Thanks for the reviews folks!
I don't have much to say here, but this is where the mythos gets a bit mixed up. Also, for those who read my fic FNaF: Salvaged, the next chapter is up.
Enjoy!
Note 2
On The Edge
A year ago…
At first, she didn't notice the signs. She behaved normally, like nothing was wrong. Nobody noticed, including herself. But soon, Ellen realized that Linda was all but being normal.
''Don't you want to eat it?'' Ellen asked as she and Linda were sitting in the cantine in school, eating their lunch. Linda was absent-mindedly poking the cut chicken meat with her fork.
''Oh, I'm on a diet.'' Linda smiled.
Ellen was a bit sceptic. Linda was skinny as a branch. She didn't need a diet and both Linda and Ellen knew it. Nonetheless, she didn't eat much in school and while Ellen couldn't monitor her the whole time, she doubted that she ate at home.
''Okay… But I still think you should eat at least something.'' Ellen replied.
''I… don't wanna…'' Linda pouted.
''Linda, listen…''
''It's Lindy.''
''Okay, Lindy. I'm just worried. You haven't eaten right for days and I'm not buying that diet crap. Not to mention, and no offense, but you look terrible. Have you even gotten any sleep?'' Ellen looked Linda dead in the eye. The latter used make-up to cover her blue-black eye sacks, but she accidentally wiped it with her hand, making them visible.
''I… I don't know… I'm just tired.'' Linda replied, sounding sleepy.
''Linda, maybe you should go to see the school nurse.'' Ellen suggested.
''No, no… I'll eat up.'' Linda shook her head, starting to eat the rest of her lunch.
Ellen didn't know what to say, so she kept quiet.
''Hey, ever had that feeling like somebody's following you?'' Linda asked.
''Well in your case, you seem to have a dozen of fans.'' Ellen lowered her eye-lids, glancing over at the table where Brooke with her friends was. The latter glared at Ellen once she noticed her glance, with Ellen frowning.
''No, no that…'' Linda shook her head.
''So, you mean a stalker? With or without a crush?'' Ellen asked, thinking that Linda might have a secret admirer.
''Without a crush.'' Linda said, suddenly dead serious. ''Somebody who likes to stalk you just because they can.''
A chilling feeling slid down Ellen's spine.
''Ahh, no, I don't.'' Ellen replied, shrugging.
''Huh… Well,…'' Suddenly Linda's voice rose. She looked angry. ''Do you even care about your best friend?''
''Wha- of course I do? What is that kind of question?'' Ellen asked.
''Nothing… I… I'm just tired. I cannot think straight.'' Linda held her head. ''I think I'm getting sick.''
''You look pale. I think you should go home.'' Ellen said.
''Nonono… I'll be alright.'' Linda suddenly smiled. ''After all, I have Elly to look after me.''
''If you say so. But if you do collapse, you are going straight to the nurse and them home.'' Ellen told her.
''No problem.'' Linda suddenly stood up. ''I… I just need to go to the toilet. We'll meet up at class.''
''Okay.'' Ellen watched her friend walking away, dumping the tray with the food and getting out of the room. She frowned.
''A stalker, huh?''
She hoped she was jumping too quick to conclusion. On a related note, this was the sixth time Linda went to the toilet this morning. Either she ate something really bad (which Ellen doubted) or something was going on. She looked quite sick and Ellen was worried that her best friend was in trouble.
''Seems like I'll have to keep an eye on her.''
xXx
Ellen didn't pay much attention to the teacher as she did to Linda. It wasn't that hard, considering that (on Linda's insistence) they were sitting right next to each other. Linda was looking quite pale and tired, almost like she would faint. She was holding her stomach, seemingly in pain.
Ellen had enough of this.
''Um, professor!''
She stood up, looking at their geography teacher. Luckily, this one was a young woman, who was rather new in the school and did seem to care about her students, which is why Ellen liked her.
''What is it?'' The woman, Mrs. Taylor, asked.
''Linda is not feeling well. May I take her to the nurse's office?''
Ellen ignored the faint ''No.'' Linda muttered, as Mrs. Taylor looked at the latter.
''Sure.'' She nodded. ''Linda, you better go and see the nurse.''
