I'm almost past the tree line, which I am convinced that in this dream-world is the point of no return. If I allow myself to be pulled into the forest, he will have me. Her face distorts again and this time it's as if she has no face, just a head. Her features are gone. I feel blood pouring from my nose in a steady flow. Her grip is weakening me! I dig my feet into the ground and pull back. She distorts one more time, and I can clearly see her for the first time, as terror stricken as I am. She's disappearing into the darkness, but she's mouthing something. It's inaudible, but just as she releases her grip from my arm, I catch it. She's saying, “…now! You have to wake up, run!” and then she disappears into the woods.
I see a spectral hand form, identical to the one that touched me in my sleep the night Shana disappeared. I'm ten feet away from it before it grabs me. I take off. I have no idea where to run, but I don't stop to think. I just move. I can't tell if he's following me, but if he is then he has the advantage as long as we’re in this realm. I keep stumbling, tripping, and falling. Sometimes I catch myself, and sometimes I fall flat on my face, but I keep getting back up and running. I pass my house and enter the section of the neighborhood that isn't illuminated for me.
I can hear Shana's scream again, and I close my eyes to keep tears from flying out. I'm losing Shana again. There's no way this is some illusion. He has her. He's making her scream as a punishment. I pass another house and turn onto the next street, and then suddenly the environment begins blacking out. It's not the dark shadowy blackness of the monster though. It's freedom, its escape, it's a fence. I collide with the fence, but being so experienced in falls and collisions lately I catch myself before I fall all the way.
I am about to resume my flight when I notice something. I see the moon. It’s illuminating the street, and I hear crickets. Their chirping wasn’t present five seconds ago. This means that I escaped. I'm awake, and I'm free, but I'm on the same street I fled to in the dream world. On top of that, the numb feeling slowly fades from my body, leaving me full of a feeling of pins and needles so intense that it is painful. Due to all the falls in the other world, I ache with pain in so many places. Whatever just happened, it was no dream.
14: The Branch
I rush back to my house with the pain pulsing with every step. My palms, elbows, knees, and face have all taken blows from my multiple collisions. I can imagine I'm pretty bruised up too. I reach my house and see that the door is wide open like I left it. So the dream must have been some nightmarish trance then. If that's true, then why did no one wake up when I fell down the stairs? It must have been loud. I don't know the exact time, but the sky is a purplish hue of impending sunrise, so it must be sometime after four at the earliest.
I climb upstairs and peek into Adam's room to see that he is still lying in bed, breathing. I can hear Shana's screams echoing in my mind. It may not have been the real Shana, but there’s definitely still some of her in there. She must have fought to tell me to run. Maybe he's using her like a marionette, or impersonating her. Either way, her screams were terrifying, and every time it plays through in my mind my body feels heavier, like I'm ready to collapse. You can imagine how someone would scream if they were being axe-murdered by a psychopath, but this scream is worse. When someone is about to be murdered, they’re afraid that they’re going to die painfully, but this scream was filled with the knowledge that the escape of death isn’t coming.
I don’t want to leave Shana like that, but what can I do? I go into the bathroom and rinse the blood and sweat from my face. As I do this I repeat the question in my mind. What can I do? I've always wanted to help Shana, and I was almost positive that the shadow monster is what has her, and now it's been confirmed. Now that I hear- now that I am aware of her fear and pain, I don’t know what I can do, but I do know that I can't just leave her. There’s got to be something I can at least try. It's the tree he wants me to go to, but if I go to the tree in this state, in the real world, will he be able to hurt me? Maybe if I burn the tree? Dad keeps a spare can of gas in the garage, and I'm sure there are matches around here somewhere for the Shabbat candles. No, I can't do that. That would cause a forest fire that I probably wouldn't be able to escape, and even if I do, I'll be jailed for arson.
What would happen if I cut the tree down though? If that's the fiend's totem, his portal, then if it's destroyed he should go away, or at least slow him down right? Or maybe a new one will pop up in its place. How would I cut it down? I can use a chainsaw, but we don't have one. In fact I don't think there's anything at my disposal I can use to cut down the tree. I can at least bother to check though. I can go out back into the shed. Chances are there's something of use there.
