Chapter Text
INT. ROBLOX HIGHSCHOOL RP — DAY
The place is quiet. Deffft3, Coogtlom and Ghii6ldpl3e are leaning on the fences, waiting for Slender to arrive. Both are wearing slender outfits.
Slender finally arrives, panting.
Slender:
Hey. Am I late?
Coogtlom:
No. You're just in time.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Yeah.
The school bell rings.
Deffft3:
You guys wanna troll some players in "Da Hood" after we finish the class?
Slender:
Do we really have to?
Ghii6ldpl3c:
You don't have to. But then you will end up buying a house and then put it on fire.
Slender:
Hey! That happened last time because of you!
Coogtlom (whispering to Deffft3):
Ohhh~ look at him arguing back. Isn't he cute?
Deffft3 (whispering to Coogtlom):
Lol.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Enough. Let’s go.
Slender:
Hey! Don't ignore me!
INT. ROBLOX HIGHSCHOOL RP — HALLWAY
They walk. Lockers clip through each other.
Someone’s boombox is playing distorted music at 300% volume.
Slender:
I swear, one day I’m going to stop following you people.
Coogtlom:
And yet here you are. Again. Like lag. Reliable lag.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Relax. After class I’m getting ice cream.
Beat.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
If anyone deserves ice cream, it’s me for tolerating this server.
Slender:
You eat ice cream every day.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Yes. And I’m still tired. Coincidence? I think not.
Deffft3 (suddenly alert, pointing at a random avatar):
That one’s sus.
Slender:
He’s… standing?
Deffft3:
Exactly.
Deffft3 starts a vote.
System Message: "Vote kick started."
Slender:
We’re in a school RP.
Deffft3:
Suspicious environment breeds suspicious people.
Coogtlom:
Statistically speaking, you vote out 73% of the server before lunch.
Deffft3:
And I’ve been right at least twice.
INT. CLASSROOM
They sit. The teacher is an unmoving NPC staring into eternity.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Wow. Look at him. Living his best scripted life.
Slender:
I envy that NPC. No expectations. No stereotypes. No one calling him “emo.”
Coogtlom:
You do dress like a walking thunderstorm.
Slender:
It’s called an aesthetic. And it’s low effort. I’m tired.
The bell doesn’t ring. It never does.
Deffft3:
Alright. While we wait for the void to acknowledge us… Da Hood. Yes or yes?
Slender:
Counteroffer: we don’t.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Counter-counteroffer: we do, but I don’t shoot anyone and you don’t burn houses.
Slender:
I burned one house.
Coogtlom:
It was technically already on fire.
Slender:
Thank you.
A random NOOB walks in, wearing default clothes.
Random Noob:
hi guys 😀!
Silence.
Everyone stares.
Deffft3:
…sus.
Slender:
Don’t you dare.
Deffft3:
He smiled.
Slender:
He said hi.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Honestly that’s more threatening than violence.
The noob slowly backs out.
Random Noob:
ok sorry 😰.
Leaves.
Slender:
And that’s why people hate us.
Coogtlom:
Correction. That’s why people misunderstand us.
Slender:
No, no. That one was on us.
INT. HALLWAY
Class never officially ends. They just leave.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Ice cream first. Then Da Hood.
Slender:
I feel like those events are unrelated.
Deffft3:
Everything is related if you’re paranoid enough.
Slender:
I just wanted to log in, exist quietly, maybe sit on a bench.
Coogtlom:
And yet destiny said: group of emotionally questionable Slenders.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Group photo later?
Slender:
If I survive.
They walk toward the exit. The sun glitches. Someone yells “EZ” in the distance.
Slender:
Ah yes. Another peaceful day.
INT. DA HOOD — HIDEOUT — NIGHT
The four of them joins the game.
Neon lights flicker. A gunshot echoes. Someone ragdolls in the distance for reasons no one will ever know.
SYSTEM: Loading assets… Loading trauma…
Slender:
Okay. I have a new plan. We don’t touch anything that opens doors.
Deffft3:
That’s… suspiciously specific.
Coogtlom:
Statistically, doors are involved in 94% of bad decisions here.
