The Operator

Tree Man

I was let out of the hospital days later and it seemed to be that Adrian kept HIM away from me and I was glad. I tried to be around him as much as possible.

"Hey sleeping beauty." Adrian said shoving me a little. I didn't even know that I fell asleep.... Where was I?

I sat up and looked over at him confused. "When did I fall asleep?" I asked him scratching my head.

"Um not so long ago. You don't remember?" We were in his house I realized. I didn't even remember going over his house today. "You told me that you were going to take a short nap, so I let you. Are you okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I remember now." I lied.

"I hope so kiddo, are we going to take that walk or no?"

"Yeah uh we are um, can I use your bathroom?" I asked but it came out sounding like I was confused.

He looked me up then nodded. "You know where it is."

I got up from the chair and walked to the bathroom feeling a little wobbly and off balance. I just didn't want Adrian to notice that I was so I kinda hurried to the bathroom. Once there I went to the sink to splash some water in my face. I looked up in the mirror and sighed. What was I going to do if the nightmares an blackouts returned?

I started to feel this pain in my throat, sorta like an itch but it was far worse. I began to cough vigorously. I looked down at my hands and noticed the blood. I was coughing up blood. That was a symptom.

"Adrian!" i called out still coughng and stumbling backwards into the wall.

He had opened the door and came to my aid. "What happened?" he asked grabbing tissues.

"I don't know I-I just started coughing and then there was blood. Adrain, he's back again."

"Karen he doesn't exsist sop saying that. You're making yourself believe that he's real when he's not. You're making him real by believing in him and making everything seem like it's because of him. This needs to stop. You need to get yourself together and get the fuck over this asshole." he said a little hurtful than intended. I took the tissues and covered my face from him. "I'm sorry, but you're making yourself sick thinking about this non-existent creature. You're only going to get worse." he said toning down his voice a bit.

I shook my head then walked out of the bathroom. I wanted to go home now. Maybe he was smarter than I was. Maybe what he was saying was the truth. Maybe I was inflicting the fear on myself by making myself think that HE was real and HE was trying to hurt me and completely get rid of me. Maybe I am crazy. Not maybe, I was.I went home feeling okay for once.

My brother Adam was home sitting on the couch. He looked up when I walked in. "Hey sis, you're home early. How did the play date go?" He said smiling like a hyena.

"Go to hell Adam." I said shaking my head and walking upstairs.

"No but really how are you? We haven't really talked in a while."

"Why are you still here Adam shouldn't you be in college?"

"I left- I dropped out." He said looking away from me.

"Why? Why the heck did you do that?"

"You wouldn't understand sis."

"I'd understand more than you think." I said sitting down next to him.

"I'm in a way just like you."

"Meaning?"

"I'm crazy." He started to say. "Karen, I've seen him. He-he was hiding in the damn trees when me and a couple of friends were taking a walk. He watched us and wouldn't stop watching us. Then Sandy went missing. He fucking took her." He got really emotional about it. "He just fucking took her like.."

"Who took her?" Through I knew who. I knew I wasn't crazy.

"Fucking slenderman!" He nearly screamed at me.