• My shrill alarm clock sounded, I woke up groggy; eyes still closed and my caramel colored hair in every direction. My brain ordered my eyes to open, they obeyed slowly.
    Glancing at my clock I noticed that it read 7:45am, not 6:45am. I was late. Big time. “Oh, no!” I whispered. I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, grabbed the toothbrush and toothpaste to start brushing my teeth.
    After my teeth were clean and I was dressed I tried to make do with my rat’s nest of hair. Combing through it wasn’t going to work, it had to be washed out with hot water but I didn’t have time to take a shower. So I put it in a sloppy pony tail.
    My tennis-shoes were a breeze to get on. I grabbed my bag and the keys and took off. I walked into a misty rain, but for my street it was too quiet, even for 8 o’clock in the morning. No one was anywhere; it was deserted and silent as a graveyard. My eyes darted to every direction, no one anywhere.
    I put the key in the ignition and turned it left. The engine purred and I pulled out of the driveway. As I passed the houses on Mulberry street I saw that no body on the sidewalk or cars on the road. No birds were singing and I didn’t see any animals. I didn’t see life anywhere, it was just me.
    My stomach felt uneasy. Maybe it was because I didn’t have breakfast. But I still couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
    ͊
    The school parking lot was filled. Great. Maybe no one will notice me sneak in. I thought. An open spot was next to my friend’s mini van, closest to my first class and so I parked. I opened the door and hurried to my English class. The door was open, that was a good sign, and class hasn’t started yet. My feet carried me through the door; I tried hiding behind my hair and backpack, my mind was just waiting for Mrs. Carter to yell at me for being tardy.
    But she didn’t. She was reading a paperback novel. She ignored me as I walked to my seat. I passed my friend, Makenna.
    “Hi ‘M’,” I greeted.
    She just looked down, her glasses sliding off her thin nose. Okay, that was weird. I thought.
    I took my seat, and then the bell rang. But Mrs. Carter didn’t start the class. She didn’t say anything, she kept on reading. The room was too quiet for my liking. A ring broke the silence. It was a cell phone. I waited to see whose it was, but no one reached for their pockets or bag. It took me a second to realize that it was my phone.
    Mrs. Carter should’ve called me for a detention and confiscated it, but again she kept reading. I reached into my back pocket and flipped my green phone open.
    “Hello?” I asked.
    There was no answer I only could here shallow breathing.
    “Hello?” I repeated.
    My finger was poised at the END button when a deep voice finally said, “Hello, Holly Beck.”
    I was silent then I asked, “H-how d-do you know—” was all that came out, before he cut me off mid-sentence.
    “I know who you are, Holly. I’ve known you for a while now; I practically know you as well as you know yourself. In fact, I know where you are.” He replied.
    I tried to swallow the lump in my throat to speak, but I couldn’t.
    After my mute response the stranger said in a teasing tone, “I hope you’re ready to play, I’m so looking forward to meeting you.”
    Then there was a tap on the window directly left of me.
    “Now.” He chuckled.
    That’s when I screamed . . .

    “Gah!” I sat straight up in my bed. The pale lavender walls with all my nick-knacks on them were comforting. What I nightmare. I thought. I pulled my knees close to chest and rested my chin on them.
    “It was only a dream, it was only a dream.” I kept repeating to myself quietly so no one could hear except me, and rocking back and forth. Then my phone rang.
    I brushed the hair out of my eyes and answered, “Hello?”
    “I hope you’re ready to play again.” A familiar menacing voice asked.
    Then there was a tap on my window.