Now Or Never (Ticci Toby X Eyeless Jack)

Chapter X: An Awaited Rescue

[A/N]: Kidnapping warning!

Hoodie and Masky had already set out to find Toby as soon as possible, even though it was nearing evening, they needed their fellow proxy back. Luckily for the two masked men, Masky knew the place Toby and Jack were supposed to defend so he led the way as Hoodie followed. As they were walking Masky let out a sigh, "I expected better from Toby." he said under his mask with a bit of frustration and Hoodie immediately caught onto it. "Hey, I'm sure he was probably caught off guard or something. We can't blame everything on him." Hoodie tried to reassure his fellow masked friend but by the time he had finished they were already there, guess Masky was a fast walker and Hoodie could easily keep up.

The two then started to look around the heavily wooded area for any clues of any disturbance or struggle, after a few seconds Hoodie called to Masky from the opposite side of where he was searching. "Hey Masky! I think I found something!" He stated as he was crouched with his knees tucked up to his chest and looking down at the forest floor. Once Masky had come over and looked over Hoodie's shoulder it took him a few minutes to spot it, "Blood?" he said aloud. "Yep, they might've knocked him unconscious." As Hoodie tried to figure out if the blood was even Toby's Masky started to look around for possibly a blood trail, and soon enough he spotted one. "Hoodie, to your left." Masky simply pointed out as he pointed towards the blood trail, Hoodie shifted his gaze to the left of him and he got up onto his feet, starting to follow the blood trail, followed by Masky. After all, it was the only lead they had to finding the proxy.

After they followed the blood trail it seemed to lead to an abandoned building sitting dead center of a clearing, Masky ducked behind some shrubs and trees nearby, Hoodie following. Masky took out his knives and looked at Hoodie with a serious expression under his mask, "Ready?" Hoodie pulled his gun from his hoodie pocket and loaded it before nodding. "Ready." With that the two sprung from their hiding place and Masky went inside first, Hoodie keeping watch outside.

As Masky approached the door he was surprised there weren't any guards but didn't let that put his guard down, lifting his leg he kicked the double doors down and looked around frantically. To his right and left where hallways that lead to an anonymous place around their corners, he looked ahead and saw the receptionist slowly picking up the phone on her table. As quick as light he sprang towards her and slit her neck, wasting no time in leaving the body and searching for Toby. He decided to start searching on his left, running down the hallway and turning the corner, what he saw was horrifying.

Meanwhile, Hoodie was outside keeping watch, pointing his gun at any sudden noises that didn't sound quite normal. Grass crunching caught his attention but he didn't move quite yet until he was sure that it was someone, he had a bad feeling and decided to turn around. There was in fact someone, they had a large kitchen knife held to Hoodie's neck and his gun was resting roughly against their chest. "Big mistake." Hoodie said with a smirk under his mask as he set off two shots that went through the person and made them fall to the floor, Hoodie looked down at them, making sure they were dead before he went inside the abandoned building to help Masky search. Seeing him at the left hallway corner he raised a brow under his mask and approached Masky, "What are yo-" he paused as he stared ahead in horror. Shaking his head he pushed passed Masky which caused the proxy to break out of his trance-like state.

Around the corner and down the hall there were what seemed to be cages of some sorts, some empty and some having people inside. They had solid steel bars at the front sides of each cage and a solid metal door to match, the two walked down the horror filled corridor until they thought they heard a familiar sound. It sounded like Toby's vocal tics, as they got closer to a certain cage it became more apparent that his vocal tics were sentences.

"P-lease n-no mo-re.." Toby said from within his cage, his back turned to the bars and as he heard footsteps coming closer his shoulder and leg twitches with fear. But instead of hearing the door being opened he heard silence until a familiar voice filled his ears. "We're here to get you out, idiot." It sounded like Masky, whirling his head around he felt his eyes widen with joy, "G-guys, th-the door's lo-cked. Try an p-pick it." he instructed as he watched Hoodie nod and approach the metal door. Taking out a paper clip and bending it in a way that he could fit it inside the lock, he twisted it a few times and for a second it seemed to not work until there was an audible click, and it opened. Toby ran towards the metal door immediately and practically squeezed himself out, he held himself back from hugging either of the proxies as he knew it would've bothered them. "We should leave before any more of them come." Masky suggested and started to walk ahead, keeping his knives out and ready to attack anyone that comes in their way.

As Toby followed the two proxies he started to limp on his right leg, a visible gash on it, Hoodie went back to help Toby as Masky drew ahead. "Be careful, Masky!" Hoodie warned as he and Toby drew behind but were still in sight of Masky.

The day seemed to go forever as Masky, Hoodie, and Toby, had finally arrived at the mansion. Since Toby had an injury and got help from Hoodie it took them much longer to get there but Toby was back, and that's all that matters. Hoodie let go of Toby as the mansion was in complete view, the boy hopped over to the front door and opened it, walking inside with a limp, followed by a few vocal tics. He spotted Ben playing video games on the couch and asked, "Do y-you know where C-locky is?" his shoulder twitched a little as the response he was given was one he wasn't expecting. "Toby!? Holy shit! Yeah, she should be in her room." Ben said as it hit him that Toby was back but after a few minutes of playing his video games he got sucked back into them.

Masky and Hoodie came in after Toby and walked towards Slendermans office, they knocked on the door. "Come in." Upon hearing that the two came into Slender's office, Masky straightened himself up as he spoke first. "Our mission was successful, sir. Though Toby has a few bruises and a gash on his right leg." Hoodie chirped in, "We found their base, sir. I don't believe we killed all of the members but we got about a few down." Slenderman gave a silent nod as he sat at his desk. "Very well then, I appreciate your report and you are dismissed for the evening. If there's anything else you need to report, do so in the morning. We all need a good night's sleep." The two silently nodded and were on their way.

As Toby stopped limping and just walked up the flight of stairs to get to Clockwork's room he paused at Jack and his room, he wondered if he knew that he was back. Gulping, he tried to quietly go past the door but his footsteps were just too loud against the wood floor, knowing Jack he probably could recognize Toby's footsteps but hoped that wasn't the case. As he drew by he luckily didn't hear any sign of Jack, yet again, he was pretty sneaky but Toby continued down the hallway anyway until he was met with Clockwork's door. Lifting his fist the door suddenly opened and he had accidentally hit Clockwork straight in the nose, thinking the door was still closed. "O-oh, C-locky, I'm s-so sorry!" He said as he realized his mistake, Clockwork just chuckled and brushed it off. "So you came here because you're hurt I assume?" The woman asked as she looked him up and down, noticing the gash on his right leg and the bruises. "Oh fuck, you are real beat up. Lucky for you, you can't feel it." She joked as she went inside her room and gestured for her friend to follow, Toby followed and watched as Clockwork got out a first aid. "Now, let's take a look at that gash of yours." 

[A/N]: I'm well aware Toby can't feel pain but I'd like to think he'd still limp a bit if he was hurt.