The Forest : Demons in the Mist

Chapter 4: Hunting Day

The nightmare started again.

I tried to wake myself up.
Believe me, I really tried, but the voice sent chills down my spine, freezing me in place.
I wanted to face whatever it was, hoping it was just one of those stories where I have to conquer some sort of emotional issue form the past.
Unfortunately for me, it was just my bad luck. This time, I could see Slender behind the trees, but every time I got close, he seemed to teleport farther and farther away. That was until I realized I was the one moving far away as I looked back and saw a demon covered in eyes and scars. He was looming over me, about to grab me with his sharp, clawed fingers. I curled myself into a defense position and screamed, immediately falling out of bed onto the floor, wrapped in the sheets. I kicked them off of me quickly, holding a hand to my chest as I was slowly catching my breath.
I looked outside and realized that the sun was starting to rise. I could hear laughter outside my window, figures running towards the mansion from the mist. I scrambled to the window and threw the doors open. I saw Toby with two others, the one in the yellow hoodie was a holding a bag that was dripping what I assumed to be blood, and the one in the white and black mask walking next to them.
Three more figures ran past them, knocking Toby over, one wearing a white, blood stained hoodie, one who looked like he was from a fantasy game and the other wearing a bloody, blue dress who was very far behind them. I looked around more and saw Jack, I was going to wave at him but noticed him being into something red and squishy. I pulled my hand back hesitantly and closed the window up.
What the hell happened last night?

I quickly changed into my sweatpants and raced downstairs to meet Toby. I almost tripped over myself on the way down, racing into the kitchen.
"Avaline!" Toby noticed me and raced over to give me a hug.
I blinked and giggled a bit, taken aback by the sudden affection.
"Hi Toby..." I smiled and hugged him gently back. "Where have you guys been?"
"Oh...oh we went on a hunt!"
"Ooo! What animals?"
"Actually," the figure in the yellow hoodie turned towards us, looking at me with a very tired expression. "We hunt humans."
I blinked a bit and stood there quietly.
"Y'know...I feel like I would be a bit more surprised, but Jack has no eyes, and everyone's kinda covered in blood."
"Wow thanks." Jack muttered under his breath.
"Who the hell is this??" Asked the man with the blood-stained, white hoodie. He was giving me a cold stare, following everyone else's as they noticed me in the room.
I stepped back and Toby wrapped an arm around me and pulled me to his side.
"This is Avaline!!" He said happily.
Everyone continued to stare in confusion as I sunk down towards the floor.
"Slender said she...she could stay here!"
Everyone slowly went back to their riches of meat and organs, the man in the white hoodie giving me one last look before talking to the girl in the blue dress.
"I have a feeling they...they don't like you too much." Toby said.
"You think...?" I asked nervously.
I noticed Jack was next to me, munching on what looked like a liver. I suck closer to Toby, covering my nose from the smell.
"Do you guys do this often..?" I asked.
Jack shrugged a bit. "We were low on stock."
"For who??"
"Everyone, duh." He looked in my direction and dangled a kidney in front of me. "Here's breakfast, get it while its fresh."
I turned pale from the stench and ran to the sink, vomiting. I heard everyone break into laughter, including Jack. Someone was rubbing my back gently and holding my hair back. I coughed a bit, blushing a bit from the embarrassment, leaning over the sink and turning the water on to drain the vomit out.
"Are you okay?" A feminine voice asked.
"I-i think so..."
I looked up and noticed it was the girl in the blue dress. Her black bangs covered her eyes but her smile radiated a friendly and caring personality. She handed me a napkin to wipe my mouth and placed a cup of water next to me.

