I sat up and climbed out of my bed. Walking into the bathroom I sighed as I caught a glance at my reflection. I slowly began to untangle my long red hair. As soon as I had finished I smiled. After putting my hair brush back in the drawer, I went back down the hall to my bedroom. I stood still in the doorway, as I slowly surveyed the area. The room was cluttered with papers, and boxes. What a mess... I bent down and picked up a few of the stray papers I had dropped the other night.

Why do you even help those useless humans? The voice asked.

I closed my eyes and tried to ignore it.

Why don't we just kill them? Oh I like that idea...kill them Leslie, they are of no use to you... I felt the papers slip from my hands as I held my head, trying to block out the voice.

"Shut up."

We must kill...kill...kill them all!

"Shut up!"

You know that you to kill them.

"No!" I could tell I was in denial. I had felt that urge ever since I came to the small town of Black Hollow.

Don't lie to yourself, it's in your blood. Kill...kill them..

"I won't kill them! Leave me alone!"

I opened my eyes, feeling a bead of sweat slip down the side of my face. The urges were getting harder to control as I got older. I took a deep breath and picked up the papers again, gently setting them on the night stand. Kneeling next to one of the open boxes I began to shift through its contents, after a minute I pulled out a pair of gym sweats and a t-shirt. I quickly changed into the new set of clothes, as soon as I finished I slipped into a pair of my old running shoes.

A few hours later...

I leaned against the tree, taking in the view. It was beautiful. The ocean reminded me of my childhood home. I frowned, I hated my childhood. It had been more of a horror story, than a fairytale. I pushed myself away from the tree. "Better get back to training..." I mumbled. I started slow with a light jog, before I ran faster as I returned home. I took a quick breather before I entered the house.

I set my iPhone on the kitchen counter then went upstairs to change. When I came back into the kitchen I heard my phone ring. I rolled my eyes and picked up the cell phone.

"Hello? Monroe speaking." I said into the phone.

"Hi Miss Monroe, it's Detective Jackson." He replied.

"Nice to meet you," I said slowly hearing a hint of disapproval in my voice.

"I a-" The man started, but I quickly intervened.

"Wait, let me guess. Your my new partner right?" I asked, feeling a little irritated.

"Yes that is correct. How did you guess that?"

I walked over to fridge and pulled out a water bottle. "Intuition," I answered as I looked at the open file on the counter. I took a quick sip from the bottle before continuing, "Can we get something straight?"

"Sure what is it?"

"I work alone, I don't need someone holding me back from my job." Then I pulled the phone away from my ear and pushed End. I closed Detective Jackson's file and threw it in the trash. "I don't need someone looking over my shoulder every minute," I muttered.

After grabbing my bag from my room, I pulled out my laptop and sat down on one of the barstools. I quickly opened up my email, and waited for it to load. Moments later it opened. I clicked on the first email that showed up on the screen. It was from the police department, describing my new schedule for work.

I rolled my eyes, and quickly replied back. As soon as I was finished, I clicked send, and closed the laptop. I rubbed my forehead, slowly I finished off the water bottle, before filling it up again, and placing it in the fridge. I turned on my heel, and went into the living room. It was a plain room with one large sofa hugging the wall in the far corner. The windows were covered with dark curtains, not my first choice in color. But it worked with the rest of the living room, so I had left it. I walked over to the couch.

Laying down, I gently pulled out the new case I was working on. It was a missing child report. I slowly opened it up and began to read, as soon as I was finished I pulled out the photographs. The young boy, looked to be about eight. He had short blonde hair, and hazel eyes. There were only three photos of him. I frowned, the report said he's been missing for a week now. The last place his parents had seen him was in the 'Dark Forest' as the locals called it.

I sighed, "Dark Forest, huh?" I sat up and set the files down next to me. Then I stood up and went to fetch my laptop from the kitchen. I picked it up, and walked back to the living room, then I sat back on the couch. I quickly opened the laptop, and clicked on one of the browsers. I typed in Dark Forest. It took a moment for the browser to load. as I rested my hand against my chin, I tried to wait patiently for google to respond. Moments later many links appeared on the screen.

