(The music isn't mine and it has nothing to do with the chapter, I just think it's really good haha)

Endo fit right in at the mansion. Sally had chosen her to be her new favourite, and I didn't see the little girl nearly as often as I was used to. Within the week, she was already going out 'hunting' with the others. The only people who didn't spend the greater part of our day hanging around her were EJ and I, despite her many attempts to get us to join them. Eventually she gave up on me, though she had now taken to barging into EJ's room whenever she was going somewhere and wanted company, so he was seeking refuge in mine instead. At first I wasn't too fond of the idea, though when she had barged into mine looking for him, I suddenly understood why he felt the need to scramble underneath my bed whenever he heard her approaching.

Hanging out with EJ had actually been extremely pleasant. He didn't push for anything and let me choose the conversation topic. Whenever I mentioned I didn't feel like talking, he would just nod and stare out the window on the edge of my bed as I read a book or something. I still had yet to see what was underneath his mask, though.

A light tap on the door draws our attention. I put the book down and stand up, opening the door to reveal Toby standing there with Endo behind him. I sense EJ stiffen behind me and not-so-subtly lean against the door frame, knowing she had already seen him. She gives me a dirty look over Toby's shoulder.

"Hey, guys, you wanna come with us to go have a d-day out?" Toby asks, "We've been let off the hook by Slendy so we decided to have some fun."

"Nah, we're good." EJ replies, watching Endo closely.

"Aww, come on, EJ! You two've been cooped up in here for a week now! You gotta get out sometime, you know?" He whines, his shoulders drooping. I give him an apologetic look.

"Sorry, Toby, I just don't want to go out today." I say gently, feeling bad for shutting him down like this. He sighs and nods.

"Alright. I guess we'll just leave without you then. And be all alone and sad. Since you didn't come with us." He says dramatically, placing the back of his hand against his forehead. I snort and shove him in the shoulder, my smile widening as he laughs.

"We'll come next time, alright?" I promise, resting my hand on the door. He nods and starts walking away, though Endo remains where she stood.

"Endo? You coming?" Toby calls. She glances at him, then returns her gaze to mine.

"I will in a minute. I just wanna talk to (Y/N) and EJ for a while."

I get a bad feeling in my stomach and my eyes narrow slightly. I hear EJ stand up from the bed, though he doesn't walk over yet. Endo's eyes slide lazily over to him for a moment, taking in his protective stance, before looking back at me.

"What's your problem with me?" She asks abruptly once she's sure Toby is out of earshot.

"We don't have any problem with you." I say, wanting to close the door on her face.

"Really now. Then why have you both been avoiding me like I've got the plague?"

"Would you believe us if I said that maybe we don't get along with everyone and there are some people we don't want to be around?" EJ mutters. Endo bristles at his words.

"It's better to just tell someone if you don't want to be around them than to play mind games. Do you want me to fuck off? I'll do that. Goodbye, bitches." She snaps, stalking after Toby. I'm stunned for a moment before closing the door again and returning to the bed.

"Well, that was a bit unexpected." I muse, laying back. EJ hums in agreement and lays beside me, knitting his hands behind his head. After a while I get bored and stand up, telling him I'm going to go to the games room and hang out in there for a while.

"Have fun." He calls as I leave the room. The mansion was quiet for once, a strange contrast to the usual yelling and occasional crash as Jeff throws a hissy fit over Ben beating him in a game. As I turn the corner to descend the stairs, however, I'm frozen to the spot at the sight before me. Toby was pressed up against the wall by Endo, her hands balled in his shirt, her mouth reaching up for his. His eyes dart to me for help, body ticking uncontrollably. He looked like a cornered animal.

"HEY!" I shout, leaping towards them and shoving Endo back. She stumbles, catching herself, and gives me a look so feral and enraged I felt I would die on the spot.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Endo demands. I feel the hair on the back of my neck rising but stand my ground, putting myself between her and Toby.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" I return. She glares at me, not answering. The silence around us thickens to the point it's almost tangible and I feel my chest tighten. Eventually she just grits her teeth and looks away, shoving her hands aggressively into her pockets.

"It's none of your business, skank." She hisses. I surprise myself by laughing, though it was a hollow sound.

"I'd say his wellbeing is my business, especially since he obviously didn't want to kiss you." Spitting at her, I take a threatening step forward. She watches me through lidded eyes, her face neutral.