''Okay…'' Linda murmured, grabbing her stuff. Ellen took her backpack as well, grabbing Linda's arm and helping her out. However, once they exited, Linda's attitude changed.
''What the hell was that?!'' She said angrily in a hushed tone.
''But, you said…''
Before Ellen could defend herself, Linda suddenly felt pain in her stomach and started to run towards the toilet. Ellen quickly followed her into the girl's toilet, looking at the cubicles. In front of one was Linda's backpack. She could hear puking sounds coming from one of them.
''Linda, are you alright?'' Ellen called out. More vomiting sounds.
''Aghh.. uhhh…''
''I'll… I'll call the nurse… Hang in there!'' Ellen told her, but suddenly, the door opened. There was a stench of vomit coming out, with Linda passing Ellen like a zombie, ignoring her friend completely.
Ellen didn't know what freaked her out more: Linda's behavior or the fact that she had blood dripping from her mouth.
''Linda… you…''
Linda turned around, staring Ellen with her mouth wide open. Her mouth, cheeks and chin was smeared with her own blood. Ellen noticed the wide, blank stare Linda had in her eyes.
''I'm… Lindy…''
Then, she fell over.
Ellen screamed.
xXx
''Please… be okay…''
Ellen stared at the other side of the wall of her room, recounting what happened. Her memory was hazy, but she could still hear herself screaming like crazy after Linda fainted. To her luck, the gym teacher was walking outside and heard her, quickly storming inside. Once he saw Ellen crying as she tried to wake Linda up, he picked the fainted girl, who looked now like a ghost, up and quickly got her to the nurse's office. Ellen followed them, holding Linda's backpack.
There was a huge commotion as the ambulance and Linda's parents were called in, while Ellen was questioned. She told them how Linda wasn't sleeping at all, got upset and ended up vomiting blood.
Did she eat something?
No… She barely ate anything at lunch.
Did she get into any trouble?
No… She would've told me if something was going on.
Does she have any sickness?
No! What kind of question is that?!
Ellen shook her head. She could still remember how upset Linda's parents were when they saw the state their daughter was in. She felt guilty about it. After all, she was Linda's best friend. She should've noticed something!
Now, all she could do was to hope for the best. She did call Mrs. Rockwell to hear more about Linda's condition. Mrs. Rockwell was gloomy and somber, crying silently as she told Ellen how Linda would be kept on watch in the hospital for a day. Tomorrow, she'd be out, but would stay at home for a few days.
Ellen sighed. She just couldn't understand why Linda was suddenly so moody. Why did she snap at Ellen like that when she tried to help her? Wasn't Ellen supposed to help her? After all, Linda did tell Ellen to keep an eye on her.
She just couldn't understand it.
Ellen looked at the backpack on the floor. It was Linda's. Her parents forgot to take it, so Ellen kept it. She would return the backpack to Linda once she gets home.
Ellen frowned, getting up and walking over to the backpack. She knew she shouldn't look at other people's stuff, but she and Linda shared almost everything. She was sure her friend wouldn't mind if she looked at it. After all, maybe she would find something which could help her understand Linda's condition.
Ellen zipped the backpack open, looking at it's contents. Books, notebooks, pencil case… Nothing out of ordinary. She flipped the backpack, letting everything fall on the floor to get a closer look. To her shock, she found a small yellow-brown bottle with pills in it.
''What the hell…?!'' She took it, looking at the etiquette. Those were anti-depressants.
But why would Linda need anti-depressants? Was she depressed or something?
Then it hit her like lightning striking a tree and burning it to ashes.
Was Linda trying to… overdose herself? Was she trying to kill herself?
''No way… No way!''
Ellen shook her head in disbelief. Linda would never do that! Why would she want to kill herself?! She never gave any indication that she would commit actual suicide?!
Ellen knew Linda her entire life. She was always cheerful and nice and kind, but never depressed. At least, until now.
''Hey, ever had that feeling like somebody's following you?''
Ellen gritted her teeth. She felt anger and hatred, but it was not directed towards Linda. It was directed towards where the woods were.
Where he was.
xXx
''The forest is alive! I'm saying the truth!''
''Tsk, as if.''
8 year old Ellen couldn't believe it as she saw Linda crossing her arms and pouting.
