Sarah awoke the next morning with a swimming headache. She was in bed, an icepack to her head. She groaned, blinking to clear her vision. Next to her bed, Alma sat reading.
"Bueno, you're up!" Alma greeted, closing her book.
"What happened?" Sarah asked.
"Will and Bailey found you passed out last night when they came home. What we don't know is why."
A headache came screaming back into Sarah as she remembered. All he had done was stare at her, or, as best he could without eyes. Her vision had doubled, and the last thing she remembered was his arms reaching through the open window and surrounding her.
Alma could see the pain her friend was facing. Moving quickly to push Sarah back into bed, she calmly cooed, "Estare bien, Chica."
As Sarah laid back down, panting, Alma said, "Let me grab you a glass of water. I'll be right back!"
As Alma rushed from the room, Echo walked in with Reed, a fellow student. Echo stood by the bedside.
"Sarah?"
The blonde looked at him.
"What do you remember?"
"I remember him staring…couldn't see…then I…woke up," Sarah ground out, the headache still raging in her mind.
"Reed's seen him around recently. I think he might be stalking you both," Echo reasoned. Sarah looked to the red-haired boy at the door, who waved at her.
"Un fantasma at Horseland? Give me a break," Alma scoffed, having returned with an Aspirin and a glass of water.
Sarah gratefully accepted the medicine, gulping down the water thirstily. Alma turned towards Echo and crossed her arms, an amused smirk on her face.
"You think a ghost did this?"
"Not a ghost, exactly, but some kind of creature, yes," Echo answered.
"Have you heard of: the Slenderman!?" Reed asked, raising his arms in a spooky fashion. Alma's right arm fell to her hip, and Reed cleared his throat.
"I don't believe in ghost cuentas," Alma explained. "Slenderman's just a myth."
"I don't know Alma," Sarah chimed in, "I definitely saw something last night."
"Are you sure you didn't just watch a scary movie?" Alma questioned her friend. Sarah shook her head 'no', and Alma paled.
Everyone jumped at a knock on the doorpost. They turned to see Will standing in the doorway.
"It's time for practice guys. And let's give Sarah a little more rest, shall we?" Will said. When Reed, Echo, and Alma left the room, Will sat down next to Sarah's bed. Placing a hand across her forehead, he softly spoke.
"How are you feeling?"
"Could be better," Sarah honestly replied.
"Sorry for going off so hard on you the other day. Never got around to apologizing for that. Echo says you've seen a ghost," Will said, joking at the last part. Sarah gave a slight chuckle. "I don't believe him either. Look, just get better okay? We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you."
"I will Will," Sarah assured. Nodding in satisfaction, Will got up to leave. As the blonde boy left, Sarah was alone in her thoughts. Maybe Echo wasn't trying to scare her. And maybe it wasn't a prank.
Behind the trees of her bedroom window, the figure stood watching from a far, a crow on his shoulder. Bending down, the Slenderman extended a finger towards the dirt, writing the name 'Sarah', and circling it.
-Breakline-
"You need your rest, Sarah," Nani cautioned her friend.
"I'm fine Nani, but thanks for the concern," Sarah smiled, grabbing a lunch tray.
"You know, you're a real trooper Sarah! If I'd seen Slenderman for real, I'd be scared out of my mind," Molly said.
"Oh please," Zoey scoffed, "He's just some over grown loser who couldn't get a date for prom, so he settles for twelve year old girls."
Zoey's flippant comments actually froze the girls in terror. Suddenly, the lights in the kitchen started flickering. Zoey screamed slightly as her phone shocked her. Pulling it out, she saw that the screen was cracked.
"Oh come on!" Zoey scowled. "Chloe's phone never does this stuff. And what even cracked it?"
Sarah ran to a distant table, Molly and Nani in tow. As Sarah collapsed in a chair, Molly asked, "What's wrong, girl?"
"Oh come on Sarah, my phone didn't scare you did it?" Zoey mocked.
Sarah looked up, and shouted, "Zoey behind you!"
"Very fu-" Zoey was cut off by the windows shattering. Several students ran for cover. Sarah, Molly, and Nani ducked, while Zoey stood frozen in terror.
"Guys!? I can't…" Zoey visibly stiffened. "I can't move!"
A large black tentacle wrapped around her, dragging her to its source which disappeared along with Zoey in a puff of black. As students got back up, Sarah's hands covered her mouth. Molly and Nani's jaws had hit the floor.
"Amiga!" Alma came running to the blonde's aid.
"Sarah, are you alright?" Reed asked, taking a slower approach since he was nearer.
As other students asked Sarah about her well being, tears flowed from her blue eyes. Three words finally tore from her lips.
"Oh my God!"
-Breakline-
Zoey was trapped in some thorns, the barbs tearing into her skin. Though she'd talked a good game earlier, she was scared. Her iconic blue shirt was torn in various places, and dirt speckled her hair.
"Oh please Mister Slenderman, don't hurt me! I was only joking! I don't really think you're a weirdo!"
Zoey…Afraid…Lying…
Zoey's jaw dropped. "How?"
Slenderman stalked into view. He looked at her, and Zoey's head became filled with the words, Read…Minds…Zoey…Pay…
He walked closer to her, eventually shadowing her, causing the woods to shake with Zoey's blood-curdling screams.