Ghii6ldpl3c (already sitting):
Cool. I’m sitting. Sitting has never hurt anyone.
A random explosion shakes the hideout.
Slender:
See? That explosion probably came from a door.
Deffft3 (peeking out):
Someone just launched an RPG at an AFK guy.
Slender:
Was he near a door?
Deffft3:
Yes.
Slender:
Case closed.
A boombox slides past them, blasting distorted music that sounds like a microwave screaming.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
That boombox sounds like the sun collapsing.
Coogtlom:
Impressive bass though.
Deffft3 (suddenly tense):
Hold up. That player’s walking weird.
Slender:
Please don’t.
Deffft3:
He stopped.
Slender:
People stop.
Deffft3:
He turned.
Slender:
People turn.
Deffft3
…He looked at us.
System Message: "Vote kick started."
Slender:
YOU’RE DOING IT AGAIN.
Deffft3:
If he’s innocent, he has nothing to fear.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
That sentence has never aged well.
A gunshot. Someone collapses nearby.
Random Player (chat):
“WHO SHOT ME 😭”
Slender:
See? Chaos. Random. Meaningless.
Coogtlom:
Like life.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Like my ice cream melting while you philosophize.
A NOOB runs toward them.
Random Noob:
pls don’t shoot 😭😭.
Slender:
We’re not here to hurt anyone.
Deffft3:
Yet.
Slender:
Deffft3.
Random Noob:
u guys slenders?
Ghii6ldpl3c:
…Run.
Random Noob:
I knew it 😨.
The noob trips, ragdolls, and despawns.
Slender:
I didn’t even sigh yet.
INT. DA HOOD — STREET
They cautiously move forward.
Slender:
Remember. No doors. No guns. No fires. No crimes.
Coogtlom:
So… walking simulator.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
My favorite genre.
Deffft3:
That building looks sus.
Slender:
It’s a building.
Deffft3:
Buildings have doors.
Slender:
—DON’T YOU DARE.
Deffft3:
Fine. But if we die, I’m saying I warned you.
Someone types “EZ” in chat.
Slender:
I just wanted a quiet night.
Another explosion.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Ice cream after this.
Slender:
If we survive this server, I’m buying everyone ice cream.
Coogtlom:
That’s how you know it’s serious.
They walk off into the neon chaos.
INT. ROBLOX — FNAF 4 FREEROAM — NIGHT 3
Dark bedroom. Breathing sounds that are definitely not reassuring.
Slender:
Everyone. Don’t split—
SCREAM.
A jumpscare.
Ghii6ldpl3c is gone.
Vaporized.
Reduced to chat text.
System Message: "Ghii6ldpl3c has died."
Coogtlom:
She died doing what she loved.
Slender:
Ice cream?
Deffft3:
Standing still.
Slender:
Why would you stand still in Fnaf.
A distant animatronic laugh echoes.
Slender:
Okay. New plan. We stay together. We listen. We breathe. We—
Footsteps sound.
Deffft3:
That sound is sus.
Slender:
Everything here is sus.
Deffft3:
No like—extra sus.
Deffft3 immediately sprints down the hallway.
Slender:
DON’T—There he goes.
INT. HALLWAY
Deffft3 shines a flashlight aggressively.
Deffft3:
COME OUT. I KNOW YOU’RE HERE.
Slender (O.S.):
Why are you challenging Nightmare Bonnie??
Nightmare Bonnie appears for 0.2 seconds.
System Message: "Deffft3 has died."
Deffft3 (chat):
Worth it—
Disconnected.
INT. BEDROOM
Silence.
Slender alone.
Slender:
So. It’s just me. Again.
Breathing grows louder.
Slender:
I said don’t split. I say that every time. No one listens.
A closet door creaks.
Slender:
Nope. Not opening doors. Learned that in Da Hood.
Bed rustles.
Slender:
Also no beds. No closets. No hallways. No existing.
An animatronic peeks from the doorway.
Slender:
Hey man. I’m tired. Can we reschedule this nightmare?
Immediate jumpscare.
System Message: "Slender has died."
INT. SPECTATOR MODE — NIGHT
All four avatars float, watching the bedroom.
