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cherrycherryves · 13 days ago

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Madness in Mansion Chapter II

Quid Pro Zal-go

“This is the photo, sir.” Tim stepped up to the desk with precision. He placed the Polaroid on the mahogany surface and shifted back, posture firm and strong. Brian had carefully pulled it away from Lazari as she slept, she had fallen asleep with the thing still in her hand. And now the picture that had brought her here sat unassumingly on the desk in an office that could only be described as grand.

There was a shift in the floorboards, a low sound similar to a sigh. Slowly, the being in front of Brian and Tim turned around, featureless face doing little to ease the men’s nerves. The Slenderman walked away from the window he had been peering out of and towards his desk, leaning over to gaze upon the image. An inky tendril snaked its way out of his back and he picked up the picture to get a closer look.

“Hmm…” His voice was deep, rich. “This photo was taken in Zalgo’s forest… And you said she is looking for her father?” Both Tim and Brian nodded in agreement, silent. The Slenderman set the photo back down, his tendril sliding it back towards his proxies before slinking back into the shadows of his black suit. Neither Tim nor Brian made any attempts to pick it back up yet. “I was expecting her to show up one day. Granted, I didn’t know it would be a her, or if it would be before the end of the world.” The faceless being turned back around, walking towards the window once again. He took a pause, gazing out at the garden and the vastness of the forest beyond it for a moment. He eventually continued.

“I know her father.” He admitted. Brian smiled a bit sadly.

“I take it nothing good happened to him then.” He sighed, tone attempting to remain lighthearted. Slenderman stilled, standing rigid like a tree himself. Unbeknownst to his proxies, the tall man was trying to form how to relay his information carefully. For humans, there’s a term called ‘putting things lightly,’ but for a creature like Slenderman, he could hardly ever bother.

“Her father is Zalgo.” The Slenderman’s statement was heavy, weighted, but almost said as if that notion was open-ended. Tim felt his stomach drop.

“Are you sure, sir?” Try as he may, his voice gave way to a waver despite his best efforts. A tendril from Slenderman’s back reappeared, darting towards a book on a shelf. He picked it up and brought it to his hands, long, skeletal fingers beginning to pick through the pages.

“For Zalgo’s plan to be set into motion, he needed a link to the overworld. An original, organic link of his own. To him, that meant an heir. Once the heir would be born, his plan for annihilation could, hypothetically, begin. There are many words to describe a child like her, but I think most humans would call her something like the Antichrist.” The Slenderman kept the book open, using more tendrils to lift it out of his hands and place it on his desk in front of his proxies, similarly to how he placed the Polaroid. Brian and Tim walked up to the desk hurriedly to read for themselves whatever their boss was talking about.

“Why would he need an heir?” Brian asked, more so out of his own curiosity than anything else.

“The last time we battled, I had significantly weakened him. Of course, you both know that he was the ultimate victor. But with the energy I had left, I made sure he could never get to the overworld again on his own. Portals open up all the time, but he cannot use them. His link to this human world, however, would be strong enough to open something and let him through. He plans nothing more than to use this child to get to earth.” Tim’s brows furrowed. He stepped away from the book, too tired to try and make sense of the sigils and nonsensical language.

“What do you plan to do?” It was Brian again who asked, following Tim in stepping away only after he was satisfied with studying the puzzling imagery.

“I will speak to her. You will bring Lazari to me in three hours.” Both Brian and Tim stiffened, worry creeping into their nervous systems. They feared the uncertainty of knowing what would happen to this innocent girl, but they were never in any position to argue. They stood at attention, nodded their heads once, and could say nothing else but:

“Yes, sir.”

— 🍝 —

Lazari grunted a bit as she shifted under the blankets, sunlight peeking through the planks on the window beside her. She felt herself stirring, the memory of the past day stitching itself together in her mind. That’s right, she had ended up in this cabin after being attacked by a creature she had never seen before. Her arm had been scratched and a dog saved her. And there were two men that helped her. They said they knew someone who might have known her father. Everything was coming back as she blinked her eyes a few times and finally rubbed them for good measure.

“Good morning, sleepy head!” Brian smiled, squatting down to look at her. Despite the mattress being much thinner than the young girl was used to, Lazari found she slept better than ever.

“Go-Good morning…” Lazari replied timidly, slowly sitting up and continuing to rub the remaining sleep from her eyes. She realized she had fallen asleep with her Polaroid picture in her hand. Carefully, she slipped it back in her pocket. “What time is it?” Her tired voice came out in a grumble, gaining a chuckle out of the man in front of her.

“It’s almost 8 o’clock.” He answered simply. Lazari’s eyes widened. She was surprised to hear it was so early; she felt like she had been sleeping for hours upon hours.

“Are we still going to see that guy? The one who might know my father?” She asked warily, more inclined to be suspicious now that she wasn’t exhausted and shaky from adrenaline. Brian exhaled out of his nose, amused by her wording.

“Yup. We were about to wake you up if you slept any longer.” He replied honestly, tone light. The brown-haired man got up and left Lazari to give her some space.

