Shrouded in Darkness

Blind Ambition

It had been weeks since Brad had lost his son Logan. However, not in the conventional sense that one might think. Logan went missing weeks ago, hasn't been found, or recovered, no body to speak of, no blood, no trace of existence to be found, nothing. It's like his son never existed. He's in a damp house pacing around trying to think of a way to get his son back. 

The only person keeping him company is his long-term friend Jason. Who's been his best friend for nineteen years. The only evidence to go off is the drawings Logan made before his disappearance. All of them were about the Slender Man Brad figures there's a connection, and Jason walks over to him and exhales before speaking.

"Hey man, maybe you should take it easy. You should go home to your wife Alice, and let this blow over." Brad shook his head in annoyance. "No, I can't! That bastard took my son! I don't know where or how but I'm going to find him out in the woods and blow his head off." 

Brad walked over to a cabinet, unlocked it with a key, and grabbed a 12-gauge shotgun to defend himself before walking toward the front door. He's determined to fight this monster that took away his only child. He reloaded the gun, ensuring he was prepared for his inevitable counter with this foul, loathsome, beast.

"Even if that creature is real. We don't know what its weakness is, how to lure it out, or what can kill it. What if your gun is ineffective and doesn't do shit? Has that thought ever occurred to you? You can't go into the woods alone and kill that thing! You might not make it back alive. You have to think, damn it! For all you know, you're going to be marching into the woods trying to kill a boogeyman that doesn't exist. Please, reconsider." Brad glared at him, annoyed by his suggestion, and scoffed at him.

"It has to be REAL! I'm going out there and killing it, I won't back down. Jason, I know you're trying to help me. But my options are waning, the cops aren't going to do anything! I sure as hell don't intend on wasting my time for updates to emerge. I'm handling this my way and I'll emerge victoriously. Alice will understand, and I'll avenge my son." 

Jason was agitated by the attitude on display. "You won't avenge him if you don't return! Don't do this your wife needs you." He tried to make Brad reconsider but, it fell on deaf ears. "I'll come back, Jason. And that creature will be dead! You'll see." Before Jason could get another word in Brad exited the house with the gun in hand.

Brad marched from the sidewalk to the dark, decrypt forest determined to avenge his son, no matter the price. Maybe Jason's words were true and held merit. It didn't matter Brad was determined to kill this monster his way. No one was going to tell him otherwise, not even his closest friend. 

He scoped around and examined the forest trying to find any signs of life. So far, he found none but figured he had to do something to make the monster emerge. He loaded his shotgun in the air and shouted at the top of his lungs. "Come on out, you bastard! I know you took my son, and I'm going to take you out!" He fired a shot into the air as a warning shot.

In the distance, he saw something that didn't have a face, but it appeared to resemble the drawings his son made. The creature was coming towards him, and before Brad could fire off another shot, he felt a loud ringing in his ears and fell to the floor and was unable to get back up.

 Most people would give up in this circumstance and accept their fate. But, Brad? He was stubborn as a damn mule, his arm reached for the gun trying to aim it and fire it at the Slender-Man. He squinted and saw the creature staring at him he reached for the trigger, but it wasn't enough.

The monster overpowered him and dragged him away with its tentacles the gun fell to the floor before he could fire it. Brad didn't want to die, but he had no choice in the matter. He chose to attack this creature without backup, a plan, or proper resources, there was no way out.

 "NO! I have to avenge my son! I can't go out like this. Logan! I'll-" Before he could finish that sentence, he was hauled away never to be seen or heard from again. Brad's body won't be found, and he'll be another foolish soul who dared to fight a faceless entity and lost.

The fog began to emerge, shrouding the forest so it was hard to see anything. Brad was no more. Was he being torn apart? Possibly eaten? No one knows, but he's not coming back to his wife, nor will he avenge his son like he proclaimed he would. He's the 10th person this week to go missing.

 The police won't have a clue what to do, and through it all, it remains a mystery. Jason's going to be in quite a predicament. It's a long, dark, brooding night, and it's not going to get easier. Will Brad be found? Will Alice find out? It's unknown. What is known is that Jason has lost another friend. Another perished soul shrouded in darkness.