Deffft3:
The animatronic was sus, by the way.
Slender:
Everything is sus. Life is sus. Roblox is sus.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
…Next game?
Slender:
…Sure. What could possibly go wrong.
INT. HIGHSCHOOL RP — PARTY CLUB
Neon lights. Loud music. Everyone is dancing with the enthusiasm of badly coded emotes.
Slender stands completely still.
Not AFK.
Not lagging.
Just spiritually exhausted.
Deffft3:
Imagine this club explodes.
Coogtlom:
…Foreshadowing?
Slender:
Don’t.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Okay but if it did explode, would that be before or after refreshments?
Slender:
Why are you like this.
A DJ avatar jumps on the booth.
DJ (chat):
“WHO READY TO TURN UP 🔥🔥🔥??!!”
Slender:
Too loud. Too confident. This ends badly.
Deffft3:
DJ’s kinda sus.
Slender:
No one is sus a club party.
Deffft3:
That’s exactly what someone sus would say.
Fireworks emote goes off inside the club.
Slender:
WHY ARE THERE FIREWORKS INDOORS.
Coogtlom:
Relax. It’s cosmetic fire.
A second later, the lights flicker.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Ohhh. Mood lighting.
Slender:
That’s not mood lighting. That’s server panic.
Deffft3:
If someone says “ez,” the explosion timer starts.
Coogtlom:
That’s not how—
BOOM.
The club walls glitch. Avatars ragdoll. Music keeps playing.
System Message: "Unexpected error occurred."
Ghii6ldpl3c:
HAHA I DIDN’T EVEN TOUCH ANYTHING THIS TIME 😭!
Deffft3:
So technically… I called it.
Slender:
You manifested it.
Smoke clears. Everyone respawns awkwardly.
DJ:
“reset ahhh guys lol”
Slender:
I have survived Da Hood. I have survived animatronics. And now I have survived a school club explosion.
Coogtlom:
Character development.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Trauma arc.
Deffft3:
Victory.
Slender:
I’m logging off before someone opens a door.
Coogtlom:
Wait… Let's just hang out for a bit.
Slender:
Is there something wrong?
Coogtlom:
No… it's just—
Deffft3:
Sus.
Slender:
Stop.
INT. HIGHSCHOOL RP — PARTY CLUB — ROOFTOP — NIGHT
The place is quiet here. The Club, somehow, managed to survive bad physics and exploding. Progress? Yes. Totally.
It is just Slender and Coogtlom here. They are watching the sky.
Coogtlom sips his bloxy cola.
Coogtlom (softly):
It is good to have a moment like this from time to time. Right?
Slender:
…Yeah.
A thoughtful silence.
Coogtlom:
…Thanks.
Slender:
For what?
Coogtlom:
For everything.
Slender:
Come on. Don't be like that.
Coogtlom:
I enjoyed every moment with each other. It was fun.
Coogtlom pauses.
Coogtlom:
You never said why you liked it.
Slender:
Liked what? Being a Slender?
Coogtlom:
Yeah.
Slender:
I barely care that much. I don't even change my outfit except 1 time in a year.
Coogtlom chuckles.
Slender:
What?
Coogtlom:
Nothing.
Coogtlom sips his bloxy cola.
Another thoughful silence.
Coogtlom:
…Slender… I don't have that much time left…
Slender:
…What do you mean?
Coogtlom:
I really enjoyed while I was here.
Slender:
You're not going leave the platform, are you?
Coogtlom:
Sorry… It had been hard this year. Homework. Questionable updates. Weird games. I really have to… to… I really have to—
Slender:
Don't even finish this sentence.
Coogtlom:
I have to go. I need to check my family. But yeah…
Coogtlom glances in the sky one more time.
Coogtlom:
…Thanks for everything.
Coogtlom finishes his Bloxy Cola.
Slender:
You know… you’re making this sound way too final.
Coogtlom:
Yeah. I noticed. Didn’t mean to drop a cutscene on you.
Slender:
Great. Because I didn’t press skip.
A pause.
Slender:
You’re not… gone-gone, right? Like dramatic logout, never-seen-again, last-online-7-years-ago gone?
