House Of Wolves (Creepypasta Fanfic)

Chapter 10: Warm welcome

Bathory

I don't know what I'd been expecting; maybe he was going to drive us off in a van or maybe this was some type of undercover sting operation, but no, we walked to the edge of the woods a mile down the road and made our way in. The sparse birches blended in with the snow, the white catching whatever light it could and casting it back. I made him stop so I could change my shoes to my ratty sneakers instead of my good boots.

"Who...Who are you?" I asked quietly as we walked, "why did you choose now, of all times, to finally reveal yourself to me?"

"I put off our meeting for as long as possible, knowing the day I finally met you would be the day I'd have to take you home," he explained softly, "I saw you feed. I knew I'd have to reach out eventually because they'd start linking the bodies. They always do."

"It's just an animal," I said absentmindedly, "a cougar."

"They won't believe that for long," he told me, "I sent a friend to watch you and make sure you didn't get into anymore trouble than you were already in, but when she saw the fire she found me immediately. I knew I had to bring you now or you might be lost forever."

"I still don't even know who you are," I told him, "or what you are."

"Please forgive me," he paused, "my common name is the Slenderman, others know me as Der Ritter or Operator, but those closest call me Slendy or Slender. I'm a being from centuries ago that was lost to the time but not to the world; I've become a collector of oddities and unique souls. There's others like you at the house."

"House?"

"I have a home where everyone lives," Slender explained, "you can stay there if you'd like, or if you'd rather stay in the human world you can too. I don't recommend it though."

"Why not?"

"Eventually you'll either get caught, or you'll turn on someone you love," there was a sad note to his voice, "it always happens."

I felt my lips part, a heavy sadness falling on my shoulders as I continued to walk. Maven stood beside me the whole way, her hand laced in mine while I held back tears. She lifted the hood of Owen's jacket over my head for me, hiding me from the rest of the world while I wept. Truth is I was terrified of what was about to happen.

Suddenly a loud noise rang out and I realized it was my phone in my pocket, the ringtone blaring as someone tried to call me. I fumbled to answer but I saw Persephone's name on the screen when I did, my stomach dropping when I heard the panic in her voice. What the hell was I going to tell her?

"Batty, are you okay?!" She sobbed, "I just saw the news, the cops went by my house, y-your parents, I'm so fucking sorry-!"

"Hey, hey Percy I'm okay," I cried, stopping in my tracks, "I'm okay, I promise. It was an accident, they don't know what happened yet but they're going to find out," I felt myself wheezing as I listened to myself, "I'm staying with my family right now, I won't see you tomorrow but I'll try to make it Wednesday. I love you so much, so, so much...I'll be okay."

"Can I come see you? Batty, I-"

"Just...just for today, I need some space," I choked out; in reality I wanted to hold her close and squeeze her in my arms until she couldn't breathe, "I'll let you know what's going on when I know a little more. Promise."

"O-Okay..." She hiccuped, "I'm so glad you're okay."

"I am too," I sniffled, "I-I've gotta go for right now. I can barely hold it together, I'll call you though, okay?"

"Okay," Persephone took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, "stay safe Batty."

"I'll try."

I ended the call, realizing there was someone else who needed to hear me too. I looked up at Slender, trying to sort out what I was going to say when I was hit with another round of violent nausea. Maven rubbed my back as I puked up black bile again, the scent of it making me gag as I backed away. Even Slender seemed concerned but I just waved him off.