::Summary::
Ecterina is a simple girl with a rare illness... She prepares for the worst until a faceless man gives her an offer- but does the catch leaver better off than her precious fate? (Rated T for Language)
-Pre-story info-
Ecterina: means "innocent" Greek.
Dendritic cells (DCs): are immune cells that form part of the mammalian immune system. Their main function is to process antigen material and present it on the surface to other cells of the immune system, thus functioning as antigen-presenting cells. Named after the long slender appendages that sprout off the cell. They can be used as treatment towards Cancer and other diseases.
-Dendritic-
The boy sobbed against my shoulder and his body weight began to feel heavier. I had been running for a good couple of minutes and the Tall man wasn't far behind me. Every so often he would appear in my path of travel, forcing me to turn. I was beginning to have a hard time breathing; my heart was aching from over working.
I was sure he kept me within a certain area due to the fact I passed over previous footsteps. I finally made a break away from the forest entity and slid over into a very small inlet under a large tree. If I wasn't scared for my life I would have enjoyed my hiding place, but I was sure this thing was out for blood.
"What is your name?" I asked the small boy who still clutched to me. He shivered harshly and peered up to me with large green eyes.
"Brady..." I noticed he had a weird way of speaking, like a speech impediment.
"Where is your home Brady?" I smoothed his hair.
He sniffled before replying "Galway…"
I wrinkled my brow, "Where is that?"
The worry in Brady's small frame caused him to continue crying "Ireland."
How the in san hell did he get here all the way from Ireland?! I was surprised the Tall man could teleport with passengers- as well as such a far distance.
"The man offered to play a game with me, he wanted to play hide and seek..." He sobbed again after realizing what a stupid thing he had done by accepting to go somewhere with a stranger.
"Well I'll get you to safety, Brady." I cradled his head and let out a breath.
"Do you p-promise?" he held up a stumpy pinky.
I gulped heavily "Yes, I promise." I wrapped my boney pinky finger around his.
A strange noise filled the air... it was barely audible, like a low hum and buzz. I felt dazed for only a moment before shaking back to reality.
He was close.
I cringed and held Brady close, his ginger hair contrasting against my pale fingers yet reminding me of the blood on my hand.
The hand that had been healed; my mind began to wander about how selfish it would be to give this boy up.
I shook my head- No! What the hell is wrong with you, Ecterina?! My conscious screamed. I was brought back to the world when Brady's whimper came from my shoulder.
A small black object moved in my peripheral and I saw one of the Tall man's tendrils snaking its' way under the tree. With a quick movement I scrambled with the little Irish boy out from under the tree and bolted away from the thickened static.
The entity was so incredibly close that the atmosphere caused my sight to black out, I knew I was running away because soon my sight returned and the static lightened.
I crashed through ferns and underbrush almost falling multiple times. Brady let out a shriek from over my shoulder and I covered his eyes.
"Don't look at him!"
Ecterina! His voice boomed behind me like a cannon and I attempted to dodge the power behind it.
Bring him to me!
"Never!" I screamed back.
Have it your way... He appeared in front of me and I slid to a stop, falling back and dropping Brady.
I have lost my patience.
Static exploded into the air and my vision scrambled and twisted. My equilibrium spun and my body convulsed. I hauled over and my stomach purged out of my throat onto the forest floor.
"Ecterina! Help!" I heard the boy's voice call and I attempted to look for him but my vision blurred and continued to twirl. I attempted to stand but fell against a tree, my mind not knowing where the sky was.
Stay down, human. Came a snarl and my mind exploded again; accompanied by a sharp shot to the heart. I let out a cry in agony, gripping onto the bark tightly.
"Leave him alone!" I screamed out to the Tall man, my voice cracking into the highest pitch.
I heard the boy cry out again.
"Ecterina!" he began another sob and I saw a blurred figure being lifted.
