Let Me In || Ticci Toby x Reader

14 || Questions

"How do you feel?" Toby asks. I give a thumbs up.

I settle into the bed, wrapping the plaid blanket I have come to be fond of around myself. I lean back against the wall and close my eyes.

"I should do a proper introduction." Toby turns to face me, crossing his legs and moving closer to the middle of the bed. I see he has placed the table beside the bed, and placed the plate and glass of water on it. "My name is Toby. The news calls me Ticci Toby."

He holds out his hand to shake. I grab the tip of his pointer finger with the tips of mine. Handshakes feel a bit too strange. I feel weird shaking a killer's hand.

"(Y/n)," I murmur. I reach to grab water, my mouth getting dry. It quenches the thirst but does nothing beyond that. The lukewarm water only does the basic task of hydrating.

"Haha, yeah, I already knew that. There was a news article someone brought back about you. Nice picture."

"It's not." I make eye contact with Toby, remembering that article. But that's not what I want to know. I take a quick breath in, before stopping myself for a moment. Toby looks at me expectantly. I am only able to muster; "The laundry."

"Ah, right. So, when you were shut in, I knew you weren't leaving your room. I decided to do it myself, that way you don't get in any trouble. No one knows."

I want to thank him. But speaking takes so much energy. Instead, I just offer a smile. It is weak, but it is something. I may have to make it up to him somehow.

"Do you want some paper?" Toby takes a notepad out of his pocket, revealing a pen a moment later. I take it from him and write.

Thanks

"Hey, no problem."

I'm tired

Toby looks over to watch as I write. When I look up, he backs away.

"Okay, I'll let you sleep. While you do that, I'm going to fix the door."

I set the paper and pen down on the table and lie back down. Toby gets off the bed and walks out of the room. I listen to him walk away. To be perfectly candid, while I am tired, I just want time alone and some space to think. If possible, I would like to eavesdrop on what Toby may say.

I don't doubt that Toby breaking into my room caused alarm for some people. That girl running all over grabbing food must have clued a few people into what has happened. The other guy, the aggressive one, might try to chew me out again. Why can't they just leave me alone? No one here needs to know my business. I would rather be anonymous if I have to live here. Being nocturnal wouldn't be the worst thing.

Though that Slenderman monster does kind of run the place. I do not want to get into any kind of shit with him. He would probably rip me apart limb by limb. Even the thought of it makes me shudder. God, why does surviving have to be so hard? This isn't even living, merely survival. This truly and utterly sucks major ass.

Downstairs I can hear a few people talking. Toby is trying to convince people to avoid looking into my room and asking where a spare door may be. The BEN guy that tried to look at me states he will do whatever the fuck he wants. For a kid, he has some severe language and behavioural problems that I would expect from a teenager. Considering he is a killer, not too surprising. Clockwork asks if she can help, Toby refusing the offer. The aggressive guy sighs loudly, clearly done with all the ruckus, and doesn't say another word. What catches my attention is when Toby takes Clockwork into another room.

"Can you tell me when Slender is back?" Toby asks. I can hear a slight tone of desperation in his voice.

"Yeah, sure. Are you going to tell him about what happened?

"No. He trusts that I'm making progress, and I am. But he needs to trust me. If he knows about what has been happening, then he will take it out on her. I can't make progress if he scares her into starving herself again."

"Then what will you do?"

"Just... leave a few things out, I guess. Say that I thought she was in trouble and broke the door down."

"EJ might tell him what happened. Anyone else could. It wasn't exactly discreet. Besides, then wouldn't he be mad at you?"

"Not if I tell Slender it was for the better, to help push her out of her comfort zone and better connect with her. Then... maybe ask the rest of the house to keep quiet? Make a few bribes?"

"I can talk to the rest. EJ will probably want to see some progress soon, though. You better be right about making a connection."

"Thanks. And I promise. I am getting her to speak a bit. Soon I can hopefully get her out of that room."

"Okay. I trust you."

They go their separate ways. It brings up many questions. And also calms a few fears. At least the Slender monster will hopefully remain in the dark about what happened. That is a huge relief. If anything, Toby will be taking the blame. Maybe I should step out of my comfort zone. That way he won't be in any trouble. Besides, I need people to trust me if I want to survive. And I do trust Toby, somewhat.

What I want to know is why they are putting so much effort into helping me. Slenderman said I was an anomaly, that I will be expected to kill. So are they just trying to convert me into their killer cult family? That couldn't be the only reason. Toby is putting so much effort into getting to know me, there has to be another reason. Could it just be genuine interest?

That leads me to wonder what comes next for me. The unexpected has proven to be the most common answer in all these situations I find myself in. Now that Toby and Clockwork have seen my face in person, there is no reason to hide it from them. I have even spoken to Toby a few times. There is no reason to hide in the room all day. I am just scared of what comes next. I may have to kill again. I may be introduced to the whole house. I do not want to know what kind of monsters live here. They could look decently normal like Toby, or freaks like Clockwork or Slenderman. I have little decision-making power, but maybe I can exploit the desire to help make me comfortable.

Fuck it. I will just go along with things.