''Forest's can't be alive.''
''My grandma says they are.''
''No way!''
The two were playing in Ellen's backyard, with Linda sitting on the swing, which ropes were tied to a tall and old tree. Ellen pointed at the woods behind them.
''But it is!'' Ellen tried to convince her friend. ''My grandma never lies!''
''I know that. But I still don't believe her. All you can find in the woods are bears and wolves.'' Linda replied.
''And the Tree Shadow.'' Ellen added.
''Tree Shadow? What's that?'' Linda gave a smug smile, giggling.
''It's not funny.'' Ellen frowned. ''Also, I'm calling him Tree Shadow. Although grandma Rose says he has many other names.''
''Who is that Tree Shadow-thingy you're talking about?'' Linda asked her.
''I dunno. A person, I guess?'' Ellen rubbed the back of her head. ''My grandma says you mustn't make him angry and that you need to respect the woods as they're alive.''
''Why shouldn't you make him angry?''
''Because he'll take you then. And you'll never come back.''
xXx
Just how many times did the two have those conversations when they were younger? Ellen didn't know anymore. Any time she would mention The Shadow Woods to Linda, she would get angry for some reason and accuse Ellen of making things up. It didn't strain their friendship, but Ellen was nonetheless sad that Linda wouldn't take her serious.
Now that she was older, she became more and more aware of what that Tree Shadow, as she still called him, was. It sure wasn't a human, nor an animal. There were many legends surrounding it, passed from one person to another, but in a hushed tone, as if they feared he could hear them. They feared that even if they mentioned his name, he would come and take them away.
Nobody really knew what he looked like. Some legends, like those Ellen heard from her maternal grandmother, Rose Darrow, stated that it was some sort of faerie creature and the guardian of the forest. This creature was rather violent and hostile towards humans, especially if they show disrespect towards it's home. It would reach for them with it's long arms and black vine-like tentacles, grabbing them and taking them away.
Some kids talked about a tall stranger in a black suit and fedora, starring at them. If you came closer to him, he would reveal his red flashing eyes and a set of sharp teeth, like those of a shark, and devour you.
Then there was one, said to be true. People said that long ago, a girl had vanished from her homes. People have been searching for her for days, only to find the girl impaled on a branch, high up in the tree crown. Her organs have been put in plastic bags and put back into her body, the torso being sewn back with a black thread. According to the story, the guy who examined the corpse didn't dare to tell the parents whether she was alive or dead when she got ripped open.
Several days later, the girl's house burst up in flames. The parents have vanished and nobody ever found out what actually happened. They didn't want to know.
Ellen had no idea if she should consider herself lucky or doomed. Considering the stories, she managed to live bloody long without getting herself killed.
While people would try to dismiss the legends as stories their parents and grandparents told them in order for them to stay away from the woods, Ellen knew well that the creature indeed existed. He was following her for who knows how long.
She never figured out when it was the first time she actually saw him. All she knew is that, when she was around 6 or 7 years old, she saw a tall stranger staring at her while she was playing in her backyard. Her father wasn't at home at that point, which was something which stunned Ellen for years. Although, considering he was abusive and ignorant about her, she figured she shouldn't be that surprised.
The stranger wasn't moving. Just staring…. And staring. Ellen's memory was still blurry, but she did remember he had pale skin and a suit. She couldn't remember his face (even wondering if he had any), but she had a creepy feeling about him.
''Do you need something?''
The voice of her six year old self echoed in teen-Ellen's head as she recalled the event. She thought he was just some person living in the woods or that he was lost.
Suddenly, her vision also became blurry, as if she was getting blinded by the sun's rays. She was still staring at the trees, exactly where the man stood, blinking as she tried to clear her vision.
All she saw were trees.
And then, the nightmare began.
xXx
It was dead in the night as Ellen went to Linda's house. She was told that Linda came back home, but her parents sounded rather concerned and Ellen told them she would drop by the next day. However, she couldn't sleep, so she decided to take a small stroll to Linda's house. She knew well what she was doing was creepy and stalkerish, but she figured that, if her theory was correct, she had a very good reason for doing it.
