The Operator

The Operator: A Slenderman Story.

I arose from my slumber frantically thrashing around at nothing...

That wasn't a dream.... It was a nightmare.

Weeks before I became interested in this topic about a very tall man... Days earlier he started to haunt me..

I knew the consequences once I started those weeks earlier. I knew once I started... I wouldn't be able to stop and sooner or later, he'll come get me.

I caught my breath and being as paranoid as I was I looked around my room. Nothing. I looked at my clock and it read: 4:34. I had at least two more hours to sleep before I had to get up for school. I couldn't sleep though. My dream was too vivid and realistic.

I was running... Not sure what I was running from but I was running. I wouldn't stop until I was safe and sound in my house but once I made it home, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. My mom was dead. And she was hanging by her limbs being stretched to symbolize the X and around her was a circle of blood that still continued to drip. It was still fresh. The sign that he was here.... I've been marked. He was coming for me... And soon I'd be gone.

I got up from my bed and went over to my laptop. Yet another sleepless night for me.

I opened up google and typed in: Slenderman. Images and origins of the very tall, faceless, fear inducing creature appeared and it made my blood run cold. I closed my laptop and went back to my bed, looking in every corner of my room. Nothing. Maybe fear was just playing tricks on me.. Maybe I'd be able to sleep... But a loud crash from downstairs answered my question. I gripped my covers and said a little prayer. If it was my time... I'd go. I wouldn't have a choice. Then I heard footsteps approaching my room. I started praying louder and rocking back and forth. Fear took over once the door almost flew open. I screamed and started to cry.

"Shh it's just me." My brother Adam said so I opened my eyes and looked at him, fear was taken over by anger.

"What the hell are you doing here this late at night?" I said in a very frustrated whisper.

"Why the hell did you scream?" He asked putting his hands on his hips.

"I had a nightmare." I said looking away from him.

"Karen are you alright!?" I heard my mom say as she came into the room. She looked at Adam and said, "Adam? What are you doing here this late at night?" He looked cutting his dark blue eyes at me.

"Same thing I asked. He scared the bejesus out of me." I said and the images of my mom dead and plastered against the wall shook my thoughts.

"I came back okay? No big deal. College break. My girlfriends parents wouldn't let me stay." He said rolling his eyes.

"Well go to sleep. I'm sure you're tired Adam." My mom said yawning.

"Goodnight mom. I'll sleep soon." He said looking at me and my mom left. Once she did he said, "Hey."

"Hey. Why are you really back?" I said pulling my covers off.

"Because." He said looking at my laptop and my eyes followed him as he went over to open it. "Not you too."

"What?" I asked innocently.

"Slenderman? Sissy you need to stop before bad things happen."

"He's not real Adam." Was the lie I always told myself to try and sleep at night.

"Okay. I'll see you in the morning kid. Sleep well." He left my room closing the door. Sleep well... I started to laugh to myself. I oddly wanted my older brother to stay and talk to me. I didn't want to be alone. Not now. Not ever.

I stared at the same wall until my alarm went off and I got out of bed. My feet hit the very cold floor and I made my way to the bathroom. I closed the door and hit the lights on. I was tired and when I looked in the mirror I even looked tired. I closed my eyes for a brief moment then opened them. I felt goosebumps growing on my arms as this wind blew my black hair from my shoulders. There were no windows in my bathroom. I wanted to panic but I couldn't move. I just closed my eyes and said to myself that he wasn't real. He didn't exist. In response I got or I heard: "I do exist Karen." Not in the room.. but in my head in a very hypnotic and deep voice... So I opened my eyes and found myself back in bed. It was a dream. My alarm was still going off.

"Karen wake up." My mom said at my door and I got up. "You're going to be late." So I got up quickly and got dressed. I still felt tired and I really wasn't looking forward to the day but I didn't have a choice.

Adam was woke and downstairs eating cereal. I looked at him and he didn't look up at all. His nose started bleeding and the blood was dripping into is cereal as he was eating. "Adam your nose." I said and he looked up at me confused and wiped his nose. There was no blood.

"What's wrong with my nose?" He asked and I looked away from him heading to the door. When I didn't answer he said, "Yo, have a nice day sis."