#it was angst..?

Sally tiptoes through the halls of the manor, her breaths coming out in short, shuddering gasps.

The shadows seemed to move, their bodies dancing around her and making her sleepless hallucinations reenact into reality. The terror it brung her made her nails dig into her skin, caused her legs to tremble, and the tear-ducts in her eyes wetten.

The woods outside seemed to mock her. Normally they’d try to lure her in, entice her with promises of paradise and freedom. Going out alone in the forest was dangerous. Many adults here didn’t listen to that, neither did Toby. Ben didn’t seem to pay any attention to its vindictive evil too. And the trees seem to leave them alone, pay them no mind.

Sally wonders why the woods only seem to taunt her with their cruel beauty.

The winds racking against the glass panes of windows caused her to flinch as she passed, the creaking of the wooden tiles beneath her feet laughed in response, offering her no comfort either.

She finally stood in front of the floor that entire journey was for.

And that’s all she did. She just- stood there.

Sally wondered if Toby would even let her in. I mean- it was just a nightmare. It’s not that serious.

But when the whispers of souls that raised from corpses doomed to rot in the soil screamed through the house, she found her courage to knock.

Her knuckles rapped against the spruce wood, too panicked, too loud.

She heard the hurried turning of covers and rushed footsteps running towards the door she stood in front of.

Toby answered the door, his eyes glossy and body slightly slouched over.

“Whouhwha-?” He mumbled, rubbing at his eyes, and looking down at Sally. His vision cleared and his brows furrowed in concern as he noted the girl’s red, blotchy, tear-stained face, with more tears still falling. Snot dribbled out of her nose in a small line and her teeth chattered lightly.

Her arms wrapped around her body, and her hand gripped her biceps, her nails digging into them in an attempt to calm herself. Which clearly wasn’t working.

“S-S-Sa-S-Sally?” He cursed at his stuttering but quickly ignored it as he kneeled down, cupping her face and using his thumbs to wipe away the salty water that fell from her eyes. “What’s wr-wr-wrong?” His voice was soft, patient, and his hands came to rest on Sally’s shoulder after they cleaned up her wet cheeks.

Toby contemplated letting questions wait till later though when he noticed how the girl looked around in a frenzied manner, her hands almost coming up to cover her ears before she hesitated and decided against it.

“You c-ca-c-can answer that l-later. J-Ju-Just come inside.” Toby ushered her into his room, closing the door behind her and locking it.

He got the weirdest feeling leaving it unlocked would seem an open invitation.

His neck jerked and he whistled shortly. Worry coming from him in waves as he neared Sally, lifting the girl up and carrying her over to his bed.

He set her down before climbing onto the mattress himself, pulling the girl close to his side once he made himself comfortable.

Toby rubbed her shoulder, his arm around her in a secure hold.

The two sat in silence for a few minutes.

“What h-ha-h-happened, S-S-S-Sal?” Toby’s voice was warm, not pushy or pressuring, allowing her to speak if she was comfortable about doing so.

“Nightmare..” Sally mumbles out, coughing shortly after. Her hands were too shaky to sign anything.

Toby nods in understanding, licking his lips to wetten them before speaking. “I s-s-see.” He replied, tapping a finger on his thigh as it bounced up and down. “W-wou-wou-w-would you feel c-comfortable sh-sh-sharing what h-happened in it w-w-with me?”

Sally inhales deeply, her exhale terribly shaky. Toby squeezes her shoulder comfortingly.

“It was about the manor… other proxies..” Sally admits, her throat itching, saliva feeling as if it’s bruising the inside as it trails down her esophagus.

Toby thanks whatever god/gods that may exist that he has a half-filled plastic water bottle on his bedside table. He screws off the cap and hands the bottle to Sally, who drinks from it greedily, but doesn’t swallow all of it down.

“They had… killed you… and were… trying to kill me…” Sally takes another few sips after her sentence is finished.

Toby winces in sympathy. He knows too much how dreams about dead people, especially those you care about, can feel.

“I’m s-s-sorry that happened, S-S-Sal..” Toby murmured, pulling Sally closer to his side. “How about y-y-you sleep I-in here w-w-wi-with m-me tonight?” He offers, and Sally immediately nods.

“Don’t leave me alone…” She seems to almost beg, her voice croaky. She cuddles closer to him, gripping a part of his shirt in her fist.

“I won’t. I-I promise.” Toby pulls her into a tight embrace.