The neighborhood park was almost deserted, save for the occasional chirp of crickets and the rustling of leaves in the cool night breeze. Carmen, Amanda, and Abby sat together on a weathered wooden bench beneath a streetlamp, enjoying the quiet.
Amanda suddenly leaned forward with an excited grin. "You guys know about the legend of Slenderman, right?"
Carmen rolled her eyes."Oh, here we go."
"I'm serious!" Amanda insisted. "There's this tall, mysterious guy called Slenderman. If you say this certain chant and walk into the woods, you'll find his mansion."
Carmen laughed. "There's no such thing as Slenderman."
"There is!" Amanda argued. "My brother and his friends did it a few weeks ago. They found his house, and they even saw Slenderman staring at them through one of the windows."
Carmen snorted. "Yeah, it's called schizophrenia, Amanda."
Abby shifted nervously."Carmen... what if it's true? I've heard stories from all kinds of people around here. They all say the same thing."
"It's a load of bullshit," Carmen replied, crossing her arms. "None of it's real."
Amanda stood up, placing her hands on her hips.
"Fine. If you're so sure, come with us."
"What?" Said Carmen
"You heard me. Abby and I are going to look for Slenderman's house. If you don't want to come..." Amanda shrugged dramatically. "...I guess we just won't sit with you at school anymore." Carmen stared at her, dumbfounded.
"Are you seriously blackmailing me?"
Amanda smiled innocently. "Maybe."
Carmen groaned. "If it'll make you shut up, fine. I'll go."
Amanda clapped excitedly. "Yes! Let's go!"
The three girls left the bench and headed toward the tree line at the edge of the park.
As they reached the forest, Amanda pulled out her phone and switched on the flashlight.
"Take out your flashlights," she instructed. Abby and Carmen reluctantly did the same. Amanda took a deep breath.
"Repeat after me." She spoke slowly.
"Slenderman, Slenderman...
Where is your house?
Slenderman, Slenderman...
We will find you."
The three girls repeated the chant together.
Once. Twice. Three times. Silence followed. Nothing happened.
Carmen smirked. "See? Told you."
Amanda ignored her and stepped into the woods."Come on."
The deeper they walked, the colder the air became. Their flashlights barely pierced the darkness between the towering trees. Every snapping twig made Abby jump.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Carmen asked. "I didn't even bring my pepper spray."
Amanda smiled confidently. "Trust me."
They continued walking. Then... Voices. Faint. Somewhere ahead. Carmen stopped dead in her tracks.
"...Did you guys hear that?"
Amanda raised a finger to her lips. "Shh."
"What if that's someone else?" Carmen whispered
Amanda whispered, "That means we're getting closer."
None of them spoke another word. They continued through the darkness.
Then three figures stepped out from between the trees. Amanda screamed. Abby screamed. Both girls immediately turned and ran. Carmen froze.
"Oh, shit..."
She looked around frantically.
"Amanda?! Abby?!"
They were already gone. One of the masked men lunged toward her. Carmen instinctively raised her hands.
"Wait! - "
Before she could finish, the stranger swung the back of his axe into the side of her head.
Everything went black.
YOU ARE READING
Stockholm syndrome
Fanfiction⤷ ゛Hey! There's a Sequel out now! ˎˊ˗ Stockholm syndrome: noun Feelings of trust or affection felt in many cases of kidnapping or hostage-taking by a victim toward a captor You are a teenage girl named Carmen, you're out with your friends one ni...