I stop in my room and change first. If I'm going to be out in the cold night air I will need a jacket, and some shoes. I put my hoodie over my pajama shirt and throw on some athletic pants over my shorts. I put on some socks and running shoes and then creep downstairs. I hear a stirring coming from my parents’ room and freeze. I'll be damned if my parents don't wake up when I fall down the stairs, but do when I creep down them. After I hear the sound of running water coming from the master bathroom I quickly but quietly escape the house and shut the front door behind me.
As soon as I'm outside, I look around to make sure the monster hasn't returned. After doing so, I run around the side of the house and to the back. In our backyard is a shed, but it's never locked. I don't even think there's much in here. Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever being in there at all. I open the shed and wince as it creaks loudly the whole way. I want to sneak in and shut the door but it's so dark in here, and with no windows I'll need the moonlight to show me the way. I wish I’d thought to grab a flashlight, but that would involve scouring the whole house for one and probably waking everyone up. Inside the shed sits a big lawnmower. It's dirty and covered with dead grass. Next to the lawnmower are items useless to me like rakes, a tire iron- a toolbox.
There must be something in there right? I go over to the toolbox and am surprised at how heavy it is. It’s big and rectangular, and it takes me a few tries to get the clasps open. After I finally open it a bunch of lazily piled tools fall out and clang loudly. I put my hands to my ears reflexively although it's not what I hear that what matters.
After a long pause to make sure my parents aren’t rushing out to catch me I sort through the tools and find nothing but wrenches, and wrench-like thingies that I don't even know the name for. None of them so much as have a blade. After a huff and a puff I take one last look around the shed and then leave. I might not be able to cut down the tree after all.
Standing outside the shed I look around with disappointment before something catches my eye. You can see the neighbor’s yards all the way down the street as the fences are chain-link, but a few houses down I see a pile of chopped wood. They aren’t in plastic packages or with anything to hint that they were bought, so that must imply that the people- I'm not sure who they are, we aren't very social with our neighbors- chopped it themselves. I am about ready to hop the fence into the adjacent yard but then I catch sight of their doghouse. It’s not particularly big, but I know I’ve heard dogs barking here before, and they aren’t Chihuahuas.
I go around the front way, hoping no one in this neighborhood has a five A.M. appointment. When I reach the house with the woodpile, I sneak around back and am relieved to see no doghouse next to their wood pile. I'm not a thief, but for the sake of trying to save a life- or prevent further kidnappings- I'm sure they wouldn't mind if I borrow-without-asking one of their tools. I try and hop the fence with my normal dexterity, but my bruises flash with pain and I stumble at the top, cutting my thigh on the top of the fence. It's not deep, but it stings and will probably bleed. I don't want to delay though, so I limp over to their shed with one hand on my thigh.
When I reach the doors, I see that they are padlocked, great. I sigh and am about to give up when I see just what I need. There is a large woodcutting axe lazily propped against the pile of wood. I almo
st laugh when I remember I'm trying to be discreet. I snatch the axe, toss it over the fence and- carefully this time- hop back over. I stick as much of the axe as I can into my jacket. The head is fully concealed, but there are a good six inches of the handle sticking out from underneath.
I reach the edge of the sidewalk, my usual stretch point. Well, I was always careful to stretch before running through the woods, so why not stretch before trying to defeat a monster from another dimension? I do stretch as best as I can with the pain and trying to conceal the axe. I feel like I'm finally ready, but when I'm about to battle-charge into the woods, a little voice inside my head reminds me of what I'm about to do. As I think about my mission, I suddenly feel like it's not such a good idea. I am about to venture over a mile into the woods alone so early in the morning that it’s pretty much night. These woods are the playground for a shadow entity that's been kidnapping people, and I'm going in based on the hunch that if I cut down an eerie tree everyone will be okay.
