Disclaimer: Once Upon a Time does not belong to me! All characters and references to the show belong to ABC and Channel 5
Well here it is, the promised final chapter of...
Urban Legends: Fairytale Style-Chapter 15
Slenderman
Captain Hook ran out of the Library, cursing the name of the Crocodiles little tart, he'd heard her talking on the strange device called a "Cell Phone" through the doors of the elevator and knew that, had she been calling Rumplestiltskin, he had seconds, and as much as he wanted to skin that man alive, he knew he was still no match for his magic.
He made sure to keep to the shadows on his way back to the docks where his beloved ship was hidden, the black of his clothing letting him blend into the darkness, though he'd thought he was busted when he hid in the alley of a diner and a young woman-and a gorgeous one at that, Hook noted-with smooth skin and dark hair came out, her hands filled with two trash bags. When she came close to the bin where Hook was crouched, peering at her discreetly, she tensed up, inhaled deeply, and started to walk around the bin. Hook held his breath, hook at the ready-
All at once, she paused, her eyes widened and her head whipped from side to side. All of a sudden she dropped the bags and ran out of the alley like the hounds of hell were after her!
Frowning, Hook stepped stepped out from behind the bin, his hook resting on the lid. What the hell was that about?
Deciding he didn't really care, he crouched low again, scanning the street until he could be sure it was safe.
And that was when he saw it, right across the road...
The second he set his blue eyes on...whatever it was, Hook knew he couldn't look away even if he tried, away from this thing, this thing that looked like a man but was not a man, this thing that looked to be eight feet tall with inhumanly long arms and legs, clothed in a black tuxedo, and it's face...where was it? There was nothing except a blank, thin oval of a head, and yet somehow it still seemed to be able to stare at the pirate, locking him in it's non-existent gaze that was almost...hypnotic...
Suddenly, a school bus sped past the street and Hook's sight was temporarily blocked. He blinked, raising his one hand to his head which was feeling strangely fuzzy. He took a deep breath so as not to fall over, what the hell...?
When he looked up at the street again, the thing had disappeared.
OUAT
Hook had been around a long time, he'd been in a lot of bad situations, and in some of those situations he had wanted nothing more than to kill someone. But this one? Where he was handcuffed to a bed, hookless, in agonising pain, and wearing an unflattering gown that didn't completely cover him? Yeah, he didn't want to kill anyone except himself right now.
Still, silver lining, at least he'd managed to strike a blow in the Crocodile's heart, making his beloved Belle go down like a light and making her loose her memory? The look on his face had been priceless! Even if he had been hit by a flying chunk of metal seconds after...
He had no idea what the time was, but he was guessing pretty late at night judging from the moonlight spilling across his bed, that and the pain in his broken ribs being what was still keeping him awake. With a groan, Hook turned his body away from the window and towards the shadowed door.
His eyes locked on the shadow, his whole body going ridged. His breath stopped in his throat, and on instinct he went to reach for something he could use as a weapon, but unable to because of the damned handcuffs!
It was back. The thing from the street was back! Standing in the shadowed corner next to the doorway right beside the sleeping form of another patient, and this time, black, liquid tentacles were sprouting from it's back and chest, flicking in the shadows. It took a step towards the pirate, the tentacles slithering towards him.
Hook swallowed, starting to tug on his restraint "What are you?!" he demanded as it came ever closer "What do you want?"
Still it moved closer to him, never giving him an answer, and Hook could only watch in horror as it stretched out a long hand towards him, and then he knew no more...
OUAT
When Hook woke up, he felt cold air on his skin and was lying on something uncomfortable. Groaning, he sat up, blinking in the darkness. He realised that his cuffed hand was free and leaned on it to push himself up. It wasn't until he felt something like leaves under his palm that he realised he was outside.
Looking up, Hook could see that he was surrounded by trees, moonlight shining through the small gaps in their leaves, branches shaking in the soft wind. He was in the woods.
And he was not alone.
The thing from the street and hospital walked out from behind one of the taller tree's, it's form visible even in the darkness, it's long, thin tentacles swarming around it's longer body. It's featureless face was on Hook, keeping him paralysed to the ground as it moved to his feet.
For a moment, there was only silence. Hook stared up at the creature, and the creature stared down at him, it's tentacles floating aimlessly in the air.
Then, without one second of warning, the tentacles became rigid and before Hook knew what was happening they had launched themselves at him, wrapping around his wrists, ankles and neck in a tight grip and pinning him to the ground, causing him cry out as he struggled.