I quickly scrolled through them, trying to find accurate information about the small town of Black Hallows. I scrolled down the page slowly, then a link caught my eye. I frowned, as I clicked on the link. A new page popped up. The title read, Legends of the Dark Forest.

I searched through the whole site, nothing seemed to fit with the reports I had heard in the past. The stories talked about this man named Slenderman. He was described to be very tall in stature, with two arms, multiple tentacles, and a blank face. I felt a frown slip onto my lips as I finished reading the story. Heh I can't believe it... He wouldn't do this sort of thing, would he?

"This place can't be as weird as the last place I lived in." I sighed, as I shut the laptop.

*knock, knock*

I glanced at the door, surprised, I stood up and walked to the front door. I had to stand on the tips of my toes to see through the peephole. Two men in black suits stood outside. I pulled on the door handle, and the door swung inward. The man closest to me was tall with broad shoulders, his brown hair had been cut short. His gray eyes seem to smile when he looked at me. I rolled my eyes in disgust. I instantly hated him.

Men...Let's kill them...

I closed my eyes for a quick second trying to get into control. After a moment or two, I let out a small breath. Hoping I wouldn't lash out, and go into a killing frenzy.

Then the man frowned at me, "I'd thought she be taller." He whispered to the short man next to him.

I waved my hand, "Hi, how can I help you?" I tried to speak normally. But my thoughts were making it a tad difficult.

Kill him...

No.

You know you want to...

Go away.

"Oh pardon me. I did mean to call first," the other man spoke, as he held out his hand.

"I am Chief Fisher, and this is your new partner Detective Jackson." I shook his hand.

Chief Fisher was on the shorter side, he had tan skin, with light blue eyes.

"I sent a letter to your office, stating that I didn't want a partner." I glanced at Detective Jackson, and frowned.

He did look like he could handle himself in a fight. He had the muscle for it, but he didn't seem like the fighting type. Detective Jackson seemed more of the shy type. How the heck did he even get into the police force? I shook my head, that was none of my concern.

The Chief folded his arms, "I'm sorry Detective."

I felt the anger boil in my chest, "I don't need a partner. I work alone."

Hopefully the Chief would realize by now that he wouldn't win, but sadly I was mistaken. The man looked like he was about to explode, literally. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Sir, if I may interject." Jackson spoke up.

"Yes, Jackson?" The Chief turned to him, and put his hands on his hips.

Before he could say anything more, I sighed, "Fine... I will work with him." I rubbed forehead again, I could feel a headache coming on.

Jackson looked at me little shocked, "Are you serious?" He asked.

"Yes." Then I turned on my heel, "Jackson meet me at the Dark Forest in an hour."

"Yes, Ma'am."

The Chief smiled as if he had won. I silently laughed, not likely... I closed the door, and watched through the peephole as they left. I relaxed when the car was finally out of view. I walked up stairs to my room, to grab my weapons. Once in my room, I walked over to the bed and reached under, pulling out a large black weapon case. I slowly opened it, inside was a variety of weapons. It held guns, and knives. I picked up a pistol, and two knives. After hooking the weapons to my hips, I slid the case under the bed again. I jogged down the stairs, and out the front door. I quickly locked it, and hopped into my car. As soon as the car was on, I drove out of the driveway and headed toward the Dark Forest.

Ten Minutes Later...

I parked the car next to Jackson's. He grinned when I got out of the car.

"Where do we start first, Partner?"

I glared at him, "Just follow me and be quiet."

We walked into the forest, which, I'll admit was a little eerie, but other than that everything seemed to be fine. I stopped for a moment, and pulled out my phone to look though my notes. Jackson kept walking, and surveyed the area. Moment's later I heard the snap of a camera going off, and a yell come from my right. I looked up, and saw Jackson hanging by his feet.

"Can you uh... get me down...please?" He asked a little flustered.

"What did you do now?" I walked over and as I reached for the string the camera went off again. I stepped back, and blinked away the dots from my eyes.

"Hey! Don't touch that!" I heard a girl yell.

I turned to see who it was. Two teenagers stood behind us, the girl glared at me. She long golden hair, and green eyes. The boy next to her had dark hair, and the same gentle green eyes. He seemed to be a little older than the girl. If I had to guess, I'd say he was eighteen, and she was sixteen. I rolled my eyes, and continued on with what I was doing.

