The Slender Man, ch 11

Mr and Mrs Combes


Not knowing what to do with myself, I drove to the address on the wanted poster straight away. It did not take me long to find it, with helpful directions from a pedestrian. I parked outside the small house and stared at it, deep in thought and worry.
The house itself was not very appealing. The roof tiles were faded and cracked, the gutters were filled with leaves, and the grass was overgrown. I breathed in deeply, and got out.
As I approached the front door, I saw something shocking. Scratched into the wood was a symbol. A circle with an X through it. The same as the one on my wall. I stared at it for a moment in both fear and anger. After a quick knock on the door, a wheezy voice followed. "Hello? Who's there?"
"My name is Rosy Williams. Are you Mr Combes?"
"What of it?"
"I'd like to talk to you about your son, Liam ... and the Slender Man."
The door opened and a scruffy looking man appeared. His beard was greying and his eyes were narrow, beneath bushy eyebrows.
"You what?"
"You see, my daughter, Anne, also went missing. A while back. I noticed that there were a few other missing children in this town. I'd like to know more. Please tell me what you know."
"I dun' know squat, do I? If I did, I'd have my Liam with me."
"Surely you must know something?"
"Forget it, Rose. I–"
"Rosy."
"I dun' know anything. Not about those kids, not about my Liam. OK? Leave us, alone."
Mr Combes shut the door in my face, leaving me feeling desperate.
"I've seen him, Mr Combes. I recognise the symbol on your door. He's been following me. I need to know more about him."
After a long, suspenseful pause, the door opened an inch. I could see his shadowed eye gawking at me.
"Get away from here. Get away from this town. What you gone and brought him here for? He'll be takin' more kids now, all 'cause of you!"
"He isn't following the children. He's following me. Now please, tell me about him. I need know how to get my daughter back."
"You can't get your daughter back," Mr Combes laughed wheezily. "No more than I can get back my Liam. Give up hope, she's dead. If he really is following you, missus, then you will be too."
With that, the door was slammed and I was left breathless on the gnarled wooden patio.
A single tear fell down and touched my upper lip. His words burnt like acid in the pit of my stomach. They rung loudly in my ears.

Give up hope, she's dead.