Chapter Text
2 years ago Sneeg was helped into a car after getting the very little money he had stolen. He didn’t know where he was going, for the longest time he remembered he never had a parent figure after 9 years old. What could be their parents was just a fuzzy memory.
Sneeg saw out the window, the car went under a lifted hatch that showed a garage like area. The car turned off and his door opened. A masked person with medium length hair, a suit, and white gloves. Whoever they were definitely made Sneeg confused.
”Sir? Ma’am? Where are we going? What is this place?” Sneeg asked, the person didn’t answer.
Sneeg saw they were out the garage, being surrounded by closed down stores and a big open spaces. The mall that closed down years ago, why was it still open?
”I can handle this from here Kim. Go back to the set.” A new voice appeared, Sneeg felt tense, is he getting in trouble for the bottle of soda and water he stole? He wanted to grab the masked person sleeve for them to not go, he didn’t feel safe now.
the employee left, leaving the man and child. “Hey kid…um, my name’s Hetch. Me and my team saw you struggling on the streets days ago and so I sent out someone to take you here. It’s not much of a home but it’s a home to us, so if you want to be taken in then that’ll be great. It’s your choice kid.” He said, his tone was scary but he tried to sound comforting for the kid’s sake.
Sneeg stared at him, he wore a black mask, the black and red hoodie, the black fingerless gloves with a star on the palm. He needs a home, these people cared. “I want to stay…thank you sir…”
Hetch gave him a small hug, Sneeg accepted it. “Don’t call me that kid, we’ll go sign adoption papers in a bit, let’s get you in a shower and I’ll make some food.” He ruffled Sneeg’s already messy hair.
it’s been a year now, Sneeg loved his new family, although his dad was always tired and busy with the shows he makes, he’s seen them, Squiggles Show, the little cartoon with the people with mask would solve mysteries. Like Blues clues and Scooby-do, except it was also a bit scary, finding dismembered bodies and solving murders sometimes.
It’s a great show, especially if there’s kids who already love horror movies or trying to get more into it. Sneeg never found it scary since he would watch how the show was made. They get fake blood and organs as the masked people would pretend to panic then work to solve it, Squiggles, the main character was drawn and placed into the show during editing.
though sometimes things got boring, he wasn’t allowed to be in the show since they’re already too deep into it and adding a new character that wasn’t the monster of the episode would be so great, Sneeg wasn’t to big on acting anyways(maybe in the future.) Hetch tried to hang out with Sneeg sometimes he was also working and helping out with animating on the characters and making props
Sneeg was scrolling on his phone, he was laying on his bed in his room. Blue walls, a nice bed, a weighted blanket, the room wasn’t so decorated besides his desk for home school, it’s his 8th grade year and is planing to go to high school next year since he wanted to know what it was like. He was taking a small break before finishing an essay about John Wayne Gacy, mostly known as Killer Clown. He was assigned to write about him because his teacher was gone for almost all of October so this was a “horror Christmas”.
he turned it in and continued to scroll on his phone. He saw a protest photo, they were surrounding a building with signs that said “Children aren’t workers!” Or “Hurting kids only makes them scared!”
”Child labor…and abuse…” Sneeg thought to himself, he saved the photo and left his phone on the desk charging. That orphanage had a lot of money saved so the best thing people could do was just adopt the kids and hope it closes down.
He laid in bed after showering and changing into his pajamas, closed his eyes and hoped whoever owned that orphanage went to hell, or jail, both
He was eating eggs, leftover mashed potatoes mixed with peas and carrots from last night dinner, and bacon. Continuing to scroll on his phone, watching how the orphanage is going down, slowly. He wanted to do something. Or at least help someone.
”Kid, you know the rules, no phones at the table.” Hetch said, placing away the dishes back into the cabinets.
Sneeg knew he had to ask, but he was still worried ”Dad?”
”Yes?”
”On the news recently, there’s this popular orphanage, but it’s a terrible environment, there was recently a shortage on staff because of the cold weather getting them sick, and they made the older kids clean up. Not like in a doing their chores way. One of the workers said they were forced to clean the bathrooms and stuff.” Sneeg said slowly. “And they don’t take care of them that well…”
”Why hasn’t the police searched them or CPS?” Hetch asked, that was a great question, Sneeg shrugged.
”Don’t know…maybe they already did and that’s why the some of the workers said they’re shutting down slowly.”
”Elaborate, Sneeg,”
”Once all the kids get adopted, and I mean ALL of them, then they shut down for good. No chance of opening again.” Sneeg finished. He was glad at least a few workers were nice.