The young teen stood up, still in yesterday’s clothes. Considering the circumstances, she figured she’d wait to ask if she could change her clothes or brush her hair. Despite Brian’s kind way of speaking, a hint of urgency shone through in his words. She gathered her backpack, pulling the straps onto her shoulders, and finally tried to fix her bangs with her fingers.

“Ready to go?” Brian waited for Lazari to nod before he went to the door. Determinedly, the girl followed him to find Tim waiting for them outside.

“Ready?” His blunt question was directed to Brian, who smiled and gave a thumbs up. The shorter man put out his cigarette before wordlessly taking the lead in their trio. Once Lazari was walking behind both Brian and Tim, she noticed the quieter one had a shotgun strapped to his shoulder. The young girl didn’t know if she should feel uneasy or protected. After her encounter with that bizarre beast just last night, she figured it was nice to be around someone who could defend them. However, the thought that more creatures like that existed and wandered around these woods, therefore making the weapon mandatory, made her walk quicker than she usually did.

The trio was relatively silent as they traversed the unmarked and seemingly uninhabited forest. Lazari flinched at any noise she heard not made by her sneakers or their boots. However, when Tim muttered a “Careful” and told her to pay attention to overgrown tree roots so she wouldn’t trip, most of her attention shifted to that task dutifully. Brian would make conversation here and there, noting how sunny it was or how cold it was getting. He’d look over his shoulder and offer Lazari small smiles of encouragement from time to time. And though he meant well, Lazari couldn’t help but feel a churning in her stomach. That churning, though, didn’t last long as they had eventually reached their destination.

The forest opened up finally, making way for an intricate (but rusty) gate. As Tim and Brian stepped up to it, the doors slowly shifted open to let them in. Curiously, Lazari looked at the gate as she followed them through, wondering how such old looking metal could be automatic, but her interest was swiftly taken by the mansion once she laid her eyes on it. Before her was a building she felt only existed in extravagant tales. It was certainly old, antique would be a better word, but it was breathtaking. Even at her young age, Lazari could tell that the architecture was more so artistic than anything else. The mansion seemed like it was plucked right out of the 1800s and settled in the quietness of the forest. Tim and Brian continued guiding her until they got to the door. Before entering, Tim looked back at her and gave her her first set of instructions: don’t make a sound.

The two men entered first, the young teen following their lead. Brian had positioned himself almost as a shield to her as Tim took the gun off his shoulder and placed it down in the foyer they had entered. The taller man was just about to say something when quick footsteps interrupted them.

“Tim, Brian, is that you?” The voice that sounded was gentle, low and smooth and soft, androgynous. Brian stood up straighter and shifted a bit to be completely in front of Lazari. And despite this, the girl peeked at this new figure before them from behind Brian’s arm. The person she was looking at was fairly tall, their hair a pale blond and their bangs long enough to hide most of their eyes. Even though their eyes were fairly covered, Lazari’s breath got caught in her throat as she realized they were looking directly down at her.

“Yup. Just us.” Tim was the one to answer the question. He walked in further, towards the new person, but their eyes didn’t seem to move. The more Lazari stared, the more she realized that this person’s eyes seemed to be very large and also devoid of any color.

“Nina and I were just finishing up breakfast! Did you two want anything?”

“Just our usual, thanks.” Tim replied, voice more at ease than it had been since Lazari met him. The person smiled tenderly, nodding their head once, and turned away. Their footsteps were quiet and quick as they made their way back further into the mansion. It seemed they had no idea Lazari was there despite the eye contact. Perhaps, Lazari thought, they couldn’t even see her. Once they were completely out of sight, Brian and Tim turned to the young girl, faces suddenly grim.

“Alright, Lazari,” Brian started, the weight in his voice foreign to the teen. “You’re going to go up these stairs and make a left. The very last room at the end of the hall is where you want to be. Don’t stop for anything. Don’t talk to anyone. Just keep walking until you find the room that says ‘Operator’ on it. Do I make myself clear?” The abruptness of the men’s stern expressions made that churning feeling come back. Lazari nodded her head slowly, she comprehended the instructions. But she was still a bit confused.

“You both aren’t coming with me?” She asked timidly, fear seeping into her words just a bit.

“From now until explicitly stated otherwise, we are no help to you.” Tim informed rather harshly. He put a hand on Lazari’s shoulder, seeming conflicted. “Remember what I said last night? You’re gonna have to be strong.” His usual cold expression softened for a moment for Lazari to see it. “And you don’t need our help walking down a hallway.” He half joked, patting her shoulder firmly before letting her go.

Lazari took in a deep breath. She wasn’t so sure why Tim kept telling her to be strong, why things were more complicated now or what any of this had to do with her father, but he was certainly right about one thing; she could totally walk down a hallway on her own! With newfound determination, the young girl held onto her backpack straps and started to march up the stairs. Once at the top, she looked down the tremendous distance to Tim and Brian and waved shyly before turning left.

