SLENDER MAN (Slender Man Fan Fiction)

Chapter 18: Saved

Knock, knock!

The knock at the door startled Mr. and Mrs. Hacheen, who were slumped in their seats at home. The couple glanced at each other. Hopefully, it wasn't the boss of the FBI, Jack. He had questioned them  earlier this morning, and made them wake up very early. Mr. Hacheen shrugged, then leisurely walked towards the door. He opened the door sleepily. A woman stood there with her hands on her hips, looking impatient. Her buttoned shirt was covered with lint, and her skirt reached all the way down to her loafers. She had blond hair in a tight bun, and pointed ears. Mr. Hacheen recoiled when her sharp voice came out. 

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Hacheen," she greeted the couple, peering inside at Mrs. Hacheen who gave a nervous wave.

"Oh, yes, Ms. Yalley. You're Braison's homeroom teacher, aren't you?" Mr. Hacheen said to the woman breathlessly.

"Yes, I wanted to apologize about your children. They've been missing for quite a while, right?" Ms. Yalley said briskly. "I heard about it on the news, and I've seen posters hung around." She then scanned Braison's parent's faces. It didn't take a mind reader to tell that they were sleepy and wanted to be left alone.

"Well, I won't bother you two anymore...goodbye for now," Ms. Yalley muttered, walking off.

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"Ssshhhhh...she's sleeping," a gentle voice hissed quietly. "Be quiet!"

"Now Libby, calm yourself, she can't hear a single thing!" another voice said, except deeper and a bit louder.

Braison just saw darkness through her sealed eyelids. But then she fluttered her eyelids open, very slowly as if she was a baby who was beginning to see. Braison wrinkled her forehead. Aren't I supposed to be dead? she thought, squinting her eyes at her surroundings. There was no cold air, and clean windows were shut tightly to keep harsh winds out. The wooden floor creaked as people stepped on it, and a fan ceiling with a bright light was spinning to give a nice little breeze. This place seemed nice with polished furniture and bookcases organized with books. Everything was quiet.

"Joe....." a person said with anger in her voice. "Look. At. What. You. Did."

This person was a lady with a voice that soothed Braison immediately. She seemed blurry at first, but Braison's eyes quickly could see again after minutes. The woman was dressed in comfy jeans and a minty plaid top. Her hair was bright red and streamed down her shoulders in little waves. She had dazzling emerald eyes that could stare at someone mysteriously. This woman looked perfect to Braison.

"Oh, dear. I'll go get her some tea," the woman said to a man next to her. "You talk to her first." And with that, she vanished into a room. The man strolled up to Braison. His hair was shaved off and his dark eyes glanced uneasily at Braison, who probably looked horrible. The man brushed dirt off his white t-shirt.

"Hi. I'm Joe. That was my wife, Liberty. But you can call her Libby," the man explained, forcing himself to smile. His strained smile, which was pretty much the corners of his mouth turned up, bothered Braison. Braison ignored him, so he'd see that he was bothering her. She snuggled deeper into the cozy blanket that was wrapped around her, and pushed her head down onto a marshmellow-soft pillow. Braison had never felt so warm and calm in her life, and she noticed how her little cuts from falling yesterday were covered with a plop of gooey substance. The cuts would heal pretty soon. Braison tried to speak, but all that came out were gulps. Finally, words flowed out her mouth.

"I'm Braison," she mumbled, coughing a bit. Libby reappeared, holding a clean tray. The tray had a flowered teapot on it with little teacups. A mini plate of chocolate chip cookies also lay on the tray. Braison licked her dry lips with delight.

"What a lovely name," Libby remarked, giving Braison a warm smile. But Braison thought a name like Rosie or Elizabeth would be much lovelier.

"What's going on, why am I here? Where's my dog, Shane?" Braison questioned, her eyes growing wide as saucers. Libby pulled out a chair and sat on it properly.

"Your dog's right here," Libby said, pointing to furry figure that lay on a fuzzy rug. It really was Shane. He was resting and had just finished drinking some water that Joe gave him. Libby continued to speak. She asked in her gentle but  firm voice,

"Now tell me, what are you doing in Slender Forest?"

Braison spilled out everything. Everything about Slender Man, Gunner, and Catalina. She added a few more details to her explanations and then finished with a heavy sigh. Libby seemed to be listening closely to her words, and nodding. Joe just half-listened, slurping up some tea.

"Okay, now I'm done with me. Who are you, and why are you here?" Braison asked curiously. She looked up at both of them. The two sighed.

"We're a couple. We loved this forest. We hung out in it all the time since we were kids," Libby explained, smiling at the memories that appeared in her mind. "Since we're in our mid twenties, we decided to get married, and we live here now. We've been here for about a year."

"But don't you know about Slender Man?" Braison gulped, cringing when she mentioned his name.

"Of course we do! Joe studied about him as a teen. We believe he's real, and we're very careful," Libby told Braison softly. "No one will ever make us leave this lovable forest where we shared good adventures and had unforgettable memories. Not even some scary creature." Braison eyed Libby, who was staring into space. She knew how much this forest meant to Libby now...and Joe.

"WAIT...oh, Lord! NO! My friend Catalina and my brother Gunner...!!" Braison yelped, sitting up on the couch. "Have you seen them?!" Libby and Joe looked worriedly at each other.

"During the stroll that night, we only bumped into you, and never ran into any other people...we saw Slender Man, but we ran really quick," Joe replied, standing. "We see him often though, so it's no surprise." Concern grew in Braison, and she began shaking like the night Slender Man chased her.

"Don't worry Braison, let's go find 'em," Libby suggested, putting on her coat with Joe. Braison  jumped off the couch, rubbing the bags under her tired eyes. She grabbed the coat Libby gave her and yanked the door open.

"Wait..." Braison murmured, before the couple could dart outside. "Thank you." Libby grinned, and Joe did as well.

"For what?" Joe asked, chuckling.

"Saving my life," Braison said, and she walked out the door.