Once Upon a Dreary Midnight

Eyes of Black

Brian woke up to the sound of birds singing. He moaned from the tapping sun-light against his face. He blinked, shut his eyes, and blinked again in attempt to fully open both eyes. Where am I? Brian thought. All he could see is trees, the tall and thin ones. The kind that usually grows in forests. Is he in a forest? He didn't know. Part of him didn't want to know. Instead of getting up, Brian decided to lay there for awhile. The leaves and soil beneath him felt soft and comfortable and the sound of birds made him relaxed. All was well until he heard footsteps. The closer the man approaching him got, the more vivid he looked. It was the mask guy. 

"So, did you sleep well?" The mask guy asked, not in concern obviously. His voice didn't sound familiar to Brian. It was too deep for anyone he ever knew. Brian stood up and took a few steps away from the mask guy. While dusting the dirt off his clothes, he studied the mask guy from head to toe. The mysterious man was wearing a black hoodie which zipped all the way to his collar bones and a pair of jeans that were covered with dust. 

"Good," the mask guy answered his own question and kicked Brian in the stomach. 

"Somehow you've been marked. Therefore, you will be beaten up."

"Who are you and what do you want?" Brian asked, wheezing for air. He didn't really want to know who he was or what he wants from him, all he wants to know is if things will ever be the same again or not.  

"Me? I'm just poor little weirdo," the mask guy said as he removed his mask. It was Lucas, the same guy who goes to Brian's school. The skin under his eyes was pure black as if he didn't sleep in ages."I've been searching for this slender man. I want to thank him and join him. He stalks people, making them paranoid and eventually they become just like me. So I guess you could say, he makes me feel not so lame. After all, I did sort of assist him in some ways already. Jessica was more than willing to go so I don't want anything from you, yet."

"So you killed her!"

"I only needed one of you. She was dead already. Besides, we don't need any evidence laying around, do we?"

"You freak!" Brian tried to punch him in the face but failed. He got kicked in the stomach for the second time today. This time, the kick was followed by Lucas's laughter. Brian's eyes were filled with anger. The roller coaster inside of him is now gone. He only felt anger. That was all. No fear or weakness. Only anger. 

"Get up you little coward. We need to go." Lucas demanded. Regardless of all the anger he had inside of him, Brian got up and did what Lucas told him to do. He isn't the type of guy who fights back, he gives in.

"Where are you slender man? I'm here on my duty. I want to join you," Lucas yelled in hopes for slender man to hear him. They both kept walking until they heard a crack; they turned around and there he was. The slender man. Lucas went down on his knees and repeated his request.

"You are human. Therefore, no," slender man replied. He sounded like a robot with a deep voice. The area they were at started to feel gloomy which is a sign that slender man isn't quite happy.  "Now that I can talk fluently, let me explain your position in this area, Brian. This is where I take them. The souls of pure children, to live out the rest of their lives in here. In happiness. Rather than the curse of lives that they would've had if they stayed alive." 

"You're sick! This isn't what I want! I have friends and family," Brian replied, "I'm not a pure child anyways. I have sinned and I have made mistakes."

"Your two friends are now gone. You are choosing to be tainted. Therefore, you will be tainted" Slender man's hand extended as well as his torso. His feet expanded, making him as tall as the trees around him.

"You don't scare me!" Brian shouted. 

"I don't have to," slender man replied. 

"You freak! I swear I will kill you! For all the beautiful, innocent souls you've taken away! For all the tears their families cried!"

"Not if I kill you first." Slender man's hands reached out for Brian and Lucas. Both of them could fit in one hand but slender man chose to kill one per hand. They both were screaming, but no one could hear. He made them see the static stripes again to terrify them even more. Both Lucas and Brian had no weapons with them. Even if they did, no human-made weapon has enough power to kill slender man. 

"Before you die, Brian, I want you to know that your dad planned this. Now die! Don't worry, you're not the first or last to die. I killed Justin, Max, and Jessica."

"You killed Max? You sick bast-" Brian couldn't complete his sentence. The slender man killed him. That was the end of Lucas and Brian, two people who spent their lives hating and envying each other. Now, slender man hunting for someone new. You could be next.