A day had passed and yet things only got worse.
Jeff had not been captured by the police the night before. He’d evaded all attempts to capture and still remained at large. Not only that, but he’d struck again. Killing both of his parents in the middle of the night. Leaving their bodies to be discovered in the morning by the very police officers sent to guard them.
Jane doubted that the police would even be able to catch Jeff Woods. Not that they were incompetent, but because it seemed like Jeff had made a very powerful ally…. Jane knew Slenderman was powerful and capable of hiding in plain sight. She didn’t think it was too out of the question to assume he could do the same for Jeff.
Jane’s father was equally distraught about the situation. He’d stayed up almost the whole night on guard duty. Continually buzzing around the house and watching all entrances. Until he eventually fell asleep at the kitchen table at some point.
Jane’s father was equally distraught about the situation. He’d stayed up almost the whole night on guard duty. Continually buzzing around the house and watching all entrances. Until he eventually fell asleep at the kitchen table at some point.
Jane felt sorry for her father. She could only imagine how he must be feeling. How scared he must be of history repeating itself. Jane was quite glad he was here and watching her back…. She was somewhat worried that Slenderman might send Jeff after her to “clean up loose ends”....
But if that was the case. If Jeff Woods was going to try and come after her personally…. Then she needed to be prepared. And the only way to be prepared for something like this was to study, learn, and adapt.
Lately Jane had been so focused on Operation Deadbeat that she’d been neglecting her research into Slenderman. But she felt like she’d done a decent amount of work on her plan…. So a bit of a detour wouldn’t hurt.
Her next step was to look into the books that Sebastian Wick supposedly wrote. If Samantha knew about them, then they couldn’t be too underground. She’d start at the usual place, her favorite place. And then from there, maybe check in with Samantha…. Though, not really for research purposes. Mostly just because she was worried about how her friend was coping with the death of Liu.
Jane grabbed her backpack like normal and headed out the door. Being as quiet as possible so as to not disturb her father. But the moment she undid the lock and turned the knob, there was a start from the kitchen.
Jane’s father quickly lunged into the hallway, eyes wide and looking around with a sense of panic. When they finally landed on Jane, he relaxed. But only for a moment.
“Janie?? What are you doing?? Where are you going??” Her father rushed past her and quickly secured the lock of the door again. Even though Jane’s hand was still gripping the doorknob.
“I’m going to the library?” Jane explained. “I was trying not to wake you. You looked like you could use some rest.”
“The library? No. Not happening.” Her father brushed Jane’s hand away from the knob and shooed her back into the house. “There’s no way in hell I’m letting you leave this house right now. Unless I come with you.”
“What?? Why?? Dad do you think Jeff Woods is gonna ambush me in the non-fiction section?” Jane gave an indignant laugh. “Its not that big of a deal.”
“It is that big of a deal, Janie. There is a psychotic killer on the loose. One that has a total of five confirmed kills already. Three of them being his own family.” Her dad shook his head emphatically. “I’m absolutely not taking that risk. You’re staying here unless you let me come with you to the library. You’re most definitely not walking there.”
“I wouldn’t have to walk there if you let me get my driver’s license.” Jane reminded him. Her voice prickled with annoyance. “I’m turning 17 in a month, you know. I can handle myself.”
“That’s not the issue right now, young lady.” Her father shook his head. “Even if you could drive I still don’t want you going out alone right now. Not without an adult. Jeff Woods killed two fully grown officers yesterday. He’s not someone to be taken lightly.”
“So, what? I’m under house arrest or something?” Jane snapped her hands to her hips. Glaring at her father with her best withering glare. But of course…. Such things never worked on parents. Her father simply crossed his arms and set his jaw. His face turning firm as stone, and his voice to match.
“Call it what you like. But it's for your own safety. You’re not leaving this house unattended until Jeff Woods is caught and firmly locked up.” Her father’s face softened, and he placed his hand gently upon his daughter’s arm.
“Look, Janie. I know it might sound unreasonable. But you weren’t there. You didn’t see what this…. This monster is capable of. I’m sure the cops will catch him soon. But until then…. I’m sorry. But its either stay home, or let me go out with you. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.”
Jane shouldered off her dad’s hand. Her face puckered in annoyance. “Ugh.” She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Whatever. I’ll stay home. Happy?” She conceded.
“Very.” Her father visibly relaxed. “Look, I’m sorry…. But its for your own good. Maybe we could rent a movie together. Or play a game, or-”
“No thanks.” Jane muttered angrily, pushing past her father and storming back to her room. She was aware she was being a little harsh on him. But the anger was clouding her judgment. Jane was going to be stuck here for who knows how long. Because she highly, highly doubted that the police would be able to even touch Jeff Woods.
It wasn’t like she could take her dad with her to the library either. If he saw the kinds of topics she was researching, he’d no doubt be full of questions. Questions that Jane didn’t think she could give satisfying answers to without spilling too much information.
So, Jane locked herself in her bedroom and flung herself upon her unmade bed. Brooding and moping in the dim light of her room. Her father didn’t come for her. He, of course, knew better than to bother his teenage daughter when she was in a bad mood.
Once Jane got tired of pouting, she found her way to her desk. Her trusty old laptop was waiting there dutifully. A few taps of the keys and its screen came to life. And Jane began her work.
Jane figured if she couldn’t go to the library and do research, then she’d do her best from her house. There were at least a few leads she could follow up with on her own. And though her internet speed wasn’t the greatest, she was certain she’d find at least some information.
After a few google searches, Jane found that her assumption about Sebastian Wick was correct after all. Though he certainly wasn’t a popular author, his works were known. Known enough to appear on several book listings. Though whenever Jane looked through them, nothing exactly stood out to her.
The Colonial Expanse seemed to be an exploration log of sorts. That he self published. It seemed that Ezekiel was correct. Sebastian appeared to be quite the experienced explorer, if the size of his logbook was to be believed. And the rest of his books were all similar to that one. Aside from a few botany books.
Jane sat back in her chair, chewing on the end of her hair as she considered what to do. She briefly wondered if she should read through his exploration books. But they seemed to be quite large, and written in that horrible Old English prose she hated so much…. Jane wasn’t sure she wanted to put herself through that torture on the odd chance the books had something of use to her. And even if they did, she wasn’t sure she’d have the time to find it.
But what was it that Samantha was saying? She was saying Sebastian Wick was known in the paranormal community…. Something about him being a witch…. So maybe she was looking in the wrong places. If his paranormal works were anything like the paranormal letters she found at the library, then they wouldn’t be in public databases like that. Jane had long since realized that the common public didn’t quite like to acknowledge such things….
So she went back to her search bar. This time she dove into the depths of the internet. The dark and creepy places that people often dared not go.
Past page 4 of Google.
Jane began to avoid official sites and more scholarly sources. Two years ago she would’ve scoffed at this situation. But now it was her only option. Forums, personal websites, conspiracy boards. These were the places she visited now. zAnd it was here that she found the information she was looking for.
Jane stumbled upon a website named “Behind The Bookshelf”. Seemingly dedicated to odd and forgotten books. Specifically, with those of a paranormal inclination. The website proudly displayed “OWNED BY SUICIDE_GIRL” at the top. Classy.
The website was…. Crude. To say the least. Clearly designed by someone who had no real eye for graphic design. The backgrounds were made of looping, crude images of an eye. Its resolution was so low and warped that you could barely tell what it was. The text of the page was confined to small boxes in the middle of the screen. Written in a garish hot pink font color. It was honestly quite painful for Jane’s eyes.
