Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 23. Safe For Now

Thursday

I had trouble untying the ribbon which kept my window closed the whole night－hence, keeping me safe from unwanted strangers . . .

Although I had that awful nightmare or hallucination－whatever the hell that was last night－I woke up in a great mood. I actually woke up earlier than usual and since I couldn't go back to sleep, I decided to get up and be a little more productive.

I opened the window and breathed the early, morning mist. My house has a stunning view of the forest－Except at night－The night view of the forest just makes me want to shut my window and hide behind the curtains until day time. You never know who might be out there.

Feeling a little chilly, I decided to take a warm shower to fully wake myself up.

I was briefly reminded of my 'hallucination' last night. The glass breaking . . . seeing that man wearing a white mask again . . . I never experienced hallucinations before until yesterday－if I did, I wasn't aware. I didn't know it would feel so . . . real. But I'm sure as hell glad that it was just an illusion that my mind portrayed, otherwise, I would have－

As I turned to a dark corner in the room, I saw hundreds of pieces of glass scattered all over. I hadn't seen it since it was too early and dark when I woke up and the windows were covered, but now that it wasn't and the sun has risen, I can vaguely see around the room.

I rushed towards the light switch and flicked them on before examining my wooden dresser once again.

The mirror on my dresser looked like it just popped out of the wooden framing and fell directly on the floor, causing the mess. It's much likely, it is an old dresser, after all. I've had it for years and the mirror doesn't stick to the dresser as it used to. I've always had this problem regarding the unstableness of the mirror which is why I never go near it nor use it as much but I never expected this.

I shook my head, just yesterday, my shattered lamp was the one that I had to clean up, now this?

I ran to my door and had to unlock it. I grabbed a broom and dustpan outside my room and started sweeping, making sure not to step on the shards. Thankfully, they weren't that broken so it's easier to clean than my lamp.

After I was done, I pushed my dresser to a more proper place, I think it got moved, just a little . . . Maybe that was the cause of the mirror falling from the frame.

I double-checked the surface of the dresser to make sure there wasn't any pieces of glass on top of it, and luckily, there wasn't.

I saw a familiar symbol and froze. Right there, on the edge of my dresser, was the crossed-out circle. The very symbol which the proxies have left me over a number of times.

It was carved on my dresser . . . I don't understand. My door was locked, my windows were still shut when I woke up. I'm pretty sure this sign wasn't here yesterday either.

Then, my hallucination was real . . ?

I was frightened to admit it, but it would perfectly explain a lot. I woke up from the sound of glass breaking which explains the mirror and it would explain why it felt so real. I knew it, I was conscious the whole time, it wasn't just exhaustion, it really happened.

But, how?

Like I've said, the windows and doors are locked. Even if he did break in, why bother locking everything before he leaves?

And to think, I practically ignored that white-masked man when I saw him because I thought it was just a projection of my mind! He could have killed me!