The woods were unnaturally quiet that night, shrouded beneath a thick layer of fog that curled between the trees and swallowed what little moonlight managed to reach the forest floor. Slender Man had summoned you with little explanation beyond the promise of a mission, which wasn’t particularly unusual. What was unusual was discovering that you wouldn’t be going alone.

Jeff stood several feet away, leaning against a tree with his hands buried in the pockets of his stained white hoodie. His pale face twisted into its permanent carved smile, though the irritation behind his lidless eyes made it obvious he wasn’t exactly delighted by the arrangement. The moment Slender Man made it clear that the two of you were expected to work together, Jeff released a long, exaggerated sigh.

“Great. Just what I wanted,” he muttered, pushing himself away from the tree. His gaze dragged over you before returning to Slender Man. “A fucking babysitting job.”

You folded your arms. “Don’t sound too thrilled. You’ll hurt my feelings.”

Jeff slowly looked back at you.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then a quiet snicker escaped him, though whether he was amused or considering stabbing you was difficult to determine.

“Oh, you’re gonna be annoying, aren’t you?”

“Says the guy who’s been complaining since I got here.”

His grin seemed to sharpen. Jeff stepped closer, casually adjusting the knife tucked into his waistband before brushing past you hard enough for his shoulder to bump yours. “Keep talking like that and we’ll see which one of us makes it back first.”

It wasn’t quite a threat. At least, probably not.

You followed him deeper into the woods, dry leaves crunching beneath your boots while Jeff stalked ahead as though he’d rather be anywhere else. After several minutes of silence, he glanced back at you over his shoulder.

“If you get yourself killed,” he said, “I’m not carrying you back.”

You raised an eyebrow. “How considerate.”

“Didn’t say I’d leave the body.”

And with the quiet laugh that followed, you began to suspect this was going to be a very long night.