

I glanced back at Toby in a panic, my heart racing as I anticipated a similar sense of dread in his eyes. To my surprise, he remained utterly composed, an unexpected calmness radiating from him. He gazed at the creature before us with an expression that bordered on affection, his eyes softened as though he were observing a long-lost friend rather than a strange being. Confusion washed over me, intensifying my unease. The air around us felt charged, and as I stood there, a creeping numbness began to envelop my limbs, creeping up from my fingertips to my shoulders. It was as if the very essence of the moment was sapping my strength, leaving me rooted to the spot, caught in a whirlwind of fear and bewilderment.

"I am Slenderman, you may call me that or... ehm.." It coughed and sporadically looked for the right word to say. He sounded it out, letting it fall off of his tongue grossly. "Slendy..."

I heard Toby giggle, and my heart raced. How was I feeling so many emotions at once—something warm and fuzzy, confusion, fear, anxiety, and a sense of purity? I had no idea what to say, so I decided it was best to stay quiet for the time being.

"Ticci Toby, please take him out and let him... run wild. I want to see if he'll do what needs to be done." Slenderman stood up, the ceiling magically raising to accommodate him. He used his black tentacles to tousle my hair before leaving. As he walked away, he called back over his shoulder, "Good luck!"

I felt a firm yet gentle hand wrap around mine, and before I fully realized what was happening, Toby was guiding me out of the dimly lit room. With a steady grip, he led me through a labyrinth of narrow hallways and twisting corridors, each turn shrouded in shadows. My mind wandered as I focused on our hands, entwined tightly together; our fingers curled around each other with a tenderness that seemed to echo the bond of a married couple, intimate and reassuring. A swirl of confusion enveloped me. Was there something amiss with me? Maybe I had bumped my head when I collapsed in the dense, overgrown forest, leaving me to wonder if this was all just a dream or a strange delusion.

As we descended the stairs, I could hear laughter and chatter. Once we reached the bottom, I was taken aback by the number of people—so many monsters even—staring at me. One in particular sent a surge of adrenaline through me, and I abruptly let go of Toby's hand.

"Jeffrey!" I shouted, pushing through the crowd until I stood towering over him like a skyscraper. "You..."

I didn't finish my words, I raised my fists and swung wildly at him. But before I knew it, my little brother had wielded a knife and was stabbing at me as much as he could, snagging my skin every once in a while. Everyone else zoned out of my head, it was just me and him. He kicked me off of him and we both stood, breathing heavily, staring each other down. I noticed him ready himself to go again, so I grabbed my knife off of my belt.

"What are you going to do, Liu?" He sneered, his mouth sending shivers down my spine. "What are you going to do?"

I clenched my teeth and grabbed him by the shoulder and stabbed it into his stomach. I twisted and turned until he faltered, and I finally let him go. I wiped the blade off my clothes and stared him down. At that moment, I realized how well I just liked the feeling that ran over me. Never have I ever felt so happy after such a sadistic act.

As my bubble popped, I heard claps and cheers in favor of my name, but Jeff still got taken care of regardless by a woman in a black nurse's outfit and a chainsaw. I'm pretty sure I heard someone say that her name was Nurse Ann, but I wasn't completely sure. I didn't really care-- and if I should, then obviously something is wrong with me and it's not just my paranoia.

I turned to face Toby, who stared up at me with wide, scared eyes. He slowly backed away and went back upstairs, leaving me in the crowd. I went to go after him but was stopped when a hand-- cold as ice-- grabbed my arm.

"That was certainly amazing, Liu Woods." They began, and as I spun around, I felt my skin fall off of my body. "Eyeless Jack, nice to meet you."

The man extended his free arm for a handshake, and I politely obliged. As we went through the introduction ritual, I studied him, feeling a wave of sickness washing over me. His skin was a shade of grey, far from a normal complexion, and he had no eyes. Instead, there were only empty sockets, from which an odd black ooze seeped, running down his face like tears. His hands were bony, and his fingernails appeared sharp. He wore a black hoodie, jeans, and Air Force Ones—a very stylish look, if I do say so myself.

“Nice to meet you too,” I smiled as I spoke, nodding my head in acknowledgment. “And who’s this?”

I caught sight of a formidable creature perched beside him, towering and impressively muscular. If it were to rise to its full height, I estimated it would stand over seven feet tall. Its body was predominantly a shade of lighter black, contrasting sharply with a striking mane of straight, jet-black hair cascading down the back of its head. The creature's face was an unsettling sight, mainly white, with a peculiar texture that suggested it had been meticulously stitched together. One of its eyes was wide open, revealing an intense gaze, while the other was firmly shut, adding to the eerie appearance of this enigmatic being. It grasped onto a small doll that was covered in blood.

"Oh, that's Seedeater. He's a good boy-- once he likes you, that is." Eyeless Jack turned his head to me and smiled. "If he doesn't like you, he will eventually. After that, there's no going back. You'll have his loyalty forever."