I take a step back, but then Shana's screams echo in my head. I have to try otherwise I'll spend the rest of my life regretting it and wondering if I could have saved her. She would do the same for me. I look and see the sun rising. At least I'll have light. I jog off into the woods, doing the best I can to keep the axe from falling out or disemboweling me, but once I get about fifty yards in, I lose the urge to run. I can still hardly see, and I get the feeling that I'm not alone.
I begin walking, slowly but steadily. I listen for any sound that differs from the sound of leaves and twigs crunching beneath me. I still have the axe tucked into my jacket, and I contemplate bringing it out so I will be ready to swing if something jumps out at me. Is the monster even corporeal enough to be hurt by an axe?
I climb the first slope. By now, the sun is casting an orange and pink glow. Another twenty minutes must have passed since I first entered the woods. The forest is still unusually dark though. Maybe it's because I haven't been in the woods this early before, but I don't like the idea of not being able to see far ahead of me. I keep feeling like I'm back in the nightmare, and at times I feel like I've taken a wrong turn. I'm used to looking far ahead of me to determine my path to the clearing, not from tree to tree.
I hear leaves rustling in response to a gust of wind. The wind blows past me and I shudder, not because of any kind of chill, but because of the static wave that passes through me. I tremble and let out a tiny squeak in response. He knows I’m here. I keep walking. I can't stop now. I feel like he’s behind me, but I don't dare turn around. Another gust hits me and I close my eyes. I don't want to open them for fear of what I might see. I begin taking very deep and controlled breaths to calm myself. I try and make them as quiet as possible because I don't want him to hear how scared I am if he can't already sense it.
I don't hear any footsteps to signal him following me, but every few seconds another wave of static passes through me, reminding me that he's watching me. I look at the ground, guiding myself forward by memory. I don't know where he is, or how close he is, but he's stalking me. Why isn't it attacking me? Maybe he's having fun toying with me. Maybe he’s confused as to why I would come here of my own will and is waiting to find out. If that's the case then it's best I keep the axe hidden under my jacket. Or maybe he needs to wear me down before he can strike.
Whatever it is, I can't show any signs of fear or panic. I can't run. I have to ignore him. I have to pretend he's not there. If I run, scream, or stop, he will know I'm scared. It's harder than it sounds, and with every step I take, with every static wave that pulses through me, I find it harder to keep my wits. Panicky thoughts flood my mind. What have I gotten myself into? Why didn't I call the police department and have them cut the tree down. Or why didn't I have some other adult come out and do it. Why didn't I at least bring an escort?
I've set myself up here. I've made the fiend’s job easier. As these thoughts set in, I find it harder to draw steady breaths. I take one slow deep breath, but force it all out in an uncontrollable burst, accompanied by an audible squeak or moan that I know he hears. It's harder to walk, and it doesn’t help that the more the sun rises, the darker the forest seems to get. Why didn't I bring a flashlight? I didn't come as prepared as I should have.
I feel as if my rib cage is about to crack behind my heart’s heavy thuds. I reach another incline. I'm finally here! It's only a few more yards and then I can hack away, but he's watching me. Will he let me cut the tree down? Can he stop me? Every time he’s been able to immobilize me I was in that state between waking and sleeping. I figure I should be pretty safe since I’m wide awake, but then again I doubt Lionel was asleep when the fiend claimed him.
I pause just past the base of the incline. I'm unsure of how I want to proceed. I could draw the axe and run in with a Rebel yell, or maybe I could creep up and take it by surprise. I can still sense him, awaiting my next step. Maybe he's waiting for me to come within arm's reach of the tree to grab me. Another wave of static comes, and this time I can almost hear a breath as it passes through me. It's as if he's right behind me, ushering me forward. As the wave passes through me, I feel a mixture of fluid running down my face: sweat, tears, and now blood from my nose. My body is weakening.
Is he attacking me now? No, I can't let him. I move up the hill as quickly as my willpower pushes me, but it's still slower than the average walking pace. My brain is screaming at me. No! No! No! What else can I do though? I can't run, I can't just stay here, and if I can't go forward he wins without a fight. When I reach the top of the hill, I see the tree, barely visible in the dark forest. It's hard to count exactly how many, but there are now more than nine branches on this tree. It looks closer to a dozen give or take. That’s only more proof that this tree isn't just a normal tree.
