Slender Man Week 3: Sweet Dreams These Are Not

[ever_lovin]

 The paperback of War and Peace slipped out of Ben's grasp as the sleep he had been avoiding finally took him and he dreamed.

"Okay Benjy, you wanna be in the gang, ya have ta spend the night in the Warehouse," Micky, the leader of the Yancy Street Gang was saying as the rest of the gang shoved Ben towards the abandoned building everyone knew was haunted. Ben tried his best to stay brave but he had been expecting a beating not this. 

"Fine, I can take whatevers ya can dish out!" He declared though he wanted to run, especially when the alley cat yowled. Several of the gang did jump but Ben managed not to.

Jamie, the most recent member pulled open the board of the fence while Tommy gave a mock bow, "After yous." Ben ducked through the fence and the board slammed shut. He stood there, gathering his courage and clenched his fists before stepping forward. He could do this, he knew he could. It'd just be a few hours and then they'd know he was a tough guy and they could count on him.

The fog grew and made a good try at hiding the warehouse but Ben knew where the door was. Once last look at the sliver of moon and then back to the door with a gulp and Ben stepped forward only to whip around towards the figure he knew he saw out of the corner of his eye. But nothing was there. Shaking his head, he scowled. So they thought they could scare him? Pretend to be ghosts? Fat lotta good it'd do them.

The hinges creaked as he forced the door open and he nearly screamed when he felt something brush on the back of his neck and he spun again but nothing was there. He saw all the graffiti though, the circles with the x's and couldn't shake the feeling he knew them or that they were somehow watching him. He shook his head again laughing at himself. Idiot.

Fifteen minutes later and he can't get the feeling of being watched out of his head. Shadows continue to reach for him and cobwebs always seem to wrap around him. He's coughing too and has decided to hide in an office for the night. If he doesn't wander, nothing can find him right? He found an old desk and curling up in the hollow below, he's almost comfortable. His eyes close as he suddenly feels drowsy but snap open when he hears the office door creak open slowly and whisper of footfalls tantalize.

Comments

[balancingminds]

He was lost, they were in New York for the Fall shopping trip and there were so many voices and people.

Now he couldn't find where he was meant to be and the world seemed to be getting darker as more and more voices kept getting into his head.

[ever_lovin]

Ben shivers under the desk, hearing a foot fall and drag through the office door. He wants to cry but swallows the tears; he's not a baby anymore. Another foot falls and scrap and then he's running towards the door to the next office he knows is there.

[balancingminds]

Someone else is afraid, he can feel their fear, it gives him something to reach for.

He's not alone though there seems to be something in the shadows and he stops to stare at a symbol painted on the wall; a circle with two lines through it.

[ever_lovin]

He runs headlong into the office, the tears he can't fight anymore streaming down his face. Once there he pauses long enough to find the next door before running through it as well and then down the stairs. He has to get out, to get out now!

[balancingminds]

The other person's fear seems to be pounding through his head and Charles sits down.

He won't lose himself, he won't but he can't stop crying. He's not mad, they can't put him away because someone else is afraid.

[ever_lovin]

As he runs, it feels like hands keep grabbing him, or maybe it's just cobwebs, but nothing can stop him and then he's outside, blessed outside! He bends over to try and catch his breath, seeing the trees surrounding him. He's lost and there are no streets to guide him home, he can't even see stars or a moon because of the fog. The forest is dead quiet, his panting breaths the only sound.

[balancingminds]

Someone comes running towards him and Charles covers his head and says, "I'm not here. I didn't mean to be here. Don't hurt me, I didn't know!"

Since he can feel that this is the true dreamer and he doesn't want to get caught.

[ever_lovin]

Ben is looking over his shoulder and so completely misses the other boy until he runs smack into him and they both go down. Screaming, Ben starts kicking and punching, his blows wild.

[balancingminds]

Charles doesn't fight back, just tries to protect himself and keeps saying,

"I didn't mean to tell, I didn't mean to tell."

[ever_lovin]

His screaming stops as the other boys words finally register and he hits the boy one more time.

"Why the hell you'd do that?!?" Ben's angry at being scared and blaming the kid though that makes no sense. "Who put you up to this?"

[balancingminds]

He looks up and flinches as it seems like there's someone in the shadows.

Ben's words don't make sense to him, he got lost and the world feels like its pressing on him, "No one did. I got lost. Make them be quiet!"

[ever_lovin]

Ben stands and then offers his hand to the boy. "Sorry, thought you was someone else."

He may be a tough guy but he ain't no bully and it's pretty obvious by the way the kid talks, he ain't from Yancy Street.

"You okay?"

[balancingminds]

Charles takes his hand and stands up though he keeps looking in the shadows.

He's in this boy's dream, he shouldn't be here, "I'm not supposed to be in here."

[ever_lovin]

"Yeah, I can guess that," Ben drawls. "The real question is, how'd ya get here. Yer limo around here somewhere's?" He's only half joking and it's pretty obvious he doesn't realize he's dreaming.

Deep in the trees, a tall shadow breaks from the branches and trunks.

[balancingminds]

He's trying to concentrate on the other boy but something's in the trees and watching them, "We have to get out of here."

There's a press of other voices as the other boy seems to carry New York City with him and Charles holds his head.

[ever_lovin]

The kids words and obvious fears remind Ben of where he is and he turns to the shadows in the forest. "Let's get you outta here," he says, backing up away from the tree which seem so alien.

The shadow tilts it's head and dry bark creak and snap. Vines shoot out of the forest towards Ben and he screams.

[balancingminds]

"No, you can't have him!"

He yells and holds onto Ben's hand to keep him safe.

[ever_lovin]

The vines lift Ben's feet and body into the air and he clutches Charles' hand like a drowning man. His screams are now fear and pain as the vines tightens and bite into his ancles.

"Don't let go!" He yells at Charles though his hands are sweating and he can feel his grip slipping.

[balancingminds]

Charles screams along with him and holds on as tight as he can.

[ever_lovin]

Ben's hands finally slip free and he flies to the edge of the trees where he catches himself, his fingers digging into the hard dirt.

He looks up at Charles and says, "Fly ya fool," before the vines yank him into the forest.

[balancingminds]

In his room, Charles wakes up screaming and in a cold sweat, he turns on the light and shivers.

He hopes the other boy woke up in time.

[ever_lovin]

Ben wakes in his room screaming before falling back in his chair to rub his eyes. This is getting too much.