"Hey! Old lady! I told you not to touch that!" The girl yelled again.

I turned, "What did you just call me?" I let go of the rope and walked up to the girl.

We don't like her...Kill her...

No.. I can't..at least not with witness's around...

The girl put her hands on her hips, "I called you old lady, that a problem?"

"Watch your tone..." I took one of the knives out and threw it behind me. Jackson fell head first to the ground. Then I pulled the other knife out, "I have deadly aim, and I'm not afraid to use it."

The boy grabbed the girl's arm, "Lets just go Rachel. It's not worth it."

"No."

Stubborn one... Kill her...

I aimed the knife at the girl. She frowned, "You're not going to throw that are you?" I gave her a deadly glare, and threw the knife. It spiraled through the air, pinning the girl's shirt to the nearest tree. She looked at me aghast. Her face had turned pale.

"How..did you...do that?" She stuttered.

I turned, and bent down to help Jackson stand. As I stood I answered her, "I told you I had deadly aim."

He looked at the two teenagers, "Go home, before I tell your parents."

The girl glared at Jackson, "Fine." Rachel pulled the knife out of her shirt, and dropped it on the ground. Then she turned to the boy, "Come on, Brian."

We watched them go in silence. Once they were out of sight I grabbed the camera, and the rope. Then I handed the objects to Jackson, "Since you seem to know them so well, return these to those trouble makers." I bent down and retrieved my knives.

He sighed, "They aren't bad kids once you get to know them.."

"I do not care, whatsoever. Make sure they don't mess with the investigation."

He grimaced at my tone of voice, "How did you do that...I mean throw the knives..." He asked cautiously.

"I don't like talking about myself, lets just keep it at that."

Jackson glanced at me with a worried expression. I turned away from him and continued to go deeper into the forest. A few minutes later I could hear Jackson slowly catching up to where I was. He leaned against a tree, trying to catch his breath. "How.. are.. you so.. fast?" He wheezed.

"I go running every morning."

"Oh.. Right.. I knew that.."

I pulled out my phone again, reading through the notes I had made about the case.

"The file said that the child went missing while the family was hiking." I told Jackson.

He nodded, "But?"

"But what I don't understand is how that could have happened. The child would have had to have wandered away in order for him to have gone missing." I said slowly, as I calculated the situation. "It's not like the captor could have just picked up the child, and wandered off with him, without making a scene." I looked at Jackson, "Right?"

"Right."

I pointed to the spot I was standing in, "Stay here. I want to test something."

"Alright."

I walked away from him, I stopped when I was far enough. "Ok! I'm ready. Can you still hear me?"

"Yes!" He shouted back.

"Hmmm, at least someone from his family would have heard a struggle. I am quite a distance away from him. If he can still hear me, that must mean that the child some how disappeared into thin air without anyone noticing." I muttered to myself. This was something bigger and more dangerous than I had previously thought. I jogged back over to Jackson. I looked at the sky, it was starting to get dark. Shoot... I hope I'm incorrect about my theory...

"We should be getting back," I said hastily, Jackson looked at me with a confused expression.

"How come?" He asked.

I sighed, "It's dangerous."

He nodded, although a little unsure. Then we slowly made our way back to our vehicles. As we were walking, I felt a shiver slither it's way up my spine. Instantly I stopped in my tracks. It felt like we were being watched, I knew we were being watched. I glanced around, but came up empty. There was no one in sight. I shook it off, and opened my car door. I waited until Jackson pulled out before I left. Just before I left, I glanced back at the forest. My brow furrowed, as I saw a figure not too far away. I bit my lip, trying to decide what I should do. I put the car in reverse, backed up then drove home.

I pulled up onto the driveway and went inside the house. After I checked my email, I went up stairs and took a quick shower. After a few minutes I shut off the water and got out of the shower, then I changed into my pajamas. I turned off the light and climbed into bed. Slowly I fell asleep.

Hey y'all, well here's chapter one for ya. I hope you enjoyed it. You are welcome to add suggestions to help me improve this story. Join me next time in Chapter Two: Father's Return. Thanks!

- Writerforlife27.