— 🍝 —

Despite it being morning, the hallway was dimly lit. There were no lightbulbs down the hall, just candles positioned on the walls in intricate holders. As Lazari turned left she was faced with an amazingly long corridor. Seriously, she didn’t think it’d be this long given what she had seen from the outside. Even so, Lazari squeezed her backpack straps and made her way down it.

The brunette passed by a couple doors, realizing that most of them had names. E.J., Toby, Nina, Natalie, there were gold plates on each door with the names engraved. Some of the doors even seemed decorated, the one with the name Natalie had clocks painted all over it in a beautiful design. However, as Lazari continued walking down the hall, the doors became blank. There were now no plates on them either, just plain wooden doors.

Lazari walked further down, the churning in her stomach becoming more intense. Sure, the hallway she was faced with was long, but it couldn’t have been this long… As she walked, she started to feel the floorboards shift underneath her. She heard them creak and groan softly. The more she stepped on them, the more they breathed, the more they squirmed under her Converse. That sensation in itself was enough to make her stomach turn. The more she walked, the more everything felt… wrong.

And then she felt something in her head. Her head started feeling fuzzy, almost like a migraine was coming on. She walked down the impossible hallway but at a certain point, she wondered if she had even been going the right way. She turned left, right? Brian told her to go left, not right, right? Or was it right and not left? Did Brian say to not go left? Did he mean his left or her left? Was there a difference? The confusion was nerve wracking, and it was at this point Lazari realized she was clutching her backpack straps so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. She took another deep breath, pressing on despite the nauseating movement under her feet and the terrifying nagging feeling that maybe she went the wrong way.

Her vision was grainy, snowy and for a second she felt like she might have blacked out. Despite all of this however, she kept going. She was going to find her dad, or at least she’d pass out trying. And Tim’s words started to make a bit more sense. “Be strong,” she told herself, “be strong.” Before she knew it though, her vision was back to normal. The movement under her feet stopped, the headache she just realized she gained was dissipating. And she looked up to the tallest door she had ever seen to see an engraved gold plate that read ‘Operator.’

Lazari hesitated for more than one reason. She was about to talk to someone who possibly knew her dad. Maybe this man knew him personally, or just where he was or what he was like. But Tim had mentioned that the answers she was looking for might not be ones she wanted to hear. So she wondered, did she really want to know? Would it turn out that her father and mother had similar fates? After her contemplation, Lazari realized she did want to know. Even if it hurt, even if it wasn’t what she was expecting, she had come all this way! And just as she was about to knock, the door creaked open. Lazari flinched back a bit as the door opened on its own, but found her courage and carefully walked in.

— 🍝 —

“Miss Lazari Swann, welcome in.” Lazari’s eyes widened as the booming voice took over the silence she had grown accustomed to. She gazed before the man sat at the desk at the center of the room. He was so tall, impossibly tall. And when her eyes traveled to his face, she nearly choked as she realized he lacked one. There were shapes to make up a face, cheekbones and jaw and indentations where eyes should be, but it was all smoothed over with white skin. Her only reference for such an impossible figure was the thing that had attacked her the night before, but the more she stared wide-eyed and terrified at this creature dressed in a suit, the more she started to notice their differences. This one was dressed, and talking to her, and seemingly much more intelligent. He was not animalistic in the slightest, and despite lacking a face, he seemed to be looking at her and awaiting a word.

“H-Hello…” Was all she could think to say. What does one say when faced with such an uncanny person? Was she still asleep and dreaming? She pinched her hand as nonchalantly as she could.

“I understand your trepidation, child. But I must ask you to sit.” He interrupted, skeletal hand gesturing to the chair opposite of his desk. Lazari shakily nodded, trembling legs bringing her over to the seat with a slight stumble. She took her backpack off and propped it up on the side of the chair after she sat down. “Now, let me save you the trouble of asking. You must be very confused. You might think this is not even real. But I assure you it is. And this world is not as you were taught.” Lazari let his rich voice fill her head, listening carefully to his words. Now Tim’s sentiment started to make much more sense. He knew who she was coming to meet. Tim and Brian know this man.

“Now, before any other questions, you’re here to try and find your father, correct?” Lazari perked up a bit more, nodding her head ‘yes.’ “Miss Lazari Swann, I must admit, I do not know how to go about telling you about him in a way you’d comprehend. I understand this is all a lot to take in, but news of your father even moreso.” The young teen shifted in her seat, now getting antsy. If this creature knew anything, she wanted to know. More than ever now, she wanted to know.

“Please just tell me!” She finally shouted out, eyes widening once again as she immediately clapped a hand over her mouth for a moment. “I-I’m terribly sorry, s-sir! But! I’ve come this far, I don’t care if it’s awful news, I want to know…! So… please…” The figure before her let out a sound similar to a sigh.

“Lazari Swann, the world is not what you think it is. Creatures you could not even fathom exist. The supernatural, as humans call it, exists. And evil… Evil exists.” The being paused to make sure she was taking in what he was saying. “Miss Swann, do you know who I am?” She shook her head. “I have gone by many names in all my time here on earth, but most recently humans call me Slenderman. And your father… Your father is called Zalgo.” Lazari sat up straighter in the chair, heart pounding in her ears as she ingested the information. That name, her father’s name, it made her skin crawl.