To speed up the process, she used the search function to type in “Sebastian Wick”. And sure enough, about midway down the page, sandwiched between entries on H.P. Lovecraft and J. Leitner, was an entry on Sebastian Wick. Dated three years ago.
Finally getting somewhere. Jane pulled her chair closer to her desk and leaned in close to her screen. Eyes straining to read the horribly designed page….
Entry: 02/05/2009 - When I was meeting with my coven book club today the topic came around to a man I had entirely never heard of before. Sebastian Wick. According to my friend (who is an expert on witchcraft. She even owns a black cat.)-
Jane had to stop for a moment to roll her eyes. There was no way she was actually considering this as some sort of…. Helpful source. It was far more likely this was some edgy middle school girl playing pretend.
According to my friend (who is an expert on witchcraft. She even owns a black cat.) Sebastian Wick was one of the forefathers of witchcraft in Colonial America. Not the first, but one of the most talented. He wrote several books apparently. One of which my friend actually brought with her.
It was titled “Theory of Dark”. And was honestly kind of gibberish. I didn’t really get much out of it. I think Sarah was just being ridiculous about the whole thing…. The guy wrote a whole section in it on serial killings. He believed he was being compelled to murder and slaughter as much as he could. It was weird! But anyways-
That was where Jane stopped reading. Her eyes had enough of the hideous website. And it didn’t seem like the entry was really giving her a lot of work to go off of anyways. Though she did get one name out of it, “Theory of Dark”. And a little way down the page another book was mentioned as well “A Compendium of Rituals”. She wrote both of these down and kept them for later. Though the website didn’t have anything helpful like excerpts or scans, one line from the blog post did draw her attention.
“Serial killings huh?” Jane repeated out loud. Jeff had five confirmed kills so far. And it didn’t look like he was planning on stopping anytime soon. The little blog post mentioned he felt compelled to kill. And Jane could give first hand testimony that Slenderman’s influence definitely gave you a craving for blood and murder…. She’d been able to resist, but it seemed Jeff could not.
Has anyone else from recent memory failed to resist it?
Jane closed out the ugly website tab, but not before bookmarking it just in case for later. Back at the search engine screen she entered a new search. Looking for serial murders in her local area.
At first nothing but stories about Jeff Woods came up. Some local sensationalist news sites were already claiming him to be the next “Jack the Ripper”. She added simply “before:2012” to her search to filter out any reports on that pesky boy.
That was when several results appeared before her eyes. All of them detailing a series of murders taking place in Isaiah’s Harbor, A town not far from Mandeville. Maybe about a 30-45 minute drive away. It was the only recent serial killing spree that had taken place in the area. They started around 2008.
Jane opened several news links about the story, drinking up the information like it was water in the desert. She was surprised she never heard of this story as it was going on. Just more proof that the people of Mandeville were too self-absorbed to care about anything else.
The murderer had started with their father. And at first that was suspected to be his only kill. Committed with a rusty old hatchet. The police report stated that the axe was so old, it was practically a blunt force weapon by that point. And although he fled the scene, they had believed the incident to be a one off occurrence. Due to speculating that the boy died in a nearby forest fire shortly after.
But then more reports flooded in.
More kills. More attacks. A group of hikers, police officers…. The murders continued. The most recent kill was just two months ago….
Jane couldn’t be 100% sure if this case truly was connected to Slenderman in anyway. After all, some people really did just lose it and turn into serial killers. She wasn’t doubting that. but the proximity to Mandeville and the fact that this boy still hadn’t been stopped…. Well, it made Jane curious. After all, it wasn’t like any ordinary 19 year old could escape and kill multiple police….
The similarities to Jeff’s situation were there. But with just these basic news reports to go off of, there wasn’t much Jane could do. But still…. It was something to add to her growing repository of information. Thanks to her recent breakthroughs in her investigation. She now had a decent list of facts about Slenderman and his powers.
And now she could add her most recent addition. She grabbed her pen and quickly scrawled the name of the killer from Isaiah’s Harbor.
Toby Rogers.
The weekend had unfortunately been a waste for Jane. Unable to go anywhere or do anything thanks to her dad’s paranoia. Samantha hadn’t been answering her calls either, not that Jane could blame her. But that did mean she’d been more or less fully isolated for the past two days.
Jane woke up on Monday with a little more determination in her heart than usual. She hoped that going to school would serve as a cover for her real motivations that day. Talking to Samantha and, later, sneaking off to the library. She’d tell some lie about needing to stay late for homework or something….
She ran through her morning routine with a bit more efficiency than usual. Perhaps it was because she’d been denied the ability to leave that made her more eager to actually get out there. A spark of teenage rebellion perhaps? Or maybe it was a drive to see and console her friend. Or even the fact that she hadn’t been visited by Slenderman for several days now. Regardless of the reason, Jane was beginning to feel a lot more like her old self.
After exiting her room she made her way down to the kitchen. She smelt no breakfast being made. Which was actually quite disappointing. She wouldn’t have minded some of his cooking this morning.
But the only thing that greeted Jane as she entered the room was a very, very concerning sight.
Her father once more sat at the kitchen table. Disheveled and tired looking. Unlike the day prior he had at least changed his clothes. But he still looked as though he hadn’t slept in days. His head propped up in his hands, his gun laid out on the table before him.
“Morning Janie. Glad you slept okay.” He perked up a little as she walked in. He rubbed his hands over his tired eyes and gave her a weary smile.
“D-Dad….” Jane took another step into the room. Her face wrinkled with concern. She’d never seen him like this before. So clearly neglecting to care for himself in order to protect her. In a stark moment of realization, Jane wondered if this is what she usually looked like to everyone around her.
“Have you been here since yesterday?” Jane asked in a quiet voice.
“Yes. Can’t sleep.” Her father pushed himself up from the table and walked over to the coffee machine. Pouring the lukewarm remnants of the last pot he brewed into his Father’s Day mug. He downed it in one go and gave a loud sigh as he brought the cup away from his face.
“I can’t rest until I know that bastard has been caught, and know you’re safe. Janie.” Her father set the mug down on the counter and stepped over to her. His hands falling upon her shoulders as he drew her in for a hug. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you. I promise.”
Jane could do nothing but stand there in shock. She’d never seen her father like this. Sure, he’d always been a bit paranoid and overprotective. But never to the point of staying up for days on end, never to the point of neglecting his own self care.
Jane felt a shiver go up her spine. Just the sight of him like this was far scarier than anything Slenderman had ever done to her.
Jane wriggled back from her father’s embrace and looked up at him. Their eyes met. Her father must’ve seen something within them. For his own began to well up with tears. He stepped back and wiped at his eyes.
“I’m sorry, Janie.” He cleared his throat. Composing himself. “Just a bit high strung right now. Nothing to worry about.” He gave her a smile. One that didn’t reach his eyes.
“It's…. Okay.” Jane answered awkwardly. She didn’t really know what to say. She was at a loss. She didn’t feel like there was anything she could do to alleviate his concerns. Any words she might’ve been able to give him would just ring hollow in his concerned mind.
There was a brief moment of silence. A lull in the conversation as both of them stood there in the kitchen. Neither one willing to address the damage and wounds the other so obviously carried.
Jane spoke up first. Breaking the tense silence.
“Um. We’d better get going dad. Or else I’ll be late.” She didn’t know if her father was going to even bother going to work like this. Or if he’d just be staying home. She felt a little better knowing the school wouldn’t let him follow her around all day. But she still worried about him.
