Falling In Love With Slender Man

Chapter 2

--CHAPTER TWO---

She awoke with a start. She gasped for air to fill her burning lungs. She was rewarded with humid, damp air.

            Her eyes flicked open and she found that the walls around her were made of cement, as were the floors. She was in a basement then.

She gingerly sat up. Her back ached, presumably from sleeping on the hard ground for who knows how long. How had this happened? How had she gotten here? She could not remember.

She noticed a figure in the shadows, slumping in a chair. “Who’s there?” she asked timidly.

A chuckle came from the corner. Slowly a man emerged from the darkness. He was wearing a tailored black suit, with a rose pined into the lapel. His hair was cropped short and midnight black, his eyes appeared to match the color of his hair. He had startlingly white skin.

He shook his head as he peered down at her. “The question is, who are you?” he asked in a bittersweet tone.

Who was she? Well that she knew. She was Elizabeth Sage Bower, though she preferred to go by Sage. She was seventeen years old. Her hair was a pale shade of blond and her skin was like fine porcelain. A small dusting of freckles splattered over her cheeks and nose. Her eyes were the most catching feature she had. They were the color of emeralds that were fringed with long, dark lashes. Hints of hazel could be found in them, though they were mostly green.

“Not talking today, little dove?” the tall man above her bellowed.

She glared up at him and rose to her feet. She looked down at herself and saw that someone had obviously changed her clothes. She was wearing a white, flowing dress that collected at her small waist. It fell just barely above her knees and her shoulders were completely bare. She felt far too exposed.

“Who are you?” she asked again in a more forward tone.

The man contemplated this for a few seconds and then looked her full in the face. “I am… Ash,” he told her slowly.

Sage looked at him and judged the truth of his words. “That’s not your real name, is it?” she asked him.

He shrugged his shoulders. “Does it really matter? That’s what you can call me.”

“Fine, ‘Ash’. Where are we?” Sage asked him irritably.

“No, no, little dove. I told you my name, now you tell me yours,” Ash said.

Her eyes narrowed. “But it’s not your real name. Why should I tell you my real name?” she challenged.

“If I were to tell you my real name, you would freak out. I can’t have my little dove trying to fly away.”

“Fine,” she grumbled. “I’m Elizabeth.” Why should she have to tell him her real name?

He shook his head. “Do you really go by Elizabeth?”

Her mouth popped open in shock. How could he sense her lie? Sage was a brilliant liar. It was like second nature to her. “You see, dove, I already know your name. I’ve done my research, and I do not enjoy liars.”

She lifted her chin stubbornly. “Elizabeth is my name. I may not go by it, but it is my name. And if you don’t have to tell the truth than I shouldn’t either.”

“Sage. Sage is your name,” he stated.

“How did I get here?” she asked him, changing the subject.

He pursed his full, pale lips. “You don’t remember? Perhaps things are turning in my favor.”

“Did you kidnap me?” she asked, furious.

There was a loud crack and then pain spread across her right cheek. She cradled it with both her hands and stared at Ash who had just slapped her. “Why did you hit me?” she shrieked, backing away.

“I saved you,” he said with barely contained anger. “You will not disrespect me the way you have.”

“Then why are you lying to me? Don’t you think I deserve to know what happened? And if you didn’t kidnap me then why am I trapped in your basement?” She shot the string of disrespectful questions at him despite his warning.

A slow smile grew on his face. “You humans will always remain a mystery to me,” he said under his breath.

Sage was shocked. Was this man not human? But no, that was impossible. She did not believe in those things. “Answer my questions,” she demanded of her capture.

“You’re a brave girl, Sage.” He reached his hand out and coiled a white-blond lock of hair around a long, skinny finger. “Eventually your memory will return and then you will have your answers.”

She jerked away from him. “Tell me.”

His eyes were half shut as he leaned into her and smelled the delectable scent of lilacs and roses. He caught himself in the act and pulled away. “I’m sorry, my dear Sage. I must go.”

“What?” she yelled. “You can’t leave me here! I will not stay here! These are unlivable conditions!”

He heaved a sigh. “Fine. Close your eyes.” She continued to stare at him. “Just do it?”

She groaned but slowly let her eyes slide closed. Moments later he said, “Open then.”

She did as asked and found that she was no longer in the small, dank basement. She was now in a spacious room that was painted a soft blue. It was furnished with a large bed, table and chairs. A TV sat in the corner and there was a door, which led to a bathroom.

“How did you do that?” she gasped.

“I shall not reveal my secrets to you,” he said. Then he was gone.