The Truth about SlenderMan (Completed)

Chapter 15

How in the world would I get a ride though? I didn't own a car, and I had no money, so the bus was not an option. Who did I know who had a car? A long forgotten face with freckles popped into my mind. Jessy had a car. A trickle of fear crept into my mind, but I buried it and started walking towards what I remembered as the place where she lived.
Since SlenderMan's castle was quite a long way from any civilization, you could imagine what a walk it was. When I finally got to my former college's campus, an entire hour had passed. 'Thank goodness it's nighttime', I thought as I gazed at the student condos. I had been away from people so long, I didn't think I would be very comfortable surrounded by a crowd.
After a bit more walking, I finally arrived at Jessy's condo building. I stared at the long staircase that led to her room. 'What if she doesn't live here anymore?', I wondered. My stomach clenched in worry 'No!' I mentally yelled. 'This is not the time for pessimism!'
I started marching up the stairs to floor 2, where Jessy's room was located. But when I reached the top, I realized I had forgotten one very important detail. 'Which room was she in again?' I asked myself as I peered down the dark hallway. As much as I tried, I found I couldn't remember her room number. However, I did remember that she hung a large sunflower head on her door. I desperately hoped she hadn't taken it off.
I walked through the long hallway, keeping my focus on the doors. So far there were no sunflowers hanging from any of them. Dang. Suddenly, I heard a footstep behind me. I halted. My heart started racing, guiltily knowing I wasn't supposed to be up here. I slowly turned around expecting to see a student, but there was nobody at all.
'Maybe I'm imagining things', I thought, turning back around. No sooner had I done that, I felt something slam into my back and knock me to the ground. "Oof!" All my breath flew out in one painful blow. I quickly looked over my shoulder to see my attacker, but there was still no one there. The sound of something breathing alerted me that it was close to my right side.
Whipping my hand out, I tried to punch whatever it was, but I felt nothing. I frantically tried to get on my feet, but I was knocked down again by the thing's heavy blows. Something stabbed my arm and I cried out in pain. Realization hit me: I was being attacked by an invisible thing.
A jolt of terror ripped through me as I recalled SlenderMan's past. He had said he protected the humans against invisible monsters. He didn't have time to bind them tonight! "The stupid...secret...service!", I hissed as I kicked out, trying to trip it. It seemed impossible to defeat this monster.
Maybe it was, but I had to at least try to fight it. For SlenderMan. I jumped onto my feet, ignoring the numbing pain in my arm. I heard what sounded like a large dog run across the pavement straight at me. I side stepped and it zoomed by. I heard a yelp as it fell down the stairs behind me and then it was silent.
I brought my fists up as I cautiously approached the staircase. Peering over, I observed the bottom step. I still couldn't see anything, but I knew it was dead. I lowered my defenses and sighed in relief. It was time to go room hunting again. Fortunately, I found a sunflower decorated door just a few paces behind me. How I had missed it, I'm not sure. But what was important was I had found it.
I stood there in front of Jessy's door for what seemed like an eternity, all sorts of worries racing through my head. 'How will she react when she sees I'm not dead? What will she do? Will she understand? Does she even live here anymore?' My fear almost overwhelmed me to leaving and never coming back, but a new thought pushed through all my nervous ones and shone like the sun: a young, brown haired girl being held by a phantom, both locked in each other's embrace. That memory gave me the courage I needed , and I raised my fist to knock.
No one answered. I knocked again, this time ringing the doorbell directly after. Same result. My hope was starting to ebb away when I saw the doorknob turn. The door creaked open and a half-asleep Jessy stood in the doorway. I choked back tears from seeing a face I had grown up with after such a long time.
Jessy blinked and stared at me blankly. My heart froze. Didn't she remember me? "Carrie?", she muttered. I was about to reply when she continued, "No, that's impossible. Carrie died over a year ago." "Its really me", I managed to choke out. Jessy eyed me with suspicion. "If you really are Carrie Winters and not just my imagination, tell me something only the real Carrie would know."
"You and I- we grew up together. We both attended Watercreek Elementary and New Haven High. I used to give you all my lunch money just so you would make me talk to Michael Thompson, the guy I'd been obsessing about since third grade." It all came out in one big rush. Jessy's eyes got wide, as they always did when she was about to cry. "But- but you died!", she whispered unbelievingly. "I didn't", I tried to comfort her. She let out a choked cry and rushed in for a hug. As she sobbed all over me, and I told her the crazy story about what happened from the day I left to earlier tonight.
After I finished, she took a minute to regain herself again. "If I didn't know you as well as I do- or did, I would say you've gone crazy." "That's why I came to you", I muttered. "I hoped you would believe me." She took a deep breath, and sighed. "I do believe you. I know you don't lie. It's just, well, it sounds insane." "I know", I said quickly, realizing every minute that passed was another minute lost to save SlenderMan.
"Listen, don't be upset. I'm alright", I told her. "I just really, really need to borrow your car, and a few other things." "Alright", Jessy said. "Come inside and take what you need. You'd better pay me back if it gets damaged, though", she added playfully. I laughed nervously.
Rummaging through her stuff, I found her car keys, a bottle of water, some sunglasses and a gun. I frowned at my last item. Hopefully I wouldn't need to use it. "Okay. I'm good", I called out. I went back into her living room and saw her staring at me uncertainly. "What?", I asked.
"Last time I saw you packing things like that, you disappeared for an entire year", she murmured. "I felt like a part of me had died when you didn't come back." I didn't realize how much I hurt her by not returning. My heart snapped. Who was I to barge into her home and make her relive all these terrible memories? "Listen", I said, looking directly at her. "It was selfish of me not to tell you I was alright. I always knew it would hurt you, and it was really stupid of me not to consider how you would feel. I am so sorry." I felt myself getting choked up.
Jessy nodded, then walked over to give me a hug. We stood there for a second before I backed up. "I'll see you later", I said playfully, walking towards the door. "Carrie." I turned back. She was staring at me strangely, and I got nervous she wouldn't let me leave. "If you get out of there alive, promise me, promise me you'll let me know you're okay." I grinned. "I promise."
Walking out of her condo was harder than I expected. I glanced back to see her for possibly the last time, but she was gone. I sighed sadly and got into her car. As I turned the key, the sound of the engine roaring brought forgotten skills back to mind, and I smiled. I was on my way to save SlenderMan at last.