“What?” Her father gave her a puzzled look. “Late for what?”
“School…?” Jane checked her phone. Making sure she had the date right. But she did. It was Monday. No doubt about it.
“School?” Her father repeated back to her as if it were some absurd concept. “Janie, you’re not going to school today.” He gave a bit of a chuckle at the words. “Absolutely not.”
“What? Why? Did they cancel school today or something?” Jane took her phone out and began scrolling through her notifications. Searching aimlessly for an announcement she never saw.
“No, they didn’t cancel anything.” Her father shook his head and drew Jane’s attention back to him. “I called ahead and told them you wouldn’t be coming in today.” He started making another pot of coffee as he talked.
“Why the hel- Er. Heck. Would you do that?” Jane’s heart was beginning to race. She had a feeling she already knew the answer. And a feeling that she wasn’t going to like what she was about to hear.
“Because its not safe, Janie.” Her father scooped the coffee grounds into the machine and added fresh water. He turned around to face her as the machine whirred to life behind him. “I wouldn’t able to watch you while you were at school. What if Jeff the Killer broke in and-”
“Jeff the what?”
“Jeff the Killer. That’s what they’re calling him now. It's all over the news. He killed again last night, you know. A kid your age. Troy something. Slaughtered him while he was having a party.”
Jane had no idea who that was. And frankly she didn’t really care. It was no surprise to her that the police had failed at catching Jeff. Considering it also seemed like they’d failed to catch Toby two years prior. Judging by her research. Slenderman’s little helpers weren’t so easy to catch through normal methods it seemed.
“How does that affect me? Okay? So what? Jeff Woods-”
“Jeff the Killer.” Her dad corrected.
“I’m not calling him that. It sounds stupid.” Jane rolled her eyes. “And anyways I don’t care what he’s called. And I don’t care what he does. You can’t just keep me locked up in here because one guy went psycho and started attacking people!” Jane huffed with a stomp of her foot. Her anger began to rise. She could tolerate her dad breathing down her neck, she could tolerate not being allowed to walk to the library the day prior. But keeping her locked in the house to this degree? Things were getting too extreme.
“I can and I will.” Her father answered with a stubborn tone. “I’m your father, Janie. And I decide what’s best for you. There is a wild, maniacal killer on the loose that’s already killed two of your peers. And who knows when he could strike again. Just because you’re in school doesn’t mean you’re safe. He could go shoot it up for all you know.” Her father was remaining calm, but Jane was not.
“I could get struck by lightning on a summer day too but that doesn’t mean I have to live in fear of it!” Jane fired back. “I can’t just live my life scared of things that might happen.”
“That means I have to do it for you.” Her father retorted.
“So that means you get to lock me up like some kind of prisoner!? Am I under arrest now or something, Officer Arkensaw?” Jane’s fists were clenched. She was beginning to feel that buzz in her head, that ache in her chest. Slenderman’s influence still festered inside of her it seemed.
“It is my job to keep you safe. And god dammit Jane, I will do that with every ounce of my power! If that means locking you in this house for the next month until Jeff the Killer is caught then that’s exactly what I’ll fucking do!” Her father suddenly shouted with a loud outburst, his hand slamming down on the counter with a violent fury. The coffee cups and cutlery jangling from the vibrations.
Jane had never seen her father have such a strong outburst like that before. Never in her 16 years of life could she recall her father raising his voice, or hitting something out of rage. The man that stood before her was so twisted by paranoia and grief that she almost didn’t recognize him at all. But she knew it was still him. She could still recognize that paranoia. The paranoia that prevented him from letting her get a license, or didn’t let her leave the house without telling him where she was going. None of it was new. Just…. Amplified. Enhanced to its fullest potential.
Jane’s fists trembled, her mouth curled into a nasty frown. She didn’t feel like arguing with him, but she sure as hell didn’t feel like agreeing with him. She knew by now that there was no breaching his paranoia. He always suspected, and prepared, for the worst.
After all, the worst had already happened once before.
“Whatever.” She snapped with as much vitriol and anger as she could manage. She whipped around on her heel and began to storm away from her father. “I’m going to my room. Don’t bother me.”
“Now hold it.” Her father’s stern voice called after her. “You’re not going anywhere. I’m not finished with you yet, young lady.” Her father took a few steps forward. “There was something I wanted to talk to you about before you brought up school. Something important.”
“Whatever it is it can wait.” Jane turned and gave her father a sarcastic smile. “After all, its not like I’m going anywhere is it?”
“Jane Arkensaw.” Her father’s voice suddenly became level. “Do not take that tone with me. Not right now.” Her father waited to see what Jane would do. She had stopped at the doorway to the kitchen, hands gripping the frame. With tremendous effort, she forced herself to turn back around to face him.
“Fine. What is it.” Jane crossed her arms as she glared at her father. Her attitude not entirely gone.
“Unlock your phone and give it to me.”
Words that would strike fear into any teenager. Jane’s blood went cold as ice, her attitude suddenly replaced with dread that gnawed at her heart. Her phone felt heavy as lead in her pants’ pocket.
“Why?” She asked, trying to hide the nervousness from her voice.
“We’ll continue our talk after you give me your phone.” Her father held out his hand and waited patiently. His earlier anger gone and his usual calm self was back. Jane almost wished he was back to yelling. She hesitated a few more moments, trying to think of any way out of this situation.
Jane couldn’t think of why her father would need to see her phone. But she was aware that she had…. Sensitive things on that device. No. Not nudes, or porn, or secret text messages like other girls her age might. The sensitive information on Jane’s device was much…. Darker. Evidence of her plan for Derrick.
But with her father there in front of her, Jane was left with no options. She slide her phone from her pocket, unlocked it, and placed it gently in his hand.
“Can I say something?” Jane was unable to keep the nervousness from her voice as her father began to swipe through her most private device.
“No.” He answered firmly, pointing to another seat at the table. “Sit down. We’ll talk in a few minutes.”
Jane shook her head. She didn’t want to sit. She couldn’t sit. Her nerves were strung too high. Her usual apathetic attitude was nowhere to be found. What couldn’t have been more than 15 minutes of her father snooping felt far more like 15 hours. The wait was agonizing for Jane as she suffered in silence, waiting for her father to deliver a verdict like a death row inmate would for a judge. Although the morning sun was shining happily outside, the day felt entirely gloomy for Jane.
Eventually, her father set her phone down on the table and stared at Jane with an expression that…. She couldn’t quite place. Was anger? Confusion? Disappointment? Or a cocktail of all three and more?
“Who is Derrick.” Her father finally asked. The question Jane had been dreading the most.
“He’s…. Samantha’s ex-boyfriend.” Jane tried to keep things vague, but truthful.
“Okay. And what does that have to do with you?” One bad thing about having a cop for a dad. He knew how to interrogate someone.
“It…. He hurt Sam, dad.” Came Jane’s answer. She could’ve lied. Could’ve said it didn’t involve her. But the one person Jane could never deceive was her father. He knew her too well. And Jane knew him well enough to know that.
“And?” Her father prompted more from her.
“And she needed help, Dad!” Jane stomped her foot. “She needed help and I was the only one that could do anything about it!” Her father immediately sighed, his hands going up to his face as he rubbed his eyes, then his temples.
“Janie, no…. We’ve been over this so many times. Your therapist said-”
“I know what my therapist said.” Jane interrupted him. “But it was for real this time. I love Samantha. She’s my best- Only friend. What was I supposed to do? Just let stupid Derrick just get away with breaking her heart?”