Ellen climbed the tree close to Linda's house, trying to get a good look at her bedroom window. There was actually an old tree closer to it, but Ellen didn't want to risk being seen. She was just sitting there, trying to shift into a more comfortable position, and looked around.
Of course, she couldn't prove her theory and all she had were assumptions, but if the reason why Linda suddenly got so suicidal was indeed the one being she was suspecting, then he would eventually show up.
Honestly, Ellen never really saw him from close up. He would always hide close to the trees or watch her from her backyard if she was in the house. Never close, but close enough so she would know he was there. It was driving her crazy.
Considering how violent the creature was, Ellen assumed he wanted her to go crazy, but she didn't. She knew better than to just give up on what sanity she had left. She guessed that her determination to not fall into his trap was what kept him stalking her, but never really threatening her life. While Ellen wasn't really bothered by being his victim, she was pissed off about her best friend becoming his new target.
She gasped as she saw the window opening. Linda, still wearing her PJs, climbed onto the thick tree branch and onto the tree. Ellen remembered how Linda's father always said how he would cut the tree down, but Linda would protest. Now Ellen knew why. It was Linda's escape route.
She observed as Linda was going towards where Ellen was, wondering if her friend maybe saw her. Apparently, she didn't, as she walked past the tree on which Ellen was. The latter carefully climbed down, deciding to follow Linda, but without making her presence known.
She wondered if Linda was maybe sleep-walking, but given her sluggish movements and the fact that she was muttering to herself, she didn't. At least, Ellen assumed she didn't. Getting closer to Linda, Ellen realized that she looked more as if she was possessed, her limbs moving like a puppet on a string.
Linda was tripping over roots and wet, slippery leaves, but would always keep herself up. As if something was calling her, closer and closer…
Suddenly, she started to run. Ellen's eyes widened and she darted, following Linda as close as possible. She had no idea how deep in the forest they were or where Linda was going. All she knew was that she had to make sure her friend won't get in any danger.
Suddenly, Linda came to a clearing. She stopped running, making Ellen almost collide into her as the latter was still in full sprint. Ellen stared at the clearing, recognizing it. It was the clearing close to where her house was. In the middle of it was a thick, dead tree with branches devoid of any leaves.
Ellen did came a few times here, but she never told anyone about this clearing. How did Linda know where to go to?
''Linda…'' Ellen called her out. She decided that enough was enough and that she should bring Linda back home, to safety. Although…
With him around, there was no place Linda would be safe at.
Suddenly, Linda turned around, staring at Ellen with blank, blood-shot eyes. Ellen gulped, taking a step back.
''You! What did you do to me?!'' Linda suddenly started to scream.
Ellen had no idea if Linda was in some sort of trance or wide awake. She never saw her friend like this.
''Why did you do this to me?! I thought we were friends! I thought you cared about me!'' Linda continued to scream at her.
''Linda, I…''
''It's Lindy!''
Ellen was speechless. She had no idea what to do. This wasn't the Linda she knew. She was now just a husk of her old self, dirty and pale, whiter than ice and snow. She was skinny, almost anorexic, and her hair was messy. Ellen's eyes widened as she saw bruises on her arms. She had been wearing long shirts in school, but now, wearing her short-sleeved PJ shirt, she could see them clearly.
How long has this been going on?!
''Aghr!'' Linda suddenly let out a scream, falling down.
''Linda!'' Ellen screamed, rushing over to her side. She fainted again, but this time, she wasn't bleeding. ''Linda, wake up! Wake up! Please!''
Ellen knew that she had to do something. She took out her cell phone, deciding to dial 911. However, as she turned it on, she saw static on it.
''What…''
Suddenly, she felt the temperature falling. It had been a warm night, but she felt cold. The moon, hidden behind a cloud, appeared once again.
A voice in her head screamed for her to run, but she couldn't. She felt like her feet were made of stone. She couldn't move them. She couldn't run.
Turning around, she looked at the clearing, at the dead tree. However, what she was looking at wasn't a dead tree. It was the Tree Shadow.
She felt dizzy, he breath becoming shallow and her heart beating too fast, but she forced herself to look at the being in front of her.
A tall person with pale skin was staring back. He had long arms and wore a dark blue suit with a red tie and black shoes. A black fedora covered his head, put in a way Ellen couldn't see his face. Six black tentacles were extending from his back, looking like a spider's legs. He was standing in front of the tree, but if it were complete darkness, he would be mistaken as being that very tree.
