Caught In The Forest

A Broken Family

"Come sit with me," Slenderman motioned to a crimson couch with gold trim. "I shall now tell you why you are here." Reluctantly I made my way to the couch and sat as far as possible from the strange man. "Have you ever heard of a Creepypasta?" He asked.

     The name rung familiar. "Is it those internet stories."And then it seemed to click."Wait a minute-"I suddenly remembered the time one of my friends showed me a bunch of the stories, everything began to fit. I didn't really remember them because I didn't really care about them. They had just seemed to be scary tales to tell at a slumber party, folk tales of the internet. "Slenderman! Jeff the killer! No-no-no!" I leaped from my seat. "But those were just some stories written by eleven year-olds! There was no way that-that-" I stopped, staring at the living proof in front of me. "There-there's a game based off of your legend! Legend! That's all you are supposed to be!" I cried in denial.

    Slenderman seemed to...smile. It caught me by surprise, but this faceless man could also speak. "Oh yes, I was flattered by that. One day I was unoccupied so I slipped into the game creator's dreams and, well, voila! You can understand that I was slightly offended when you were not instantly aware of who I was, but I suppose I should compliment you for not wasting your time on the internet." He paused. "I did it to make people know of my existence without my presence. I wanted to be in their nightmares." In the quiet when Slenderman finished, something hit me like a bullet, I froze, a jackhammer pounded in my heart.

     "If you and Jeff exist-" I swallowed. "-are the others real too?" Slenderman suddenly "snickered". Then he began to shake violently with a husky laughter, cold and distant. Then as quickly as it began, he ceased laughing. Wordlessly he stood up from the couch, all ten feet of him, and left the room. I stood still from where I last paced in my realization, afraid.

    "Who are you?" Two voices asked in unison, one quieter than the other. I whipped around to face the two, wearing hoodies. One had a ski-mask on and the other a simple mask with a painted face. Hoodie and Masky! As soon as my realization hit me, I ran down a corridor opposite to them. The beat of hurried footsteps fell behind my run. I turned a corner into a room and I quickly acted, ducking into a door nearby. I groaned to find myself in another hall. 'This place is a maze!" I uttered. But, fortunately, the pair were no longer behind me.

    I slumped down it and leaned against one wall. "Miss, why are you here?" A small voice piped. The hammer began in my chest once more. I turned to face a little girl seemingly normal, a dirty pink dress, long brunette hair, luminescent green eyes. That was until I saw the bleeding gash in her forehead. "Miss, does daddy know you." Legs burning, I bolted off again. Was that Sally? Oh, but my horror run certainly did not end there.

     I came face to face with more familiar creepypastas, some not, but definitely still creepy. Eyeless Jack! Lost Silver! Smile Dog! Laughing Jack! One after one, I ran away. Tired and afraid, I finally took refuge in a small room. It was empty except for a small bed and a dresser with a television on it. I locked the door, trying to provide myself with a sense of security. I shivered and curled up on the bed, ready to die.

    "Shh," a calm voice cooed. "I didn't look up. I was done, I knew I wouldn't escape this time. "I'm not as violent as the others. I promise, Penny." I had to look up to see the voice that knew my name.

    "BEN Drowned," I whispered. There he was, standing in the light of the TV, fuzzy screened and alive. An exact replica of Link, but with red dark eyes."End me, I'm too scared." My adrenaline was speaking now. His pixel edged body approached me, and I did not flinch. I really was done with my fear.

    "I have no reason," he said. He sat next to me, gazing at the ground. "Penny, it has been seven years since we've met. Friend, I have waited for you to  join us here." I looked at him closer, his expression was soft. 

    "How do you know my name, Slenderman did too," I was surprised at my steady  voice. BEN only smiled, a happy genuine smile, not like Slenderman's sarcastic one or Jeff's horrific one.

    "He likes mysteries too much. He didn't explain did he?" I nodded no. "Well, I'm not good at explaining, you'll have to wait, sorry." He saw my face fall, "I'm really sorry, I'll just ruin the story," he responded. "Hey, you should go out now. I know the others may have frightened you, but only Slenderman, Jeff, and myself know you. They don't know you at all." He held his hand out  to me, "Let's go?" Slowly I accepted his hand, which was really cold. I had no idea if I was being led into a trap. BEN smiled, "Alright lets go introduce you!"