tw: gore, mentions of child abuse, blood.

(a/n: lightly edited. I kinda gave up on the beginning part so please point out spelling or grammar errors)

bold: writing

'single quotation': thoughts

"underlined quotation": telepathy

slanted/italics: memories.

underlined: underlined sentences are basically commands and thoughts of those who's thoughts are still completely controlled by the mask.

single quotation dialogue is basically belongs to a person who isn't a mask or has gained a bit of freedom from the command and can retain their own thoughts..

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~" 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺 "~

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Previously

"Come on." She said cooly, holding the door open for him, a gesture Butcher mask smiled at faintly.
Even after killing a man, she had the courtesy to hold a door open.

They exited the room in silence, one thinking about the defective mask and the other about the blurry man who had defended him before vanishing so many years ago.

Yuri came rushing over a minute later, looking as peppy as could be and blissfully unaware of the images pounding in Butcher mask's head.

"Mayu, we can make some new allies!" She pointed excitedly at something around the corner.

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The both of them flinched away at her outburst in the dull mood that was starting to settle. She ushered them to another blank wall, much like all the other ones in the series of stair-less buildings, but a sloppily made poster was taped up.

'GATHERING ALLIES - WE HOPE TO SOLVE THE SITUATION PEACEFULLY.' It read across the top in boxy Japanese.

'It's obviously a trap.'

'No shit, man.' Butcher mask tried hard not to roll his eyes any farther into his head and raised his notepad to express his concerns about Yuri's risky idea.

"Amazing, right?" Yuri said, practically beaming at the idea like a kid at the candy store before mumbling on with hard-to-miss excitement. She jabbed a critical finger at the poster again. "I figured they must be people like us who really just want to try and do something about this world!"

A little part of Butcher mask made him put down his notepad in pity of her trust in complete strangers. He settled on just giving uncomfortable glances to Mayuko, who returned the side eyed concern. She sent him a sharp look like she was trying to make him be the one to shut her down, but Butcher mask simply shrugged.

"There's something really fishy about this." She said in a thought-out tone after a silent debate with the masked man.

'you said it sister'

'Shut up.' Butcher mask gave his head a few good smacks before zoning back into the conversation.

"I don't mean to bring you down," Mayuko added, making sure not to let her eyes linger on Yuri's bubbly and determined look for too long, "but what is this 'God' they're talking about?" She finished finally, pointing at the poster repulsively, like it might as well kill them itself.

Yuri hummed curiously, her smile shifting along with it to an interested pout.

"This looks pretty suspicious to me." Mayuko concluded. Butcher mask nodded in agreement when Yuri turned to glance at him too. She seemed to have come down from her serotonin trip after a moment of thought.

"I'm sorry, I guess I did get a little excited." She smiled apologetically, as sweet as usual. "Here, let's go outside. I wanna see if we can see the building they mentioned around here."

The trio marched forward with Yuri in the lead until they managed to find the stairs up. Butcher mask took a moment to relish the cool breeze that tussled his hair when they reached the top, in a way, helping relieve some of the fog in his still hazy brain.

The woman he had seen; she was obviously someone of importance to have appeared so vividly in Butcher mask's memories, especially to have invoked such a prominent dread in his gut the moment he saw her puffed cigar fumes.

And the man that he heard afterwards. Why did he feel sadness eating away in his stomach? It was all so confusing, a series of snippets from some's life. Real and unique, but only a faint trace of familiarity left in them, like the slightly rancid aftertaste of milk a day before it's supposed to go bad. It was like he living someone else's life on repeat, a loop of memories that knotted like string but nonetheless kept going and going and going like some kind of sick purgatory. An awful purgatory he was stuck in until he figured out who he used to be.

"...there's a good chance we'll find someone in that building." Yuri's voice cut deep into the blank state his mind had tossed Butcher mask into and he was propelled back into reality with a crash. He decided to try to pay more attention to what they were discussing over discovering whatever past trauma he might have experienced.

He played with his blood soaked sleeve, something he was starting to realize looked a bit unnerving. Why didn't anyone mention he looked like the floor of a butcher shop?

A sudden buzz drew him away once more however. It would be ok if he let these two go on their own, right? He knew they were both more than capable of surviving in this realm, but his moral compass ate at him. Stay here with two survival pros that lured danger like a fly to honey or help someone who could be completely vulnerable?