“Jane. What were you even planning to do…?” Her father asked in a defeated tone. “All this information…. These ex-girlfriends, Christ sakes Janie, you have access to their private social media accounts! What was all this leading up to?” Her father’s tone had become clear now. He wasn’t mad at her. Or even disappointed in her.
No. It was quite clear that Mr. Arkensaw was scared. Not scared of her like some might have been. Scared for her. Scared for what she might have become, what she might have committed.
“I was…. I….” Jane stammered as she tried to explain herself.
“The truth, Jane.” Her father demanded. “Now. Tell me what this all was. And don’t hide anything about it.”
Jane pursed her lips. But had no other way out. She began to spill her plan to her father. The whole thing. Both phases. All steps. She kept her eyes pointed at the ground, unable to look her father in the eyes as she explained herself. Nobody else on the planet could’ve made her act in such a way. Not her teachers, not her friends, not her therapist. But parents, and especially fathers, always have a way with their children. A way of compelling them to spill their guilty guts. And Jane was no different. For all the willpower she displayed when struggling with Slenderman, it was reduced to ash in the wind when confronted by her father. The only person she truly loved.
After Jane had finished her explanation, there was a beat of silence. Her father processed all he had heard. His eyes closed and his hand raised to his chin as he absorbed everything that Jane had to say. Her entire plan to essentially ruin this guy’s life. To frame him for such horrible things. The most heinous deeds one could commit against women. A plan to fully, and totally destroy someone’s life.
He finally opened his eyes once more and addressed her. “So that’s everything? That’s what Operation Deadbeat was?”
Jane nodded in the affirmative.
Her father was quiet for a few minutes. Before he sighed and once more put his hands to his face. “Janie, I don’t even know where to begin with this…. I thought we were making progress. Real progress with you.”
“We were…. But-” Jane was about to go about defending herself, when she realized something….
Her father knew the name of the operation.
How could he know that? And come to think of it, how did he know about the plan to begin with? He’d known to search her phone…. Dots were connecting in ways she didn’t like. But ways she had to face.
“Dad…. Hold on. Its my turn to ask you something.” Jane’s eyes hardened, her gaze narrowing. “How…. How did you know the name of the operation? How did you know to search my phone? How did you know any of this was going on?”
Jane, as always, had been extremely careful to cover her tracks. To remain hidden. To not let anyone know what she was up to. And yet her father had figured her out. He never asked to see her phone before. So the fact that he did this time was pretty damning that he knew something was up. And frankly, Jane was scared of learning how.
It was her father’s turn to freeze. But only for a moment. He shook his head and leaned forward across the table. “That’s not the discussion right now, Janie. Right now we-”
“No.” Jane refused with a shake of her head. “This is important. I need to know how you found this out…. I…. Were you spying on me, Dad?”
“No!” Her father quickly refused, standing up from the table and shaking his head. “No, Janie, I don't spy on you. I know I can be a bit overprotective but-”
“Then how did you find out about this?” Jane interrupted, her voice beginning to raise. “You knew the name of my plan. You knew the plan existed in the first place! How! How could you possibly know that if you weren’t spying on me!” Her heart began to race and her fear began to bloom. Being watched. She hated it. She hated it so much. Slenderman. And now her father.
“I was not spying on you! I promise!” Her father swore up and down. He took a step closer, but Jane took a step back. “I…. I went into your room yesterday. You were in the bathroom so I…. I let myself in.” Her father began to explain. “I just wanted to check and make sure your windows were locked. But-”
“You went into my room?” Jane gaped. “That’s a complete invasion of my privacy!”
“I was only checking the windows.” Her father assured her. But Jane shook her head.
“Then how did you find out about my plans. They weren’t exactly written on the window panes!”
“You left your computer on!” Her father snapped back. “You left it open to your little…. Document. Where all your information was. I saw the name and what you were doing and I got concerned. Okay? There. That’s all.”
“That’s all? You invade my privacy and go through my private files and you say that’s all!?” Jane was furious by this point. Despite how protective her father was, she never thought he’d do something as invasive as that. “I thought you trusted me!”
“I did trust you, Jane!” Her father was beginning to get riled back up again as well. Jane’s hysterical shouting only making his own anger begin to flourish once more. “I trusted you and look what you did! You were getting ready to ruin that boy’s life all because he broke up with your friend! You broke that trust Jane. You broke my trust. You proved that I can’t trust you with things like that!”
“I can’t trust you because you’re always hovering! Always watching! You freak out at the tiniest of things! Anything at all! You can’t handle my problems!”
“I am your father! It is my JOB to handle your problems. And it is my JOB to watch after you!”
“It's not your job to breathe down my neck and treat me like I’m going to shatter in the wind!”
“It is when there’s a goddamn killer on the loose and YOU out here trying to ruin people’s lives! And cutting yourself! And isolating yourself! And not taking care of yourself! Jane I’m like this because I have to be!” Her father shouted back, slapping his chest with his hands. “Because its the only way for me to fucking take care of you! Because you don’t let it happen any other way! You don’t talk to me, you don’t explain things, you don’t come to me!”
“MAYBE I WOULD IF I FELT LIKE YOU WERE MY FATHER INSTEAD OF MY PAROLE OFFICER!” Jane shouted at the top of her lungs. Before whipping around and running away as fast as she could. Her father shouted after her, screaming at her. But she ignored him. She ran straight to her room and slammed the door behind her as hard as she could. Rocking the entire house with her rage.
She threw herself down upon her bed and sobbed. Crying her eyes out with anger and sadness and hatred and sorrow. All the negative, sour, and vile feelings and words she wanted to say but couldn’t.
As Jane cried and cried, the rest of the house stayed quiet. Her father didn’t come for her. Perhaps he knew better than to try. Or perhaps he himself needed time to calm down after their fight.
Although it was perfectly sunny outside on that particular Monday morning…. The Arkensaw house felt the darkest it ever had.
Jane had kept herself locked away in her bedroom for the entirety of Monday and Tuesday. Not once leaving for anything more than using the bathroom. And even that was only when she absolutely couldn’t stand it anymore. She didn’t want to be here, didn’t want to see her father again. She starved herself the entire day, only once venturing out in the dead of night to raid the fridge.
Jane had thought it peculiar at the time that her father wasn’t staked out in the kitchen like he had been ever since he came home two days ago. But she didn’t care. She figured he was off quadruple checking the locks on the doors or some nonsense. Jane was just grateful to get some food in her stomach.
Jane took her food back to her room where she ate in silence. It was past midnight on Tuesday, and pitch black outside. But yet she still didn’t bother to turn her lights on. She sat wallowing in the dark. All her motivation from this morning had been obliterated after her fight with her father. She now wanted to do nothing more than just vanish into the shadows. She didn’t want to exist. Didn’t want to be seen. She just wanted to be alone. Gone.
She finished what she could of her food before pushing it onto her crowded side table and flopping onto her stomach. She pushed her head into her pillow and took a deep, deep breath.
Jane just didn’t know what to think. How could he? How could he invade her privacy like that? It wasn’t exactly a revelation that her father was a bit…. Nosey. But she’d never thought he’d have gone through her computer like that. She felt violated. Felt-
…. Felt like how Derrick probably would’ve felt if he knew about his locker. Or his ex-girlfriends would’ve felt about her phishing their accounts.
