Delirium (Creepypasta x reader)

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Two firm knocks sounded from the mahogany door of the Slenderman's office, just at the time the entity had anticipated. He placed a bookmark in the grand leather tome he was reading and swiftly put it aside. He folded his hands together and rested his elbows on the desk.

You may enter.

The Lord's proxy, Masky, pushed the doors open with his shoulder, slipping through the gap. The doors shut behind him with barely a whisper. The yellow light of the lamps made the white mask an almost pallid sepia, throwing deep shadows across the features.

The masked man crossed the distance of the study and stopped just before the desk, bowing at the waist for his Lord before setting the slim stack of papers in front of the being.

"The most current reports on the candidates, updated from the week past."

The Slenderman took the papers and began shuffling through them, noting each name and pausing on the final paper, which listed the candidates who had failed the beginning phase. These were those who had rejected the Marking, or had undergone it and were lost to the energy of the Gloom forever.

Of those who have failed, how many needed to be dealt with?

"Three. We followed procedure and have left their bodies for you to consume."

Good.

Those who were lost in the Marking provided the Lord with more sustenance than a regular corpse. It was important for the bodies to be squirrelled away before they rotted, as they often did rapidly, and taken to the Gloom to be feasted upon.

The entity sat back in his chair. A small hum resonated out from him, the sound itching at his proxy's ears.

Out of the original twenty six, nineteen remain. That number drop is adequate enough within the time frame I have given you.

Masky nodded at the praise, accepting what was rarely given out. His Lord was not known for compliments, though he showed more mercy than what was owed of his brood. Perhaps it was because they provided him with more than enough meat, and he therefore did not mind the actions of his Shades as long as they did not cross the line too far.

The man remembered a particular time in which Jeff, a Shade known for his tantrums and delight in the hunt, had been caught by a town's police force and shuttled into the back of a police car. The reconnaissance was quick, if not annoying, and for the trouble the Proxy had a picture on his camera of Jeff in the back of a squad car, handcuffed and glaring in the odd way he did without eyelids into the lens.

The memory brought a smile to his face.

"Should we begin phase two, my Lord?" Masky asked.

Yes, it should be completed before I feed again. The power from the failed candidates will be useful for tempering the remainder's minds.

Phase two. The exposure phase. Those who have gone through the Marking are given larger doses of the Gloom's energy. Masky knew that this was the most difficult for candidates, and also for him and his fellow Proxies - their watching needed to become more aggressive. The presence of a Proxy leeched energy into the candidate; the closer they are, the more energy absorbed. This was ultimately needed to withstand being near the Lord for the next, and second to last, phase.

"I do have something you need to be aware of."

Yes?

"A few of the candidates are closer than we anticipated. There are at least two pairs who spend time together consistently. What is the best course of action?"

The Slenderman leaned back, tilting his head slightly to the side.

"Do you believe it to be as you and your Bondmate were close?"

"No." his response was immediate.

"I've discussed my observations with his. Both of us do not see either as positive."

The Slenderman paused for a time, thinking. Masky stayed silent as well, waiting patiently for his Lord's decision.

Finally, the entity spoke.

Do not intervene. Observe these pairs closer than the rest. If one is seen taking the energy from the other, dispose of the weaker. The competition may make the candidates stronger.

Masky bowed.

"Yes, my Lord."

You are dismissed.