Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 8. The Forest?

"Because . . . I was stalked before too."

"You're what?" I gawked.

"It's terrible and I wasn't acting myself and I feel . . . I don't know, I really can't explain it. Everything from my past was a blur ever since that happened." She averted her gaze.

"What happened?"

"I don't know, I was being followed by a man with a black mask then one day, it just stopped." She cleared her throat, "Sorry, I really don't feel comfortable talking about this."

"Ah, right, sorry." I nodded. I shouldn't ask too many questions at the same time, it sounds like a really tragic story of some sort. What bothered me was the disappearance and insanity part, who wouldn't be bothered if they knew they might go missing or turn crazy at any given moment?

For now, I should get more information from other people, and then maybe ask Rachel little by little. Maybe it's not so bad, right? I mean, Rachel was stalked and she's still here. It's probably not that serious . . . I hope.

She said "black mask" though, mine was wearing a white mask . . . weird.

"Well then," I stood up, "I should get going, it might be a good idea to go now before it gets too late."

"Yeah . . . Be careful." Rachel stood up as well.

"Thanks for the info, I'll ask some people about it." I mumbled as we walked towards the front door. Rachel opened it for me, I gave her a small smile before walking out. I immediately felt the cold night air embrace me as I took hurried steps. Eeeh . . . it looks like I'm the only one walking out at this time of the night.

"Joy," Rachel called out, making me stop and glance back at her while she stood on the porch with a troubled look on her face, "Please just . . . Don't let it get to your head, okay? Ignore it." Her lips formed a frown as she looked back at me.

Yeah, she's right. I just have to continue living normally and ignoring these . . . weirdness, "Don't worry!" A grin appeared on my face as I responded, "I won't mind it, then things will be back to normal!" I cheered.

Rachel's gloomy expression vanished as she smiled and waved a hand at me. I waved back before walking away from the house, heading towards home.

Right, don't let it get to my head, ignore, don't let it get to my head, ignore, don't let it－

My chanting was distracted when I heard rustling noises nearby. I froze and searched for the source of the sound, it seems to be coming from between the two houses' bushes. There weren't any lights opened from the two houses and they were blocking the light coming from a nearby lamppost so it's pretty much dark and I couldn't see a thing.

I stayed for a little longer but when I finally decided to get going, another set of rustling was heard.

"W-Who's there?" I called with a weak voice as the nervousness made my heart beat faster.

Rustling noises again.

"I-I have a . . ." I trailed off, how do you threaten a stalker anyway? What the hell, "I have a bag and I'm not afraid to hit you with it!" I impulsively shouted when the noises became closer. Wow, that's the greatest thing I can come up with?

I let out a squeak when a fucking cat jumped out of the shadows. A cat. A stupid cat, all that fuss over a cat!

It meowed and looked up at me with it's black eyes. Annoyed, I shook my head and headed home again. So much for not letting it get to my head . . . Oh, for goodness' sake, I don't really expect myself to ignore what I just heard from Rachel. I could disappear or go insane at any time, it's bound to be true, she doesn't seem like the type to lie about that.