Jane suddenly pushed herself up off her bed, jumping to her feet and pacing around her room angrily. She didn’t like that realization. Not one bit. What she was doing was helping someone. She wasn’t doing them to be malicious or evil. She wasn’t stealing, or breaking into things, or hacking accounts for money or for joy. She was doing it to help her friend. To get back at someone for doing something rotten to a person who didn’t deserve it. Jane knew she was doing the right thing.
…. And she had the feeling that her father was probably thinking the same thing right now.
After all, hadn’t he done the same thing she did? He’d snooped through her files and her phone. But wasn’t he also trying to help deep down? Would her father also say he was doing the right thing?
Jane crossed her room and stood before her door. She gazed into the full length mirror that hung from the back of it. She leaned in close and looked deep into her own face.
Maybe she was a lot more like her father than she ever thought.
Jane didn’t necessarily think that was a bad thing. She loved her father. He was always trying his best, always doing what he could to help her…. But Jane had always found his over-protectiveness, especially following the death of her mother and brother, to be…. Annoying, pressuring, oppressive…. Was that who she was? Was Jane’s compulsion to help, and her father’s seeming compulsion to protect, the same thing?
Perhaps their obsessions were siblings of sorts. Born from the tragedy that befell them on that night so long ago. It was certainly the birth of Jane’s obsession, and if not the birth of her father’s, it was certainly the catalyst that worsened it.
Jane suddenly felt guilty for how she’d acted earlier. How could she possibly expect her father to understand her side of the story, when she wasn’t willing to listen to his? She’d gotten so caught up in the whole computer thing that she’d completely shut him out….
Jane knew why she’d acted the way she had. But it was something she couldn’t explain to her father, even if she wanted to. Because the reason she’d acted so…. Defensive over her invasion of privacy was of course, due to that ceaseless watcher that plagued her for months. She’d grown so accustomed to Slenderman stalking her every move that…. Maybe she’d developed a bit of a phobia around it.
The idea of being watched certainly made her skin crawl a lot more than it used to. The idea of her privacy being invaded, even her own mind being invaded. She didn’t like it. And to suddenly learn her father had invaded her privacy in the same way…. It triggered something deep within her.
The words of the therapist even came back to her. How the therapist had seemed to relate the two. It made Jane shiver. Her father was nothing like that demon. Unlike Slenderman, her father’s watching came from a place of love and protection…. Slenderman just wanted to warp and manipulate her.
Jane understood now though. She knew her father wasn’t like that. She knew that wasn’t what happened. Her father was trying to protect her….
Trying to help her.
Guilt washed over Jane like a tidal wave. She suddenly felt the weight of regret pulling down upon her as she thought of her earlier actions. How she’d shouted at him, how they’d fought…. She hated it.
Jane suddenly felt the need to apologize.
Now.
Jane rushed to her door and flung it open. She went to rush out of the room but slammed face first into someone just down the hall. She reeled backwards rubbing her head.
“Ow….” Jane rubbed her head and looked up…. Finding her father doing the exact same. He must’ve been on his way to Jane’s room when she suddenly came bolting out.
“Dad! I need to talk to you.” Jane rushed forward and grabbed his arm. “Listen, I’m-”
“No, no. Janie.” Her father interrupted with a shake of his head. “Let me go first. I need to apologize.”
Jane took a step back. He needed to apologize? What did he need to apologize for? Jane had already decided in her heart that her father had done no wrong. She had been the one who overreacted.
The two of them walked back to Jane’s room and took a seat on the edge of her bed. Her father grasped his hands together in front of him, wringing them gently. She could tell he was nervous. Or maybe even guilty.
“You were right to be mad earlier.” Jane’s father nodded and spoke after a moment of contemplation. “It was wrong of me to come into your room like that and go through your computer. I may be your father, but that doesn’t excuse me from violating your trust and privacy like that.”
“What…?” Jane still couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “But dad, you were right to…. I broke your trust first. I was going behind your back and trying to…. “Help” Samantha…. If you hadn’t found my computer….” Jane trailed off. She didn’t want to go back into details about her plans for Derrick.
“I know. But…. Still. I saw how upset it made you. And I’m sorry for yelling.” Her father looked up, his eyes meeting hers. “I didn’t mean to. It was just…. Emotions were going high. And to be honest I hadn’t expected you to react so…. Well, harshly about it. I guess in my head it just wasn’t that big of a deal. So when you started yelling at me…. I guess I just panicked. And started to get mad back. Which was wrong of me. I should’ve kept a level head. And I’m sorry.”
“Its…. Its fine dad.” Jane’s answer was quiet. She dropped her gaze away from her father’s and curled her knees up to her chest. Sitting in a tight little ball on the edge of her bed. As if trying to curl herself out of existence. “I shouldn’t have gotten so worked up either….” She admitted.
“Can I…. Can I ask why?” Her father leaned closer. Lowering his head so that he was more eye level with Jane. Even though she was currently trying to hide behind her knees. “Was it just because of the privacy thing? Or was there something else bothering you? I’ve never seen you get so…. Upset before.”
Jane let her face sink a little lower into her knees as the question was asked. It wasn’t something she wanted to talk about out loud. But her therapist always said that getting things off her chest was the only way to truly feel better….
“It's just…. Sometimes you can be a little much. You know?” Jane started off. “I know you’re just trying to protect me. I know you’re just trying to look out for me…. But it can be overwhelming. Suffocating even. I said earlier that it felt like you were my parole officer instead of my dad sometimes…. And it was kind of just me overreacting but…. You know sometimes it really does feel that way.”
Maybe her therapist was onto something. Jane did begin to feel lighter after finally confessing that to her father. It felt…. Quite nice actually.
“And it's always been there. But it's never really been the main problem I’ve been concerned about…. But these last few days? With how crazy you’ve been over Jeff Woods? It just kept building, and building, and building inside of me. And hearing you were in my room, over something as silly as checking to make sure my windows were locked…. I think it just made me snap. And everything I’d been holding back just…. Came out.”
Jane’s father nodded in understanding. Biting his lower lip in a manner similar to his daughter as he once again looked down at his wringing hands.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. I really do get carried away. Especially now. With this whole serial killer on the loose…. I just get so, so worried about you. Ever since that night….” Her father’s voice cracked. Jane could see the tears glinting in his eyes as he struggled to hold them back.
“It's okay, dad…. Losing mom and Brian…. It messed me up too.” Jane tried to comfort her father. But he shook his head. Even giving a small chuckle. Her dad reached up and wiped at his eyes.
“That’s not what scares me, Janie…. I miss them. Don’t get me wrong…. But I’ve come to terms with it… What scares me the most is the idea that I could’ve lost you too.” Her father looked up at her with a sad smile. “The idea that I could’ve lost everything. Everything… And it was so close to happening. But it didn’t.” He reached out and placed his hand against Jane’s cheek.
“I still have you. You’re my everything now, Janie. And it's the thought of losing you that kills me inside.” Her dad gave her a warm smile. One that melted the layers of ice that had long since hardened over Jane’s heart. It felt like the water welled up inside of her until it came spilling from her eyes.
“Of course, dad.” Jane leaned against her father and buried her head against his shoulder. His arm wrapped around her. “You’ll always have me…. I promise….”
“Thank you, Janie…. And I’ll always be here for you.” Her father whispered to her. Pressing his lips against the top of her head in a soft kiss. “But-” He pulled back and gave an awkward smile. “I’ll try not to be so overprotective from now on.”
