Serena

It all started when Kylie and I were partners in finding the last note. Dawson didn't want anything to do with us so he went off and did his own thing. The lucky little rat. I knew it was a bad idea sticking with Kylie because after all, she was the only girl or thing in the world Trenton loved above all else. Then there's me. Slender always seems to find me. Apparently he likes me a lot and wanted me to rule the world of evil with him. I declined and now I'm pretty sure he's permanently bent on killing me. Maybe I'll die heroically. Nope. I get myself captured like one of those prissy girls in the movies.

Kathryn shooed us away from Trenton and had Eric and Aly stand guard, while Dawson, Kylie, and I went off to find the note. Kathryn had carelessly thrown weapons at our feet. I grabbed a couple knives and set off. Kylie was pretty shaken up. I was too, but she didn't need to know that. We pushed our way through the wall of trees and headed off through the forest. It seemed like an eternal night. I mean it should've been morning by now. The stars had disappeared from view and as we stumbled along, Kylie kept wiping her eyes and trying to hide her tears from me. Twigs crackled as we took our steps and a icy breeze blew all around us.

"What's that?" Kylie asked pointing to a tree in the distance. It was a tall tree with a thick trunk. Dead leaves were scattered all around it. On the trunk was a patch of white, a note. I made my way slowly to the tree. This was obviously a trap, but I couldn't find a way around it. Suddenly, Kylie started screaming and sobbing.

"SERENA, RUN!! RUN!!" she screamed at me, clutching her head. I whipped out my daggers and turned to see Slender emerging from the trees. Kylie collapsed on the ground behind me. Fear gripped my stomach.

"Hello, girl," Slender's raspy voice whispered in my head.

"Leave Kylie alone." I was determined to keep Kylie safe. If she died, I don't think Trenton would ever forgive me.

"Oh her?" Slender asked as if he just noticed her. "That's the girl the boy loves. How adorable."

"Leave us alone," I said again.

"What if I said no?"

"Ok sassafras listen up. Get your crap and get out of here."

"This is technically my forest I which you are invading," he pointed out. I clenched my teeth.

"She is my friend in my protection. If you must, kill me, but promise to leave her alone."

"Alone? I can do alone well. She shall be alone, I promise." I could almost feel Slender’s faceless face smirk.

"Not alone! I mean don't kill her or bother her!" I cried in exasperation.

"I already promised though."

I wanted to scream. I didn't have time for Sassy Slender. In my anger, I hurled a knife at his chest. He caught it with ease in his skeletal fingers and threw it back. I ducked and it sunk into the tree behind me.

"So you want to fight me then?" Slender challenged. His tentacles elongated and wrapped around Kylie's neck. "Let's play, foolish girl."

A thick black tentacle threw me off my feet. As another was heading for my face, I sliced another off with my knife. Slender cried with agony, but the tentacle was quickly replaced by a stronger one. I dodged, sliced, and whirled around in anger. I eventually ran out of my knives and backed up to the thick trunk tree. The note was gone.

"You have come so far, girl, Slender's voice floated silkily around me. "You almost made it. You almost did it. Almost. How many of your friends died? Why did they? ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!" The last part made my ears ring. Tears had started to form but I blinked them back.

"That's where you're wrong," I countered. "I didn't kill them, I didn't rip their hearts out. I didn't unleash a pack of zombies on them. I didn't snap their necks. I didn't drown them. You did. You have killed so many. So many that could've lived, loved, and died peacefully. But no. You came along in a whirlwind of terror."

"That is what I do."

"Well you've got to keep your emotions in check. You can't just kill someone when you get mad!"

“Girl, I've been in your mind. I know how you think. Don't try and distract me and wait for your petty little friends to come save you."

"Well I could try." And with that I screamed at the top of my lungs. Slender roared with anger and wrapped me up in a tentacle.

"Thanks to you, idiot girl, your little friend gets to choose even faster." The air around us churned and suddenly we were at the edge of the "campsite" where Trenton stood talking to the others. He turned around and almost dropped the flashlight he was holding. The look on his face made me want to sob. It was pure terror.

"It's time to choose," Slender announced. Eric yelped from behind Trenton, but Kathryn and Aly seized his arms. Trenton looked from me to Kylie and I met his eyes. I begged with all my heart for him to pick Kylie. He was considering both of us, but that wouldn't be possible. He gave me a grim look before speaking again.

"Could you give me a minute?" he asked. Slender cried with fury.

"A MINUTE?! IT’S A SIMPLE CHOICE, BOY! ITS EITHER THE ONE YOU LOVE OR THE ONE WHO BROUGHT ON THIS MESS FOR YOU. IT ISNT THAT HARD!"

"Could you please give me a minute to decide?" Trenton kept his cool. Slender tightened his grip on us.

"You have two minutes."