AN: I'M SO SORRY D: I HAVEN'T UPDATED THIS FOR A WEEK. Last week was one horrible mass of homework, bad internet connection, and people hogging computers. Not to mention I'm locked out of my ipod because iOS 7 needs to step up its game and not go all buggy.

Anyways.

I do not own Slenderman, Der Großmann, or The Operator.

Reviews to me are like chocolate to chocoholics. That speaks for itself.

Chapter 7

By this time we already were drifting away from what seemed like heaven on Earth. The sun lowered while we had our little talk. There were more clouds, making me wonder if there was going to be rain later in the day. I absent-mindedly picked a crimson red leaf from a low hanging branch. I held it in my hands, turning it and twirling it. When I felt a familiar gaze on me, I dropped the leaf letting it twirl down to the ground. I tuned to Slenderman and waited for him to speak.

Is that the real color of your eyes?

"Uh… what?" I ask, caught off guard at the question, "My eyes?"

Yes, your eyes. They're a shade of green I haven't seen in human eyes before.

"Well, yeah, they're natural," I answer, "I got them from my dad!"

They're a beautiful shade of green. They remind me of the pine trees close by. You got them from your dad, you say? You seem proud of the fact.

"I am," I confirm, smiling brightly, "I also got my hair from my dad too. So, no, I didn't dye it. Au naturel."

You admire your dad.

"You're right, I admire him a lot. He is a wonderful guy and an even better father. Well, he was."

Truth is, I still do admire him. I know he abandoned my mother and me. I know that he took his work more seriously than his family. And yes, I know that he rode off in his car, never to be seen again, at least not wanting to. Some people would automatically hate their father if he was to do that, but I can't. It has been so recent that I can't abhor him. I still love him, and although he might not love me anymore, despite his strong traitorous act, he will always be on my mind and in my heart. That might sound a little cheesy, but there's no other way of saying it.

Slenderman seemed a little uncomfortable with the "he was" statement, yet he decided to leave it alone. There's an awkward silence between us right now, making me shift from one leg to the other. I'm not the best conversation starter, but I'll try something.

"So…"

So.

Well that went well.

I take a moment to observe the abnormal qualities of Slenderman. A lot of questions really do come to mind when I see him. My brain is overloading with all the curiosity I have. Other than his appearance, his personality, the way he acts, it's just so… unnatural. That is, unnatural comparing him to humans. He has an air of mystery. An aura of the unknown. I can't explain it in thoughts, much less words, but it's like he is from a different universe. Almost alien. For all I know, he could be.

You're staring at me again.

"Huh?" I mumble, acting like an idiot. Dang thoughts rambling again.

You're giving me the same look from before.

"I was lost in my thoughts. Problem?"

I wasn't accusing you of anything.

"Yes you were! Don't lie, you said I was staring at you."

That's not accusing.

"According to… The Rules Of The Universe! It is."

Again with those rules of yours.

"Don't disrespect the Rules Of The Universe. They are the ultimate rules that have ever existed. Ever. Period, end quote."

They're only rules you have been making up. But let's not get off topic. Is it another question about my appearance? Does it really bother you that much?

"N-no! I'm just super curious. All right, here's my question. How old are you?"

How old am I?

"I'm pretty sure that's what I said."

I don't know.

"C'mon, just give me a general number. Or something. Just give me something to work with here."

I lived for a very long time, compared to humans of course. Perhaps, a few centuries? Possibly longer.

I blink. And blink again.

"Wait… what?! A few centuries? You're old! Like, ancient! Older than ancient! Woah!"

Therefore, you should respect your elders. Not those silly rules of yours.

"First of all, it's the Rules Of The Universe. Second, give me a break. That doesn't give you a right to bully me all you want and me not being able to defend my self as a pathetic human."

You're making it sound more dramatic than it is. And no, I will not be bullying you as you say.

"But you do! You call me a little human! That's bullying because it hurts my feelings, you know! That's lowering my self confidence."

If that hurts your feelings, then I don't know what wouldn't.

"Now you're really bullying me. In purpose."

Sounds like you're being sensitive.

