Byron's Secret (Slenderman Romance)

Chapter 16. What Are Their Motives?

I grabbed my phone and blanket tightly in my fists as I forced myself to just close my eyes and fall asleep.

But I fucking can't.

For the hundredth time, I pressed the little button on my phone and was blinded by the beaming light that came from it. It is now one in the morning while I lay restless on the sofa in the living room.

Well, technically, I was supposed to be sleeping in Rosanne and Benjamin's room but why on earth would I do that even if they force me to? I can't let them sleep on the couch in their own home while I indulge in a bed which is too big for me. It just doesn't feel right. It's a good, good thing they stopped trying to make me use their room, I probably won't be able to sleep if that happened . . .

Rather, I can't really sleep in here either.

Everything is just so . . . creepy. I mean, sure, there's a lamppost outside the house so it's slightly lit in here but that's the worst part. The half-lit interior of this house keeps forming weird and scary silhouettes. I know they're not real, but my paranoia is attacking me!

And the living room also has way too many windows. The tall trees outside aren't helping, they just make things look more unsettling.

Maybe Dylan is awake right now . . . He is an engineer, after all. He may be a jerk but he's still my brother, hearing from him will definitely make me calmer.

I decided to call him but groaned when I saw that there wasn't any signal at all. Right, just my luck.

I sat up and debated as I stared at the front door. Decided, I stood up and draped the blanket around my shoulders as I walked towards the wooden door and unlocked it.

I was greeted by the cold, night air as I opened it. I hurriedly went outside and shut the door behind me, not wanting anyone to see me.

A little fresh air wouldn't hurt, I probably needed it way more than I thought I would. I can't breathe in that house, the atmosphere along in that living room was suffocating.

The wooden porch creaked as I walked around it. It's getting irritating, it might also wake them up if I keep on walking here. I hugged the blanket tighter as I trudged down the porch and wandered about as I focused on getting a signal from my phone.

Oh, a signal!

And it's gone.

Tsk. I walked around, staring up at my phone which was held above high, trying to pick up a signal. This is ridiculous.

I froze when my phone finally had a signal. Smiling, I was just about to lower my hand to give Dylan a call when I heard a twig in front of me snap. My eyes immediately searched for the source of the sound. As my eyes adjusted, I noticed a dark silhouette of a man, a few steps ahead of me. He was partially standing behind a tree . . .

As my eyes fully adapted to the darkness, my vision formed the remaining details of the man which includes a white mask that he wore. Oh no . . .

"W-What do you want from me?" My voice came out a little weaker than I expected it to.

As expected, no answer, just a blank stare.

But then he started taking a step closer,

And closer,

I wanted to scream in panic but I totally lost my voice, I couldn't even speak. All I could do was run, leaving my phone and the blanket behind in a sprint for safety. I made a run for the porch. I grabbed the doorknob but somehow, it wouldn't turn, it was locked.

I didn't fucking lock it. How?

Knowing I was in deep trouble, I snapped my head back to the man, only to see him walking closer, slowly, menacingly . . .