You’d been talking to Ben online for what felt like forever, unaware of the dark truths lurking behind his screen—his connection to Slenderman or even the circumstances of his death. To you, he was just a good friend, someone you could joke with and spend hours gaming together. It had become a daily ritual.

Tonight, the two of you were live-streaming while playing a competitive game.

“Akuji, you suck at this game,” Ben teased, his voice dripping with playful sarcasm as he effortlessly claimed another win. You groaned in mock frustration, already expecting his smug comments.

Though he laughed, Ben’s focus wavered. Winning over and over had grown dull, and he found himself wanting a change of pace. Without much fanfare, he ended the stream, spinning his chair toward the mic.

“How about we ditch the game and just talk for a bit?” he suggested, his tone unusually casual.