The answer was already obvious, he concluded, but couldn't help but feel uneasy with leaving the two. He readied his cleavers before turning his attention back to the girls after scribbling down a quick note. He tapped Yuri on the shoulder and gave the paper to her.

'I'm heading out for a bit. I'll be right back.'

Yuri gave him an understanding smile. "Oh ok! Hey, do you have a phone on you? It would make finding each other easier in case we move before you come find us."

Butcher mask fumbled through one of the pockets of his bag and handed the phone over to Yuri. It was still crusted with blood, now a dark, flaky brown.

"Here you go! You press this button to make calls and then just tap on my name and this button here." She explained. Butcher mask felt a bit awkward for having to be taught something that seemed so simple, but it was whatever.

She handed him the phone and said goodbye. Mayuko nodded her head in acknowledgment, which was hands down the friendliest interaction he's had with her thus far. His mood lit up a bit afterwards as he turned on his heel and broke into a sprint in the direction of the buzzing. Hopefully it wasn't too late, he thought.

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Butcher mask pressed himself into the corner and observed quietly.

'2 masks from the looks of it. Average build. One adult male. Conscious.'

'Thanks, cv.'

'np. Where would you be without me? :-}'

Butcher mask steadily slammed his frame against the shortest of the two masks, knocking him down to the ground with a sharp thud and then turned his attention to the other one, who swung immediately.

He noticed the mask start to get up off the ground and surround him. And then, they stopped. They made no movement; just froze there, like they were waiting on something to happen. And it did.

Another group of masks appeared from thin air almost, nearing Butcher mask, who was left in a state of confusion and caution. He raised his cleavers up hungrily, trying to make himself look as intimidating as possible. Maybe they would back off? What business did a group of mask have with him anyway? Shouldn't they have just ignored him like the others?

"Word around the block says you've been taking out masks instead of humans." The one in the middle spoke, arrogance dripping from his voice. There was 6 of them now, who had strategically surrounded, trapping him. He was beyond confused. They didn't look like they could do anything extraordinary, but the silent whispers of warning from his command voice put him on edge.

"Silent type, eh? can't talk?" The mask cracked its knuckles before reaching into its pocket and pulling out a box cutter. "Let's see if we can make you squeal."

On signal, they all closed in, drawing knives and guns of their own. Butcher mask, still hazy as fuck from how bonkers this entire situation was (he literally just came to help a human and now he was about to be pummeled by some kind of delinquent gang of murders) did the only thing someone with his expertise and stature would do: Plow through them like a tank and beeline for the hills.

He rammed right through a good half of them and bolted up to the roof, somehow managing to miraculously not get stabbed by any of the many knives they had pointed at him. It didn't take long for them to catch up because by the time he was halfway across the bridge, they were already stomping over.

'AHHHHHH WE'RE BEING CHASED'

'chill out you're making my head ring-'

'You don't get it man, if you die, I die too'

'then help me get out of this!'

Butcher mask haphazardly ran across another bridge. He quickly found that the only other bridge that led off had been destroyed and that he was stuck. 'There!' Cv hollered, directing his eye sight to an open window on the building across a few floors below.

'You want me to jump?!' Butcher mask asked, hoping this was another one of the voice's sick jokes. 'Yeah and I'd hurry up. Those guys are here now.'

He turned to see the hoard of masks near the end of the bridge. With a silent prayer and a string of curses, he clambered onto the railing and just as one of the masked goons was about to grab his ankle, he leaped off the side. Everything was in slow motion just like a low budget James Bond movie. Butcher mask felt his stomach do flips and his new fear in height grow a little more intense as he stared down at the abyss down below for a split second. And then finally, he got close enough to the window to latch his hands onto the open sill and dangle there to let the rest of his body get used to the splitting force of inertia. And boy did it hurt like hell. His injured arm seared with white hot pain and the adrenaline rush in his blood only numbed it by a fraction. He heard shots being fired at his dangling form, so after swallowing a lump in his throat, he threw himself over and into the window.

Butcher mask nearly fainted then and there, laying motionless for a good 5 minutes to stop him limbs from trembling and ear drums from pounding.

That was, hands down, the worst experience he had ever had.

'fucking christ dude. You actually did it! That was cool as fuck!'

Butcher mask couldn't even muster the strength to think any vulgar thoughts at the voice, so instead he directed his attention to the building he had just took a leap of near-death from. The group had vanished, no where to be seen. Butcher mask still had no idea what they could have  possibly wanted with him. He didn't attack any of them first. And the mask in the middle spoke pretty freely for having an intact mask.

