X's in O's

Chapter III

" Um..." I scooted away a bit, "My name's Luna Stella Lovejoy."

Tim gave me a weird look, "That's..."

"It's a total wreck."

"I was gonna say original, but wreck works too." he shrugged.

"My parents were a couple of hippies so what can you expect?" I whispered looking down, He didn't say anything so I spoke up, "So you said you know what happen? I should be dead..."

"Well, where do you want me to start?"

"Who, or what, is that man-thing in the suit? I mean, he told me his name was Slenderman but that's all."

"He's pretty much the whole reason you're here, when you were dying he saved you. Now don't asked me how, I have no idea, all I know is that he can bring people on the edge of death back."

I shook my head, "That doesn't make any since at all. But, even if it did happen, would that mean that I'm, like, tied to him?"

"Yeah. He basically gave you a life, and he can take it away at any time he wants." I couldn't see behind his mask, but I could feel his mood darken.

I looked him in the eyes, "But I don't feel alive." I frowned, " Not completely anyway. I can feel fear,of h-him, I can feel anger also at him, but I can't feel sadness. I can't even cry for my dad." My voice broke but that's all, no tears would come to my eyes. We sat there in mutual remorse, if you could call it that. That's not right, not remorse...we can't feel that. It was more of a shared feeling of discomfort. As we sat there I began to feel uneasy, what was I doing anyway?

I eased away from him, nervous about how intense this conversation was getting. I just met this guy, who knows where he's been! He looked up, surprised by my sudden withdraw, "What's wrong?"

"I-I um....I need to go on a walk, clear my head."

"Do you want me to show you where the exit is?" He started to get up.

"No no. Just tell me how to get there and I'll manage." He started to protest, "I want to be alone." I rushed out a bit louder then I wanted.

He sighed and told me how to get to the back door near to the forest. Just before I left he grabbed my arm, "Don't try to run."

I shied away from the physical contact, "I know."

"I mean it. Don't." He looked me straight in the eyes. "You'll regret it."

"Okay." I snapped and walked down the hallway, when I heard the door close I ran. I can't believe I actually let myself get somewhat comfortable in this place! I had a conversation with someone I just met...in his room! Ugh what was wrong with me? Maybe I'm in shock or something and I forgot how to use my common sense.

After finally finding the door I didn't hesitate to charge through it and directly into the forest. Glancing at my surroundings I almost turned back; I couldn't see anything through the canopy of the forest. Even the intense rays of the setting sun couldn't penetrate the thick foliage.

Okay Luna time to pick: creepy mansion with mysterious masked boy and monster-man-thing inside. I glanced back at the house; or eerie dark forest of doom. For me it wasn't really a choice more of an instinct.

Forest of doom it is.

The plants and trees were so tightly packed I couldn't run, I could blearily jog. It was extremely slow going, my pace only added to the fear of getting caught, it felt like the forest was purposely slowing me down. Trudging my way father into the forest I got this odd feeling, it felt like someone had hit me in the head with a hammer. I squeezed my eyes shut and pressed my fingers into my temples, leaning against a tree I waited for it to subside. My vision began to blur and stars swirled in front of my eyes. I began to worry when it didn't subside in the next few minutes, I started sliding down the tree to sit when a loud rustle in the nearby brush snapped me out of it. Heaving myself back up I tried to ignore the pain sharply throbbing in my head.