Being Friends With The Slenderman

VII

Slender had been thinking. 

The child seemed to like being in the company of Splendor and himself, although Splendors company wasn't permanent. Slender had grown accustomed to the child being with him - she wasn't difficult to care for; quite the opposite, she was incredibly content with the smallest of things.

But he was afraid. 

The Tall One was begining to... care, for the child. He was treating her how he would've treated his own offspring. If he had any, that was. Even now, she lay on him, her head in the crook of his neck and her breathing deep. Slender absentmindedly pushed her dark hair away from her face and lifted her gently away from himself, trying not to wake the sleeping infant.

Slender carried her through to the bedroom and lay her in the small bed she previously slept in, covering her up with the small sheets as her chest rose and fell with the shallow breaths she took. By the time he had realised what he was doing, he'd placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and pulled away. 

He stopped when he straightened and peered down at the child. In sleep, her face displayed nothing but peace, gave no hints about the turmoil she'd lived through, the Hell she had faced just to get love from the people who were meant to love her unconditionally.

The child was a warrior.

The Slenderman knew nothing of love - he was a creature made from Darkness, his form suspended by the constant worries plaguing peoples minds, the small fears they carried unconsiously with them - had they locked the door? Had they left the oven on? Small things; pointless things. They all added up to The Slenderman and his power.

However little The Tall One knew of love, he knew this child was raised without it.

Slender made his way to the lounge area and stood next to his brother who lounged across the couch, unsure if he was asleep or just closing his eyes for the hell of it. "...Splendor?"  The colourful man didn't move so Slender assumed he was sleeping. Slender preferred to stand while he slept - it kept him alert, ready to attack at a moments notice.

The Tall One sighed and stalked back to his shadowed corner, relaxing his body and attempting to shut down as thoughts of an attack swirled uncomfortably around in his mind.

*

"Slender? Why are we here?" The Slenderman glanced down at the child on his hip and readjusted her slightly. 

"This is your home, yes?" The girl nodded and gently placed a hand on the red door, the paint flaking off where she touched. "Then we have come for some of your things." The child instantly brightened at the mention of her posessions and wriggled out of Slender's arms as he struggled to place her down so she didn't get hurt. Erica reached under the welcome mat and emerged with a silver key.

"Daddy showed me where to find one if I ever needed it." Slender smiled gently at her eagerness and took the key from her outstretched hand, placing it in the lock and letting the two into the house. In all honesty, he didn't need a key - he could have just Slenderwalked them both in to the house after checking with Erica that this was indeed her house, but he just couldn't bring himself to interrupt her when she looked so proud of being able to let them into her home. 

"Where is your room, Little One?" Slender followed the little girl as she ran through the varied rooms of the house before she finally came to a halt outside an off white door baring a chipped purple name plate with 'Erica' written on it. "This one?" The girl nodded and turned the knob, a grin forming on her face as she pushed the door wide enough to let them both in.

Erica spread her arms wide as though to say "Ta da!" and proceeded to run to the bed in the corner of the room and diving on it. Slender looked around the small room and frowned slightly. The hardwood floor was coated with a layer of dust, broken by the footprints made by himself and Erica, the walls appeared as a cream colour, although they were hardly visible through the pictures that littered them. Pictures of who Slender assumed was Erica, and the beasts that called themselves her parents, all over. A box in the corner had the lid open, showing the contents as toys, a few seemed broken but still able to be played with and a fairly large bed sat in the corner, piles of stuffed toys lay on it.

"Do you like it?" Erica stared up at Slender with wide eyes, a hesitant smile planted on her face. Slender placed a gentle smile on his face as he looked down at Erica.

"It's very nice, Little One. Pick the things you need and I will send them home." The girl grinned up at Slender and ran to the bed, bending down and pulling out a medium sized suitcase, opening it to reveal pieces of red fabric, that on closer inspection, were found to be dresses and other articles of clothing for the girl. 

Erica placed a few pieces crayons and pencils in the zipper part, and added a few toys. "Is that all, Little One?" Erica nodded and proceeded to stand, pulling the case with her. "Let me carry that for you."  Slender took the small case from the childs fingers and held out his arm for her,

Erica smiled and gripped Slenders arm, holding tightly on as he pulled her onto to his waist and held her securely. "Close your eyes, Little One. It'll be over soon." 

*