Chapter Thirteen

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Amy floored the gas pedal and I was flung back into my seat, my hands instinctively grasping for Masky's.

"What is it? Who's chasing us?" I turned my head to look out behind the car, seeing a tall lanky boy running behind it. He had on a navy blue mask with dark eyeholes that appeared to be leaking some black substance.

"I'll get you for that you annoying prick!" I heard him yell, his voice fading out the further away the car got. Toby laughed until he was coughing, slapping his knee and almost squishing me in the process since I was sandwiched between him and Masky.

"You dork!" I shoved him playfully, "You scared me! I thought it was the spaghetti man coming back to finish us off."

"S-sorry," he chuckled, "EJ can be like that s-sometimes."

"Only because you're always fucking with him." I heard Masky grunt, ''You're gonna wake up missing a few organs one day."

"EJ w-wouldn't do that," Toby replied chuckling, "He loves me."

"EJ?" I heard Amy ask from the front and I turned again to look back, seeing that the boy had stopped running behind the car, his dark hair a mess as he turned and headed back towards LJ's shop.

I wondered if LJ and EJ were like them too.

Killers.

It was a bit surreal to think about and I had half a mind to pinch myself to check if I was dreaming or if this was truly happening. I'm on a road trip with three total strangers I barely know and my best friend who appears to not even care that not only had I killed someone but we're also on the run from the police and some huge monster that is definitely trying to kill us and the only protection we have is this odd assortment of serial killers who caused all this mess in the first place.

While Toby was explaining who EJ was I leaned forward a bit to speak to Amy, "Can you turn the radio on?"

She reached over and switched the radio on.

"-here's what he had to say." A reporter spoke, apparently delivering the afternoon news.

"I'm pretty sure she's in on it," a panicked voice came over the radio, "I don't know how she did it but she's working for them or something!"

"Is that Mason?" Amy asked and I shushed her trying to listen to what Mason had to say.

"-police said there was something wrong with the evidence. My sister's cause of death didn't match the killer's MO! She killed my sister!" There was some static cutting out what he was saying but we heard most of it.

"This is boring," Amy stated before switching to a different station that was blaring punk music.

I slumped back in my seat with a sigh, "I guess there's no going back now."

"Is that the guy that Hoodie made get away?" Masky asked and I heard Hoodie grunt from the front seat.

"Don't worry," Toby said putting a gloved hand over mine that were resting on my lap, "if w-we get this sorted out you can come live with us and you won't have t-to worry about anything."

Live with a bunch of serial killers? I don't think so.

Before I could answer, Masky was putting an arm around me and pulling me closer to him.

"Don't touch her," he grunted at Toby, "It's your fault Slenderman found her in the first place."

My cheeks heated up and I turned my head a bit, looking at his masked face still not able to see anything behind those dark eyeholes but I did remember the way his lips looked in the moonlight that night.

Is it possible? Could I end up living with these strange boys? I'd have to say goodbye to my foster family for good. I could imagine the look on Sara's face. She would be so disappointed in me. Would she turn her back on me? I had to say goodbye to them one way or the other.

I sighed and rested my head against Masky's shoulder, feeling him go a bit rigid before relaxing a little and in no time the soft humming of the engine lulled me to sleep.

×××

"Wake up."

I opened my eyes to see Masky looking down at me, I'd gotten so used to the mask that it didn't even startle me anymore. Looking around I could see that the car was empty, save for the both of us.

We were parked outside a gas station and it was dark. The only light came from the rickety sign above the car that said 'rest stop' and from inside the store where I could see the others moving around.

"Food," I half moaned, feeling my mouth instantly water, and Masky got out of the car waiting for me with the door open as I got out. I wasn't too confident that I'd be getting a good meal at a gas station but I would be content with a bag of chips and a soda, uncaring of how unhealthy that was.

"Do you think they have burgers? That's a bit much to ask, right?"

Before he could answer, there came a cry from inside the store and I heard him sigh, grabbing my hand and leading me inside. My eyes grew wide as I looked over the counter where the cashier once stood; a boy in his late teens with ginger hair.

His lanky body was now slumped over the cash register, a hatchet deeply embedded in his skull and blood spread out over the counter and dripped onto the white tiled floor.

"That's gonna need a lot of bleach," I heard Amy say as she was filling up a grocery bag with various food items.

Toby gripped the handle of the hatchet and pulled it out with a creak before turning to us, "s-sorry about the m-m-mess guys, he was being a little annoying."

"Yeah sure, just keep leaving a trail of bodies for Slenderman to follow right back to us," Masky grumbled before letting go of my hand, "go find something to eat."

