The Hell That's Inside (Male OC Creepypasta) - isopodfrog - Creepypasta (2024)

Chapter 1

Chapter Text

Prologue

The Monsters were never under my bed. Because the Monsters lived inside my head.

I fear no Monsters, for no Monster I see. Because all this time, the Monster has been me.

- NIKITA GILL

CW & TW // caution to readers // this story will contain mature themes such as violence, blood & injury, death & possible character death, strong language, disturbing imagery, mental health disorders, and other such conditions. if you are sensitive to any of these topics, read with caution. if you, a family member, or a friend are experiencing negative thoughts, please reach out to any of the resources linked below. take care of yourself and enjoy <33

1. **National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (USA):** 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
2. **Crisis Text Line (USA):** Text "HELLO" to 7417413. **SAMHSA National Helpline (USA):** 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357)4. **National Domestic Violence Hotline (USA):** 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)5. **Lifeline (Australia):** 13 11 146. **Samaritans (UK and Ireland):** 116 1237. **Kids Help Phone (Canada):** 1-800-668-68688. **International Suicide Hotlines:** [Find the list here](https://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html)

These hotlines offer confidential support and are available 24/7.

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The night was cloaked in darkness, the moon obscured behind thick, swirling clouds that seemed to mirror the fog sticking close to the forest floor. A figure stood at the forest's edge, his silhouette illuminated by the glow of the flashlight he clutched tightly in his trembling hand.

There was an old rumor that had gone around for years and years that there was a strange man that lived in the forest, that he'd murder anyone that got too close to his cabin. A strange man with a strange mask and blood-red eyes. That was why the state forest was so popular, at least, to his group of friends at school. Said friends had dared him to go inside the forest alone, a few of them standing with him, giggling and snickering as they shoved him forward when he had hesitated for long enough. The rest of them, those who were too scared to even get close, stood by the campfire.

"Come on, Sam! Get in there, we don't have all night!"

"Alright, alright, shut up." He waved them off, giving them a goofy salute before he trudged hesitantly into the forest, their laughter fading into the distance behind him.

With each step deeper into the darkness and trees, Sam's heart pounded in his chest, the rhythm of his footsteps echoing in the eerie silence. No birds sang, no crickets called to their lovers, just wind rustling the leaves. The tangled branches above cast strange, twisting shadows that danced across the ground, playing tricks on his already frayed nerves.

"Stupid," he muttered to himself, trying to shake off the sense of unease that clung to him like a second skin. "It's just a stupid dare. All that's in these woods are little rabbits and squirrels, not murderers." He noted, scoffing.

But despite his attempts at reassurance, the forest seemed to close in around him, the oppressive darkness pressing down on him from all sides. He felt as if eyes were watching him from the depths of the trees, unseen whispers brushing against his ears like ghostly fingers. And then, just as his nerves reached their breaking point and he was about to turn around, he saw him.

He raised his flashlight down the trail, and he skidded to a stop. Standing alone in the middle of the trail and facing him was a person. Sam's breath caught in his throat, his body freezing in place as he stared at the stranger before him. He was unmoving, wearing a black t-shirt that was tucked into his black jeans, his muddied boots sinking into the puddles underneath him. But that wasn't what made his skin crawl with goosebumps, as creepy as it was already. He was wearing a mask, and his strange-colored eyes peered at him from the dark black holes.

"Come on, Jason. Cut it out, this isn't funny."

Sam's voice wavered as he spoke, his attempt at bravado crumbling in the face of the eerie figure before him. Jason was known for pulling pranks on his friends all the time. But the man remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he stared at Sam with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine.

"Seriously, man, this isn't funny," Sam called out again, his voice tinged with a note of desperation.

But the man made no response, his stance unyielding as he continued to watch him. Panic surged through Sam's veins, his mind racing and heart thrumming. The rumors couldn't possibly be true. The one who supposedly lurked in the shadows, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims and whisk them away? No, it couldn't be.

Yet, the longer the strange man stared at him, the longer those fears became very real.

Sam took a tentative step backward, his gaze never leaving the masked figure before him. But as he moved, he stumbled over a root hidden in the darkness under the leaves and fell onto his back, the flashlight slipping from his grasp and clattering to the forest floor. In an instant, the world was plunged into darkness, the only sound the pounding of Sam's heartbeat in his ears. Panicking, he scrambled around in the darkness, his hands searching for the flashlight that had fallen from his grasp. He finally found it in a pile of leaves, flicking it on and pointing it in the direction the man had been standing.

He was gone, nothing but his boot prints in the mud.

Sam's eyes widened, and he whipped around to run, only to slam into something warm and hard. He steadied himself and looked up. Blood-red eyes, just like the rumors had said, silver pooling at the edges of his irises. They were strangely mesmerizing, the gorgeous color drawing Sam's gaze like a moth to a flame. A pleasant smell of wood and amber washed over him as the man grew closer, merely inches now. Fear surged through Sam's veins as he watched the masked stranger with trembling hands, his mind racing with a thousand questions.

Was he going to hurt him? What did he want? Why was he just staring at him with absolutely nothing to say?

"Who - Who are you?" Sam's voice quivered, barely a whisper in the oppressive silence of the forest.

"Leave." he said, his voice low and gravelly.

"What?" Sam stammered, eyes wide with disbelief.

"Leave and don't come back," he repeated cryptically. He reached forward and placed a hand on Sam's shoulder, his masked face lowering to his ear, "There are monsters in these woods, you know. You should run."

Sam's heart pounded in his chest at the stranger's touch, his ear tingling as his warning was whispered to him. Without another word, the man let his hand drop off his shoulder and backed away. Without a second to spare, Samuel dodged around him and took off, his movements frantic, and never let his eyes leave the stranger. The man watched him in silence, his eyes piercing through the darkness like twin beacons of warning. The night seemed to stretch on forever as Sam raced through the trees, his mind consumed by fear and confusion. He didn't stop running until he burst through the tree line and stumbled into the clearing where his friends waited by the campfire. Their laughter instantly faded when they saw his pale, shaken appearance.

Kirika and Jason ran over to him with wide eyes when he collapsed to his knees, his entire body heaving as he tried to catch his breath with burning lungs.

"Oh, my gods, Sam. What happened? Are you okay?"

But he couldn't find the words to respond. He continued to gasp for breath, glancing over his shoulder momentarily to make sure the man hadn't followed him, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened to him. The muddied handprint on his shoulder was enough to remind him that it wasn't a dream, that the man in the woods was very real, and Sam had barely managed to get away from him. As he lay there on his hands and knees, he came to one conclusion.

He was never stepping foot in that forest ever again.

Chapter 2: A Bloodied Beginning

Chapter Text

"Damn it."

A man groaned in pain, his gloved hand tightly clutching the knife embedded in his abdomen. Hot crimson blood soaked through his clothes as he stumbled into the entrance of an abandoned two-story house, the door banging loudly against the wall upon impact as he kicked it open.

The house, much like the dense forest surrounding it, exuded a sense of neglect and decay. Years of abandonment had weathered the exterior wood, leaving it rotten and covered in a grim layer of gray. Ivy snaked its way up the walls, stopping just short of the dilapidated roof. The yard, overrun with tall grasses and ferns, concealed a faint, worn trail leading to the front porch. Most of the windows were boarded up, beside a couple in the living room where you could see nothing but foliage and darkness outside. Despite the desolation, it was as clean as it could be, making it very clear that he lived here.

The wounded man, his tall frame hunched in pain, stumbled towards the rear of the hallway and into the bathroom. His clothes, a tight-fitting black shirt and jeans, were stained with a mixture of rainwater, blood, and sweat. His face was completely obscured by a white porcelain mask, smeared with crimson splatters and mud. The only thing that could be seen of his actual face was gorgeous red and silver eyes, drawn into a deep pained frown.

"What the hell did you do to me now?" He spat out to seemingly no one, but he knew his angered voice was heard.

Struggling to remain conscious, he leaned heavily against the grimy sink, his breaths labored. With trembling hands, he retrieved a bag of medical supplies from a nearby shelf, its contents spilling out onto the counter as he clumsily dumped everything out. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he grabbed a spool of thread and a needle, steeling himself for what was to come.

On the count of three, he yanked the knife from his abdomen, stifling a scream as agony coursed through him. The pain made his head fuzzy, stars dancing in his vision as he stood shakily.

"Stay awake, Cedric," he muttered through clenched teeth, his voice a hoarse whisper in the silence of the house. He slapped his bloodied gloved hand against his masked cheek, chest heaving with each breath.

He stumbled backward and sat on the toilet seat, and with every stitch, he came closer to blacking out. Thankfully, he managed to finish. With a pained grunt, he finished wrapping his wound with gauze and slipped down to the floor, leaning against the wall. It was only then that he let himself fall unconscious.

FIVE HOURS LATER...

The soft chorus of crickets and the rhythmic drip of water from the roof filled the air, a stark contrast to the chaos that had unfolded earlier. Cedric awoke slowly and groggily, slowly rising to his feet. He surveyed his surroundings with weary eyes, the flickering dim light of the yellow bulb above him casting elongated shadows across the bathroom. It was no longer raining from what he could see through the gaps of wood on the bathroom window, only clear moonlight shining through.

The bathroom looked straight out of a murder scene. Blood smeared across the floor and covered his clothes and gloved hands, splattered across his masked face. With painstaking effort, he washed away the traces of blood on the floor and his stained skin. With visible effort, he managed to move the mask enough on the top of his head to reveal his face, almost as if it didn't want to let go of him. His red-silver eyes looked distraught and tired, bags under them from lack of sleep. Despite this, though, he was still rather handsome. His features were sharp and defined, his pale skin free of blemishes and scars. The rest of his body couldn't be said the same.

Old wounds covered his lean body, deep purplish scars that were reminiscent of old knife wounds and burns. They made their unsightly appearance as he changed into cleaner clothes, free of blood and muck, that fit tightly to his body.

When he had finished cleaning up, he pushed off the sink and retreated to the kitchen. It was darker here; the bulb that usually shone had busted the night before, leaving only the moonlight outside to light his way. He swung open a nearby cabinet, which was filled with all kinds of stolen medication, and plucked a bottle of antibiotics off the shelf. He took a few of them dry and threw the nearly empty bottle onto the counter.

Yanking open the fridge door, he sighed in annoyance, "Runnin' low..."

