Caught In The Forest

Left Turns

A quiet fell, and no one already in the room moved. They stayed in their still positions for thirty minutes, then an hour, and soon enough five. Others came downstairs, saw the sight and held their breaths, not knowing what to say or do. But finally someone took a breath, a long one, allowing the sweet oxygen to infiltrate their lungs. Blinking her eyes, Penny saw the gaping faces of her evil friends. "Oh my, being dead is annoying."

     "But-but," Jeff tried to speak.

     Penny smirked, sat up and leaned forward. "Surprise. You should've known when I walked in looking like a healthy Rake."

     "When did you..." Slenderman spoke, artless for the first time.

    "You see, when I left, I ran into a little ravine. It didn't kill me instantly, so there I was, bloody and dying on rocks. I shouted your names, pleading that one of you could save me. Ah, but no, there I died, alone in the most pain a human could endure. My spine was broken, it was horrendous. No one heard, no one cared." They all felt a new shame, that they were not there to rescue Penny before she was tainted into a monster like them. She tilted her head innocently, "Oh don't worry. I  can't die lonely again, huh?"

    She yawned and rose from the couch. She then walked over to Jeff, affectionately cuffed his chin with a grin, and walked back upstairs, as if she hadn't died for the second time. "What," Jeff said confused.

    BEN went over to Jeff and harshly punched his face. "That's what you get for trying to murder her!" Jeff held his eye socket which had caved in from BEN's blow. He didn't say anything.

    "We didn't help her, it's too late to be angry," Jeff finally spoke quietly.

    "Shut up," BEN hissed. "It wasn't our fault that she was reckless."

    "Whose the heartless one now?" Jeff ridiculed.

    BEN ignored Jeff and went over to an outlet, not wanting to waste the time to go to the television, and disappeared. The others slowly disbanded until it was only Slenderman and Jeff. "He is in denial," Slender said.

    "You know what this means, right?"

    "We have a more prevailing opponent than we thought," He replied.

    "Please, Slender. Although she is more of a threat, maybe we can turn her back-"

    "Jeff, you know better than I that grudges last beyond the grave, and they are more tenacious than ever." Slenderman pointed at Jeff. "Don't fall for the previous image she hosted. It is gone. Something more acrid had filled her former love for us."

    "But-"

    "I'm sorry Jeff. There is nothing else we can do, I don't want another Jane case. Can't you recall how much trouble we endured? I fear Penny may be just as powerful and ferocious, even more so."

    "We can't kill her. We can't!"

    Slenderman stood still, then nodded slightly. "I may have a better idea that shall please your weak spot for her. We won't have to dispose of her permanently after all."