2586

"Old people told us that here, nearby, there's another, different world." She said finally. "Same as ours. When we look into water, we see our reflection, but the rest is just blurry image of that other world." (…) "Sometimes when we stand in the evening on a waterside, we hear distant bells ringing in the churches of that other world." – Andrzej Pilipiuk "Wieczorne Dzwony"1)

Warning: Violence and its consequences.

Rating: T to M.

Pairings: none.

Disclaimer: Slenderman © Eric Knudsen (as Victor Surge), 2586 Kroków/Wieczorne Dzwony (and everything it contains) © Andrzej Pilipiuk.

Story and all OCs © Archer Black.

Ambush in the bush.

oOo

Holly Cross Mountains. July 15th.

The summer was in full. It was hot but the wind was cool making the weather bearable and even quite pleasant. The day seemed to be the example of a perfect summer in a country. The sky was bright with some clouds, the wind gently caressed the trees in the forests, the grasses on the meadows and crops on the fields, the air smelled of summer heat and dry hay, and mooing of cows could be heard every now and then. The fact that these days there were but a handful of them didn't matter.

Michelle took the opportunity to go on an afternoon walk and perhaps pick some wild blackberries that grew near the forest. She chose the forest that grew at a distance behind her barn, the one she came to associate with Slenderman; over the ones growing on the other sides of the orchards despite the fact that there were more blackberry shrubs there because some local farmers were doing the field work there and she didn't want to get in the way of the tractors that would certainly cruise back and forth carrying the dried hay and whatever else there was to collect.

She walked along the border strip between two meadows, the earth was dry as it didn't rain lately and she could hear the crickets hidden in the grass. The afternoon was still early enough for the sun to be scorching but she was prepared – big, flappy hat protected her from the heat pouring from the sky. For now it was hot and dry but such weather always ended with storms. Now today and not tomorrow but it was a matter of time.

oOo

Slenderman spotted Michelle by pure accident. He was out on business involving getting himself a new shirt when he spotted her walking toward the forest. She carried a basket and wore large hat, long sleeves and trousers that would protect her from the sun and also from the ticks. There were big sunglasses on her nose that hidden her eyes so it was hard to say what exactly she was looking at.

She was way outside of her influence zone but safe. At least safe from being bothered by Rachmani, or rather attacked by them, they still could approach her in peaceful manner. That was most unfortunate for Slenderman since unlike Michelle, he was not protected from Rachmani and while now he was stronger than he was in the winter, he had no desire to confront his enemies if they held any advantage over him, especially in numbers.

He still felt that he needed to properly thank her but if she was observed he couldn't approach her without revealing himself to the Rachmani. This meant that he had to conceal himself. If he couldn't talk to her now he could always try to visit her later.

He silently stepped deeper into the forest sent his tentacles up. It was a mostly pine forest and it meant that the tree trunks were straight and tall with branched high above the ground and not very thick. His tentacles wrapped themselves around multiple branches and he lifted himself up where he perched on solid looking branch and observed.

oOo

Michelle walked along the verge of the forest, there were some blackberry shrubs growing here and there, picking the fruits. It wouldn't take long for her to fill since it wasn't that large and she knew that in few days she would certainly get back for more, either here or perhaps near the other forest, provided she wouldn't get in the way of the field work. For now however what she would pick would suffice.

She approached another shrub at the very edge of the forest and started to pick the ripe berries when she heard strange noise. It was buzzing and for a moment she thought that perhaps there as hornet nest somewhere near but then the buzzing formed into a single word.

"Michelle."

She instantly recognised who that was and looked around but didn't saw him. In fact she didn't saw anyone. She blinked thinking that perhaps she just imagined it but the buzzing came again.

"In the forest."

There was a certain push in that sentence, urging her to enter the forest. It was putting a desire to walk between the trees into her. She had no doubt now that it was Slenderman trying to persuade her to do as he asked. It was surprisingly easy to resist his coaxing though, perhaps because she knew what was going on. Someone who didn't expect it would fall for it though.

"Please, come."

Michelle looked into the forest. This time the buzzing wasn't seductively insisting, he was really asking her to come. She sighed and stepped in between tall tree trunks, what could he possibly want form her? She was certainly too old to be his next meal. Not that she complained.

It was much more pleasant in the shadows where the trees obscured the sun and the ground wasn't radiating the heat, nonetheless the air stood still without even the slightest of breezes providing any relief. Perhaps it was for the better as the wind would probably simply move the hot air around.

Michelle looked around but she couldn't spot any sign of the faceless creature's presence.

"Above."

She almost jumped and looked up. And there he was, high in the branches, looking down at her. For a second he just sat there, staring at her, and then he jumped off but didn't fall down, instead he gently slipped to the ground. It was the first time Michelle really saw his tentacles. They were thick and dark, and he didn't use all of them either, she only saw two.

"I never thought I would see you again." She admitted not knowing what else to say. "You seem to do well. It certainly looks like you didn't have any violent encounters with Rachmani."

"Have you found the flowers?" He asked in return.

"Flowers? You left them there?" Michelle's eyed grew round. "I was away, when I returned there weren't much of them left." She smiled. "I would never suspect you to be the kind to bring flowers though."

"Flowers are appropriate when paying a visit." He explained.

"A shame that you missed me." She smiled. "Next time perhaps forewarn me so I will be there?"

"I am Slenderman and I do not forewarn." He stated simply. "And I do not have means to do so." He added.

