It still didn't feel like it was over.
The room was as dark as it always was. Expected, as there was no real sun to begin with. Luckily, he had learned to tell the differences of time in this world many years ago.
It was midday.
He closed his eyes, pushing deeper into the blankets. He'd slept for one unimpressive hour that night. Unlike now, sleep was not a delicacy he could often afford to have.
But now it was noon, and he was in bed - his bed - just counting the number of breaths it took before he fell back asleep. Everything about him felt awake and alert. He needed to move, to work, to serve, anything besides just lying there uselessly.
But he was told to rest, and rest he would.
His Master, with much graciousness, had granted him one weeks leave, provided he stay within the castle. Some of his allies had argued that this time was insufficient, considering the amount of work he had been doing over the past years. But he didn't mind. He never did. For as he lay there, begging for sleep to embrace him, he couldn't help but hate every last moment of it.
He needed to do something. He needed to be productive. He needed a distraction. But above all else, he needed to obey his Master, and that trumped all other necessities.
And he had to follow the doctors orders. One of the castles temporary residents had lectured him on the importance of sleep countless times. He wasn't sure why he even cared. The day prior, he had protested the nagging, arguing that he is not a true human and therefore did not need sleep. The monster's remark had been strong and stern, like a parent to a child.
He said, "Masky, I don't care what you call yourself. But you and I both know that humans and Proxies both die the same."
He had simply nodded in reply and left for his room, both to obey the advice and lick the poor wounds clean.
The ceiling stared down at him. Was it getting closer? No, it couldn't be. He glanced around the room. Bare. More bare than he was used to, though it was the same as how he left it. He closed his eyes again, attempting to slow his thoughts. He needed sleep to live. A dead Proxy was a useless Proxy, and quickly forgotten by the Operator. Therefore, he could never let himself die. Ever.
Masky sighed. He doubted sleep would ever come for him.
There was a knock on his door, a small and gentle whisper. He nearly smiled. Finally, sweet interruption.
Instantly he leaped from his bed, making his way to the grey door. This was what he had been waiting for. An excuse. Whoever stood beyond that door was his saviour.
Without hesitation, he swung the door open. At first, it seemed that he had been greeted with a greyed stone wall, illuminated only by dim wall-mounted lanterns. But he knew better. He glanced down slightly, just below his field of vision.
It was a child.
A girl, dressed in elegant yellow pyjamas, and her long black hair slightly knotted. In her arms was a plush white teddy bear with soft blue button eyes, which she hugged to her body like it would protect her from anything. Which it would.
"Hello, Mr. Masky," she spoke timidly, "I was told to come bring you down to the central room. Mr. Slenderman's orders." The thought of his master filled his mind as he obtained his new objective. He nodded, eyes brightening behind his shadowed mask.
Not needing to speak, he stepped out of his empty bedroom and into the empty stairwell. The two made their way down the stairs, the girl skipping cheerfully.
His bedroom, unlike the others, rested withing one of the many narrow branching spires that decorated the castle like long weaving tendrils. They were a pain to traverse, but they symbolized part of the honour that his title held. Not that they were used much anyways.
The girl began to hum to herself. An eerie tune, but somehow familiar. He liked it.
Finally, he spoke. "So what's going on, Sally?" he asked, voice slightly hoarse. She skipped in front of him down the stairwell, not bothering to look him in the eye.
Her voice squeaked across the darkened walls, feet nearly dancing. "Mr. Laughing Jack said there's a new Proxy here! Isn't that great, Mr. Masky?" Masky nodded, slinking back to his usual quiet.
Then his mind began to process those words, and his feet fell in place.
"Wait... what?" was all he could manage to say, the mere concept jarring. A new Proxy? No, that couldn't be true. His master was very, very selective. She must be mistaken.
Sally, having never turned around, was unaware that the mask man had stopped, and continued to prance away.
"I went down to the main floor, and there was a whole bunch of people gathered around. I couldn't even see what was happening. But before I could, Mr. Laughing Jack told me that there's a new Proxy, and that Mr. Slenderman wants you to meet him. He told me to go get you, so I did!"
Masky forced his legs to move again, knowing Sally was lost in her own words.
"Ooh, I wonder what he's like?" she continued. "You think he'll like me? I'd love for somebody new to play with. Oh! What if it's a girl like me?" she gasped at the thought. "Then we could play dress-up and have tea parties together! And she could paint my nails, and do my hair and makeup, just like Gen used to! This is gonna be so great, I..."
Knowing all useful information had been told, he tuned her ramblings out as they neared to bottom of the stairwell. The castle's long, narrow spires connected to every possible point, but his was connected to a hallway on the main floor. Right next to the front gate.
Completely forgetting Masky's presence, Sally pulled the heavy door open, her thin arms just able to move it enough. Instantly, the dim stairwell was met with new light, and he stepped into the hallway.
He hardly noticed as the girl ran off to the right. He noticed that he stood beside a blood stain. Had that always been there? It looked old, but he didn't recognize it. He walked away from it, heading towards the central room of the main floor.
The room almost resembled a hotel lobby, except much more sparse. A few couches, a coffee table, maybe a lamp or two. Big enough for all the castle's residents to gather, though he'd never seen that happen. The room was painted black, like the exterior, and always felt cold.
He supposed, if the castle were anything like a home, this would be the living room, right beside the front door. But it was home to nobody.
Like the young girl had said, there was a small gathering of residents by one of the leather couches. He counted six heads in total, including the newly joined Sally and whoever it was that they crowded against.
Also as Sally mentioned, Laughing Jack was part of the crowd. As he stepped into the room, the clown glanced at him, and beamed. His teeth were sharp like knives.
"Heh heh, there he is! I thought you'd never show up," he cackled, causing everyone in the group to turn to him. He shifted his weight uncomfortably.
It wasn't the attention that made him uncomfortable. If he had a problem with limelight, he would have died long ago. No, there was something else. Something worse.
There was a person. A person he had never seen before. A person wearing large tinted goggles and a scarf on his face. He hugged his body tight, twitching slightly.
He could sense it. This person, whoever he was, held part of the Operator's control within him. It was true. There was another Proxy now.
Though unsure exactly why, Masky felt his blood begin to boil.
Masky is from the Web Show Marble Hornets
Slenderman (The Operator) is from a number of things, and originates from SA Forums
Sally and Charlie are from the Creepypasta My Teddy Bear
Laughing Jack is from the Creepypasta Laughing Jack
Ticci Toby is from the Creepypasta Ticci Toby
If you have any problems finding a certain character's original story, feel free to let me know so I can help you find it :)