“Both of us have existed for millennia. I am a being of earth, your father a being of the underworld, what humans call hell. Miss Swann, your father is not a good man. He is the embodiment of evil. He is what humans would call a demon. He does not and will not love you. Do you understand what I am saying?”

Lazari sat back in her seat, eyes staring wide at the figure in front of her. No, her father wasn’t dead, nor was he just a bad guy… Her father was a demon. Her father was something incapable of feeling love. Her head felt like it would burst, explode in an extravagant display. She felt tears form and slide down her cheeks and the realization sunk in. This was real. This was all real. And her father was some sort of monster.

“Child,” A tendril from Slenderman’s back grabbed a box of tissues and pulled one out, wiping Lazari’s face softly. “You mustn’t cry. I am not finished explaining things.” The girl sucked in a breath to try and stop herself from sobbing. This didn’t work well, so she continued doing it until she could gain some control of her breathing.

“Your father wants nothing more than to bring chaos and suffering to this world. You could consider us enemies. I wish for this world to continue as it is, a place that I can live in just as anyone else wants to live. He is tremendously powerful and I fear a battle between us is imminent.” Lazari sniffled, taking another tissue offered to her to wipe her nose. But her tears would not cease. Why was he telling her this anyways? Just to reiterate that she had come here for nothing? That she had no family to love her?

“However, I now have reason to believe there is someone who would, hypothetically, be stronger than him. Perhaps stronger than both of us combined. Someone strong enough to save the earth as we know it.” Lazari froze. She blinked away at some of the tears clouding her vision and looked up to the faceless man.

“You… don’t mean….?” Her words trailed off. The Slenderman stayed silent. The brunette inched up in her chair, sitting just on its edge now. “How could I — This type of stuff doesn’t happen — I don't understand!” Lazari kept cutting herself off, brain short circuiting from the massive revelation of information.

“Lazari Swann, you are his child. You will never escape that fact. But you are better than anything he’d ever be. You’d need training, guidance, however I believe you could be the key needed to lock him away for good. Of course, I will not lie to you, I have personal reasons for wanting you on my side. But you do not have to succumb to any of his potential lies or betrayal. If you join me, I could—” The Slenderman paused, realizing what he was about to say so bluntly. An admission of humanity. He cleared his throat and corrected himself. “I will assure your safety.”

“And if you’re lying?” Lazari squeaked out, her tears finally starting to settle. The Slenderman clasped his hands together as they sat on his desk.

“If you find I am lying at any given time, if you decide I have gone against my word or it is your father who you’d rather be with, you have full permission to exterminate me as you see fit.” Lazari almost jumped at that. Did he mean kill him? How could she do that? She’d never do something like that! Still, it seemed that this being was desperate enough to lay his life on the line. And while she had not a clue what kind of potential or power he saw in her, she couldn’t deny that it made her feel special. She was half demon? She could save the world? Maybe this was a big prank! Maybe she was still dreaming! Maybe she had died in the forest last night and this was some weird purgatory! But whatever it was, it was winning her over. It felt much better than math classes and pop quizzes, much better than bending over backwards to take care of her foster siblings and being left behind as a result, it felt much better than her terribly mundane and heartbreaking life.

“If I help you… Where would I stay? I wouldn’t have to go back to Louisiana, would I?” Lazari queried shyly, her crying now completely over. If he could, perhaps Slenderman would have smiled.

“Nonsense, child. You would stay here, in this mansion, with everyone else who is helping me.”

“Everyone else?” This greatly piqued the teen’s interest. Perhaps it wasn’t too different from what she was used to.

“There are many others who are working with me to assure Zalgo’s end. You must feel conflicted, but I personally believe it is a good thing you have yet to meet him. I am glad we got to meet first.”

Lazari fiddled with her fingers, quiet as she thought over what had just transpired. Her father was a demon, a powerful demon, and he wanted to harm the world she grew up and lives in. The end of the world would be the end for not just herself and everyone everywhere, but specifically her foster siblings. And even if she never saw them again, they deserved to grow up and live beautiful lives. They deserved a better fate. She could be their hero.

“So… um… Do I get my own room…?” Lazari’s voice came out timid but sweet, only a bit apprehensive.

“That can certainly be arranged.”

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cherrycherryves · 27 days ago

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Madness in Mansion Chapter I

A Long Trek, a Great Journey

“Dear Miss Bethany,

By the time you are reading this, I will (hopefully) be long gone. I would tell you where I am going specifically, but I know you or someone else would have to come find me. I have left to find my father. My biological father! So please, please, please don’t worry! (And don’t chase me!)

I know me leaving might make things hard. I won’t be around to help with the other kids or the cleaning or the cooking. I’m sorry for putting more on your plate. But this is something I must do! Something calls for me! And if all goes well, you and the agency won’t have to worry about me anymore! I’ll be with my father safe and sound! If I can, I’ll send you a text message when I get to him and all settled in!

