The Slender Man by Dexter Morgenstern Read Free Book Online Page B

and
am highly anticipating getting to hug my little brother again when he’s awake,
but later in the ride, I have time to think. I think about that static entity
I’ve seen thrice now. I’ve seen it too many times for it to be some kind of
hallucination, as I’m not on any medication to induce them, and although the
recent events have downed me severely, I’m not depressed enough to conjure
them.
    The only possible solutions I am able to think up, are that
either A: it’s some kind of ghost, or entity like the Boogeyman; or B: it’s got
something to do with the disease that’s making everyone pale and giving them
nosebleeds, which doesn’t add up as much even though it would be the more
scientifically acceptable solution. Then I am struck with worry. If it is an
omen, and I saw it first at the hospital, does that mean something is going to
happen to Adam?
    We pull up to the community hospital, and my door is open
before the car comes to a full stop.
    “Whoa, careful!” shouts Dad, but I am already walking a
brisk pace to the hospital. I don’t want to make a scene, because it’s only a
hunch, but the tension is building up inside.
    When I get indoors, I don’t stop at reception, I don’t check
the map on the wall. My feet guide me exactly where I need to go from memory. I
make a numerous rights and lefts with the white walls decorated with portraits
of nameless child models mark my path. When I get to one of a two little kids
shooting each other with water pistols I recall the almost concealed door to
the stairway. I open the gray door and go up two flights, after a few more
turns here and there I’m in the hallway we awaited the fate of our loved ones
in. I don’t enter the intensive care ward though. I continue until I get to the
end of the hall, and make another left.
    There are two double doors on my right. They lead to the
recovery ward. I am about to enter when I hear my dad’s voice in conversation
with someone, but they aren’t behind me. Ding! I look to the left and
see an elevator door open, and my Dad steps through accompanied Dr. Spruce, now
with a happier look on her face. I am ready to face-palm myself. The
elevator!
    “…here she is. I’m telling you she just took right off!”
says Dad to Dr. Spruce.
    “Eager to see her little brother?” she smiles. I nod back
and she leads us through the recovery ward. I don’t take off this time, lest
they have some teleportation device that will get us there faster, but they
don’t. We enter Adam’s room and I am surprised to see him already out of bed in
a wheelchair being pushed by the nurse that almost wordlessly relayed the fate
of Kenny to the Larches. I look at Adam with a smile, but it drops quickly as I
see that not only is he not smiling back, but no color has returned to his
face, and he puts a bloody tissue up to his nose stifling a nosebleed.

 
6: The Sadness
     
     
     
     
     
    Vegetable alfredo and falafel sticks with hummus. I smell
the aroma of the food resting in my arms, and can almost taste it. We cooked
this for the Hawthorn’s and are bringing it to them. It’s not traditional for
people to use appliances while sitting shivah, so family and friends often
bring meals during visits. The aroma is mouthwatering, and I can’t wait to eat
it. I am riding in the car driven by my parents. Bubbe is staying at home to
watch Adam (she isn’t too close to the Hawthorns), but the rest of us are
paying a visit, and we will be every day until Wednesday, when the Hawthorns
can return to their business.
    The Hawthorns don’t live far away, but not far away means
driving through the main part of town. On the way I look around and note how
remarkably grand looking the town is for such a small population. A lot of the
buildings are constructed with beige bricks and have their business logos
painted, and for some places engraved on the buildings. It all seems older and
more crudely built, but when you compare them to the more modern