It was looking emptier than it did just a day ago, and he was running low on medical supplies now, too. It would last just over a week if he were careful.

Abigif.

With a huff, he reached up and yanked the mask back down on his face, much easier than when he tried to remove it. As he settled onto the couch, exhaustion and pain washing over him like a tidal wave, he twirled the knife that had been lodged into him a few hours ago in his fingers, studying the silver blade in the dim light.

It wasn't his. It was old, and the blade had been sharpened many times, leaving the metal skinny and scratched from use. It had a metal and wooden grooved handle, the initials J.N. etched into the side.

Cedric tried to remember everything that had happened earlier today...but there was nothing, just as always. It was like he would go to sleep, which was something he refused to do until he couldn't stay awake anymore, and then just wake suddenly in a completely different place than when he had fallen asleep. He'd always wake up injured, covered in either his blood or someone else's.

It had started when he was fifteen, a little over nine years ago, as a freshman in high school...ever since he had found the accursed mask that now sat snuggly against his face. One he'd never be able to take off. At least, not entirely. Not without permission.

Thankfully for now, he was safe. He could sleep without worrying about the mask – she had already done her part, and she'd rest now, too. Cedric let his eyes flutter close and fell into a deep slumber.

There wasn't any use in dwelling on things he couldn't control. For now, he'd focus on healing. The rest would come later.

Chapter 3: A Stalker

Chapter Text

APPROXIMATELY SIX DAYS LATER...

The weight of the bag slung over Cedric's shoulder was a familiar burden, filled with everything he'd managed to get away with a five-finger-discount. He had gotten pretty good at sneaking around over years he'd been by himself, especially since he could be caught if anyone saw his masked figure stalking around. He'd managed to sneak into an unattended ambulance at the nearby hospital, two convenience stores, and a vet clinic. Needless to say, he would be good for a few weeks, maybe even a month, until he needed to go out again.

As he ventured into the town beneath the cover of darkness, the humidity hung heavy in the air, the streets cloaked in a stifling fog illuminated only by the dim glow of yellow streetlights. It was nearing the witching hour, the desolate streets devoid of life save for the occasional person hurrying home from the impending rain that was sure to fall soon.

Ensuring the bag was securely fastened to his back, Cedric navigated his way through a nearby alleyway and stuck to the shadows to the best of his ability. If anyonedidsee him, it was by the few homeless people that frequented the area. It wasn't really a problem – most of them slept soundly as he snuck past them, and the others minded their business, gluing their eyes on the ground when Cedric stared at them as he stalked past.

It began to sprinkle just as he jumped into a gated parking lot behind an abandoned three-story office building. Cedric looked around, eyes scanning every nook and cranny before looking up at the top of the office building. He sucked in a deep breath, tensing every muscle in his body as he prepared to jump, and like something out of a superhero comic he flew to the top of the building, his boots crushing the gravel underfoot as he landed. He ran quietly to the other side of the building, and without a second thought, he leapt down and landed safely back on the ground in another alleyway.

Perks of the mask that was stuck forever to his head.

As he made his way to the end of the alley, something on the brick wall caught his eye as he passed. With a deep frown, he studied it, eyes slowly growing wide in realization of what it was. It was a missing poster, practically falling apart from years and years of weathering but the name and picture could still be seen.

CEDRIC ICHABOD YOUNG – MISSING 10/31/2009 – GREEN EYES, BLACK HAIR, 5'9" – LAST SEEN NEAR OLYMPIA, WASHINGT...MOTHER...ND FATHER...EWARD...

There was more information, but the ink had washed out completely in some places and pieces of the paper had torn away. Although the boy was much younger in the picture, he'd still know that face anyway.

It was his, after all.

A myriad of emotion bubbled within him despite his stoic face. He reached out and touched the paper, the surface peeling under his fingertips. He remembered himself in the picture when it was taken.

It was the last Christmas he had ever spent with his parents. The memories surged unforgivingly and with complete clarity, despite being so long ago. They were sitting together on the couch, his mom sitting at his side smiling at him and his father standing by the tree with a cheap disposable camera clutched in his hands. Cedric had just opened the last present under the tree. They had finally got him an expensive photography camera, one he'd been begging for years. Photography had always been one of his passions, and he remembered feeling so happy when he got it finally. His dad took the picture right after he looked up, green eyes wide and sparkling with joy.

A pang of longing gripped his chest the longer he stared at it, but he couldn't go back. It didn't matter if they still lived in the same town, just a ten-minute walk from here to their house. He couldn't even imagine their faces, distorted with horror when they saw him – the monster he had become nine years ago.

He was a murderer. Even if he didn't mean to do it.

With a surge of anger, he tore the rest of the poster off the wall and crumpled it in his gloved hands before throwing it on the wet concrete and crushing the rest under his boot. He turned to leave, a sour taste of regret and anger swimming in his mouth, but just as he took a step he froze in place.

Cedric couldn't see their face from where he was standing because they were so far away, but he could make out what they were wearing.

He was a man, for sure. Squared shoulders, tall, maybe even taller than himself who stood at six feet. He had longer hair that was black, and he was wearing a dirty hoodie and jeans. He was completely rigid, unmoving beside the small breaths he was taking. Alarm bells started ringing in Cedric's head the longer he stared at him, hoping the shadows were enough to obscure his black-clad figure. It was strange, too strange.

"You should get moving, Ceddy bear," came her voice, a soft chilling noise that sent chills down his spine, "A little birdie is watching you."

He never let his eyes leave the figure, and gritted his teeth as her ghostly voice whispered in his head. He could practically feel his skin tingle with annoyance and anger.

"So, now you speak to me?" he spat out, his frustration palpable, "Unbelievable."

A chuckle tickled his ears, making him roll his eyes in response. He didn't have time to argue with her though. He tightened the backpack against him, getting ready to run if he needed to. Turning on his heel, he began walking in the opposite direction, checking momentarily to see if he was following. Eventually, he glanced backward and the figure was gone – almost as if he had vanished into thin air.

"It's been aweek, Berith." Cedric hissed under his breath as he tried to forget the strange encounter but careful not to let his guard down.

"I get tired, too, Ceddy." She cooed, the mask tightening against his face.

He sighed in annoyance at the infuriating nickname, "Care to explain what happened? I could have died."

She was quiet for a moment before the mask loosened, "I will explain when you return home. I can still feel eyes on you."

Usually he would have argued, but even he noticed the overwhelming feeling of being watched. He gave a curt nod, and picked up his pace as he practically beelined for the city limits and into the forest bordering the city. The trek usually took it out of him, but something was telling him not to stop and keep walking, no matter how tired he was.

After a while, the overwhelmingly dark forest loomed in front of him. Hemlock and fir trees towered over him as he trudged through the long grasses and ferns. When he was far enough in, he leapt up into a tree and began bouncing from branch to branch for the sake of peace of mind, only touching back to the ground when he felt comfortable enough. It took much longer than it normally would, and before long, relief washed over him as he saw the ivy-covered house come into view.

But that relief was short-lived when he heard the snap of a twig behind him.

Chapter 4: Inhuman

Chapter Text

Frozen in place, he narrowed his eyes, casting a wary glance over his shoulder, scanning the dense tree line for any hint of an intruder. After a few tense minutes of silently watching and waiting, he adjusted his bag before resuming his journey toward the safety of home. It must have been an animal – it was a forest after all.

With a gentle push, the decrepit door swung open, his fingers fumbling for the light switch to flip it on. He could hear the generator rumbling quietly in the basem*nt, something he had just gotten for comfort. It was nice not having to strain his eyes or scrounge for batteries for his flashlight anymore, though the gas was pretty annoying to get. Good thing he knew how to siphon it.

The room bathed in a warm yellow glow as he began to stow away his latest haul, ensuring the door was securely locked behind him. His eyes raked over his now full fridge, a rare smile flitting across his face. He managed to pull the mask to the side of his head, revealing his tired face. He plucked a piece of candy from his pocket and sighed in contentment as he popped it onto his tongue, leaning against the kitchen counter and closing his eyes.

"Humans are such fickle creatures... you barely survive, and yet, the first thing you steal is candy?"the voice echoed, emanating from the mask and almost seemingly directly into his mind. It was something only he could hear...at least, that's what he thought.

He chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. Suddenly, as if realizing something, his smile dropped, and he pushed off the counter.

"Where were you hiding?" he sighed aloud, his voice echoing through the empty house. "It's been more than aweek.I was starting to think something was wrong."

"Resting... my last venture took its toll."

"Your hunt is going to get me killed," he retorted, frustration simmering beneath the surface as he leaned back against the counter again. "What's so special about this target anyway? You've never acted like this before."

Silence greeted his question until she sighed, loosening her grip once more on his head so he could be more comfortable. He tapped his finger on the porcelain surface before pushing it further back, right over his ear.

"He won't escape me next time,"she sneered, dodging his question expertly, before pausing for a moment,"Even I make mistakes."she added hesitantly.

He shook his head, exasperated, and yanked his shirt up. A thin scabbed line, pieces of thread holding his skin together, was now visible on top of toned muscles, mottled in with various other scars. It looked much better than it had before, but angry purple and green bruises surrounded it.

"Yeah, well, your mistakes are going to cost my life...just be more careful, Berith. You need me just as much as I need you." He reminded her, eyeing the mask on the side of his head.

She growled in agreement, and he knew that was the best he was going to get. Sighing, he let the shirt drop from his grip, and at the very same moment, the generator rumbled off, leaving him in darkness as the lights flickered off.

"Mm, great," he said, overwhelming silence blanketing the house.

Just as he was making his way toward the back of the house and to the basem*nt stairs to turn it back on, a loud creak sounded at the end of the hallway. Though old houses often groaned with the weight of time, this sound was different, unfamiliar.

A wave of adrenaline rushed through him, and he froze, listening carefully. There weren't any other sounds coming from the hallway, and he frowned deeply. Berith didn't dare speak, wanting to listen just as closely as he was. He retrieved his knife that was strapped to his ankle and stilled at the entrance of the hallway, thunder rumbling throughout the house. Rain began to hammer against the roof as it began storming outside, the sound covering whatever may lay beneath it.

"I think we were followed," he whispered under the sound of the rain, a chill running down his spine, "The man from the alleyway...he was watching us."