"Easy, dog. Don't get your testicles in a knot." She says nonchalantly. It was as though a flip had switched somewhere within her, her anger that had been there moments earlier dissipated entirely. When I can't think of a response fast enough, she shrugs and turns on her heel, walking to the front door and out of sight. I exhale, trying to loosen my chest.

"T-T-Thank y-you, (Y/N-N)." Toby whispers, his skin unnaturally pale. I turn back around to face him, taking in the way he was shrinking down on himself, ticking every few seconds.

"It's okay, Toby. I didn't trust her to begin with." I say, patting his arm. He nods stiffly, taking a deep breath.

"S-She ju-ust grabbed me a-and-" He stutters, a nervous wreck. I shush him and grab his wrists, forcing him to look into my eyes.

"It's okay, Toby. Take another breath." I say, waiting as he does what I say, "Come on, lets go back to EJ. He and I have been trying to keep our distance from Endo."

"O-Okay, sure. C-C-Can we st-stop at my r-room to pick something u-up first though?" He asks. Nodding, I let him guide me through the halls. He slips into his room and I wait outside for him for a few moments before he emerges again with my swords in his arms. I accept them without shrieking this time, nodding in thanks. He was taking steady breaths now, and his eyes had stopped darting around to observe the shadows. When I open the door to my room again, EJ springs up, immediately sensing something wrong.

"What happened?" He asks, taking in Toby and I standing there, then staring at the weapon I had clutched in my hand.

"Endo pulled some funky business on Toby, then got pissed when I stopped her." I explain, leaning the weapon against my wall.

"Funky business? What funky business?"

"She tried to kiss him. Had him pinned against the wall and everything."

"P-Please don't remin-ind me." Toby mutters, ticking again.

"Sorry Toby. It's strange though, right?" I say, turning to EJ. He seemed to be deep in thought again.

"And nobody else thinks she's bad news?" He asks. Toby shakes his head.

"N-No, they're all probably out having a good time with he-r. She's been nothing but nice to me until now." He says. I sit heavily on my bed, cradling my head in my hands.

"She terrifies me. When I stood up for Toby, I felt the mental equivalent of death." I say, shuddering at the memory. EJ pats my back comfortingly as Toby sits beside me as well, staring at the floor.

"I understand now why you guys don't wanna be around her. Like, I didn't at first, I thought she was great, but..." He trails off, clasping his hands in front of him. I take a deep breath and lift my head.

"Well, at least now we know she's not to be trusted. Around anyone. I doubt they'd listen if we said so now, though." I say.

"There is a way to convince the others to get rid of her..." EJ begins but is quickly cut off by Toby.

"Woah, get rid of her? As in-"

"No, not as in murder. I'm talking about getting her out of here and away from us." He clarifies. I give him my attention, willing to hear him out. "I still stick by the possibility she's a spy sent to learn about us – our weaknesses, relationships and dynamic. Stuff like that. So she's gotta report back sometime, right?"

I'm starting to see what he's getting at. If she was meeting with someone in private, that'd be a pretty big tell-tale. That didn't mean I liked the idea of putting ourselves in danger to spy back and possibly get caught.

"She knows (Y/N) and I don't like her, so Toby would have to do it." He says. Toby opens his mouth to shut down the proposition but I get in first.

"Toby, please. If she's dangerous, she might hurt someone. We need to know." I plead. He pauses, looking at my expression before exhaling in defeat and nodding.

"Fine, I'll do it. Just, if it gets bad, I'm getting out of there." He says.

"Sounds completely reasonable. Thanks, Toby. All you need to do is hang around her and come get us if anything happens." EJ instructs. He nods and stands up, pushing his hands into his pockets.

"Alright. I'll see you guys later, then." He says, leaving the room and closing the door behind himself.

~

It had been a week since Endo had pulled that stunt with Toby. He had gotten close to her, and she had even apologised for her behaviour, though nothing was coming up. I was starting to fret and was pacing back and forth in my room. EJ was in his own room for once, researching someone for a hunt that Slenderman had assigned him. That was a new thing I had learned, at least. When his proxies didn't kill for over a week, he would assign them with targets to take out and, if they weren't dead by the next week, Slenderman would start taking away certain privileges such as video games or, in EJ's case, a steady supply of kidneys. That had shocked me at first, though I quickly discovered that finding out my friend ate human organs to satisfy his hunger didn't disgust me nearly as much as it would have when I still lived on my own. My door opens and I stop pacing, looking up at EJ.

