The Slenderman

Chapter 10

We took our time getting ready for bed. We stood in the bathroom brushing our teeth and took turns using the bathroom. To be absolutely sure nothing happened to either of us in the short time period, we stayed in the bathroom together while the other person used the facilities. One of us would use the bathroom while the other stood by the door, back turned to the person relieving herself.

    After we finished getting ready, we sat on my bed for a while, neither of us really wanting to sleep. We feared the night and the fate it would hold for us. Around one in the morning, I said good night to her and settled outside the door while she curled under the sheets in my bed. I knew it probably wouldn't help, but i grabbed my knife out of my purse. It made me feel safer. Neither one of us slept that night. Luckily, the next few hours went undisturbed. We saw nothing more of the Slender Man that night.     

    My parents got up around seven that morning. They came out of their room shortly after. I could hear them in the kitchen starting breakfast. It wasn't long before I smelled bacon and pancakes cooking.

    My bedroom door opened and Leslie stepped out.

    "Hi," she said dully.

    "Hi," I replied, equally as plain. "Did you sleep well?" I inquired.

    "Yeah, fine," she lied. "Did you?"

    "I'm not sleeping at night, remember? I've got to keep an eye on you," I said.

    "Oh, right," she remembered guiltily. "I assume you'll want to find time to rest later today, then"

    "Nah, I'll be fine," I said with a false sound of chipperness.  "Let's go get some breakfast."

    "Yeah," she agreed, helping me up off the floor.

    We walked into the kitchen, mouths watering with hunger. The bacon smelled delicious. My mom always new how to cook it perfectly. My dad was the pancake master. The outside had a slight crunch while the inside was soft and fluffy. All of the food was delicious. I made coffee for all of us (except my dad since he hates coffee), and Leslie and I sat down on the couch together to plan out our day. We only had three more days till she was to leave, but we didn't want to think about that.

    Things went much like the day before. It was a lot hotter outside and there wasn't much of a breeze so we decided to go see a movie. There wasn't much on, but we didn't want to go outside in the heat and we didn't want to be stuck in my house either. We got out around two o'clock and went to Yogurt Mountain, coffee not sounding appealing with all the heat. We sat and talked for an hour before we gave up on staying cool and decided to go to the park. Despite the fact that it was 98° and no breeze, it didn't feel so bad in the shade. We went hiking along the bike trail (since no one actually biked it) and spent a long time down by the stream. It was quiet, peaceful, and we were alone. That's when she brought it up.

    "Megan, I'm leaving Saturday," she said.

    "Yes, you are," I replied simply.

    "That's only three more days from now," she expanded.

    "So it is," I said.

    "We still haven't beat the Slender Man, and we won't be able to defend each other after I leave," she urged on.

    "I am well aware of this," I said, slightly irritated. I wasn't fond of discussing this matter. I already knew how this would likely end and wanted to spend my final days thinking and discussing other matters. I wanted to enjoy myself.

    "What are we going to do after Saturday? How are we going to survive? I certainly won't survive without you watching over me, and it won't be long before he tries to finish you off," she whimpered.

    I lost it then. "You think I don't know this?! You think I don't realize how bad of a situation we're in?! You think I don't realize that every second we're inching closer and closer to our death; that we have no clue, no method how to stop him?!"

    She looked at me in terror, tears streaming down her face. I didn't realize how poorly I had reacted. I had grabbed her by her shirt collar, thrown her up against a tree, and pulled my knife on her. I didn't even know I had it with me. I dropped the knife to the ground and released her shirt. I backed away a few yards and slumped against a tree, falling to the ground. 

    "What do you want me to do, Leslie? I wish I could tell you what to do; I wish I could give you some grand, foolproof plan, but the point of the matter is I don't have one. I don't know what to do. I'm out of plans. I'm out of options. And damn it, as much as we wish there was another way, we're both out of time. We have nothing left to do but wait. I'm sorry but I don't have anything else to say about this. I've tried to fight this, but he's won. He's got me beat. No matter what we do, he's got us in his grasp. That damn faceless man has run me dry of ideas. I'm sorry. If I knew of something to do, I'd gladly do it. But I don't," I cried softly. I placed my head in my hands out of despair.

    She bent down and picked up my knife, pocketing it. Then she slowly walked over and sat down beside me. We didn't say anything for a few moments. We sat and watched the water continue to flow by.

    "I know you're stressed," she said. "All you've been doing lately is trying to figure this out. You've been working so hard to keep me safe, and I thank you for  that. I know you feel like all the hope has gone from the world and there's nothing left for us but death. But that doesn't mean this whole situation has to be terrible. We can make the best of this, enjoy the time we have left. I suppose that's easier to do when I don't bring it up. Sorry about that. I'm just as confused as you are and it's hard not to bring it up when you're the only other person who knows what's going on. Let's just stop worrying about it. Whatever fate has in store is going to happen. There's no getting around it. I'm not saying give in, but perhaps we shouldn't try so hard to avoid it."

    "I can't just give in," I stated." I can't just stop living. I operate by the belief that we all have a purpose in this life. I don't want my purpose to be death through murder. Do you?"

    "No, but I don't exactly have a plan. And neither do you," she reminded me.

    "You're right, I don't have a plan," I agreed. "But I don't need to have a plan to know that I'm not going to give in. I'm going to fight this thing till the last breath I take."

    She placed her arm around my shoulders and hugged me close, a small smile forced onto her face.

    "I know you will," she whispered into my ear. " I would expect nothing less from you. You're the most loving, stubborn, reliable person I know. If anyone can find a way out of this, it's you."

    I turned around and hugged her close.

    "Thanks Leslie. I needed to hear that," I said.

    "No problem, girlie," she grinned.

    "What do you say we head back to my place?" I suggested. 

    "Sounds like a plan," she concurred.

    Shouting with half false half real glee, "Let's have the best next three days ever!"