Love,

Lazari Swann!

P.S. There’s still some left over lasagna in the fridge if you were worried about dinner tonight! I put it on the bottom shelf! :-D”

Lazari taped her folded letter to the fridge. Really, it was the only place she was confident her foster mother would see it. The home was always chaotic, so many other kids, ones much younger than Lazari, demanded attention and care and nurturing. So much so that it was often Lazari herself offering such things to the toddlers and babies. She’d help make them breakfast, help them with homework, help them get dressed. Really, she was a bonafide second caregiver to her foster siblings. And while she wished she could’ve stayed after school for clubs or maybe been in her middle school’s play, she didn’t complain. There were much worse things in the world. Much worse situations.

Every morning her foster mother would rush out to the kitchen and begin making breakfast. She’d call for Lazari desperately, as well as some of the older kids to help. And every morning Lazari would jump into action, fully dressed and prepared for the day, and make the most delicious pancakes a 13 year old could make. So the brunette was certain that this was the spot for the letter to be. Brown eyes scanned her dark surroundings, the house still and chilly as she stepped back from the refrigerator. The young girl took a deep breath.

“Goodbye, home four.” She whispered out softly, jostling her stuffed backpack around to be better situated on her shoulders. She had already left letters for her siblings to find (the ones old enough to read at least) so all that was left to do was to leave and get to the bus station. All her money from allowance and chores was saved up for this moment. All her research at the library and on school computers when she should’ve been paying attention to algebra lessons, it was all for this purpose and this purpose alone. Lazari Swann would find her father.

Her mother had died after giving birth to her, that’s what she knew. Her father was nowhere to be found. All she had of her parents was her mother’s necklace and some old photos her mother had kept in an album. The album was mostly of her mother and her family, Polaroids from adventures long buried in the wake of a premature death. Her grandparents refused to take her in, refused contact, and Lazari was left to the devices of the foster care system. She was allowed to keep that album though, the one with many stories never to be heard from her mother’s own mouth. And there was one photo in particular that always caught little Lazari’s attention.

— 🍝 —

Lazari stared at the photo long and hard as she felt the shifts of the bus, as it turned and slowed and sped up. Her fingers rubbed over the ink that had stained the film, her only clue to finding her remaining family, a location she had never heard of yet oozed familiarity.

Loblolly, Alabama

XX,XX,1993

Cascada’s “Everytime We Touch” bumped in her earbuds, bright red iPod held firmly in her opposite hand. She had studied this picture for so much of her childhood, she felt like she could draw it from memory. Lucky for her, a bus from Louisiana to Loblolly, Alabama existed, and 8 hours later that bus was slowing to a hefty stop. Lazari braced herself as the vehicle jolted, it wasn’t exactly a graceful finish to the ride. She popped her head up and tucked the photo away into her jeans’ pocket, pressing pause on her little device and wrapping her earbuds around it to place back in her bag. There weren’t many other passengers on this ride, and certainly none as bright eyed as Lazari. They all seemed lost, the girl had briefly thought, but then again, perhaps she was as well. She shyly thanked the bus driver for getting them to their destination safely and was on her way.

Loblolly, Alabama… the fresh air was welcomed into Lazari’s lungs as she stepped off the bus’ steps and looked around herself. She was closer than ever before to answers, to family, she just wasn’t sure exactly where to start her search. The photo she had been studying all this time was hard to decipher; it was a red monolith erected in what seemed to be a forest of black trees. She always assumed the photo was just taken at night, that’s why it was so dark and ominous looking. But where should she start searching if the whole town seemed to be surrounded by trees? A grumble in her stomach brought her thoughts back to the present moment. It was around lunch time now, no wonder she’d be hungry. So, her search would have to be put on pause while she found something to eat.

The young girl walked by many fascinating things, old stores that somehow seemed to be up and running still, the town square and a library, posts and walls with countless missing persons papers stapled on them. Lazari found herself watching her reflection as she walked by store and restaurant display windows, pleased with herself since her plan was going so smoothly. She disappeared into a small diner to grab a quick bite to eat, setting her overly-packed bag next to herself in the booth. An older woman waltzed over to her, makeup intense and perfume even more so. She peered over her cat-eye glasses to the young lady in front of her, face uninviting but words warm.

“What can I get ya to drink, honey?” Her voice was raspy, but gentle. Lazari decided it was pleasant.

“Oh! Um… do you have iced tea?” The brunette asked meekly, smiling politely like always. The woman didn’t have to write anything on her small notepad yet. She just nodded and stated:

“I’ll be right back with that, hon.”

Lazari watched as she walked away before turning her attention back to the menu. She thought about getting a sandwich, something easy to finish so she wouldn’t have leftovers and waste food, it was just a matter of figuring out what kind. As her eyes scanned over the options, she couldn’t help but pick up on the low conversations surrounding her.

“Did you hear he was spotted again?”

“Yeah, by the high school right? I wonder what he was doing there…”

“There weren’t any reports last night… no new victims or anything. Do you think he’s planning something bigger?”