"Wanna come scout with me? You're getting too restless." He asks.

"Scout?" I repeat, not sure what he meant.

"Scope out a place where my target lives. Learn the area and see if there's any risks I should watch out for." He explains. I glance around my room, wondering secretly if he had scouted my house when I was his target, six years ago. It was a useless question and I push it away. To tell the truth, I was starting to feel stifled, and it would help my mental health if I got out of the mansion for a while.

"Sure. I need to get out of here for a while anyway."

"I know you do. That's why I asked." He says, a smile in his voice. I roll my eyes and grab my weapon sheath, slinging it over my shoulder and holstering my sword staff. We walk outside and I take the passenger seat, not bothering with a seatbelt. He pulls out onto the road and starts up a small conversation.

"Any news with Endo?"

"None yet. I'm starting to get a little worried about Toby though. He's acting sort of weird." I say, resting my cheek on my palm as I stare out the window.

"How so?"

"He's, um, staring at her a lot with a strange expression. And he's starting to take her side whenever we talk about her."

"That is kind of weird. I'm sure he's got a plan though." EJ says as the trees around us turn to houses. A child suddenly darts across the road after a rubber ball and EJ slams on the breaks, the car screeching to a stop. I whip forwards, only barely managing to shield myself from face-planting into the dashboard by cushioning my head with my arms.

"Jesus Christ!" He shouts as the kid falls backwards in shock, starting to cry. I pull myself upright again and open the car door, checking on the kid. He was young, maybe five years old, and was bawling his eyes out.

"Hey, kiddo, it's okay. See? You're fine." I say, kneeling in front of him. Behind me, EJ presses his palms against the eyeholes of his mask, slouching back in his seat in relief. The kid stops crying, though he was still sniffling quietly. I get up and fetch his ball, handing it to him. At that moment, a door nearby slams open and a lady I assume is his mother storms out, approaching me while shouting angrily.

"What the hell is your problem?! You almost killed my kid!" She shouts, putting herself between me and the child. I raise my hands in surrender and take a step back.

"I meant no harm, ma'am. He darted out onto the road and surprised us." I explain. She huffs in response, not listening to a word I said.

"You should've paid more attention then! I can't believe your nerve!" She screams, raising her hand to slap me. My own hand instinctively flies to my staff, drawing it and slamming the point against the tarmac road, sparks flying from the impact. She stumbles back in fear, almost tripping over her son. Realising what I had done, I quickly relax from my defensive stance, sheathing the staff, though the damage had been done.

"S-Stay away from us!" She shouts, scooping up her child and running into her house, slamming the door closed. In her haste to escape, she had left behind the ball that started all the fuss. I sigh and pick it up, tossing it into her yard, though I overestimated the throw and it bounced off her window instead. I turn around and walk back to the car where EJ was watching me with interest.

"A bit extra, but good job with defending yourself." He says, driving again once my door was closed.

"I feel kinda bad about it." I admit, staring out the window again.

"Don't be. She was going to hit you and you defended yourself without hurting her." EJ reasons. I hum in response, watching the buildings slide past, one arm draped over the inside of my thigh. Dark clouds line the horizon, foreshadowing a storm. They were still about an hour or two away, though.

"Tell me if you see anything. My target is in house thirty four." EJ announces, slowing the car slightly as we drive down the street. A man was outside tending his garden on the house EJ mentioned.

"Is that him?" I ask, pointing at the man. He nods, not taking his gaze off the road. I turn back to stare at the man. He was middle-aged, with a soft face and light brown hair.

"He's a rapist, though he got away with it because the lady orgasmed. Modern court disgusts me." EJ sneers. I physically recoil from the window, glaring at the man as EJ drives on, eventually turning the corner.

"He didn't look anything like a rapist." I say. He nods.

"Yeah, looks can be deceiving. Slenderman's got it on good authority though. See anything suspicious?" He asks, pulling onto the side of the road and leaving the engine idling.

"Nothing that stood out on the street, though he seems to have a lot of sharp gardening tools." I say, feeling slightly embarrassed for some reason. "There was a light on in the house too, so I don't think he lives alone."

"From what I read, he found a wife after the rape incident. It was arranged by the lady's parents, though, so she'll be glad to be free." EJ nods. I gaze back down the street, wondering what that kind of life would be like. I had no desire to experience it.

"Is that all that scouting is?" I question. It was a bit of a letdown, and I didn't want to return to the mansion yet.