"You need to get out. Return later."Berith noted, hissing in annoyance when Cedric ignored her and stalked down the hallway instead.

"I'll be damned if someone makes me leavemyhome. They don't know who they're f*cking with." he seethed.

He listened for a few more moments, but there was still nothing over the sound of the harsh rain and the pattering of drops landing in the pots he had around the house. He went to enter his room, but as soon as he turned the doorknob, a sudden impact sent him reeling backward, and his head collided painfully with the wall. The knife that he was holding flew from his grip and skittered somewhere down the hallway toward the kitchen, but before he could react, he found himself pinned by an unknown assailant, completely stunned by the harsh blow. The metallic scent of blood and the forest hit him like a bus, emanating from the person in front of him, their hands wrapped around his wrists as he pinned him to the wall.

"Cedric!"Berith growled, her soft voice transforming into something that was closer to an animal. It was powerful and foreboding, and he could feel her lending him her strength. The mask moved and tightened, falling back onto his face and almost melding with his skin.

Even with the newfound power that surged through him, he struggled against the force holding him, completely bewildered by the attacker's strength. No human would be able to hold him back like they did unless...

When his blurry vision cleared and he got his bearings, he froze as he focused on his attacker's face. At first, he mistook his Glasgow smile for a mask, but his widening grin revealed that it was actually his face. His pale skin shone in the dim light as a flash of lightning scored across the house, his narrowed icy blue eyes boring into his red-silver ones. He seemed intrigued by Cedric, leaning so close that he could smell his warm breath against his mask.

"What the hell are you?" Cedric said in disbelief, unnerved by the twisted visage before him. A deep chuckle left him, his voice hoarse and gruff.

"A nightmare," the assailant replied, his grin widening.

Chapter 5: 1+1=3

Chapter Text

"This is the one, right?" The assailant's voice sliced through the tense air, drawing a frown from Cedric as he struggled against the firm grip pinning him to the wall. He grunted, pushing back with all his might, but the pressure against him held steady.

"He matches the Operator's description. Has to be."

Another voice chimed in, and Cedric's gaze flicked towards the source as another man emerged from the room. Arms crossed over his tan jacket, he wore a mask. It had been painted with feminine features, accentuating his eyes and lips. Cedric's heart pounded, anger rising as he faced the two intruders in his home.

"Let me out, I can handle them,"Berith urged with a hiss, desperation in her tone.

"Not after your stunt last time. I've barely healed," Cedric hissed back, the strain evident in his voice.

The assailant holding him tilted his head, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Now, who are you talking to, pretty boy?" His mocking tone grated on Cedric's nerves, but he ignored it, focusing all his attention on his face.

"None of your business." He growled out, eyes glowing brighter in the dim light.

Without another second to spare, Cedric launched his head forward, the impact causing the assailant to recoil with an enraged growl. Seizing the opportunity, he broke free from the grip and shoved his attacker away. Before the other man could react, Cedric lunged forward and kicked the closest one in the chest, sending him flying backward. He crashed into the other intruder, both of them flying back with so much force back into Cedric's room that the wall crumbled under their backs, coating them with drywall.

With one fluid motion, he turned on his heel and made a beeline for the front door, scooping up his knife that lay a few feet away. His hand grabbed the handle but before he could escape, Smiley slammed into his back, sending them both tumbling onto the porch through the front door. Wood rained down on them, and Cedric hissed in pain as a large piece stuck into his leg. It was raining harder now, gusts of wind sending sprays of water over them.

As they struggled to their feet, Cedric's anger boiled over. "Who the f*ck are you?" he seethed, his grip tightening on the knife as he put himself in a defensive stance., rain dripping down the smooth surface of his mask.

"Cedric Young," the man in the tan jacket replied as he stood calmly in the doorway, dusting himself off casually. Smiley's hungry gaze never left him for a moment, his scruffy black hair carrying the smell of blood and forest to him again.

Cedric froze at the mention of his name, the mask tightening against his face in response. It might has well have been his face at that point.

"It's them...it has to be them."Berith said cryptically, her voice barely a whisper.

"Who is that supposed to be? Your boyfriend?" Cedric questioned, the lie easily passing his lips. Smiley did nothing but laugh, a loud bark of strained giggles that sent chills down his spine.

"We know everything about you," the man in the tan jacket declared, "How you murdered four of your classmates, been on the run since. How you're hunting one of our people..."

"You've been busy, haven't you? Probably wouldn't have found you if I didn't spot you in town earlier."Smiley said with a chuckle, fishing his own knife out his pocket and twirling it between his fingers.

Cedric cursed inwardly, his frustration mounting. He looked off to the side, slamming his fist into the surface of the mask, "Damn it... look at what you brought to me! I told you to be careful!" he growled at the mask.

The two intruders watched him with intrigue, curious about the one sided conversation he was having with himself – to them, he was speaking to absolutely no one, his strange colored eyes fixated on the wooden floor of the porch.

"Let me out, or they will kill you. I can fix this, I just need you to give me another chance."

"No, you've done enough. You've had your chance. Now, shut up and let me clean up your mess. I'll deal with you later."

Berith growled angrily, a sound that would have made anyone cower away from it – but he knew her. He wasn't afraid of her, not anymore. She tried to push for control but he easily pushed her back down, used to the sensation tickling his mind.

Cedric weighed his options, a plan forming in his mind. He straightened his body, and looked at them, his demeanor seemingly casual and friendly despite his racing heartbeat.

"So, you know me. Know what I did, what I'm capable of," he stated, a smirk playing on his lips. "But do you knowwhatI am?"

The reaction was immediate. Smiley's smile faltered, and the other man stiffened, their demeanor shifting from relaxed to defensive. Encouraged by their response, Cedric pressed on, his confidence growing with each passing moment.

"Oh... they didn't tell you?" Cedric taunted, his gaze flicking between his assailants. "Your... Operator? They must not care too much about your well-being if they sent a human and some freak after me without telling you the most important part."

The taunt hit its mark, the intruders growing increasingly agitated. Berith quickly caught on, giggling as power surged through him. The mask tightened, his red-silver eyes beginning to glow brightly in the dim stormy night.

"Too bad you won't figure it out until after I bury your rotting bodies."

Smiley charged forward with a grotesque snarl as he got ready for the fight, but Cedric deftly dodged, surprised at how fast he moved toward him and barely missing him with the blade of his knife. With a swift kick, Cedric sent him tumbling down the stairs, the sound of his body crashing into the dirt outside echoing through the night. He yelled in anger, trying his best to untangle his body from the tall grass and ferns and get back up to him.

Turning his attention to the other man, Cedric began swiping at him with his knife, causing him to dodge over and over until he backed him into the living room. Grabbing a nearby chair, Cedric threw it at him with such force that it toppled him over the couch. Before he could react, Cedric whipped around and grabbed the large cabinet beside the, now broken, front door, and he watched with a satisfied grin as Smiley charged forward only to be blocked by the large object as Cedric yanked it down in front of him.

He could hear his enraged yells outside, Smiley's body slamming it over and over into the cabinet to get through but to no avail.

Cedric's plan was to separate them and then deal with them one at a time. Smiley's strength was no joke, almost comparable to his own, but the man in the tan jacket was at a serious disadvantage.

At least, that's what Cedric thought before a piece of wood slammed into the back of his head while he was preoccupied with the cabinet.

Pain blossomed on the crown of his head, and he whipped around, using his arm to guard against the next swing before he caught it and ripped it from the man's grasp.

He charged toward Cedric, using his shoulder to lift him from the ground and slam him on the floorboards. The old wood cracked underneath the impact, and with a strained gasp, Cedric felt the stitches of his knife wound tear open and fresh blood began coating his stomach.

The intruder climbed on top of him and slammed his fist down on the mask, trying his best to dislodge it but hissed in pain when it didn't move an inch. Cedric grabbed the man's knee, pushed it backward to free one of his legs. With a harsh kick to the chest, he flew backward into the living room wall and his head slammed into the hard surface. A second later, he crumpled to the ground unmoving. Cedric scrambled to his feet and approached him, the knife in his hand glinting as another flash of lightning lit up the house.

Just before he could slam it down on his unconscious figure, an intense pain erupted in Cedric's shoulder and he whipped around to see Smiley standing behind him with a menacing glare. The knife was still lodged in his shoulder, and Cedric had dropped his due to the sudden pain.

Smiley had broken in through one of the living room windows, one of the ones that weren't boarded up, and blood trickled down his arms from wiggling through the broken glass. He quickly realized that he had hidden the sound of the glass breaking with the clap of thunder.

With a loud yell, Cedric charged him, slamming him into the ground and scrambled on top of him, pinning his arms down with his legs.

He kicked around, trying to get free, but Cedric brought his fist down over and over, the sound of flesh hitting flesh echoing across the house as the storm raged on outside. He finally weakened, and Cedric wrapped his hands around his neck and began to squeeze.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance." he growled out, Cedric's anger spiking once more when a strangled chuckle left his attacker's mouth.

"We still do." he choked out, a crazed smile falling across his face. His straight white teeth were bloodied, dribbling down the corner of his elongated mouth. Cedric frowned deeply at his words but tried to ignore him, squeezing harder. He thrashed around as much as he could but eventually became still. Unconscious – but still alive.

Cedric reached around his shoulder and yanked out the knife with a strangled scream, fully intending to use it on the man underneath him.

"Finish it, Cedric. Don't forget the other."Berith said soothingly, his body relaxing as she sent a calming sensation over him.

Before he could realize what was happening, he was being yanked up before he could take the finishing blow. Someone's hand wrapped around his own neck, and he was slammed into a wall, his feet inches from the ground as he was held there. Cedric wheezed against the cold hand, shock overtaking him as he stared at the man in front of him. He wasn't one of the ones from earlier, but someone completely different. Stars began to fill his vision as the man squeezed, his long nails digging into the sides of Cedric's neck. He couldn't breath, the new revelation making him thrash around.

"It's him. Let me out, let me out,LET ME OUT!"Berith was screaming with an intensity Cedric had never heard before. She wasangry,and her push for control was becoming stronger every second he was closer to losing consciousness.

The man's appearance sent chills down his spine. His skin was gray, a dull color that shone with rain in the dim light. His dark blue mask secured to his face was covered in a strange black liquid that dripped from his eyes – or lack of ones. Deep, black pits of horrible nothingness that seemed to stare straight into his soul. His gaze never left his eyes, and Cedric could somehow tell when he glanced away at Smiley, who lay a foot away from them.