I nodded slowly and instinctively swallowed. Before I could say anything else, more people approached me to introduce themselves. However, one person captured my attention more than the others.

"Liu! Hi! I'm Sally!" A little girl with brown hair in a pink little dress came up to me. "I like your scarf!"

I couldn't help but smile at the child. She was very sweet and kind, but the look in her eyes indicated that even she had been put through too much. She held on tightly to a teddy bear that was missing a button eye. But what threw me for a loop was that she had blood running down her face from the top of her head.

"Well, hello there, Sally." I squatted down next to her. "Thank you for the compliment, I like your teddy bear!"

Sally's face lit up with happiness and she threw herself onto me in a hug, and I patted her little back gently. She let me go and pinched my cheek-- like a grandmother would-- before running off to a different room. She was a good one, and I've never met anyone as pure as that right there.

Once everyone else got done dilly-dallying with me, I decided I would go back to find Toby. I remembered from my bathroom adventure where his door was, and I headed straight there. Although I felt like a lost puppy searching for its owner, I couldn't help but feel obligated to do so. I suppose... Slenderman, or whatever his name was, had him be with me for a reason-- which meant I needed to be with him. I padded up to the door and went to knock, but stopped myself. I heard crying on the other side of it-- the sound was faint, but it was still there. I kneeled and put my forehead against the soft wood.

"Toby?" I called gently, hoping to cease the sobbing. "Toby, I know you're in there. Can I come in?"

The crying didn't stop but grew fainter after the lock popped. I slowly got up and entered, looking around. Mostly everything was the same as in the room I had been in, but it was just personalized. Hatchets aligned the wall neatly, some new, some worn, and some old. I stared at them for a moment before catching the same sad tune of the crying, just much more quiet. I began to look around for Toby and saw him instantly when I looked at the other side of the bed, on the floor.

"...Toby?" I began, sitting next to him and gently grabbing his shoulder. "You're a mess, you need to breathe."

I watched him take a few deep breaths, and he allowed his head to fall onto my shoulder. It fits perfectly between my jaw and collar, and as I looked down at him, I wondered how this would feel all of the time. Not just when he's crying, of course, but when he wants me, and I want him.

𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵? 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯.

"I'm sorry.." He breathed, his limbs shaking. "I'm not a baby, I promise. I just can't handle it when something like that happens unless I'm doing it myself."

I raised an eyebrow, but the words caught in my throat, leaving me speechless. His seemingly independent declaration left me momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond. The only instinct that surfaced was to gently lower my legs and pull him in closer to me, my hands instinctively rubbing soothing circles on his back. I could feel the tension in his body dissipate as his breathing began to soften, the warmth of my embrace wrapping around him like a comforting blanket. The soft fall of tears ceased, and he relaxed willingly against me, surrendering to the moment.

Before long, I noticed the rhythm of his breaths transformed into the steady, gentle cadence of sleep, punctuated by soft little sighs escaping his lips. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, a frantic drumbeat I desperately hoped wouldn’t disturb his peaceful slumber. Strangely, beneath the surface of concern, I found myself relishing this intimate feeling of connection.

After a brief pause, I carefully stood up, cradling him in my arms as delicately as I could manage, as if he were a fragile porcelain doll. I gazed down at his face—so elegant, with delicate features that seemed to radiate tranquility in the dim light—held in my arms for just a moment longer. A strange sensation washed over me, leaving me to wonder about the odd workings of my mind as if my thoughts had taken a disorienting twist.

Eventually, I gently laid him down on the bed, ensuring that he was snugly covered with a soft blanket, watching his chest rise and fall in a peaceful rhythm. With a reluctant sigh, I turned towards the door, casting one last lingering glance back at his serene form before stepping out and heading toward the other room that had become my temporary refuge... However, this time the interior looked so different- it was so personalized and tailored towards... me.

I looked around a little and noticed a few things that set my radar off. The bed sheets were my favorite fabric-- the kind that keeps someone warm but not too hot. My favorite posters adorned the walls neatly, just like I would like them to be. My old ceramics projects lined shelving but served more purposefully for book stoppers-- all of which were horror novels that I hadn't read yet. I noticed a closet with my style of clothing in it, and my favorite set of boots as well. I narrowed my eyes and looked a little closer, noticing the book that I had left behind in the fire sitting next to them. I picked it up, the page number was right where I had left off.

I felt my heart palpitate and I sat down on the bed. I placed my hand on my face, feeling the stitches I had just put in earlier. I didn't quite understand anything, nor why I'm here. Why does everything have to happen the way that it did and why do I have to feel so much all at once? I don't know how to handle any of it, it's all so difficult. But I suppose I'd never get out of the house had none of this happened, I only wanted to be alone. Isolation was the only thing that held me together, too much noise disturbs me deeply.

I looked out the window at birds hopping amongst the grass playfully, and I smiled. Calm and serene, I could feel myself calming down. Until Seedeater came running along and ate them all whole.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘮 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦? 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩.