Can't Say

Chapter 23

      Black vines, physical contact, a disarming change in all your senses; the Slender-walk had a pattern, and you’d be damned if you didn’t get used to it sooner, rather than later. You found yourself, and your group, in Sexual-Offenderman’s motel lobby once gain. The thin smell of cigarettes flickered over your nostrils. 
      “Since this is ____’s first team spar,” Slenderman broke the silence, “I will lay down the rules.” Your teammates were already unstrapping their guns, readying for immediate action. “The second floor of the motel is off limits to this exercise. Sexual-Offenderman and I will be monitoring our respective Proxies and relay whether or not you should continue fighting. If we command “down” to you, then you are considered deceased until the next round. 
      “Do your best to figuratively kill the other team of Proxies with the faux weapons provided. If a fight comes down to overpowering each other, remember to pull your punches, so to speak. Causing literal harm to your opponents will be frowned upon, save for bruising and minor injuries - these are expected.
      “The goal is to essentially kill the other team. Use communication and teamwork to succeed and learn each other’s importance. Be sure to take mental notes of how your opponents function. There will be times when we’ll have to work together, as you,” here, Slenderman tilted his head in your direction, “would have experienced, were it not for the Darkness.” You weren’t sure if he was blaming you, or simply making a note.
      “Begin,” Slenderman made quick contact with his Proxies once again, initiating his more in-depth telepathy for communication later on.
      Hoodie, Masky, and Ticci-Tobi rushed down a hall, the rickety metal door whining as it permitted entrance. You chased after, having zero clue as to what their plan was. The eccentric steps of your team’s boots echoed through the motel hallway. Shortly up ahead was another set of double doors. Masky quickened his pace, leaving the rest of you behind, and checked through the small, rectangular windows. He craned his head over his shoulder and gave the “all clear” nod. Ticci-Toby, Hoodie, and yourself crouched behind Masky as he cracked open one of the doors to listen outside.
      Speaking in a hushed tone, Hoodie brought up what everyone else had been pondering, “Didn’t one of Offender’s Proxies die recently? That means it’ll be four of us against three of them.”
      “I bet Smexy’s already got a new P-proxy,” Toby amusedly implied. 
      “Well, master didn’t say anything about it,” Hoodie argued.
      You listened to the conversation, knitting your brows at the unknown information. “We’ll just have to keep on our toes as if there are four.” Toby jolted his head in your direction, almost surprised that you had spoken. 
      “The plan,” Hoodie instructed, “is to keep you guarded while you also watch our back. We’ll have to move close together until you actually know what you’re doing.” He had a bit of venom in his voice, as though he resented your ineptitude.
      Masky pushed open one of the doors, “Let’s go.” He seemed indifferent to the passive-aggressive insults thrown at you. Unfortunately, Hoodie was right; you didn’t know how to work in a team, much less during combat. Still, he could have made it sound less like you were a burden.
      There wasn’t much to search on the first floor’s outdoor walkway. Several rooms lined the front of the building, but most of them were empty. Each time a room was opened, Masky peeked through the windows and listened through the doors. As soon as the door was thrown open, everyone aimed their guns into the room and hoped for the best. This was all followed by a thorough room check while Masky stood guard at the doorway. Under the bed, behind the shower curtain, in the vents; your team didn’t leave a single crevasse unchecked.
      One of the rooms did leave you shaken up, though the rest of your team seemed neutral. Even with Masky guarding the door, you had exited the tiny bathroom to find a young, prepubescent girl standing in the center of the motel room. She stared at you with unnaturally large, cerulean blue eyes. Her long, light-brunette hair was tied into a pair of pigtails. She wore a simple pink, short-sleeved dress. When you screeched out in surprise, firing a few rounds of Nerf bullets at the girl, the last thing you noticed was how her exposed skin was covered in various scars. She disappeared before the bullets could hit her or the men could whip around and see her.
      You took in the leftover scents of blood and lavender, staring at the emptiness that was once occupied by the mysterious girl.
      “The f-fuck is your p-problem?” Ticci-Toby stood up from checking the bed, “You can’t-t just scream when you see an enemy. You’ll give away our posi-tion, idiot.”
      Lowering your Nerf rifle, you pleaded innocence, “There was a girl! She was in the middle of the room!”
      All three of the men exchanged glances, running their minds through what they knew of Sexual-Offenderman’s Proxies. They all had the same question, “How old did she look?” You explained that the girl was maybe only around 10 or 12 years of age. This only caused your team to look even more confused.
      "Masky has been injured on his right leg," came Slenderman’s voice. He was nowhere to be seen, but you heard him. This had Masky look down to his indicated appendage, only to find one of your Nerf bullets lying on the floor. He didn’t look pleased.
      “Well, mast-ter doesn’t seem concerned ab-bout the girl,” Toby shrugged.
      “I think you just saw the new Proxy,” Hoodie noted in your direction.
      This had you wondering aloud what you had been told in the past, “I thought Proxies were only humans?”
      “Mostly,” was the only reply that you received.
      As the four of you moved on to the next room, you noticed Masky walking with a limp. It was almost amusing how serious everyone took this sparring match. 
      The process of searching continued.
      This time, it didn’t take long before there was another interruption. As soon as your team moved into the room, an effeminate voice pouted from outside, “I see Slenderman still has all of you whipped like soldiers.” Her voice had an echo to it, much like Masky’s.
      All of you spun around and readied your guns toward the target. She was taller and looked older than the girl from before. In fact, you’d seen this woman during the fight with the Zalgoids. She had blue hair with an off-centered vertical stripe. The mask she wore was about the same color as her own skin, which was a light peach tone. On the mask were a pair of upward curved eyes, just as you had seen in the animes when character were happy; on each cheek of the mask were pink handprints. You quickly recognized the black blanket wrapped around the woman’s body like a mysterious cape.
      “The party’s this way, boys,” with her pink heels tapping the concrete walkway, the woman scampered away to further unsearched reaches of the motel territory.
      After the clicking of her heels faded, your team stared in her direction. Masky peeked outside to make sure no one else would show up unannounced. 
      “Well, that’s a trap,” Hoodie bluntly stated.
      “Yeah, no shit. It’s what-t she does,” Toby sassed.
      “Who was that?” You inquired, seeing as how the men actually knew this Proxy.
      Masky leaned against the doorframe, keeping his head aimed outside, “Isikam Isiko. She’s a lure and close-combatant.” With a hefty sigh, he straightened himself out and adjusted his Nerf gun. “We don’t have much a choice but to follow. They’re probably waiting.”
      You held in the thought that maybe your team wasn’t all that skilled, compared to Sexual-Offenderman’s Proxies. Why else would they tease the group like this? As much as you wanted to ask about it, you knew better than to question the skills of your superiors, even if they were Proxies like yourself.
      In the end, the four of you headed off in Isikam’s leading direction. Masky scouted ahead several feet, but remained in sight of the team. You were positioned between Hoodie and Toby, while Hoodie brought up the rear of the group. All of this protection over you made you uncomfortable, if only because you knew the men didn’t actually want to do it. Despite what Slenderman saw in you during the trials, you felt useless. Did Toby or Hoodie or Masky feel this way when they first became Proxies? Did they even go through the same trials you had to perform?
      Your thoughts distracted you from the task at hand. They were finally interrupted when you slammed into the back of Ticci-Toby, who shoved you back and stared you down with a warning glare. “Sorry,” you mumbled, trying to clear your thoughts completely.
      Masky had stopped at the building corner, holding an open palm out to the rest of the group. You weren’t sure what he saw or heard, but something was up ahead. Masky ducked back toward the group, everyone huddling together. “John and Neela are waiting at the shed. I didn’t see Isikam,” he said.
      “What about the little girl?” You queried, knowing full well what you saw.
      “I’m still not-t convinced you actually s-saw anyone,” Toby narrowed his eyes at you. “You’re a new-wbie, and newbies tend t-t-to see things when they’re n-nervous.” He poked the side of your head, jeering at your confidence.
      “Well,” Hoodie added, “when we take down the other three and the round isn’t over, then we’ll know ____ was right.” Toby only rolled his goggle-covered eyes.
      Turning back toward the building corner, Masky suggested, “Try not to get close to the shed, in case someone else tries to surprise us from around or in it.”
      Once everyone confirmed their readiness, the only choice your team had was to burst from around the building and open fire. So, that’s exactly what you did. The only problem with this was the lack of targets. The aforementioned John and Neela were out of sight. All within your view was the side wall of the motel, plain and spotted with windows, and the small tool shed about 30 feet away. Beyond that was the typical sight of a crappy parking lot and ominous trees surrounding it. There were no cars, though you hadn’t given thought about the use of vehicles in the Creepypasta world until now.
      A small growl reverberated in Masky’s throat, “They’re definitely toying with us.”
      “T-target sighted!” Toby yelled, releasing a barrage of Nerf darts in his opponent’s direction. “It-t’s Neela!”
      You whipped your head around to Ticci-Toby, quickly spotting a young woman clad in some sort of corseted outfit gracefully dodging the darts. She had a curved dagger in one hand, and a pistol in the other. As she drew closer, you could see a content smile on her pursed lips. 
      Neela fired a couple of rounds at your group, to which all of you dropped to the ground and rolled out of the way – some less graceful than others. When you regained your composure, the woman was gone.
      “Shit!” Hoodie expressed his frustrations quite clearly. “I hate sparring with these guys!”
      Realizing that you were facing into the center of your team, you quickly spun around on your heel to return watching for enemies in your direction.
      Too late, though.
      An arm slipped around your waist and pulled you in close to the male figure that had snuck up on you. “Master mentioned a cute new Proxy girl on Slenderman’s side,” the male Proxy grinned charmingly, though you could detect a less pure intent on his expression. He had milk chocolate, shaggy hair and deep brown eyes to match. This tanned, peach skin was damaged and bandaged here and there on his face. From the few ear piercings and spiked choker on his neck, you felt a punk-ish air about the young man. His black and grey hoodie felt soft and warm against your hand. “I didn’t think she’d be this cute, though,” he leaned down and brushed his lips over yours.
      Click.
      The young man froze, then straightened out and looked to his side. “Can’t you see I’m busy?!” You noticed Masky holding his Nerf pistol against your opponent’s head, trigger pulled.
      “God damn it, John,” came Isikam Isiko’s voice, who was busy having a shoot-out with Hoodie around the tool shed. “Keep your dick in your pants when we’re on a mission!”
      “He did it again?” Neela exclaimed from around the motel building, sprinting up from behind your captor. John released you, more concerned with the blue-themed woman rapidly approaching him. He raised his hands in defense, but that didn’t stop Neela from launching a kick to the side of his head. 
      John was down for the count, especially when Neela began stomping her heel into his crotch. “You’re costing us our match, you idiot!” You and Masky backed away, counting John as no longer a worry for this round.
      When you glanced at Masky, wondering what to do, he nodded his head at an angle, signaling that you should follow. You did, regrouping with Ticci-Toby back around the motel corner from whence your team had originated. When Masky peeked back around to check on Hoodie, he noted to the group that Neela was gone. “Hoodie needs help. Isikam’s keeping him pinned down.”
      “You go help-p Hoodie,” Toby said. “She’s not-t much with a p-pistol, but it’s t-too risky that I t-t-take her on with melee.” Masky nodded to this, then glanced around to ensure it was safe to run out. 
      Once he was certain the coast was clear, Masky dashed from the group’s hiding spot and made a wide arch around the tool shed, trying to flank Isikam Isiko.
      You didn’t get to see how well that went, as Toby spun around to face behind the two of you. He cursed under his breath when he found Neela standing several feet away. You got a good look at her attire, full of dark blues, reds, and black. Her matching dark blue hair looked to be cut into a short bob, but you noticed a thin pony-tail easily waving around in the gentle wind. That steadily content smile had returned to Neela’s small, rosy lips.
      Gripping her faux dagger tight, Neela slowly stepped toward you and Toby. “It’s only fair that one of you go down. John’s useless today, so it’s three against four.”
      “____’s new, so she doesn’t even count,” Toby reasoned, though you easily detected his spite towards yourself. He held his pistol steady, slowly standing up from his no longer stealthy crouch.
      “Oh, good,” Neela turned her green eyes onto you. “Then I’m sure you won’t mind me getting a free kill?” She raised her dagger, swaggering her small hips as she drew closer. She took one more glance at Toby, probably to ensure that he wasn’t going to jump her while she was distracted.
      Giving Ticci-Toby a nasty glare, you felt your face heat up with anger. How dare he just sacrifice you because you were a new Proxy? This was a match to build teamwork, wasn’t it? What made him hate you all of a sudden? He seemed friendly enough when you first met him.
      Never mind that. You had to defend yourself. 
      Raising the rifle in your hand, you hopped back to gain a bit of distance from Neela, then opened fire. She twirled around your Nerf darts effortlessly. Still, you kept firing, adjusting your aim in hopes to catch her off guard. No use. You glanced again at Toby, giving him a dirty look before returning to firing and backing away.
      Neela eventually had enough, moving between yourself and Toby. She swung a leg up and across, crescent-kicking your rifle out of your hands. You quickly dug into your coat pocket and pulled out a faux dagger of your own. For a moment, Neela’s eyebrows raised as though she were impressed. “Maybe you’re better with the blade,” she sneered. “Let’s find out.”
      Quickly closing the distance between the two of you, Neela dashed forward and slashed at an angle. You managed to block, but your wrist made contact with your opponent’s blade. Slenderman’s voice crackled through your head, “____’s right wrist has been slashed.” You played along, dropping your dagger, then used your left hand to pull out another faux blade from your coat, right in time to duck Neel’s next attempt at slicing you open. She responded with a knee to your face, sending fire through your nose. You gasped and stumbled back, trying to shake the stars out of your vision.
      “You can’t just rely on your upper body!” Neela instructed, rushing at you with her dagger held low in both hands. She was surely closing in for the kill. 
      You raised both of your arms to defend your torso, bracing for impact. Your face hurt and your nose was gushing blood. You weren’t sure exactly how to counter this woman’s attack, but you were going to try.