I approach the tree and I’m only a few feet away from it when I hear Shana's cries coming from it. I close my eyes and jerk the axe out of my jacket. I take one more step, and then feel another static wave. This one is more intense though, and now it's accompanied by a loud monotonous screeching sound. It matches the static pulse but it’s shrill and loud, and I half expect my ears to burst from the noise. The screeching becomes one nonstop note. I feel my body going numb, like it was in the nightmare and then I realize what’s happening. It is attacking me! It's trying to stop me! Then that means- I rush forward with the axe and take a swing. I feel it collide against the tree and yank it back. I feel pain.
The static is pulsing, trying to silence me. I strike the tree again, but this time I think the axe hits one of the branches instead of the trunk. No! I can't hit random places I have to knock the tree down. I am about to swing again when I feel another pulse and my arms are almost completely numb. Unfeeling, I still manage to swing the axe again, and again, and again. I don't know what I'm swinging at. My eyes are closed and I am swinging at everything. I'm swinging at the monster. I'm swinging at branches. I'm swinging at the tree. I'm growing weaker. I'm falling to my knees. I- I can't feel anything except for numbing static. I can't hear anything except for the continuous shriek. Has he won? I feel myself weakening, and hear the sound of a branch falling to the ground beside me before I succumb.
15: The Rescue
I come to my senses and find that I’m on the ground by the tree. Blood flows back into my head and I feel nauseous, but the static grip on me weakens. I open my eyes, but close them immediately. He is right there. Head tingling and eyes closed, I do my best to propel myself back and crawl out of the way. I feel him grab me again, and at his touch a wave of the burning numbness courses through my body. I open my eyes again and see him there. One of his limbs is attached to me, but I close my eyes once more to stop that pain in my eyes. Jolts of pain come from my torso and arms as well. They are quick, but frequent.
I hear a scream coming from my left. I open my eyes and look to see Shana lying on the ground. She's writhing as if trying to crawl. Where did she come from? Is this really her, or more of a nightmare? More flashes of pain shoot through me and I look do
wn and notice that they are coming from the distortions in my body. Every time my body moves like static I feel pain, as if that part of my body is being torn off.
I scream as the ripping pains become even more frequent. I see that the black shadowy limb that's touching me doesn't appear to be an arm. It's like a black vortex that's attached to the monster, somehow appearing solid at the same time. Every time it distorts with static, so do I, and then I get hit with a flash of pain. It's like it's sucking the life right out of me. I roll onto my stomach and crawl away, toward Shana. I stop screaming, although I can't tell if that's my willpower, or if I'm just getting weaker.
I reach Shana and put a hand on her, trying to pull her up with me as I try to stand. She doesn't seem to realize what's going on, but with one look at me, recognition lights her face, and she leans forward on me. She isn't necessarily helping me up but with the shift of balance I find it easier to rise. I feel another jolt of pain, and cringe, but the painful flashes are less intense now.
I'm ten feet or so away from the fiend, ten feet away from the tree. I can't tell which one is hurting me. Maybe it's both, or maybe they're the same thing. I limp away with Shana at my side. I feel pain again, and although it's even weaker than before, with it being the only thing I can feel through the numbness I cry out. What's he doing to me? I'm not bleeding, but it feels like I should be.
“Shana,” I say weakly. She doesn't answer, but keeps walking forward with me, leaning on my shoulder. I notice she isn't distorting like she was in the nightmare, like I am now. I think I see why though.
I see another appendage lash out and attach to her, and in response her whole body distorts and she lets out a loud scream. I take a look back at the monster and notice that the limbs attached to us seem to be coming from the upper half of the thing, like- like branches. Is that it then? Is that why the tree kept spawning more branches? Does this mean that his tree gains a new branch for each child he kidnaps? If so, then what happens to us when he takes us in? I'm not sure if that's an answer I want to find out.
The Slender Man Page 13