Jane was able to smile back. A true smile. Not a mask. Not a fake. A genuine smile. “Thanks, dad.” She leaned back against him and closed her eyes for a moment. “But um…. I don’t mind if you still look after me some…. I think I could use someone watching my back.”
“Always.” Her father gave her a squeeze.
“But um…. Maybe you could ease up just enough for me to learn how to drive?”
“Deal.”
The two sat in silence for a long time after that. Not the cruel, harsh silence from that morning. But a more peaceful one. Tranquility. It was soft, like a blanket. But both of them knew they still had the elephant in the room to talk about.
“Janie?” Her father finally spoke up. Initiating the conversation like he usually did. Jane was all too comfortable just sitting in perfect silence.
“Yeah?” She responded.
“About your…. “Helping” people….” Her father began. Jane sighed and pushed herself into a sitting position.
“Yeah…. I know.” She nodded.
“It's not right. Next time you go to the therapist, I think I’m going to come too. Because…. Clearly the help you’re getting needs to change a little. I think its going to take all three of us to get through this.” Her father explained as he placed a hand on her back.
“I… Don’t think I’d mind that.” Jane agreed with a small smile. “Its…. Its not something I can control, you know. The compulsion…. The obsession. When I get that…. Urge to help someone I just have to see it through…. Just so you know its not like…. My choice. Entirely.”
“I know, Janie. I know.” Her father comforted her. Staring off into space for a moment afterward. A smile on his face. “You’re a lot like your mother in that way, you know.”
“I am?” Jane perked up.
“Yeah, she had something similar. OCD.” Her father kept smiling. “But she always found a way through. And I’m sure you will too, Janie.” He turned his gaze upon Jane and gave her an even bigger smile. “She’d be proud of you, you know. For trying to get better.”
“Yeah, she had something similar. OCD.” Her father kept smiling. “But she always found a way through. And I’m sure you will too, Janie.” He turned his gaze upon Jane and gave her an even bigger smile. “She’d be proud of you, you know. For trying to get better.”
“And I am too. Just so you know. I’m more proud of you than anything else, Janie.” Her father’s smile only got bigger. And Jane’s did as well. She felt so, so much better. She was happy they’d had this conversation.
“I love you, dad.” She said with a cheery voice. The first real sense of happiness she’d felt in ages.
“I love you too, Janie.”
The next day, Wednesday, Jane had been allowed to return to school. It was the first step her father took into being less overbearing. Though Jane still asked him to drive her to school. For one she didn’t feel like walking, but for two…. She could tell it made him feel a little better. So she decided to humor him on that one. Though they did make a deal that Jane could walk home on her own that night.
“Just promise me you’ll be home as soon as you can?” Her father had asked nervously as she left the car.
“Of course, dad.” Jane smiled back at him. “I promise.”
The day passed about as well as it ever did. Nobody really cared enough about Jane to ask where she’d been the past few days. They were all far too busy talking about Jeff the Killer. Leaving Jane to pass through the halls as silent as a phantom.
She listened in as they all spoke in conspiratorial whispers to each other. Gossiping and smirking about Jeff Woods.
“Did you hear? Jeff the Killer attacked Randy and his family last night. Randy was texting me this morning about it.” One boy whispered to his friend.
“I know. I heard Jeff the Killer is going to come after everyone. Dude. My cousin said he saw Jeff the Killer outside his window the other night….”
“Freaky shit….”
Jane rolled her eyes and kept walking. She didn’t know what Jeff’s plan was now. But she doubted it would be to kill everyone. Slenderman had to have some kind of purpose in using him…. But she had no idea what that purpose may be.
“Oh my god. You know I talked to Jeff once, before he went psycho.” One girl blabbered next to Jane’s locker. Chattering away with two of her friends. “He was actually like…. Really scary. I totally saw it coming.”
“I sat next to him in math class. I always thought he was kinda cute…. In that dark, brooding sort of way.” Her friend replied with a giggle. Eliciting an equally air-headed giggle from her friends.
“Totally. I almost wish he’d come back, you know?” One replied.
“I dunno…. My daddy works in crime scene investigation. And he said that Jeff the Killer cut off his own lips and eyelids…. So he might not be so cute now.”
The girls erupted in a chorus of ews and aws as they continued to titter on about a literal serial killer. Jane could only roll her eyes again and quietly shut her locker. She slipped away into the crowds of people to try and get away from those gossiping girls. But was met with similar conversations everywhere she turned.
It was…. Disgusting. Utterly. People talking about Jeff Woods like he was some kind of…. Movie character. Or a trend. Gossiping away like they ever really cared about him or what he was going through. None of them had a damn clue.
Jane couldn’t help but feel miffed for him. It wasn’t like she had ever had any deep conversations with Jeff either. She doubted he would even remember her. But Jane still felt a sort of…. Connection to him. The fact that she had gone through that same torture for months gave her empathy for his situation…. And yet everyone here was treating him like a freak show exhibit. Jane couldn’t help but feel a little bad for him.
Jane felt a little guilty too…. She wondered if she could’ve helped him. Could’ve saved him if she’d gotten involved. Jane had seen the signs, seen them long before they had properly taken route…. She only wondered what might have happened if she’d intervened. Taught Jeff her tricks for resisting…. But maybe it was for the best they never met. The last thing she wanted was to become one of his targets. Like poor, poor Liu….
Jane discovered later that day that Samantha never showed up for school…. Poor girl. She could only imagine how things were going with her. But honestly, it was probably for the best that she didn’t come today. Jane didn’t think it was such a good idea for her to be hearing about “Jeff the Killer” all day….
Jane tried reaching out to Samantha to ask if they could meet up. But her messages were left on read. She briefly considered dropping by on her way home from school, Samantha only lived a few blocks over from Jane after all, but reconsidered. It was still so soon after Liu’s murder…. She’d keep reaching out to Samantha, but wouldn’t impose until she heard something back first. She tried to go about her day as best as she could. As normally as she could.
As Jane was sitting in her second period class however…. Something happened. Without warning her head was suddenly flooded with that staticy feeling. Pouring into her like water from a faucet, it drowned out every last thought in her head. To the point where Jane actually cried out in shock and fear. Her hands clutching her forehead. She could hear people trying to talk to her, but couldn’t make out what they were saying. Not over the pumping of blood in her ears.
He was here.
Why was he here?
Jane looked up, her eyes watering. She gazed past the crowd of students and teachers that had surrounded her. He was there. He was right there. Slenderman. Standing at the front of the classroom. Blending into the shadows in the corner without anyone the wiser.
Jane began to tremble. Why? Why come for her now? Had he grown bored of Jeff already? Had Jeff been caught? Killed? Whatever the reason, Jane found herself frozen in terror. Unable to move, unable to speak, unable to do anything other than stare straight into his blank face. Her left hand began to throb….
And then she woke up.
Jane sat with a start in her chair. A small scream escaping her lips, followed by a ripple of jeering laughter from her classmates. She looked around the room in panic, but the only evil looking figure that was present was the teacher. Who leered at her from the front of the room.
“Miss Arkensaw, if you wish to take a nap I recommend doing it on your own time.” He snapped and shook his head in disapproval.
“Y-Yes sir.” Jane answered shakily. She didn’t know what just happened. But whatever it was it unsettled her deeply…. She looked down at her hand where the throbbing pain still echoed in her bones.
Thankfully, that incident was the only one she experienced for the rest of the day. Though it did set her on edge. Jane kept her eyes peeled for the rest of the day. Always expecting to see Slenderman just out of the corner of her eye. But he never came.
