Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 83. Trust and Patience

【Joy's POV】(Been a while, Joy.)

I feel myself in between of the waking world and my supposedly peaceful dreams as I bathe in the warmth of my blanket and softness of my pillows. My breathing, as it is several minutes ago, is even, the pattern ushering me to fall asleep. Yet, my mind wanted to wonder, preventing me from completely letting go of my consciousness. Although, with my half-asleep state, I could barely remember what I wanted to 'wonder' about. It's already so late and I have to go to work soon . . .

Just then, I heard a thud from outside of my roomーrather, it came from downstairsーit was more than enough to make my blood run cold, fully waking myself.

I did nothing but lie in my bed, anxiously waiting for something else to happen. Was it Chester? Could he have jumped off the sink?

That assumption was put on hold when I heard things, heavy and metallic, hitting the ground, like kitchen utensils being dropped on the floor. Heavy footsteps soon followed as the clattering died down.

The footsteps continued. I felt for my phone beside me and gripped it hard, wondering if I should call someone for help. Is it the proxies? What do they want from me now? I thought I was finally free and out of the picture.

Before I could make a decision, the sound of the steps grew closer and I heard the familiar creak of the stairs as whoever it was climbed upwards, nearing my bedroom.

In the darkness with only the moonlight seeping through the window serving as my light, I watched the door with increasing panic with one hand gripping my phone and the other tugging at the blankets. My whole body froze with dread as my mind went blank instead of thinking of ways to defend myself or escape the situation.

When I heard the doorknob turning, the dread was instantly replaced with panic-induced adrenaline. I sprung up with my heart in my throat and stood in a corner, bracing myself as the door slowly opened, allowing me to make out a silhouette of a person on the other side.

As soon as the door was opened wide enough for a shot, I lost control of my own body as if I'm watching myself from a distance, and threw something at the figure with full force as if my very life depended on it, "Get out of my house!" I yelled in fear and authority.

The adrenaline rush was cut short when I heard the figure exclaim, "Ow!" It's a man, and the normal, human reaction made me doubt if it is actually one of the proxies . I could almost feel the pain from how it's said, "It's me! Please!" He hissed as he lifted a hand on the side of his head while feeling for the walls.

Things still haven't made any sense to me until the lights turned on, revealing an in pain Byron who finally found the light switch, pawing at his forehead. All I could muster up was a confused expression as I stared at him, ". . . Byron?"

"Yes!" He said with widened eyes as if in shock at what I just did.

"I . . . I thought you were one of the proxies . . . or just an intruder, in general." I breathlessly explained as I stood, still not getting what just happened and wondering if I'm in a weirdly vivid dream, "Why are you here? How did you get in?" I bombarded him with questions.

As soon as I asked, his gaze fell on the ground as he stepped inside the bedroom and closed the door behind him, "The window in the kitchen was unlocked . . ." Byron muttered, sounding a bit ashamed at his own answer.

The tenseness my body felt slowly disappeared, "The window in the kitchen . . . You mean, you snuck in?"

"I think that's the word for it, yes." The shame was gone from his voice and replaced with nonchalance as he looked straight at me, "Should I leave instead?" His brows furrowed, looking concerned.