Toby fidgeted with the file in his hand, leaning against the wooden bench on the sidewalk that he was sitting on as he eyed the house across from him. While it wasn’t his own, or anyone he really cared about, even though he couldn’t remember anyone who he might have cared for, he still had to patrol it, despite his boredom. Flicking his eyes briefly to the file in his hand, he read the name written on the first page. Guest. Is this really what my time is best spent on? Recruiting some random? He bounced his leg in annoyance.

Slenderman had given Toby a mission, but instead of it being a normal assassination mission or patrol, it was… recruitment. Slenderman had a knack for knowing who was the most susceptible to joining his side, but this time, The Operator couldn’t assess whether to cause his newfound interest to have a horrid event and get them to turn or just kill them before Zalgo could sink his claws in. So, here Toby was, to bring them back to Slender Manor, or get rid of them.

Rising from the bench, he briskly jaywalked across the road, ignoring the loud screeching of a car horn even though it threatened to bring back painful memories. He glanced back at the papers, finding the spare key to Guest’s house next to the fire hydrant near the sidewalk of their house and jammed it in the lock. He sighed, and with an involuntarily whistle disengaged the lock, twisting the door open.

Toby took the key and entered, closing the door behind him and locking it to make it seem that no one was inside. He eyed the cozy layout of the house as he flopped down on the sofa that was in their living room and lounged on his back, reading their file to learn more about the ‘target’.

He didn’t know how long he laid there, but it was until Toby heard the lock again.