Why won't you save me? (Book 2 of the Misguided Killer Series)

Chapter Seven: Voices

"He still hasn't said anything?" Masky shook his head, looking at the being before him sadly. He knew what Slenderman was hoping for. Jeff had been silent for the last few days, barely even moving save to eat and drink very little of what they provided him with. And yet, unlike the rest of them, Slenderman wasn't just waiting for Jeff to talk to one of them. He wanted an explanation for the killer's words. Masky wasn't quite sure what Jeff had said, but his words had clearly cut the being deeply.

"I'm going to ensure he didn't pull out his stitches," Masky said, "would you like to come with me?" Slenderman shook his head, turning away.

"I'm taking Jack to go look for more clues as to Zalgo's whereabouts." Masky watched the being walk away. He let himself slump slightly, emotions he normally kept locked up tight slipping out. Slenderman paused, turning back to look at him.

"Sometimes it's good to talk about things," he said simply. Slenderman chuckled, approaching him in order to ruffle his hair.

"I'll keep that in mind," he said, "you're a good man." The being walked out, and Masky smiled a by behind his mask. He made his way to Jeff's room, small med kit in hand in case Jeff had torn out the stitches on his cheeks...again.

'He's been getting more dangerous,' Masky thought, 'more to himself than anyone else but still.' He thought back to a moment the other night, when Jeff had woken in a blind panic and gouged out the stitches in his face. He'd calmed rather quickly, but the masked proxy found it to be a rather uncomfortable reminder of what a person could become when they lost control.

He nudged the door open with his hip, stepping into the dimly lit room. Jeff had taken to keeping the room fairly dark most of the time, but Masky flipped on the light. The killer winced at the sudden change, dark eyes focusing on the proxy for a moment before looking nice away. He kicked the door shut, going to sit on the bed. Jeff didn't budge. Didn't say anything.

"At least you kept the stitches in this time," he commented softly. He got no reply. Masky sighed, looking the killer over. He'd gotten thinner, the hollowness in his face combined with his white skin making him look corpse like. The wounds on his cheeks were healing. Slowly, but healing. 

Masky let his eyes be drawn towards Jeff's arm.  Dried blood was visible on his wrist, and the proxy took the limb gently. Jeff watched with a blank expression as he pushed the sleeve of his hoodie up. Deep gouges littered the skin, half healed and yet still bleeding as if Jeff had torn at them again and again with blunt nails. Masky looked up at the other male before silently cleaning and bandaging the wounds.

"You really shouldn't mar yourself like this," Masky said. He didn't expect an answer, but Jeff gave him one.

"It helps," he said, "sometimes it feels like I'm being dragged back into my own mind. Like Zalgo is still pulling the strings. It helps keep me focused." Masky looked up at him, seeing a silent frustration in Jeff's eyes. The killer looked away, shoulders slumping. "Never mind. You wouldn't understand."

"I do...actually." Jeff looked back at him, curious now. Masky finished up his wrapping before putting things away. "Back before I became Slenderman's proxy, I was going through some things. I was hallucinating and hearing voices almost everywhere I went. I started antagonizing people, just hoping they'd take a swing at me. The fighting, and the pain, both helped me keep my head clear." He looked at Jeff, catching his gaze. "But it's not a solution."

"Then what do I do?" He asked. The proxy shook his head.

"Your situation is a bit different," he said, "for me it all became easier to deal with when I became a proxy." Jeff slumped a bit, and the proxy cocked his head. "Although...try these." Jeff caught the offered pill bottle, blinking in confusion.

"What are they?" He asked as Masky stood.

"They help keep the voices away," he said, "take them until we can sort out a better solution." Jeff looked up at him.

"Don't you need them?" He asked. Masky stuck his hands in his pockets.

"I'll be alright," he said, "besides, I have another way to keep the voices away." Jeff stared at the pill bottle, looking conflicted. "Oh, and Jeff?"

"What?" He asked.

"Pushing people away isn't going to solve anything. It'll make it worse," Masky replied, "take it from someone who knows." He left, shutting the door gently behind him. He shook his head, trudging back towards his and Hoodie's room.

"That was nice of you." He jumped, looking up. Hoodie stood leaning against the wall.

"How much did you hear?" Masky asked. The other man looked away.

"Almost all of it," he said, "I never knew it got that bad." Masky shrugged. "Those pills...you need them don't you?"

"He needs them more," the masked proxy replied, "besides, the voices haven't been so bad lately."

"That's cause you've been taking your pills," Hoodie said, clearly growing more agitated, "I know you don't want to see him fall into that kind of place but...I don't want to see you go there either." Masky smiled sadly behind his mask, approaching the other proxy and giving him a hug.

"I promise you," he said, pushing his mask aside and nuzzling into the other's neck, "I'll be okay. Just trust me." Hoodie stood frozen for a moment before relenting, wrapping his arms around his boyfriend.

"Just...talk to me," Hoodie said, "If it ever gets too much. Okay?" Masky pulled back, smiling.

"Okay."

<•><•><•><•>

"How boring it is," Zalgo mused, "to sit and wait. If only I could get my hands on him again...then I could cause a little more havoc." The demon hummed, looking over at the Creepypasta under his control. "You four are useless," he muttered, "unable to protest." He sighed, settling his head into one clawed hand. "At least my little killer had some fight in him."

He felt one of the Creepypasta mentally lash out at his energy, making him wince. He looked them over. 'They must be struggling after seeing his break out,' he thought with a frown, 'that's not good. Perhaps it's best he's gone for now.' He hummed, thinking for a moment. 'Or perhaps I just need them to watch me break him. Oh yes. That sounds like a better plan.'

<•><•><•><•>

"We found nothing," Jack said as they returned. He looked fairly annoyed, but at what it was hard to tell.

"So we're back to square one," Ben said with a huff, "how do we even track down a demon anyway?"

"We keep looking until he reads his ugly head," Hoodie replied, "then we kick his ass."

"T-That didn't s-seem to go over so well l-last time," Toby commented, shifting nervously. Hoodie waved a hand dismissively at his comment. Slenderman replayed the fight in his mind, trying to find anything that could help them.

"What if it isn't his separation from Zalgo that's helping him," Slenderman said. Confused stares were his reply, until something seemed to click in Masky's head.

"It's Ben," he said simply.

"How the hell am I doing anything?" He asked.

"You shocked him," Hoodie replied, apparently understanding now as well, "you knocked him out and when he woke after that he was back in control of himself. You shocked him back into sanity."

"Or well, half way to what is normally sane for h-him," Toby replied.

"Like electroshock therapy," Jack finished.

"So what?" Ben asked, "you want me to zap him again?"

"It might actually work," Hoodie commented. Masky, who'd been mostly silent, wandered off towards Jeff's room.

"I doubt he'll take kindly to this," Slenderman commented, "but if it works then that's one problem worked out."

"What if it's only a temporary fix?" Ben asked, skeptical with the whole idea. He was about to reply when a sudden flash of panic from Masky made him jolt. He teleported to his proxy's side, following his gaze to Jeff's bed.

He was gone.