Neither one of us realized how short-lived our joy would be. We returned to my home with the intention of chilling online for the majority of what was left of the day. I went to my room to retrieve my laptop and got online. Out of habit, I went to Facebook to see what was new. I found a lot of missed messages from Nicholas. I hadn't been online since Leslie had been here, and he was starting to get concerned. I was typically quiet punctual in responding to him.
Up until then, I hadn't considered how my impending death would effect him and the others around me. How would he react once I'm gone? He was already freaking out after a few days. It would soon be the rest of his life. I couldn't possibly tell him what was happening. Even if I said what was going on, he'd never believe me. He already thought I was irrational, that I had a tendency to overreact. This would just start a fight.
Then again, maybe I should start a fight. Maybe I should go ahead and end things between us. Keep him from getting hurt. It'd be easier on him; he'd feel less pain when he learned I was gone. It made me sad to know I'd never see him again.
Leslie saw my eyes begin to water and my mood plummet.
"Whats wrong?" she asked, concern in her voice.
"Nicholas sent me some messages," I said, voice cracking.
"Don't tell me he's trying to pick a fight again. He needs to stop being so selfish and actually think about the person who actually cares about him. I swear, he treats you like dirt sometimes," she growled.
"Well for the record, I've done my fair share of bitching," I chuckled, smiling through my tears. "No, he was getting worried since I haven't said anything in a few days. It's got me thinking about once we're gone. I won't see him again. I'll never hear his voice again. It's all over, and I don't even have a say about it."
"Oh, honey, I'm sorry. I wish there was something I could do for you. I would stop this if I could," she said, pity filling her voice.
I wiped my tears and pulled myself up straight. I hated for people to pity me. I never wanted people to feel sorry for me.
"Yeah, well, he can do better anyway. Besides, maybe I can find some hottie in the afterlife," I smirked, nudging her ribs.
"Yeah, maybe," she laughed, " but dibs on the emo one!"
"Deal!" I giggled.
I decided to make some popcorn and we spent the next few hours having a Lord of the Rings marathon. It's true that those movies are ridiculously long, but we were both total geeks at heart. It wasn't till 12:30 the next morning when we finally finished.
I removed the disk from the DVD player and turned off the television. Leslie stretched and yawned. Leslie curled up on the couch and pulled a blanket over her.
"Leslie, we need to get ready for bed," I said.
"But I don't want to," she moaned sleepily. "I'm too tired to get up."
"You have to get up," I told her. "I have to keep an eye on you, remember?"
"Come on Megan. Can't we just give in? What's the point in fighting?" she whined.
"The point is to last as long as we can," I asserted firmly. "I don't know about your mindset, but I have no intention to let him win so easily. If the Slender Man wants my life and soul, he's going to have to fight me for it."
"Well, I'm just going to stay here," she yawned. "He can just have me. I don't care anymore."
My fists clenched and my face contorted in rage. I stalked over to her and drug her from the couch.
"Well, I care," I growled in irritation,"and if I have anything to say about it,you're going to bed. End of story. Now, come on!"
"Why should I listen to you?" Leslie shouted. "You pulled a knife on me earlier. Why should I believe you have any more sense than I do?"
"Well, I certainly have enough sense to know that you shouldn't stay out here by yourself!" I argued.
"Then stay out here with me. You don't have to leave me alone in here. We can stay out here together," she proposed.
"But I won't be able to protect you as well," I said.
"You can protect me out here just as well as you can protect me in there," she argued stubbornly.
I sighed and hung my head in defeat.
"All right," I caved. "I'll stay out here with you."
I managed to succeed in getting Leslie to get ready for bed. Our rounds had become almost routine the past few days. Once again, we brushed our teeth, used the bathroom, and put on night clothes. I let her sleep on the couch. I went around the house and made sure all of the doors were locked tight before taking my place on the loveseat. I tried to stay awake so I could keep an eye on Leslie, but I was so exhausted. I hadn't slept hardly at all that week, and the little sleep I had was disturbed by horrid dreams and images of the Slender Man and knives covered in blood and various other horrifying images. I couldn't help myself. I passed out. It was two in the morning.
I woke up to the television being turned on. It wasn't turned to any particular channel. It was just a static background hissing white noise. Odd since I distinctly remembered turning everything off before falling asleep. I sat up and looked around the room. The lights were all turned on and the digital clocks were all set to twelve o'clock. I picked up my phone to see what time it really was. I dropped my phone in terror when I saw the screen. The background was black with the word "kill" written in capital letters all across the screen.
My head jerked toward the couch, praying for Leslie to still be sleeping there. She was gone.
"Shit! I knew I shouldn't have let her stay out here," I cursed, panicked.
I leapt to my feet and beagn to search around the house frantically. I called out for her, but like I expected, there was no answer. I came to the front door and saw that the door was ajar.
"Oh, no!" I moaned in despair.
I grabbed a flashlight from a cabinet in the kitchen and dashed through the door. I looked all through the yard, not really expecting to find her there. When she was nowhere to be seen, I left the neighborhood and headed directly into the forest. I figured if I was to find her anywhere, it would be there.
I stumbled along the ground, barely able to keep my footing on the hilly terrain. I shined my flashlight all over the place,begging to see even the tiniest glimpse of my friend. I called out for her constantly, praying that I would receive some sort of response. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let her escape so easily, if I let the Slender Man possess her mind without a fight.
"Leslie, where are you?!" I shouted for what seemed like the thousandth time.
Then, I felt a glimpse of hope. Something in front of me reflected off of the light from my flashlight. It was seen hardly a moment; the common eye would have missed it. I froze in place, half scared and half hopeful.
"Leslie," I forced through my lips. "Is that you?"
I saw another glimpse of something reflective. It looked like her blonde hair. I heard leaves rustle and twigs snap. Then, Leslie stepped out from behind a tree.
"Leslie!" I shouted joyously. "I'm so glad I found-" I stopped mid-sentence. She was hovering threateningly, my knife clutched tight in her fist and a maniacal grin on her face. I had completely forgotten to take my knife back the other day. How could I have been so stupid to forget? She began inching closer to me.
"Leslie, what are you doing?" I asked, voice quivering in fear. She kept getting closer. "Leslie, stop!" I screamed. She raised her knife threateningly, still coming closer. I turned and ran.
I sprinted away as fast as I could, stumbling over fallen branches and loose rocks. I could hear her closing the distance between us. I gathered my energy in an attempt to run faster, stretching my legs as far as they would go. I glanced behind me and saw her only a few yards away. I turned back around and yelped in shock and pain as I ran into a tree. I fell backwards and landed flat on my back. I attempted to scramble to my feet but she was on me before I had the chance. She kicked me in the stomach, causing me to curl up in pain. She kicked my face and stomped on my nose, shattering the bone. She sat on my chest, pinning my hands with her left hand and holding the knife to my throat with her right. She reared back and stabbed my left shoulder, digging down to its hilt. I howled in pain, trying in a vain attempt to shove her off.
"Why, Leslie?" I gasped though gritted teeth.
She sat on me and continued to smile with that same maniacal grin stretched across her face. She bent down to my face, staring through to my core with eyes filled with malevolence, and whispered in a voice far from human, "Her soul is mine."
She twisted the blade, still embedded in my flesh, causing me to scream out again. My vision grew dark, my consciousness fading. I felt Leslie roll off of me, her consciousness gone. I forced my eyes open and saw the Slender Man hovering over me. I stopped fighting then. I was too tired; I was in too much pain. He could have me. Then, darkness.