'Bitch, get your lazy arse up it is half past six. You promised we could go to and get some sunrise pictures.'

Groaning, your eyes fluttered open and you stared at Socks, silently daring them to stick the bag of ice in their hand on your face.

'You could've gone without me,' you huffed, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes.

'But I don't know where I'm going.'

'And? You have a good sense of direction.'

'Yeah, in cities, but not here! C'mon, (Y/N), I'll cook breakfast if you come with me!'

'...Promise?'

'Promise, now hurry up! The sunrise will be gone if you don't hurry.'

You didn't bother getting dressed. Instead, you pulled on some fluffy socks, your big boots and a thick coat. Once your phone was safely tucked into your coat pocket, you led Socks out of the house and into the forest.

'What's the bag and spade for?' they inquired, gesturing to the two items you had picked up from the spare bedroom.

'Oh, I'm burying a rabbit I found outside,' you said casually, 'it died while I went to get something for it to eat.'

Socks let out a sad, 'Oh, poor thing.'

'I don't think it was in pain, though. Maybe ill, but I'm not sure. I'm not a rabbit specialist.' You shrugged.

'Wasn't there a myxomatosis outbreak here a few years ago?' Socks wondered, adjusting the strap of their camera bag. 'Wait, that only kills pets.' They let out a horrified gasp. 'What if it was someone's pet that escaped?'

'Nah, it didn't look like a pet bunny.'

'Are you sure?'

'I'm sure, Socks, don't worry about it.' You patted them comfortingly on the back. 'Pet or not, it's still getting a burial.'

Something moved in the corner of your vision, and you stopped walking, head snapping to the location of the bush that was quietly rustling a few meters away.

'Hey, (Y/N), you okay?'

Their words were faint; you were too busy staring at the bush to respond. There was someone there, hiding in the shadows, you were sure of it. You mentally ran through the (disappointingly short) list of people who knew were you lived which was, much to your irritation, mainly serial killers. Jane wouldn't hide, and neither would EJ—at least not in the way that would make you so paranoid. Liu didn't really come and talk to you nowadays, and...No-Face wouldn't appear. If it was Greg, on the other hand, he would have texted you to ask if you were free. This brought you to the conclusion that it was someone you didn't know.

Your once narrowed eyes widened in fear as the bush moved again. There was a flash of black and white as whoever it was ran swiftly to the right.

A hand fell on your shoulder, and you jumped at the sudden contact. Socks was looking at you with a concerned look in their light eyes.

'You okay?' they repeated, 'you kinda spaced out there.'

You forced a smile, forcing yourself to turn away. 'Yeah, I'm fine. Just thought I heard something.'

'You've been playing too many horror games, dude,' they said with a small laugh, 'there's nothing there.'

'I was just making sure,' you lied, 'been feeling on edge recently, so my brain wouldn't shut up until I looked.' You tried to make a joke out of it, but the worry on Socks' face seemed to double.

'Again?' they demanded, demeanour changing instantly, 'have you told the police?'

'What? No.'

'You should. This isn't the first time you've felt like this. Remember what happened last time?'

'Well, yeah, but...'

'But what?' They abruptly stopped walking and put a hand on either side of your head like you were a sandwich filling. 'Your dorm got ransacked, (Y/N). What if that happens again but you're actually at home? Then what? You could get hurt.' Tears welled in their eyes.

'Socks,' you said softly, putting down the spade and bag to cover their hands with your own, 'it's been nearly four years, now. I think that whoever was responsible then is long gone. I'd be surprised if they found me now. I'll be fine.'

They sniffed, and you moved your hands to let them wipe their eyes.

'Okay...okay! Yeah. You'll be fine.'

'I will. Now come on, I thought you wanted that sunrise?'

'You know,' you said, swallowing your mouthful of food, 'I think that the binder is a good look on you.'

'You think?' Socks pulled down their tee shirt, making it flat against their chest, 'I thought it was a pretty good idea.'

'It is. Do you feel better?'

'Yeah, I do.' They grinned, shoving a large forkful of waffle into their mouth. 'Woohoo!'

You smiled back, getting to your feet and putting your empy plate in the sink. Leaning against the worktop, you pulled the notebook you used for shopping lists towards you, grabbing a nearby pen and twirling it between your fingers.

EJ,

Greg told me he's free this Tuesday. Is that okay?

(Y/F/I)

'Ooh, who's EJ? Who's Greg?'

You hadn't noticed Socks put their plate on top of yours in the sink.

'Two friends of mine,' you said quickly, 'they're childhood friends that haven't seen each other in years, so I'm getting them to meet up.'

'Aw, that's so cute! The reuniter of friends,' they gushed, 'letting two souls meet again after years of separation...it sounds like a fluffy fan-fiction. But why a note? Why not text them?'

'EJ doesn't do texting,' you explained, feeling slightly guilty (but you weren't lying?), 'so I have to write notes instead.'

'Thinking outside the box, I see. Clever.' They stretched. 'Well, now that I have been fed, I'm off to the shops. I need to pick something up.'

You stood up straight. 'Want me to go with you?'

'Nope. It'll ruin the surprise.'

'Surprise?' you echoed, 'what surprise?'

'Can't say. I'll see you in a bit, kay?' The mischievous glint in their eyes was slightly disconcerting.

'Don't get lost,' you called after them as they danced out of the room.

'I won't, my sense of direction hasn't failed me yet.'

'I thought your sense of direction didn't work outside the city?'

'Yeah, I lied. Bye!'

You didn't have time to say anything as the sound of the front door opening and closing echoed around the house. You sighed, shoulders slouching. At least now you could stick the note to the window without making an excuse for leaving the room.

While you stuck the note to the outside of the window, regretting the seemingly obvious choice of standing outside and doing it rather then trying to do it from inside, you finally noticed that you had a visitor. You almost dropped the note onto the grass.

An entirely monochrome-clad person was leaning against the wall. They were about average height—no taller than 5'5"—wearing a black hoodie, a striped black and white scarf that matched the mask they wore. It was half black half white, with alternate coloured eyes. The white eye seemed to glow slightly.

You vaguely remembered him from the Creepypasta files you had found online. Kagekao, was it?

'Morning,' he said cheerfully, 'you're (Y/N), right?'

Slowly, you nodded, sliding the note for EJ into the pocket of your jeans.

'Splendid. Well, it's a pleasure to meet you.' He offered his hand for you to shake.

'What do you want?' you asked cautiously, eyeing his hand with an air of distrust.

The hand fell. 'Absolutely nothing from you, my dear. Just a small bit of your time.'

'Why?'

'Are you always this paranoid?' he complained, 'god, if EJ told me that I wouldn't have bothered coming to say "hello".'

'You came here because EJ told you about me?' you asked, 'why?'

'I merely wanted to meet the person my friend was so fond of. Is that a crime?' Kagekao shrugged, shaking his head. 'May I come in?'

hey guess who's alive ! yeah its me

my excuse for not updating: i forgot. thats it. i literally forgot this fic existed until i got inspired to re-write my ticci toby x reader and remembered 'oh shit i was rewriting something else' and wrote this entire chapter in the span of a few hours

has this been edited? no. do i want to edit? no.

lets see how long this hyperfixation lasts lmao

- gravity