The sound of a glass clinking against the table made Lazari jump. She looked up to see her waitress, face flushing as she found her own spacing out silly. She thanked the woman who nodded and brought out her notepad.

“Now, what can I get ya to eat?” Lazari had decided to get something simple after all. She ordered a grilled cheese with tomato soup, perfect since the days were getting a bit colder. Once the waitress was gone again, Lazari slumped back against the booth and let herself rest for a short moment.

It was when the waitress was coming to take her dirty plate when she got the confidence to ask. Holding the picture with sweaty fingertips, Lazari looked up to the older woman and squeaked out her question.

“I-I hate to be a bother, ma’am, but I was wondering if-if you know where this is?” The girl presented the image to the waitress and her eyebrows raised. Lazari wasn’t sure if they raised out of recognition or curiosity, or perhaps maybe for a more negative reason like annoyance. Either way, the woman took the picture in her aged hands and tilted her head. After what felt like an eternity, she spoke.

“Sorry, hon, I haven’t got a clue.” Lazari felt her hope falter a bit. “Maybe it could be the park down the road from the high school? You know, there’s a lot of trails there and what not? I think that’s your best bet at finding something like this.” The woman handed the picture back to Lazari with care. She picked up the plate before pausing and turning her head to say something else. “If you’re gonna be going there anytime soon, just be careful. There’s been nasty things going on around us lately…” The waitress turned her head away and left slowly after that, leaving her words to linger in Lazari’s mind. Ultimately, she decided that whatever it was had nothing to do with her or her goals. The young girl gathered her belongings, left an overly-generous tip, and was once again off on her merry journey.

It took a good while to find the high school. Lazari had to ask around for directions and received odd looks in response. It was like the townspeople couldn’t believe someone new had shown up there willingly. They would briefly answer her questions and then brush her off, all guarded and cautious. However, Lazari eventually found her way. And here she was on a hill, gazing upon the small school with a tilt to her head. She felt like she had seen this school before, maybe on the news or in an online article. But that wasn't the point of finding it. Now that she was here, she was certain she’d be able to find that park the waitress had mentioned to her.

“From the high school, go left.” She muttered to herself, reminding herself of the directions a more friendly townsperson had given her. She made her trek down the long road and before she knew it, she was entering the park.

It seemed like any other wildlife park. There were hiking trails, picnic areas, but everything seemed deathly still. An odd melancholy permeated the air. Lazari couldn’t tell if her sudden apprehension was because it would be getting dark soon or if she was just freaking herself out. It was just a park after all, a nature preserve! But the words her waitress shared with her suddenly rang in her head. Still, she had come all this way, she wouldn’t give up on finding her dad now.

Lazari stopped by a map of the trails and inhaled sharply as she realized just how many there were. There was no mention of a red tower, just trail names and things of more importance. She wouldn’t make progress just standing around, she had to keep moving. The young girl picked the longest trail to go down, thinking that this way she’d cover more land. If she didn’t find the tower on this trail, she’d just come back and pick a different one. Sure, it might be tedious, but she felt so close to uncovering something. Her heart raced, and she wanted to believe it was from the adrenaline of finally meeting her father, not from unease.

— 🍝 —

The sun was just disappearing behind the trees when she saw it. The red tower. Her heartbeat quickened, thumping hard against her rib cage. She felt the prick of tears, being in an area where her father and mother must’ve stood at one point. Sure, the tower was rusted and unsturdy, and the trees were a muted green instead of inky black, but this had to be it. She was at the exact angle the photo was taken from! She placed the Polaroid back into her pocket and kneeled down to retrieve her flashlight. Finally, she was finally getting somewhere. Lazari stood back up and switched her flashlight on. She gazed upon the tower once more, and as the sun faded, slowly… so did her optimism.

It suddenly dawned on her just exactly what she was doing here. She had left her foster home behind, traveled 8 hours to a location she’s never been to before, trekked through the woods alone, all just to see some tower that might have something to do with her father? What was she expecting to find here? Was she expecting him to be there? Waiting for her? Was she expecting some miracle to happen, or for something to make sense? She was here and now what was there left to do? That prick of tears turned sour as they trailed down her rounded cheeks. She choked on a hurried breath as her actions, and their possible consequences, started catching up to her. What was the point of this? What was the point of anything?

crrrrack

The sound of a twig sharply snapping made Lazari stiffen. The sound stung her ears, she must’ve grown accustomed to the eerie silence that hung heavy in the branches. With haste, she turned and shakily pointed her flashlight towards the direction of the noise. What she saw before her was almost indescribable.

At first, she thought it was a person, emaciated and bare, but the more her gaze lingered on it, the more she realized that was no human being. Its crouched position gave it an animalistic quality, its face unnaturally contorted in a snarl, and its eyes seemed to reflect her flashlight’s brightness. She shrieked, crying so loudly in hopes the whole world could hear her and someone would be there to rescue her. But she’d have no such luck.

