Chapter 1
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Here I was, running through the forest in the middle of the night, nothing but a flashlight guiding my way. It shook viciously, not offering much help as I barreled forward, my breaths pants as I fought to breathe. My lungs burned as I pushed forward, tree limbs scraping me as I went.
He was behind me. Never look back. Never turn around. Just keep going forward. I had seven out of eight of the damn papers, only one more to find. Just one. If I make it out, Carter was getting the cuss out of a life time for talking me into this. Little did he know that it was much more than old stories. Just a nice fun dare for me to go into the forest at night, the forest that was said to be haunted by Slenderman. I snorted at the thought, but now, it didn't seem so funny.
First walking into the depths of the trees, going further inside until I saw a piece of paper on a tree. It read, "Don't look back." I shrugged, taking it and shoving it into my bag. I kept walking, until I stumbled upon another piece of paper. That's when I made the mistake of turning my head, seeing him standing among the trees. Knowing then, it was not just scary stories, I grabbed the paper and ran. Now, here I was, running for my life as static blurred in my ears.
Just keep going straight, I coaxed myself. This forest had to end somewhere. I just hoped I'd reach that somewhere before it was too late. I felt eyes glued on my back, but I refused to turn around again. I wasn't going to look at the faceless man again. I continued, my legs burning as I forced myself forward, ramming into trees as I went due to my shaking flashlight.
Suddenly, the ground was flying towards my face; something wrapping around my ankle and tripping me. My hands flew in front of me, blocking my face as I hit the ground. The breath was knocked out of me as dirt stung in my eyes. Leaves crackled as I pushed myself up. As quick as I could, I flipped around, seeing something black and slimy wrapped around my ankle. It was no mere rock or limb I had tripped over. It was a tentacle that protruded from his back, snaking around my ankle until it went numb. It coiled around, leaving a sticky substance anywhere it touched, staining my jeans. In pure horror, I viciously jerked my ankle back, trying my best to pull it away. It was all fruitless attempts. The faceless man walked forward, taking his sweet time as tears poured down my face.
This was it. I was going to die. He knelt in front of me, cocking his featureless face, appearing to stare into the depths of my soul. Even though he was missing his eyes. I sobbed, my heart pounding out of my chest. The static was even worse in my ears at that moment. A ripping sound assaulted my ears as I watched what appeared to be a jagged mouth stretch across his face. My stomach dropped as he smiled, his pointed teeth looking oh so unfriendly as drool hung down from the serrated teeth. A wicked cackle broke through his mouth, the salty smell of blood and decay filling my nose. Without thinking, my hand shoved into my pocket, pulling out my pocket knife. I flicked my wrist, freeing the blade, then slammed it down on his tentacle. A screech broke through his jagged mouth as I pushed myself up, starting to run again. Go damn it! Run! He was really going to kill you now!
"Masky! Hoodie! Stop her," a raspy growl roared behind me.
Masky? Hoodie? Who were they? That's when I saw something in the distance. It looked like… a house? A house! I saw light coming through a window. Thank god! Then I noticed, it was no mere house. More like a mansion. But that was besides the point. It was shelter.
"Where do you think you're going?" a voice suddenly hissed, a hand grabbing my shoulder, forcing me to stop.
It was a boy, I supposed. He was wearing a beige hoodie, and a mask. The mask was pure white, besides the black lips and eyebrows that were arched above the eye holes. Ruffled brown hair stuck out of the top. Behind this boy, was another figure. This one had the hood up on his hoodie, his face hidden. A knife twirled in his hand. The figure looked up, pure blackness inside the hood. Even though my flashlight shone on them, I still couldn't see his face.
"Fuck you," I spat, jerking my knife towards his hand, cutting him slightly.
He hissed, jerking his hand back as I broke into a full fledge sprint to the mansion. I was going to make it. I had to. I heard feet stomping behind me, trying to catch up. Twigs snapping, leaves crunching. Vicious snarls ripping through all of their mouths. I was so close… Nearly flying up the stairs, I rammed into the door, banging as loud as I could.
"Help! Someone please, open the door! Help me!" I screamed, slamming my fists against the door. Adrenaline was pumping through my veins, my body shaking and numb.
I looked back to see the two boys and Slenderman advancing on me. No time to wait. I had to get in. I twisted the doorknob, seeing to my luck it was unlocked. I bustled inside, slamming the door behind me, then proceeded to run down the hall. Only to come to an abrupt stop.
The first thing I saw was a boy throwing knives at the wooden fireplace, trying to hit the same spot as before. His white hoodie was bloodstained along with the knife he was throwing. His black shaggy hair covered most of his face, but I could make out the large smile etched onto it, and his wide, eye-lidless eyes. A small girl and boy were on the floor, the boy seeming bored as he played a game with the small child. The girl's hair was curled and tangled, and her eyes a shocking bright green. Her nightdress was a faded pink with something stitched on it. The boy who looked like Link from Zelda appeared to be a demonic elf. His eyes were pitch black and small red dots were his pupils. A boy was sitting on the couch, a laptop on his lap. A blue mask covered his face, black holes where his eyes should be with a black tar-like substance dripping from them. His brown hair was ruffled above the mask. Last in sight was a girl sitting alone in a chair, reading a book. She was wearing a mask as well, the eyes black like the other guy's. Black lips were turned up into a small slight smile as well on the mask. Long, curly, black tendrils of hair fell down her shoulders, matching the black of her dress.
Where was I? Who were these people? They all immediately looked up, dumbstruck. Before I could blink, they were all standing. The boy with the white hoodie grabbed his knife, a hysterical laugh breaking through his deformed lips. The little girl's eyes began to glow brighter, blood starting to drip down her face. The small boy's eyes began to drip blood, his nails growing into sharp talons. The boy on the couch dropped his laptop, a scalpel falling down his sleeve, into his hand. His mask was lifted a bit, showing his razor teeth; saliva dripping down his chin and onto the floor. The other girl's book was thrown to the floor, a knife raised in her hand. My heart was hammering as my eyes widened. Slowly I backed away, tears uncontrollably rolling down my cheeks.
"You have met with a terrible fate, haven't you?" the Link-look-alike chuckled.
"Do you want to play?" the little girl asked, a sweet innocent look on her face. The malice behind her smile was easy to spot.
"No, Sally," the boy with the white hoodie laughed, staring at me with his unclosing eyes. "She needs to go to sleep."
A sob broke through my lips as I continued to back to the door, ramming into something. Or I should say someone. I turned to face the tall body of a man, wearing a nice black suit with a red tie. Slenderman stood before me, the two boys from before flanking his sides. His jagged mouth appeared to smile as he laughed, tauntingly.
"Welcome to Slender Mansion."
Please review!
