AN: Thank you sooo much to everyone who viewed this story, especially those who reviewed! Didn't want to keep you guys waiting, so here's the next chapter. Reviews are very much appreciated :)
Chapter 2
Hand in hand, this mysterious man and me walk to an unknown location. Well, at least for me. He knows where he's going. I see it in his stride, the way he walks with purpose. Out of the corner of my eye I look at his long, spindly legs take one step after another. On the other hand, I have to walk briskly if I want to keep up with this lumbering giant. The sound of my quick petite steps accompanies the sound of his slow, graceful ones.
The cold air nips at whatever exposed skin I have while my breath comes out in little puffs. Although he lacks a coat to keep himself warm, the man doesn't look cold in the slightest. As my small hand grips his much larger one, I notice he isn't either warm or cold. It's more of a… neutral temperature. He probably has gotten used to temperatures as low as these for such a long time, and eventually adapted, I conclude. He doesn't even look like a human anyways, most likely isn't one. He looks more like an oversized mannequin. The corners of my lips slightly curl up as I try to imagine him in that mall my mother and me always went to.
I think suddenly of my mother weeping back in our tiny baby blue house. Is she still crumpled up on the worn out sofa, crying like there was no tomorrow? The image of the used tissues spread around her flashes to my mind. Perhaps she has gone to sleep already. Of course, if she were to sleep she would have done so on the couch. Ever since the day my father drove away, never to be seen again, my mother hasn't stepped in the room they once shared. One thing I know for sure is that she isn't worrying over me. In fact, she probably hates me, because I look so much like my father. She must not care at all for my well being, so I'm on my own now.
Speaking of my wellbeing, I should be wondering by now why am I going along with this strange, yet majestic man. I guess I'm so comfortable around him and even admire him because he reminds me a bit of my father. I bite my inner cheek at the depressing thought that he isn't around anymore. I glance over at his fancy clothes once more, before looking up at the blank canvas that makes up his head. I tilt my head to the side at the comparison between my father and the well dressed one.
There's a similarity already. My father always dressed properly, as if he always had some important event to attend. Even if we were doing something as simple as eating out, and I'm talking about something like a fast food restaurant, he would wear something overly formal. He had a collection of dress shirts with dress pants to go along, several suits, and a wide assortment of ties, including a red one that looks just like the one the tall man is wearing now.
Speaking of height, my father was very tall himself. Of course, not as tall as the man beside me, who isn't even human to begin with. My father's height, 6'11", gave him an aura of power. He looked like royalty, a king taken out of a children's storybook. Perhaps that's why I felt like a true princess when he picked me up and spun me around, my small frame shaking from all my giggling.
The sound of bubbling from a stream interrupted my train of thought as I felt Mr. High and Mighty stop his elegant form of walking. Feeling his gaze on me, I look up at where his eyes would have been. I imagine real eyes instead of indents, and I can't help but imagine them the same shade of green as my dad's.
I'm guessing he was trying to grab my attention, because as I was looking at him, his arm lifted up, and one bony finger pointed towards the stream. I try to find specifically where the finger is pointing. All I see is rocks and a few underwater plants. Out of the blue, flashes of orange and red appear. I look closely, the moonlight as my only source of light, until I realize there are fish in the water. And not just any fish, but Koi, the types of ones that would swim around in the fish tank at my father's favorite Chinese restaurant. Another wave of sadness hits me, but I quickly shake it off. I stare in awe at the Koi, giant fish to go with the giant of the woods. They're not native here, however I assume he brought them here.
I can feel his gaze on me again, so I observe the scaled beauties for a moment more, then turn my sight to the silent mystery of a man. He tilts his head, as if contemplating to do something, focusing his gaze somewhere else. He then turns to me.
I have been called the Slenderman.
My eyes widen in surprise, not processing what he just said. "Um, e-excuse me?"
Slenderman.
My mental gears finally start turning after this revelation. I nod slowly, my eyes staring intently at him.
What is your name?
"My name…?" I say, not focusing entirely on the question because I'm too busy attempting to come up with a logical explanation on how we're communicating until I realize there is none. At least there is no human logic that can explain this.
He nods slowly, mimicking my previous actions, as if to say, "Who else's?"
"Ah! My name. Andrea. Andrea Castillo." I say quickly, to relive some of my personal awkwardness. When I said my dad is like royalty, I really did mean it. Our last name means "castle" in Spanish. When I was little, he told me how we were destined for riches, and how we would have our own palace and kingdom. I guess that was just another fairy tale.
Andrea.
The man, Slenderman was what he said he was called, said my name slowly, as if to test out the feeling of pronouncing someone else's name. Now over my previous shock, I listen closely to the sound of his voice. It has deep tones as if showing off masculinity, yet is soft and smooth. Like… a hushed whisper.
My pleasure to meet you, Andrea.
I smile. He's a true gentleman. "Nice to meet you too… Slenderman."