Are They Real

Chapter 3 - the deal

Hey Guys! AXL3 here (YT @SixEightTwo_) and, um, yeah, this is my first fanfiction! This chapter includes the character/s:
- Masky/Tim
And the reader (Y/N or “Husk”).
This message will appear at the start of every chapter with any age warnings or trauma warnings or if I need to give credits ETC.

- mention of rape/abuse, mention of a knife -

Credits to my friend, Vicky, for the idea of how Y/N's dad died.

“Now you seem like a capable person, and a smart one, so tell me, how would you react if I offered for you to become a proxy?” He offered, his tone laced with amusement as he leaned in closer. “The Operator has been looking for newer recruits, and he hasn't found anyone since that stupid Rodgers.”
You froze up momentarily. You? A proxy?
“W-why me? And how are you so sure I know what a Proxy is?” You manage, still looking him in the eyes.

He stepped back crossing his arms as his gaze wandered over your body.
“You seem smart, not the strongest, but that's not something we could train into you, and you have an air of something lingering just below the surface. I'd say you’re a sociopath. Tell me kid, you ever have the sudden urge to cause chaos or harm to another? Maybe a general insensitivity to others' emotions?”

You shake your head quickly, “N-no.”

He continued looking over your body, before returning his gaze to your face.
“How old are you, kid?” He asked gruffly, a tone of coldness still in his voice, although slowly becoming less harsh.
“I-i’m 16” you muttered, shrinking back slightly as you answered.
As he listened to your answer, a small sadistic look growing in his eye as he watched you shrink back, nodded slowly at your answer. His gaze drifted over your body again, as if assessing its quality.
“Good…now back to my question, how would you react if I offered you to be a proxy?”

After a moment of steeling your nerves and getting rid of the stutter in your voice, you replied, “I'd say I'll accept…because I don't want to learn what will happen if I don't.”

He whistled, a sound of approval.
“You’re smart, I'll give you that. If you didn’t come I'd have killed you, you know too much now.”
You sit there silently, looking up at him in shock. “W-wait. You're actually making me a proxy?”
He chuckled with slight malice at your reaction, amused by it.
“What, serial killers don't normally offer you jobs to work under the command of an “otherworldly eldritch being”? Honestly I should be more surprised at the fact you know who I am.”

You tensed up “how..how did you know I knew who you are?” You asked, in even more shock now, hoping you hadn't left any of your possessions themed off him laying around.
He shrugged nonchalantly, chucking his knife casually and catching it repeatedly as he continued the conversation.
“The face you made when you first saw me and when you saw me without the mask.”

“I guess that makes sense.” You agree, a sheepish blush forming on your face as you slid out of bed.
“What are you doing?” Masky asked, watching you carefully.
You don't reply, instead pulling on a dark coloured hoody and jeans, glad you don't have to get changed because you don't sleep in pyjamas.
“C'mon Kid, answer me.” He repeated, sliding his weapons into his pockets, still keeping them where they were easily reachable.
You sigh, turning to face him. “Since you're supposedly…making me a proxy, I'm going to make the rather.. obvious guess we'd have to walk to wherever it is you all live. I was just getting into the proper clothes.”

He huffed
“Smart kid. Go along without resisting.” he nodded, clearly glad he wouldn't need to force them. “Next question, do you have any family still around?”
You had sat down on your bed, and were pulling on boots, watching him carefully as you did it, the look of fear still visible in your eyes.
“Yeah..mum’s out of town for business.” you nod, zipping up your boots. He still watched you, examining the way you moved.
“And your dad?” he asked. You look up to face him, your gaze connecting with his so you were looking into each others eyes.
“He died after being raped by my best friend..she hurt him bad and he didn’t make it after we got him to the hospital.”
His gaze softened slightly as you explained, before hardening again.
“Well kid, you’re going to need to leave all that behind, unless of course, you want to be killed.”

You nod, more than ready to forget your old life. After finishing putting on your boots, you stood silently, waiting for him to say something, fighting back the urge to start shaking in fear.
The figure stood there, almost like a corpse. He was trying to see if you would crack under his gaze and start shaking in fear, or show any other sign of fear. The standoff continued for another few minutes, before he stepped forward and grabbed your wrists.
“Time to go then.” he grumbled, pulling you along as he walked out of your house.
You follow begrudgingly, letting him guide him through your house and out the front door. It was a pleasant night, but you didn’t have time to appreciate it, because Tim quickly guided you into the forest, the thick tree cover blocking out the light from the stars and the moon.