A low growl of annoyance left his chest as his gaze flicked back over to Cedric, and he squeezed harder. His lungs burned with the need to breathe, his desperate attempts to escape his grasp becoming fruitless with each second.

But oddly enough, as each second he grew closer to his death, Cedric never felt the fear that was supposed to come with it.

In fact, an odd sense of relief fell over him like a tidal wave. He could finally rest, sleep and dream without having the fear of waking up again with more bloodied wounds and no Berith whispering in his head. For nine entire years he had dealt with the mask, a parasite that had ruined his life when she thought she was saving him. He was tired.

Tired of being on the run, tired of constantly fighting, tired ofher.

He let his hands drop from the man's wrist, relaxing in his touch. As he let his body fall limp and welcomed the darkness that was starting to swath his vision, Cedric watched as the man tilted his head in morbid curiosity, a slight hum leaving his lips.

And just as he lost consciousness, and his body hit the ground with a loud thump, he heard the strangest thing after.

Static.

Chapter 6: Dreams...Or Reality?

Chapter Text

OCTOBER 30TH, 2009

"Ceddy, come out, come out, wherever you are!"

A taunting voice echoed down the hallway, Cedric's heart racing as he held his breath in the small janitors closet.

He pressed himself against the back of the closet, careful not to knock anything over as he shuffled backward as the footsteps grew closer and closer. Outside, the echoes of Max laughing bounced around the hallways, a few more jeers from the rest of his cronies that followed him around like lost puppies. It was lunchtime, all of the students and teachers in the cafeteria, leaving Cedric to hide away like a rat until it was over.

He hated this, hated feeling so weak and useless. Max had been tormenting him ever since he moved to Olympia. In some cruel twist of fate, his parents moved in the house right beside him. So when Cedric started school at the same high school as him, naturally he began tormenting him there too. It started with the normal stuff - calling him ugly, pushing him around, tripping him. But apparently that wasn't enough, so Max turned it up a notch. He'd lure Cedric to the bathrooms, chase him into dead ends with his friends, and would beat him. Not the funny scuff over the head, a kick here and there, no.

It was much,muchworse than that.

When he came home nearly a week ago, he told his mother he had fallen down the stairs. She was so worried, and rushed him to the hospital. Max broke his rib that day, a finger the next. Cedric was getting tired of going to the hospital...he was tired of lying about it, too. He'd die at this rate, and Cedric couldn't even think about what his mother would do, his father. Probably die from heartbreak.

He squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to disappear in the darkness of the closet, to become nothing more than just another mop or bucket. They were really close now, their footsteps heavy as they trudged down the hallway.

"If you don't come out now, it'll only just be worse for you." Alex taunted, Max and Jason snickering behind him.

Cedric sucked in a breath as they stopped just in front of the janitor door and as he shoved himself closer to the wall. It suddenly gave away behind him and with a stifled shout of surprise, he fell backward. He realized he had been leaning against a door and was now sitting on a small platform that led straight down to concrete stairs. With all the times he had hidden himself in the closet, he hadn't ever seen this before. Stumbling to his feet, the door gently closed behind him and there was a small window in the center of it. But it wasn't over yet - they must have heard him.

Just as he ducked down, he heard someone open the door and look inside. Cedric poked his head up slowly, his green eyes peering through the small window as Vin looked around with hungry eyes. He was the biggest of the four, his huge head sitting on even bigger shoulders.

He glanced around for a few seconds before scoffing, shaking his head that sent his blonde hair flopping around on his head before he retreated, letting the door slam behind him.

"f*cker isn't here. Come on, let's check the gym."

Cedric didn't let himself breathe until he heard their footsteps continue down the hallway. He breathed out heavily, his hand hovering over his heart as he tried to calm himself. Once he had done so, his eyes peered down the very dark staircase. It still hadn't been that long since lunch started so he had some time to kill. After a few seconds of hesitation, he began walking carefully down the stairs, his hand trailing along the wall so he wouldn't trip. When he reached the bottom, he fumbled around for the light switch and flicked it on. The shadows seemed to swallow the feeble light from the lone bulb overhead, an eerie yellow that washed the color out of everything.

It smelled musty, the air thick with the weight of the years gone by. Old boxes, old broken desks and chairs were stacked haphazardly on each other. Large shelves full of dusty paper and books split up the room in sections.

Cedric navigated his way through, stopping just before a desk that had an old book laying on top of it. It something over mythology, demonology, and a few other things. Just as he began thumbing through it, a chill ran down his spine.

"Cedric."

He whipped around, heart hammering in his chest as he heard the voice. It was so light and airy he thought for a second that he had just imagined it. Had a teacher found him?

"I can help you."

Again, he heard her. His eyes darted around to the corners of the room as he tried to spot her but to no avail. He wasn't sure where he was hearing it from. It was all around him, like it was being carried on the wind, but there wasn't anyone around.

"All you have to do is find me."

"Who are you?" he whispered, voice shaking from his initial apprehension.

"A friend. A friend that can make all of your worries disappear."

He frowned, "Where are you?"

"Here."she whispered, her voice echoing over again before focusing itself in one spot.

He inched forward, stomach squirming with nerves. In the corner of one of the rooms was a pile of large boxes all marked with 'Lost and Found'. They were almost obscured by years of neglect and dust, his cautious footsteps echoing off the walls. There was nowhere big enough for a person to fit and he frowned, trying to find her.

"You're here?"

"Yes...don't be afraid. I won't hurt you...I want to help you."

With a sense of trepidation, he reached out and pulled the top box off the pile. Unfortunately, this caused the other boxes to crash to the floor and he froze, watching the door to the basem*nt with wide eyes. No one seemed to hear it and he turned back around, sighing when he saw that most of them had popped open and spilled their contents on the ground. He set the box in his hands on the ground and began picking up everything from the floor and back into their places. Just as he grabbed an old jacket, he heard something clatter onto the ground from underneath it.

On the concrete floor was a white mask. It was strange, made of cool porcelain that chilled his fingers when he picked it up. Deep black gouges ran across the surface like rivers, making it look more haunting. It was more masculine, and the more he stared into it's dark eyes, the more it seemed like there something looking back at him. It was really dusty, and with one swipe of his hand it seemed to vibrate to life.

"You found me."

It hummed with her voice and in a split second of panic, he dropped it. It clattered back on the ground loudly, and he was sure it was going to break in that moment. It held fast despite the considerable drop, and Cedric had the funniest feeling that it was unbreakable.

"You...You're the mask?" he questioned, slowly reaching out and picking it back up.

"Yes, I'm trapped here."

Cedric's mind was racing - fear, curiosity, disbelief. Could the mask really be speaking to him or was he losing his mind? He felt a chill creep down his spine as he held the mask in his hands, the surface cool and smooth against his skin as he dusted the rest off.

"What do you mean, you're trapped here?" Cedric whispered, his voice barely more than a breath as he stared.

"My name is Berith,"she started,"I found this place, just like you. Someone trapped me here, someone...terrifying. I'm trapped within the mask, but you...with your help I can finally be free."

Cedric's heart hammered in his chest as he listened to her, struggling to found how he fit into this all.

"What do you need from me?"

"I want to help you, Cedric."the mask replied, her tone soothing yet tinged with something else he couldn't place,"I can give you the power to protect yourself, to stand up to those who have tormented you. With my strength, you can make them pay."

Cedric frowned, hesitating. He didn't know whether or not she was telling the truth. It seemed impossible, yet here she was, speaking to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"All you have to do is put me on."

"And that's it? You'll help me stop Max?"

"All of this, and so much more."she cooed, a strange wave of calm washing over him.

He hesitated for a few moments, and before he could second guess it, he agreed.

"Alright," Cedric announced, his voice firm with resolve, "I'll do it, I'll help you."

"Wonderful,"the mask whispered, a smile seemingly forming at the mouth of the mask,"Together, we'll be unstoppable."

Without another second to spare, he placed the mask on his face, and everything went black.

THE NEXT DAY

Cedric moved with an unnatural grace, his steps light and purposeful—very different from his normallyveryclumsy self. He was wearing plain clothes—a simple white shirt and jeans—but it was the mask that drew stares from the people around him as he maneuvered through the crowd.

And then there they were in all of their glory.

Max, Vin, Alex, and Jason were all surrounding a group of girls, trying (and undoubtedly failing) to flirt with them. Cedric said nothing, watching them with an intense scrutiny and finally, after what felt like centuries, Vin noticed him and elbowed Max, pointing straight at him. A sneer lit up his face, and he tried making his way toward him. However, Cedric had other plans.

He turned on his heel before they could catch up to him and walked purposefully down the hallway, away from the laughter and music. His steps echoed ominously in the deserted corridor. Behind him, the jeering voices of his tormentors grew louder.

“Hey, freak! Where do you think you’re going?” shouted Max behind him. Jason and Alex snickered, following close behind. Vin had a hard time keeping up. He’d definitely been drinking.

Cedric didn’t respond, didn’t even turn his head. Max curled his lip in annoyance, only fueling their anger toward him even more.

“Answer us, asshole!” Alex spat, quickening his pace to catch up. “You think you can just walk away?”

Cedric continued his silent procession, only his footfalls on the hallway floor giving them an answer. They were mere steps away from realizing the trap laid for them.

Max, now infuriated, lunged forward and grabbed Cedric's shoulder, spinning him around. “I’m talking to you!”

The mask betrayed nothing, and it was too dark to see his eyes, but Cedric's hand shot out with preternatural speed, grabbing Max by the wrist and twisting it sharply. A sickening crack echoed through the hallway, and Max screamed in agony, dropping to his knees.

“What the hell?” Alex blurted, eyes wide with shock. “How did you...”

“Get him!” Vin yelled, rushing forward. But Cedric moved faster, his other hand slamming into Vin’s chest with enough force to send him sprawling backward. All of them looked incredulously at him, Max seething with rage as he cradled his broken wrist. Again, Cedric said nothing, a low laugh rumbling his chest instead.

Cedric turned and began walking again towards the same door he had hidden in the other day and pushed open the basem*nt door to head inside. The bullies, driven by a mix of fury and fear, scrambled to their feet and followed, determined to make him pay.

