Partners In Crime (Ticciwork fanfic) [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 23: Tick Tock

Slenderman turned to Toby, who instinctively shrank back; it was easy to tell he hadn't been working for Slender nearly as long.

"You." Slenderman snarled. Toby seemed to get smaller. "I thought you said Megan worked alone."

"She - she does." Toby stammered. "At least - I think -"

Slenderman hissed loudly and Toby flinched. "She keeps me from teleporting." He continued. "How?!"

"You think I know?!" Toby sounded annoyed at first but faltered when Slenderman seemed to get taller.

"Come here." A silky black tendril darted out and snatched up Toby's wrist, dragging him towards Slender. Toby stumbled, put off balance, but Slenderman yanked him upright. Toby's eyes widened with terror and suddenly he reminded Clockwork of a little kid who was about to get beaten.

He twisted his wrist around but Slenderman didn't let go.

"She doesn't come out until after three, with the hellhounds." Slenderman's voice rose. "Except for today. This was planned."

"I -" Panic filled Toby's eyes, and he pulled harder against the tendril with no success. "I - I don't know why -"

"Maybe if you weren't running around with Clockwork all day every day," Slenderman boomed. "you would know."

"I'm sorry -" Toby gasped. "Let go -" He yanked against the tendril as hard as he could. "Let go of me - I can't -

Slenderman's grip only tightened. He dragged Toby closer to him. "What did I tell you about her?"

"Hey!" Clockwork snapped. Slenderman ignored her.

"You said -" Toby's eyes gained a wild look, like a trapped animal. "That I shouldn't - let - let go of me -"

"What did I say?!"

"I can't - let GO!"

His eyes flared and he ripped his arm back so hard that Slenderman's tendril actually made a snapping noise, like it was breaking. Toby stumbled away from him, against the wall. Before Slenderman could stop him, he turned and sprinted away, down the hallway towards the stairs.

Slenderman drew his injured tendril towards him, hissing with fury and pain. A fat drop of blood rolled down his arm and plopped to the floor, and suddenly Clockwork realized it was probably his own.

But she felt anything but sorry towards him.

"What the heck?!" She snapped. He turned towards her and she had to focus somewhere above his head so she wasn't blinded by the static. Pepper gave her a warning look but she ignored it. "Was that really necessary?!"

"It's none of your concern." Slenderman hissed.

"Only it is!" She snapped. "You think you can do that to my friend and expect me to let it slide?!"

"Clockwork..." Pepper warned. Slenderman tensed, his tendrils getting even longer.

"You stay away from him." Slender snapped one of his tendrils like a whip. "Enough with the games. If I see you with him again I will -" He stopped, though Clockwork didn't want him to finish.

Slenderman glared in the direction where Toby ran off. "Weak." He hissed to himself, then the shadows collapsed into themselves and he teleported away, a dying hiss still hanging in the air.

"That was stupid." Pepper said flatly. "I thought he was going to kill you."

"Did you see what he was doing to Toby?!" Clockwork exploded. "Did you see how panicked he was?!"