      Near the moment of impact, you saw a grey rush come in from your right. Neela was stopped in her tracks, frozen and pretending to hack up blood in result of a hatchet head pressed against her throat. She dropped her faux dagger, and that was when Ticci-Toby brought in his other faux hatchet, chopping down on the back of Neela’s neck. She dropped to her knees and collapse on the ground, twitching dramatically and grabbing at her head as if it wasn’t here.
      “Nice,” Toby chuckled at Neela’s gruesome acting. She strained her eyes in his direction and flashed an appreciative grin at the man.
      “Wait,” you huffed, trying to breathe through your swollen and broken nose. “You tricked her?” You eyed Ticci-Toby with knitted brows, not sure what was going on.
      “Yeah,” Neela replied, laying still. “I should have known better.” She laughed at her own mistake.
      Toby lightly kicked the woman between her shoulder blades, “You’re sup-p-posed to be dead. Quit b-breaking character.”
      “Don’t kick me, Ticker!” Neela spat.
      There was a moment of tense silence. You glanced between Neela and Toby, not sure if they were friends or hated each other. Toby seemed irked by that last remark, and it was then that you noticed for the first time in a while that he had a twitch.
      Toby turned and walked away, headed toward Hoodie and Masky, “Bitch.”
      You got up, pinching the bridge of your nose in hopes that it would stop bleeding soon. Luckily, it did lighten up, but there were still drops of blood escaping. It was probably best that you get your daggers and rifles back on hand, so you picked them up and reequipped yourself. Just before leaving, you glanced back at Neela, seeing her still playing dead with a smile on her face, then ran after Toby.
      “Masky has been incapacitated,” announced Slenderman’s voice. From what you’ve experienced so far, you only know if your teammates have been injured or killed. It must be the same for the other team.
      The mention of Masky’s figurative death made your heart sink a little. So far, it was only him. This meant that, as far as you knew, the match was three against two. You were sure of the opposing team having two members due to Neela mentioning numbers earlier. This meant that the little girl from the motel room was still lurking around. You gulped in anticipation of what she could do.
      Approaching the tool shed, you found no one around. Masky and Hoodie’s gun fight with Isikam Isiko must have moved elsewhere. Toby looked down the other side of the motel, seeing a door broken halfway off its hinges. Masky’s head was sticking out of the doorway. You and Ticci-Toby rushed over, careful to check your surroundings as the two of you moved forward. 
      “Do you really think I’m useless, or was that just part of the act?” You spoke low, unable to hold in the question about Toby’s confusing actions with Neela.
      Without looking at you, Toby, bluntly responded, “You’re not-t useless, but you st-t-till suck.”
      At this, you hung your lip in a small pout as the two of you reached Masky in the doorway. Hoodie caught you by surprise as he stepped over Masky. He turned to you and Toby and looked around for any signs of an opponent. “Isikam’s down,” he said. “But we haven’t finished the match.”
      Before anyone could respond, the missing girl lunged from inside the open room and repeatedly stabbed Hoodie in the back with a faux knife. “That’s because you still have to take me down,” the pig-tailed girl pushed Hoodie down as he compliantly accepted that he had been killed. 
      “Hoodie has been incapacitated,” Slenderman stated indifferently.
      Both you and Toby raised your guns at the girl, waiting for her to make a move. You weren’t sure what she was capable of, but you had your suspicions that she could teleport in some way.
      With a satisfied smile, the girl turned to you and Toby, pulling out a Nerf pistol from behind her back, and immediately firing. 
      It was over.
      “Toby has been incapacitated.”
      The thud of the foam dart hurt your pride more than anything else.
      “____ has been incapacitated.”
      Your remaining teammate had fallen to the ground, so you followed suit.
      “Master said to never hesitate with a gun,” the girl chided. “I don’t know why you thought it was a good idea to wait for me when I was such a clear shot.”
      “All right, but who are you? We know you have some sort of power. What is it?” Masky got up as Slenderman’s voice announced the end of the round to your team. He didn’t waver to begin questioning the new Proxy.
      The girl stepped back to give Masky room to get up, “My name is Sabrinae, but I’m also called Passenger.” You noticed a vague accent that you couldn’t quite place. “I’m dead, so I kind of have powers. Mostly, I just used the one where I only let people see me when I want them to.”
      “So, you weren’t teleporting?” You queried, sitting up and gasping for air through the only airway you had left.
      Sabrinae shook her head, “No teleporting.”
      “Might as well be,” Hoodie commented. “Offenderman’s Proxies are already dirty enough with their disappearing acts, now he has one that really does.” Sabrinae smiled at this, seeming relieved over something.
      Isikam Isiko came up behind Sabrinae, adjusting her blanket and mask, and placed a beautiful hand on the girl’s shoulder, “She’ll be a great addition to the team. Though, we’re all surprised that our master chose such a young Proxy.”