"What the hell do you want from me, you bastard?!" he screamed. He didn't really expect it to answer-it had no mouth!-but when he heard a strange, gravelly voice float into his head, he could only assume it came from the slender creature. The voice was whispery, but sounded old and worn, as if it had come straight from the grave.
I have a question to ask you.
"What?" Hook snapped, but the thing didn't seem to acknowledge him, it's voice still whispering through his mind:
If you answer correctly, you will live. But I will break your arms and legs.
"What?!" Hook yelped again, struggling harder, but his bindings just tightened, simultaneously choking him and cutting off his bloodstream.
If you answer incorrectly, the creature continued, my hand will slide down your throat, and I will tear out your heart.
"What kind of a deal is that?!" he choked, crying out again when he felt the thin tentacles cut into his skin "Alright, alright!" he yelled, struggling to breathe "What's your question?!"
Hook was willing to bet that if the creature could've laughed, it would have. Instead, it arranged it's long frame so that it was leaning over Hook, so close that the flat surface it called a face was almost touching his, but no breath came from it's non-existent mouth. It was then that it asked it's gravelly question:
Do you fear death?
Hook stared at the monster, which was still right up in his face "Do I...what?" sudden anger rose in him, he tried to sit up but the tentacle around his neck was keeping him down "You prick! That's not a fair question! How can I get that right?!"
If you refuse to answer. You will die.
The creature's voice floated into his head again, and it lifted it's own as it leaned away from the captain. Out of the corner of his eye he saw it's long white hand move towards him, moving across the his body and towards his face.
When Hook felt it's cold touch graze his skin, he started to panic, feeling it's thick fingers moving up his neck and across his jaw. He pulled his head away, clamping his lips shut but the thing wasn't deterred. It's fingers dug into his jaw and his lips, forcing his jaw open with impossible strength. Hook became panicked, fear overtaking him, and it was with terror gripping his heart that he screamed his answer:
"YES!" he roared, and the hand paused "Yes, I fear death! I fear death! Are you bloody happy now?!"
Slowly, the hand withdrew, falling to the thin creature's side as it's body unfolded until it stood erect. It looked down at the Captain, the tentacles still tight on his body.
Correct.
Hook exhaled heavily, his eyes closing as he felt himself relax, his relief lasting about two seconds before he felt the tentacles around his wrists and ankles tighten, the creatures voice floating into his head as his crack.
And here, is your reward.
Hooks right arm snapped, and his first scream of the night was swallowed by the thick, dark forest.
OUAT
"I've never seen anything like it" said a very confused Doctor Whale to a blonde nurse "And you're sure no-one came in?" he looked down at the patient called Killian Jones, whose arms and legs wrapped in a thick gauze. The nurse nodded her head, equally bewildered.
"I'm positive. The other nurses told me that he woke up at dawn screaming his head off. When they came and found him...the bones in his arms and legs were completely pulverised" she looked down at the handsome patient, her hands folded over her stomach and her forehead creased in concern "He must've been in agony..."
Whale's gaze moved from the pirates bandages to his expression. It was true, the man did look somewhat...traumatised.
"And we're positive that Gold had nothing to do with this?" he asked, knowing Rumplestiltskin's vengeful nature. The nurse shook her head again, not taking her eyes off Hook.
"That's not the name he says"
Whale frowned at her "He says a name?" he asked her, and the nurse nodded.
"It's all he's been saying all morning. The doctors and nurses can't get anything else out of him!" she told the doctor, and Whale looked down at the injured man curiously.
"Well, what is it? This name?"
Biting her lip nervously, the young nurse turned her back to Hook, gesturing for Whale to come in closer, once he was close enough, she whispered one name into his ear:
"Slenderman"
Sorry guys, I couldn't kill him he was too pretty! Also, someone pointed out that Slender only goes after kids, but I looked it up on the web and the legend says that he will go after kids, AND anyone who's unlucky enough to spot him, much like poor Killian, lol.
This chapter is dedicated to Scarlet Phlame, who won my little question competition, without which this chapter would've been un-writable. So as promised, you get all the credit, Sweetie! Do with it what you will! (also can I just say, massive fan of your Once Upon a Time in Disneyland, every chapter cracks me right up) this chapter was so much fun to write, and I'm glad to end this fic with it. Thank-you for your generous reviews:
Marcie Gore, Reminder, Grace5231973, xoxphoenix10, Alitote, Samzi, Reanne100, sudoku, janeaustenite6, MsExpendable402, Guest, SirJacques, and last, but by no means least Scarlet Phlame. I hope you enjoyed the ride!