So Close Yet So Far

I'm not even going to say anything about me being late so just read and enjoy!

I squinted my eyes and ducked my head as the bright light shone on my face harshly, "How about you let me know you're turning that on first so that my eyes don't burn out." I got no response but a strong hand gripped me around the throat menacingly, hot breath fanning over my face as he leaned in close with an evil grin. "I think you've lost the right to an opinion at this point my dear." I glared at him with malice and resentment as he backed away and sat in a chair opposite from mine, his leg bouncing agitatedly while he questioned me. "So how did you find out? That new little friend of yours, Loren? Or is that not her real name?"

The way he spoke to me sounded like he had nothing but hate for me stored and it was being released through his words, but none the less it did not faze me as I responded in a slightly arrogant tone. "As a matter of fact, no, she didn't. And it's really none of your business if that isn't her real name." "Oh but it is my dear for you see, I know who she is, and I have a nice score to settle with her and yourself. One that will require bloodshed to repay." I could detect a sorrowful tone creeping into his words and his one good eye looked off to the side to scan the wall distractedly, as if he was seeing something that he remembered. Even though he disgusted me at this point I still couldn't help but feel some pity for this broken man, what had happened to make him so twisted and cruel?

After a few minutes of silence and slight fidgeting as I tried to loosen the binds on my wrists but to no avail I decided to question what had happened, because I certainly couldn't remember for the life of me at this point and time. "What….what happened? Or what did we do to you to deserve this treatment?" He seemed to snap out of his daze enough to respond but I could tell by his facial expression that he still wasn't all the way here. "You don't remember?" "No, I don't remember some pieces here and there, so would you please tell me?" His eyes darted to look at me with a kind of pity and remorse but also anger and jealousy. "Fine, but I'm going back a bit before what happened since you can't remember. Maybe it will fix you. And it's not what you did too me….it's what you did to my brother. We had found you not that long ago and were happy to see a familiar face, you even let us stay at some cabin you had managed to lock down, but then when I tried to rekindle the relationship we had going before this started something…..revolting….was revealed to me. You had been spending time and had even grown to liking some disgusting abomination, a demon…..a monster."

I was surprised to see such hate change his features into a mask of anger and for a moment I almost forgot who I was talking to, but I snapped back to attention as he continued. "I was horrified that you had slipped into the grasp of that creature, and the first thought that slipped into my mind was that I had to get the hell out of there. I went to get Ia-my brother, but then I realized that I couldn't just leave you there, I couldn't let you get hurt by that thing. So I tried to talk to you, get you to come to your senses and leave with me, but instead, you just ignored my warnings and pretty much slapped me in the face. Being the nice person that you are you agreed to drive my brother and I to an abandoned house down the street even though a snow storm had just passed through but on the way there something happened and we crashed. I only remembered walking, bruised and bloody, to find you, Charlie, and my brother in a heap. I dragged us to the drive way of where you lived and left….but by then it was too late from my brother."

Once again he trailed off into silence and stared at the wall once more, not able to word what he was feeling at the moment. And all the while my mouth hung open slightly as I tried to comprehend what he had just told me. I was with that Tall man? Sure I really shouldn't have tried to drive in the snow but he couldn't really blame it all on Charlie and I could he? I tried to slowly reach forward and touch his now trembling hand to comfort him, I wasn't heartless and I knew when someone felt broken and hurt. "John….I'm sorry. But this isn't any way to fix it-""He was all I had left! My only family and it was your fault that he died!" I blinked a few times as I registered the slap he sent my way, it knocked me back and I would have fallen over if he hadn't grabbed my chair, but as soon as I realized why I wish he hadn't.

His fist connected with my face as if he had no regrets and I felt the warmth of fresh blood trickle down my face as my lips was busted. "All I ever wanted to do was care for you and you just threw it back at me every time, now it's my turn to deal out the pain." I lost count of how many times I was thrown around but after the third slap my chair finally did fall back, and just my luck that my head smashed into a rock that was behind me. My vision darkened a bit and I felt tears mix with my blood as I lay on my side and watch John walk out angrily, leaving me to bleed and suffer, but then I heard him say something loudly to someone outside. "Where is she John, you were the last one to see her!"

"She's unavailable at the moment, come back later." "You know what, no. I know you did something to her and you need to tell me now." Who was that, the voice was so familiar….Sam! I wanted so badly to scream for help but I couldn't force the words from my battered body as things got heated between them outside, "I am the leader in this camp Samuel, not you! It would be wise to remember that, now leave me." There was no retort this time and I wanted to cry as I listened to a set of footsteps slowly fade away and with them my hope, how was I going to help these people if I couldn't be helped myself?

The Slender man paced agitatedly across the living room floor as Charlie went to change and get her things together, she had only arrived about 10 minutes ago and told him that Orella remembered. His heart had beat with hope and happiness at hearing this but then her face had turned down into a mask of reluctance that had confused him. "She is okay is she not? She is not ill is she?" "No no nothing like that it's just….she remembers mostly everything but…." "But….?" He urged her on as patiently as he could even though he wanted to rush, she usually got a bit defensive whenever he tried to push her. "….Slender…..She doesn't remember who you are or who you are to her…..I'm sorry."

That was what hit him the hardest, after searching all this time he finally found her but everything was wrong. Would she even want to see him if she couldn't remember? And would she be frightened? But now was not the time for doubts so he put aside his fears and nodded slightly, not letting the sadness be heard in his voice as he spoke. "That's….that's ok. All that matters is that we get her back to safety with us, it is time to bring my lost hunter home." Charlie knew that there was a fire of determination burning within him and she felt equally eager, but she had to trust Orella and do what she had said. "We can't go just yet, she told me to wait until tomorrow night and meet her at the edge of the woods where she is. We have to trust her." He wanted so badly to protest and just ignore her completely, but he knew she was right so he grudgingly complied, but he had one thing that he would do no matter what. "Alright, I'll listen….but I am going to be there early…..just in case." Instead of rolling her eyes she actually smirked and nodded to his surprise, "I was just thinking the same, let's get ready."

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