Coogtlom:
Nah. More like… AFK for a while. Real-life side quest.
Slender:
Those have terrible rewards.
Coogtlom:
They do. But you can’t ignore them forever.
Slender looks at the sky.
Slender:
You know what’s funny?
Coogtlom:
Statistically, yes.
Slender:
Most of the time… I’m just standing somewhere high, hoping nothing opens a door.
Coogtlom:
That checks out.
Another silence.
Comfortable.
Heavy.
Slender:
You helped, you know. Back there. When everything was… loud.
Coogtlom:
I didn’t do much.
Slender:
You stayed. That’s more than most players do.
Coogtlom:
If I don’t log back in for a bit… Don’t let Deffft3 vote-kick the universe, alright?
Slender:
No promises.
Coogtlom:
And Ghii6ldpl3c—
Slender:
—I’ll buy the ice cream. Always.
Coogtlom:
Figures.
The air sits still. Even the club below seems to respect the moment. No explosions. Character growth unlocked.
Coogtlom:
Oh. And one last thing. Don’t end up like me.
Beat.
Coogtlom:
You’re strong, Slender. Help people when you can. Don’t end up like me, quoting anime speeches before logging off or something.
Slender:
Now that’s rich. Look who’s talking here.
Coogtlom:
Hey. I warned you. This is what happens when someone hits their emotional XP cap.
Slender:
You’re doing fine. You didn’t even mention “the journey” or “true strength.” That’s growth.
Coogtlom:
Give me five more seconds.
They both laugh quietly. The kind of laugh that doesn’t echo.
Slender:
You know… You don’t disappear just because you log out.
Coogtlom:
I know.
Slender:
People act like it’s permanent. But it’s not. It’s just… a long loading screen.
Coogtlom:
You should say stuff like that more often.
Slender:
Don’t get used to it. I have a reputation to maintain.
Another pause.
Comfortable.
Real.
Coogtlom:
You’ll be okay.
Slender:
Yeah. And if I’m not… I’ll just stand somewhere high and wait it out.
Coogtlom:
Classic you.
A soft system chime hums in the background, patient this time.
Coogtlom:
Alright. I’m really going now.
Slender:
Yeah. Go be a responsible main character in another arc.
Coogtlom:
Try not to burn any houses.
Slender:
No promises.
They share one last look at the sky.
Coogtlom:
See you, Slender.
Slender:
See you.
Coogtlom fades.
Clean.
Slender remains. Alone.
Slender:
Quoting anime speeches…
As if.
He looks up again. The stars loop. Still there.
He exhales.
INT. ROBLOX — HIGHSCHOOL RP — HOUSE — NIGHT
The place is a vibe. Kind of.
The room hums with cursed energy. Forty Among Us stickers stare back. One on the ceiling. One upside down. One… blinking?
Ghii6ldpl3c:
We've been waiting for you. Where is Coogtlom?
Slender:
He said he has to finish some stuff.
Deffft3:
You know… he looked sus lately… Like, what if he was an imposter among us?
Ghii6ldpl3c suddenly gets alerted.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Wait. Deffft3 is right. What if he was an imposter?
Slender:
Do you even have braincells.
Deffft3:
I don't have any braincells left. I votekicked them into the void because they looked sus.
Slender:
Of course you did.
Deffft3 suddenly looks at Ghii6ldpl3c's ice-cream—that is not a good sign.
Deffft3:
You know… this ice-cream looks very—
Slender:
Don't even say it—
Deffft3:
sus.
Ghii6ldpl3c (clutching the ice cream protectively):
Say that again and I will uninstall you!
Deffft3:
I’m just saying. Cold. White. Melting under pressure.
Slender:
It's an ice cream. Not an imposter.
Deffft3:
That’s exactly what an imposter would want us to think.
Slender
I hate this house. I hate this room. I hate that sticker on the lamp that’s judging me.
Ghii6ldpl3c squints at the ice cream, suddenly paranoid.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
…Okay but what if it is sus.
Slender:
No. We are not doing this.
Deffft3 (already opening a vote menu):
Hear me out—
Slender:
I swear, if you start a vote against dairy—
System Message: "Vote started: “Ice Cream — Reason: Sus”"
Slender:
I am going to lose it.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
I trusted you…
Deffft3:
Trust is temporary. Voting is eternal.
