Halloween

I'm out. Free. I awoke to the door of my prison wide open and I took a chance. I ran.

Somehow I made it through that maze of a building without getting caught. It was almost like none of the cloaked men or the demon were around, but I know that's not true because I felt someone watch me every moment I spent running around the building.

When I found the exit and ran through it and I was back in the alley I had been snatched away from. It was sunny out. A bit cold but that didn't stop people from walking around from shop to shop with their loved ones. Behind me were the sleeping hobos who were there the night I vanished.

I looked down the street and saw the apartments my parents live in and I ran. Although I wasn't gone for years and years, I missed my mom and dad so much. It felt like it had been forever since I saw them. I ran up the stairs behind the building and knocked violently. My mother answered. He eyes got wide when she saw me and I thought she was going to hug me and ask where I had been, but the words out of her mouth were, "Can I help you?"

At first I was confused. The woman I was looking at was my mother. I'd know her anywhere.

"Mom, it's me, Alexa." I said.

She looked away, sort of with a guilty and sad look on her face and said, "I don't know anyone by that name."

"But I'm your daughter!" I cried.

He eyes drifted behind me, to the corner of a shop behind the apartment. I looked where she was looking and saw him. The demon had followed me.

She looked back at me, her eyes begging for forgiveness, and said, "I don't have any children. Now please leave me alone." And she shut the door on me.

Then I walked to the place where dad works. He's the co-owner of a little souvenir shop on the main road leading into town. Like mom, he claimed not to know me. Even his business partner, a man I grew up calling Uncle Drew didn't know me. When I left the shop, I saw the demon looking down on me from a window across the street.

I know I didn't push hard enough. They are my parents and I should have asked questions. But I think it's useless. They know about the demon, about this "Slenderman" and I think he has them frightened.

Two nights ago I stayed at my churches homeless shelter. Not even the people there remember me. Or at least claim not to. I think they know of the demon, too. While I slept I had a dream, probably projected by the demon and it explains everything.

In the dream I saw all the children before they were taken away. They were abused or lived with drug addicted parents. Every one of them came from broken homes. Krissy's father had raped her, Tyrone and Tyree were abandoned as babies and lived in many abusive foster homes, Annabelle was nearly beaten to death by her stepfather.

Then I saw the demon going up to each and every child. Some of them were scared of him, others were curious and some were willing to go away with him.

Then I saw the families. The fathers who had abused or the parents who had neglected had all mysteriously died. The battered wives who were spared went crazy.

After that I was in front of the red door. I opened it and saw the children. They were playing, happy and free but Annabelle looked up from her dolly and said, "I miss my mumma." And the rest of the children agreed.

And then I woke up and realized there was a reason Krissy and the rest of the children called me mommy. I wasn't captured to add to his "collection", I was captured so I could be a mother figure to those kids. Now it seems selfish for me to just leave those children, but they'll be ok. They have a home with a family that loves and cares for them, even if it is a bit of a twisted home and family. They're happy. Maybe the demon will find another woman who will be willing to take the role as a mother to the kids. Next time he should find someone who has no real life.

Yesterday I saw Anita. She was walking down the street with a man and a woman who didn't really seem to be her parents.

I called out to her. She looked at me and waved and I walked over to her. She leaped into my arms and hugged me tight. The man and woman wondered who I was and before I could explain Anita told them that I was the woman trapped in the room with her.

"You mean that was true?" the woman gasped.

I hesitated but nodded my head yes. The woman explained to me how the cops had found Anita wondering through the woods a few miles away from her friends house. We got to talking about what it was like in the room. I left out the part about the demon, and apparently so did Anita. Never once did the woman mention it. But she did mention one thing.

"We're not Anita's biological parents."

"We're foster parents." the man cut in.

"Shortly after Anita went missing, her mother was killed in an alley behind their apartment. She was a..." but she couldn't finish her sentence, because she looked down at Anita who looked up at her with such big, innocent eyes. "Well, I can't say it in front of her."

But Anita finished the sentence for her. "Mommy was a hooker."

"Yes, that. And I suppose it was a deal gone wrong."

"But it's no big lose" Anita added.

We all sort of gasped in shock of those words.

"Anita, she was your mother." I said.

"I know. But she wasn't a very good mommy."

I looked up at the foster mother with questioning eyes, and she said, "She would often bring work home, if you get my drift. Sometimes the men she serviced hurt Anita. Not to mention the drug use and many times the lack food or clean clothing"

We talked for a little while longer. g Anita's foster family gave me their number and said if I ever need help just ask. I told them I'd go to the police about what had happened, but I don't think I will. It's not like they'd believe me if I told them about the demon and I'll have to formulate a lie about being held hostage by mortal people. I can't do that. I just don't have the strength or will to.

I also don't think I'll see Anita ever again. God knows I love her and that I think of her as a little sister, but now I know she's safe and with a good family and will be for the rest of her life because her foster parents told me they plan on adopting her. And that demon is following me. If there's any chance he could bring even the smallest amount of harm to them on my behalf, I'll just avoid it.

You may be wondering how I'm writing this. Well I had to renew my library card but at least I get free internet. I don't plan on staying in this town very long. I don't know where I'll go or what I'll do, but I can't stay here. I'll get money somehow. I'll making a living.

I have a feeling this will never end. If anything comes up, which I'm sure it will, I'll update again. I don't know when, but I will.

Goodbye for now. And Happy Halloween.