The basem*nt was dark and damp, the air thick with the scent of mold and decay. Cedric descended the stairs without hesitation, the bullies close behind, their bravado slowly being replaced by trepidation.

“What is this place?” Jason muttered, his voice trembling.

Cedric led them deeper into the basem*nt, finally stopping in the center of the large, empty room. He turned to face them, the mask gleaming in the dim light. The bullies hesitated at the threshold, a primal fear rooting them in place.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Max groaned, clutching his broken wrist.

But Cedric said nothing. It was then they finally noticed it.

His eyes glowed unnaturally red instead of the bright green they were before. They flicked to each person before landing on Max, his head tilting slightly as he watched his bully whimper when he moved his hand too fast. Cedric chuckled deeply again, and before they could move, the basem*nt door slammed shut behind them, the sound reverberating through the room like a death knell.

“What the f*ck...” Vin whispered, taking a step back. “We need to get out of here!”

The room seemed to close in on them, the darkness becoming almost tangible. Cedric—or whatever he had become—lunged forward with a speed and ferocity that defied comprehension. Blood splattered the walls, and the bullies' screams filled the air, only to be swallowed by the oppressive darkness.

And then there was nothing but silence.

HOURS LATER

Cedric awoke with a start, his body aching and cold against the hard basem*nt floor. His head throbbed with a relentless pain, each pulse like a drumbeat of horror. As his eyes fluttered open, the dim light of dawn seeped through the small, grimy windows, casting long shadows that danced ominously around the room.

A metallic scent hung heavily in the air, and Cedric's fingers twitched involuntarily as they brushed against something wet and sticky. He looked down, his heart freezing as he saw his hands coated in blood—dark, almost black in the dim light.

His breath came in short, panicked gasps as he pushed himself into a sitting position. The room spun around him, and he had to steady himself against the cold concrete floor. As his vision cleared, the full horror of his surroundings came into focus.

Mangled bodies lay strewn across the basem*nt, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, eyes wide open in perpetual terror. Blood pooled around them, seeping into the cracks of the floor and staining the walls. The air was thick with the scent of death and decay. He couldn't even tell who was who. They were just an amalgamation of torn-up body parts. Max's head lay a few feet away from him, his eyes seemingly staring at him with a horrified expression painted forever onto his lifeless face.

Cedric's stomach churned, and he fought the urge to vomit. His mind raced, trying to piece together fragments of memory, but all he found was darkness and the faint echo of maniacal laughter. He stumbled to his feet, his legs weak and unsteady, almost collapsing under his own weight.

In a desperate panic, he reached up to his face, his fingers grasping the smooth, porcelain mask that clung to his skin. It was there—at least it was real. He had some hope for himself. He pulled and tugged, but the mask wouldn't budge. It was as if it had fused with his flesh, an inseparable part of him now.

"Get off!" Cedric screamed, clawing at the mask with increasing desperation. His nails scraped against the unyielding surface, drawing blood from where his skin met the mask's edge. "Please, get off!"

But the mask remained, cold and unfeeling, its expressionless visage mocking his agony. Cedric's breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding as he realized the horrifying truth.

His gaze fell upon the scene around him once more, the gruesome carnage that was his doing—or the mask’s doing. Panic surged through him, overwhelming every rational thought. He had to get out, had to escape this nightmare. Without another glance at the bodies, Cedric turned and bolted up the basem*nt stairs, his footsteps echoing loudly in the confined space.

He burst through the door into the deserted hallway, the school's eerie silence amplifying his dread. Cedric's heart pounded in his chest as he ran, each step fueled by sheer terror. He didn't stop to think, didn't stop to breathe until he was outside, the cold morning air hitting his face like a slap.

The school loomed behind him, a dark silhouette against the rising sun. Cedric didn't look back. He sprinted across the empty parking lot and towards the forest on the outskirts of the city, its dense trees offering a desperate sanctuary.

Branches whipped at his face, the underbrush snagging his clothes, but he didn't care. He needed to disappear, needed to hide from the horror of what he had done—or what the mask had made him do.

Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the blood as he ran deeper into the forest, his sobs echoing in the desolate morning air.

Chapter 7: A Man With An Axe

Chapter Text

"No!"

With a gut-wrenching scream that tore through the silence of the room, Cedric's eyes snapped open, wide with panic. Cold sweat drenched his skin, his breaths coming in ragged gasps as he struggled to orient himself in the dimly lit space. Blinking rapidly, he tried to pierce through the shadows that enveloped the room, the flickering bulb overhead offering scant illumination.

The air was heavy with the musty scent of neglect, mingling with the unmistakable odor of decayed wood. When he finally calmed enough, Cedric's gaze flitted around the room, taking in the dilapidated state of what appeared to be a long-abandoned bedroom. A decaying four-poster bed loomed in the corner, its once-grand frame now a crumbling mess of rotten sheets and wood. To his left, a large window stood boarded up, letting in thin slivers of moonlight that failed to penetrate the darkness.

Realization struck him like a blow to the gut as he attempted to move, only to find himself bound to a metal chair by thick, unforgiving chains. The cold metal dug into his ankles and wrists, every futile tug eliciting a fresh wave of pain. Panic surged through him as he struggled against his restraints, his mind awash with unanswered questions.

Why hadn't they killed him? He was still here, breathing – in pain, but alive. Those people had definitely brought him here...but why? What could they possibly need or want from him? He called out to Berith, the only presence he could think of at that moment, but his cries went unanswered. Her presence was still, as if she was sleeping.

"f*cking hell," he wheezed, frustration seeping into his voice, "Wake up, Berith, please."

He wasn't sure how long he had been there. It was still nighttime, cricket song drifting in through the windows of the building he was in. It was long enough for the adrenaline to have worn away from his previous fight. His leg, back, and stomach were throbbing with pain, eliciting a groan from him as he tried to move. There was no wood stuck in his leg, just torn pants and dried blood surrounding it. He could feel dried blood stuck to his skin, his shirt stuck to it like glue. His throat was dry with dehydration, and he felt incredibly weak, his muscles shaking with every movement.

Despite his pain, he needed to get out of there. He wasn't sure where the people who had brought him here were, but he didn't want to find out.

Struggling against his restraints again, he became acutely aware of the eerie silence in the room. It was only broken by the chains creaking and groaning as he yanked on them with every bit of strength he had left. It was about to give, the links in the old metal beginning to move, he just needed to ignore the stinging sensation and pull harder.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Cedric flinched at the voice, his eyes flicking around the dark room as he tried to find the source. There was a man standing in the darkest corner, most likely by the door that led out of the room.

He stood with an air of casual indifference, his gaze fixed on Cedric with an unsettling intensity as he leaned against the wall peeling with old layers of paint. Cedric's eyes flickered over the stranger's features – a pair of yellow-tinted goggles sat on his forehead over wild dark brown hair. He was wearing all black, all the way down to the muddied boots on his feet. There was a handaxe attached to his belt, and his fingers twitched over the top of it as if he were waiting for Cedric to do something.

"Who the hell are you?" Cedric hoarsely demanded, his voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger, "Where the f*ck am I?"

The stranger remained silent for a moment, his gaze unwavering as he stepped forward into the feeble light. Cedric's heart pounded in his chest as he studied the man. He was young, close to Cedric's age. Now that he was standing in the light, he noticed that the man had a long, deep scar that stretched from the top of his right eyebrow and stretched down his face, splitting his lip in two. His pearly white teeth shined from between them as he opened his mouth to speak again.

"I'm Toby. The rest of us don't really matter," his voice was calm yet tinged with an underlying tension as he pulled his goggles over his eyes. "We just need answers from you, Cedric."

His breath caught in his throat again like when he had first heard them use his name. How did they know his name? What answers could he possibly have for these maniacs?

"Answers? For what?" Cedric retorted, his voice laced with confusion. "I don't even know you people."

Toby's eyes narrowed at Cedric's words, a flicker of annoyance crossing his scarred features.

"Don't play dumb," he snapped, his tone turning sharp. "You've been relentlessly hunting one of our people for a month, even injuring him a week ago."

Cedric's brow furrowed in bewilderment, his mind reeling at the accusation. He racked his brain for any semblance of understanding. And then he remembered the knife he had found in his stomach, the one with the initials. But maybe it was something unrelated...or maybe not.

When he got out of this, Berith had some serious explaining to do.

He frowned, scoffing despite the danger he knew he was in, "Look, I have no idea what you're talking about. You have the wrong person. You were the people who broke into my home, tried to kill me, and then brought me to this place."

Toby stared at him for a long time, making him squirm uncomfortably in his binds.

"Who is Berith?"

Cedric froze, his demeanor becoming defensive as his red-silver eyes snapped up at him. "How do you know that name?"

Intrigued, the man stepped closer, "You said it before. Right after you woke up. Your friend, maybe?"

He cursed inwardly, averting his gaze to the side as he mentally slapped himself for being so stupid.

"That's none of your business." he hissed out.

"One of the men that you met in the house," he started as he began to walk around the room, his brown eyes locked on Cedric, "He said that you were speaking to someone. Someone no one else could hear."

He came to a stop behind him, the floorboards creaking under his boots, "Do you really expect us to believe you have no idea what's going on? You aren't the only one who has done research, Cedric Ichabod Young." he had leaned down, whispering Cedric's name before moving back around to face him again. His ear tingled in response.

Cedric watched him carefully, his lip lifting under his mask in anger, "You know my name, so what? You don't know sh*t about me."

"I know you're a murderer." he started, sending a chill down Cedric's back, "You killed four boys in your freshman year and disappeared without a trace. Missing for nine years. Man, your parents are heartbroken. Even now, after all this time, they still miss their little Ceddy. 'Specially your mother. She still goes to sleep holding a picture of you."

As soon as he mentioned Cedric's parents, all signs of his previous restraint were gone. His eyes grew wide in both fear and anger, a glow sparking his irises alight. He bared his teeth as he yanked against the metal bonds again, a loud groan of metal filling the room.

"Don't you dare touch them. Leave them out of this. They have nothing to do with me." he angrily spat, strain evident in his voice.

"Oh, we'll leave them alone, sure. But first, you need to give us some answers. Let's start with this 'Berith'. Who are they?"

Cedric's mind was racing, his heart pounding in his chest. What could he even say to him? Cedric barely knew anything about her in the first place, anyway, but he had a feeling that this stranger and his friends would kill him if he didn't.