She sat with me for a bit to make sure I was okay as everyone was starting to clear out. Jack left with the guy in the white hoodie, laughing.
"Hey Lulu! You coming with?" He called.
"No thanks." She said with a smile.
He looked over at me and frowned before leaving with Jack.
"Please don't tell me everyone eats organs..." I asked breathlessly.
"Oh no! Of course not, its mostly just Jack. Masky gets normal groceries all the time!"
"That ass-" I paused and took a deep breath and frowned, pouting slightly.
Lulu giggled and passed me the water.
"I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."
"You sure...?" I sipped the water. "One moment he's nice and then the next he's teasing me."
She shrugged a bit, smiling at me. I sat uncomfortably for a bit, just staring back at her.
"So Avaline."
"Yes...?"
"What brought you here?"
"I think Slenderman brought me here, I can't prove it, but I have a feeling that I was left in the woods by something and then brought here."
"Oh that happens every now and then." He doesn't always save every person he comes across"
"Do you have any idea why he chose me...?"
"Hmm...you do have a peculiar sent to you."
I raised my eyebrow a bit and sniffed myself, only smelling soap. She giggled hysterically and shook her head.
"No silly, humans and creatures have different scents that most people can't pick up. Yours is definitely human...but a little, how would I say this...off."
"Is that a bad thing...?"
"Depends, are you a spy infiltrating the mansion...?"
"I uh...I don't think so."
'Oh don't worry I was just messing with you." She smiled. "But its quite curious having you here..."
I sunk in my chair a bit. It was one question after the other, it was getting a bit ridiculous at this point.
"I should get going, Jeff is probably waiting for me." She stood up.
"Who's that? Wait who's Masky?? I'm just realizing I know no one..." I said with a dramatic sigh.
She giggled. "Don't worry, you'll meet everyone soon. Jeff was the one with Jack and Masky wears the yellow zip up jacket and white Mask."
She walked off with a slight skip in her step. I curled up a bit on my chair, the other guy with the yellow hoodie was in the kitchen putting away food.
He turned around to grab some waffles and met my gaze.
"What...?" He asked.
I immediately got up and sped out of the kitchen, not wanting to be anywhere near the fridge.

I ran up the stairs to my room, twisting the knob and crashing into the door, remembering that the knob was dented in every way possible and could barely function properly. I spilt water all over myself and almost dropped the glass on the ground.
I took a very deep breath and exhaled angrily, setting down the glass on the floor and jigging the knob until it opened.
"Jesus Christ..." I sighed, picking up the glass and setting it on the dresser next to the door. I walked over to the bay window, the rising sun warming my face. The mist was clearing up as I could see the tops of some pine trees in the distance.
"Avaline?"
I turned and saw Slender stoop down and walk through the doorway. I remained sitting on the bay window, watching him walk over and sit with me.
"How are you fitting in?"
"I guess I'm doing alright..." I looked up at him but couldn't find a spot on his "face" to focus on.
"I overheard you and Lulu." He said facing his back to the window. "How do you feel about being here?"
"It's...a bit terrifying. Especially with the fact you're all creatures and murders!" I stood up and paced around the room a bit. "Actually, how am I supposed to feel safe?? Besides my door knob being shit I have no form of protection!"
I turned to Slenderman and immediately remembered exactly who I was talking to. He was silent for a moment and then lifted his head in my direction.
"Would you like to carry a weapon around?"
"I-I mean that's not what I was getting at but..."
We stared at each other a bit in silence.
"Avaline...I know you're very confused being thrown into a new environment. Please, trust me, I'm only doing this for your safety."
I nodded a bit and sighed.
"If my dreams...If I mean nothing important to you...are you doing to throw me out...?"
"I don't think it's best to discuss that."
"You're doing to kill me aren't you?!" I asked, backing away.
"Avaline!"
I flinched and pressed myself up against the bed post.
"Avaline..." Slenderman pat the spot next to me.
I shuffled over slowly and sat down.
"No one is going to kill you," he assured me. "I can already see your dreams."
I looked up at him. "Do you know what it means?"
"I'm not sure...but for now, you're under my protection. You remain here in the mansion until we both sort this out.  Do you understand?"
I nodded slowly.
"You're not in trouble Avaline-"
There was a loud crash downstairs and a roar of laughter.
"But they will be..." he said with a sigh.
He turned back to me and handed me a book. I looked down at it and read the title, 'A Touch of Darkness'.
"To keep you occupied while you're here. As a gift, and a start to filling your empty shelves."
He got up and stopped at the door, turning to me. "Be safe Avaline."
Slenderman ducked through the door frame and left me at the bay window quietly, holding onto my book tightly.