"What about you?" I asked him, tilting my head to the side, "aren't you hungry?"

"No."

"Okay," I watched as he walked away to go talk to Hoodie who was standing watch by the entrance. Something gleamed under Hoodie's jacket as he raised a hand.

Was that a gun? Jeez this guy is really hardcore.

I was knocked out of my thoughts by Toby throwing a bag of chips at my face which I caught immediately and tore into, stuffing my face full of salty Ruffles.

I let out an involuntary moan which got a chuckle from Toby.

"You remind me of s-someone."

"Who?" I asked, my mouth still full.

"C-clockwork."

"Are you the only one out of your friends that has a normal name?" I laughed.

He chuckled, "th-there are a few others," he trailed off taking some steps closer to me, "you will love meeting them. I can t-take you there if you want. It's not far."

"Yeah, maybe." I stated, looking around the store and spotting some chocolate pudding on one of the shelves. I said a silent thank you to the heavens as I scooped them up into my arms.

"I need a shopping cart!" I exclaimed, turning to Toby who laughed.

"I'll s-see if I can find one," as he left Masky walked up to me and grabbed my arm dragging me around the back 'staff only' room, the pudding and chips falling onto the floor as he did so.

He slammed the door behind him after I was inside and turned to face me, anger radiating off him in waves.

"What's going on?"

"With what?" I could see that his fists were clenched at his side's despite the only source of light being the tiny bit filtering through the crack over the door. His white mask stood out in the darkness too and I took a step back as he advanced.

"Stop being so friendly with that ticing idiot. He'd deliver you to Slenderman on a silver platter the first chance he gets."

His voice was gruff and I rolled my eyes. I knew what this was about.

"Are you seriously jealous right now?"

"I'm not jea-"

"Then why do you care?" I cut him off, a feeling of annoyance coming over me.

"Stop being so fucking difficult! All I'm asking is that you keep away from him."

"What if I don't want to?" as soon as I spoke the words I felt regret bubble up inside me and in an instant I was grabbed by my collar and pinned against the wall.

"What did I say?" He asked and I could tell his teeth were clenched.

"He's my friend-"

"You don't even know him."

"Well I don't know you either."

I jumped slightly when he slammed his fist against the door, effectively punching a hole through it before he pulled it open roughly.

Running his fingers through his hair, he spoke, "you're so..."

He balled his hands into fists once more before storming outside, slamming the door behind him.

I'm so... what?

I stood there stunned for a moment after he was gone.

Well then, green is definitely not his colour.

I sighed and opened the door, stepping out of the room.

To my surprise, Toby and Masky were scrapping on the floor. Toby was on top and about to land a blow before Masky was able to turn the tables, pinning the smaller boy beneath him and punching him to the point where Toby's goggles and mouth guard were falling off his face, blood covering his pale features and Masky's knuckles.

My first thought was that it was kinda hot but then I came to my senses and rushed over to help.

"Hey, stop!" shoving Masky off I gave him a stern look as I stood between him and Toby, "what is wrong with you?"

There came the sounds of sirens in the distance and outside I could see Amy signaling us to move our butts.

"Come on," I held my hand out to Toby and helped him up off the floor, not even looking back at Masky as we headed outside. I didn't need anyone fighting over me like I was some piece of meat. He was the one that ruined my life. Did he really expect me to be grateful to him and cling to him like he was some Messiah? I scoffed, getting into the car. I made sure to sit in the middle to keep them separated.

"Do I need to ask?" Amy questioned once we were on our way, looking back at the two boys, one radiating anger and one battered and bruised, then at me through the rearview mirror.

I could only shrug.

Toby was fixing his goggles but his mouth guard was down, showing the bloody lower half of his face.

Behind all the masks these guys look so normal it's almost scary. They could blend in so easily in a crowd and no one would know there were killers walking amongst them. It's also made me all the more intrigued to see what Masky looked like too. Even though I was upset with him at the moment I wondered if under that Mask he might be hot.

My cheeks heated up a bit and I ducked my head, looking at my hands in my lap as I toyed with the hem of my shirt.

"Hey," Amy spoke up, "I know we've been quiet about all that's happening but since Mason's all over the news, don't you think we should take care of him?"

A silence fell over the car for a few moments.

"S-slender w-will p-p-probably d-do it-- d-do it hims-s-self." Toby spoke and I noticed that his stutter had gotten a bit worse as he twitched next to me.

He must be really upset.

I didn't see why Masky had to be such an ass to him. I wanted to console him by maybe holding his hand or something but decided against it. I didn't want to give Masky any more reason to hate him.