Berith had always been a mystery to him, a presence he had grown accustomed to but never truly understood completely. Anytime he had asked about what she truly was, she'd never give him a clear answer. She could be a ghost, for all he knew. She had promised to protect him in her f*cked up way, and now he was sitting in a house full of strangers that wanted to watch him bleed. He couldn't help but feel a little betrayed by her, that same bubble of hate filling his chest again when she had ruined his life that day.

"What I'm telling you is true, alright?" Cedric snapped, his deep voice trembling with suppressed anger. "Berith...she's just been there. I don't know who or what she is, but she's in my head. She's in the mask."

The man regarded him with a skeptical gaze, his eyebrows furrowed as he studied Cedric's mask. He could practically see the gears turning in his head as he listened to him.

"I know how it sounds, but I'm telling the truth." He continued through clenched teeth, "When I found this mask, she called to me and told me she'd protect me. I can't take the mask off, at least not completely, no matter how hard I try. I can't even break it."

Cedric paused, taking a deep breath to calm himself before he continued, looking straight at him, "I had no idea she was hunting one of your people. She doesn't tell me sh*t, otherwise I would have tried to stop her. Do you think I like waking up nearly bleeding out and dying? I value my life just as much as you value your friend."

The man listened intently, his expression unreadable behind the tinted goggles.

Anyone would have to be completely insane to believe him, but Cedric wished with everything that he would. The very idea of his parents getting hurt because of him, because of Berith, made him want to vomit. After all this time, staying away from them for fear of them getting hurt was a very real possibility again. It was all her fault.

For a moment, there was only silence, broken only by the sound of Cedric's labored breathing.

Finally, the man spoke, his voice low and measured, "I see." he said, his tone betraying none of his thoughts, "So, what you're saying is that Berith, the entity in the mask you wear, is responsible for this?"

Cedric nodded his head curtly, his gaze unwavering as he met the man's brown eyes, "Yes. I didn't know she was doing this until a week ago. Even when I woke up with a knife lodged in my stomach, she wouldn't tell me what was going on."

The man's brow furrowed in thought, his head suddenly snapping to the side in a tic before he refocused his gaze on him, "And you have no control over her? No way of stopping her?"

Cedric paused, unsure, a sense of helplessness washing over him, "Unless I sleep, she can't take control. I'm not sure if there's anything else, but believe me, if I found a way, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

The man fell silent, his gaze drifting to the door in the room as he mulled over his thoughts. Doubt was washed across his features, the uncertainty of whether to believe him or not.

After what felt like an eternity, the man finally spoke, his tone tinged with resignation, "Alright. I don't think you're lying to me, but the others will want proof that what you're saying is true. They're not as...convincible as I am."

His heart pounded in his chest, his head snapping up to look at the stranger before him.

"What can I do to prove it?"

He walked over to the door and paused before walking out, another tic jerking his head to the side, "We need to talk with her. We need to talk to Berith."

The man walked toward the door and opened it, stepping through the threshold. But before he closed it behind him, he leaned back inside, his dark brown eyes focusing on him, "And don't try to escape. Your parents would be gone before you could blink."

Cedric froze, and with that, the man was gone, leaving him alone with the threat still lingering in the air.

Chapter 8: Different Perspectives

Chapter Text

Jack Nyras sat in the grand room, his mask removed to reveal his gray-skinned face. He stared at the flickering fireplace, the light casting long shadows over the room. Around him, the rest of Ennead murmured amongst themselves, each figure lost in their thoughts. Hobo was seated next to him on the only couch in the room, his eyes glazed over as he stared at the fire.

He was about to say something to his strange friend before the sound of creaking doors disrupted the mumbled conversations. He shifted his attention to the door, watching as Toby stepped into the room. The flickering firelight reflected off his goggles until he pulled them off his head, rubbing his tired, strained eyes.

"Took you long enough," Helen remarked from his place on the couch, his voice calm but edged with impatience.

He crossed his arms over his chest, the sleeves of his white shirt hanging loosely around his arms. His mask's black eyes and blood-red smile tilted tauntingly at Toby. Jack almost rolled his eyes and said something, but Toby beat him to it.

"Shut up, BP," Toby retorted, another tic overcoming him before he snapped his head back toward the Painter, "You should be thanking me for being thorough."

"What did he say?" Ben asked this time, leaning forward from his place on the wall to Toby's left. He was very young, easily the youngest one in Ennead. His blonde hair fell into his face, almost obscuring his strange black eyes.

"He's interesting... to say the least. He kept insisting he had no idea who Jack was or that he was even hunting him," Toby replied easily, leaning against the doorway.

Jack stood up, moving away from the couch as his brow furrowed, "What? He said my name that night. He knew things about me that no one should know."

He could still recall the way that Cedric looked at him when they fought that night. He knew him. There was no doubt about it. It was something the way his eyes looked, something that made his skin crawl with familiarity.

"I know, and that's what's weird. He said there was something inside his mask, something called Berith. Apparently, she's the one who has a grudge against you, Jack. He seems to seriously believe that he has no idea who you are or why you're being hunted."

"Are you kidding me? This sounds like bullsh*t. He tried to kill Jack, nearly killed Tim and Jeff," scoffed Liu from a corner. "We should just bury the poor f*cker and move on. He can't be trusted."

Jack watched as Toby met Liu's intense stare. He saw the same fire in Liu that he saw in Jeff, who stood across the room behind him, nodding in agreement. Liu's hand traced an old scar stretching from his lip down to his neck, disappearing under his jacket.

"Look, I'm just telling you what he told me. He might be telling the truth. Jack and Hobo couldn't rip that damn mask off his head when he was out cold, and they're the strongest ones here."

Jack nodded, remembering how he barely managed to get his fingers underneath the strange mask, and it didn't matter how hard he yanked and pulled. It wouldn't come off. The strangest thing about it was that it didn't seem to have a strap over the back of his head. He either glued itreallywell, or he actuallywastelling the truth.

Toby ran a hand over his mouth before sighing. "I hate to say it, but... Liu's got a point. He's dangerous."

"Whoa, whoa." Hoodie stood up from his chair at the table, adjusting the balaclava on his head. "We can't just kill him. He might have others looking for him; besides, the Operator has shown interest in him. It appeared after Jack knocked Cedric out, didn't it? It told us to keep him safe."

Hoodie's words cast a heavy silence over the room, the air thick with tension. The mention of the Operator made everyone shift uncomfortably. The creature was the reason they were all there, the entity that orchestrated their missions and gave them their targets. Defying it was not an option; its wrath was something they all feared.

Jack noticed Toby absentmindedly rub his wrist, the mark that made him different from the rest of them making its appearance.

"So what now? If we can't kill him, what do we do with him?" BP asked, tilting his head, annoyance filling his voice.

The room fell silent as Toby gnawed on his bottom lip, lost in thought for a moment before his eyes lit up.

"I think we need to find out more about Berith. If Cedric is telling the truth, she's the real threat. Even if we can't kill him, we can still find a way to stop her and keep Jack safe. Besides, Jack deserves to know more about who's trying to kill him and why."

He has a point.Jack thought internally, giving Toby a nod in thanks.

"And how do you propose we do that?" BP retorted, trying his best to get on Toby's nerves.

"Let's ask him. She can speak to him, right? He'll tell us what we want to know..." Toby glanced at everyone around the room before leaning his weight onto one leg and staring thoughtfully at the red carpet.

"Not to burst your little bubble, but our little enigmatic masked killer doesn't seem all that cooperative," Jeff remarked, his permanent smile flat and unfeeling, "Unless you know something we don't."

"Well, I mentioned his parents - the same people I sent Hobo to keep an eye on. He was practically seething. He clearly cares about them still, so we can use them as leverage."

Hobo glanced over as his name was said, his blue eyes resting on Toby, "They care about him. He must have had a good relationship with them before he became a murderer."

The room grew silent, everyone looking skeptically at each other before Toby sighed in annoyance, "It's a good plan. Not much we can do otherwise if we want to keep Jack safe...unless you f*ckers want to go against the Operator, then be my guest."

Toby lifted a lip in annoyance, meeting Liu's and BP's angered gazes before they glanced away from him. Even if they weren't proxies, Toby knew they were just as afraid of it as he was.

"That's what I thought."

"So, how are we doing this? I want to be there, and don't argue with me because I'm not going to change my mind." Jack spoke up, walking to stand in front of Toby with a smirk on his face.

"You wanna be in the same room with the person who's actively trying to kill you?" Jack nodded, crossing his arms over his chest as Toby sighed, "Fine, it's your funeral."

"Come on, guys, I want to get this over with as soon as possible." Ben gave Toby a cheeky smile, slapping a hand on his shoulder before maneuvering past him and out of the door, "I'm tired, and I don't wanna listen to you ladies argue."

Jack scoffed at the kid and gestured for Toby to go first, slipping his mask back onto his face.

"Alright. Hobo, I want you to go ahead and keep an eye on Cedric's parents. If he makes any wrong moves, I'll give the signal, and you can take them. Don't kill. Just bring them here. As for the rest of you, go over his info and see if we missed anything."

Hobo gave him a curt nod, and suddenly, pretty black wings sprouted from his back. He shuffled out of the door and went down a different hallway to the right, going down the labyrinth of the mansion to the front door.

With that, Toby turned on his heel, motioning for anyone who wanted to come, and walked through the doorway and down the hallway. Jack fell into stride beside him and Ben. Liu and Jeff followed right behind them. Everyone that remained – Tim, Brian, and BP – began shuffling over to the table where papers filled with anything they could find about Cedric were strewn over the long table.

Before long, they stood outside the room where Cedric was still sitting inside. Toby's hand pressed against the cold, heavy wooden door. Before he opened it, he turned around and gave everyone a pointed glare, specifically at Liu, who was still pissed that his brother almost died.

"Remember, we need him alive. Don't do anything stupid."

With a tense nod from the brown-haired man, Toby sighed, turned back toward the door, and opened it. He was the first, then Jack, and then the rest came next.

Jack watched Cedric carefully as they entered, and aside from him shuffling uncomfortably against his metal bonds, his head was hung low, obscuring his gaze. The overwhelming scent of blood flooded Jack's senses at that moment as well, caked and dried blood covering his pale white skin. He had to have been bleeding in at least three different places.

It wasn't until they formed a semi-circle around him and Toby came to a stop before him that Cedric finally raised his head to look at them.

