BEN Drowned | Hopes And Dreams

Chapter X

It wasn't a surprise, really.

Being told that monsters are real, it didn't really surprise me that much. Sure, if you told me that same thing about a year ago, I would've laughed at your face for still believing in them.

But since now is a different time, considering I just befriended a blonde wraith, it's honestly a whole new different perspective. I would've been surprised if he told me they weren't real.

"Why did you take me here?" I asked in a hush whisper.

Ben stopped himself from playing with the hem of the duvet. "So you could know everything about the symbol. There are limited things I could tell you about that. Especially since I'm not given permission to."

"Permission from who?"

"Me, child." The same alluring voice echoed and the tall faceless man entered the room once again. Giving me a very mild nausea.

"I'm sorry for the headache you have felt earlier. I have that kind of effect on mortals." He stated and I nodded reluctantly. He strolled towards me, looming above the bed as he reached out a hand. "I am Slenderman."

My breath hitched in my throat as I stared at his freakishly long-fingered hand, my eyes wandered from there to his face. He stared at me despite having no facial features. "S-Slenderman? You mean the—"

"The folktale, the myth, the legend. Whatever you humans call it."

I kept gaping at the poor man, mindlessly shaking his hand as I said, "My father . . . told me stories about how real you are."

"Ah, yes. I believe his name was Michael, correct? Michael Lynch?"

I nodded, being mindblown, "How'd you know his name?"

"He was quite a child. Never like the rest. And now I could see why." I didn't have any reasonable explanation, but I just felt him smile. I don't know how, I don't know why, but I friggin' felt him smile and it's creeping me out.

"Why don't you have a face?" I dumbly questioned and I could see Ben's eyes widening at the side.

He chuckled. Chuckled. And it was a deep and comforting sound that resonates inside the room. "I can really see the resemblance." I nearly questioned him how, but debated not to.

"Not all infinite entities have the ability to have normal human features, child. I do not want to belong or to be considered as such." I nodded knowingly.

"How do you eat?" Ben was literally face-palming at my side, begging me with his eyes to shut up.

But Slenderman seemed to have been enjoying my questions. "It is a process I would like to keep only to myself, child. I was told to have a terrifying 'eating face.'" he spoke the last two words in such an unsure tone.

"How come you're the one Ben needs to have permission for in order to tell me about this?" I showed him the tattoo on my finger and he took my hand gently into his, caressing the spot as it glowed under his touch.

I gaped at it as it switched from a very bright color of blue to red, until it vanished as Slenderman let go of my hand. "I am the one who have given you that symbol."

"Why? What's it for?"

"You see, child, bearing that symbol comes a great responsibility ahead of you. It is the symbol of a Proxy."

"You know," I started, my thumb grazing on the symbol on my finger, "I keep hearing that word; Proxy. What even is a Proxy? And why does Ben claim I'm his proxy, and you're here telling me you gave me this symbol. How does that even work?"