"Speaking of which," I lifted my head, "who is this Slenderman exactly?"

"H-he's our b-boss."

"Not my fucking boss," Masky muttered next to me and I ignored him.

"Yeah but who is he, like-" I started.

"He is the Slenderman. You remember those short scary stories my dad used to read to us all the time when we were little so we wouldn't go into the forest." Amy spoke.

"The Tall Man?"

"Yup."

"He's literally an urban legend- and you guys work for him? He's a monster," I wasn't sure what to be more appalled by.

"Only when he wants to be," Toby giggled and I elbowed him roughly.

"It's not funny!"

"K-kind of is," he chuckled.

"This is just..." I rested my head against the back of the car seat with a sigh.

Unbelievable.

The Tall Man is real.

Does that mean every monster I ever read about could be real as well?

The thought was enough to send a shiver down my spine. Real monsters and serial killers are among us and it doesn't seem like there's anything anyone can do about it.

Am I one of them now? I did kill a person. There's absolutely no way I'd be able to just waltz my way back into society after this like nothing ever happened. Am I in shock? Is that why I haven't yet broken down completely?

It's insane to think about the fact that my whole life just changed with the role of a dice (or the strangling of a bitchy popular girl if we're being precise).

Somehow while I was re-thinking all my life choices that led up to the initial moment I became a killer I drifted off to sleep.

×××

I bolted upright when Amy slammed on the brakes and from outside the car I could hear maniacal laughter as well as something bashing at the cars exterior.

"Come on out pussies!" There was that laughter again and I watched as Hoodie pushed his door open and stepped outside, standing to his full height.

"Oh shit!" I heard the same voice exclaim. It made me giggle and everyone piled out of the car. As I looked around I could see that we were deep within a wooded area surrounded by thick tall trees. I could also hear a river running somewhere in the distance I'd have to check that out later. I haven't been to a river since I was a kid.

"Ooh what have we got here?"

I almost jumped out of my skin when I took in the appearance of the boy who spoke. He had long black hair past his shoulders and his skin was so pale, even as far away as I was from him I could tell his skin was ashy as hell. But that wasn't what alarmed me most. It was his face. His eyes were wild and crazy looking as I watched him look me and Amy over, and his mouth, the creepiest thing of all, was carved into a permanent smile that made my blood run cold.

Who even was this guy? Something told me he was crazier than everyone here combined.

Amy didn't seem bothered at all as the boy walked up to her, "brought me some entertainment huh boys?" he lifted an eyebrow at Masky as he slung the bat he was carrying, which I guess he was using to hit the car earlier, over his shoulder, "young and fresh, just my type."

"You touch her and you'll be scraping your own insides up with a shovel you piece of shit."

Wow Masky, very colorful image you just painted.

"Got a new plaything huh?" The boy burst into laughter, "hope she don't leave you heartbroken like the last one."

The last one? I looked over at Masky. So he'd been hurt by someone before. That was an interesting bit of information I never thought I'd acquire.

"Shut up!" Masky took a swing at him but the boy dodged, all the while laughing.

"All right, all right. I was kidding. Besides, her friend looks a lot more interesting."

"Don't even think about it freak." Amy rolled her eyes and walked away heading in the direction of an old cabin I just noticed sat in the distance ahead.

"The fuck you just say to me bitch?" The words had barely left the boy's mouth when I saw Hoodie grab him by the throat and lifted him into the air effortlessly. He was kicking and swinging his bat at Hoodie wildly, who barely seemed to even be affected at all.

I chuckled a bit as I watched, hearing Masky sigh next to me.

"O-okay Hoodie you can p-p-put Jeff down now!" Toby stuttered out sounding worried as the boy, whose name was apparently Jeff, struggled to breathe, his kicks and swings barely harder than an adorable kitten trying to playfight.

Hoodie grunted and let him drop to the hard ground, coughing and sputtering as he tried to catch his breath. Well he was an ass so he deserved it.

"Sonovabitch! I came here to have some fuckin' alone time not to get fuckin' strangled you brute."

"Shut up, we need your assistance." Masky grunted at him, "when you're done being a cunt you can meet us inside."

"Uh, I don't think you wanna go in there right now," Jeff scratched his head.

Masky ignored him and walked off saying, "let's go."

Hoodie followed behind him and I sighed, walking behind Toby, glancing back to see Jeff getting to his feet.

Weird how the guy who needs a mask the most is the only one without.

He grinned as he saw me look back at him and I picked up my pace, walking next to Toby.

I can't wait to be out of here.

†

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