Those eyes, unnerving red-silver, honed onto Toby like a hawk. Jack could feel a slight shiver run down his spine as Cedric flicked his gaze on the rest of them, lingering slightly on him before he focused back on Toby. Everything about them seemed too unearthly.

Something that reminded him of...

"I see you brought your friends." It wasn't a question. His voice was hoarse from disuse and practically emotionless.

He was a completely different person from what Jack had seen that night he had found him in the forest. The man sitting before him looked tired, his dark eye bags barely visible through the mask's eye holes. His shoulders sagged, the skin on his arms red and irritated from the metal pressing harshly into them. Granted, he could be putting on a show to make himself less threatening, but he was inclined to think that Cedric was being genuine. The man he had seen that night was unpredictable, almost like a wild animal, andinsanelystrong. Not even to mention that his voice was completely different. He didn't even realize that Cedric was a man until he saw his picture and found out who he was. The voice he heard was higher, smooth – very much like a woman's.

Jack realized that Toby had been staring at him, his head tilting slightly in an inaudible question. He made a motion for them to speak later, and Toby silently acknowledged it.

Cedric suddenly sighed when it had been too quiet for too long and leaned back in the chair as much as he could, "Can you all stop staring at me and ask me a damn question?"

Toby clicked his tongue in annoyance, "We need to know more about Berith."

"Okay...what do you want to know?"

"Who is she to you?"

"She's my protector," he started, eyeing everyone as he said this. "At least, that's something I want to believe she is." He grumbled, more to himself than to the people in the room, but they caught in nonetheless.

"There's more to it than that. What is she? Where did she come from?" Toby demanded, his tone turning sharp and threatening.

Jack had to give it to him, he was intimidating when he wanted to be.

Cedric sighed and dropped his head back down, "You're never gonna believe me, but f*ck it," he raised his head again, "Berith is something - I don't know what - that lives inside the mask I'm wearing. I found it in the school basem*nt the night before I murdered all those boys. It was in some old boxes, and I put it on. Now, I can't take it off."

"Bro, you put on a freaky old mask you found in a basem*nt? I thought you looked smart, too." Ben remarked with an incredulous look on his face.

It immediately disappeared after a hard elbow from Jeff, but even he couldn't suppress his smile from growing bigger. Cedric said nothing, his eyes studying the twelve-year-old before shifting back to Toby, who seemed to be thinking hard about something.

Jack sighed, causing his gaze to shift over to him instead, "What does Berith want with me?"

Cedric seemed to pause, taking in his appearance once again while he made the connection that he was Jack, "She never told me that she was hunting someone. Probably because if she did, I'd try and stop her. Do you think I enjoy waking up with someone's knife in my stomach?"

"You told me that she can only take over when you're asleep?" Toby recalled, his brow furrowed.

"I did. I stay up for a few days at a time, or try, at least. I'm still only human. I think anyway." He chuckled darkly, wincing when he moved too much and the chain links pinched into his skin, "I don't know why, but she can only fully take over when I go to sleep. From then on until morning, she has full control over my body."

"So, where is she now?"

Cedric frowned, shaking his head, "She's quiet. She refuses to talk to me." Cedric tensed his jaw and glanced away from them, anger making his arms tense against the metal binds.

Someone scoffed, and Jack looked over to see a very unimpressed Liu, "Well, that's real convenient. You really expect us to believe this horsesh*t?"

Before anyone could react, Liu flashed over in an instant, his knife drawn and pressed against the skin of Cedric's neck. He had a handful of his hair in his hand, forcing his head back, and Cedric cried out at the sudden movement.

"What the hell are you doing, Liu?" Toby growled, taking a step forward but freezing when Liu pressed the knife harder into him, drawing a small bubble of blood that began to seep down and into his shirt.

"Come on, Cedric. If she's real, tell her to talk, or you'll die. It's very simple."

The man said nothing, just stayed tensely still as Liu gave his demand.

Chapter 9: Trust and Betrayal

Chapter Text

Cedric sighed, adjusting himself in the chair. It had been a while since the man with the goggles had left him alone in the room, the threat of his parents still hanging over his head like a dark cloud. If it weren't for that, Cedric would have already escaped, packed his things, and been halfway out of Washington by now.

Well, maybe. He was still badly injured, but those wounds were in the back of his mind. All that he could think about was how to get out of this without getting killed.

"Berith?" He tried, but there was no answer.

With a scoff of disbelief, he rolled his head back and stared at the leaky, decrepit ceiling. Spots of starlight could be seen through the gaps in the roof, and hopelessness settled on him like a blanket, "You're really not going to speak to me? You got me into the mess, Berith. You at least owe me an explanation. I know you're there."

He could feel her tugging at the edges of his mind, but again, there was no answer.

He couldn't understand why she was doing this. In the nine years they had been together, she had never once mentioned that she had an ulterior motive. In the days after Max and the school, Cedric spent the following month in absolute shambles. The only reason he was still alive right now was because of her. She took over his body when he slept (which was almost all the time) and made sure he was fed and had water. She found a warm place for him to sleep, a shelter from the relentless rain, and hid from the cops until everything calmed down. She made him believe that she was only there to look after him, to protect him, even love him if that was what he wanted.

The rage he felt was almost palpable. After all this time, spending year after year with her inside of his head, she had been using him as a puppet. He didn't want to believe it, no matter how many pieces of him knew it was true; he'd find books that he didn't have before strewn around him in the place he had made his home, senseless scribbles in the notebook Berith forbade him to look in, among other things over the years. Of course, he'd take glimpses when he knew she wasn't looking, but none of it ever made sense to him.

It was the only thing keeping him sane, hoping that she wanted to be his friend, wanted to protect him from danger. It was the only way he could live with what he had done. What they had done together. But now, he could see her for what she really was - Not a friend, not an ally, not a protector...just a parasite.

"So be it." He growled out, looking around the room, but this time with a purpose.

If he could get whoever had trapped him here to believe him, then he might have a chance of getting out of this alive. If he could convince them, then he could try and get rid of his parasite.

It was a win-win situation for both of them - they'd get rid of thing on Jack's tail, and Cedric could get rid of the very thing that ruined his life. A small bubble of hope grew in his chest at the prospect.

He took a deep breath when he heard multiple footfalls down the hallway and lowered his head to the ground. This was it, this was his chance.

Don't f*ck it up.

----------------------------------------------------

His heart was pounding, and the stranger's grip on his hair was like a painful vice, not to mention the cold blade biting into his skin. Berith still said nothing and did nothing to help him, and his anger toward her only grew.

"Come on, Cedric. If she's real, tell her to talk, or you'll die. It's very simple."

"I'm telling you the truth." He said through clenched teeth, wincing when Liu yanked his hand backward impossibly more, "She doesn't want to. She doesn't care about me. Not anymore."

"Liu, we talked about this. Let him go, now. We need him alive."

Cedric could see him from the corner of his eye. He looked absolutely pissed, and somehow, he was reminded of one of the other men in the room. The man with the permanent smile. It would make sense if they were related in some way - they both seemed like psychos. Said Pyscho was watching them with a twisted grin, clearly enjoying the spectacle. The others stood ready, the young blonde boy moving around Liu's backside in case he needed to reach out and grab him. Something told Cedric he was stronger than he looked.

"Do we?" Liu hissed through his teeth, "He's a liability. He almost killed Jeff."

"Liu, stop." Jack ordered, stepping toward him, "Or did you forget the Operator's orders?"

The man's grip on his hair tightened painfully until he released him with an angry growl, the knife disappearing back into his pocket. He stalked around Cedric and stared at him, his green eyes reminding him of a predator looking at prey.

"The only reason you're alive is because of circ*mstance. If it were up to me, you'd be bleeding out on the floor."

"But it isn't, is it?" Cedric taunted, his anger getting the better of him as he stared at his attacker.

Maybe it was the adrenaline or the fact he had lost so much blood, but he just didn't care anymore.

Liu's lip lifted in annoyance, and it looked like he was about to lunge back at him. But not before Jack snatched him by the scruff of his collar and maneuvered him toward the door, giving him a hard shove that made him stumble to a stop against it. Jack placed himself between him and Liu, a deep, inhuman growl leaving his body. It sent chills down Cedric's spine, and he was once again reminded that the man standing in front of him was not human.

"Get out. I'll find you after we're done here, Liu."

Liu looked as if he were about to argue, his eyes sizing Jack up, before he finally scoffed in resignation, "Whatever. It's your ass I'm trying to save here, Jack. f*ck you."

With that, he turned on his heel and exited, slamming the door closed behind him, sending showers of old drywall raining down over them.

"Well, that was fun." The blonde boy remarked, dusting his clothes off absentmindedly as he watched the door. Jeff looked as if he agreed, his beady blue eyes focused on Cedric.

He could feel Berith stir at his subconscious again, seemingly interested in the grey-skinned man.

No, not interested. She was murderous. It was as if all of her bloodlust was pouring out of her in waves as Cedric stared at him. Cedric felt differently however, confusion filling his gaze as he realized that he had just tried to protect him. For whatever reason it was, that bubble of hope returned to Cedric. At least a few of them still had their head.

Jack turned around and tilted his masked head at Cedric's glowing eyes before returning to his spot beside Toby, who looked incredibly annoyed as he looked over at the rest of the people in the room.

"If anyone is going to act out, leave. The second anyone threatens his life again is getting a hatchet in their skull." He threatened, his brown eyes piercing each person as his fingers danced over his weapon.

No one argued. It was quiet for a moment before Cedric decided to speak up, trying to ignore Berith's swathing anger and the twisting pit of anxiety in his stomach.

"Look, I'm telling the truth." Cedric started, trying to calm his voice, "If you want to kill me, just go ahead and get it over with. But it won't stop her. She'll continue living in the mask, coming after you, living in vessel after vessel until she gets what she wants."

Jack sighed in annoyance, his sightless eyes scrunching into a frown behind his mask, "And? If we kill you now and lock up the mask, we won't have to deal with any of this."

Cedric knew he was lying. Whoever they were speaking about before, this Operator clearly wants him alive - for whatever sick reason. He ultimately decided not to mention it, though, not wanting to push tensions higher than they already were. Everyone in the room looked like they were about to explode after Liu, especially Jeff.

