Chapter 20

"You ready, Smile~?" Sally giggled, patting the Husky's head. Smile barked happily, his trademark smile widening and wagging his tail.

"Okay~" Sally continued. "Let 'er rip~" Smile hacked a little like he was clearing his throat before letting out an ear piercing screech. Two seconds later, two doors burst open and Jeff and BEN came rushing toward Smile and Sally, Sally laughing cheerfully as she and the smiling Husky ran from them.

All of the commotion going on outside caused Masky to jump out of bed in surprise, waking up Hoodie in the process.

"What in ZALGO's domain?" Hoodie asked, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"I don't know," Masky answered, standing up off the floor. "I'll go check it out." He walked over to the door, opening it and poking his head out. Big mistake. As soon as he stuck his head out, he had to quickly step back, otherwise his head would've been taken off as Jeff and BEN came barreling down the hall. He closed the door, sighing as he turned around.

"What's going on?" Hoodie asked.

"Well," Masky answered, sighing again. "Considering there was a gigantic screech and Jeff and BEN came barreling down the hallway, nearly taking my head with them." He sighed once again, walking over and getting back in bed with Hoodie. " I'm guessing Sally put Smile up to it."

Hoodie pulled Masky closer, wrapping his arms around him and kissing the top of his head.

"Well~" he smirked, looking down at Masky. "We've still got a few minutes before they come looking for us~" He climbed on top of Masky, kissing him deeply. Masky wrapped his arms around Hoodie's neck, kissing back before breaking it soon after.

"Should we really be doing this?" he asked.

"Is there something wrong?" Hoodie asked.

"No, nothing's wrong," Masky answered. "It's just…" He smirked. "I don't want you getting soft~" He chuckled softly. "And last I checked, in our line of work, getting soft'll get you killed~" Hoodie chuckled along with Masky at the comment.

Masky did have a point though. Hoodie had seen many a good pastas die because they got soft for one reason or another. Many of them Hoodie was good friends with. That was why he vowed to never get soft. But then Masky came along and compromised everything. He was in love with Masky and the thought of losing him scared Hoodie tremendously. He sighed, rolling off to the side and pulling Masky closer.

"You okay?" Masky asked, looking up at Hoodie with worry.

"I was just thinking about what you said," Hoodie answered.

Masky sat up. "You know I was only joking, right?" he asked, chuckling nervously. "Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Because I'm scared okay?" Hoodie answered, sitting up as well. "You were right. Getting soft can and will kill you here. And it's not just messing up your missions." He looked away. "If any of ZALGO's men catch you with your guard down, you're a dead man." He looked back at Masky. "That's why I vowed to never get soft. But then you came into my life and everything went out the window."

"Wait, are you saying this is my fault?"Masky asked.

"No," Hoodie answered. "I would never blame anything on you. I'm just scared."

"Scared of what?" Masky asked. "Scared of losing me? I'm not helpless you know? I can handle myself. I'm not scared of that 'boogie man' know as ZALGO."

"You should be!" Hoodie shouted. "You've never been face-to-face with him! I have! He is a literal nightmare and if he wants you dead, he won't stop till you are!" He stopped when he realized that Masky was staring at him like he'd just been slapped. Hoodie sighed, trying to calm down before he said something he might regret.

"Look," he continued. "He's the reason I'm scared. There's been a long-time feud between him and Master."

"What happened?" Masky asked.

"Master said that at one point, he and ZALGO worked together, but then something happened and Master kicked ZALGO and his followers out of the mansion. He's wanted Master dead ever since."
"What's this have to do with me though?" Masky asked.

"ZALGO knows that in order to really get to Master, he'll need to get to me," Hoodie answered. "And if he finds out about us, he'll know that fastest to get to me is to kill you." Hoodie pulled Masky in for a hug. "Just the thought of one of ZALGO's men getting you-" He stopped, unable to continue, lest he'd start tearing. "This was specifically why I never wanted to fall in love." He felt Masky flinch and tightened his grip slightly.

"Please don't think I don't love you," Hoodie pleaded. "Because I do. I mean, yeah, I didn't mean to fall for you, but when I did, I fell fast and I fell hard. I love you so much, it terrifies me. I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you." Masky gently pushed Hoodie away.

"I'm going anywhere," he reassured. "At least not without a fight. If ZALGO wants a fight, he'll get one." He cupped Hoodie's face in his hands. "I can promise you this much at least." Masky then pulled Hoodie in for a hug. Hoodie hugged back, as if he was afraid that Masky would disappear if he didn't.

What they didn't know was that they were being spied on by one ZALGO's men who went by the name of Shadow Lurker. He slowly drifted from shadow to shadow, so as to not be seen as he made his way back to his master domain.

"I have returned, Master ZALGO," he announced, kneeling in front of ZALGO.

"What is your report?" ZALGO commanded in a bored tone.

"It seems like Slender's favorite proxy has found himself a new friend~" Shadow informed. ZALGO raised a brow.

"Is that so~?" He asked intrigued.

"Oh, it's so~" they heard. They turned to Jane the Killer emerge from the shadows.

"He nearly killed someone because they stabbed his friend~" she continued. Now ZALGO was very intrigued. He wanted to see this new character himself.

"Jane," he said. "You know him best. How strong is he?"

"He's only been at the mansion for a year, so he's not that impressive," Jane answered. "Although, I have no idea how long he's been a proxy." ZALGO nodded.

Now I have the means to end that hooded nuisance once and for all, he thought. That will get to Slender's core on a very deep level~

"We will strike tonight~" ZALGO commanded. "Jane, I want you to go back to the mansion and keep them 'entertained'~ Shadow Lurker, I want you to gather the best of my soldiers and bring them to me~"

"Yes, Master ZALGO," Jane and Shadow Lurker said in unison, bowing and leaving to do their assigned tasks. ZALGO stood up from his chair and walked to a window with his hands behind his back. Glowing red eyes gazed upon nothing but parched earth, rotten/scorched plant life, and the skeletal remains of animals that once thrived there.

Soon, ZALGO thought. Soon, I will have my revenge on that faceless monstrosity~ Soon, I will never again have to lay eyes upon this barren wasteland~ Soon, Hoodie~ Masky~ Soon~

... O_o ZALGO KNOWS ABOUT HOODIE AND MASKY~! JANE IS ON ZALGO'S SIDE~! THIS CHAPTER WAS A PAIN IN THE ASS TO WRITE~ XD There's a major head canon that ZALGO wants Slender dead~ My version of why this is Slender and ZALGO actually worked together, but ZALGO was really reckless and had almost gotten the mansion and everyone in it in a lot of trouble on more than one occasion. So Slender had no choice but to kick ZALGO out of the mansion. ZALGO took his followers and vowed he'd come back and kill Slender and everyone he cared about. That's my take on what happened~ Well, anyways, remember to read, review, and enjoy~ See ya~

-Cheshy