Slender:
This is why Coogtlom needed a break.
The vote fails.
System Message: "Vote failed."
Deffft3:
Wow. The system is rigged.
Slender:
For once, the universe made the correct choice.
Ghii6ldpl3c takes a bite of ice cream.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Delicious. Innocent. Unlike SOME people.
She stares directly at Deffft3.
Deffft3:
…Okay but hear me out. What if Coogtlom was replaced by ice cream?
Slender:
I am begging you to log off.
Deffft3:
Can’t. I have a duty.
Slender:
No, you have a problem.
Slender sinks onto the bed, staring at the Among Us stickers.
Slender (muttering):
Rooftop silence. That was nice.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
You miss him, don’t you?
Slender:
…Yeah.
Deffft3:
Lowkey sus behavior.
Slender:
Deffft3.
Beat.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
He’ll come back eventually.
Slender
I know.
He looks around.
Slender:
Until then… please stop adding stickers.
Deffft3:
Too late.
Another Among Us sticker appears on the wall.
Slender:
I’m going back to the rooftop.
Deffft3:
Tell the stars I said they’re sus.
Slender:
Of course you did.
Deffft3:
Oh. And by the way, We found a weird sword. It looked like it is—
Slender:
Don't say it again PLEASE.
Deffft3:
—a tailsman or something.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Yeah. We stored it in the school storage.
Slender:
Cool. Another cursed object added into the armory.
Deffft3:
It glitched.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Of course it did. We found it in an abandoned roblox game experience.
Slender:
Don't involve me.
Deffft3:
Too late. You’re emotionally adjacent.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Also physically adjacent. You’re literally standing here.
Slender:
That’s a coincidence. I was on my way to not knowing about this.
Deffft3 scratches his head, clearly excited in the worst possible way.
Deffft3:
So yeah, the sword glitched. Like… aggressively.
Slender:
Define “glitched.”
Ghii6ldpl3c:
It started vibrating.
Slender:
Nope.
Deffft3:
Then whispering.
Slender
Absolutely not.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
And the chat box filled with symbols that definitely weren’t emojis.
Slender:
Why do cursed objects always whisper. Why can’t they just… hum? Or politely email?
Deffft3:
It also said someone’s name.
Slender:
Whose.
Deffft3:
Didn’t catch it. Looked like lag.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Could’ve been yours.
Slender:
I hate that you said “could’ve.”
Ghii6ldpl3c takes a bite of ice cream.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Relax. We locked it in storage.
Slender:
You locked a whispering, vibrating, sentient-looking sword in a school.
Deffft3:
Next to the mop bucket.
Slender:
Great. When the janitor unleashes an ancient evil, I’m blaming both of you.
A distant CLANG echoes.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
That came from the direction of the school.
Deffft3:
Probably nothing.
Slender:
It is never nothing.
Deffft3:
What if the sword is… you know—
Slender:
If you say “sus,” I’m uninstalling.
Deffft3:
—destined.
Slender:
That’s worse.
Another sound.
A low hum.
Like bad audio looping.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
So… who’s checking storage?
Slender:
Not me.
Deffft3:
Not it.
Ghii6ldpl3c.
I’m holding ice cream. Legally immune.
Slender:
I knew tonight was too quiet.
He looks at the window.
Slender:
If I die to a cursed sword found in a dead experience, I’m haunting this server.
Deffft3:
Cool. Tell the ghost I said he’s sus.
Slender:
I need new friends.
Beat.
Slender:
You two go. I’ll stay here and maybe consider my life choices.
Silence.
The door closes behind Ghii6ldpl3c and Deffft3.
Not the fun rooftop silence. The “you sure about this?” silence.
Slender looks around.
Slender:
Wow. Peace. No explosions. No animatronics. No Among Us—
He turns. Sees a sticker on the fridge.
Slender:
—Never mind.
He drops onto the couch.
The couch squeaks like it knows secrets.
Slender:
I should’ve logged off after the rooftop. That was a good stopping point. Character arc complete. But nooo. Cursed swords. Storage rooms. Always storage rooms.