It all happened so quickly. The thing bounded towards her and she ran off the trail. She jumped and stumbled over overgrown roots, feeling thorns and sticks brush by her legs. At a certain point it caught up with her, grabbing her ankle and yanking her back. Her flashlight left her hand and she yelped as her chin met the forest ground. The thing, now on top of her, slashed at her face. She was quicker though and lifted her arms in defense, earning a tear to her favorite sweater (and her arm) instead.

Lazari had always heard your life flashes before your eyes before you die. She saw glimpses here and there, memories of birthdays or going to a new house or meeting a new sibling. She even faintly recalled a barn, and having no time to be confused by that thought, she let the memory comfort her as she tried to make peace with the fact that she was about to be killed. At least she’d get to meet one of her parents tonight. But before this creature could finish her off, she watched it get pounced on by something with much more weight to it.

The creature was tackled off her and she didn’t waste time crawling away. The sounds were that of a struggle. There was growling, tearing, the crunch of bones being crushed by powerful jaws. She snatched up her flashlight to at least give her surroundings more visibility, pointing it towards the sounds just in time to see that whatever had attacked her was dashing away into the darkness with a hiss. She trembled as she looked upon the other beast that remained. Would this one attack her too? Was it just fighting off a competitor to win the prize of a meal?

The dog looked back to her, head tilted and curious. Lazari felt her stomach start to settle. This was no beast! This was a dog! A very large dog, but a dog nonetheless! The animal trotted up to her, keeping its gaze submissive as if to show it was no threat. Lazari swallowed thickly, but didn’t stop it from coming to her. After everything that had just happened, the potential to pet a fluffy dog was the most comforting thing in the world. She reached out a hand and the thing ducked to fit its blocky head under it. With shaking hands still, Lazari stroked its fur, sniffling and trying to quiet her sobs. She did this for minutes, trying to will herself to stop shivering.

“Go-Good boy…” She finally whispered, fingers brushing against a collar. Carefully, she found the bone-shaped tag on it and shone her flashlight over its engraving. “Smile…? Is that your name?” The dog’s tail started to wag and it barked in response, earning a cringe from the young teen. She hushed him nervously, looking around herself and forcing herself to be vigilant. Lazari recounted her belongings, making sure she still had her backpack on her back, her flashlight in her hand, her picture in her pocket. After what felt like hours, she stood up, only mild tremors still affecting her body. Smile watched her and dutifully took on a protective stance once he realized she was ready to move again.

“I don’t suppose you know a way out of here?” She half joked, now realizing she didn’t recognize her surroundings at all. She had gotten so far off the trail. Smile nudged her leg, raising his neck to connect with her fingers. Curiously, Lazari grabbed onto his collar and he began to guide her in a seemingly random direction.

— 🍝 —

To her utter surprise, the dog named Smile had taken her to a cabin. The cabin was rickety, small and she would’ve thought it was abandoned had it not been for the warm lights seeping through the cracks of the boarded up windows. Smile finally left her side, trotting up to the cabin door with a wagging tail. She figured his owners must live here, maybe that’s why he was in the forest in the first place. Cautiously, Lazari stepped up to the cabin door and knocked on it, bony knuckles making a pleasant sound against the wood. There was a long pause and no movement, so desperately, Lazari knocked again. There was another long pause, but this time, some noise could be heard from within the rundown cabin and the door was opened with a great force. Lazari flinched, jumping back as the door swung away from her.

“What!?” A gruff voice sounded out, and Lazari’s vision focused on a man. The man before her stared at her dumbly as soon as he saw her, Smile at her side, happy and playful still. His brows were furrowed, but something in him seemed to immediately soften. Lazari and the man stared at each other for a long moment before a third person entered the equation.

“Tim? Who is it?” This man’s voice was more relaxed, curious as he also entered Lazari’s view and peered over the dark-haired man’s shoulder. He, upon seeing Lazari, immediately held a similarly dumbfounded expression. There was another long bout of staring. Lazari found the courage to try and explain her situation.

“I-I’m sorry! If I um… am disturbing you both! But um! I was on the trail in the park. And-And something attacked me! I don’t know what it was, but… I think your dog saved me? I ran off the trail and got lost when it came after me and I…” Lazari’s voice trailed off as words got jumbled in her head. After the running and the attack, she realized she had run out of steam very rapidly. This fatigue also made her completely forget about the term ‘stranger danger.’ And honestly, these men looked more scared of her than she should be of them. The one named Tim finally spoke.

“Come in.” He stated lowly, opening the door more for Lazari to enter. The other man also moved out of her way. She didn’t have to be told twice. The brunette hurried into the warmth of the cabin and felt herself completely unravel.

The tears started again, her sobbing and biting her lip to try and keep herself quiet. The taller man knelt down a bit by her, attempting to take her backpack off her and she let him.

“Hey now, you’re okay.” He cooed, setting her backpack down with care and taking her hand to guide her to the only bed in the cabin. “You can sit here. Now, what’d you say your name was?” The man squatted in front of her as she slumped down on the thin mattress.

“I’m Lazari.” She sputtered out pathetically, whimpering and shivering all over again.

