how did this happen. . ?

08 - orange binoculars

Masky POV

He wouldn't call it stalking. Babysitting felt more accurate.

You intrigued him enough to make him linger in the shadows, studying every small detail. The way you moved. The way you spoke. And most of all, the way you weren't afraid of things you should have been.

Most people would scream at the sight of BEN's black, soulless eyes or the bloody tears that streaked Sally's cheeks. They'd call the cops on Jeff or EJ in a heartbeat. But you? You smiled at them. You offered them snacks. You talked to them like they were normal.

It made no sense. And Masky wanted to understand why.

Hoodie thought he was losing it.

Right now, the two were tucked between the trees, hidden by branches and night, watching as you mopped an aisle and chatted with your coworker before heading to restock the drink cooler.

"What are you doing?"

The low voice made them both turn. Jack stood behind them, towering, with Sally peeking out from his side.

"Babysitting," Hoodie muttered without hesitation, eyes still on you.

If Jack had eyes, they'd be rolling. Instead, he just scoffed. "She's alone tonight?"

Masky leaned forward, gaze fixed on the store windows. Your coworker was waving goodbye, and you gave him that tired smile of yours. "Yeah. Looks like the other guy's clocking out now."

Sally tugged at Jack's sleeve, looking at him expectantly. When he gave the smallest nod, she darted across the street, waiting until the car pulled away before slipping inside the station. The men in the woods watched as your face lit up the second you spotted her.

"She likes her," Jack said simply, folding his arms. His tone was more observation than judgment.

Masky finally glanced at him. "She made me swear I wouldn't kill her."

Hoodie huffed a quiet laugh. "She grilled me about my intentions as well."

Jack tilted his head, surprise flickering in his voice. "So you both know her."

Masky leaned back on his palms, staring through the trees. "Slender and I fought weeks ago. I bailed, got bored, so I started posing as a college student. She noticed I wasn't taking notes in class... so she wrote extra for me."

The corner of Jack's mouth twitched. "And you got attached?"

A rock flew past his shoulder. "Idiot. It was the other way around. She wouldn't stop talking to me. Even switched seats just to sit closer."

Before Jack could reply, Hoodie's voice cut in, sharp, "Someone just walked in." He didn't look up from the binoculars, just held them out to Masky.

Masky snatched them, focusing on you inside. You'd already tucked Sally into the back office, your hand sliding into your pocket for the pepper spray. The drunk stranger was at the counter now, knife flashing in his hand.

Masky's grip tightened on the binoculars. Then he dropped them. "Come on."

He and Hoodie moved fast, breaking from the trees toward the gas station. Masky glanced back once, calling over his shoulder. "Hope you're hungry, Jack. Looks like we just found your dinner."

Jack's low chuckle followed them. He picked up the binoculars where they fell, lifting them lazily. Through the glass, he saw it all, how you didn't hesitate to spray the man, how you shoved Sally back into safety, how you braced yourself even as fear shone in your eyes.

And then, how Masky's hatchet came down, ending it in an instant.

By the time you'd pulled Sally close and reassured her, Masky and Hoodie were already dragging the body back toward the woods, leaving a faint smear of blood in their wake.

"Enjoy," Masky muttered, giving the corpse a rough kick as they passed Jack. "Her shift's almost up. See you back at the mansion."

The pair vanished into the dark.

Jack lingered a moment longer, watching through the trees as you cleaned the blood from the floor so the little girl wouldn't see.

Fascinating.

hi I'm back ;>

drink some water :)