Cedric paused, "You could do that, sure, but when will you get a willing host to help you again? Why risk her coming back at all when I can help you get rid of her permanently?" He felt Berith twinge at this, but she said nothing to argue.

Toby scoffed, "This still doesn't help us, Cedric. We still have no idea what we're up against, not to mention that we don't even know if you're telling the truth. This could just be a huge ploy to get us to trust you, and as soon as we turn our backs, you'll take that chance and kill all of us."

"But I know the best places to look," he paused, gauging their reactions. Toby tilted his head in curiosity despite himself, and Jack slowly crossed his arms, inviting him to continue, "There are two things I've noticed with her over the years. She keeps books hidden, pouring over them any chance she gets, and keeps a journal."

"Don't you dare, Cedric."Berith hissed angrily.

Jumping slightly at her unexpected voice, Cedric ignored her and said nothing, continuing to stare at the people in front of him.

"Books?" Ben asked, a curious gleam in his eye.

"Yes, things she's been studying when I sleep. She accidentally left them out one night, and I found them. She demanded I didn't look at them. So, out of respect for her, I didn't, and she hid them the next day. If I tell you where they are, then you'll know that I'm not lying."

Everyone in the room looked incredibly intrigued, especially Jack, who was watching him with an unwavering gaze. Cedric could feel Berith's annoyance and anger spike, and he could feel her presence more than ever as she tried to push herself forward to take control. Like always, Cedric shoved her advances down.

"I swear if you tell them where they are –"

"You swear what, Berith?" Cedric exploded angrily, causing the others to touch their weapons instinctively, "I don't want to hear anything you have to say. You've given me no choice."

"You don't know what you're doing, Cedric. I'm trying to protect you –"

"If you were protecting me, you'd have told me what was going on ages ago. I nearly died a week ago, Berith. That is not protecting me." He spat, his amber gaze glowing more fiercely than before, "I'm tired of the lies. You've never cared about me. I'm doing what I can to protect my parents."

Before she could say more, Cedric leaned his head down and harshly pushed the edge of the mask against his shoulder, trying to use the hem of his shirt for leverage. The mask was incredibly difficult to move, especially since she was trying her very best to refuse the movement and grew inexplicably tighter. But with one last hard shove, he managed to slide the mask over his cheek, past his nose (quite painfully), before it finally uncovered his face and sat snugly to the side of his head. He could still hear her, screaming now, faintly by his ear. But like him, she was weakened and couldn't pull herself back where she wanted.

Jack stared at him with widened eyes, and Toby froze in his spot as they stared at his uncovered face. The mask was inexplicitly vibrating, and Ben started laughing a little, pointing a sharp, nailed finger at him while Jeff narrowed his eyes, his smile growing more. They clearly weren't expecting whatever they were seeing or hearing, but Cedric didn't care. He was too angry, too desperate.

"I'll tell you where the books are under one condition."

Toby, as if snapping out of a trance, took a step forward, "What condition?"

Cedric paused, his heart hammering in his chest, and looked as pleadingly as he could at all of them in the room, "My parents. They cannot be harmed. I don't want them to know I'm alive, and I want them to carry on with their lives normally."

Toby's expression seemed to soften for a moment as he considered this before finally giving him a curt nod, "Fine. They won't be harmed."

"But if we find you're lying to us, pretty boy..." Jeff added, his eyes glued to Cedric's face with a menacing gaze. He flinched at the nickname but decided it was best to leave it ignored.

"I'm not." he replied defiantly, and Jack nodded.

"You'll find a small box in a loose floorboard underneath the mattress in my room, back at the house you found me at. There should be three books inside of it. I don't know what they are, they didn't have titles or anything like that. I didn't have time to look at them before Berith freaked out on me."

"And what about her journal?" Ben asked, looking quite serious for a twelve-year-old.

Cedric paused, hesitating, "I'm not sure. She doesn't keep it in the same place. I'm not even sure if it's hidden in the house."

Toby nodded and hefted a sigh, resting his hands on his hips, "I suppose it's a start." He responded, glancing at Jack, who nodded in agreement, before turning back to Cedric, "We'll get a few people together and go retrieve them. If he's telling the truth,"

"Which I am," Cedric interjected, causing Toby to throw him an annoyed glare.

"Then we can decide next what to do with him."

"Righto, boss!" Ben declared, maneuvering past them to leave, "I'll go tell the others!"

"I'll be going, too. Gotta find Liu before he decides to tear up another room..." Jeff grumbled, shoving past Ben, who almost stepped out of the door, causing the younger to grunt angrily, smacking Jeff on the back of the head and tearing off down the hallway.

Jack and Toby were the only ones left in the room. Both of them turned to each other and whispered something that Cedric couldn't hear. Toby looked displeased about something but eventually agreed, and Jack gave his thanks before turning back to Cedric, an unreadable look in his eyes.

"Come with me. Don't try anything. One of Ennead is watching your parents."

Cedric frowned in confusion, "Where are you taking me?"

"Just shut up, and come on." Toby sighed. Jack leaned over, pressing an old rusty key into the lock holding the chains together, and clicked it open.

They dropped to the floor with a loud clang, more dust filtering down on top of them from the ceiling. Cedric groaned in pain, lifting his very weak arms to rub at the sore skin. He tried to stand, but his legs gave out, and he fell back down onto the chair with a loud thud. Pain erupted in his leg, fresh blood beginning to coat his already blood-encrusted leg.

"Damn it." He hissed, peeling his pants back to look at the gaping wound in his thigh. Splinters of wood stuck in the angry red flesh around it, and he felt bile burn his throat as he tried not to puke.

Toby walked over after a moment of hesitation and grabbed his arm, pulling it around his neck and helping Cedric to his feet. Painstakingly slow, they led him out of the room and into the decrepit hallway, Jack leading the way (and now carrying Toby's hatchet).

Jack led them down a staircase and turned right, leading him down another long hallway. The house was much more intact than it was in the place he was staying before, and Cedric realized that he was in a very large mansion and not a house at all.

"What is this place?" He mumbled, trying to fight through the pain as he took another step forward.

Toby grunted with effort, readjusting Cedric's weight before continuing, "We stay here. Ennead, I mean. That's all I'm going to tell you so don't ask."

He nodded, focusing on putting his foot in front of his other instead.

Jack opened a heavy metal door, and when they walked inside, cold air instantly hit his sweaty, dirty face. There was a small iron-wrought bed with a thin mattress in one corner, and there was nothing else besides a few cabinets and a table. Toby led him into the room and set him down, not so gently, onto the bed. He then leaned over and clamped cuffs over his wrist, attaching one to the bed. Cedric sighed in relief, Toby giving him an odd look as the irritable man crossed the room to keep an eye on him.

Not only was Cedric in insane amounts of pain, but he also felt incredibly light-headed; stars began dancing in his vision, and he wouldn't be surprised if he passed out in the next few seconds, but he pushed through it, unsure if Berith would have tried taking over his body if he did.

He couldn't afford to lose their trust now if that was what he could call it, especially when it was already so fragile. But if worse came to worst, at least he was confined to the bed.

Jack disappeared into another room, and when he returned, he had a metal tin box clutched in his hands. A large red plus symbol was decorated on the front, and Cedric's eyes widened in surprise.

"We might not trust you, but we won't leave you here to die." Jack noted when he saw his face, "At least, I won't, anyway." he added, glancing over at Toby.

Toby grumbled, crossing his arms in front of his chest, "I don't know why you're patching up the sh*thead that tried to kill you. Makes no sense to me."

Jack said nothing, shaking his head as he pulled out a few supplies and sighed, glancing over at Cedric, who was tiredly and apprehensively looking at him.

"Just, try not to move. Alright?"

Cedric gritted his teeth, every muscle in his body tensing in anticipation. Jack's hands, surprisingly gentle for a killer, began to work on his wounds. He started with his thigh, which was the worst of the three. The sting of antiseptic hit first, searing like fire against his raw flesh. Cedric hissed in pain, clenching his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Just breathe," Jack murmured, his voice oddly soothing despite the circ*mstances.

Toby watched from the corner, arms still crossed, his eyes never leaving Cedric. There was a palpable tension in the room, a thick atmosphere of distrust mingled with reluctant necessity. The sound of metal clinking and the rustling of bandages filled the silence as Jack cleaned the wound, removing splinters with deft precision.

Cedric forced himself to focus on anything but the pain. The room around him was stark, bare walls with peeling paint, and a single dim light bulb hanging from the ceiling. He tried to imagine what this place might have looked like before it fell into ruin. Maybe it was a grand mansion, full of life and laughter, now reduced to a hideout for killers and the desperate.

A sharp pain jolted him back to the present as Jack applied pressure to his leg, staunching the flow of blood. Cedric bit back a scream, his body trembling with the effort. He could feel Berith's presence, lurking at the edge of his consciousness, silent but seething with rage.

"She's angry," Cedric muttered through gritted teeth, his voice barely a whisper.

Jack glanced up at him, a flicker of curiosity in his sightless eyes. "The entity in the mask?"

Cedric nodded, trying to control his breathing. "Berith. She doesn't want me to tell you anything. She's furious."

"Good," Toby said coldly, "Let her be furious. Maybe it'll weaken her."

Cedric really doubted that. If anything, it'd make her stronger.

Jack finished bandaging Cedric's leg and moved onto the others. After a while, after he had finished with his shoulder and stomach, he stepped back, surveying his work. "This should hold for now. But you need proper medical attention soon. We don't have the supplies for a serious infection."

Cedric gave a small, exhausted nod. "Thank you," he said quietly, surprising himself with his sincerity. "I have more stuff back at my house—antibiotics, everything."

Jack simply nodded, packing away the supplies. Toby, however, remained skeptical. "Don't think this means we're friends," he warned, his gaze hard. "You step out of line, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Cedric managed a weak smile. "Wouldn't dream of it."

Jack stood, placing the first aid kit back on the table. "Rest for now. We'll be back tomorrow night. We'll head back to your place and find the notebooks. If they aren't there...."

"They'll be there," Cedric said firmly, his tired eyes unwavering as he looked at both Toby and Jack.

"We'll see," Toby muttered coldly, turning on his heel and leaving the room, "Come on, Jack."

As they turned to leave, Cedric felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His vision blurred, and he slumped back against the bed, too tired to keep his eyes open any longer. The last thing he saw was the door closing behind Jack and Toby, leaving him alone in the cold, dim room.