My ears rang and different tones threatened my eardrums to burst. However my mind cleared just enough for me to ripped the boy away from the tendrils.
He screamed again and pulled on my arms.
My vision went black I ran in a disoriented path, completely unsure of where I was going. My legs went numb but I kept trying to move. My breath hitched in my throat and feeling returned at the sound of my name again. My vision returned and my heart sank when I took in my response.
I had been standing still, directly outside of where we had hid under the tree.
I had my arms held out with Brady on display to the Tall Man.
"Ecterina you promised!" He screamed, his voice was shrill as the tendrils pulled him away.
"NO!" I moved to jump for him but a black tentacle pushed against my forehead; my eyes felt glued open.
Move and I'll make you kill him for me.
"YOU BASTARD!" I screamed, tears brimming my eyes, however I didn't move an inch.
The entity's chuckle made me shiver and what I came to witness next truly horrified me.
The Tall man brought Brady closer- within three feet and locked a gaze with him.
Instantly the worst noise you could ever hear cracked through air.
It was Brady's blood curdling scream;
Tears poured down my cheeks.
The boys eyes where swallowed by his pupils and his veins raised to the surface, turning black as well.
His voice cracked and croaked to a hollowed gasping.
He struggled and squirmed but couldn't for much longer as his skin turned grey and began to flake off like ash.
More hollowed screams went unnoticed by anyone other than myself.
The ashen skin flowed and swirled into black then disappeared against the void of the Tall man's suit.
The tissue covering the boy's throat disintegrated and a stream of red ash flowed into the Tall man's tie- deepening the color.
Finally the canvas white face craned down to eye level with the boy. The entity's eye sockets turned charcoal grey then back.
With a final blast Brady's eyes disintegrated and the last of his soul was sucked into the black holes on the Tall ones face.
As the ash absorbed into the being, the boy's body shriveled until the bones crumbled into sand onto the ground.
The tentacle pressed against my forehead released its spell and I could finally close my eyes.
I felt my body go limp and I fell unconscious upon hitting the forest floor...
When my eyes opened I was alone in that same colorless house.
The midnight moon hung high and spilled in the only form of light. I didn't dare sit up.
I knew I wasn't really alone.
Human. His voice boomed, obviously outraged by my behavior.
When my mouth opened I didn't scream. There was no snide remark.
I just cried.
My eyes emptied and I curled into fetal position upon the old oak floor.
He however, did not move from his seat in an old leather chair. His overly long legs stretched out and crossed over one another at the ankles. He looked like a disciplining father with the way his arms where crossed and his perfect posture.
I continued my sobs until I couldn't breathe.
A tendril wrapped around my wrist and I was drug over across the floor, catching the dust on my clothes.
The black appendage re-wrapped around my torso and once around my mouth to keep me quiet.
If you had been my Proxy you would have not witnessed tonight's previous occurrences. He snarled I wouldn't even have had to exert the energy into those hallucinations so that you would stop resisting.
A mumbled whimper came from my throat.
I have everything in my right mind to kill your family due to your actions…
My eyes widened and my heart pained.
-and have you be the witness. He craned down to me, However- agree to become my Proxy now and I will spare their feeble instances.
I struggled and I was thrown to the floor then quickly scrambled to sit up.
By interrupting this creature's hunt I had done nothing well- I gave him the boy, threatened my family's safety and now I did not even have the choice he had kindly given me.
I swallowed and balled my fists,
"Okay I'll do it!" my voice cracked.
His brow raised expectant for me to say the whole phrase.
"I'll-" I gulped then exhaled, my lungs wheezing.
"I'll be your proxy..."
Hey guys!
Sorry for no warning on the death earlier! i just didn't want to ruin anything~
this will sound horrible- but i am pleased with how i described Slender "consuming" someone.
anyway! Sorry for the cringes and such!
p.s. Brady means "Spirited" (Irish origin) if anyone caught the ironic symbolism there...
~FurrReal