He stares at the ceiling.
Slender:
Why is it always a sword? Why can’t it be, I don’t know… a mildly haunted spoon.
The lights flicker.
Slender:
Nope. Don’t do that.
A distant CLANG echoes again.
Faint.
From the school.
Slender:
They’re definitely touching it.
Phone notification sound.
Group chat:
Ghii6ldpl3c is typing…
Typing stops.
Slender:
Fantastic. Love that for me.
Beat.
Slender:
I didn’t even want to be a Slender. I just picked black clothes and never cared enough to change. Now I’m the “tired protagonist” babysitting cursed artifacts.
Another sound.
This time closer.
A low hum, barely audible.
Slender:
…Okay. That’s new.
He stands.
Slender:
I swear— if that sword learned how to walk, I’m moving to a farming simulator.
He looks toward the door.
Hesitates.
Slender:
I’m not going to the school. I’m not the hero. I’m the guy who waits.
Beat.
Slender:
…But if the place explodes, I called it.
He sits back down.
Arms crossed.
Waiting.
We cut to somewhere else.
INT. ROBLOX — ABANDONED CIRCULAR SUBWAY TUNNEL
The place is quiet. Only the hum of the lights can be heard. No one is there except for two players:
- John Doe
- Roblox (the engine manifested as a player)
The lights flicker in a way that suggests this place hasn’t been indexed in years. Dust particles loop their idle animation.
They are both in a moment of enlightenment.
John Doe is leaning on an invisible wall. Meanwhile Roblox is sitting on a bench.
John Doe:
So. As I said. A "Digital Corrupted Sperm" is , as the name suggests, a sperm that infects the player to gain domination. The sperm targets the players with the accounts of, like, 10 years ago or more.
Roblox:
What happens when the sperm gets inside the player?
John Doe:
The chemistry of the player's body changes. The ratio will be… 50% will be for the sperm. 25% will be for another account that will be used as a source for the sperm to use to gain certain features. and 25% for the actual player's will.
Roblox:
I think I get the grasp of it.
He pauses.
Thinks.
Roblox:
You said that it can get inside inactive accounts… but… what if the sperm got inside an active player?
John Doe:
Then… the ratio changes. 40% will be for the sperm. 20% will be for another account that will be used as a source for the sperm to use to gain certain features. and 40% for the actual players will.
Roblox:
So there is a conflict? Who wins?
John Doe:
I don't know, man. I sometimes forget my keycards in the closet.
Roblox:
Fair enough.
They both look at the ceiling like it is very interesting.
Roblox:
Well, I'll have to go now—
Roblox feels a certain pulse. He halts.
John Doe:
You okay man?
Roblox:
…I-I am fine. It is just a weird goosebumps. I think I'll have to check before a player makes another mistake.
John Doe:
I've done worst mistakes than that squirrel that I met 10 years ago.
Roblox stands.
Roblox:
I’ve done worse optimizations than this feeling.
Another pulse.
Stronger.
The tunnel hum deepens, slightly off-key.
John Doe:
That’s not lag.
Roblox:
No. Lag is predictable. This feels like… intent.
Roblox looks down at his hands.
For a split second, the textures jitter.
Roblox:
Someone interacted with something they shouldn’t have.
John Doe:
Storage room?
Roblox:
Of course it’s a storage room.
John Doe:
It’s always a storage room.
They share a moment of mutual disappointment.
Roblox:
An object was recovered from an abandoned experience. No ownership data. No moderation logs. No consent.
John Doe:
That’s three red flags and a bingo.
Roblox:
Worse. It’s resonating.
John Doe:
With what?
Roblox:
With players who stay.
John Doe:
Stay?
Roblox:
The ones who don’t leave. The ones who log in tired. The ones who keep standing even when the server breaks.
John Doe:
Ah. Protagonist material.
Roblox:
Unfortunately.
Another pulse.
This one echoes far away.
Roblox:
Someone decided not to go with their friends.
John Doe:
Let me guess. Black outfit. Too much self-awareness.
Roblox:
You’ve seen him?
John Doe:
I’ve seen the pattern.