''Don't you wish to run…''
The creature… spoke? Ellen blinked, her jaw slightly dropped. She could hear a quiet, deep, yet gruff and slightly raspy voice. She didn't know if it was in her head or if the creature really spoke. It sounded creepy, yet oddly attracting. It felt like a hypnosis or a spell, cast to put you into a trance or an eternal sleep. As if you wanted to leave and never return…
''I'm not going to leave my friend here.'' Ellen replied, snapping out of it. The hypnotizing echo of the voice disappeared as Ellen's own anger took over her body. She felt her legs being able to move again. ''What did you do to her?''
He didn't answer.
Ellen was now glaring at him as her fear got replaced with rage. Linda was like a sister to her and she would protect her, no matter what.
''Why do you care…''
''She's my best friend.'' Ellen replied.
Her eyes widened in surprise as she heard an odd sound. It sounded like a soft chuckle, as if the being was amused with her determination to protect her friend.
''She is not your friend…''
''What do you know about friendship?'' Ellen replied.
Suddenly, the creature's tentacles rose in a menacing manner. Ellen realized she made him angry, but she had no idea to what extent.
She gasped in fear, stumbling back. She just blinked, but when she opened her eyes, the creature vanished from the spot he was standing, which was a good distance away.
Now he was standing right in front of her, his tentacles spreading out and looking like they were reaching for her. He looked like a spider about to devour it's prey.
''And what do you know…''
His tone changed from quiet to angry. He sounded enraged, as if Ellen just delivered a massive insult, and looked very aggressive.
Even though she was now really scared, almost close to fainting, Ellen tried to remain composed. She was shaking like a twig.
''Why are you interested in Linda? I was the one whom you followed, after all. Leave her out of it!'' She replied, her voice a bit shaky. She was staring at the ground, but tried to look at the creature's face. A higher force, however, stopped her from trying.
''Leave…''
''I won't!'' She closed her eyes, yelling. ''Instead of her… just take me!''
For a while, nothing happened. Ellen still kept her eyes closed, expecting that the creature would attempt to impale her with his tentacles.
But nothing happened.
''My friend… she's in bad condition. I don't want anybody to hurt her, as she's very important to me. If you were planning on taking her life, then I'm offering mine instead of hers.'' Ellen closed her eyes, lowering her head as words poured out. She kept this secret hidden from everyone, even from Linda. ''She can recover and get her life together… I can't… I have nothing…''
She had always been looking at Linda as the luckiest girl who ever existed. She had a loving family, she was popular, she could get whatever she wanted.
Ellen's home was falling apart, one parent dead, the other not giving a damn about his daughter. She was bullied in school and avoided.
Sometimes, as she watched Linda's happy life unfolding, she wished she had such life. She wished she had the luxury of having a happy family and carefree childhood.
Admitting, yes, she envied Linda. Still, she cared about her friend. She didn't want to steal or destroy what Linda had.
''Interesting offering…''
Ellen opened her eyes. She was confused as she saw that the creature vanished. Still, she could hear his voice. It was a faint whisper…
''I accept…''
Her body froze as she realized where it came from. She turned around, her scream dying out as the creature lunged at her from behind, his tentacles wrapping around her.
Then, she fell into the darkness...
xXx
Present day…
Ellen was running towards Linda's house. She had to know what exactly happened. Didn't he plan to keep his promise?
She could still remember how she woke up, back in her room. She had no idea how she came there, but she felt dizzy and sick from it. Still, she was unharmed. She didn't understand what exactly happened or why she was kept alive, but she knew that the creature would continue to stalk her.
Linda, on the other hand, was back to her old self. She couldn't remember anything what happened and stared at Ellen as if the latter was crazy when Ellen asked if she woke up in her room. It seemed like her suicidal thoughts also vanished and she even gained normal weight. Ellen guessed that the Tree Shadow somehow erased her memories and honestly, it was the only thing she was thankful for. She vowed to herself to never tell Linda what happened.
But still, why would he keep her alive? To continue torturing her mind? Or maybe there was something else?
Something far more sinister…