'Intact mask...' He fumbled through the pockets of his book bag and pulled out the stack of neatly tied papers.

This was the first time he would have a proper look at the papers, but it still wasn't the time to dive deep into what each one said. He had, after all, just basically seen his last month of consciousness flash before his eyes. It'd be better to sit down somewhere safe and read them with his full attention.

The first couple of pages entailed everything there was to know about masks. Angels, gods, their various categories and roles. The writing was considerably nicer than the other papers, Butcher mask found, having been written in red ink and neat cursive. Something about every detail in the lettering, like the unnecessary hearts in the 'i's, made him feel warm and fuzzy. A little drawing in the corner of the paper drew his attention away from the pretty cursive.

'You got this, Butcher mask!' A badly drawn doodle of another mask with her thumbs up greeted his eyes, and for a second he felt every fiber of him simultaneously leap with joy and grief. He put the paper down and retied the bundle. Whoever wrote these first couple of notes was trying to help. An ally. Maybe he would be able to find them again and ask them the questions that brewed in his head since his self awareness.

Butcher mask decided to finally get up and scope out his surrounding. He checked his arm and found that he had undone a few stitches and effectively opened the wound again, which wasn't ideal, but he would have to manage. He sorted his things together and exited the lofty apartment he had crashed into. The rest of the rooms he explored were like the one he had come out of, empty but homy.

It was quiet. Just himself and his mind.

'And me.'

And also the annoying ai that lived in his brain rent free. Butcher mask let out a long and exaggerated sigh. There was a bit of silence.

'So what's with you and Mr. sniper rifle?' The voice sprang on him suddenly, breaking the peaceful mood.

Butcher mask paused, scrunching his face in annoyance. 'Where's this coming from?' He answered, continuing on to roam the halls in search for an exit.

The voice simply hummed, almost pleased to hear Butcher mask's displeased tone. 'Just tryna pass the time. We haven't had a one on one talk in a while, ya know.'

'I thought you liked it better like that.'

'Never said that. You're changing the subject here. He your crush or something? Long lost lover from another life?' The voice persisted. His tone was mocking.

'No.' The masked man replied with another sigh.

'Then why'd you do that thing earlier?'

Butcher mask twisted his face with confusion. 'What thing?' He finally managed to find the stairs up. It would take a couple of flights to get back on the roof.

'You know. The note pass and soul searching through his eyes.'

Butcher mask's face flickered to soft pink, putting hand over his already covered face in shame. 'I dunno, man. It just felt right?'

'Like slapping the shit out of his cigarette that one time?'

'...'

'Well is it-'

'-I'm not gonna talk to you until you learn how to not be an ass.' Butcher mask huffed, stomping up the carpeted stairs with irritation. It wasn't until he heard the squeak of latex that he finally came to a complete halt. Heavy footsteps resonated through the hall he was about to enter. Butcher mask's body acted on its own and he pressed himself against the wall once he reached the top. A ginormous mask roamed the other side of the hall, almost like it was looking for something. All while wearing swimming trunks, gloves and goggles. Whoever he was, Butcher mask had no chance facing the guy 1v1. He quietly snaked up the stairs until-

-he was yanked down by the scruff of his bloody sweater. He landed with a thud, thankfully on his good arm, but a towering figure stood over him. They were similar in height, but if this mask's muscle mass was anything to go off of, he could probably pound Butcher mask's bones down into a fine powder. Butcher mask scrambled to his feet and sprinted away like a madman. The fact that he had already ran away 2 times in the span of an hour didn't do wonders to his pride, but there was no way in hell he would be able to take on that guy. Jesus.

The pounding steps behinds him brought on a strong feeling of deja vu that almost overpowered the fear in his gut. Had he been chased like this before? The steps got louder and he could nearly feel the other mask's ragged pants on his neck. The only thought running through Butcher mask's head now was 'How the hell am I getting out of this one?' At some point he was sure Cv suggested jumping out of another window. Joke or not, it didn't seem like a bad idea anymore.

His endurance was starting to wear off and with each heavy and frantic step he inflicted on his long legs, he slowed down by a fraction. He ducked around a corner to try to get ahead, but was horrified by what he found. A dead end. The swimmer mask's footsteps came to a halt, only leaving Butcher mask with an eerie silence and his own labored breaths.