“It’s nice to meet you Lazari. I’m Brian. That grumpy looking guy is Tim.” Brian nodded his head to the dark-haired man who was on the opposite side of the cabin grabbing something from a shelf. “We’re gonna help you out, okay?” Brian offered his hand to shake and Lazari shyly shook it, manners were ingrained in her. The lanky man patted her hand with his free one when they were done shaking as Tim met up with them, first aid kit in hand.

“Did you get hurt anywhere?” Tim asked softly, squatting down similarly next to Brain. It was at that moment Lazari realized she had gotten scratched. She felt the cold stinging in her arm and looked down to see her sleeve torn and stained red. Tim and Brian watched as she took off her sweater to get a better look at her arm. She was relieved that the t-shirt underneath didn’t get damaged at least. She had worn her favorite outfit for the journey, after all.

“It doesn’t seem to be too bad, just a surface scratch.” Brian noted, suddenly serious. Tim grunted in agreement, switching sides with Brian so he could disinfect the wound and bandage it up.

“This might sting.” Tim noted as he rubbed a disinfectant-drenched cotton ball on her skin. Lazari inhaled a bit suddenly, but that was the extent of her reaction. There was silence as the shorter man bandaged her wound. He was extra careful to not make it too tight on her skinny arm. He was finished swiftly though, and he packed the first aid kit back up to be put back on the shelf.

“Now, can you try to tell us what attacked you?” Brian prodded gently, offering a lopsided smile of reassurance. Lazari hesitated, and he seemed to catch it immediately. “I need you to be as honest as you can. I promise whatever you’re about to say, me and Tim will believe you.” Lazari gulped, but she gave in. She was too tired not to.

“At first I thought it was a person… A really skinny and naked person. But it wasn’t. It was… unnatural… I don’t know how else to describe it, I’m sorry…”

“Hey, you don’t gotta apologize.” Brian hummed. Tim had rejoined them by this time, arms crossed over his broad chest. “We’ve encountered that guy plenty of times. We know exactly what you’re talking about. I’m just glad Smile was there to save you.” Lazari looked to Smile, who had been sitting next to her this whole time. He was as tall as her now that she was sitting. She nodded, also glad that she didn’t have to be met with such a terrible fate.

“What were you doing in these woods at sundown?” Tim suddenly asked, sounding a bit like he was scolding her. Lazari bowed her head, now realizing how stupid this whole plan of hers really was.

“I was looking for my father.” She stated, voice small. The cabin stilled, both Brian and Tim suddenly confused. Lazari continued. “S-See, my mom died giving birth to me and my dad was nowhere to be found. I’ve been going from foster home to foster home and I just wanted to at least try and find my dad. I just wanna go home…” A home that she had never known, Lazari realized as she spoke. “My only clue was this stupid picture!” The young girl presented them with the Polaroid picture from her pocket. Tim took a hold of it and looked down, Brian standing to get a peek as well. Lazari’s eyes were downcast, she couldn’t see their faces turn pale as they gazed upon the image. There was a bout of silence before Tim spoke again.

“I see…” These simple words were filled with trepidation. Brian had grown quieter than ever. The two men exchanged a look, as if reading each other’s minds, exchanging sentences with no words spoken. “We know a guy who might have answers.” The shorter man finally said. Lazari’s eyes widened and she looked back up at them.

“Really!?” She nearly shouted. Tim nodded, but his face looked grim.

“Now listen, kid…” He handed the picture back to her. “You’ve already witnessed first hand that things in this forest are not… right. And now that you’re here, frankly, things might get complicated. The answers you get might not be ones you want to hear. I’m not expecting you to understand anything I’m saying right now. But I’m telling you that you’re gonna have to be a lot stronger from here on out. Things are… well… it’s just…”

Brian placed a hand on Tim’s shoulder, patting it with comforting pressure. He smiled simply, Tim exhaling and taking a moment to recollect his thoughts.

“We’ll bring you to him in the morning. You’ll stay here for the night, where you’re safe.” Brian informed as Tim walked off to go to the sink. He filled up a glass of water and placed it by the bed Lazari was sitting on. “Try to get some rest, okay, Lazari?”

Lazari nodded slowly, allowing their words to sink into her brain. It seemed things were more complicated than she could’ve ever known, but she was in no state to inquire about what they meant or who she was about to meet. The young teen kicked off her shoes and curled up on the mattress. She felt Brian pull the flannel covers up and over her, effectively tucking her in. Smile climbed the short distance from the floor to the bed and huddled up against her legs. Lazari couldn’t pinpoint exactly why, but she felt that this must be close to what home feels like, and the warmth of this lonely cabin lulled her to sleep.

#YAYYYY FIRST CHAPTER!!#okay bear with me #I have no idea how to write Tim and Brian #they’ll probably change in characterization as I refresh my memory about them #BUT FOR NOW THIS IS WHAT I HAVE #Madness in Mansion #creepypasta #creepypasta au #creepypasta fandom #creepypasta fanfic #crp fanfic #crp fandom #crp au #lazari swann #tim masky #brian hoodie #smile dog #slender mansion

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