"We can stay out a little longer if you want." He suggests, as though he read my mind.

"Got any places in mind?"

"I can think of a few I'd like to take y-"

His phone suddenly rings. He pauses, then digs through his pockets for it and raises it his ear.

"Hello? Yeah, it's me. Who else would have my phone?... I'm out with (Y/N) scouting that person you want me to hit... Alright, we'll come back. See you soon." He says, hanging up and planting his forehead against the steering wheel, sighing dramatically.

"Is everything okay?" I ask. He nods and sits back up.

"Slenderman's just calling us back for a meeting. He sounds mad, too." He explains, driving back the way we came. I tense up slightly, nervous about facing a mad Slenderman. The rest of the trip is silent but for the rumble of the engine and other cars driving past. Slenderman was waiting for us outside the mansion, Endo at his side. I tense further at the sight. Endo couldn't touch us on her own, but if she told Slenderman how we were treating her, we were in some deep shit.

"Get out of the car." He commands. I jump to obey, though EJ took his time getting out, much to the tall man's annoyance. "It's come to my attention you've been harassing Endo and calling her a spy. I specifically told you to welcome her and treat her as one of the family. EJ, you already know the punishment for your disobedience. (Y/N), however, does not yet have a specific punishment. As a result, I will let Endo decide how to discipline you. After all, she is the offended party in this. That is all."

I feel my body temperature drop as he starts walking away. Endo grins victoriously, approaching me with the promise of suffering in her eyes. EJ's arm sweeps in front of me, blocking her path. He seemed to be relaxed, almost casual, but I could see his jaw tensing behind his mask.

"Just what are you doing, Eyeless Jack?" Endo asks innocently, though there was a vicious undertone in her voice.

"I'd like to know something, Endo. How did you arrive at the conclusion that we believe you're a spy?" EJ asks, his voice dangerously low. My hand itches to close around my staff and fight, though I knew that would be a death sentence.

"It's obvious, the way you treat me. Like I'm gathering intel." She says after a small, almost non-existent pause. If EJ caught the hesitation, he didn't let it show.

"What's your secret then? Misdirection? Memory wipe? Mind control?" EJ asks, listing off similar supernatural powers. Endo was about to retort when her phone buzzes. Her eyes widen and she melts into a shadow, darting back inside. I was confused at this sudden movement, though I was grateful for EJ stepping in to protect me.

"Come on, lets get to your room before either she or Slenderman come back out-"

"I have to say, you two are disappointing me greatly today." Slenderman says from behind us. We both nearly jump out of our skins and whirl around to face him. He was staring down at us with his hands on his hips.

"(Y/N), come see me in my office. Since Endo seems to have disappeared to her room, I will have to deliver a punishment myself." He says, then disappears into thin air. I stare at the spot he used to be in shock.

"He can teleport?" I ask, not registering what he said just yet.

"C... Come on then, lets get you to his office." He says, his voice shaking slightly. I follow behind him as we enter Slenderman's office, treating him as a shield.

"Take a seat, (Y/N). Jack, you remain standing." Slenderman commands as EJ closes the door behind us. I realise suddenly I had never heard his name before then, as he had only been referred to as EJ in my presence. Slenderman clears his throat and I quickly sit on one of the plush chairs in front of his desk, realising I was still standing by the door.

"You two have been causing trouble for a few weeks, I hear. (Y/N), I'm sure you're aware of our work, lets call it, by now. You're also aware that you have not taken a single hunt during your stay here. That can be expected, of course, seeing as you're not my proxy. However, I believe it's in everyone's best interests if you complete a long-term hunt. You needn't become my proxy, simply complete this-"

"Sir, you can't be serious! You're sending her on a long-term hunt?! For her first time?! Are you-"

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK UNLESS SPOKEN TO, EYELESS JACK!!" Slenderman roars, black tentacles bursting from his back and spearing towards EJ. They slam him against the door, rattling it on its hinges, as I leap to my feet.

"EJ!"

"(Y/N), SIT DOWN!"

I hesitate, weighing the risk of disobeying Slenderman with my concern for EJ's safety. Eventually Slenderman's intimidating presence forces me to take my seat again, not glancing away from my masked friend. The tentacles wrapped around EJ lower, dropping him to the ground. He lands on his hands and knees, coughing violently.