The rest of the day passed without incident. Jane began her walk home. She was taking her time. Savoring the change in weather that was occurring. With autumn on the horizon Mandeville was beginning to take on that perfect, picturesque appearance. The trees turning their crisp yellows, reds, and oranges, ready to begin raining down upon those who tread beneath them.
Jane couldn’t deny that Mandeville as a town was pretty. Even though she knew it was just a facade to hide the rot underneath, like a coroner's makeup upon a decaying corpse. Though as she approached her neighborhood, some of that prettiness began to slip away.
Nowhere in Mandeville was truly shitty, but there were certainly some areas that were…. Higher class than others. And Jane’s was at the lower end of that spectrum. The houses here were small one story boxes. Some of them didn’t even have permanent foundations. They were rundown and busted up. A farcry from the three story luxury manors on the far side of town, or even the middle class two story homes that were littered about.
But there was something about it that made Jane feel more comfortable here than anywhere else in Mandeville. The more rustic nature of the homes here just felt more alive to her than anything else. The people here had less to hide, less things to pretend to be. Like her father, like Samantha and her family…. Jane wished the rest of Mandeville felt like this.
Jane finally arrived outside her house. As old and worn as the ones around it. Though her father kept the house in good shape and the lawn with a tight mow. Her father’s car sat polished in their driveway. The curtains on the house were drawn, like the closed eyes of a sleeping beast.
The world was peaceful as Jane walked up and let herself in. But the second she crossed the threshold, things felt…. Different. The quiet tranquility outdoors felt less so while inside. In here, the silence felt oppressive and dark. The air itself felt heavier as well, pressing down on her as she stepped inside and let the door close behind her. The atmosphere came together in such a way that made her feel smothered. Like she was being suffocated in a deep, dark grave.
“Dad?” Jane called out as she stepped further in, but there was no response to her call. Her father hadn’t mentioned that he was going to work today. She supposed it was possible. But something just didn’t feel right, his car was even home. Jane didn’t feel like she should be here.
She took a few careful steps forward, every creak setting her on edge. Jane couldn’t help but feel like prey. Like a small animal creeping through the domain of a predator. But that was ridiculous. This was her house. This was her domain…. And yet still she couldn’t shake that nervous feeling.
“Calm down….” She whispered to herself, hoping that her voice would dispel the suffocating silence. “You’re just on edge from…. From that dream earlier. And dad got you all paranoid….” Her rationalizations felt hollow. Jane was having trouble believing them herself.
Jane needed a weapon. Her eyes glanced around the room, finally landing on the fireplace in the living room. It was seldom ever used, but still sat there. Gathering dust and cobwebs. And there, alongside it, equally dusty from disuse, an old wrought iron fire poker. A fancy old thing that was really more of an antique than a tool. The stoker at the end was sharp and strong, and the handle was curled into a fancy loop.
Jane quickly sidestepped towards the fireplace and took the iron in her hand. It was hefty and had a good weight to it. A good weapon. It made her feel a little better to be holding onto it.
What am I doing? Jane thought to herself as she gazed around the dark living room. If I feel so scared, why don’t I just leave? Jane began to leave the house, but as she reached the door another thought crossed her mind.
And call dad.
Jane reached into her pocket and grabbed her phone. She quickly dialed his number and pushed open the front door, letting the dying light from outside seep into the closed up, shadowy house.
But right as she was stepping through the door, a loud sound penetrated the silence of the house behind her. Jane nearly jumped out of her skin, letting out a shriek as she spun around.
It took her a moment to even recognize what the sound was.
A ringtone.
Her father’s ringtone. Coming from down the hall, where his bedroom was.
Jane breathed a sigh of relief. He was just sleeping. Probably finally resting after being awake for so long. Jane quickly hung up her phone and dropped it back into her pocket. She was just being ridiculous. It was just quiet so her father could rest.
She stepped back into the house and was about to drop the fire poker back off at the hearth…. When she heard a door down the hall creak open on its squeaky hinges. Jane flinched; she must’ve woken her father up when she called…. She could hear his footsteps approaching, padding down the carpeted hall.
“Sorry Dad. I didn’t mean to wake you. I was just-” Jane turned around…. Only to be greeted by nothing there. The hairs on her body began to stand on end as that feeling of discomfort began to return in full force.
“Dad…?” Jane repeated, taking a few steps towards the hallway. The fire poker still clutched in her hand. Her fist gripped it tighter and tighter as she walked. “Dad, are you there?
There was no response. Nothing but the pure, undefeated silence of her house. Something was wrong. Her father wouldn’t ignore her if she was calling for him. Nothing on earth would keep him from answering her.
Jane began to walk down the hall. The house felt dark and unwelcoming. The curtains were closed, but the house felt unnaturally dark. Unnaturally cold. Her house felt less like home and more like some uncanny cavern she’d wandered into.
Her father’s door was cracked open. There was a slight amount of light coming from within. The crimson glow of the setting sun shining through the open windows. Compared to the rest of the house it almost looked like fire.
With every step that Jane took towards her father’s bedroom, she slowed down. Her body felt as though it was being weighed upon by tons and tons of weight. Her hands felt clammy and a cold sweat beaded upon her body. A sickly scent wafted through the halls. It was a thick and grotesque smell. Familiar and foreign all at once. Something about it though…. Something about it drew her in. She savored the scent as she walked. It just smelt…. Good to her. Every last instinct in her body was telling her to leave that house. To run and run and find somewhere bright, and warm, and safe to hide.
But Jane ignored it all. She gripped the fire poker tighter, shoved open her father’s door, and stepped into the light.
Blood.
A thick, crimson pool of it. It had long since soaked into the white rug, its mass spread out like a festering mold creeping across the ground. It was splattered across the bed, the walls, the windows. So thick upon their panes that it corrupted the rays of light that poured in from the world beyond.
There, in the center of the pool, was its source. The spring for its lake. The fountain for its spray. The body of Officer Drake Arkensaw. The body of Jane’s father. Mutilated, slaughtered, and ruined to the point that only his own daughter would be able to recognize it was him. Large, heavy gashes were smashed into his body. Some appeared neater than others, done by an extremely sharp instrument. The slashes and chops were deep and clean. Others, like the massive crack through the middle of his skull, were uneven, shallow, jagged. As though someone took a dull weapon and smashed it through again, again, and again until all that remained was a bloodied, gore filled hole.
Rib cage cracked and organs strewn, jaw broken, eyes wide open…. Still dressed in his favorite pajamas. His beloved Aerosmith shirt now stained dark with viscera. And yet through all of it…. His own hands remained clean. Not a drop of blood had fallen upon the poor father’s hands.
The same could not be said for his daughter. Who had fallen to her knees in the pool of red and stared down upon his mutilated corpse. An iron fire poker by her side, her face blank of emotion.
Jane couldn’t think. She couldn’t feel. She couldn’t even believe that what was happening was true. That this wasn’t just some twisted dream that she needed to wake up from. It was too much like the nightmares she endured every night. It was too horrible to be true.
But Jane could feel it. She could feel the cold blood seeping through the legs of her pants. She could feel his lifeless skin beneath her hands. She could feel the ripping, tearing pain in her heart that told her it was true. That told her this was real.
It was only at that moment did she feel something else. Something hot and warm that ran down her face. Tears. Tears that fell and splashed upon the corpse of her father. Tears that he would’ve dried at one point. But never would. Never again.
Never again would he be there to pick her up from school.
Never again would he be there to ask “where are you going?”