Michelle blinked. That much was true, he was a notorious stalker and he probably couldn't use a phone even if he wanted to. Nor send her a telegram or anything like that because if he showed up in a post office… bricks would be shat.

"Well, now it seems that I have paid you a visit." She said. "I don't suppose you're in a habit of explaining your actions, but maybe you can tell me what did you need?"

"I do not need anything at this time." He replied. "My intention was to talk. You may require more information regarding Rachmani."

"I won't deny that some more info would be nice. They seem to observe me for some time now, probably ever since you've left though I only noticed in the spring." Michelle shrugged. "I tried to find something on my own but I found nothing so far."

"Walk with me." The pale entity gestured for her to follow him deeper into the forest.

"Okay, just don't eat me or something." She followed him.

"You're good twenty years too old to be eaten by me." He stated, his voice sounding like two or three bees now.

"I know that. It was a joke." Michelle sighed; she knew that if Slenderman wanted to harm her in any way he could do so many times over by now. "So, how about these Rachmani?"

"They do not dwell in this realm but merely visit it so they can walk where they so please, except for entering homes as such. Should they do it would count as common trespassing." He walked beside her.

"But why are they spying on me? I mean I would expect them to be attempting to hunt you down. I laid my rules clearly so even if you would come they cannot attack. So why are they watching me?" She asked.

"They're testing you as a rule giver." He replied earnestly. "They want to know if you're strong or weak." He elaborated.

"What does that mean?"

"A weak rule giver will be easy to manipulate or even intimidate. A strong one is not to be messed with." He explained further. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks and looked around. "We're being followed." He said.

"By whom?" Michelle looked around but didn't saw anyone.

"And who could want to follow us?" Slenderman asked and grabbed Michelle's arm.

Before she knew they were someplace else. She never noticed how the scenery changed around her and realised that it had to be Slenderman's teleportation. The sensation was… there was no sensation to this aside from mild disorientation as to where she was.

"Where are we?" She asked in whisper, not sure if it was safe to talk at all. They were now in a different part of the forest or even perhaps in different forest altogether.

"Not far away." He assured her. "Just far enough. They will be looking. This way." He led her to what seemed to be a large, heavy boulder.

He did it again, Michelle wished that he could at least give her a warning that he was about to teleport.

This time they were in some dark room, she couldn't see a thing before Slenderman pulled a lighter from somewhere and lit up an oil lamp. Now she could clearly see concrete walls with rust stains.

"Where are we?" She asked whispering.

"An old bunker. Just below the forest. It is not much but it is a good hiding place." He answered her in his own version of whisper. "They don't know it exists. Come this way."

He led her from where they appeared trough a short corridor to a larger room. She could faintly see two more doors leading from that room. The room itself was sparsely furnished but clean. It didn't even smell like an old bunker either. There was a small table with one chair, a cabinet, an old looking closet and a bed.

Michelle put her basket with blackberries on the table.

"You live here?" She asked.

"I hide here." He replied quietly. "Sometimes I rest here."

"Okay." She let the subject go. She was sure that he probably had more places as this one, probably all around the world. And probably not looking any better than this.

She was about to speak again when they both heard a loud noise, as if someone kicked something. Then some shouting, the voice was definitely not human. It had to come from above the ground but somehow it managed to reach them anyway. She couldn't recognise the words; Rachmani had to speak in their own language. After a moment everything went quiet again.

"They will be searching the area." Slenderman whispered in that 'single dying wasp' whisper of his. "Do not worry, they will not find us, the only remaining entry is well hidden."

"How long will they be searching?" She asked in barely audible whisper.

"Until they get tired or think that we had to just teleport further away." He replied. "You don't have to be that quiet, just don't speak too loudly."

"Okay." She said in a little louder but still whispering. "How did they know where to look for you?"

"They probably followed you." Slenderman shrugged.

"Sorry." She winced, feeling a pang of guilt. She didn't want him to get into any trouble because of her.

"It was me who called you." He didn't seem to be bothered.

"But why did you teleport us so close to this place? Wouldn't it be safer to lead them away from your lair?" She questioned silently.

"I would if I was alone but with a 'passenger' it is more difficult. On top of that you could get caught in a brawl between me and Rachmani." He explained.

"I see." She nodded. "But you could just leave me and escape alone. You once told me that I was safe as a rule giver."

"They would not put a physical harm upon you, not deliberately." Slenderman nodded slowly. "But what if you're not a strong rule giver?"

"Oh, speaking of which, before you said that they were testing me." She recalled their interrupted conversation. "Why would they do that?"

The faceless man cocked his head to the side and stayed silent for a moment, as if contemplating the answer. When he finally spoke his voice buzzed silently but with assurance.

"Because you can always change the rules you have put in place. If you're weak then they can make you lift your violence ban. But if you're strong you will not be swayed and even may change it to their disadvantage." He expounded. "That is what I think they're doing but I cannot be sure if they don't have any other motives too."

"In this case I can tell you that while I don't know if I am strong but I certainly am not weak." She reassured her host. "I will not lift my ban; you do not have to worry about it. I do wonder though how long will they search."

"Up to couple hours." He stated simply. "But I can let you out, like I said they will only attack me, not you. If you will simply walk away, you won't get caught between them and me."

"Oh come on, I will not endanger you or do anything to reveal your hiding place." Michelle shook her head. "I have time; I can wait until they're gone."

Slenderman didn't oppose, he didn't want to reveal his hiding place either.

TBC