Buried Memories (Slendy FanFic)

Preface

I walk slower and slower, trying to find my way through the maze of fallen trees and rotting brush. I want nothing more than to be home, wrapped in the security of my bed. If only I could be so lucky.

"Toby," I call out. That damn dog! He isn't anywhere to be found; I swear he lives only to infuriate me. Man's best friend? Where'd they get that one from? I could strangle whoever came up with the phrase, because in the case of Toby, it's a lie and nothing more.

I sigh miserably. The leaves are falling, though it seems as I move further and further into the forest, they became less and less. Not falling, fallen. I shiver and stop dead in my tracks. Now that I look, really look, I see what an understatement that had been. It had, before I came looking for Toby, been a beautiful day. Upper seventies with a gentle breeze. But here, in the middle of the woods surrounding our small town, it's completely different. I breathe in the air, which had once warmed my lungs, causes me to choke in pain. It's freezing. If I didn't know any better, I would say it's winter. I look to the ground. A steady, slow frost is creeping over the decaying leaves and browning moss. It exactly matches my theory, but how can that be?

I shake my head. "Don't be scared. There's no reason to be scared." But I hate being alone.

I clench my fists in anger and want to call out for Toby, but something stops me.

Shadows begin to lean out and tower over the ground. The sun is now completely out of view and the trees are blocking any remaining light from getting through. But… I look up. There's nothing but bare limbs and… more frost. How can that be? There's not a cloud in the sky and yet…

It's almost mesmerizing how this is happening.

I jump and turn in every direction. I have a feeling-

"No," I whisper to myself so only I can hear. "Nothing's wrong. It's just…" I trail off. What is it? I can't say. I have an idea, but it refuses to form in my head.

The shadows continue to grow longer and taller as still more light is shunned by the forest. It's like a void, sucking away all the light and warmth.

I look up again, nothing but…

My mind grows weary and I can't remember what I was doing or why I'm standing here. I can feel the cold slowly creeping down my back, sending chills throughout my body and causing me to turn around. I search and pray that I find nothing but the silence of the afternoon, but I can't remember.

I can feel tears building in my eyes, but I force them back in hopes that I haven't lost it and its only shadows playing tricks on my eyes. But, it's not just the shadows.

My head twists from left to right. Searching and searching. Nothing.

I hear a bark in the distance and suddenly remember the reason I came. Toby!

I try to call out for him again. I know now that he's out here and hope builds inside of me. False hope.

I try again and again to call for him, but what little sanity I have left at the moment doesn't allow me. I purse my lips. I'm better than this. Toby always comes back. I didn't have to come here, to this place. And, Why, I thought. Why had I traveled so far? I can't answer my questions and my fears only worsen. I wish I hadn't remembered why I was here. Then maybe I wouldn't be so… afraid.

~~

The leaves rustle around me. I want to run and hide, but my feet are like lead. I can't move, though I so badly want to. I can't and I don't know why. I try to scream and call out for help, but nothing passes my lips. Now I really want to cry, but the tears that clouded my vision moments ago are long gone.

~~

Minutes pass and the sky continues to grow darker and the shadows longer. I shake where I stand and resolve to stay where I'm at till the "storm", or what I hoped to be a storm, passes over. That's a mistake.

~~

Barking hits my ears just as the thought passes through my mind. This time it's closer. Toby! , I think happily. A smile spreads across my face, but doesn't last. I don't think I'll ever smile again.

Toby's barking quickly turns to yelps and cries of pain. My eyes widen in horror and it's all I can do not to break down on the spot. As if the invisible restraints would yield and allow me to move.

Fear is growing inside of me as I look into the shadows for Toby. Nothing. I listen harder for more cries, but I'm greeted only with silence. A ringing silence.

I listen still harder and think I hear something. Yes, I definitely hear something. Like breathing… slow breathing. It sounds as distant as the moon at first but gradually comes closer and quickens, slowly becoming a rumbling. I hear another cry, though this time it's not Toby.

I stiffen and can feel my nails dig into the side of my legs. The screaming isn't far off and it's a girl's voice; a blood-curdling scream.

I try to take a step forward. I try to make myself move. Maybe I can save the girl. I pinch myself. Maybe this is just a dream, a really bad dream. No; it's real. Too real.

I close my eyes, hoping Toby and the girl will appear out of the shadows as if it's all a joke. Some joke. Some cruel, sick joke.

I start to hear laughter. A laughter that digs its way inside me and stays there. It clouds my mind. It's all I can think. Laughter. It surrounds me.

I keep my eyes closed as long as I can, fearing what I'll see if I re-open them. I take a deep breath and brace myself. I can't keep them closed forever, no matter how much I want to. The laughter continues and my eyes flash open. I want to get the Hell out of this place.

Yet, nothing happens.

I close and re-open my eyes again. Maybe something went wrong. It's a foolish thought. Childish, but maybe.

I open my eyes. The woods have lightened a good bit and the cold isn't threatening to consume me any longer. The laugher and screaming is gone and the shadows are receding. I stare at them; they're so long… and slender.

My heart stops as I realize one shadow still stands. It's not like any of the others. This one is unique.

I lock eyes with the shadow. It's black like the others, but it's taller by great lengths, at least twelve feet from what I can tell. The shadow has legs. Long, skinny legs that seem to perfectly match that of its arms and it's eerie, skeletal fingers. It's the shadow of a man.

I pause, expecting to be scared, but no longer feel anything. Maybe my adrenaline has finally set in, or maybe I'm too frightened to feel anymore. Or maybe it's both.

My heart pounds. Yes, I can feel the adrenaline. I take a deep breath, steadying myself, relaxing… I look up wearily, not knowing what to expect, but wanting the nightmare to end as quickly as possible.

My eyes are met with only shattered leaves.

I return my gaze to the shadow of the slender man, but it's no longer there. My eyes hadn't played tricks on me. I know what I saw. Someone had been there, only feet away from me. Someone… or something. I couldn't tell. Whatever it was, it's no longer there.

The wind blows and the light shines through the forest once more. The air is warm again, but I can't shake the feeling of someone watching my every move. I fear for Toby and wonder, Will I ever see him again? And the girl… her scream had sounded so familiar.

I look up one last time to make sure I'm alone and catch my eyes on a now illuminated patch of leaves some ten feet away. I can't make out the shape at first but slowly it comes to me and soon enough, it's plain as ever: a circle with an x running through it.