I woke up the next morning to find my room empty other than me. I smiled to myself, stretching, giving a groan. I got out of my nest, then switched on the stereo, turning the radio to the local rock channel and going to go take a shower. I stripped my clothes, I wasn't one of those girls that were unhappy with my body, I was sexy and I knew it. I smirked at the thought. But it was strange. I never really felt any attraction to guys, girls neither. Some of my friends would show me pictures of guys they thought were cute in grade school. I never really understood it. I turned on a warm shower and happily jumped in.
I got out of the shower and went back into my room, with a towel wrapped around me and another one wrapped my hair. I picked out an outfit from my walk in closet. I grabbed my purple skinny jeans, a white tank top with a lace tail and a black paint splatter t-shirt and put it on. After that I went into the living room slash kitchen dining room area and bounced over to the fridge and opened it, pulling out the pizza box. I set it on the island and opened the box and ate a few sliced for breakfast.
I grabbed my bag and I went out to the library where I worked. It was just a few blocks away so I walked everywhere I went. I entered the library and went to the desk area, seeing my acquaintance, Lee. She was short, with blond hair, about forty-three, real tech savvy despite her age.
"Hey Lee." I told her, putting my bag down.
"Hello Echo." She replied. I leaned forward and looked at her, she seemed to be a little irritated.
"What's up?" I asked, knitting my brows. She had been typing on the computer, but then squealed and smacked the top of the monitor. I hid my smile.
"The computer was working fine just a few minutes ago. Now it's all squirrelly, just refuses to work properly." I frowned. She slid away from the computer.
"See what you can do with it." She told me, getting up and pushing a cart full of returned books towards the shelves. I slid over to the computer and adjusted the keyboard before I looked at the screen of the monitor. There was a thin curtain of snow on the screen. I recognized it, swiveling in my seat, that only happened when Slender was around. I didn't see him. I pursed my lips and restarted the computer that usually worked. Lee was real smart with computers but she never really stopped and thought about the small things. As the computer started back up the screen was clear and I had succeeded in my temporary task. I leaned back in my seat and greeted the people that entered the library warmly.
The day at the library was uneventful afterwards. Leaving work I walked to the local pizza joint and ordered my usual, pepperoni with extra cheese, I waited for my food, playing on my phone. My order was called and I paid for it and walked home..
I entered the still barren apartment with a distasteful look. I put the pizza on the counter and went to my bedroom and changed into a black spaghetti strap tank top and grey sweat shorts and returned to the living room slash kitchen and dining room area. I opened the pizza box and merrily partook in my beloved pizza. I paused to grab a soda from the fridge and switched on the television, listening to the news as I ate.
"We still have not found the prisoners at the federal jail. Families are demanding information but the only clue that the lead investigators had were a few pointless photos and a completely wrecked prison block. A few guards claimed that there had been screams when they were trying to enter the block." I tuned out the news, knowing that was Slender' doing. When I was a child he told me that some Slenderfolk were punishers of the human race. He was one of them. A high council determined which human sins were worth Slender punishment, such as hurting children, innocent animals, rape, murders. The humans that got off (life sentences or acquittals) were taken care of by Slender's kind. The block that was raided had been people who were given life sentences for murders or rapes. I looked up as static assaulted my ears and saw Slender in front of the television, switching it off. I nonchalantly took a sip of my root beer.
"Hi, Slen." I told him. He switched his gaze from the black television screen to me. He stood about six foot four today. Depending on how he felt on a specific day his height was affected. He stood in my living room, studying the still bare apartment.
"When did you call for your furniture?" He asked, taking a seat on the ground next to my bean bag chair. I smiled at him.
"A few weeks ago. I'll get it when I get it." I told him, I have always been patient. "I mean it isn't like if I don't get my furniture I can't just buy more. I just work at the library to have something to do instead sitting around all day." I told him. I know it sounded spoiled. But it was true. I took another bite of my pizza. I went and got a paper plate and put a slice or two on it and sat on the bean bag chair next to him and took a bite of the amazing pizza. He watched me in curiosity. I remember the conversations we had when I was a child. They weren't awkward or uncomfortable like they are now. I assumed that when I was a child, he didn't want to talk about what he was so he didn't want me to bring it up, so Slender kept the conversation himself. Now he expected me to ask questions or make the conversation. I started back at him as I chewed thoughtfully. I remembered the day we met, the first day I gazed upon that white blank face.
I joyously ran to the tree, Daddy had finally allowed me go out to the woods. I was a happy little five year old. Daddy was busy with helping Mommy and Kenai, even though my brother hadn't yet arrived he was causing a lot of trouble for Mommy. She barely got out of bed. Daddy had told me to go outside and play, Mommy wasn't feeling very well. So I did. I enjoyed climbing trees, and I had my eyes set a new one. Was big and old and in retrospect I guess climbing the oldest tree in the forest wasn't a good idea.
I stood at the base of the tree, staring up, I was looking for a good vantage point to start climbing. I found one, a branch that was broken, but it the end of the branch was laying against the ground, so in my five year old mind it was a good place to start. I jumped onto the branch, which lead up to the next one. The branch was a little shaky but not enough to be afraid of I climbed onto the next branch, this one was very shaky, and higher up than I realized, the ground was a good ten feet below. I swallowed and held onto the trunk for stability The wood creaked. I grew scared. I lowered my foot to the other branch, but the one I stood one broke. I screamed, expecting to hit the ground.
Warm arms wrapped around me, catching me seven feet from the ground, keeping me from the harmful unforgiving ground below. A soft, low voice laughed, I looked to the face of my savior, only to gasp when I saw he had none. I stared.
"Hello there, child. What are you all by yourself out here for? Hmm? Especially someone so young. I know my kind don't leave a new being by themselves like this." He told me kindly as he set me on the ground. I craned my neck to look him in the face. He was taller than anyone I had ever seen. Even taller than Daddy.
"Um." I muttered.
"Oh, dear, where are my manners young one, humans aren't allowed to know my name, but you can call me-"
"Tall Man." I said. He laughed again, very softly.
"Alright, I am your Tall Man, mind telling me your name, small one?" He replied, offering me his very big pale hand.
"Echo, my name's Echo." I told him and took his hand.
"Would you like to walk with me, Echo? I enjoy walking through the woods, but I think I would enjoy the company of a sweet girl as well." He told me. I smiled.
"Okay, Tall Man." I told him, he closed his hand around mine.
"Now you never answered my question, Echo. Why are you out here alone?" He asked as we started to walk through the woods. I looked up to his face.
"Mommy isn't feeling very well. Daddy asked me to come outside so she can get some quiet. She's having a baby, he's a boy and Mommy and Daddy named him Kenai, but he's giving Mommy problems." I told him. He looked down at me.
'He just sent you out by yourself? What if I hadn't been passing by? You would've been out here with a broken arm for hours before you were found." Tall Man told me. I frowned.
"It's okay. I- I don't really mind." I told him quietly Tall Man stopped, looking down at me. I returned his gaze.
"You don't care about your own safety, child?" He asked. I shook my head
"I never said that, Tall Man. I just didn't think that tree was that weak. Usually I don't climb weak trees. I just didn't know. Daddy didn't know I would get hurt. I didn't either. But thank you for saving me." I told him. He nodded.
"You're welcome, Echo."