Never again would he be there to ask “how was school?”
Never again would he be there to protect her, to watch for her, to help her, to save her. Never again would he do any of those things. Because he was dead. He was dead before her very eyes. And there was nothing Jane could do to fix that.
She couldn’t help him anymore.
Never again.
Jane couldn’t feel. She couldn’t feel anything. Not the scream that ripped from her vocal cords, nor the tears that fell like rain upon her father. Everything felt numb compared to that burning, horrible pain in her chest.
What was the point anymore? The point in even bothering? The point in worrying about using the bathroom, about showering, about brushing her teeth, about her makeup, her hair, clothes? What was the point in even trying to live, when the world itself so clearly wanted you to hurt and suffer?
Jane couldn’t answer those questions.
So she had no reason to continue on.
Jane felt like she was spectating her own body. It moved almost on its own accord. First to the garage where it grabbed the can of gasoline her father always kept for emergencies. Then all around the house, trailing the foul smelling liquid everywhere she went. Before finally ending up back at the bedroom…. She poured a generous amount of the gasoline over her father, before up-ending the canister over herself. She felt it soak through her hair and clothes and splatter to the ground beneath her.
“I promised you, dad.” Jane whispered to herself. “I promised you I’d come home…. So I’m coming. I’ll meet you there.” Jane struck a match and let it drop to the floor.
The flames were instant. Erupting in a blazing flame all around her and her dad. She didn’t want to leave her father’s corpse to be found by police. She didn’t want him to end up as a statistic. An example. A photo in Samantha’s magazine.
Jane dropped down beside him as the fire and smoke began to overtake her. Began to scorch her skin and turn her hair to ash. It hurt, but she didn’t scream. She just closed her eyes…. And accepted what was going to happen.
It was then…. That Jane took notice of the presence in the room. The fact that she was no longer alone. Someone that stood just behind her, silent and waiting. Untouched by the fire around them. The hand that fell upon Jane’s shoulder was as rough as sandpaper. And carried with it a frigid chill that settled deep in her bones, even despite the intense heat.
Jane didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.
“Why the fuck are you here?” Jane choked through smoke filled lungs. “Come to taunt? To rub it in?”
Slenderman stepped around and stood before her. His impossibly long body hunched over her as he towered there. His arms crossed politely behind his back. The smoke that flooded the ceiling almost hid his face entirely.
No. Came the whispered voice that leaked into Jane’s head. Accompanied by that veil of static and fog that crept alongside it. I came to offer you a deal.
“Nice try. You think I’m going to give up now? What? You thought if you had your little pet kill my father that I’d give up and join you?” Jane’s voice was bitter and resentful. It dripped with malice. If only she knew how much she sounded like Jeff in that moment. “Get the fuck out of my house and let me die.”
Your father’s death was not my doing. Slenderman hissed.
“You think I’m just going to believe you? Just like that? I know what you do. I know what you make people do.”
He betrayed me. Jeffrey turned on me and went rogue. Slenderman explained. I no longer have any control over him. His ties with me have been thoroughly severed.
“And what? You expect me to feel sorry for you? You made him into that. You made that monster. If you just never existed none of THIS ever would’ve happened!” Jane gestured at the burning massacre around them.
Perhaps you’d like to stop and consider the facts. Be that as it may, I never told Jeffrey to come after your father. Or anyone else that he will decide to kill now. And he will kill again. He has no choice.
“The fuck does that mean? I thought you weren’t controlling him anymore?”
I am not. But once someone accepts my power they live off bloodlust. It sustains him now. Were he to stop killing, he would wither into nothing. So he will hunt. He will kill.
Look past your pitiful, narrow minded aggression. And consider that no one in this town has the power to stop him.
“Are you saying he’s stronger than you?” Jane snorted with spite. “I’ve half a mind to let him keep going then if he’s gonna scare you that much.”
Do not mistake this for fear, child. I could be rid of Jeffrey Woods if I so pleased. But the fact of the matter is that I do not have the time to waste on such trivial issues. To kill him myself would take time. Time that I do not possess.
“So you want me to be your new little lap dog? That’s it? Why would I ever do that? After everything you’ve done? After all the torment you’ve caused me?” Jane gripped the fire poker so tight she worried her knuckles might break. It was taking every ounce of self restraint to not swing it at the creature before her. But she knew it would be pointless.
Because without my help you’ll never avenge him. Slenderman pointed to her father’s corpse. Don’t you want to help your poor father?
The word rang like a bell in Jane’s head. Her face distorted into a hateful frown. She hated hearing that word come from him. What would a monster like him ever know of helping someone? But it worked. The thought of helping her father was already worming its way under her skin, into her mind. She couldn’t help him now. But she could avenge him. She could make sure Jeff Woods never hurt another person ever again.
But Jeff did accept Slenderman’s deal…. She was sure of it. And if he was as powerful as Slenderman said… Then Jane would be outmatched against him. No matter what approach she may take…
“Pretend I accepted your deal.” Jane started. “What would happen after that? I don’t want to be your next dog to send after people. I don’t want to work for you.”
Then simply all you would have to do is stop killing. You would suffer, but you would eventually…. Fade away. And be freed of this cursed existence. After all…. Slenderman’s face turned in the direction of her father’s body. Is there even any real point in you living anymore?
No. There wasn’t. Jane knew that and Slenderman knew that too. The only purpose Jane had for surviving right now was to help those who may be targeted by Jeff the Killer.
So what do you say? Slenderman extended his hand towards her. Do we have a deal? Or would you prefer to die here in this fire?
Jane considered the deal for just a moment. But she already had her answer. Her reason for living. The real reason she survived that night. She could still help them. Not her father. Not her mother. Not her brother.
But everyone else.
The numbness in her heart began to change. It began to burn and plume and snarl. Hatred began to pound through her chest, flowing through her veins.
He did this.
Jeff the Killer.
Jane would save them. By keeping them out of his clutches.
Jane just wanted to finally give in. After all this time of struggling and fighting against Slenderman’s hold, Jane had finally just had enough. She wanted to kill. She wanted to let all that building fury unleash itself upon her enemies. She was tired of being afraid and nervous. She was ready to take matters into her own hands.
And with that hand…. She took Slenderman’s deal.
The dark power began to flow through Jane’s body, burning hotter than the fire around them as it warped and distorted her. She threw back her head and unleashed a scream unlike any she’d ever done before. Not of pain. But of rage and violence and fury. Jane hated Jeff Woods. She would help everyone. She would ensure no one ever felt this pain ever again. The pain of losing a loved one to Jeff the Killer.
As the house burned down around them, Jane Arkensaw burned away as well. Left in her place was a charred shell of what she used to be. She stormed away from her burning home as fire engines pulled up to the house. Jane walked right past them. They didn’t even see her. Couldn’t see her. Just like everyone else all her life.
Jane stormed off into the Mandeville Forest. In one hand she gripped a heavy fire iron. And with the other, she pulled on a mask. A mask of porcelain white skin and jet black hair. Her pitch black, empty eyes gazing out through the holes in its surface. Her feet left charred footsteps in their wake as she left behind her home, her father, and everything she ever knew.
The hatred and rage that burned within Jane was now what drove her on. And that fire would burn for as long as it took. It would be…. Everlasting.
The news would later report on the death of Drake Arkensaw and his daughter, Jane Arkensaw. And although Jane still stalked the night on her hateful crusade…. The newspapers were right.
Jane Arkensaw was dead.
But Jane the Everlasting….. Was only just born.
Part 1