"Go find Hoodie and Masky and bring them in. They will take care of (Y/N) during her hunt." Slenderman says, waving a dismissive hand at EJ. He shakily stands up and nods, struggling to open the large door and limp out. I watch him leave, concerned for his wellbeing, until the door closes with a click again. Slenderman sighs, leaning forward and bracing his forehead on his hand.

"I do not enjoy harming my proxies, I assure you, but sometimes it is unavoidable. It is also unavoidable that you complete this hunt. It doesn't matter how long you take, as it is long-term, but it must be done eventually. Now, once the others return, I will explain what is needed of you." He says, as though he didn't nearly break EJ's spine barely a minute ago. A silence descends on the room and I fidget uncomfortably. Slenderman opens a laptop and starts typing on it, his back straight as a rod. A few minutes pass before the door opens again and EJ holds it open for Masky and Hoodie as they walk in, one arm wrapped around his body.

"Thank you, EJ. You may go now." Slenderman says, looking up from his computer. EJ nods and limps away, the door slamming closed without him to hold it open. I wince at the loud slam.

"Sir, may I ask what happened?" Masky says, glancing at me as I try to shrink down and become one with the chair.

"That will be explained soon. Take a seat, you two."

Once they do as he said, he continues talking.

"(Y/N) and EJ have been accusing Endo of being a spy. They had no reason to suspect this other than a 'bad feeling' and are now being punished for it. (Y/N)'s punishment is to be assigned a long-term hunt, which you two will help her complete. I was just getting to the part where I explain what it actually is." Slenderman says. Masky's eyes go wide and Hoodie splutters.

"Sir, are you sure? She's never been on a hunt before and you're putting her on a long-term one?" Hoodie asks, leaning forwards in his chair. Slenderman turns his petrifying gaze onto him.

"I assume you saw Eyeless Jack's condition. Unless you'd like the same to happen to you, I suggest you do as I command."

Hoodie's face pales and he quickly sits back, nodding. My shoulders cave in further and I stare down at my lap. I didn't want to go on any hunt, let alone a long-term one. Masky notices my posture and quickly offers some words of comfort.

"It's okay (Y/N), we'll walk you through it. Slenderman, do you have the target's file ready?" He asks. Slenderman nods and opens a drawer on his desk, fishing out a cliché brown cardboard folder with my name marked across the front. Masky opens it and skims through the contents before snapping it shut again and nodding.

"We'll make sure she gets it done. When do you want us to start?" He asks.

"Preferably tomorrow morning. You may initiate contact with the target anytime you like, and they do not have anyone waiting for them. I may be punishing you, (Y/N), but I won't make it impossible for you to complete your task." He says, folding his hands on the desktop. I nod, not looking up at him. "You're dismissed. Hoodie, please explain to (Y/N) what this hunt requires before you go to bed."

I immediately retreat to my room with the two men close behind. Masky had his nose buried in the folder and sat at my desk while Hoodie and I sat side-by-side on the bed.

"Long-term hunts are hunts where you get to know your target first – intimately, if possible. They can take from a month up to a year, depending on who the target is." Hoodie explains. My stomach immediately sinks.

"So I'm going to be stalking this person for up to a year?" I ask, shaking my head.

"If it makes you feel any better, he's a murderer too. Killed his wife and four kids." Masky adds helpfully. Not. It added to my worsening mood.

"Yeah, thanks, that makes it so much better." I say sarcastically, holding my head in my hands. The two glance at each other and do a quick rock-paper-scissors match, with Hoodie the loser. He groans softly, placing a hesitant hand on my back.

"Hey, it's okay. We'll be with you the whole time-" He starts, but is quickly cut off as I turn and shout at him.

"YOU'RE ACTING LIKE I'M NOT BEING ASKED TO WILLINGLY KILL SOMEONE!"

Hoodie takes his hand off me and shuffles away a bit, holding his hands up in surrender. Before he can say a word, I stand abruptly and snatch up a change of clothes, storming to the bathroom.

'Cunts.' I think to myself as I slam the door closed and yank my shirt over my head.

"U-U-Uhhh..." A quiet voice stutters. I turn my scorching gaze onto Ben cowering against the wall, too angry to react with any embarrassment.

"Get out." I hiss. He quickly darts out the door, leaving me in the cold bathroom alone. I flick on the light, as it was getting dark outside, and step into the shower.

When I return to my room, Hoodie and Masky had disappeared. I close my door and fall onto my bed, staring up at the roof for a few seconds before closing my eyes and curling up underneath the blankets, a fleeting thought crossing my mind.

'I don't want to wake up.'