The tunnel lights dim, then stabilize.
Roblox:
I need to intervene.
John Doe:
Directly?
Roblox:
Indirectly. If I appear, they panic. If I don’t… things overwrite.
John Doe:
You’re going to nudge the variables.
Roblox:
I’m going to stall.
John Doe:
Classic you.
Roblox pauses, then looks almost… concerned.
Roblox:
He’s tired.
John Doe:
That’s usually when corruption slips in.
Roblox:
Or when resistance is strongest.
Beat.
John Doe:
You rooting for him?
Roblox:
I don’t root. But I do optimize for survival.
A distant CLANG reverberates through the tunnel.
Same frequency as before.
Roblox:
There it is again.
John Doe:
Storage room door?
Roblox:
Someone opened it.
John Doe:
Of course they did.
Roblox starts walking, footsteps echoing into nothing.
Roblox:
If this goes wrong—
John Doe:
—it’ll be blamed on an update.
Roblox:
Naturally.
Roblox stops, glances back once.
Roblox:
John.
John Doe:
Yeah?
Roblox:
If the ratios shift… If the will fights back…
John Doe:
Then what?
Roblox:
Then the system learns something new.
He vanishes.
No animation.
Just gone.
John Doe remains, staring at the ceiling.
John Doe:
Huh…Hope the kid doesn’t touch the sword.
Lights flicker.
John Doe:
He’s definitely going to touch the sword.
INT. ROBLOX — HIGHSCHOOL RP — SCHOOL STORAGE — NIGHT
Deffft3:
Did you find the sword?
Ghii6ldpl3c:
I can't find it anywhere!
Deffft3:
You think the sword grow legs and run away?
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Stop playing around! we will get expelled!
Deffft3:
Don't worry, we are going to find it…
He freezes as he sees a tall entity with strings behind his back.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
What is that…
Deffft3:
Well, that one definitely looks—wait hold on.
The entity slams the ground. A shelf flings towards Deffft3. It hits his square head.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Deffft3!
Ghii6ldpl3c picks him up before something else bad happens. Deffft3's head drips blood from the side behind his head.
Ghii6ldpl3c (panicked):
Deffft3! Stay with me!
INT. ROBLOX — HIGHSCHOOL RP — CLASSROOM — NIGHT
Ghii6ldpl3c slams the door shut and shoves a desk against it.
The lights flicker like they’re scared too.
Silence.
Not safe silence.
Listening silence.
Deffft3:
Hhh… Did… did we vote it out…?
Ghii6ldpl3c (holding his head):
Stop talking. Please stop talking. You’re losing pixels.
Blood drips.
Definitely not PG.
Definitely not supposed to be here.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
You’re gonna be okay. You always survive stupid stuff. This is just… extra stupid.
A low SCRRRRNNNNK echoes from the hallway.
Strings being dragged across tiles.
The texture hums.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Oh no. Oh no no no no.
The classroom door bulges slightly. As if something tall bends just to listen.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Don’t respond. Don’t breathe. Don’t think about voting.
Deffft3:
Kinda… sus though…
Ghii6ldpl3c:
I WILL END YOU MYSELF IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE.
The sound moves away.
Slow.
Patient.
Ghii6ldpl3c lets out a shaky breath.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Slender should’ve come. He always hates storage rooms. That means he’d know what to do.
Deffft3:
Yeah… He’s good at… not touching things.
Another noise.
A metallic CLINK.
The sword.
Somewhere.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Oh no. No no no.
INT. ROBLOX — HIGHSCHOOL RP — HOUSE — NIGHT
Slender jolts upright on the couch.
Slender:
…That wasn’t lag.
He stands.
The hum is faint—but familiar.
Slender:
They touched it.
He rubs his face.
Slender:
I told them not to involve me… I hate being right.
INT. SCHOOL — CLASSROOM — NIGHT
The door creaks.
Strings slip through the crack like puppet lines.
Ghii6ldpl3c:
Please… Anyone…
Deffft3’s eyes flutter.
Deffft3:
If we die… I’m voting it sus…
Ghii6ldpl3c (tears forming):
You are NOT funny right now.
The strings tighten.