He heard Hetch hum in agreement. Ruffling Sneeg’s hair before grabbing a snack for breaks during production.
”I’ll see what I can do kid.” Hetch said before heading out. Hetch still called him kid even though he’s gonna be 15 in a few weeks.
Hetch heard a small bell ring above him when he entered the orphanage. There wasn’t so many people but more than he expected.
”It’s an orphanage alright…” He mumbled.
“Good afternoon sir! Are you here for an interview or to adopt?” A lady said at the front, she had blonde hair and piercings.
“Adopt.” He said, the nice lady led him into a room where the children were playing, they looked slightly thin and tired. This is what Sneeg meant
Some of the kids looked at him with an odd face, it was probably his mask, he changed it to be a bit different. Red mesh was covering his eyes though he still can see, little designs on the mask like for robots on cartoons, also red, and a little blue painted spade under his side burns to represent Sneeg. The cameras didn’t see it because Hetch didn’t want them too at all.
He looked at few of the kids, a equal amount of boys and girls, they all looked desperate to be adopted but they went back to playing with their toys. He saw a kid building a puzzle by himself. He was looking for a piece to finish it.
Hetch grabbed it from barely peaking out the box before placing it in the missing spot. Getting a closer look at the kid, brown hair, and chipped glasses. He wore a t-shirt with a picture of Spider Lilly’s on the back, and black sweatpants that looked a little too big on him.
”My name’s Hetch, what yours little man?” He asked the child, he looked around 12 or 13.
”Charlie…” He mumbled.
”Well Charlie, I have a son too, he can tell you his name if you would want to come home with us?”
the kid nodded, he put the puzzle away as Hetch signed the papers at front, he watched Charlie give a few hugs to say goodbye to friends. Before heading back to him, leaving the orphanage as the car ride was silent besides from the radio playing.
Charlie had the same reaction as Sneeg did when he found out the home was the abandoned mall that used to be so popular and filled with people once.
Sneeg was walking around the mall, mostly checking out the military store. Looking at the knifes and empty guns, the box of bullets weren’t far away though, he felt a ding from his phone.
:Hetch
Kid? Where are u? Were back
Sneeg:
Omw, didn’t check the time sorry.
Sneeg walked down the halls quickly. Soon seeing at the front was his dad and a kid slightly shorter than him was hiding behind him. Sneeg’s eyes lit up now knowing he has a little brother.
”Woah! Hi!” He said excitedly, but stopped when he saw the kids scared face. Is there something behind him?
He turned around to see a 7ft tall wire creature, body of wires and a 70’s like tv head. Plus claws that looks like the sharpest they could be. Though they were just foam.
”This dude. Go back to your set man!” Sneeg jokes. The monster lifted up the tv head, just a prop.
”I heard we have a new little man! Just wanted to say hi.” He said mean jokingly manner, but soon went back to set a couple rooms away.
Hetch left soon after. Leaving Charlie and Sneeg alone, “I’m Sneeg, and dad said your name was Charlie?”
Charlie nodded.
”Dad’s gonna get you a phone soon, maybe tomorrow if he has time, so stick with me and I’ll show you to your room!”
He grabbed Charlie’s hand and they ran into a different part of the mall, Sneeg opened the door to show a hallway, opening the door at the end there was a apartment like house, his room had the blue star on top and there was a empty room. They entered in.
the walls were green. A desk like Sneeg’s but not as many drawers, a bed just like Sneeg’s but with a green weighted blanket this time, empty shelves and a closet, and little lights hanging from the top corners of the ceiling.
”Woah!” Charlie said in excitement.
They sat in the middle of the room and talked, Charlie’s scary experience at the orphanage. Sneeg’s life of the streets before being on set with the best show ever, and Hetch’s small rules like no phone at the table, don’t disturb the people on set(only on breaks), don’t burn down the house when he’s working, a few other simple ones like that.
”Why do you guys film in the mall?” Charlie asked, but he was probably thinking the answer was too simple and he just said something dumb. His face went a little red from embarrassment.
”Oh, um, good one actually…” Sneeg mumbled, Charlie didn’t feel stupid anymore. “I mean it’s such a good place and an amazing set for the show! And it’s easier than buying a new set every few episode.” He finished.
After they talked like there was no tomorrow, Sneeg said bye and head back to his room. Charlie laid in bed, thinking.
This is my new home…I’m not at that place anymore, I’m gonna miss them they were really nice. I like this place and everyone is so nice, I’m happy.
His first sleep in his no-longer-shared-room with other kids was the best sleep he’s had in months.