"Sensitive? Nah, I'm tough. Tough as nails. I'm like superman, because I'm made of steel. Bulletproof."

What happened to all the 'you hurt my feelings' episode?

"You're just making things up now. My feelings were hurt? Puh-lease. Yeah right."

You don't make sense.

"And neither do you."

Oh, I do make sense, your little human mind just can't comprehend it.

"Now you're calling my mind little? That's a bit unfair, am I right? What about you? Judging by the size of your head, your mind doesn't look much bigger than mind."

Incorrect. I don't rely on a measly organ to control my thought process. I don't need such things. My body can do fine without those.

"Because you're all supernatural," I interrupt him, "I get it. You don't have to stuff it in my face. Geez."

I'm sorry, have I hurt your feelings again, Miss Tough As Nails?

"Oh snap, Mr. Respect Your Elders just got sassy. Watch out everyone!"

An exhausted sigh echoes in my head as Slenderman's shoulders slouch a little.

You tire me, little one.

"Oh yeah? Well you tire me!"

Right after that went out my mouth I swear he gives me a look that says "Yeah right." That kind of look like when people lift one of their eyebrows. The one my mother gave me when I left home. My stomach clenches up at that flashback. What was up with her? Why did she start acting as grumpy as she did? I frown on the inside, but it must have shown in the outside too, because Slenderman tilted his head. I can feel his deep concern for me.

Are you okay?

"Yes."

No you're not.

"Then why did you bother asking?" I snap at him.

Silence.

I now realize that I probably yelled at him too harshly, and I feel bad. Guilt gnaws at my insides.

Andrea.

My eyes widen as Slenderman calls me by my name. I tilt my head until I can see his head, which is really high.

I'm going to ask for your permission for this.

"For… what?"

Something deep inside is troubling you, and it is concerning me. You don't have to permit me, but I wish to look in your mind to comprehend what is going on.

It takes a moment for my mind to take in what he's saying. Not to mention the seriousness of his tone. I contemplate this with myself. Do I really trust him? I… do. I really do. Despite the fact that we just met last night, I trust him. Sure, he reminds me a lot like my dad, but it's more than that. He's like a friend I had my whole life. A trustworthy one. So with that, I simply nod, not saying a word. Until a question pops in my mind.

"Will it hurt?"

No, you'll just feel my presence in your mind. In fact, you already felt most if my presence in your mind.

When I think about it, I realize he's right. When I felt the concern from him, it wasn't in the form of words. Our mental connection is so strong that I began to feel what he feels. I nod again.

He nods in response, and with that, he starts reading my mind. Literally. Like a book. And now, there's suddenly a different conscious in my mind. It's roaming around in my brain, going through my mental files. Trust is the keyword here. It takes a lot of trust to let him go ahead and read my life story. Out of the blue, memories flash in my head. There's my father, first the smiling one, the one that would give hugs and kisses to my mother and me. There's my mother too, the one who still wore her studded heels and her shiny jewelry. But then, the bad memories start. The laptop. The graying hair. The baggy eyes. It only takes a turn for the worse. The pills. The fights. The divorce papers. The car driving away. My mom's lifeless face.

My face is like as if the Hoover Dam broke. The waterworks keep on flowing. I can taste my salty tears streaking down my face. My sobs are silent, but my violently shaking shoulders give it all away. However, when a certain memory appears. I focus on it.

My tearful run to the woods replay in my mind as I relive the moment. Pretty soon, there's Slenderman, offering his hand to me. The thoughts pour out so fast I can't even process them properly. Chat. River. Koi. Teleport. Letter. Woods. Home. Mother. Vomit. Glare. Woods. Oak. Leaves. Slenderman. Waterfall. Rainbow. Perfect…

I'm back in the present. I'm still crying. My heart rate increased so much, it's like if I just ran for miles. My breaths are just gasps desperate for air. My body is trembling, limbs shaking. The blood rushes down, away from my face, probably turning it the same shade as Slenderman. These thoughts were too much. My head is buzzing. Ears are ringing. Vision is blurring. Slenderman… saying something? What are you saying? Hello? I can't hear you. Can you hear me?

Dark.