The mask approached slowly, almost mockingly, like a predator and prey in some late night documentary Butcher mask remembered watching some time long ago. It was clear who would win this fight, if you could even call it that. With his busted arm and exhausted body, Butcher mask was vulnerable and weak. Still, he raised his hands up defensively and maintained his tall stance.

Swimmer mask studied him when he was an arm's length away, perplexed by the other's determination to stand his ground even when he was so obviously outnumbered in strength, power, and stamina.

He brought a hand out to grabbed the mask's throat but pulled away in surprise when he felt a sharp blade pierce his palm. He met Butcher mask's glare, erratic and wild. It was like staring at a cornered animal.

He tried again. A flurry of slices were thrown at him, no longer calculating or purposeful. He managed to wrap his blood covered hand completely around Butcher mask's throat. The man didn't even bother trying to struggle, instead he hammered his cleavers into Swimmer mask's arm, as if he meant to slice the entire appendage off. And he almost did. Swimmer mask hissed through his mask. He was forced to let go and Butcher mask scampered away, his cleavers poised high. With one last glance, he sprinted away with the little adrenaline he had left.

Swimmer mask watched him disappear. His interest was piqued and he sure that his boss would be just as interested in what he had seen.

He pulled his phone out (from god knows where. he's literally only wearing swimming speedos) and sent the message.

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Boss

Did you find him?

Swimmer

Yes

seen

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"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME! I DON'T WANNA!" A young boy screamed crazily. The woman dug her claws deeper into his wrists and continued to drag him across the rough grass of their secluded backyard woods.

"SHUT YOU TRAP! YOU MADE MOMMA DO THIS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!" She shoved a hand over his mouth, but it wouldn't stop his hysterical screaming.

The boy kicked harder when he saw the tool shed come into view. His mother didn't budge. He had seen his dad watch a show last week about how animals survived in the wilderness by doing any means necessary to escape. Despite it being something about hyenas in Africa, his 11 year old head couldn't help but absorb the information and stash it in the back of his head for moments like this one. He did the only thing that seemed logical at the moment. (y/n) bit down, hard, on her hand. She howled in pain and let him go. The sweet iron taste in his mouth was gross, but he didn't have time to spit it out as he bolted back into the house, nearly trampling his little sister.

Butcher mask spat the blood that had managed to seep through the smile in his mask. The memory was quick, but it gave an explanation as to why he had turned dog-feral when the mask caught up with him.

After running up a few flight of stairs, he slammed open the door open. The bright sunlight burned his eyes but it was a feeling he welcomed with open arms. The wind tussled his hair with a soothing cool breeze once again. Butcher mask collapsed onto the concrete ground with a soft plop. He stared up at the baby blue sky, just as blue as before he hurled himself into an open window and ran a marathon against an athletic swimmer.

'What are the odds that you almost die twice within an hour?' Despite Cv's cheekiness, it was a good point to ponder. Could that group of masks really have organized such a complex plan? What were the odds that he'd jump into that open window? No one would have.

'But I did.' He thought glumly. They couldn't have predicted he'd do something so reckless, and yet, why did everything seem to fit in this new narrative? It would explain why the swimmer mask was looking around near the stair entrance. But masks were mindless most of the time. This had to be the work of someone who was much more aware, whether they be a mask themselves or a god.

His head pounded. He really needed to cook something to ease his nerves. And medical attention. His arm was almost completely immovable, with every attempt to move it resulting in a flaring pain and sharp intake of air. He pushed himself up, to which every muscle in his body heavily protested, but managed to stand up straight enough to push on.

Butcher mask tugged the phone out of his bag and tried calling Yuri, but it went straight to voicemail. He huffed and clicked on the messages icon.

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Yuri 🎉💁‍♀️💕

we're going to this building with a guy we picked up at the building :D

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She sent a picture of said building from afar. Butcher mask recognized it as the doctor's place and sped up in pace. The message wasn't sent too long ago, so he should be able to caught up before they leave.

Butcher mask felt a wave of tenseness shed off his shoulders at the thought of seeing Haruki again. It felt like ages since he had seen him. Hopefully he wasn't too upset.

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WOOOOOO YEAH BABY

a chapter. a bit on the chunkier side with my 3700 words but its whatevs ehheejjej

eat children. there will be much more frequent updates now that I know what im doing. also, get ready for that sweet, sweet relationship build up that's gonna be hitting hard between mc and sniper mask in newer chapters. this chapter kinda served as a basis for me to gain my motivation again and to build up for what's to come so buckle in babes