Disclaimer: All I own are Czech and Slovak.


"Do you think we were wrong...?"

Alfred looked over at his long time friend and boyfriend silently. Mikhail had left their house not too long ago after being told the story of Slender Man, dead set on getting someone to help him find Annessa. Arthur was probably feeling guilty for denying the boy some form of help. Alfred felt it too. He wanted nothing more than to have Annessa back home and safe, but running head first into the woods that Slender Man is currently occupying, well...isn't the best game plan.

"Artie, you know better than anyone what he can do. We did the right thing. For now," came the almost inaudible reply from the American next to him on the couch.

"But he used Ivan against us, Alfred. I never wanted them to favor one of us over the other and this just pushed them farther away," the Brit huffed out, finally looking up from his worn book on the supernatural.

"Yeah, I know..."

"But the more pressing question is what is Slender Man up to now?" came the sighed out question, as another page was turned.

Alfred glanced over at the book. This book was one Arthur's older brother Conner had given him after they had helped a few years back. They each called to check on the Brit every now and then and would give odd advice on how to make sure Slender Man wasn't in the house. Which for a very long time the two blondes thought the man was dead. Of course, they did last time as well and Slender Man had proved them all wrong.

Another nagging question kept pulling at the back of Alfred's mind. Why Annessa? Sure she had everything to do with Arthur and the others. And she knew each of them on a personal level. But, why her? Was she special in some way? And why hadn't he taken Mikhail that night when the young Czech nation ran into him? Slender Man must have purposefully let the boy go so he could run back and tell everyone what he had seen. As some sort of warning, maybe. He wanted everyone to know that he was back and one of their own was in danger.


That morning had started out like any other in Russia. Cold and boring. Mikhail had stayed the night that night, not willing to come home to an empty house full of Annessa's things. It would only make his want to find his twin stronger and that was something Ivan, Arthur, and even Alfred had forbid him to do. As he walked into the kitchen he gave a small smile towards Toris before sitting down at the currently bland table. When he was younger, Toris and him were always the first to wake up. Toris had even taught the boy how to prepare breakfast when he was younger for those rare times that Toris wouldn't be awake yet.

As Mikhail watched the brunette's back, thoughts rolled around in his mind. Toris knew the stories of Slender Man. But, did Toris know he was real? Did Toris know that Annessa was currently in Slender Man's grasp and could possibly be dead? Mikhail didn't feel she were dead though. If she were, wouldn't he feel her land disconnect from its representive? But he felt nothing. Just the ache that was there from knowing she was missing and not being able to do anything about it.

"Mikhail?"

Snapping from his thoughts, he looked up to see the brunette in question staring at him in worry, "Oh. Ano, I'm fine. But, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what it is?" Toris asked, turning the stove down before sitting in front of Mikhail to give the boy his full attention.

"Well, you remember those stories, right? About Slender Man?"

A laugh, "Of course I do. You and Annie always asked to hear them before bed."

"What would you do if you found out that he was real?"

"Real...?" came the hesitant reply, "Mikhail, is there something you haven't told me yet? Is something wrong with Annie?"

Feeling a sudden wave of regret, Mikhail decided that it was too late to back out of the conversation and continued forward, "Well...when I had called a few nights ago and told you that Annie was missing again, I went to look for her, like I always do. I had rigged my phone a few years ago to track her down when she texts me so I can drag her back home and this time it said she were in the woods."

Toris' face contorted into one of confusion but said nothing, willing Mikhail to continue, "So, I followed it. And I searched for her for hours, looking over the park, asking people if they had seen her, everything. Out of the blue, I got a text from her. It said, "He sees you". When I tried to reply, my phone cut off and refused to power on so I decided to go home and look for her later. But when I turned around...I saw him. Toris, he was actually there...in front of me. And he almost touched me!"

The man who sat in front of Mikhail stared at the blonde in a mix of worry and confusion. Something must have happened between the two for him to make up such a tale about Slender Man. Real, hah! There could be absolutely no way that this thing was real! Ivan had only told the two the story so they wouldn't wander off alone into the woods, which Annessa did anyhow.

"Mikhail, is everything alright at home? You and Annessa aren't fighting, are you?"

Letting out a rather loud, annoyed sigh, Mikhail let his head drop to the table, "Toris, I'm serious..."

"I am too! You know I've always told you if something were wrong you can come and talk to me. But I didn't mean for you to make up stories!" the other huffed out as well.

"It's not!"

"Look, I have to finish cooking before everyone wakes up. When you're ready to talk about what's really bothering you, don't hesitate to tell me, okay?"

Mikhail watched in shock as the man stood from the table and turned back towards the stove, switching the dials quickly and resuming his cooking. Was it honestly that farfetched? Toris believed in more things than Mikhail did! And hadn't he even said he saw Slender Man once when Annessa questioned Ivan on the logistics of Slender Man years ago? Maybe he should go back to Germany...tell Ludwig, see if he had any advice. As of right now, there wasn't many he could rely on to give him the help he so desperately wanted.


As the door shut gently back into place, Mikhail peered into the quite house that belonged to his father Ludwig. After eating breakfast, he told Ivan that he was going to pay a visit to the German natives to see how well they were handling the news about Slender Man and left as soon as he could. Soon being immediately after breakfast, that is. But as he looked around the empty living room, he wasn't so sure that either of the Germans were even home. Gilbert did tend to get into trouble, that of which he knew all to well. And Ludwig always did find himself bailing his poor older brother out of it. That Mikhail also knew extremely well.

"Mikhail?" came a rather hushed voice from the entryway to the kitchen. Turning to face said room, Mikhail's eyes lit up as he saw the person standing there.

"Kiku!" he exclaimed, flinging his arms around the man. It had been a few years since he had gotten to see Kiku and though him and Ludwig were always in touch, the Asian nation hardly ever had time to visit anymore. And if anyone would believe him about Slender Man, it would be his Uncle Kiku.

"Well, i-it's nice to see you as well," the man stammered out, a bit surprised at the rather loud welcoming.

"I'm so happy to see you! You have no idea!"

Giving a laugh as Mikhail pulled away, Kiku graced the boy with a polite smile, "I'm sure, it's been about three years, hasn't it?" Kiku paused as Mikhail gave a curt nod, his smile never fading, "And I've heard that Annie has gotten herself into a bit of trouble?"

"They told you?"

"Hai, Gilbert did. I was instructed not to tell Ludwig of the more finer details," the raven haired man explained.

"We may have to, I can't find anyone who's willing to help me..."

Furrowing his brows lightly, Kiku gave Mikhail a rather knowing smile, "Or perhaps it's the fact that they have to prepare. Keep in mind, Mikhail, they've been through this at least twice. You have to learn to trust the people around you."

Sighing lightly, Mikhail dropped his gaze to the floor, "I trust them, I do... I'm just worried... I've never been up against anything like this and Slender Man used to really scare me when I was little... What if he's done something to her? I haven't gotten a text since the night I went to look for her."

"Trust me, I'm sure she's fine. Annessa's always been a 'firecracker'. She wouldn't let someone like Slender Man do her in just yet."


-huff- And so, another chapter. Why is it so unbarebly late? Well, my fiance's computer broke so we've been sharing AGAIN and writer's block is just out for me this year, I don't know what it is.

Either way, I hope this was enjoyable! I'm trying my damnedest to make it longer (though I feel I'm failing at it) and look! Kiku! That's the longest I've ever written for him, I do believe. Actually, this may be the first time he's shown up in any of my writings... I suddenly feel bad...!

Reviews make me smile!

Ano means Yes in Czech.

Love, ShuChan