Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 15. Folklore

『Sorry for rusty grammar, it's been so long』

"So, Joy, you'd like to work at my farm?" Benjamin asked from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, I think it'll be fun. I really need it." I mumbled a reply with a smile. I swayed about as the bus drove around the town, heading to the farm.

"Well, it'll be a huge help, but are ye sure you ain't busy today?" He asked, concerned.

"No, I don't really have anything to do," I shrugged, "I think it's convenient to check the farm out today since tomorrow is only Sunday."

"That's good, lass." He nodded with a satisfied smile, "It'll take about thirty minutes to get there on this bus here."

I watched the scenery as we drove, there's really a lot of trees in this town, it's very beautiful. The long road is surrounded by a huge forest all throughout. Some time later, I really feel like taking a walk along this road－though I don't think I ever will. Maybe. It's because I'm being stalked and all that, it feels like I'm restricted, like I can't do the things I want without worrying.

"Hey . . ." I thought of a conversation, "How long does it take to walk to the farm from the town?"

"Walking, eh?" He muttered to himself, "Ain't sure, but it's surely over an hour. We're a'ready drivin' really fast but we're still a lil far." He gave me a glance, "There's always a bus driving around every hour around town, you can just catch a ride."

"Yeah . . . it's just, this place is really nice, it seems relaxing to take a walk or just ride a bike." I smiled as I stared at the woods passing by.

He chuckled, "I know what ye mean, lass." He smiled, but it slowly faded away as he turned serious, "But, I don't really encourage people travelling through these roads alone, things are happening, ya hear?"

"Things, you say?" I grew curious.

"They disappear." He went straight to the point, "It happens on rare occasions, but there were people who had the same thoughts as you and were never seen again." He shook his head solemnly.

"I－That's awful." I frowned, "Why is this happening? What do those people want?"

"No one can say for sure." His emotions matched mine, "There's a folklore, ya see . . ."

"Folklore?" I mumbled. I'm not one to believe in such stories but I don't mind knowing about it.

"Here in this town, and the forest around it . . . there have been sighting." He began with the same serious tone, "A tall man but we ain't even sure if we should call it a man. Many people had seen it, a tall figure, too tall to be human, lurking in the woods."

"What do you think it was?" I commented. It could be a prank for all I know.

"I don't know meself, I've seen it as well, lass. It's real." His eyes widened as if remembering the terrible event, "It can't be human . . ."

"And by 'it', you mean . . ?"

"Slenderman."

What－man?"

"It goes by that name, it's what children calls it." He gave me a worried glance, "Kids, very young ones, they would say they saw it, call it a friend, eventually, parents started hearing the name 'Slenderman', the children says that's its name."

"Children?" A shiver ran down my spine as I remembered Helena's daughter, Nicole. Her drawings basically is proof of what Benjamin is saying, that figure with no face . . .

"Yes, 'Slenderman' apparently don't have a face. The children are smarter when it comes to this folklore. They've seen things adults didn't live to tell." He answered, "This story, this legend, I know it's true, I've seen it with me own eyes."